United States Books

Lee: The Last Years

This is a wonderful book about a wonderful man. Although Robert E. Lee is most remembered as a General, for most of his adult life, he was an engineer and educator (although in the army). Mr. Lee could have become very wealthy after the war by simply allowing his name to be used commercially. However, he wanted to make a contribution and did so by accepting the position as President of Washington College. He seldom spoke of the war and brought no military flavor to the College.

There is an argument that Robert E. Lee is responsible for more American dead than any other single individual. The difficult part of this book is tying to tie that Robert E. Lee to the man he was in his last five (5) years. He played Santa at Christmas, broke up a lynching, stroked the ego of his horse Traveller, was a good family man, looked out for the under dog and took care of his students, even when they were in trouble. How he handled all these situations, often minor by standards of the war, brings out the essence of the man including his character, values, wit and subtle humor.

I have read/studied history and biography for 40 years. I have spent more time on Robert E. Lee than any other individual and this book someway brings all my study of Mr. Lee together and puts it in perspective. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in American History. Thanks Mr. Flood.

Outstanding biography of the man. Much has been written about the general, this book brings the humble father, husband and Christian man to life.

I've long considered myself a student of Southern history and the Civil War. Heck, I've been a historian at museums so I think I have a pretty good knowledge of the Civil War era. Furthermore, I live in Virginia and have been to the campus of Washington and Lee University. However, nearly every page of Charles Bracelen Flood's work on Robert E. Lee's post-war years is full of information I've never heard about. Flood has used many differing sources to pull together a wonderful, highly readable account of Lee's years after the war, how he came to be President of Washington College, and his role in the reconstruction of this country. What jumps out off the pages is that for as much as Lee has been studied and idolized for his exploits on the battlefield, his postwar years as President of the college should get just as much press. While Lee did not think defending his native state was wrong, he did wish for both North and South to reconcile as quickly as possible. After reading the book, I still do not think Lee is the god that some people hold him up to be, but he does stand out as a good man who wanted to bring the nation back together while also helping his fellow Southerners get back on their feet. While Flood's writing can be unimaginative at times and I thought he threw in little stories and vignettes that he didn't need too, the book is excellent overall and should be a must read for anyone interested in Lee. However, the book is such an easy, good read that I think almost anyone should pick it up.

Bracelen Flood clearly does extensive research in order to render this intimate and engrossing portrayal of Lee.

Lee: The Last Years was well worth reading. A must for anyone who wants to know a little more of the Rest of The Story about a fine American, though much misunderstood.

"Lest We Forget" is a totally unique book. As the subtitle suggests, it is a three-dimensional, interactive book on the history of African Americans from capture to emancipation. With photographs and documents from the Black Holocaust Exhibit, it provides a tactile, touch and feel, show and tell sense that no other book can offer. It is like a visit to a museum in your own home.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

My neice got this book as a present from her mother-in-law and after viewing it I just had to get myself a copy. If you are from the Caribbean and especially if you are black you must get a copy of this book. It's good for young ones for history and it is not boring, very interactive with replicas of the slave ship, etc.

It's a wonderful piece for the coffee table as a conversational starter.

I ordered this book because I am very proud to be of African decent, and want to make sure that this story is shared with generations to come. I feel that it is important for our children and their children to have a historical reference to connect them to our heritage.

This is truly a piece of living history. As a 5th grade teacher I know the value of primary sources. The artifacts in this excellently crafted book bring to life the black experience in the early history of this nation. My students don't only read about the past but can actually touch it, read it, experience it.

I particularly enjoyed Ms. Thomas' use of the terms 'my people' and 'my ancestors'. I too am African-American. The book treats those enslaved as individual people rather than a mass to be studied. The photographs and documents in the book address the individual and group experience in slavery. The three dimensional maps, slave ship, and documents bring history to life. I recommend this book for every African-American family, particularly those with children still at home or for their grandchildren.

the author brings us back to april 1865 during the last days of lincoln administation and to the death of the president and the hunt for the people who plotted and carried this horrible deed. the focus is mainly on jonh w. booth. his captured and death and soldiers and regular people who accomplished this mission are brought to life like it just happened, not over 140 years ago. excellent writing made to book an easy read.

This has to be one of the most fascinating ,interesting ,and probably the most factual treatment of the trial and execution of the assassins of President Lincoln.
There are several reasons that this book is so outstanding.It's large size,9 1/2 X 12 inches is required to do the photographs justice.The paper, quality,printing ,color reproduction and overall construction are supurb.The two authors are outstanding in their knowledge and long time interest in the subject.It has a selected bibliography that must be as good as one will find on the subject.The organization of the book makes it a clear ,concise and easily absorbed chronology of events that was probably even more captivating in its day than the period after the Assassination of President Kennedy.
The book also shows, as a besides, the difference in the art of photography in 1865 compared to what we have come to take for granted today or in the time of Kennedy's assassination. The fact that newspapers did not even have the ability to print a photograph. Photographs were not even available until several days after taken,and forget about color photography then. Come the advances in 100 years and we watched events live and in our living rooms with the assassination of JFK.
Compare this advancement in recording and speedy dissipating of information with the regression of and the drawn out, convoluting that takes place in the legal and justice that has become the norm today. Absolutely amazing in both cases.A few weeks and negligable expense in the case of Lincoln and years and untold millions with Kennedy.There has been great advances in the information processes and just the opposite in the legal and justice process.
Getting back to how the assassination is covered in this book. The authors have been able to make the reader feel that they were living at the time the event took place and convey what it might have felt to witness those great events taking place.There have been many books on the subject,and it was complicated;but the authors have boiled it down to the essentials.The hundreds of photographs,illustrations,reproductions and illustrations are a real treasure trove that have been collected and assembled in a way that obviously must have talen taken lot of time ,knowledge and contacts.
If you want a book that details the capture,trial and execution of President Lincoln,in a clear,concise way;look no further --this is the book you are looking for.

James Swanson has done a super job at presenting Lincoln's assassins thru the the use of pictures of the individuals as well as documents of the time. An excellent source for teachers dealing with the capture, trial, and execution of those associated with Lincoln's assassination.

I saw James Swanson giving a speech about his other book "Manhunt" and found him fascinating to listen to. he knew facts that I had never heard before and could describe them with such detail I felt like I was watching it happen. I read "Manhunt" and was thrilled to have the details of those twelve days come to life. When I saw this book I snatched it up as quickly as I could. It is the perfect book for both the avid reader and for those who like to look at artifacts and photographs of the era. This is by far my new favorite Civil War book (and I have many). James and Daniel did an excellent job of laying out the story then showing artifacts and pictures from the event. I've looked at this book for hours and am only through the second chapter! Not that it's hard to get through, just fun to look at and read.

This text dovetails nicely with Swanson's recent effort "Manhunt", but more from an artifact perspective than a written one. Many of the pictures are one-of-a-kind, especially Alexander Gardner's entire collection from the courtyard at the D.C. prison where the conspirators were hung. Again, this is not a complete text (nor does it aspire to be), but a great addition to any historical collection regarding the Lincoln assasination.

If you like gymnastics you'll love this book! It tells about the lives of the seven gymnasts on the 1996 gold medal winning U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Kerri Strug, Dominque Dawes, Jaycie Phelps, Amanda Borden, and Amy Chow. There are pictures of each girl from their very young life to the 1996 Olympics.

After the Magnifecent Seven's wonderful performance at the '96 Olympic Games, I decided to read this book to find out more about these talented young women. I thought it was terrific! There are biographies of each of the seven members along with really cool pictures. This book was awesome. These seven are really magnificint and it shows!

The book was pretty good for writing a book. Gave good information but it was a hard book to just sit down and read but I would for sure buy the book!

A must read with lots of good pictures. Gives good info. on all the athletes, with quotes.

This book is what really got me interested in gymnastics.

I had gotten introduced to gymnastics through a book about Mary Lou Retton I had picked up at a thrift store, but I didn't become too interested until I saw a picture of Kim Zmeskal in an Encyclopedia Annual. I looked her up on the Internet, and the rest they say is history.

Through the Internet I discovered the Magnificent Seven, and I found this book at our library. I couldn't have been more satisfied!

The Magnificent Seven was a team of US girls that consisted of Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Jaycie Phelps, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strug. These talented gymnasts won the very first Olympic Gold team medal in US. Gymnastic history.

This book has very informative biographies about each girl, complete with full color photos. It is very well written, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the Magnificent Seven, or just want to see some great pictures about them.

I've watched a lot of television in my 28 years. I've read newspaper articles, seen press conferences, and listened to radio interviews. But I never realized the deliberate steps those people were taking to get their message across.

I had no idea that there was a thought process behind how often to plug your new venture in a radio interview (as opposed to a newspaper interview). I didn't realize that you should address a T.V. reporter differently (and more often) than reporters in other media. And I certainly didn't think about the methods used to create those "talking points" we hear so much about these days.

I'm not sure this book prepared me to immediately jump in front of the cameras. But, it caused a definite shift in my thinking. This book is an important first step for anyone who is naive about the effort required to effectively communicate with the public (via the press). It's also vital for those who are cynical about preparing for interviews, or worried about "selling out" for the purpose of gaining attention.

This book could easily be subtitled "How To Respect Your Audience." Mr. Walker spends a fair amount of time explaining that when you don't properly prepare yourself and your message, you do a huge disservice to your audience. I recommend this book as a primer in dealing with the media. It gives lot of techniques with examples. But, most importantly, it explains the rationale for each tip. Because all the techniques, tips, and tricks in the world won't help you if you don't firmly understand and believe in the power of preparation.

I wasn't to excited as I started reading this book, but it got much better. I found quite a few great ideas and helpful information if you are going to be on television. TJ Walker really gives some good tips and advice on how to sit, what to wear, what to do with your hands, and common mistakes so that you can avoid them.
I have been researching analogies since I came up with my 3 message points and am trying to come up with my own.
I would recommend this book, it is a quick read and will give you some valuable information if you have to go "on the air".

T.J. Walker is a true genius when it comes to looking good in the media. His advice, based on decades of media exposure himself, paired with a solid foundation in media best practices, have yielded the #1 methodology for getting the right message across and looking good in all forms of media. His advice is sharp, insightful, accessible and immediately applicable. His books, CDs and his personal coaching have been invaluable to me and my business.

Media Training A-Z is the #1 book I've found on this topic and I recommend it highly to anyone who plans or hopes to be in any form of media spotlight - TV, radio, or print. The advice in this book is packaged concisely enough to be read the day before you're on air, but dense enough to prepare you thoroughly - and even teach the pros a new thing or two...

TJ Walker is a clear and concise in his Media Training A-Z book. this is a very user-friendly book that is a perfect handbook for anyone who needs or wants to work with the media.

When it comes to talking to the press, people are largely divided into two camps. The first doesn't think it's anything to worry about and the second is terrified of the prospect. Media Training A-Z from TJ Walker has a little something for both groups.

I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."

To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).

For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.

The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.

A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.

The story takes place in the early 1800s, in a remote fishing post on the Bonavista peninsula in Newfoundland. The Andrews family, having been evicted from their home in England, bribed the captain of a French merchant ship to drop them off in the northwest Atlantic territories. They are dropped off at a place about 100 miles from St. John's, Newfoundland, a place called Cape Random. The only inhabitants of the cape are the Vincent family and a man named Thomas Hutchings, who keeps the books of account for the St. John's businessman who owns the fishing rights for the cape. A severe winter is approaching and the Andrews are entirely at the mercy of the Vincents and Thomas Hutchings. The story follows the lives of the Andrews, the Vincents and Mr. Hutchings for about twenty years.

We follow the story mainly through the eyes and the journal of young Lavinia Andrews. About two-thirds of the way through the book, Thomas Hutchings becomes the narrator. It is a tale of ice, snow, death and deprivation with little or no hope of escape from this harsh place, isolated from the rest of the world. In the meanwhile, they work hard at salting and curing fish and hunting seals, most of it for the benefit of Caleb Grosse, the St. John's businessman who sends a boat twice each year to pick up the salted fish and to drop off provisions such as flour, salt, molasses and, sometimes, one or two goats. In the spring, some of the men go to St. John's to join the large-scale seal hunting expeditions.

From time to time, the book shifts its focus from one member of the subject families to another, thereby giving the reader an idea of what each of the characters is thinking. It is an engrossing narrative of what life must have been like in these remote places 200 years ago. Over the twenty years of the story, interest is kept alive by many twists and turns involving births, deaths, illness, domestic and economic crises and the ever-present cold.

It is a book that holds your interest. Just when you think you know what to expect, the narrative takes a sharp turn in the other direction. It is easy to read and very entertaining. It helps me understand why my grandmother used to say, that she "t'anked God" the day she left that place.

As I traveled through Newfoundland in June 1999, this book was in the racks of every shop on my route. At first, I thought it must have been Newfoundland's version of "Anne of Green Gables", but I picked it up and discovered that the story of its characters actually had more in common with Jamestown or even the Donner Party than those of Lucy M. Montgomery's children's tale.

Addressing hardships of maritime living, displaced class struggles and faith-based separations, Ms. Morgan progresses her story of the lives of outcast English family members and their fellow re-settlers at the Cape (Random). Once ashore on Newfound Land, their survival, conflicts, and cultural shifts make the reader shiver and shudder with the cold, fear, hunger and pain as felt by the characters. Morgan's story is depicted through a tactile understanding of the topography, climate, flora, fauna and cultural history. This not only leads readers through this fictional account of a past settlement in Newfoundland, but sets up how these characters' challenges and beliefs are still reflected in the culture of present day Newfoundland, as shown in the pride, warmth, persistence and humility of the people of "the Rock". A worthy read.

I enjoyed Random Passage. I couldn't put it down. Only when I read it, it was called Cape Random. What goes? I actually started to read Random Passage but soon realized that I had already perused these pages as Cape Random

I truly enjoyed this book. The author has woven the history of Newfound Land in a story rich with authentic and passionate characters. Bernice Morgan has a way of bringing the characters alive, so that I could not put the book down once I started it. This story is a testament to the endurance of human nature, but also to our capacity to love and to marvel at the world around us. I am ordering the sequel, and once I've read it, I am going to look for the videos. I also want to read more books by this author.
Sincerely, Francine Noiseux

On a visit to Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula, this book's title always surfaced when I quizzed locals on cultural and historical points. It was about a 12-hour read, and I found it very easy to justify putting distractions aside to read this involving book. I felt that having two separate accounts of events, each through the eyes of two of the book's characters, really added to the depth of the story. No wonder why Newfoundlanders are so proud of the heritage that grew from the struggles on "the rock."

I am an avid reader of the paranormal. I head a paranormal book of the month club due to my ever-expanding library. When I started reading this book, I found I couldn't put it down. It's very captivating and well written. It's not just about the Salem Witch Trials at all, which is scarcely talked about in this book. This book goes indepth about stories and tales you have never heard about before. I loved it! I highly recommend this book to any lover of the paranormal.

You can tell that this book is something special just by looking at the quirky artwork on the front cover. I must admit that I've never visited that part of the world before, but was surprised to find out that New England has such a rich history of folklore and creepy tales. I love the informative way in which all the stories are presented. They have depth and the author usually always offers a theory as to why the (mostly) supernatural events have occurred. My most favourite story in the collection was "Beyond the Dark Entry". It discusses the demise of a small hamlet by the name of Dudleytown. This story was genuinely creepy. I also loved "From the Mountains of Madness" which details some of the eerie experiences various people have had on the top of Mount Washington. Another thing I liked about this book was that even though some of the subject matter or folklore may have stretched the truth a little over the years, they never fall into the trap of being so far-fetched that you feel like you're being taken for a ride. This was a thoroughly entertaining book and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this genre. I consider this to be one of my most favourite reads ever!!

From the title of this book, I was expecting mostly ghost stories. However, this book is unique in its genre, and I was very pleasantly surprised! Although this book has much legend and lore, of which I am not usually a fan, this author's ability as a raconteur quickly overcomes the boundaries of time. These tales are superbly told by a master at his game. Joseph Citro, in his own words, claims to be an "anthologizer." That is exactly what he does here, and he does it well.

The author's ability to narrate a captivating tale is the epitome of the classic New England story-teller, wry humor included. His prose breathes invigorating life into these stories, most of which are "off the beaten path." He will at times make you shiver, and at other times scratch your head. Gathered for your inspection are some of the most creepy, bizarre, and, in some cases, well-documented strange happenings from across the region. Joseph Citro has set himself apart as a top-notch investigator of odd history and unsolved mysteries, a true "Bard of the Bizarre." I am especially a fan of the stories about the sightings of the "Yankee Bigfoot." There were some pages I couldn't turn fast enough.

This collection peeks into lots of New England's nooks and crannies, and should be included in any ghost story, folklore, or mystery-filled library. These strange tales are engrossing, well varied, and unique. I would love to sit down with the author over a roaring campfire, late at night, with only the forest winds howling . . .

Another collection of the incredibly bizarre and truly creepifying true tales of New England from Joe Citro. Not only are these tales so weird, so full of the Yankee spirit, so very scary, but Citro imbues them with the clever, dry-wit of the twinkle-eyed New England storyteller. This book was fantastic. Part of it might be that these places are very familiar to me and it isn't hard to imagine these weird, magical, creepy things occurring in the depths of old New England. Also, these tales are so absolutely bizarre that not even New England's best storytellers (from Nathaniel Hawthorne to Steven King) could have imagined them. I couldn't put this book down, and yet, I couldn't read it at night. Wonderful, scary, and fascinating collection. Grade: A+

What you'll love about this book is that Citro spins a good yarn. His storytelling style reads well, and your eyes effotlessly flow over the words. As for whether these stories are true, he includes some fantastically compelling reasons why they could possible be more than simple legend or folklore. Documentation, methodical investigations by qualified skeptics, law enforcement sightings, journalists, and witness-upon-witnesses, all shared in a non-overbearing fashion. He's not trying to prove anything, he's just tickling our thoughts -- and it works!

The stories themselves are either interesting, quirky, terrifying (or all of the above), and all of them -- I mean all of them -- are utterly unique. Just stuff you couldn't have made up on your own even if you were using hallucinogens!

If you're a skeptic it will challenge you. If you're a person of faith it will make you rethink your pre-assumed theologies. But ultimately this book succeeds because at its heart they're just well-told stories that will chill you to the bone and make you think at the same time.

When I bought this book, I hope to discover some facts about piano making and I am happy with the purchase. This is a good book for everyone because is the point of view of a writer and is the general view just like everyone who isn't in the piano world just piano technicians, piano teachers, buyers,dealers; is great for pianists, musicians and all the people who wants to know how is the making of a piano for one of the greatest piano makers, isn't a technical book, have historical facts in the way of anecdotic, humorous, and some factory language.

Steinway pianos are my favorite. Being that I am a professional country/blues pianist, if I can't play a Steinway, I would rather not play! James Barron wrote an historical account of the making of a Steinway. The piano is still made the way they started since the 1800's. No assembly line, no plastic parts, and no artificial wood. They are constructed by hand and skilled craftsmanship.

Why buy a $400.00 piano made in China? That is an insult not only to beginning and professional pianists, but an insult to the piano itself. In 2000, the piano celebrated it's 300th anniversary. Piano is the most famous house hold instrument.

This book is enjoyable, and educational even to those who do not play, but love to hear the glorious 88 keys hitting the strings. The harpsichord was a for runner of the piano. The difference was, you may beat the keys as hard as you can, but you still only received one level of sound. Strings were plucked, and the piano was made for the hammers to hit the strings. The harder you played, the louder a piano sounded. The piano changed the history of the world. I think two of the greatest pianist is Floyd Cramer, and Roger Williams.

Steinway takes you deep into the heart of their factory, and shows you how a piano is meant to be built and played. The history is fascinating.

K-0862 became a living...feeling...emotional entity by the end of this book........A very very original idea (to breath life into this piano) and well written. Actually EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN book...My NEW favorite among all books...right up there with OVER THE EDGE OF THE WORLD......... The two most enjoyable....... educational........ books I have ever read!!!!!! KUDOS!!!!!!! I hated when i got to the end of this one!!!!!!

I took my copy of "Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand" to the beach with me. I read it in 4 days! Mr. Barron infuses a wealth of information into a wonderful story about this piano,and oh so much more. Before you know it K-0862 is a character you care about. I cannot imagine anyone not finding something to love about this book!!! Masterfully written!

Excellently and diligently written, this little book tells the story of one Steinway concert grand piano from conception to adolescence. Barron loves the piano, respects the Company, and is dilgent in showing the evolution of Steinway, as well as the creation of one, new opus - a 9 foot concert piano. Barron introduces us to the barons of Steinway and the individual craftsmen who hand make these excellent instruments. To me, the quality and individual character of each Steinway piano are no longer a mystery.

Each time I play my own small grand piano (a quality A B Chase, close replica of the Steinway model S), I think of the efforts that went into it. Unlike Yamahas and such, the Steinway is an almost hand-built piano from a Company which has never relented in its determination to produce the best.

The book also explains why age is not all that becoming in the tonal life of a piano. The instrument has a birth, a development, and an aging process which are measured in tonal character progress, not just years. The aged Steiway seems a time integral of all that has come before - including hundred year old designs and techniques, and all the way up to its last tuning.

If you think a piano is a piano, is a piano, Barron's book will change your outlook.

A friend maintains that "very few conspiracies don't get found out".. this is definitely true in this case, but how many other experiments have been done on children, perhaps wards of the state in numerous states using private agencies subcontracting with state child care agencies that we might never hear about?

Of particular interest is the Fernald school chapter, where MIT researchers befriended vulnerable kids and traded "friendship" and "caring" for doses of irradiated milk the kids were made to drink without their knowledge or consent in Massachusetts.

The release of Eileen Welsome's book "THE PLUTONIUM FILES- America's Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War" in paperback will hopefully make this important book more accessible to the general public.

Detailing the effort of the US government to test the effects of Plutonium and other radioactive substances on people, the book outlines first the creation and evolution of the nuclear program that created the need for such testing, and then the US government's attempt to conduct such testing on its own citizens without their knowledge or informed consent. On strictly a superficial level there is much here which will attract the "x-files" crowd: Super-secret installations, eccentric scientists and far-fetched experiments on unsuspecting citizens. The kind of information that makes conspiracy theorists sit back from their computers in darkened little rooms, pump their fist in the air and utter that now-hackneyed phrase: "The truth is out there"

Fortunately for the reader, Welsome assiduously avoids such sensationalism and instead draws a largely compassionate picture of the US government's program and of the people who perpetrated it and who participated in it. Welsome's well structured and organized account of the growth of the plutonium testing programs involving critically ill persons across America during the Cold War years teems with information and insight, yet it manages to treat victim and perpetrator alike with a measure of respect and empathy that places this book well above the level of the standard "Shocking Expose". To her great credit Welsome goes beyond merely packaging the results of her extensive research and alarming discoveries in a "tell-all" book.

Certainly, THE PLUTONIUM FILES introduces information which, by its nature is bound to shock and disturb many, but the book also addresses the too-often forgotten issue of context: Was what happened acceptable by the standards of the time in which it occurred? In addressing this question Welsome probes more deeply into her subject, examining the duality, the moral dichotomy, inherent in the decision to implement this program. In a time when the world was still dealing with the results of a devastating world war and the possibility of another seemed likely the need for answers had an immediacy which could be ignored only at the world's peril. Hard decisions had to be made and extraordinary measures taken; Welsome is clearly cognizant of this as she assess each program and as she examines and balances the need against the action and its end result, the author treats the reader to some of her best analysis.

The Plutonium Files- America's Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War is certainly an important book; one which adds a significant chapter to the recorded history of the growth of atomic science. Despite its scientific topic and exhaustive sourcing the books narrative is direct and engaging, its organization straightforward and its conclusions informed and objective. A book that is well worth its price, Welsome's book would be a great Christmas present for everyone from an avid historian to the omni-present x-files fan; who will find much in here to confirm their most exotic fears. Overall an excellent book for which the author has received two much deserved awards.

This book was completely amazing.

First, you want to be appalled {as well you should} with the amount and type of experiments that were carried out {radioactive cocktails for pregnant women!!}. How could anyone do this to another person??

Then, you think of the people in your own life who have gotten bone marrow transplants, or radiation treatment for cancer. It gets harder to hold the original doctors as evil monsters. Don't misunderstand me - informed consent is a must. How do you inform them of outcomes that are absolutely unknown - how do you start to know?

I thought a lot about this book as I read it, and continue to think about it now that I'm done. I'm sure there must be a middle ground between what they did, and what needed to be done. It is riveting and amazing.

This book has been haunting me since I finished it almost a year ago. How could we justify human experimentation? In the name of national security in the time of war? In the name of national pride in the age of nuclear arm race? Or, simply for the sake of personal career advancement? The answer is: WE CANNOT. What strikes me is that some of the scientists in question were building their career and reputation by conducting these secret experimentation. They were enjoying their fame and success while their victims and many generations after (if the victims still managed to have children) continued to suffer. What disgusts me the most is that even in the final moment of their life some of these scientists still denied any wrong-doing. When I read to that part, my heart ached and I could not hold back my tears, for I was a scientist too. Now a year later, I am still haunted by those stories. But more so I have come to realize a new question: If those experiments were done on other animals instead of human, would the book still raised the same controversy and interest?

This book is scary to say the least. It is well researched and details what is a practice probably still going on today in experiements we do not know about. I was particularly troubled by the Fernald school, where unwanted kids were befriended by MIT researchers who took them on trips and gave them presents in return for the kids drinking radioactive milkshakes. Was some of this done to generate data for use in bringing the first commercial microwave to market by Raytheon?

I was a guinea pig of sorts growing up in state child care and years later was confronted in an interview with what i suspect was a NSA employee as to whether i knew what " a controlled experiment is". As a young child, a former Pentagon official befriended me and tracked me,keeping files for research purposes over a 20+ year period.

Whitey Bulger is alleged to have been a participant in the MK Ultra experiments involving LSD.

I strongly recommend this and Jonathan Harr's "A Civil Action" to anyone!

So many Realtors get into the real estate business and fail to survive. In today's fast paced, technology filled society, you need to be prepared for your new career. You need to understand the Internet and online marketing, but also understand how to develop leads, capture those leads and follow up with those leads. This book is 5 stars, a great read.

New realtors should be required to read Dan Gooder Richard Real Estate Rainmaker: Guide to Online Marketing, Gary Keller SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times (PAPERBACK) (Millionaire Real Estate), The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money...It's About Being the Best You Can Be! and Loren Keim Real Estate Prospecting: The Ultimate Resource Guide, How to Sell Your Home in Any Market: 6 Reasons Why Your Home Isn't Selling... and What You Can Do to Fix Them before they're allowed to meet a client!

This book was full of great information and knowledge. An excellent guide for a real estate professional wanting to build an effective website. Informative also if you are hiring someone to build your website and need to be educated enough to recognize if the web designer is worth the money you are paying.
The author's website was informative too, but I felt it could have been more impressive in appearance. Afterall, the author is wrote a book about how to design a great website.
Overall, I recommend this book to any real estate professional who wants guidance in improving their online image, internet lead generation, and a more effective email campaign.

Full of tips easy to use and fuul with tools to sell your web site right away.

Good ideas and well organized but be careful if you are not strongly web knowledgeable as some info is out of date, having been written about 3 years ago. Web is changing faster than books being published can keep current.

This book is very simple for IT guys, But It will be interesting for those IT Experts who are new in Real Estate Online Business.

It covers from A-Z, with details and researches, full of examples and ideas.

There are too much examples and ideas that you will not be able to use all.

I recommend this book to IT Experts who are working in Real Estate Industry, New Real Estate Agents and Brokers, Real Estate Agents who are going to update thier websites (If they had one before ! ), and YOU.