Truman Books

Legerdemain is about the true story of U.S. Air Force undercover operative Jim Heaphey. The reader gets to travel through Casablanca, the fairs in Marrakesch, plus Cairo and Cyprus. Mr. Heaphey was stationed in the French Morocco. This was a time when the U.S. was allied with Morocco to defeat the Soviet Union without France's knowledge. The United States of America was able to store atom bombs at some of the Morocco air bases secretly. By having the ability to do this the U.S. would be able to set plans in motion that would go down in history.

First off I have to tell you I don't typically read non-fiction novels. So when I saw Lisa Roe offering Legerdemain up for review and after reading the book summary I figured I would give it a try. Let me tell you I am glad I did and this is why. In writing Legerdemain, Mr. Heaphey is able to tell his part in what his responsibilities were as well as his relationship with the Islamic people. What an awe-inspiring novel. Here you take someone like Mr. Heaphey, who not only risked his life but in process was able to give the U.S an edge over the Soviet Union. I commend Mr. Heaphey for what he did. He is a true hero.

James J. Heaphy has provided the perfect picaresque historical account of daring and brio and spying in a Morocco which is struggling for its independence from the French. Heaphy is the perfect tour guide for the labyrinthine route; he provides an operational narrative of entwined complexities with delightful intricate details of privity that can only be supplied by someone uniquely qualified because he was an active participant in the intrigue of the time.
But history is infinite, and for me the most important function of this historical memoir is that it enables one to appreciate all the more the subsequent metamorphosis to the modern moderate Morocco, guided by the brilliance and inspired leadership of Mohammed VI, the present king of Morocco. With Morocco poised to lead in assuaging the many factions of the Middle East, Legerdemain contrasts for us in bold relief what we hope that rational leadership can accomplish.

This book was great! It made me laugh, cry, and left me wondering what was going to happen next. I highly recommend it, even if you aren't in to history (which I'm usually not), its written like a spy novel which pulls you in and makes you wonder how it all is going to end.

What a remarkable read! Heaphey's story made me sit up and wonder as to what really goes on in this world. His writing style made the book move like a novel. I hope he has more books on the way.

Legerdemain is a crackling good yarn. It's also an unexpected five-star mixture of history and travelogue stirred into a Cold War memoir. Oh, to have such memories.
As a Middle East specialist, I read books, magazines and web sites from necessity. I don't often enjoy much of the stuff I have to read to keep up. Legerdemain is a happy exception. I've added it to my bibliography because I found a gem of prediction among Jim Heaphey's well-crafted recollections. But you don't need utility as a motive to pick up this book, although you may learn a few things of interest, if you do. This is a five-star tome for me because I found a forewarning of our confusion over the current conflict with Islamists that is pertinent to my work. It could earn your five-star rating for any number of other reasons: clear writing, believable people, exotic locales and a special viewpoint into the early days of our conflict with the Soviets are all worthwhile reasons to follow this narrative for the fun of it. You are as likely to find a bonus in it as I did.

Frances, you signed a book (I didn't hear the Dragon Roar) for a deaf student back in early 1990's. She would like to get in touch with you... Get in touch with kurzbemused@yahoo.com

When I bought this book, I was hoping to read about new arguments but all I found were old articles written by a very small group of these narrow-minded people who were so anti-ASL without any sound research backing up their allegations. Buying this book is a waste of money when one can easily find these articles on internet. This book is published by a very small publisher, probably at the writer's expense. Spend your money on a good book, not this one.

ever hear of the crab theory? the "reviewer from vancouver, wa" is an example of how it works. why the heck does one judge a book on the size of the publisher? the "reviewer from vancouver,wa" is probably a disgrunted educator who has a lot to lose if ASL falls out of favor. there is two sides to every issue. educate yourself on both.

Being a DODA ASL instructor fluent in various other methods of communication (TC, SEE2, PSE, Oralism), I have found Bertling's publication a refreshing look into the other side of the entire ASL debate that encompasses the Deaf community as a whole. Expertise from Parsons, Stewart, and others shed light upon the dark corners of ASL that many are rarely exposed to. Topics regarding the failure of Deaf education, Bilingual-Bicultural, immoral intimidation tactics, Harlan Lane's Mask of Benevolence, and other pressing points are mentioned.

The reader also can take comfort in the fact that many of the contributing authors are Deaf themselves. They are not only speaking from the viewpoint of empirical research, but also from their own personal experiences. Personal accounts that go against the traditional ASL mindset are also given, serving as a reminder that no political faction in the Deaf world has the right answer to the education of each and every Deaf child.

With that in mind, Bertling's book is a very highly reccomended read for anyone who is interested in Deafness and the Deaf world. ASL: Shattering the Myth provides a (needed) balance to a very disproportionate war of propagandists.

Being a DODA ASL instructor fluent in various other methods of communication (TC, SEE2, PSE, Oralism), I have found Bertling's publication a refreshing look into the other side of the entire ASL debate that encompasses the Deaf community as a whole. Expertise from Parsons, Stewart, and others shed light upon the dark corners of ASL that many are rarely exposed to. Topics regarding the failure of Deaf education, Bilingual-Bicultural, immoral intimidation tactics, Harlan Lane's Mask of Benevolence, and other pressing points are mentioned.

The reader also can take comfort in the fact that many of the contributing authors are Deaf themselves. They are not only speaking from the viewpoint of empirical research, but also from their own personal experiences. Personal accounts that go against the traditional ASL mindset are also given, serving as a reminder that no political faction in the Deaf world has the right answer to the education of each and every Deaf child.

With that in mind, Bertling's book is a very highly reccomended read for anyone who is interested in Deafness and the Deaf world. ASL: Shattering the Myth provides a (needed) balance to a very disproportionate war of propagandists.

It was a great story or rather, several stories expertly woven together by a masterful storyteller. I truly enjoyed it. I find it hard to believe this is a first effort. I look forward to the next book with anticipation.

I was hoodwinked into buying this book by the few reviews posted here, so I'm hoping to offer a little guidance to others who might actually be interested in political-thriller type novels.

This is a truly amateur, sophomoric effort at fiction writing. And whoever the publishing company is, they've apparently cut out the middleman by foregoing an editor. In a 20-page stretch near the beginning of the book I found a half-dozen anachronisms (using facial tissues in 1915, but not invented until 1930; a female Columbia Law grad in 1917, but no woman at Columbia Law until 1927) and malapropisms (Nez Perce glasses instead of pince-nez, a voice quivering instead of quavering).

The characters are cardboard and events follow the most cliched patterns: in the climactic gunfight in the year 2016 the hero and villain each shoot each other in the right shoulder; then as the villain claws across the floor after his gun, Rush Limbaugh dives onto the floor (at age 65!) to grab the gun and to squeeze off a kill shot. Cheesy, cheesy, cheesy.

This is truly bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. Be forewarned.

I absolutely loved this book I could not put it down. I can see it as a movie and I hope it gets there. I also hope Rush is bright enough to read this. It's a great read.

I loved this book and could not put it down...I found myself up at 3:00 in the morning rushing to the next page. The intelligence and compasion the author put into the book was admirable and fantastic at best! I also could see this book as a movie....Sal....James Gandolfini? Isn't it about time for another great Hollywood Goodfellas movie? Great Book!!

The Assassination of Rush Limbaugh is the story of two immigrant families in search of the American dream. The family from France takes up law, politics, and police work, while the Sicilian family descends into a life of crime. For the better part of a century, the families' courses fatefully intersect and intertwine until, in the climax, the youngest descendant of the French family finds herself in a losing race to prevent the hit man of the organized crime family from shooting America's number one talk radio personality.

Along the way, readers go to artillery training and World War I combat with Harry Truman. They experience Truman's angst for the Presidential decision to use atomic bombs on Japan and they go ashore with American troops invading Sicily in World War II. Readers sit in the courtrooms where three historical trials change the legal face of America. They experience the life of an American Mafiosi from birth through his membership in a violent Brooklyn street gang to his rise to the inner sanctum of a New York crime family.

Readers tune in to the development of talk radio, and the fear it instills in politicians, from its first broadcast at the 1915 San Francisco Worlds Fair to today's round-the-clock diatribes. They sit in on closed-door meetings where that fear gradually leads powerful politicians to plot the murders of the two most popular talk show hosts.

Readers feel the icy fear and terror in the minds of two victims of exotic and deliberate murder by a hit man whose very name means nightmare in Italian.

And finally, readers get to know Jodie Farmer, as she goes from adolescent to college pal of a mafia captain's son to heroic FBI Special Agent. They feel her take a terrorist's bullet while foiling a nearly successful plot to kill tens of thousands in America's northwest. And they're by her side in the climactic gun battle inside Rush Limbaugh's Florida mansion.

I love the book and highly recommend it.

A decent, if dated, biography of Eugene V. Debs first published in the 1940's. Author Ray Ginger has a stilted and rather dated style of narrative writing reminiscent of the 19th century classic style. Ginger used good sources and information for his biography but none of it's footnoted so good luck tracking down anything that you might wish to find out more about. But that's what happens when you go back six decades for your sources.

I really wish that the American labor movement had followed the Debs model of class unity instead of the AFL/Sam Gompers model. Our country would be an entirely different and to my mind, likely better place today if it had. I recommend this book for those interested in the life and times of Eugene V. Debs.

Zealot, compassionate, humane, intemperate, ambitious, intensely honest and driven to greatness despite his flaws -- such is the biographical picture aptly drawn by Ray Ginger in this highly readable biography of Eugene Debs, five time socialist candidate for President of the United States.

Hardly ever without hope, Eugene Debs faced overwhelming odds in trying to change society for the better. His initial goal was to strengthen the labor movement, to give it suficient power to negotiate with its bosses. His intense dedication and his obsessive honesty gave new life first to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen in the late 19th Century and then for nearly 50 years his great energy served the labor movement in general. Even though he came from a middle class merchant family, Debs recoiled at the cruel advantage big corporations took of its laborers who were forced to toil long hours for low pay under miserable conditions. He was their dynamic, compassionate general who led non-violent, wide-spread strikes to force employers to agree to improve the lot of the people who worked for them.

Debs was not always successful but he succeeded in so many ways that his followers and admirers elevated him to near sainthood.

Ray Ginger has sifted through a monumental amount of written material to produce a fascinating study of a man who deserves to join the ranks of Great Americans in History. Though a paeon to Debs, Mr. Ginger did not gloss over Debs' faults: his naivete, his drunken bouts, his inflexibility and even his bigotry.

A minor point: Mr. Ginger incorrectly writes Vladimir Ilich Lenin's first name as "Nicolai" -- several times. How such an error escaped an otherwise thorough author or his editors was a mild distraction. Nevertheless, for those interested in the history of labor unions in the United States, this book is a 'must-have'.

Originally published in 1947, The Bending Cross: A Biography of Eugene V. Debs is now in a new 2007 edition featuring an introduction by historian Mike Davis. The Bending Cross unapologetically advocates activism in its story of the life of railway organizer and socialist Eugene Debs. Yet though Debs devoted his life and his passion to his cause, neither did he turn away from people who were nonpolitical, or even anti-socialist, in their hour of need. Though Debs suffered imprisonment for "disloyalty", his moral compass and loyalty to the labor movement were both unwavering. An amazing, in-depth portrait of one of the most eloquent speakers of the socialist movement.

This is a beautiful portrait of America's foremost labor leader Eugene Debs---his transformation from conservative union official to revolutionary socialist. I've always admired Debs, but honestly didn't know the half of his life, personality or politics before reading Ginger's biography of him. This book is a treasure for socialists, radicals and other activists. Every page is engaging, every chapter is a lesson without didacticism.

Ray Ginger's absolutely authoritative biography of the great man, Eugene Debs, deserves as wide a reading audience as can possibly be achieved. In this marvellous, well-written and well-researched book, the life and times of Eugene Debs are made accessible to the people of today (or rather, 1947, but it is equally readable now), and thanks to the Haymarket Books reprint Debs can continue to inspire all men of good will even now.

The book describes every detail of Debs' life: his upbringing in a petty bourgeois merchant household in Terre Haute, IN, where he was taught the German and French romantic classics by his father (the name Eugene Victor comes from Eugène Sue and Victor Hugo), his first jobs and union involvement on the Vendalia railway, his early leadership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, his subsequent higher and higher promotions in the union ranks, holding office in Terre Haute in between, then the formation of the American Railway Union, the general strike and destruction of the same, his periods in prison and conversion to Marxism, and finally his political career in the Socialist Party where he made himself immortal in the annals of radical history by winning 6% of the vote in 1912, and also being the only person in American history to win a significant amount of votes while in prison (1920).

Some of these events may well be known to many Americans, but many of them probably are not, and all depict the absolute humanity, loyalty, intelligence, cordiality, and charity of Eugene Debs. Indeed sometimes it is astounding how one man could unite so many virtues and be so utterly uncorruptible, leading one to become suspicious whether Debs' reputation is not exaggerated, but fortunately biographer Ray Ginger is always careful to substantiate the claims when true (which is almost always) and to apply criticism where deserved.

Less known in general perhaps, even to people with an existing knowledge of radical history, are the many connections Debs had with other important people of his time: Lincoln Steffens, Robert Ingersoll, Victor Berger, John Altgeld, Susan B. Anthony, and even a short conversation with Warren Harding in the White House. Debs was never much of a theoretician, and did not read any of Marx' own works (though he knew the popularizers like Kautsky), but he had an infallible sense of the failures of both extreme left sectarianism and excessive reformism in radical movements and labor unionism, and it is rare in the course of this history of Debs' union activities that one can conclude he made the wrong decision. Moreover, much unlike many radicals today, Debs had a supreme capacity for personal love and charity, and was capable of opposing the political decisions and strategies of many other union activists without in any way lessening his personal loyalty or affection for them, or blaming them in person for their views. While an inveterate opponent of all capitalism, he was at the same time by no means a rabid sectarian, and could make himself loved and respected even by his enemies - once he so effectively inveighed against a railroad director in his own office that the director started offering him high level jobs in the company!

Debs of course made American political history, not just with his prison campaign in 1920, victim to Woodrow Wilson's political terror; but also with the first campaigning train tour through America (the "Red Special"), with the highest percentage of votes in a Presidential election any left-wing candidate has ever received, and last but not least with his fierce opposition to American participation in World War I, when all tides were against him. This alone would make him a hero of socialism. But he equally deserves recognition for his remarkable goodness in his personal dealings: he refused all offers of careering and high wages, refused all attempts of union federations to lavish gifts or praise upon him, and was known for giving away large amounts of his money even when he could not afford it. When the ARU collapsed under the military terror of the American government, he personally took all the debts of the union on him, which it took him 18 years to pay off. He was even loved by all the inmates of the Atlanta prison during his stay there. Add to this his visionary and consistent support for the rights of women, blacks, and immigrants, when such things were radical even among radicals, and Eugene V. Debs indeed is nothing but an example to us all. If I had but one-tenth of the quality of Debs, I would have much to be proud of.

A crucial aspect of American history finally told. Truman is an American hero and Gardner captures the courageousness of Truman's civil rights crusade in a compelling fashion. This important story is a must read -- and a fantastic holiday gift!

In reading Gardner's book, I learned a lot about Truman's impressive record as a civil rights advocate during his tenure as president. Gardner presents more than ample evidence to support his thesis that HST demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Black civil rights, despite weak (white) public interest in this issue and the political risks of alienating a powerful block of Dixiecrats. He is successful in describing the many facets of racism -- rigid segregation, voter intimidation, lynching, all-white juries, etc. -- that African Americans encountered as they returned home after presumably fighting for 'freedom and democracy' in WWII. Truman, he aptly shows, refused to ignore the glaring contradiction between U.S. ideals and practices, and understood that racism on the home front undermined the country's foreign policy goals.

Gardner is, however, so preoccupied with establishing HST as a moral and courageous leader that he tends to neglect elements of Truman's social and political environment that made it possible for him to advance a civil rights agenda and indeed, get elected in 1948 against all the odds. For example, there WAS a legacy of Black resistance to oppression by this time... and not just the nascent stirrings of a civil rights movement to which Gardner alludes. Marvey Garvey had fired the imaginations and aspirations of tens of thousands of Blacks with the organziation of the UNIA. The NAACP was well-established and published The Crisis under the editorship of W.E.B. DuBois. Langston Hughes offered up brilliant poetry and fiction that touched on the sting of Black experience in a racist America. Billie Holiday recorded the haunting song about lynching, "Strange Fruit." And of course, there were liberal Euro-Americans who genuinely believed in racial equality and human rights, just as Truman did. There is no way he could have pulled off his victory in the 1948 election without deep connections to and alliances with moderate and liberal supporters.

Gardner points out that Truman's hands were tied by Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress when it came to passing civil rights legislation. Instead, the president showed great political savvy by using his Executive Order powers (as he did when he desegregated the armed services) and appointing like-minded friends to the courts. One was Fred Vinson, who became Truman's chief justice and presided over a handful of Supreme Courts cases that laid the groundwork for the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954. Gardner provides a compelling description of these cases in Chapter 11, "Truman and the Vinson Court."

This book does have one major flaw, and a couple reviewers have made reference to it. Gardner repeats himself ad naseum, making the same point over and over in the same chapter and sometimes across chapters. Too much of the time, I felt like I was reading an unedited dissertation. For example, Garder (appropriately) uses quotes from a variety of primary sources, but then, rather than clarifying or elaborating on the points made in the quote, he writes virtually the same thing in a follow-up paragraph. The repetition was VERY annoying, and I found myself barely skimming sections of the book in search of the next substantive point.

Overall, there is certainly enough substance in the book to make it worth reading. Gardner does shed valuable light on Truman's civil rights record. A good editor, however, would have made for a much better reading experience.

I bought this book after seeing Mr. Gardner on CNN and I couldn't stop reading it until I was done. As a native Missourian, Gardner eloquently tells the story of a brilliant, humble President who is our Country's little known civil rights hero. Gardner does a masterful job detailing Truman's politically fearless efforts while marvelously weaving in Truman's personal letters, thoughts and life experiences. Gardner captures Truman's political triumphs and personal victories brilliantly. Truman and Gardner's book make me proud to be a Missourian. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Gardner has examined one facet of Harry Truman, probably the most important and significant facet of Truman's time in office, which was his willingness to risk power for a moral imperative - the equality of all Americans. Even though David McCullough talks about it in his book "Truman," HST still has received far too little credit for his role as a major catalyst of the modern civil rights movement, mainly because it didn't "take root" for about ten years after he left office. But this in no way detracts from the significance of Truman's courage, which was demonstrated by his willingness to split the Democratic party and thereby risk the 1948 election for what he felt was something that was not only politically necessary, but, quite simply, morally right (although unpopular). It was HST's Civil Rights Commission and his Executive Order integrating the armed forces that finally gave the US Civil Rights movement the inertia it needed to overcome the gravity of American tradition which was still flourishing in the form of "Jim Crow."

I was not especially impressed by the writing skills of Gardner. There is far too much repetition, and not enough anecdote...especially about the African American servicemen who were being lynched as they returned from WWII. It was this inconceivable injustice that provided the moral imperative that struck Harry Truman so hard and caused him to take the steps he took. As a result, WWII became THE seminal event in 20th Century US History.

A marvelous book that captures the seldom recognized strength and courage of this civil rights pioneer President. Prof. Gardner eloquently tells of Truman's ground breaking and couragous actions that changed the landscape of civil rights within the United States. Every American should read this book and learn about how Truman's moral convictions guided him and gave him the unwavering strength to take on widespread racist in the US without fear. Truman's story is an inspiration -- from his endearing and solid relationships with his wife and mother, to his passionate speeches before the NAACP and on the Lincoln Memorial steps. Prof. Gardner has truly painted a fabulous portrait of this remarkable President. This book is a must read!

This book had quite a few pictures that I had never seen. I am an advid Marilyn fan. You must have this in your collection.

This book features a wide variety of wonderful photographs of Marilyn Monroe. It spans her very earliest photographs before she was a star, up to some of the last ones ever taken of her. In between are movies photos, publicity photos, and some candid photos that show her in a more thoughtful mood. The text by Truman Capote is very touching to read and reveals how vulnerable, yet worldly wise, Ms. Monroe was. This book is a treasure trove of wonderful photographs!

half of this book is writing, and the pictures are good, but there isn't enough. this is a little book, so only get it for the rare couple of photos.

This short collection contains some of the greatest photos, and some of the most memorable, of marilyn monroe. the essay by truman capote was charming and showed us a good deal of the real marilyn. my only complaint is that it ended too soon.

A small book containing a plethora of beautiful photographs, some of which I've seen nowhere else (the Halsman "leaping" shots, for example). Truman Capote's essay at the beginning also reveals a raunchy, funny Marilyn rarely seen in other writings. Marilyn had such a wide variety of friends in New York and Los Angeles, and it's interesting to read a literary giant's take on a screen giant --and enduring icon-- like Marilyn.

This book is worth reading only if you've already learned quite a lot of history. In many instances Truman embellishes or distorts historical facts, and on certain points he is embarrassingly wrong. It's a wonder that the editor of the book, his daughter Margaret (who majored in history in college) didn't catch some of his errors. Particularly egregious is Truman's discussion of the American Revolution, in which he asserts that George III was "an absolute monarch." Nothing could be further from the truth. By the late 18th century, the King of England had considerably less political power than the President of the United States would have in later years.

Moreover, Truman's attacks on Eisenhower smack of vindictiveness, and while they may contain some truth they are not to be trusted on the whole. Truman was a suspicious man, and once he took a dislike to someone, he tended to put the most negative possible spin on anything that man said or did.

The book is written in a lively style, but beware: Truman was a politician, a man full of grudges and prejudices. These come out in this book--sometimes strongly enough to make you wince.

As a child and young adult, I was taught to have great respect for Mr. Truman. Among the things he was praised for was his plain-speaking manner and the fact that he told it as it was, with no sugar coating. I never really understood what that meant until I read this book. The Harry Truman that comes across here is a person you could easily image as your next-door neighbor. He always gives it to you in a no-nonsense, down-to-earth way that anybody can understand the first time.

That having been said I just want to voice two criticisms. First, I think Mr. Truman's understanding of history might be a little too "black and white". For example, he states that after WWI, the allied powers didn't really go to hard on Germany in terms of making the Germans pay reparations. I think just the opposite is true. The allied powers at Versailles imposed very hard terms on the Germans. Mr. Truman was correct in stating that the allies never entered German soil, however, the severity of the peace terms combined with the fact that the Germans never saw an enemy soldier sowed the seeds for Hitler's preaching that the Germans were stabbed in the back. I'm just saying that perhaps Mr. Truman's historical understanding was not as sophisticated as me might think.

Second, it seems that Mr. Truman's dislike of Mr. Eisenhower finds it's way onto virtually every page of the book. No matter who or what he's talking about, he seems to find a way to turn the subject into a criticism of Ike. I guess he really didn't like him too much.

All that having been said, I think this is great book.

This book is absolutely essential for the student of Harry S. Truman in particular, as well as for the student of History in general. Truman goes through all the important historical phases of our country and makes the information really breathe. In this age of political sophistry, it's very refreshing to hear a politician just being himself. It's interesting that Truman was vilified in his day. Perhaps he told it too much like it was for ears of that time. Nonetheless, this is a book that can be read again and again. This and Merle Miller's wonderful book, Plain Speaking -- An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, should be in every Truman admirer's library.

I feel lucky when I find a book I really enjoy and this one I really enjoyed. He called Daniel Webster a "gasbag". He said Teddy Roosevelt did a lot of talking but very little in the way of acting to solve problems. Truman loved Andrew Jackson and after reading his description of Jackson I also feel that he was one of the best presidents and one of the most interesting characters. This was a really enjoyable way of learning the history of this country and seeing these guys the way they really were and not the mythic characters I used to think from taking American History in high school. I think high school students should be made to read this book, so that American History would come to life for them. I never thought anything of James Polk before reading what Harry wrote about him. And Calvin Coolidge sleeping (I mean zzzzzzz) his way through the Presidency! I liked the way Harry didn't blame Hoover for the depression. Harry was the little kid describing the Emperor's new clothes!

This book does something very rare--it actually reveals the plain-spoken nature of Harry S. Truman while still demonstrating the depth and breadth of Truman's knowledge of history, politics, economics, and foreign affairs. It was really amazing to me that an essentially "self-taught" man was so brilliant with such a deep understanding of a vast array of issues. Unlike our current president, Harry S. Truman understood the complexities of international relations and implications of taking unilateral approaches in our foreign policy.

Truman also recognized that military action was something to be used as a LAST resort, especially when the rest of the world is against such an action. Although Truman had an appreciation for some military experience in public servants, he also recognized the danger of career military men in those positions. Unlike politicians of today, Truman was bold enough to make the unpopular decision to fire General McArthur because our foreign policy should not be predicated on our ability to anhilate every other country on the face of the earth.

The author captures the essence of the man.A must read for anybody fed up with superficial politicans.

This is a wonderful collection of quotes, letters, and anecdotes which together give the reader a quick view of Truman's life as well as a mental picture of the man from many different instances and viewpoints. This book, because of its clear depiction of Truman's character, makes the reader feel connected to Truman in a way that a biography perhaps does not.

I read the book of Truman quotations in a couple of hours. The author was very selective, focusing on the Give'em hell, Harry one-liners and sound-bites. Truman had a charming sense of humor and a unique manner of expressing himself. If that's what you are looking for, this is a good book. I'm glad I bought it.
What I missed was the more thoughtful expressions of Truman about the beginnings of the Cold War, which began in Truman's mind when he met Stalin at Potsdam; the expression of the matured, post New Deal version of Liberalism, which hatched in his brain after the death of Roosevelt; his dislike of the the presidency; and his candid opinions of the powerful men with whom he intereacted.

"We had won the war. It was my hope now that the people of Germany and Japan could be rehabilitated.... The United States wanted no territory, no reparations. Peace and happiness for all countries were the goals toward which we would work and for which we had fought. No nation in the history of the world had taken such a position in complete victory. No nation with the military power of the United States of America had been so generous to its enemies and so helpful to its friends. Maybe the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount could be put into effect." -- from Truman's Memoirs

This book was an excellent insight into the President who never lost sight of the fact that he was nothing more than a common man. Refreshing attitudes that we do not seem to see in politicians today. In his own words, on many subjects, and shooting from the hip his words provide a greater understanding to what Harry Truman was made of. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about Harry Truman or anyone who has an interest in U.S. history.

This is not a full-scale biography of Harry Truman, but it would serve as a fabulous introduction to him. This is a short book, but contains a wealth of personal anecdotes, quotes and compilations from Truman's private conversations and letters. It's so refreshing to reflect upon Truman, a politician who almost always said what he thought and did what he thought best. There was no posturing with him, no p.r. campaigns, no manipulating the media. Every morning he would take his 2 mile stroll (at a clip of 15 minutes per mile, not bad for a man over 60), and the press would be running after him, hoping for a quote for the morning paper.

Also included in the book is information on Truman's close relationship with this anchor, Bess, as well as their daughter, Margaret. The famous episode where Truman attacked a columnist for ridiculing Margaret's singing voice is included. If you're unfamiliar with this, it will definitely make you laugh! Truman was rough around the edges, yet a highly skilled and intelligent man; he was well-read, articulate in a plain sort of way and an astute judge of character. His opinions on Ike and MacArthur justify the purchase of this book. Enjoy!

Zebby, an eighth grader and editor-in-chief of the Truman Bugle at Truman Middle School, is not happy about freedom of the press restrictions. So she relinquishes her duties. Instead, she and Amr, two of the school's least popular students, create a secret website and invite students at Truman to write. The site is titled, "The Truth about Truman School."

What are the truths that need to be revealed at Truman? Zebby and Amr create this secret site to question specific school rules. Once the postings deluge the site, many truths are indeed exposed. Who are the biggest losers and who are the worst teachers are two of many questions that invite controversy.

The "secret" website of Truman Middle School takes on the life of an out-of-control monster, as girls turn on their friends. Lilly, until recently a popular girl,encounters an unexpected dark side to her circle of friends. As these friendships wane, Lilly is the victim of malice and deceit and endures much emotional abuse--an important message to adolescent girls about the gravity of cyberbullying and the power of the word.

I think this book should be required reading for middle school students, for as a junior high teacher, I am all too aware of the havoc these activities can wreak in young adults' lives. The author makes her point in an educational, yet entertaining way.

by Sharon Blumberg
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

that Middle School students spend more time communicating on the internet than they do on the telephone or face to face. They behave in ways under the guise of a screen name that they would never think of doing if their identities were known. The results can be devastating. Both of my children have been a part of incidents fueled by this new technology. I applaud the author for tackling this issue in a way that is entertaining and provocative. Middle schoolers who read The Truth About Truman will come away with a new understanding about the power if the Internet.

When Zebby and her friend Amr started a uderground newspaper online, they wanted it to be a place where people could share stories and talk about issues at their school. But when a person known as "millk&honey" starts putting embarrissing photos, lies, and hurtful gossip about this girl, Lilly, things turn upside-down. www.truthabouttruman.com turns into a gossip site about Lilly.
I love this book I've read it three times and I'm rereading it again. but it's not like like other books.(in a good way) I like how you see the story from all sides- Zebbys, Amrs, Lillys, the popular girls. This is a must-have for middle school girls like me.

When Zebby and her friend Amr started a uderground newspaper online, they wanted it to be a place where people could share stories and talk about issues at their school. But when a person known as "millk&honey" starts putting embarrissing photos, lies, and hurtful gossip about this girl, Lilly, things turn upside-down. www.truthabouttruman.com turns into a gossip site about Lilly.
I love this book I've read it three times and I'm rereading it again. but it's not like like other books.(in a good way) I like how you see the story from all sides- Zebbys, Amrs, Lillys, the popular girls. This is a must-have for middle school girls like me.

Zebby is sick and tired of getting her stories censored when she writes for the school paper at Truman Middle School, so she decides to quit. After talking about it to her best friend Amr, they decide to start an underground newspaper--only theirs will be online!

Their online newspaper, called The Truth About Truman School, is supposed to be a place where students can post stories or feelings about school issues--as long as what they put on there is true. Zebby tells herself and Amr that they are not to censor anyone like she was censored. This belief backfires when someone starts posting mean pictures and comments about one of Zebby's former friends Lilly, turning their newspaper into a place to bully her. Naturally, the students at Truman don't say anything to an adult about it, so the hurtful comments continue. How much pain is Lilly supposed to endure at the hands of this site before she finally breaks?

This book was a pretty quick read told from point of view of many characters, but the reader is left guessing as to who the poster bullying Lilly really is (we're told by the end). It made me sad to think that someone so young would really post such mean things online about someone else so young, but I suppose that is a reality these days. At least everything is wrapped up satisfactorily in the end. Definitely a middle school book for girls, this story will be enjoyed by those who like gossip.

Anyone who has ever gone to a grandmother or a beloved aunt for comfort or advice will recognize this still, small voice that speaks with such authority and grace.

"Where Horizons Go" is a must-have for any serious contemporary poetry collection. The anatomically and politically correct "Bra" alone is worth the price of the book:

If only the heart could be worn like the breast, divided,
nosing in two directions for news of the wide world,
sniffing here and there for justice, for mercy.

You won't regret this purchase.

Sonnets, villanelles, formal poetry of all types are found in Ehina Espaillat's first collection. Her poems aren't constricted or artificial, but come out with an elegance not often seen in poets today. Every poem in this collection is evidence that she loves language, poetry, and the challenge that comes in writing in rhyme and meter. The subjects of her poems range widely, though there does seem to be a high ratio of poems about poetry. There is also an interesting essay at the end of the collection that discusses growing up bilingual (Espaillat is from the Dominican Republic, and Spanish is her native tongue), which leads into a discussion of the beauty of language. Both the poems and the essay make this a book to treasure.

Rhina P. Espaillat's "Where Horizons Go" is for readers who look for poetry to curl up with on a rainy day with a pot of tea. Espaillat's exquisitely crafted, polished formal verse never raises its voice, but speaks in the quiet, conversational tone of a wise but self-deprecating best friend. "Sixty-Five" demonstrates her rueful humor: "My body hates me. And it's mutual, too./ We never speak these days except to fight./ There's less and less I like it still can do./ My bladder yells at me; my clothes are tight." Every poem in the collection is a gentle gem, the work of a poet who has experienced much, but has never wavered in her bedrock belief in order, reason, and civilization. When her grandson Evan accuses her of being "too tidy," she replies, "True, tidy seldom goes where genius goes,/But then how many do?" She delights in the work of artists who illuminate everyday life, like Vermeer, "whose people, drenched in light, like honey, wear/the blessing of the hive." To read "Where Horizons Go" is to enter into a world where the everyday is infused with quiet magic; to reread it is like meeting a beloved old friend on the street. At the end of "Rachmaninoff on the Mass Pike," Espaillat says, "All the heart wants is to be called again." Her poetry calls to readers' hearts, with modest but masterful authority.

I've taught Rhina's work for the last two years at a small northeastern college, and the students respond to her as to no one else. They understand her work and love it, and when they're not sure, she intrigues them mightily. You cannot go wrong with "Where Horizons Go."ÿ

I've been reading Rhina Espaillat's work for a decade. She enjoys the restriction of formal verse: sonnets, villanelles, and sestinas, for example. On the page, her work looks formal. In the ear, it sounds conversational. It's a difficult and precise balance, and when it works, the effect is magic. She's been making it work for nearly fifty years.

The poet was born in the Dominican Republic. English, her second language, is a subject she taught for many years. She revels in the glories of it, all the beauties of poetic device. She brings to her work the wisdom of an immigrant, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a teacher, and a shrewd observer of the poignant details of nothing more than the color brown, and nothing less than her own parent's Alzheimer's Disease.

These poems will raise the hair on the back of your arm.