Trials Books

This book to me is a must have for any lover of Salem, or anyone interested in knowing the real story of the Witch Hunts. If you are planning a trip to Salem then this book is truly a must have as it tells you all the places to visit, what happened at those places, and most importantly directions on how to get to those places! Truly a wonderful book to have for all the information it provides.

This is much more than just a guide book. It gives a detailed, fascinating, lucid and very readable account of what happened in Salem in 1692, from when the girls in Salem Village parsonage started going into fits to when the last accused witches were released from jail and compensation was finally paid and names cleared. With surprising subtelty, given its concision, it clarifies such issues as whether the accusing girls were hysterical or faking and what the relationships were between all the main leaders of the witch hunt. Both for people visiting Salem, who want to be taken back in time by exploring what remains from those days, and for people who would like to visit Salem but can't, this is the perfect introduction to the witch trials. With many maps and illustrations and an easy to read format, it's suitable for all ages.

This is a great book if you hate reading dry history. It's the type of fictional narrative that will make someone like me actually read the REAL history on the case to get a more in-depth understanding. I thought the author did a great job of telling the story of a black man who after working continuously as a slave did not realize he spent much of his life in free territory. The numerous trials of free/not-free make for interesting reading and show just how tedious and nerve-racking freedom was.

This book is prefaced with a touching forward by a great-grandson [John Madison Jr.] of Dred Scott. He sets up the reader beautifully for Shelia Moses' attempt to humanize the man behind the landmark Supreme Court case of the 1850s which denied Scot's humanity and that of all blacks. I agreed with Mr. Madison's opening concern "How would Shelia Moses write about [Scott, his wife and children] and tell their story? It occurred to me later that how she did it was not as important as simply telling his story..."

This story is simply told, and short--eighty pages of fairly large type--and yet rich with detail and information. Those who aren't familiar with him will learn that Scott was a slave who was taken to several free-states by his master, an army doctor, in the 1840s. In the 1850s, sympathic lawyers argued in countless cases, leading all the way up to the Supreme Court, that Scott should be a free man. When Justice Taney and the Supreme Court ruled against Scott, the nation, already embroiled in the slavery debate, was further polarized as it raced toward war. Although told through the first-person voice, I found Dred Scott remained distant and unknown in this book. That's not exactly a criticism. Perhaps Ms. Moses trusts her readers enough to leave us some of the hard work of trying to understand another human being and make meaning of their life for ourselves. I deeply appreciated that she does not project herself into Scott or shackle him with modern sensibilities and agendas as so many writers of adolescent historical fiction do. Through Moses' pen the reader really does feel that are listening to Scott himself-who I imagine was an unassuming man not prone to deep, emotional disclosure.

As a middle school history teacher I am always searching for (and, sadly, rarely finding) quality material which will bring history alive for my students and help them get into someone else's head. I plan to use this book as an anchor for our study of slavery. I think Julius Lester's sledge-hammer compilation of true slaves rememberances, To Be A Slave, would compliment this work nicely. Frederick Douglass autobiography would also be appropriate. I know Douglass should trump I Dred Scott but I'm going with this because of it's readability.

On the cover of this book is a painting in which Dred Scott peers out at us with a somewhat vacant but dignified gaze. His eyes seem to be inviting us to pause and look back and try to glimpse into his soul. The book, like the painting, does that for me.

John Madison Jr's preface ends with the appeal, "I hope that people all over the world will read and love the characters to which Shelia Moses has given so much love. I hope you will finish this book knowing that Dred Scott was different from the court ruling that said he was only one-fourth of a man. He was my great-grandfather-and the start of our legacy."

**I'll add student's reactions to this review after I try it with them.

Ultimately, Daniel Cohen achieves his sense of balance in "The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton" by finding all the parties involved guilty of something. The Republican party was able to take advantage of competing standards in being critical of Clinton's behavior, applying a legal standard to his political behavior and a political standard to his legal actions. In a similar fashion Cohen uses various standards to find fault with one and all, which, I dare say, is a position most young readers can readily buy into.

In 1998 the U.S. House of Representatives voted for two articles of impeachment against President Clinton: committing perjury and obstructing justice. Clinton was acquitted by the U.S. Senate after a brief trial, but Cohen is well aware that the story involves much more than the Constitutional issues. Cohen presents the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the context of the "Character" issue that had followed Clinton throughout his run for the White House. Detailing the string of events that brought Lewinsky to the attention of Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr. Even though he is writing for a younger audience, Cohen pays attention to details: he points out the employee photograph of Lewinski from the Department of Defense was used because it was the only one available until journalists finally tracked her down. A small detail, but important because in the world of news images matter. The chapters in which Cohen details how the White House counterattacked the building story and the testimony that became the focal point of the impeachment effort.

During the whole impeachment affair I always like to read news magazines rather than newspapers, because I appreciated the sense of perspective that you get from something that comes out weekly rather than daily. Cohen certainly takes advantage of the persepctive time affords him. I also like the fact that Cohen does not let his objectivity stand in the way of being critical: he notes that Betty Currie, the president's secretary, would have been an obvious witness to call but that the impeachment managers did not want to have a string of black witnesses being questioned by white males. Again, I think this sort of detail speaks to the quality of this book.

Ultimately, the information in this book may enlighten, but it probably will not persuade anybody, mainly because everybody's mind is made up on this one. I remember thinking it was a big mistake for the U.S. Supreme Court to let lawyers go after a sitting U.S. President in a civil trial and when Clinton denied having "sexual relations" with Lewinski I immediately knew that he was ruling out intercourse, but not other things. Along with what happened in Florida, it was an interesting couple of years educating children about the wonderful world of politics in this country. Of course, I am not sure too many students are interested in beating this particular dead horse, but this is an excellent treatment of the sordid chapter of recent American history.

Extremely well-written in an unbiased telling of the facts, Cohen presents this entire scandal in "the best light possible." Told chronologically, he incudes black/white photos and documents that keep this book moving at an acceptable pace. A much appreciated addition to any school or public library, this will be a popular reference for any school project concerning Presidents. Readers are left to draw their own conclusions about the "charmed" life and bad choices of this U. S. President. You can't do much better than that, Mr. Cohen.

A great trial lawyer has taken the time to put together an authoritative text on the jury trial. This should be required reading of all Americans.

Quotes throughout the centuries on the value of trial by jury, e.g., 'the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution' -Jefferson.

Fred Hofstetter is an educator (U of Delaware), programmer, author, speaker and writer who knows digital technology from traveling the road of hard knocks via programming his own authoring package (Podium)to the subtleties of surfing the Web for goodies. This most recent book, Internet Literacy ,(Computer Literacy preceded it, I believe) is a very good compendium of just about any topic a general user would ordinarily want to explore on the subject. I believe purchasers may also obtain a CD-ROM (through separate purchase?). You can't miss on this purchase even without the CD though.

I made a review of the book as a request of one of my friends at college. I work as a Computer Instructor at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (Ponce Campus). The book is a good start for someone not related to computers. It is also a good reference for educators. Sometimes you need materials related to the Internet and this is good book to find them.

Fascinating look at the International Six-Days Trial (later known as the ISDE- International Six-Days Enduro - to avoid confusion with the observed trials competition). The best book I am aware of on the subject, perhaps the only book available on it. (Note: Years later there have been some other books printed on the subject- 2005) The Six-Days in Dalton, MA was an incredible adventure for hundreds of endurance motorcycle competitors from Europe, including riders from the communist countries like Czechoslovakia, East Germany, etc. who were able to leave communism with the permission of their country to compete against the best riders from many countries around the world. They all came to the USA for the first time ever, to race against each other for six days in some very difficult terrain in western Massachusetts. The United States had several dozen competitors, who acquired a position on the US team by going through a series of qualifying 2-day events in the USA. For the competitors, it is the highlight of each year, having competed in smaller events throughout the year, building up to this momentous event. It is a MUST-HAVE for Enduro riders. Unfortunately is is currently out of print. Hopefully enough interest will be generated so that another printing is done.

I am fortunate to have owned a copy of this book since 1974. If you are a fan of the ISDT you will not be disappointed. I cannot tell you how many hundreds of times I have picked this book up just to look at the photos. It also contains a brief but excellent history of the ISDT as well as the personnel responsible for and the events leading up to the 48th ISDT in Dalton. An excellent reference for complete rider list and individual and team standings. Includes a day-by-day recount of the event and follows the progress of the US Vase A team which won the Silver Vase Trophy for the first time ever. If you rode the woods when the Pentons, Malcolm Smith, Dick Burleson etc were the top riders, then you will love this book. Top notch still and action photos, too, both color and black and white, of many of your favorite riders. If you can find a copy, grab it!

My son who is now in his late 20s and in legal trouble has been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder and bipolar disorder. Reading this book has helped me tremendously understand the disease and assist in his legal defense as well as his healing. I highly recommend it due to it's ease of reading and factual information. Had I read this book when he was in his teens, perhaps the problems he now faces would not have occured.

Should I forgive myself after all these years? Or just kill myself. My father,My garndfather and my great grandfather on my fathers side of the family all commited suicide between the ages or 43 and 46. I am 44 as of feb 14.Is it genitic? If I could afford your book I would buy it. It may help me decide what to do with this useless life. Depression and guilt have haunted me for 22 years.

What better combo could there be? I'm not a student of law, but I still found this to be a facinating story about its history and importance. The descriptions of Larry Flynt are colorful and often times halarious. Fawell doesn't exactly come out looking like an angel either, but I found Smolla's treatment of both characters to be fair. Ultimately, the conclusion of this book are right on. Flynt and Falwell are both hustlers of the American Dream. They just sell their versions from opposite ends of the spectrum.

Rod Smolla knows how to tell a story. We all know Larry Flynt is colorful, what we didn't know is how brilliant his young attorney was in getting the Falwell trial heard in the "Live Free or Die State" when Hustler's distribution there was about 1% of its national sales. A must read for any staunch defender of the First Amendment.

Jews On Trial is a close examination of anti-semitism exposed in a variety of legal settings, including legal settings of literature (such as Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice") and all-too-real trials of history, ranging from accusations of "blood libel" to the infamous trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to a modern libel suit in British courts against Holocaust denier David Irving that effectively put the existence of the Holocaust itself on trial. Methodically scrutinizing each case, Jews On Trial dissects the lessons of history and reveals details with exacting thoroughness. A highly recommended and welcome addition to library and personal Judaic studies and history collections.

Jews On Trial is a close examination of anti-semitism exposed in a variety of legal settings, including legal settings of literature (such as Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice") and all-too-real trials of history, ranging from accusations of "blood libel" to the infamous trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to a modern libel suit in British courts against Holocaust denier David Irving that effectively put the existence of the Holocaust itself on trial. Methodically scrutinizing each case, Jews On Trial dissects the lessons of history and reveals details with exacting thoroughness. A highly recommended and welcome addition to library and personal Judaic studies and history collections.

Father Burtchaell's presentation of this series of events in Italy is a joy to read. The issues go beyond conscription/conscientous objection to civil disobedience and legislation. Don Lorenzo's life and story are enlightening, and the way in which he made a protest into changes in Italian law is a model of effecting change. Father Milani's logic is clear and powerful, using masterful rhetoric. This would make an excellent book for a seminar on civil rights or related topics. The book concerns a Catholic priest, and is written as well by one. It does contain religious debate, and it might present problems if used in a public school. But its tale, only lightly framed by the author, is told mostly in letters, articles and court documents of the time. The nearest figure in American history to Father Milani might be Henry David Thoreau.

This is a classical masterpiece. In this book, you can find a systematic analysis of the war and of the emptiness of war. It is a "must buy" for students and for professor of political science and juridical studies. It is a "must buy" for all the people on earth that cherishes the life of their own children. DO NOT MISS IT.