Williams Books

Absolutely an outstanding piece of literary work by Irmgard Hunt written from the heart as she viewed her childhood years growing up on Hitler's Mountain in World War II Germany.
Regardless of your age, you will thoroughly enjoy this beautifully written book by Irmgard as she recalls her personal feelings and observations of life in Germany as she and her family struggled to exist in war torn Germany.
This is the kind of book that one can't put down once you start reading it.

this is a very well-written book. The lifeline flows in order which makes it easy for the reader to keep track of events as they occurred. This provides a very different perspective because it is from that as a child growing up on 'Hilter's mountain', as well as that of a German citizen. This provides a very good inside look at what life was like in these most terrible of times.

This book makes it clear under what pressures kids and teens grew up in the thirties and forties in Germany. The writer shows the big riff between the older and younger generations in Germany during the Hitler era. It is personal and detailed. It reaffirms many of the stories I heve heard from my parents and grandparents. A must read for every interested in keeping peace alive.

Excellent story of WW2 from the perspective of an ordinary little girl. I loved this story because it was a whole new look at this era of world history, a view not often captured. A must read for any enthusiast of the era.

I lived in Germany in the late 1970s with a family who would have been young people during the War. I was vastly curious about their experience as "average Germans" but they were evasive and would say very little. Irmgard Hunt, who grew up just 30 miles from my foreign exchange mother during roughly the same years, gives us a portrait of what it was like for the average German citizen. Relying on her mother's diary, and interviews with family and friends, it may be some fiction, as an earlier reviewer states, but it rings true to me. You'll enjoy this book more if you know some German.

I cannot imagine why this book isn't the top selling book here. It should be. I read it, argued with it, researched to "see if it was so," came back and read it again, cried, argued some more, and slowly began to accept that Catton is telling us the truth.

I say again, it's a Masterwork. One of the other reviewers said he/she didn't understand why more people don't know about this book, and I'll second that. It has flown under the radar for almost 30 years now, but really deserves a wider audience. With the exception of a small percentage of the text that reveals it's late 1970's origin, the book is strikingly timely.

I had come across and read several excerpts on the web a few years ago, and they just blew me away. Then I found it was available here at Amazon and ordered...wow! The book is hard to put down. It's written in a very accessible style that make it an easy if intimidating read. I'll be re-reading this one for years. Highly recommended!

Introduces or reminds us of not only the 'language' of ecology but the necessity and importance of prudent, immediate need for serious life altering action. This is by far the best book I've read on the subject. It should be mandatory supplemental reading for High School/College students in Sociology, Business/Economics, Evolutionary Science or Biology. Catton spells out in great page turning detail how Malthus was right after all. Couldn't put it down! Should be on everyones night stand.

Having recently finished Mr. Catton's book, I find myself at once awed and humbled by the mind that conceived and communicated so well the vision of where humanity now stands and how we climbed out onto this wobbly precipice. I cannot say it any better than the other reviewers here - only can I add another voice saying that this is clearly, in many regards, one of the most important books I have ever read. Open your mind, read it carefully, and I suspect that, like me, you will see with new clarity what is happening before our eyes, circa 2008. The book is transformational; that it was written 26 years ago is even more astounding. Read it.

I bought this book months ago (my first of several copies), as I was trying to decide whether to buy Heinberg's "Peak Everything". I read one of the Heinberg reviews, which suggested that I buy "Overshoot...", and I was so impressed by the review that I purchased Overshoot, instead of another "peak" book.

I cannot possibly say it better than the 12 other current reviewers of Catton's book, but I can say that Overshoot....is THE best ecological/environmental book I've ever seen, no qualifications possible.

Why more people don't know about this book, is hard to say, but the fact is that anyone who is interested in where the world is today in terms of energy and other environmental resources, how we got here and WHY we got here, needs to read this absolutely beautifully written book.

No other overview of the world's current predicaments, comes close to this gem of a document..it is almost as though all the powers of the Universe suddenly descended on Earth and provided the reasons for (and also some of the answers to) our situation, in this one superb book!

Great book--read it before and gave a copy to my nephews. It really empowers and shows one importance of the written word. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

This book was a great reminder to me that reading is not an indulgence but a necessity of life. As an educator I realize that the only problem we have is not enough time spent reading! Do whatever it takes to get your reading time in! Pat Williams does an awesome job!!

Read for Your Life is a great book about the power of the written word. It provides suggestions to help you develop methods to read more often and enjoy the endeavor.

It's a book for who is a book lover and who is a book hater. I enjoyed it so much as a book lover but didn't have much time to read : (

Pat Williams loves to read, and usually has 5 or 6 books going at a time. He passes on his love for reading in this crisp, inspiring book. Williams recommends gathering together a stack of books on subjects that interest you. He encourages you to find a quiet place and a comfortable chair (but not so comfortable where you will fall asleep!), and a good reading lamp.

He talks about the 11 ways reading will transform your life. It will make you an authority on any subject, it will make you a more interesting person to talk with, it will give you wisdom and knowledge to pass on to others, it will keep you mentally sharp (and perhaps ward off Alzheimer's Disease!), and it will take you to places you would otherwise never have the time to visit. You can visit a real place like Hawaii through the James Michener novels, or an imaginary place like Naboo in the Star Wars universe.

Reading will bring you out of the doldrums and inspire you to creative heights.

This book is easy to read, fun to read, and will make you want to read more!

Real 802.11 Security is a very well written book and gives the reader a very good background about Wifi security. It perfectly explains why WEP is not a good protocol and shows how WPA and RSN works.

Edney tackles quite a broad topic, but does well with remaining focused and developing the topic from a novice understanding of wireless security to in-depth discussions down to the packet level. With the range of the topic, the book could have easily been written *only* for the novice or specifially for the computer professional, but Edney manages to hit both audiences; not a small feat when writing a computer-related book.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding why wi-fi networks are vulnerable (more so than traditional wired networks) and in learning more about wi-fi security solutions.

Hello,

I am reading this book and it is helping me a lot with my certification towards the CWNA, the material is very good, explanations are clear and the author has a very easy way to control the reader and explain the things that are sometimes hard to see. This book is a very good reading, i would suggest for whoever is starting on Security to read it, it even makes some humoristics comments during the book. Awesome, 5 stars material !
thanks a lot,

The author really knows what he is talking about. The layout of content shows his strong logical reasoning. He answers almost all questions a curious engineer would have.

Outstanding book, not just for wireless security but for encryption in general. Very clear explanations, chapter on why WEP failed is the best explanation I have read. Also very clear on how EAP, TLS, TKIP, WAP and the rest of the protocol soup relate to each other. I even appreciated the attempts at humor - my style, a bit dry.

The title is what initially caught my attention, and I was impressed with the quality of writing exhibited by the author, Ed Williams. The humor and sarcasm displayed in this book hovers steadily on a tightrope between earthiness and family-friendly aw-shucks hilarity.

One of the most amusing and beautifully crafted stories in this collection is entitled `Rasslin' and Riskin' (Our Asses)' because that's precisely what the author and his 60+ college buddies do one fine Tuesday evening. As Mr. Williams writes: "We knew that the Macon pro wrestling crowd (mostly rural country folks-some came from counties miles away just to see it) didn't take kindly to people cheering for the bad guys. We knew if we did this we'd piss a lot of people off." And Williams skillfully narrates and quotes a lot of comical dialogue from his wild, wild adventures that he and his classmates experienced that night in the Coliseum.

The varied lengths of the pieces from vignettes to full out tales such as the one mentioned above, allow the person who reads this book to really get a feel of what life in central Georgia is like. A loving ode to his grandfather, Ed Sr., who in the chapter quote is succinctly described by his son: "His ass was wilder than yours and mine put together," along with the insightful and fun chapters, `Let's Be Honest About Little League' and `Meetin' BTO' demonstrate Mr. Ed Williams III's innate storytelling abilities.

"Rough as a Cob," by Ed Williams III, is a compilation of ten hilarious stories about growing up in the rural South of Juliette, Georgia.
The book encompasses the lives of Ed Sr., Ed Jr., and the brotherhood, whose antics are so crazy that it's impossible to keep a straight face.
I particularly enjoyed the stories, 'Snake in the Cobs,' and 'Ed Sr.,' where Frank and Ed Sr. devise a plan to beat the crap out of Santa Claus. Overall the whole book was hysterically funny, unpredictable, and well thought out.
I must admit this is the first time a book has ever made me belly roar with laughter. In fact at one point the tears were streaming down my face so badly, that I couldn't even see the words.
The characters are likable, well developed, and believable. The author portrayed his family and friend's situations so wonderfully, that he really gave his reader a glimpse into the actual scenarios, as if going back in time. Ed Williams has an uncanny way of drawing his reader into the story - meticulously, and with flair - making this book a real page-turner.
"Rough as a Cob" is a wonderful example of family life and the human condition. It is a truly incredible book, and I highly recommend it.
I hope that if Ed is ever in Canada to visit BTO, that he'll personally sign my books.

Linda Oness

In Rough As A Cob, Ed Williams' second collection of essays, I found myself laughing out loud. I was intrigued from the beginning chapter of "On Being Southern" to Chapter 10 "Meeting BTO."

I especially enjoyed the stories of Ed's family and I loved hearing about what Ed Jr. and Ed Sr. had to say. The down home stories brought me endless smiles, particularly Chapter 3 "Snake in the Cobs." Ed's love for and admiration of his family is apparent through his stories. I have to say I was amazed at how well written this story was written. Also the stories and characters were true to life and the images made me feel like I was right there - in the story, witnessing every experience, first-hand. I have to admit feeling pity for Charlie Pounds when Ed Sr. tells him "Charlie, you are too damn ugly." But in essence it is this type of pure honesty that is missing from today's society. I realized we need people like Ed Sr., who tell it like it is, with no fabrications. I laughed endlessly at Ed Sr. and Frank attempting and succeeding at beating up on Santa for being a greedy bastard. I felt the loss when Ed Sr.'s friend, Wig passed away. That's how real this story is.

If you only read one book this year - read Rough As A Cob, you won't be let down.

Renee Bagley

I won an autographed copy this book in a unique essay contest. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started reading it. Funny and hilarious are mere words that simply don't do this book justice. I literally laughed until tears were running from my eyes. Ed Williams can spin a tale like no other. Anyone who picks up this book and fails to find a master story teller spinning tales of a simpler life in a simpler time has no sense of humor. Williams has the ability to reach out and take the reader back to a simpler time of nostalgia and humor.

More importantly than the humor is the obvious love, repsect and sincere admiration that Ed Williams has for his father and family. Wiliams writes a loving tribute to his father told with incredible humor and appreciation for a simpler time in life when outhouses were "in" and corn cobs had a unique and imagintive function.

Rough as a Cob is a must read and a book I will cherish and continue to enjoy over and over again.

"Rough as a Cob," by Ed Williams III, is a compilation of ten stories that attempt to be hilarious, but fail to deliver the punch at the end. They are based on growing up in the rural South of Juliette, Georgia and attempt too hard to use this as the root of the humor. (...)

This book provides stories that are somewhat entertaining about the life of Ed Sr., Ed Jr. and Ed III. Somehow, visions of Ed, Edd and Eddy from the Cartoon Network come to mind. Anyway, we are provided the disturbing life of these three while the author presses hard for the laugh that is an occasional chuckle at most.

Let's be honest. Is a plan to gang up on Santa Claus really considered funny? That is the level of humor we are given from the book.(...) A nice try that falls a few inches short of its goal.

This book is a very helpful guide for everyone, who wants to study Shakespeare. I am not a native english speaker and it was perfect for understanding the necessary terminology. I suppose that the content of the book is also precious for native english speakers. The book contains:
1) A very important chapter which contains the most frequently used words, and proves to be valuable for quick reference.
2) Words which still exist in the english language but with a different meaning.
3) Words which vanished through the years.
4) Several chapters describing the structure of several shakespeare's works.
In all cases the meanings of the words are simply stated and well clarified providing a perfect guide for every intermediate reader.

the book is great, if your'e an actor, or anyone who deals with shakespeare-get it yesterday!

I must have spent two hours reading reviews of Shakespeare lexicons and dictionaries before settling on this one. I am so pleased with my choice. It is simple to use and so far all the words I have needed have been listed, miraculously along with the verses I am reading! Please note that the price of this one is so affordable! The best thing was, when I opened the Amazon Box, the first thing I saw was Kenneth Branagh's name. He did not create the book, but he recommends it in writing on the front cover.

As an added bonus in the back of the book there are detailed maps of all the story plot lines, indicating the relationships between the characters. All in all, very helpful.

What an awesome idea! To put into one place definitions for the hard-to-understand Elizabethan English that one runs into in Shakepeare! Whether it be "prithee" or "forsooth" or "prating mountebank," the dictionary will help give the Shakespeare novice or pro the information needed to decipher the Bard's often-complex writing.

In addition, there are frequent collections of definitions that gather together words in a single theme -- say, words related to politeness, or swear words. These colections give the reader a chance to compare many words of the same genre and gain even more insights into Elizabethan usage.

The defintions are somewhat sparse, but that's probably necessary given the sheer volume of words being defined. However, each word references the play or play in which it it used.

Marry! -- that is to say, "By Mary!" -- a wonderful accompaniment to anyone interested in Shakespeare!

This is a wonderful book for all people who love Shakespeare and want to come to a better understanding of his insights into living.

With Faulkner, and especially with The Sound and the Fury, you're in one of Three camps. You love it, you get it and you hate it, or you don't get it and you hate it. For the purpose of this review, I suppose I should note I fall in the first catagory.
Yes, a lot of (most?) people read it the first time in an English class, some of us get the pleasure of reading twice in separate English classes, and you would be hard-pressed to find an English major anywhere in America who doesn't, at the very least, say they've read it.
The first time through ain't easy. The Norton Edition helps greatly with that... I can't imagine trying to read any other edition the first time. And it's one of those 2 bookmark books... one in the novel, another in the reference section. Basically, you need a decoder ring to read it. Norton provides said decoder ring. Well, in book form. (a Faulkner decoder ring... now wouldn't that be neat?)
And, trust me, once you've gotten through it once, provided you can crack the spine again without crying, it gets better and better with subsequent reads. It's one of those "change your life" books, but without being preachy or even motivational... it's an honest and disturbing and heartbreaking and headache-inducing picture of family, community, an era, and existence as a whole.

Faulkner seems to be one of those authors you either love or hate. His stream-of-consciousness style can be hard to follow at times, but his stories are spot-on as far as the human condition is concerned. I never really got into this novel until grad school; now I can't get enough of Faulkner! Read it even if you aren't an English major!

I tried to read this book as a freshman in college, and it was utterly lost on me, I'm sad to say. At the time, I was in denial about my status as a Southerner; I just wanted to get out and move to NYC and pretend I was living in Andy Warhol's factory.

Now, as an adult, and as a writer with a forthcoming memoir about growing up in the South, TSATF is far and away my favorite book. I took it with me on a recent trip to Mexico and read it on the beach, completely unable to put it down. It's not straightforward until the third of the four sections; Benjy's section (though the most beautiful thing I have ever read) and Quentin's are stream-of-consciousness and difficult. This is where the Norton Critical Edition is so handy. The pages and pages of biographical info and criticism are compelling and insightful, and make a great companion to the book. If you buy this book, buy this edition. It's very well compiled and makes me proud that Norton is my publisher.

I read _The_Sound_and_the_Fury_ several years ago and have forgotten many of the details, but this book remains my favorite fictional work. The Norton Critical Edition provides readers with valuable insight into many of the passages, but some could probably do without the explanatory pages that follow Faulkner's actual book. Since I took an intensive course on Faulkner's work, I had help from a great professor. Even with the help of critical texts and analysis, I found _The_Sound_and_the_Fury_ to be difficult. I reread the book several times for a better understanding of certain sections.

Since other readers have provided summaries about this book, I'll just remark that this is a masterfully written book. I've read most of Faulkner's short stories and novels (except for _As_I_Lay_Dying_) and consider this to be his best work. Faulkner wrote each chapter according to the perspectives of four very different characters, and this is reflected in the form and substance of the chapters. Faulkner's long (many exceed one-third of a page), complex, and heavily detailed sentences demand concentration. It's certainly not a light read, although the book is relatively short. Overall, a beautifully haunting work that showcases Faulkner's idiosyncratic style.

This is perhaps the most difficult novel written that's worth the time to read. I'd STRONGLY suggest you buy Volpe's book on Faulkner's NovelsA Reader's Guide to William Faulkner: The Novels (Reader's Guides) to read along with it first. Volpe breaks down the points at which a different character takes over the narrative. After that, try it yourself, but Volpe is the best guide for the person new to Faulkner's harder(hardest)work. The Norton Edition has a great deal of helpful critical material which, though not in Volpe's ballpark, is very helpful. Buy this edition, but don't forget the Volpe on Faulkner's novel.

This is a engrossing book about what happens when a person who has made a career out of understanding "transitions" (and helping other people and organizations through times of transition) comes face to face with a gigantic transition. As Bridges dealt with the death of his wife and the concomitant end of a lengthy marriage, he found himself wondering if he really understood transitions at all. This book is the story of how he navigated that period in his life, how he achieved a new understanding of everything that had gone before, and what it has meant to him since.

There is a lot going on in this book. On one level, it is the story of a marriage. On another level, it is the story of how truly immersing oneself in the transitions one encounters can deepen a person's relationship both to the self and to the personal history that has created that self. And then there is the general philosophical musing about how a person can open himself to the possibilities that come with major life changes. It's not a book of ideas about what to do (for that, the same author has a couple of other books on transition), but instead it's a deeply personal reflection on the meaning of life and life's transitions.

Highly recommended for anyone who is of a contemplative turn of mind.

William Bridges revisits the topic of transitions after the death of his first wife. This is an emotionally powerful book and Bridges is brutally honest and open about his own personality and relationships. I give it 4 stars, though, because I'm not sure that he adds a whole lot to his orginal work on transitions.

The author is very professional in his knowledge of tranistion vs. change and the merging of the process so that one understands the need to understand transition and that understanding to facilitate change. It is a very personal account of his understanding of the value of "letting go". His wife of 48 years is about to pass and the culmination of their realtionship and acceptance of the change to come and the phases of tranistion. To me personally, the acceptance of "letting go" allowed me to move further into my life and relish the anticipation of what could be. But not until I "let go". To me that was an exceptional development. And it all had to do with understanding transition. I am deeply grateful as is my wife who is reading it now.

I often list the pros and cons of the books I review. This book, like most others, has a few drawbacks, but they are not important enough to list. What is important is to know that this book is one of the best guides possible for those who are going through losses and do not know where to turn. If you or someone you know is reeling from a major life set back this is the book you need to turn to. This book will help you process the loss, understand the empty feeling that follows, and will offer hope for a new beginning. This book is a first aid kit for the emotions.

William Bridges surprised me with this extremely well-written and personal book. I am an executive coach who had read many of his other books and have often recommended Bridge's Managing Transitions to clients and friends in the business world. I opened the book expecting to find a how-to manual on getting through midlife in business,or through the loss of a job or some other similarly difficult but containable business transition. What I found was a deeply personal (and to me intensely meaningful description of) William's own life transitions through his job changes, marriage difficulties, and most significantly the death of his first wife and the transition that ensued. This beautifully written book reads more like a novel than a self help book, but the fact that it describes real transitions at a very deep level is exactly what makes it helpful. I congratulate the author for having the guts to write it.

If I were a high school teacher this would be must reading in my class. This is a very important and insightful look into what is wrong with our government and justice system. Maybury is one of the few who truly understands the mindset of our nations founders as they tried to ensure a lasting liberty and justice for all. And how that vision is being chipped away, so that the USA is no longer a small government republic. It is a huge socialistic bureaucracy.

What I love about Maybury's style is that it is very easy to read. A bright 6th grader can read and grasp this book. Maybury does not belabor a point. On the contrary, he gives you just enough to get the jist of his point and then he moves on, often leaving you to ponder the ramifications of his seemingly simple statements. This book will leave the reader with a clearer understanding of where America has gone off track and just how far we have strayed from those principles which we hold self-evident.

I highly recommend all the Uncle Eric books. I appreciate learning to think. THese are eye opening and very informative.

I'm not kidding. I've read mises, hayek, rothbard, dawkins, and many other great writers and influential works. But page for page, with its clarity and ability to transform an average uneducated person to almost genius... The logic, peppered with awesome bits of history... This is one of the greatest books of all time. The one-two punch of Richard's Whatever happened to penny candy(about economics) with this book, is perhaps the best gift one can make to a young person just starting out in life and to an adult as well. Just awesome, all the books in the uncle eric series are must haves period. No sequence of easy to read pages can do so much to educate a human being as the uncle eric series.

I have enjoyed this book very much! I had entered a search engine on Amazon.com books to study the differences of liberals and conservatives and purchased this book along with two other books, one from USA Today, by Victor Kamber and Bradley O'Leary, and the other on Moral Politics by George Lakoff, I then read Richard Maybury's book. I next bought Maybury's book on Ancient Rome and then ordered five more. My next book to read was this book, Whatever Happened to Justice?, apparently not the revised version. I really found convincing this book as accurate in historical truth in regards to the original political model set by Hamilton, Jefferson, Henry, Adams & etc. This is the first time I've read a critical difference between democracy and liberty and the argument for the later. While Democracy is majority rule, it is whatever the mob or majority decides, where as Liberty is based on the two eternal, multi-religious, multi-culture laws of "Do all you have agreed to do," and "Do not encroach on other persons or their property.". Now that's ecstasy for me.


The information on the differences between the old British Common Law and Political Law. Now this is significant, as Common Law is based on the above two maxims, while Political Law is on whatever the government decides, whether it be a monarchy, fascist, socialistic or democratic - the government creates the laws. Common Law, the two maxims, are historical science, laws higher than man's; laws of nature itself.


This book lucidly and simplistically explains the origins of government, that is, the thoughts and conceptions of the founding American government; Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, the ideas of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, are some of the most lucid and clearest explanations I have ever read on this subject. I can't help but agree that the unregulated free trade, with limited government, employing the two multi-religious, multi-cultural maxims - two basic common laws - would bring the founding fathers ideal towards the reality of a Pythagorean harmonious exchange of prosperity and liberty. The ideas of liberty takes precedence over democracy.

And so now I'm very interested in reading Mr. Maybury's books on WWI and WWII. As I found a review on the bluestockingpress website from one reviewer named Harry Browne. Now that's got to be the Harry Browne who ran for President (Libertarian)! A person whose thoughts I happen to admire. And I have read many of his online articles on WWI and WWII in the past and was always so impressed. It appears that Richard Maybury's book has been the excellent source.

Mr. Maybury does a wonderful job of explaining the differences between natural "scientific" law (also known as "common law") which can be discovered because it is universal and given by God, and resides universally in the hearts of men, and "political law" which is created by men and which almost always violates Maybury's Two Laws (which form the basis of scientific common law): 1) Do all you have agreed to do; and 2) Do not encroach upon another's person or property. Maybury then illustrates how much of the current social and even economic problems we now experience are due to the erosion of natural common law. I agree with him wholeheartedly.

I subtract one star for the following reason: Maybury is close to greater light, but loses it by embracing the enlightenment thinking that exalts the reason of man to such a degree that it shares the throne or even eclipses the acknowlegment of God. When we forget God, and cease to be grateful, our downfall is assured. I believe enlightenment thinking was our first unwitting step down as a nation. The two laws which Mr. Maybury advances are very good ones, but they are less than the two laws upon which all else hangs: 1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself.

I do not think Mr. Maybury has forgotten God, and he cannot be accused of being ungrateful - for he loves this country and recognizes our unique blessings, but his enlightenment thinking is slightly off the mark. As an example of this, I cite Mr. Maybury's correct assertion that right-to-life questions are of utmost importance - as the ultimate violation of encroachment against another's person. However, and true to his enlightenment thinking, he grounds our natural right to life in our intelligence (which is surely one of the attributes of God we share, but which is fallen). Logically, Maybury goes on to question what degree of intelligence would be required before our right to life would no longer be protected by common law! I quote from page 117 of Maybury's book: "Rights seem to be attached to intelligence. But we don't know what level of intelligence, or how to measure it. To be within the protection of the law, how smart is smart enough?" This sums up the weakness of the book to my mind. I would argue that the right to life is not grounded in our intelligence, but in our humanity created in the image of God.

Incidentally, I am a lawyer and also the mother of a child who suffers from autism. Under Maybury's reasoning, my child's right to life is more questionable than his siblings and mine because of his reduced mental capacity. If I have learned anything from my autistic son, it is that human life is valuable because it is made in God's image, even though the image is marred by our fallen state.

Still, I am grateful to Mr. Maybury for his valuable book and I intend to use it in the education of my children.

As a graduate student of counseling psychology, I read on average 300 pages a week for school. But after my reading for school is done, only one book can keep my attention, and that's Richardson's biography on James.

If you want to see American psychology at its roots, there's no one else to start with than James. He's the most colorful, most quoted and most brilliant early psychologist in America and yet one of the least known and most under-rated.

This 500-page breathtaking tour de force of James sets the standard for the life of William James. For me, Richardson brought James back to life for as long as this book continues to be in print!

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of psychology, especially the history of psychology in America. Also recommended to anyone who enjoys reading about the lives of great men and women of the past.

James isn't just for academics. He was a staunch advocate for psychology as a practical field to help us live richer and fuller lives. He didn't just study psychology (and medicine, and philosophy) - he lived psychology at a time when the field was only being born.

Richardson's biographies of Thoreau and Emerson are two of the best books I've encountered in my life of voracious reading and this is one is just as wondrous. I cannot read any of these books in public, because they all make me want to weep and clutch my chest and shout, "At last! Everything has been revealed!"

I wish I could explain why Richardson's biographies are different from anyone else's. It's not just an artful piling up of delightful and distressing facts. Instead it's like the doorbell rings and you have a new best friend: William James. There's something magical and occult about this. It's not like he went to the research library, it's like he drew mystic diagrams on the floor.

Richardson writes that one of James' gifts was "his uncanny ability to pick up redemptive ideas from his reading." And it is Richardson's gift too, to fill each page with life-giving ideas. These biographies are as purely inspirational as a strong Lao coffee with sweetened condensed milk. Reading them makes me prone to fits of euphoria.

Richardson points toward the sources of James' genius-- one of the most important of which was James' own depression and heartbreak. He writes, "James had a remarkable capacity to convert misery and unhappiness into intellectual and emotional openness and growth. It is almost as though trouble was for him a precondition for insight." How hopeful that is!

Richardson's compassion for his subject spills out, somehow, to the reader, and makes one feel that one's own nonsense and bleakness do not render one disqualified for a whole human life. What more can I ask for?

More than an interesting read, not only into the life of one of the gotfathers of psychology and pragmatism, but of the period. Well written.

I would suggest reading this book first before reading some of William James other books. This book gives you an overview and thought process to give the reader a context for understanding all of his work. I am 35 years old and know of no one in my age that reads William James but I just wish this book came out years ago before I read all of his work.

I need not repeat the summaries set forth below by other reviewers, since these explain both Richardson's method -- to tell the life story through the work -- and the essentials of James' theories. What I will say is that, even if you have no background in philosophy or psychology, you should read this brilliant, passionate biography. James wrote for a popular as well as a professional audience; he was open and curious to all experience, and wished to be inclusive rather than exclusive in disseminating his ideas. Richardson is clear and succinct in explaining James theories -- often in the man's own, crisp, evocative language and clarifying analogies. Moreover, the concepts that James developed have in many cases become part of our popular vocabulary, including through organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, which Richardson reports took inspiration from James' Gifford lectures, published in the U.S. as "The Varieties of Religious Experience."

I had not read James for many years but, since reading this biography, have purchased a collection of his writings and am re-reading many of his works. You will come away from "In the Maelstrom of American Modernism" with a better understanding of both American values and ideals, and the history of U.S. higher education. Most importantly, however, you will come away with enormous admiration for the radiant personality that was William James, or as Richardson exclaims (using italics, not caps) at the end of this great work, for "the SPIRIT the man." When I finished reading, I not only wanted to read William James; I was sorry that I had not known him or had him as a teacher. That's how good this book is -- for every reader.