Trials Books

This is the best book I have read on the potential for stem cell therapy from the patient's perspective. It is written in the most straightforward manner possible, focused not on polemic but on being helpful. So much so, that the author takes nothing for granted, even the patient's knowledge about the Internet (a few plodding pages on that topic alone) but also on the practicalities of using pluripotential cells. The book is also exceedingly honest: the author recounts his experiences (and transient recovery) during the placebo arm of a trial of stem cells. My one quibble is that after giving us so much detail about the wind up to the transplant, we get very little detail on the author's outcome after the stem cell infusion. Did it last longer than the placebo? How many years out has it been effective? This part of the review may be grossly unfair as I have no idea how sick the author was when he wrote this. Maybe he was in a hurry to get the word out and did not have much follow up time to report on. Despite among the driest writing styles I have experienced in many years, I find the story of this book has stuck with me.

Stem Cells Saved My Life: How to Be Next is the true-life story of author Bernard Van Zyl, who suffered from severe heart disease that could not be brought under control by conventional surgery or therapy. Yet an FDA-approved clinical trial transformed his life - adult stem cells were harvested from his own body, and used to bolster the strength of his heart, transforming him from a dying invalid and giving him a new leash on life. Stem Cells Saved My Life does more than tell his story; it presents what he has learned about stem cell treatments, FDA-approved clinical trials for stem cell therapies that are currently helping thousands of people, and advice for readers who may be in need concerning how to locate and get into such clinical trials. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, Stem Cells Saved My Life discusses adult, embryonic, fetal, and umbilical cord stem cells, and is enthusiastically recommended for its inspirational message to never give up hope to anyone struggling with a medical problem that can potentially be helped through stem cell treatment.

This book has given me a new perspective on Stem Cell research. Especially as it pertains to real science as opposed to rhetoric. The book presents an interesting case study about a specific kind of treatment, but it also delves into the various research that is going on in the field of Stem Cells. It was informative and well researched.

As a librarian, I am often asked to help patrons find information on health conditions. I have found that these patrons aren't just looking for cold facts, they are also seeking the human side, the human impact of their medical condition. One of the aspects of the book Stem Cells Saved My Life: How to Be Next I enjoyed the most was the balance of these two needs.

I highly recommend this book to libraries large and small, to those with similar conditions, and especially to those whose families are affected.

Mr. van Zyl describes the severe heart condition which resulted in death, resuscitation, and a six way bypass which left him totally disabled. Severe fatigue prevented him from leading a normal useful life. After being turned down as a candidate for a heart transplant the doctors indicated there was no hope for improvement and no further medical treatment was available. Mr. van Zyl would not give up that easily. He researched the internet to find experimental medical clinical trials that could result in improvement in his condition. He found a clinical trial using adult stem cells that are injected directly into the heart. If successful the damaged heart muscle would be repaired and the function of the heart improved. The lengthy study was being conducted in the Boston area and Mr. van Zyl lives in Florida which presented a physical challenge for him to travel each month to receive the treatments. His dedication and determination resulted in a marked improvement to his heart and he now leads a useful and purposeful life. His story is an inspiration to all people with a desperate medical condition for which there appears to be no hope and no further standard medical treatment is available. This book is a "must read" for people in this condition and for all people who want to learn more about the potential of adult stem cell research.

As a mystery author, I had the honor of moderating an author panel at a recent Left Coast Crime convention upon which R.E. Derouin sat. I read TIME TRIAL in preparation for my moderator duties, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. TIME TRIAL takes place in Mr. Derouin's adopted hometown of Ouray Colorado. Detective David Dean has left his home in Pennsylvania to recover from gunshot wounds. He finds trouble follows him to scenic Colorado, and TIME TRIAL is a fast-paced and complex thriller. I recommend it highly, as I do the other works by Ray Derouin, a talented writer, as well as a charming and interesting man.

Pennsylvania police detective is spending time in present-day Ouray County, Colorado, recovering from a gunshot wound received in the line of duty. One day, his quiet convalescence is shattered by the sudden arrival of five unwanted and eccentric individuals. They seem to have a strange interest in a place called Byrd's Song, a homestead high above the ghost town of Sneffels.

Among Dean's "visitors" are Dorrie Briscoe, a woman who is less-than-picky about her choice of sleeping partners, and whose teenage daughter, Natalie, brings new meaning to the word "precocious". Neil Archer is a history professor and old friend of Dean's with a taste for much younger women, including Natalie. The group is led by an obnoxious millionaire named Henry Whitcomb, whose wife and son were murdered two years earlier.

Whitcomb claims to have found an old, metal, head-mounted device called the Klaxton Turban, which will send the mind of the user back in time. He is convinced that he was in Byrd's Song over 100 years ago, and is obsessed with finding out for sure, one way or the other. A trip to present-day Byrd's Song brings up several clues that tend to support Whitcomb's version of events. Could this be a sort-of time machine, or something more mundane? Dean doesn't believe in the Turban for a second, but. . .

I really enjoyed this book. Derouin does a very good job with the characters and setting of this book. The mystery part was also well done. I'm looking forward to the next David Dean mystery.

Miners of a century ago found gold and silver in the San Juan Mountains. If you're a mystery fan you'll find gold in "Time Trial".

This is an excellently constructed mystery with captivating plot, intriguing characters and an outcome even the most experienced reader is unlikely to predict.

For those who've visited the San Juans the theme and events will bring back fond memories of these majestic mountains and the mines and miners that brought riches to so many. Whether you've roamed these mountains or not, though, you'll strike it rich when you read this novel.

Derouin's second book, "San Juan Solution" is already out and equally absorbing. This delightful Ouray toy shop owner is hard at work on the third book, "Mountain Ice", due out in the summer of 2001.

"~Are you looking for a special gift for the mystery lover in your life? How about something special for someone that seems to have everything? Well, you are in luck."~ twelve plays, five of which won national awards. when a cast of unforgettable characters descends upon Ouray and disrupts his life. There is Henry Whitcomb, a multi-millionaire with a 19th century "hat" which allows him to travel back in time. Is it possible this "hat" will allow him to discover who murdered his wife and son two years ago? What to make of Neil Archer, a college professor and 25 year acquaintance of Dean's?, a brunette in her thirties, a Mrs. Brown somewhere between the age of 50 and 70, a pony-tailed electrical"~ engineer, not to mention Dean's stepfather Fred O'Connor and a 13 year old girl going on 30! Dean described the group as being "...like clowns from a circus funny car..." The journey by this unlikely cast results in a page-turning mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The dialogue is believable, the characters are, well, characters, and the blending of present day Ouray and vicinity with a century past is unique and mysterious. writers living and writing on the Western slope of Colorado. Time Trial is highly recommended and will make an excellent choice for any reader interested in mysteries set in the San Juan Mountains.

The kid with the thirty-eight panicked and shot Parkside, Pennsylvania police officer David Dean. After a three-week recovery in the nearby hospital, the doctors inform David he needs another two months of healing before returning to the force. Marian Anderson, the spouse of one of his officers, recently inherited a Colorado home that needs a house sitter so David volunteered and left for some rest and recuperation in the Rockies.

David's peace and quiet is quickly interrupted by the appearance of friends of his host including the odious, ultra rich Henry Whitcomb and four of his followers. Someone murdered Henry's wife and son two years ago in an unsolved Keystone State crime. Henry believes he possesses a time travel device that will allow him to go back and learn who killed his family members. He persuades David and his stepfather to join him on his trek beyond the nearby ghost town. If David only knew what he is stepping into he probably would have stayed in Pennsylvania.

TIME TRIAL is an excellent "Mountain Time" mystery that will please fans of Rocky Mountain who-done-its. The story line is engaging and filled with surprises and unusual twists. David is a wonderful character and his support cast augments the tale with a tender depth that takes some of the edge away from him. The Colorado Rockies bring perspective to the plot. The mystery works on several levels, but it is David and his personal entourage that will delight fans with R.E. Derouin's debut novel, which demands sequels.

There are two movie adaptations of "The Winslow Boy" available, recently starring Jeremy Northam (1999), and anciently starring Robert Donat (1948). But neither is an adequate substitute for the real thing, the full text by Terence Rattigan. In 1988, PBS broadcast a superb production of the full text, starring Ian Richardson and Emma Thompson, but it has not, unfortunately, been transferred to video.

The play concerns a public battle against the government, waged by a father to vindicate his son, expelled from a naval academy for cashing a stolen money order. Although the crusade is exciting, the play is most interesting in what it reveals about the people intimately involved: the members of the Winslow family, their close friends and their lawyer. The resulting insights and realism are among the story's chief virtues.

At first reading, the play may seem a straightforward tale of innocence versus injustice. But on closer inspection, one finds that the boy's innocence is never proved, and that some in the family deny or doubt it. Moreover, even if he is innocent, the harm to members of the family and to the country from pursuing the case might be greater than the harm from letting it drop. Such uncertainty is frustrating, but life is like that. Crusades are often launched for ends whose worth is unclear. The play is wise to develop this point.

Moreover, the actions and motives of crusaders may be a mixture of good and bad. This may make them harder to join, but certainly interesting and instructive to watch. One admires the boldness, determination and persistence of the father, Arthur Winslow, without whose initiative the crusade would not exist. Yet he is rather a sourpuss, often dominating or humiliating others. His daughter and indispensable lieutenant, Kate, is the most attractive member of the family, bright and realistic but emotionally withheld and often blinded by partisanship. Sir Robert Morton, the celebrated advocate who represents the Winslow boy is a supercilious, cold fish, and a brilliant (unscrupulous?) forensic champion. All three make substantial sacrifices for the sake of their crusade.

The author is a master of surprise and reversal. Much of the dramatic excitement comes when esteemed characters behave badly, or disregarded characters greatly please. Perhaps the most beautiful moment in the play is a marriage proposal to Kate by Desmond Curry, an old family friend whom she rather disdains (and the reader discounts). And the mother, Grace Winslow, whose views have been generally ignored, finally makes a powerful case that the crusade, out of pride and stubbornness, is destroying her husband and family for a son who is uninterested in the result.

Another excellence of the play is its treatment of controversy. On the questions as to whether the crusade is justified and worthwhile, for the family and for the country, the author impartially assigns plausible arguments to the various sides, from the characters, the newspapers they quote, or the proceedings they attend.

An outstanding play, with plenty of food for the intellect, the heart and the soul.

The book shows the defficenceis of England before WW1.

Overall it is the most boring book i have ever read.

It is based, substantially, on actual events. Try and see (if you haven't already) the David Mamet film adaption of the play which should be coming to video within a few months. It's a simply beautiful treatment. His most human work yet.

I really love this play. A friend gave me a copy and I started reading it on the train and was unable to stop until I had finished reading it! I was able to envisage the characters in my mind and as soon as I finished it, I HAD to go out and rent the David Mamet film adaptation which is also fantastic.

Sir Robert, Catherine Winslow and Arthur Winslow are remarkably well-drawn characters and all of the dialogue in the play is excellent. I really enjoyed this play and highly recommend it!

I enjoyed this play immensely and I also enjoyed the David Mamet film as well--a film that I thought was engrossing and a more than satisfying character study.

I liked how the play speaks of something that we sometimes give little regard to in today's society---the importance of and honor in a good and stable reputation. It was very enlightening to read this tale of a family (especially the father) who was in service of maintaining their son's dignity and place in society.

I was also taken by how this quest for honor taxes the family. My favorite scene in the play also begets my favorite line. The scene where the mother tells the father that he should let their son go on with his ife and not stigmatize him by this singular event is very honest and real. And when the mother says, "When he (their son) is grown, he won't thank you for it."-meaning the preservation of his reputation, I thought the whole idea and point of the story was driven home.

An excellent read indeed

This remarkable collection demonstrates once again how Ballard is one of literature's best kept secrets. Fourteen intelligent, intense and vividly written short stories challenge our theories of the recent future. It is one of the mysteries of our own time that someone casting as long a shadow as does Ballard, is virtually unknown in his native England, let alone America. This book, with its visions of dystopia, contains some very intriguing ideas: A middle east guerrilla has an idea for ending the fighting there, only to discover that the UN has a quite different agenda. World War III is played out against the larger concerns of President Reagan's health problems. The index from an unknown and perhaps suppressed autobiography provides tantalizing details to the life and times of one of this century's most anonymous titans. Ballard shines brightest in the short form; these stories are no exception. Enjoy!

I'll let the scholarly types explain all the deep insight contained in these stories. All I can say is this is the collection I hand out to people who want to explore Ballard's work. Some great stories in there.

These are some of the most creative short stories I've read. Ever. A sailor wrecks his chemical-laden ship on a remote Caribbean island, and the island environment reacts surprisingly well. A young assassin escapes an English mental institution and begins targeting astronauts. A man locks himself in his house and locks the rest of the world out...forever. Intelligently written, well-researched, and ever fascinating, these stories represent Ballard at his visionary best. I couldn't put it down!

J.G. Ballard is a rare find, a dystopian with a very, very dry sense of humor. The future isn't the bestiality of "1984" or the state mandated hedonism of Huxley's vision. Rather it comes from the constant tidal pressure of creeping suburbia puncuated with moments of surreal violence sputtered out of a TV set. Kind of like life. I recommend it highly

Ballard novels have never really impressed me - they seem too unfocused and convoluted. I am a big fan, however, of his short stories - generally well-written, interestingly plotted, and providing just the right amount of alienation, making even a mundane situation seem like an otherworldly experience. "The Best Short Stories of..." is a great place to start, with many fiction and sci-fi classics, a great representation of the short story form. "War Fever" is a worthy follow-up. I don't know why it took me so long to try these stories, but they are definitely worth it. Here, he doesn't really go out of his way to write in any established genre (sci-fi, horror), but his stories seem to drift that way ever so slightly, as if trying to just tread the edge of such. He uses some interesting variations with form as well, seeing what the reader will accept as a story: a questionnaire? An index? Both are equally valid, and Ballard uses them to great effect. Give this collection a try and see how well the stories hold up to his more classic works. I think you'll find that his output from the mid to late '80s was just as good.

This incisive work illuminates Virginia's colonial history in personal detail: legal procedures, community structures, and economic and political relationships. Researching primary sources, Professor Pagan brings the narrative to life with persuasive insights into decisions and events as the participants must have planned them: their ambitions, fears, successes, and failures. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in social or legal history.

Prof. John Ruston Pagan has plucked a young 17th Century woman from deepest obscurity to become the subject of his book: Anne Orthwood's Bastard : Sex and Law in Early Virginia. This is a scholarly effort - it is heavily footnoted and supported by a large bibliography - and a first-rate work of investigation and authorship. Central to Anne Orthwood's detailed history was the availability of original records from the earliest days of English settlement in America. These records are preserved in an old courthouse on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Dating from 1632, they are said to be the oldest English-language court records in America.

First a word about "bastard." Today, it is little more than a curse word. As recently as the 1930s, however, it was still imprinted on birth certificates and, as in 1632, described a child born out of wedlock. In 1632, however, bastardy was considered a serious breach of morals, as well, and was deeply resented for the costs it might impose on taxpayers and church parishioners. Caring for bastards was provided for in detail by church and state law. Someone must pay for the midwife, lying-in expenses, wet nurse, etc. and fund the child's early years. That person was the putative father, if he could be discovered, and if he had any money. Failing that, the church and state stepped in. Punishment, too, must be portioned out upon the mother and father for their immoral behavior - and shame would burden the blameless child.

Anne is, herself, born out of wedlock. Rather than bear the humiliating penance the church imposes, Anne's mother escapes to the city of Bristol. That city just happens to be England's western port and the jumping-off point for the New World. Hoping to escape the stain of her origins and her mind filled with exaggerated stories of abundant potential husbands there, Anne indentures herself to a colony-bound sea-captain. He, in turn, sails to the Eastern Shore and sells her services - her indenture - to William Kendall, an upright, uptight, and upwardly-striving plantation owner.

When Anne gets too friendly with Kendall's nephew, John, she is sold off to another land-owner who sells her to yet a third. In the meantime, however, she has become pregnant by John. There can be no marriage, however, because John must "marry up." Conviction for fornication is out, too, since it would tarnish the uncle's reputation. Anne's joyless life comes to an end, when, in the midst of childbirth, she is forced to reveal the father's name, following which she dies. In death, even her honesty is impugned. Anne's son is a healthy baby. With only eight months between conception and birth, a healthy baby is not possible - so testifies the ignorant midwife.

Anne's son, Jasper, lives and is quickly indentured (under English law) for the first 24 years of his life. Anne's third indenturer sues to recover what he paid for Anne's unfulfilled service. Caveat venditor prevails over caveat emptor. A series of suits deal with who is the father - John Kendall is named - what he must pay, and what morals charge he might be stuck with. John pays the bills, but thanks to the machinations of Uncle William, he is found innocent of fornication.

This is an American story - it has a happy ending. Jasper sues for his freedom at the age of 22. The English Poor Law of 1601 specified emancipation at 24. However, in 1672, when Jasper was nine years old, the Virginia Assembly voted to lower the age to 21. Would the court agree that the Virginia law could take precedence over English law and that it could do so retroactively also? Yes! Jasper wins! He wins, in part, because of the quiet intercession of his guilty great uncle, William Kendall, who, incredibly, is now Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Dr. Pagan is a law professor and a scholar with a law degree from Harvard and a PhD. from Oxford. His purpose in writing the book is to show how English common law, rigid and steeped in precedent, was gradually and ever so gingerly adjusted by parvenu JPs and magistrates to meet the special needs of the colony. The sad life and death of Anne Orthwood and the freedom of her son, generating no less than four court cases and, spanning 22 years, serve as an armature around which to wind American legal development. It also makes for a great story. I have to agree with Dr. Pagan: Anne's story is the stuff of great opera. Where is her Verdi or Puccini?

Excellent, well-writen and very entertaining! Mr. Pagan's book covers a lot of ground, detailing a series of related trials that define the foundations of American justice. A++++

I just finished reading John Pagan's amazing true story of life in colonial Virginia and it reveals so much about life during a period that is little understood in our nation's history. After giving us the facts in the introduction, he unveils the history and its implications as each chapter focuses on one individual who was crucial to the events and the four legal actions which resulted from these events. The detective work has been done for you by the author who spent his summer researching every minute detail that exists--you just sit back and enjoy the tale! It is a great read and an astute portrait of a slice of Virginia life in the 1660s to 1680s--and gives us much to think about as the colonies began to establish a unique American legal system adapted from English law. It also gives us a sense of how "sex" was regulated by government at that time, and how legal decisions relate to social and economic realities of life. It is amazing that this little vignette of forgotten lives is so interesting to read about today and brings up issues of privacy, government regulation, and how courts consider society's social and economic goals--issues that resonate with judicial decisions that are being made today. So please read and enjoy and think about Anne and her son Jasper Orthwood. I think they would be very pleasantly surprised to know that their story is being retold in 21st Century America!

This scholarly work of legal history comes in a surprising package -- a gripping tale of early Virginia families and early colonial life and the economy. What a great way to learn about the development of American laws and their foundations!! It is so well written that I didn't want it to end.

Great book, easy reading. Hard to put down.

Blind Trust is about Sherry, who eight months before, was going to be get married to Clint Jessup. But, two weeks before the wedding Clint dissapears and no one knows where he went. After learning that Clint left and wasn't forced to, Sherry struggles to get her life back together. Now, eight months later, Clint shows up,and insists that he had a good reason for everything. Trust Him, he says. Sherry hurts, and doesn't want to love him again. He won't tell Sherry what happened and why. Not yet. Sherry then gets caught into the "nightmare" that Clint has been involved in and now, they must leave everything in God's hands...

Blind Trust is STUPENDOUS!!! I could not put it down. As usual, Blacstock has combined romance, Faith, love, hope, mystery, suspense and excellant Christian, family values to make a wonderful book. The characters are believable and she portrays the emotions so well. I could almost see the scenes as the story progressed. This is a book that I highly recomend if you want something good to read.

Wonderful book in a great series. A must read with the other books in this series. Will enjoy other books by Terri Blackstock as well such as Emerald Windows, Broken Wings, etc.

Terri Blackstock penned another winner with "Blind Trust," Page after page of this well written thriller draws and keeps you in the midst of a battle against the forces of evil. A gut-wrenching narrative that has you wondering just who are the good guys and who can you trust. A fabulous example of learning to 'let go and let God.' If you haven't read any of Terri Blackstock's novels buy one today and you will soon be a Blackstock fan.
Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge

Although over 50 years have lapsed since Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were electrocuted at New York's notorious Sing Sing prison just before Shabbat on 19 June 1953, their grim fate still inflames emotions today.

This racy account of family betrayal intertwined with political espionage by Sam Roberts of the New York Times, gives a fresh slant to the tragic story. As one of the 10,000 `spectators' at the funeral of the Rosenbergs, Roberts' interest in their case was rekindled in the 1980s when he decided to track down David Greenglass, Ethel's younger brother, whose crucial, though flawed, testimony in the Rosenberg trial helped send his sister and brother-in-law to the electric chair. In 1960, Greenglass had vanished from public view and adopted a pseudonym after serving ten years of a fifteen-year prison sentence for espionage. He was doggedly pursued by Roberts and ultimately agreed to discuss his version of events, not so much to set the record straight, but because, as he admitted, `I need the money'.

'The Brother' crackles along at a brisk pace describing the early family life of David Greenglass in Manhattan's politically radical Lower East Side, then his stint as an army technician at Los Alamos, New Mexico. This section of the book is overly detailed, and could have done with some tighter editing, but Roberts eventually shows how Greenglass came to be recruited as a spy by Julius Rosenberg, via David's wife, Ruth. It was here where David Greenglass supplied Julius with rough sketches of the implosion device used to trigger the atomic bomb.

It was not long before the FBI began investigating stolen uranium from the premises where Greenglass worked. It soon unearthed a web of espionage in which David Greenglass was heavily implicated. He panicked and quickly admitted to the FBI his role in spying for the Soviet Union. Greenglass' full confession was conditional, however, on Ruth not being indicted, even though Roberts shows she was more culpable than her sister-in-law, Ethel.

Coincidentally, the trial judge, Irving Kaufman, the prosecutor and chief defence lawyer were all Jewish (but none of the jury). This did not stop the government secretly enlisting the heads of major Jewish organisations to deflect potential allegations of anti-Semitism. Kaufman spared Greenglass because he showed deep remorse for his treachery, and agreed to confess, and name associates - most tellingly his sister and brother-in-law. But the pious judge showed no such mercy to Julius and Ethel, and seemed to share the hyperbolical sentiments of FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, that the Rosenberg's actions were `the crime of the century'. (Roberts barely conceals his disdain for Kaufman who desperately wanted to put the Rosenberg saga behind him. Unfortunately for Kaufman, when he died, the Times Square electronic zipper proclaimed, `Rosenberg Judge Dies', and at his funeral service, a lone heckler at the back of the synagogue screamed, `He murdered the Rosenbergs. Let him rot in hell'.)

As if to underscore the gravity of Greenglass' explosive revelations, Roberts describes, in gut-churning detail, the build up to the Rosenbergs' execution, for example how their young sons, Robby and Michael, were wailing on the eve of the execution `one day to live, one day to live' and how Michael, incandescent with rage, vowed revenge against his uncle David. When a reunion was recently broached by Roberts between Greenglass and his nephews, Greenglass was game, but the Meeropol boys (their adopted name) pointedly refused, labelling Greenglass a `sleazy, despicable person'. The book contains some fascinating archival photos of all the key participants, including David and Ethel together in happier times, as well as a morbid, heart-rending picture of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, side-by-side in their coffins, with Julius wearing a kippah and draped in a tallith.

During the more than fifty hours of uncensored conversation (unknown to his wife) and in an earlier interview with America's Sixty Minutes II, David Greenglass dropped a bombshell - that he had committed perjury when he initially claimed that he witnessed Ethel typing his incriminating notes for Julius to pass to the Soviets - evidence that led to Ethel's arrest. Greenglass has since claimed he does not recall this event, arguing he was coached at the time by his wife, Ruth, to corroborate her story. (Apprehending Ethel is now generally regarded as a ploy to get Julius to crack, rather than because of her complicity.)

When confronted over his role in the disproportionately harsh punishment inflicted on his sister (and Julius), Greenglass was unrepentant. He maintained he never expected the death sentence to be handed down, let alone carried out, but also contended the Rosenbergs sealed their own fate through their `stupidity' - their naïve and dogmatic belief in communism, and stubborn refusal to cooperate with the government.

The Brother points to other ways the sad denouement could have been avoided - with a more impartial judge, by the US government tempering its zeal to prosecute with a little compassion, and yes, a contrite and less intractable stance from the Rosenbergs themselves, even if it meant the unravelling of what was undoubtedly an espionage-ring in New York (though the Kremlin never publicly conceded that Julius was a spy).

On the other hand, maybe the Rosenbergs were doomed from the outset, notwithstanding the damning testimony of David Greenglass. Afterall, the events so vividly portrayed in this book took place against a backdrop of the Korean War, hysterical anti-communism, McCarthy witch-hunts, and an intensifying Cold War. One can only hope in vain that governments today can rise to the occasion and deliver justice to all its citizens, irrespective of the political and social climate that is prevailing at the time.

Sam Roberts found David Greenglass and persuaded him to talk for this very readable 500 page book. It tells of their family histories. How did David Greenglass get assigned to Los Alamos (p.70)? Perhaps due to his talents? He was cleared by Army and FBI investigators (p.71). Soviet atom bomb development began in 1939, they deduced American research in 1940 (p.80). Julius Rosenberg became involved with Soviet espionage, and a recruiter of people who could provide "technical information". The crime is committed when the message is relayed (p.92). Life in Oak Ridge or Los Alamos is likened to a socialist paradise where the government provides for everyone; but not all enjoy Army life (pp.100-1). None suspected that DG's insatiable curiosity was to gather information for a foreign government (p.104). Winston Churchill's scientists asked for dynamite lenses (p.107). How to steal a proximity fuse? Get a defective reject then replace the broken parts with working parts (p.109).

With the war over, DG was no longer interested in helping the Soviets (p.147). The Soviet atomic research resumed in 1943 (p.182), their first atomic test occurred in 1949. This affected the political outlook in Washington (p.183). When they deciphered a message on gaseous diffusion in refining uranium, this led to its author and prime suspect - Klaus Fuchs (p.188). Another deciphered message said a spy at Los Alamos went on vacation in Jan 1945 (p.197); 100 suspects were turned up. The two prime suspects were Luis Alvarez and Edward Teller - the best friend of Klaus Fuchs.

DG's confession is on page 242. He hired O. John Rogge and cooperated with the FBI; he could not testify against his wife (p.261). Greenglass and Gold were interviewed together to harmonize their stories (p.278). The Government wanted Julius Rosenberg to confess and identify other members of the spy ring (p.282); the death penalty was the threat (p.287). David was trained as a draftsman and had surprising neat handwriting (p.297). Page 317 says his handwriting needed to be typed, and this implicated Ethel in the crime. The trial found them all guilty. The Rosenbergs got death, but they insisted on their innocence and never cracked. They were convicted on the word of the Greenglasses alone, there was no independent corroborative evidence given at their trial. I think the failure to show spending or money from their spying was a failure in the Government's case. The rule is that spies get paid for their information ("The Double-Cross System").

Some questioned the scientific value of Greenglass' atom bomb sketch. It was "valuable information" to corroborate the information given by Klaus Fuchs (p.408). The 1946 Smyth Report gave much more information on atomic energy research than given by Klaus Fuchs (p.410)! Page 425 lists the information that Julius could give to delay their execution; nothing was asked of Ethel. President Eisenhower denied clemency because they "increased the chance of atomic war and may have condemned tens of millions of innocent people to death" (p.430).

Chapter 36 has Greenglass' "final confession". He thought the worse thing he did was working on the atomic bomb because it killed a hundred thousand people (p.469). He didn't regret his spying if it prevented another war (p.479). David and Ruth now said they didn't remember Ethel typing the notes, but "that's the way it would have been done" (p.483). Without this, Ethel might not have been convicted. Why didn't Julius and Ethel save themselves? Because it would mean putting other people in their hot seat (p.493). DG's verdict: they were guilty, but they didn't deserve to die (p.496). This disproportionate punishment may explain Pope Pius XII's call for clemency. The Prosecution team never again won distinction in their careers.

I got more out of this book than I thought I would. Mr. Roberts does a very good job of telling the story of David Greenglass, his wife Ruth, and his sister and brother-in-law, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. The Rosenbergs were executed the year before I was born and it is a sad story I have heard various versions of throughout my life. Depending on your political leanings it became a kind of vision test. What you saw in it revealed a lot about how you saw the world and what you believed about the Cold War.

Mr. Roberts gives a lot of background material to provide context and to help modern-day readers capture more of the atmosphere of the time. One example that affected me was the link many made between the onset of the Korean War with Stalin having atomic weapons sooner than he would have without Fuchs, Greenglass, and the Rosenbergs. (Ted Hall played a significant role as well, but no one outside the Intelligence community knew about him until the 1990s.)

The author provides unequivocal evidence of Julius acting as an agent and spy for the Soviet Union. He also has no doubt that Ethel was aware of and approved of her husband aiding the USSR. They were naively supporting an ideal politics that did not exist. Julius also seemed to enjoy the importance he felt he attained by doing this work. He also seems to have provided other technologies to the Soviet Union including a proximity fuse.

But Roberts expresses grave concern over even charging Ethel and provides evidence that she was being used as a lever on her husband. Mr. Roberts seems to doubt that there was enough real evidence to even indict Ethel let alone convict and execute her (actual guilt being a different issue). There is no doubt that everyone involved wished that Julius would cooperate so their sentences could be commuted. But Julius and Ethel were committed to their ideology more than their own lives.

The bombshell in this book is provided in the summary of a series of interviews that Roberts had with David Greenglass (now living under a different name) wherein Greenglass says that he did say things on the stand that weren't exactly correct. He did not see the photographic table he testified to (although he knew that Julius did do photographic spy work), and, more explosively, that he had no personal recollection of the famous scene of Ethel typing the pages of atomic bomb notes. He testified to it to corroborate his wife, Ruth's. testimony. Greenglass, however, confirms and says that he has no doubt of Julius and Ethel's guilt. He also says he was shocked when they received the death penalty.

This is a story that seems to have no resolution. Those who remember it tend to be very committed to one version or another. For the rest, it is an old event that is evaporating from memory with only vague notions of what was at stake and without historical context. Mr. Roberts has done us all a great service by getting the real story with wonderful detail and good analysis. If you are interested in this story, this book is a must read. I believe that no matter what you think you know about this case, this book will give you many new insights and a greater understanding of this sad historical event.

Although I was only [...] when the Rosenberg's were executed on June 19, 1953, I do have vague recollections of their execution. The book is over 500 pages long but worth its length. Without going into lengthy details, as I understand the story, in 1945 Julius Rosenberg asked his sister-in-law, Ruth Greenglass, to suggest to her husband David, who was working on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, New Mexico, to provide details about the makings of the atomic bomb to be passed on to the Soviets. This David agreed to do since Russia had been an American ally during World War II. There appears to be some doubt as to what Ethel Rosenberg's role in this scheme was. Ethel apparently knew what her husband Julius was up to and was even agreeable to it. When her brother David was arrested, he agreed to cooperate with the government providing his wife would not be implicated. Instead David claimed that Ethel did the typing of his (David's) notes from Los Alamos. When author Sam Roberts interviewed David for the book David wavers as to who actually did the typing of his notes. He now states that it most likely was his wife Ruth. This apparently is where he is said to have sent his sister to the electric chair to save his wife Ruth. Would David have done this had he known a death sentence was facing his sister? From his interview with author Roberts I would have to say yes he would have although even though they were guilty they didn't deserve to die. One of the Rosenberg's two sons, Michael, is quoted as saying, "My mother went to the death house and Aunt Ruth goes home to make dinner." If you enjoy American history this is a book that you will want to make sure you have in your library. This is riveting American history.

.....but that doesn't change the truth of what he said. A virtual infinity of books have been written about the Rosenberg case, most by people having an agenda, one way or the other; this is one of the best, and most important...further, Sam Roberts does not have an agenda. I was only 6 when the Rosenbergs went to the chair, but I remember it well. I have never doubted their guilt; I have little doubt that my Dad would have pulled the switch. Numerous authors have proclaimed the Rosenbergs innocent victims of a government frame-up; these are often Communists, or at least leftists, who base their assertions on the belief that the principle prosecution witnesses, David and Ruth Greenglass, were lowlifes.

This fine book is the story of David Greenglass, brother of Ethel Rosenberg, atomic spy, soldier turned traitor, a man who turned government witness and "sent his sister to the chair". Many know the basic story...Ethel and David grew up in a poor family, and embraced Communism while young. Ethel married fellow Communist Julius Rosenberg, who strongly desired to aid the Soviet Union. During WWII, David was drafted into the Army, and worked in the machine shop at Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was being developed...Julius found out about David's assignment, and recruited him to steal secrets for Russia...David passed the information to spy courier Harry Gold...after the war, the house of cards eventually fell...scientist Klaus Fuchs was caught...that led to Harry Gold...........

When arrested in 1950, David and his wife Ruth gave up Julius and Ethel; there was certainly no desire to "send them to the chair". They figured that the Rosenbergs would confess, as others had done, and the chain would go on. But, the Rosenbergs never confessed; apart from Morton Sobell, the rest of their spy ring remained free. They were tried, convicted, and, after a two year legal fight, executed. Sobell [who was not involved in atomic espionage] got 30 years, served 18 of them, and has never repented. Greenglass got 15 years, served 9, and disappeared behind an assumed name into a city somewhere in the northeast. He is now 85, and has expressed no regrets about being a government witness, still angry that the Rosenbergs got them into the mess. Ruth was never indicted......

There have been many charges of frame-up, and misconduct, on the part of the government. Certainly, there were improprieties; prosecutor Alexander Saypol wanted to be a Judge, and he was. Judge Irving Kaufman would have given his front seat in the Synagogue for the Supreme Court; despite a long, honored, career as an appeals judge, he never got it. But, none of this changes the Rosenbergs' guilt...in fact, the government had evidence it didn't dare use...the Venona intercepts implicated the Rosenbergs, and others, but use of them in open court would have let the Soviets know we had broken the code. The FBI even had an informant in Emmanuel Bloch's office while he was preparing the Rosenbergs' appeals...he gained even more evidence of guilt, but, of course, it couldn't be used.

We can debate capital punishment in general, and in this specific case, particularly for Ethel...like Mary Surratt, she was guilty, but peripherally. In fact, J. Edgar Hoover was strongly opposed to executing her. The Rosenbergs died by choice, giving their ultimate loyalty to a lie; on execution night, FBI agents were present to receive their confession, and President Eisenhower was at his desk with a commutation order.

The Rosenberg case has legal, political, psychological, military, philosophical, and religious, elements that will be debated forever. This book will give you a whole different view. Read it; also, read "The Rosenberg File" by Ronald Radosh and Joyce Milton. Radosh is a former Communist sympathizer who set out to prove the Rosenbergs' innocence, and got a big surprise. Also, "The Implosion Conspiracy" by Louis Nizer, another rare author with no agenda, is well worth your time.

The footnotes in this book are extensive and as insightful as the contents. The legal actions and procedings surrounding the trial are given attentive details. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about Mormon history, American legal history, or history of the 1840's in Illinois.

I found this book to be thoroughly researched and documented. Oaks and Hill have written this book in a way that the reader can understand the legal process of the trial of the alleged assassins of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith. With many footnotes to back up their research, Oaks and Hill have effectively given the reader a clear picture of the events that led to the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum and the subsequent trial, without getting too carried away with "legalese" language. My complements to the authors on this excellent book!

I recommend this book to anyone who has interest in Trial Law, as well as Mormon History.

First of all, this is not a Mormon-propaganda book. It is a scholarly work, a study of law. It is an account of the legal proceedings that took place as a result of the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage, Illinois in June of 1844. This book makes no attempt to convert anyone to Mormonism--in fact it doesn't even focus on the Smiths. Instead, it critically examines the trial of five men accused of participating in the murder of these two men.

I cannot praise this book enough for its objectivity. The authors remain completely aloof from bias, and focus instead on an analysis of the trial. One should not read this book with the intent of learning every detail about the Smiths' murder. For those interested in knowing about the legal proceedings that followed their deaths, however, this book will be a valuable tool.

This book is an invaluable resource--it unearths many facts and circumstances that I have not encountered anywhere else, and manages to make sense of just what happened inside the Carthage jail on that fateful summer day. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Mormon history.

Highly documented, as are all Mormon writings, it tells what happened at Carthage, Illinois. The murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hiram told minute by minute, identification of many personalities, and clear reporting of the courst case. The atmosphere and surroundings of this incident has been repeated before and after, within societies that feel threatened by something they do not understand. Reading of this book will bring sorrow to your heart, and a rememberance of Waco and other unfair reactions to supposed threats. Very good book, reporting in detail what happened.

Governor Thomas Ford came to Carthage. Joseph Smith expressed concern about personal security for Hyrum, Richards, John Taylor.

Why did Governor Ford dismiss Joseph Smiths warnings of danger?
Governor Ford feared increasing numbers of Mormon immigrants in the state of Illinois. Governor Ford feared Mormon control of the political machinery because the Mormon influx represented the possibility of a power shift: new political leaders, democrat controlled state shifting to another party (whigs,republican), and new state laws submitted and ratified by Mormons.

Governor Ford promised the prophet Joseph safety telling him that a state militia would be disposed to ensure the safety of the prophet. The prophet expressed grave concern because of the persistent nature of the anarchist, mobs, or enemies of the prophet too take his life.

The prophet foresaw the incompetency of the militia to protect him correctly. Poor communication and undisciplined military response by the militia suggests they were under order, not to be in the vacinity of Carthage, at the time of the murder of Joseph Smith. Even as the enemy was forming a logistic line and coordinating an attack, the militia did not respond appropriately. The militia seems too have no intelligence or counter offensive plans against an attack.

Did Governor Ford conspire with Thomas Sharp to allow the Marytr of Joseph Smith?

No legal prosecution was charged against the governor, no committee was formed to research foul play, and no confessions record to implicate the governor in the plot. However, Governor Ford had opportunity and motive to assist in the conspiracy.

Joseph Smith was given a hand pistol by a Member during a visit. With it, Joseph Smith shot one attacker in the face, one in the arm, and one in the shoulder. Why were these men not found and brought to trial? What is surprising is the amount of evidence ignored by the court. The court was not following constitution law nor was it following rules of evidence. The court was following common or customary law rules. In fact one man was shot, managed to walk into a tavern, tell his story, and witnesses saw the bandages protecting the bullet wound. The evidence was not used to press charges against these men.

Bracken testified "He saw Wills, Voras, and a man named Gallaher, all wounded on the road between Carthage and Warsaw. The wounds he described matched those mentioned by Daniels - Gallaher was wounded in the cheek. All three men were indicted for the murders of Joseph and Hyrum, but they were never arrested, nor did they appear at the trial." Why were these men indicted? The seems to have usurp constitution law. Additionally, the adversarial forum of the court room broke down as the prosecuting attorney failed to perform competently, a mistrial should have been ordered and a new case submitted. The court seems to have rejected the federal mandates and guarantees provided by the U.S government. The court symbolizes rebellion against the union and possed the potential for seeds of the civil war.

Why didn't Worrel stand trial for his involvement in the conspiracy? Worrel used business connection and personal influence to avoid being cross examined by the court. Sufficient evidence existed to indict Worrel and bring him before the court to have him examined. Worrel not standing trial was a great injustice.

During William Daniels testimony, Daniel put Sharp and Williams at the scene of the crime; and Eliza Graham's testified about Sharp's boasting in at the Warsaw House; why did the prosecution build on these facts and cement the argument for a verdict of guilty? The court was not following constitutional law. Instead, it create a customary law, convenient to exonerate these men. The evidence was convincing enough to bring minimal punishment against them and circumstantial enough to bring capital punishment against these men.

How did the defense team make Daniels testimony seem uncreditable? The persecuting attorney was incompetent. The defense team immediately picked up on this fact and exploited it. This further weakened any chance for justice to prevail.

Should have Jacobs been prosecuted for conspiracy to kill even though he did not directly participate with the mob attack? Jacobs should have received punishment for his involvement. Even though Jacobs did not participate directly, he was an accomplice to the crime. Jacobs was stained by his association and involvement in the crime.

Did the fact William Grover, Mark Aldrich, Thomas Sharp, Levi Williams, and Jacob Davis belong to the masonic society influence their political ambitions and desire to kill Joseph Smith? The Masons were not directly involved in the conspiracy, however, the Masonic lodge provided opportunity and means for these men to meet and conspire against the prophet Joseph Smith.

The fact Lamborn dismisal of Daniels incriminating testimony against Levi Williams, Thomas Sharp, Mark Aldrich, Jacob C. Davis, and William N. Grove is outrageous!

Why did Benjamin Brackenbury's testimony that Grover boast he killed Joseph Smith had him acting for the community as a theme of rebellion of civil law? The greater tradegy of anarchy was the lose of life incurred in the civil war. The civil war divided a country and turned brother against brother in a contest to establish supreme sovereignty.

Why did Mark Aldrich gain back most his land for pennies on the dollar after he declared bankruptcy? This was pure theft and reflected the moral and legal decay in the community politics and legal system.

Why did Lamborn dismiss three of his most important witnesses? Lamborn was probably bribed to throw the case. Lamborn was known to accept bribery and could be swayed by an angry community not to vigorously prosecute the accused. Was Lamborn paid to throw the trial into confusion?

Why did captain Grover not hasten his pace to rescue Joseph Smith from the Mobs? Captain Grover should have been force on threat of court martial too justify his actions. The integrity of Captain Grover came under question because he could have raced his men, double time, too Carthage and rescued the prophet and the apostles from the mobs.

Why didn't the Carthage Greys purse the fleeing mob members? Captain Grover did not seem too be compelled to protect the life of the prophet nor capture the prophets assailants. Captain Grover seems have followed a precise strategy of being late and too exhausted to persue.

Given the testimony of Eliza Graham and the testimony of Daniels; why did defense attorney Browning claim even if his Sharp, Williams, and Grover had opportunity to comit the crime, no admitting they did, however, they would be justified because it they were acting on the old citizens desire to kill Joseph Smith?

Levi Williams lead the mobs into a civil war against the Mormons. Why did William seditious and traitorous actions not go unpunished by the law?

Why were gun shots heard but none of the mob members injuried?

Who killed Joseph and Hyrum Smith?

What was the political tension between the whigs and the democrats? Joseph Smith would have been the President of the United States of American. Business men in the East like the prophets political views. Popular polls indicated the Prophet Joseph Smith would have easily once the presidency.

The acquitals of these men marked the beginning of civil war. Rebellion against law. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood. Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom, Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.
(Hymns, 1985, no. 27)

Doug White's look at the state of charities and fundraising in our country is insightful and well-thought out. This book, which is easy to read, does an outstanding job of enlightening all of us on what happens behind the scenes of charities. Even experienced fundraisers, dedicated board members and long-time donors can benefit from the wisdom and observations in its pages. As entertaining as it is informative, it is a breath of fresh air in the non-profit world.

Doug offers an excellent look at the real issues faced by non profit organizations. Administration and fund-raising are reasonable functions with real expenses. However those costs are rarely an indicator of effectiveness. There is no practical standard to measure efficiency or success comparable to "for profit" organizations. His book is helpful to the discerning donor to attempt to identify those who will take your money and hopefully use it to help those we cannot help directly. To make to biggest difference you can.

As a donor to a number of charities, I found this book to be enlightening. After reading it, I understood better how to look at charities with a more critical eye. In so doing, I can make certain my money is best spent. This book is a must for anyone interested in being a more focused donor.

As an Executive Director of a large inner city Social Service Agency this is a great book. Most of us all agree you have to have a vision where you want to be, and how you want to get there. Mr. White clearly has a vision that all charities should strive for the highest ETHICAL and not just legal standards. His book has a lot to offer in helping us keep our minds on that job, while we also try to keep our eyes on the prize. Donor Accountability is not to be taken lightly and this book is right on target for today's post Enron Era. Every CEO, CFO and ED's should read this book.
It should be required reading in any MBA field and certainly for anyone involved in the Fundraising Profession. Stephen Providence RI

As a baby boomer who writes lots of checks to charities, I found this book to be enlightening and enormously helpful. The author clearly has the information donors need to ensure that the money they give is used for the purposes they intend. Although he pulls no punches, Mr. White's heart is firmly in the world of charities. He wants to weed out the bad ones so the good ones succeed.

This is an excellent book. It outlines the important issues of clinical trials well. It is understandable and thorough. A must for anyone who is interested in actually doing trials. Not a good book for a brief, superficial overview.

Covers many aspects of trials (particularly facets of design and analysis)not yet covered by other books, eg randomisation with minimisation, and meta-analysis of trial results. Readable, applicable, practical, good references, well structured.

The amount of knowledge and the scope of this book are the exact need for the first contact with clinical trials. Yet, it is not a simple or superficial text. Instead, it not only will guide the reader through the basics of trials (and there is so much that is not basic in it) but the author points the reader to hundreds of papers and books that are landmarks. I regard this book itself as one of these landmarks!

This book is very unique. Basic statistical concepts are clearly presented but only those concepts that are important in clinical trials. The author presents all the issues with clinical trials including ethical issues with some historical perspective. Principles of randomization and statistical design are clearly presented. It offers discussion of Bayesian techniques and meta-analyses, cross-over designs and group sequential methods (interim analyses). For statisticians doing clinical research like myself, this is a valuable reference source.

This book is very unique. Basic statistical concepts are clearly presented but only those concepts that are important in clinical trials. The author presents all the issues with clinical trials including ethical issues with some historical perspective. Principles of randomization and statistical design are clearly presented. It offers discussion of Bayesian techniques and meta-analyses, cross-over designs and group sequential methods (interim analyses). For statisticians doing clinical research like myself, this is a valuable reference source.