Immigration Books

The book arrived in very good condition and I am currently involved in reading it. The text is great and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It's an engrossing book at an incredible price.

This work is pure and unadulterated magic for any reader even remotely interested in World War II. The scope of the work is daunting: documenting the enormous impact naval activity had on the course of the War . . . in one manageable volume.

As a fairly well-read amateur historian (admittedly unfamiliar with many of the primary and secondary historical sources upon which the author relies), I cannot overemphasize the joy I found reading this book. The author's prose is almost uniformly flawless, a characteristic sadly lacking in all too many historical works. The book reads as easily as any work of fiction you would care to name, without losing any of its historical accuracy or objectivity.

The author scrupulously documents the issues faced by all the War's participants, though a careful reader might detect a certain amount of Anglo-Allied bias. However, whenever the author passes judgment on the actions of a particular admiral or political leader, he almost always presents an opposing viewpoint.

Overall, the reader will be, as the title of this review indicates, in the presence of greatness upon taking up this book.

Solid, general history of the naval war of WWII. Would have liked for the maps to be included in the chapters instead of all grouped at the end. Also, Miller focuses heavily on air power and omits the contributions of the U.S. Submarine force in the pacific theater. The book is slightly to narrative for my tastes and only vaguely touches on the production of naval equipment or the rapid changes in technology and subsequent strategic and tactical changes. For the causal reader.

I must concur with other reviewers that Nathan Miller's "War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II" is the best history on naval warfare during the Second World War. The book reads like a novel without getting bogged down in details. What I enjoyed most was Miller's recounting of the naval battles that took place during the European war's early years. When most individuals think of naval warfare in the Second World War, they tend to think of the Pacific war - Pearl Harbor, Midway, Leyte Gulf, etc. (for the simple and correct reasoning that the Pacific Ocean's great expanse required strong and large navies to ferry troops, equipment, aircraft, etc.). But Miller does an excellent job of educating the reader about the tremendous naval battles that took place in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. For instance, Britain's pursuit of the Bismark, the destruction of the Italian fleet and, importantly, the U-boat war. Thus, in essence, the European war was as much of a naval war as was the Pacific war. I highly recommend this history to all World War II history readers.

As a 1-volume history of the naval war in all theatres in WWII, this book can by no means be complete or in-depth. However, if you read this book as an introduction to naval warfare, or as a look at the "big picture", this volume does the job very well. It is easy to read, informative, touches on virtually all the important events, and keeps up a good pace. Of course, certain events are relegated to mere footnotes, including the Dieppe raid and the loss of USS Indianapolis (where most of the deaths were from sharks and exposure, not enemy activity) in the interest of timing and length. However, Miller usually points the way to further readings in such cases, if the reader wants to know more. There is an extensive notes section at the end of the book divided by chapter, listing many primary sources, which gives the book a good deal of credibility.

His analysis is generally brief as well, which is ideal for a book of this type, where pace important. This doesn't mean it's any less insightful, however. He convincingly argues that the use of the atomic bomb was a strategic, war-ending measure, not just an attempt to scare the Soviet Union; that the refusal of the Japanese to withdraw skilled pilots to train the next generation was a fatal error; and that the industrial might of the combined allies was too much for the Axis - they had to win in the first couple of years or be ultimately worn out. Another important point in praise of this book is the way Miller is careful to point out the involvement of the so-called minor allies. For example, by 1945, Canada had the 3rd largest navy in the world, but because the RCN primarily participated in the Battle of the Atlantic, they get ignored by historians who get caught up in Big Events storytelling. Miller is always very careful to point out these countries' contributions.

Unfortunately, there are a few quibbling points that drop the book to 4 stars. First, the maps are conveniently located together at the back of the book, but are never referred to in the text, and are often of too large an area to be useful. For example, a lot of space is devoted to amphibious operations on Guadalcanal, Okinawa, etc., but these islands are merely dots on a "Pacific theatre" map. Even a 1/4 page sketch per island would have been very helpful. Secondly, Miller seems to have a vendetta against Winston Churchill - he is always quick to ridicule Churchill's wild ideas, but never to give credit to his good ones, instead saying, "The British wanted ...." Finally, there's an occasional confusion, such as mixing up the British cruisers Dorsetshire (that sunk the Bismark) and Devonshire.

These quibbles do not really detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, however, and it's recommended for any armchair historian interested in the naval aspects of World War II.

Beyond the Western Sea lets one see what terrible trials the Irish had to go through in the eighteen hundreds. They were tortured in Irealand by the English landowners, and in America, by the "Know Nothings"( A secret society of people who wanted America to remain Puritan and would stop at nothing to keep it so. They got their name because when ever they were asked about their group, they would say, "I know nothing" ). The Irish were treated like dogs by most of the people in America and England. All through the story though, the characters remain proud of their heritage and their religion. They do not wield to the will of their persecuters. This is a book that will inspire people who feel descriminated, to stand strong against their oppressors.
( It is also a good book for people who are fans of Charles Dickens).

The second book in the group begins as the major players from "Escape from Home", finally board the ship for Boston. It remains fast paced and interesting, although a sea voyage might seem to have the potential to be boring.

The families in steerage are miserable, being a stowaway is stressful and lonely, the first class passengers get to know (and despise) each other. The crew of the ship is nasty and the passengers are forced into close quarters and filth, yet held in contempt by the very people who arrange it so they live that way. Of course passengers die on the ship so a little girl is brought into the mix when her parents die- the stowaway is able to leave the ship in a creative manner- engineered by Patrick.

Like so many immigrants, these characters are overwhelmed when they reach Massachusetts because they have not arrived in Paradise. More hard, dangerous work awaits them along with the added anti-immigration, specifically against the Irish, sentiments flooding the East during the mid-1800's. Sadly, for the Irish, the characters relish any opportunity to earn money. Even the young English gentleman is proud to begin earning a few pennies.

Young readers will become outraged when they read of the terrible living conditions- again- and the treatment these people receive at the hands of those in power. There are enough twists in the plot to keep it interesting, but simple enough to keep track of the characters and their shifting attitudes and loyalties. The pace is fast and suspenseful, the chapters are of varying lengths making it somewhat difficult to put down! The villans are nasty and get away with more than they should.

An excellent introduction to immigrant's lives and struggles during times of great poverty. Avi needs to write a third book to complete this set to explore how difficult it was to establish a life in a new place, and to see how difficult it was to strike it rich in the California Gold Rush.

To an adult reader the character development seemed a bit thin and the cast a little small for the degree of interconnectedness. I think it's a good level of both of those characteristics for younger readers- maybe a 10 yo if she's interested in the subject would be the youngest who would enjoy this book.

This was a very good book, but soemtimes I found that it dragged on a bit. Personaly, I liked the first book in the 'series' better, (Beyond the Western Sea,) because it was faster paced and it contained more adventure. However, this book had a great first 100 pages,the last couple chapters were full of suspense, but in between it got kind of boring. The first part of the book is about the journey Patrick, Maura and Laurence take to reach America. Maura and Patrick travel in steerage, were they meet Bridy, who's parents die and ask Maura to take care of her. In steerage, they come face to face with death, rats, storms, etc. Laurence boards the ship as a stowaway, and is almost found several times. Patrick brings food to him. When they are about to reach America, Maura realizes Laurence needs an identity. Laurence goes to America as Bridy's dead brother, John Farerty. I won't tell you what happens next, because then there would be no point in reading the book. However, expact an unexpected twist at the end of the book. All in all, this book was a good read, and it is worth reading. Just be sure to read the first book in the series, (Beyond the Western Sea,) first.

Lord Kirkle's Money picks right up from book one. As the O'Connells travel across the western sea they take in a girl on the same boat whose parents have died. The boat has an epidemic of ship fever. Patrick struggles to sneak his stowaway friend, Laurence, enough food. Meanwhile, Mr. Drabble, a companion of the O'Connells', teaches his rich friend proper grammar in order to make some money. The O'Connells are to be picked up by their father in America. Are they sure their father is still alive? If not, what will become of them? There are many people in America who will do almost anything to stop Irish and the other immigrants from staying in America. Where will Mr. Drabble go? Will the O'Connells survive? Avi has done it again! His book is filled with adventure. It would definitely go in my top 50 list. There are lots of problems and some how, everything ties in. Even though the words don't take you away, this book definitely has power. Avi puts in lots of conflict and gives every character strong feelings. Whether the character is good or evil, he or she does something for the opposite. Everything turns out okay,but are you sure that it's the way it should be? Avi's books are just inspirational.

This book has many characters so it would be hard for me to summarize a review of what it's about. What I can tell you is that I hadn't read the first book and I thought I would be confused while I read this book, but I drifted along with everything that happened. Much suspense and everytime on thing happens it is quickly changed by someone else. In the begin I thought it wasn't worth my time, but when I reached the middle I knew that it had to be 5 stars and nothing less!

Great book on how immigration is ruinning this great country. After reading it I have become much more aware on how important it is to stop immigration. We must fight immigration in order to save this great nation!!

Roy Beck gives every possible argument for reducing immigration. He talks about how our enviroment is at stake with overcrowding. He talked about and proved how immigration causes a drop in wages of low income earners. But the best chapter was without a doubt "Jobs Americans Will Do". He disproved the myth on how immigrants today take only jobs that no one else wants. He argues for reducing the number of immigrants admitted based on population replacment rate. This book was written by a man who is actually left of center politically. Thus the pro-immigration lobby can't do their usual name calling to anyone who supports cutting immigration. Roy Beck has done us a great service.

This book examines U.S. immigration, documenting what's happening as 10's of millions of people (largely from the 3rd world) are allowed into the U.S.

It's difficult to find accurate accounts of the immigration situation. Business lobbies for immigration to obtain cheap labor and keep wages down. Left-leaning intellectuals advocate immigration because of a hatred of the Western Civilization and desire to see it eliminated via diversity and multiculturalism. Politicians advocate immigration because they want to import dependent populations that need services and will vote for them (kings need peasants). Conservatives accept immigration because it seems to validate the desirability of American society and free-enterprise and they are afraid of being called names by the others.

The result is a population growth curve for the U.S. like that of 3rd world nations, with corresponding social strains. If continued at the same rate, the U.S. will reach 400 million people by the year 2050 at huge social, economic and environmental costs. The President of Mexico campaigns here in California even as Mexicans talk about retaking the southeastern U.S. states "stolen" from them centuries ago by repopulating it and effectively eliminating the border; the effort is called the "Reconquista". Don't expect in-depth coverage of this by ABC or the New York Times.

The U.S. was created and maintained by the sacrifice, lives, hopes held by millions of ancestors many of whom paid the ultimate price to create the future: our present. The current generation now has the option of piddling that all away with a whimper or educating themselves and stopping destructive forces. This will mean enduring and refuting charges of racism, among the other antics of the cultural elite, without being deflected.

This book a good starting place. It provides specifics on how high immigration damages the U.S. at multiple levels. The first to feel the effect of immigration are native blacks whose attempts to integrate into American mainstream have been substantially halted by preferences for immigrants. But all are affected.

As an example, why do engineers developing the air traffic control system -- involving billions of dollars and millions of lives -- make one-half to one-tenth the salary of a routine lawyer or doctor? Employers can go to Congress and say "Americans aren't interested and not smart enough. Our schools can't produce engineers, we need to hire foreigners".

This is not an option for professions like law, being dependent on language and cultural skills. So salaries for engineers are comparatively low and a shortage results despite the critical need. At the same time, law and medical schools are overflowing with people attracted by the high earning potential. The results of the immigration policy create the imbalance in the first place. Need more engineers? Pay more to attract them.

It is like nothing has been learned. Slavery developed in this country to provide cheap labor. Yet the cotton pulled from the fields by slaves has long since rotted away to nothing. The consequences have not: civil war and ongoing social struggles spanning centuries. Much of the original intent and structure of the nation has been distorted or dissipated attempting to solve self-made, predictable problems. One can only wonder at what this country could have done if it had not wasted such massive resources in contortions over unimportant social issues.

Now the concern is over a matter even more trivial, if that is possible: whether strawberries will be $1.20 a carton or $4.50 a carton in the 2-3 days before they rot away. Perhaps someone should sit down and design a decent strawberry picking machine and save future generations untold grief. It's called menial labor because no human should be doing it.

The U.S. is not a strip mall with jingling cash registers the national anthem. It is based on a set of specific ideas about human nature: that people are spiritually created in the image of God, thus have instrinsic worth and dignity. That humans are corrupted by sin, something that is real, thus power must be decentralized to avoid concentration in the hands of a single individual. These ideas are what distinguish the U.S. from the others (and a major reason the concept of human rights tends not to "catch on" in cultures lacking Christian background.)

People are not like refrigerators or cars. When you import them, you also import their hopes, dreams and understandings for generations to come. We are now importing people who do not share the understanding of human nature this country is based on. They are rather from 3rd world countries which view people as disposable, government simply a source of power to control the people. When immigrants arrive here, they are now greeted by intellectuals and educators and media who share the same view. Why would newcomers perpetuate a society and institutions they have no way of understanding and are outside their tradition? Because they can make $7.50 an hour instead of $1.00?

Columnist P. Roberts write, "The basis for a successful political life is a common language, history and culture, which create a people sufficiently cohesive for self-rule to arrive at compromises that solve conflicts. When "multicultural diversity" replaces "a people", cohesion must be provided by coercion."

The U.S. (and Europe) are on a self-destructive path that has been walked over and over throughout history. Only the rationalizations for inaction are more clever. Educate yourself with the facts, steel yourself for the vicious onslaught you will provoke, and speak up.

Beck is simply a sensationalist trying to attract media attention by preaching Malthusian doom. Apparently every economist in the world is conspiring to destroy the U.S. economy, and he is the only one with the answer.

Beck's book, which I own, is solid and not a Malthusian screed as Ivana Tinkle asserts in her March 8, 2007 review located on this page.

In clear, verifiable terms, he demonstrates the dilution of American nationalism by out of control immigration quotas initiated by law in 1965 which, incidentally, was sponsored by Sen. Teddy Kennedy.

Beck's solution to the problem is also solid and clear. His book validates the solution.

For another insight to the downside of immigration as it now exists and the profundity of American nationalism, is in Samuel Huntington's Who Are We: The Challenges to America's National Identity

It was very interesting to read this story about a survivor of the persecution of the Jews. It was an inside look of what really went on under Hitler's regime. It was also very informative of the depth of hatred that Hitler had of the Jews and how he fooled so many German people. Shlomo Perel's story should be read by everyone who studies the history of this tragic time.

A tragic story in the middle of tragic events. He whitnessed it, he went through it and he survived.

I traveled to Israel on business in 1995. En route at Heathrow, Israel bound passengers went through intensive security screening 3 hours before flight time and were kept in a large room to await the flight. No shopping for me and I hadn't brought a decent book to read. An older gentleman was sitting next to me playing chess on a small computer. After about a half hour, we began to chat. His name was Solomon Perel and he told me the story of his life. Europa, Europa (the film) had recently come out, but the book had not yet been translated to English. He had been on a lecture tour of the United States. Even if you read the book or see the movie, no one can begin to fathom what it was like to sit next to that amazing man for 3 hours hearing about his life. His is a story of desperate acts of courage and survival. It is both heartbreaking and uplifting. He asked me to see the movie and to write to him - telling him what I thought. He gave me his address.

As I worked in Israel I told my Israeli business associates about this chance meeting. By their response, you would have thought that I had met King Solomon himself. I began to doubt that this guy really was the very famous and deeply respected Solomon Perel. I figured he was a bored old man wanting to strike up a conversation with the young woman sitting next to him to pass 3 long hours.

When I got home, I rented the movie. It followed the old man's tale very closely - but I figured that the old guy had read the book in Hebrew or already saw the movie - that's how he knew the story. But then, at the end of the movie, there is short clip of Solomon Perel in Israel. It was him - it was the man I had met in Heathrow.

I regret to say that I never wrote to Solomon Perel. Every time I started a letter, I found it impossible to say anything meaningful. From a young age, this man had suffered an unimaginable horror and came out of it undoubtedly wounded, but also incredibly strong. I, in turn, had been raised by a loving family in a peaceful and prosperous country. I was blessed with a great job, wonderful friends, a loving husband, and a beautiful 1 year old boy. I couldn't think of anything to say to this man that didn't seem trite. Perhaps I'll try again to write to him. If you read this book, it will break your heart. If you are smart, you will realize what I did - just how blessed we are ..... well, so far.

I was a European history buff, but knew little about the Middle East conflict. After meeting Mr. Perel, I started reading history books on the area and since September 11th I've read every relevant book I can find (check out my review of Howard Sachar's A History of Israel). I expected to feel great solidarity with the Israeli cause. But the more I studied, the more I felt that the Israeli policies of occupation, settlement, repression and retaliation are morally flawed. I feel this in spite of my deep respect and regard for Mr. Perel. So I was somewhat reluctant to recommend Europa Europa - fearing that feelings of solidarity with Holocaust victims would further bias reader's opinions about America's foreign policy in the Middle East. Nonetheless, I can't deny Mr. Perel's story is compeling and deserves an honest review. I only hope that readers - in fact all Americans - study the issues carefully. Our country is under attack for our Middle East policies and all Americans have a responsibility to the country and the world to look beyond headlines and speeches, form educated opinions, and exercise your civic responsibility to contact your elected officials. {end of political diatribe}

This book was actually written after the movie "Europa Europa" was filmed. The book and the movie are pretty much the same. How Perel escaped death time and again is mind-boggling. The fact that he was quick-witted and able to keep his cool certainly had a lot to do with it. The fact that he not only escaped, but was accepted by the Germans as one of their own 'master race' is surely one of the most amazing true stories ever recorded.

Book review: Europa Europa

�Europa Europa� is an extraordinary story experienced by quite a normal fellow. The story is about the Jewish boy Solomon Perel who was born in Germany in 1925 and lived there for some years but as the Nazi society developed in Germany he and his family were forced to move eastward. To avoid humiliation and persecution by the Germans they settled in Poland. He got separated from most of his family in Poland and with his brother he fled to Russia. There he lived until Germany invaded Russia and suddenly he was forced into using his basic instincts for staying alive. A German military group captured the Jews they found and started questioning them and if they were Jews they shot them in the nearby forest. Solomon Perel obviously spoke German and he miraculously managed to convince the German soldiers that he wasn�t a Jew but a normal ethnic German and that this was a mistake. From that day on and until the end of the war he lived with the Nazis as if he was one of them. He even entered the Hitler Jugend after returning to Germany, and he had to sing along to the songs about spilling the blood of the Jews.

The story, which is authentic, is so special because there naturally were so many encounters were one wrong move would definitely have lead to his dead but he survived. Throughout the whole book you wonder about Luck and Fate. It is filled with situations where you think that either this is just pure luck or maybe it is meant for him to stay alive. But maybe in the end it was his only his own willpower that made him do exactly what his mother had told him in her last words before the separated, �you must stay alive�.

The book is great and very interesting. Not so much because of the way it is written since the best thing isn�t the quality of the writing but more the story that brings you so close to a human, which lived through the greatest fears.

Matthias Petersen

This book is the story of a life-long Republican retired federal judge's seven year struggle to unravel the truth behind a vast government conspiracy to conceal willful violations of our country's laws by President Ronald Reagan and many members of his cabinet,CIA officials, members of his national security team and assorted Republican political operatives both inside Congress and out. Mr. Walsh does yeoman work in presenting the unvarnished truth he and his many assistants were finally able to decipher out of hundreds of thousands of original documents and the direct testimony of those his team were able to catch in their lies and bring into court under indictment. The complex legal issues and large cast of perpetrators makes this a difficult and necessarily repetitve slog, but the chilling story is one that Americans of any political persuasion need to be aware of. Lead by a naive President in the early stages of Alzheimers disease,and guided by a perverse notion of patriotic anticommunism that was the bedrock of cold war Republicanism, our top leaders deliberately violated laws put in place by Congress and even their own foreign policies relating to terrorism. When discovered these "patriots" launched an unprecedented web of lies and stonewalling to save Reagan from possible impeachment. Mr. Walsh was impeded at every step of his investigation and by all branches of the government. The importance of this account by Mr. Walsh is that irregardless of the legal results of the investigations, the truth of what happened and who did it is revealed for all to see. When this party touts its patriotism, beliefs in the rule of law and self responsiblity and the importance of character, remember what happened here.

The Iran-Contra case is well known as a bipartisan bludgeon. Are the news outlines of it accurate? Was the affair a minor bureaucratic transgression preyed upon by liberal hacks; a deceitful attack on the constitutional separation of powers (checks and balances); or a hyped media event?

Presiding (Republican) Judge Lawrence E. Walsh skillfully relates the jurisdictional history of the investigation and trial in `Firewall.' This includes the record of defendants Oliver North and Admiral Poindexter (both convicted), as well as Judge Silberman (known as `our ambassador to Iran' before he overturned the verdicts).

Media star Oliver North now makes an bountiful living hawking American `New-Order' patriotism for Australian Rupert Murdock. Admiral Poindexter left the current administration only after he sponsored a prospective internet website speculating (wagering) on terrorism targets. Judge Silberman was recently enlisted for an intelligence committee report (to obscure the 9/11 Commission findings?).

Though this may seem ancient history, the principals remain active. Walsh provides the best vehicle to examine their early history. You decide.

We at this point in history are required to grow misty eyed at the sudden recent discovery some twenty years later of alleged carefully hand written diaries beautifully bound of the now hallowed Reagan's recollections of times and events he later swore under oath he could not recall. We must remember earlier alleged handwritten diaries said to have been passed poolside at Managua's Intercontinental Hotel prior to a devastatng earthquake, from the scrawny hand of the elder Howard Hughes to an author later revealed as a fraud.

Let us rather bravely face the truth about the Reagan dynastic empire, run by papa bush (who claimed to be "out of the loop" while actually weaving it), and father to our present peril. Judge Walsh tells all, and then some, and describes all the subterfuge used to prevent his careful and judicious investigation from bearing any other fruit than an Ollie North career change.

As incredible as it may now appear, this book bears the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, supportable in a court of law as verifiable. Read it and watch how far down this darkly machiavellian path we have now proceeded, from this former time a generation ago in which the courts could still have possibly considered objective truth such as this.

This thick tome merits a place of honor upon your night reading stand. A more complete report may not be found in one place, but scattered throughout several other books and journals of that time. The criminals received no other punishment for their crimes against humanity and our Constitution than continued residence in the Oval Office.

Venceremos. No hay mal que dura un siglo.

While I was at times confused by the legal problems Walsh's team were confronted with, I did clearly understand why Lawrence Walsh did not get very far with his investigation. Mainly it was because the targets of his investigation had designed a highly secretive plot and had the protection of the CIA or the National Security Council. Documents were denied or shredded, subjects lied or refused to testify all on the basis of "national security" or out of a belief that Congress had no right to interfere in foreign policy. After reading this book, I was shaken by the realization that under the guise of a "higher purpose" or holy war our democratic principles could so easily be dispensed with. Oliver North and President Reagan were rewarded with national affection despite showing utter contempt for the rule of law! Iran-Contra was a true case of Machiavellian politics because all of our most sacred principles were run over for the sake of the dictators ideology - that the end justifies the means. Firewall reveals the incipient dictatorship lurking beneath our fragile democracy.

At times, this reads as a text book. At times, it reads as a spy thriller. Walsh goes into great detail on the investigation and attempted prosecution of those involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. This book is best suited for those interested in the affair, and are anti Reagan/Bush. I was moved by the compassion of Walsh when after interviewing Reagan, felt it would have been more damaging to our nation to try and prosecute Reagan when it was apparent alzheimers had set in. Walsh felt Reagan knew more then he said, but he also knew that the alzheimers would have been humilitaing to Reagan, and would have made prosecution impossible.

While writing about the South Asian, Southeast Asian, Chinese, African and Middle Eastern Muslim challenges in the book Transnational Muslims in American Society, Aminah Beverly McCloud, the author as well as a professor and director of Islamic World Studies at DePaul University wants to educate readers about the lives of immigrants coming to America to change their lives. "Thus, we can examine the modern histories of Arabic speakers, South Asian, Chinese, Iranian, and Somali Muslims, and there presence in America." (pg.7)

Transnational Muslims in American Society, a non-fiction work by Aminah Beverly McCloud, seeks to explore the experience of transnational Muslims in the United States - be they refugees, immigrants, students, or exiles - in relation to the history and context of Islam in their native country. The book consists of several chapters; the first two are introductions to the general issues faced by transnational Muslims in the U.S. and to the historical context and religious ideologies of Islam. Specific ethnic groups are given historical context in the following chapters and then discussed as a part of the U.S. Muslim experience. Short sections of notes, citations, and an index provide reference for the reader.

The two introductory chapters lack the structure found in successive chapters. Combined with the unusual choice of first person perspective in a scholarly book, these chapters, which seek to introduce the reader to the wealth of information that follows, leave the reader fumbling in an attempt to find cohesion in what should be a straight-forward presentation of the intentions and methods of the work. The most important piece of information that comes out of these chapters is the choice to call these Muslims "transnational." McCloud does not specifically stick to Muslims born outside of the United States, but rather looks at all Muslims in the United States that maintain ties across national borders. For some, this is maintained political ties as with refugees and exiles; others have family "back home" that they may send remittances to. Some are in the United States for education, or to strike it rich and then go home; others are traditional immigrants. Whatever the specific situation, "transnational" encompasses Muslims who experience the United States through another culture's frame of reference.

Anyone who wishes to understand the points of reference of Muslims in the United States needs to read this book. Collegiate individuals and other adults will get the most out of it, because this one takes some perseverance. This book is organized, engaging, and provides an excellent survey of transnational Muslims in the United States - if one can make it past the first two chapters. Fumbling through them ends up being adequate, albeit difficult, and what follows is well worth the struggle.

Aminah McCloud, Professor of Religion at DePaul University, is the author of Transnational Muslims in American Society. She seeks to look at a truer picture of the transnational population of Muslims in the United States, a population that is bombarded with stereotypes and one that has always earned the animus of the larger white protestant majority.
McCloud's book is a non-fiction unscientific study consisting of brief sections on Palestinians, Egyptians, Sudanese, Iranians, Indians and Pakistani. These sections are a judicious mix of history, current events, and information gathered from interviews of community members and research over two years time. McCloud takes special care in the introduction to clarify her use of `transnational' instead of the immigrant, so that she can write a clearer, less burdened and more accurate picture of the population of study.
Engaging parts of the book include the sections that take direct aim at the media, movie industry, American Culture and the United States Government portrayal of Muslims diasporans which include mentions on the Jessica Lynch story and Charlie Chapman.
Throughout Transnational Muslims in American Society the emphasis was on the general public's lack of real information on Muslims and the purposeful demonization of Islam and its followers as the `other'. McCloud's style is engaging and clear, though at times sentence construction was a little distracting. The book's target audience seems to be those who have little knowledge about Islam or the United States' population of transnational Muslims.
All in all McCloud's book does a good job of dispelling many of the myths associated with American Muslims and creates an accurate picture of how large and diverse the community is (a point McCloud makes often is that Arab Muslims are a minority in the U.S. and the world Muslim population, and that not all Arabs are Muslims) and what its origins are. This book is highly recommended for anyone with an inkling to learn more about Transnational Muslims in the United States or for anyone that wants a balanced window into Muslim America life.

To really understand what it is to be an transnational people and what they contribute to American society one needs to studied the people. Aminah Beverly McClouds' book, Transnational Muslims in American Society, studies Arabic speakers, South Asian, Chinese, Iranian, and Somali Muslims, and what is their role in America. McCloud tackles the problems with the scholarships and media portrayal of Muslims and Islam that led Americans to what they see Islam as. She chooses a few diasporas to tackle this issue and helps the reader into really understanding what an immigrant Muslim is. She beings addressing this issue by changing the title of immigrant to transnational.

Acknowledging the vast scope and diversity of Muslim communities in the US, McCloud narrows focus to "the modern histories of Arabic speakers, South Asian, Chinese, Iranian, and Somali Muslims, and their presence in America" (7). Structurally, the book breaks down into essentially three parts. Beginning is an examination of transnational Muslims, the American host society and a brief introduction to Islam. This is followed by the bulk of the work - an analysis of the aforementioned Muslim groups and their relevant histories. Finally, McCloud provides a critical analysis of the American Muslim diaspora in her concluding chapter, Global Islam in America: The Mix and Challenges. It is not until this last chapter that McCloud departs from the very objective, scholarly tone that characterizes the bulk of her work. The author's stated intent is well served throughout the book and further enhanced by the concluding subjectivity of the last chapter.

The first three chapters are effective in providing an introductory framework necessary for the following examinations of specific Muslim groups in America. As mentioned, the framework examines transnational Muslims, the US as a host society and a brief introduction to Islam. Regarding the first, McCloud distinguishes between the terms "immigrant" and "transnational." Transnationalism - "the formation of social, political, and economic relationships among migrants that span several societies," underscores the argument with which McCloud concludes her work. Put simply, the argument states that Muslim-American groups lack effective assimilation into American society for several reasons. And that "each Muslim community has a stake in being American, and it is by being American that their best contributions to US society are yet to come" (137). Regarding the US as a host society, McCloud effectively demonstrates that it has been tempered with "imaginations and stereotypes" that largely stem from scholarship and media. The author makes this point well. Similarly, her brief introduction to Islam is a scholarly historical account of the development and growth of the religion since its birth in the seventh century.

Upon laying such a framework, the discussion moves to individual communities that comprise the Muslim diaspora in the US - South Asian, Chinese, Arab, Iranian and Somali Muslims. She begins with an overview of South Asian history and culture, employing anthropology, theology and regional history as they allow her to "summarize the authoritative or at least classical examinations of Muslims that have most informed American thinking" (6). The background information proves appropriate because it is informative of the challenges facing Muslim communities in America. Among all the transnational Muslim groups discussed, each is influenced by variables pertinent to the culture from which they derive. For example, Chinese Muslim values are strongly influenced by Confucian ideology as Indian Muslims are influenced by Hindu traditions. Arab Muslims, here including Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese further demonstrates the distinctions between Muslim and American culture. Iranian Muslims are influenced by the 1979 Revolution and US meddling in Iranian affairs, though the author asserts that the attitude of most Iranian Muslims is one of ambivalence. Somali Muslims, too, are influenced by factors unique to their society such as war, and face many of the challenges of assimilation that other Muslim American groups face.

All of the challenges of assimilation stemming from cultural, societal and religious differences between transnational Muslims and American culture have given rise to ineffectual incorporation of Muslims in America. As such, the author's main argument is that lack of coordination and issues over legitimacy have failed to produce positive results for the transnational Muslim community in America. "Issues of authenticity and legitimacy have clouded almost every aspect of Islamic history and are again determining the priorities for immigrant Muslim life in America" (124). The dominance of Arab representation of Muslims worldwide, largely based on the birthplace and original language of the Quran is at the heart of the problem. As the self-proclaimed spokespeople for Islam, Arab Muslims have alienated African-American Muslims and others that have the potential to empower Muslim Americans. Those prominent, most often Arab Muslims in the US that speak for the greater community, argues McCloud, have a view that they are "morally and intellectually superior to people in the West," which has "structured their cultural isolation in the United States" (136). This cultural isolation has negatively impacted the transnational Muslim in the US.

Transnational Muslims in American Society is strongly recommended by this review.

...Lynch peels back his Celtic heritage, slices and dices his Catholic roots, and seasons it all with life, death and transatlantic experience. Booking Passage is a great flavorful Irish stew - mind, there's a bit of gristle in it, too!

It's hard to define this book. Mostly, it's about the experience of Thomas Lynch and his extended Irish-American family living in Michigan and his going back home to Clare to the relatives still living in the home of his ancestors. That part alone is well worth the read but Mr. Lynch goes much further, delving into his personal, spiritual faith and the schizophrenia of The Church as well as the residue of 9/11 and the chaos, fear and war that has followed, adding a depth I hadn't expected. The writing is lyrical and flows from topic to topic with ease, like an often beautiful, sometimes heart-wrenching journey.

"Booking Passage, We Irish and Americans" is a delight. Thomas Lynch's use of language is inspiring. Lynch's observations on Irish and American life in the last three decades are full of wit and insight. This is a great book by a great author.

Hilarious in parts, I found his diatribe on 9/11, the airport wait between flights, his "rise" to stardom etc. to be egotistical and boring. If he had stuck to Ireland, relatives there, the cottage there, his life in the States and the back and forth between the two, it would have made a better book. I loved it for the brogue and dialogue therein; reminded me of my father who spoke with a brogue imitating my grandparents from Roscommon but it does wander and that's a shame because he seems to have a niche with his close tie to Ireland that could be used again and again in more books perhaps.

I'd been waiting for what seemed like too long for a third book of stories from Thomas Lynch, but wondered if his Irish-based tales could possibility be as compelling as his earlier works, which were stories about life based on his career in dealing with the dead (in addition to being a writer, Lynch is an undertaker). But again, just as he used the funeral home as a backdrop for stories not about death but about life, Lynch uses Ireland, land of his ancestory and his frequent visits, as the canvas for telling poignant stories about life. Now I'll give friends copies of "Booking Passage" while i wait for a fourth book from Thomas Lynch.

I loved reading about each persons journey and struggle for a better life. I did not want the book to end and would put it down frequently to save each story for a different day. I plan to pick it up again in the future and re-read it. It was well written and the author did a good job of sharing the immigrants experiences.
It takes a lot of courage, confidence and optomism to leave everything behind and cross a great ocean in search of a better life. Americans can only feel pride in their forfathers and thankful for their journeys. Americans need to read stories like this to remember to appreciate and not take for granted the life they have today

I am still reading this fascinating and informative book.
So far I give it 4 stars.
I am writing to make a small correction to information on page 110.
The store in Portland, Maine listed as "Portius Mitchell" is
actually "Porteous Mitchell" which was located at 522 Congress St.
The Porteous building still stands and houses the Maine College of Art.
"Porteous Mitchell & Braun" dept. store opened in 1904.

I work for the National Park Service and we hold the tapes and transcripts to the original interviews from which Mr. Coan based this book. After reading hundreds of these interviews in their orginal form, I can tell you that Mr. Coan has done a great job finding the most interesting ones out of the thousands or interviews of Ellis Island immigrants conducted by the Park Service. Most of the interviews are boring, but Mr. Coan has spared you from the headache of reading those. He has also done a nice job editing the interviews into a cohesive readable piece. In the orginal the person might start telling a story, then get off on a tangent and finish the story later in the interview. Mr. Coan has spared the reader that agony as well. He did do one very odd, and I find annoying thing. For some reason he has altered the original names of some of the immigrants, while keeping others, such as Manny Steen intact. I am not sure why he did that since all of the people interviewed gave the government the rights to make their interview part of the public domain. In changing the names of some of the immigrants he has denied families for years to come the joy of coming upong their ancestor's story in print. Still, there are some amazing stories hidden among the thousands of boring immigration stories and Mr. Coan has brought them out obsurity. Sadly the federal government is in no hurry to get these stories out to the public, so it is up to authors and editors such as Peter Coan to do it. Thank you Mr. Coan for wading through the vast volumes of interviews and bringing these inspiring stories out in the open where they can influence us all.

My grandfather is in this book! (Manny Steen from Ireland) He would have been thrilled - but I don't believe he ever saw it. He died the year this was published. He had interviews in other Ellis Island books and his voice is the voice of Ireland at Ellis Island. It's sad, but the publishers didn't even send him copies of the books. As others have pointed out in their reviews, many of these people are between 80 and 100 and can't exactly zip over to the bookstore for a copy. (And he definitely wasn't online!) So, if any publishers read this, please keep that in mind. They give their story, at least give them a book! MY grampa would have liked a book signing party, too!! :-)

The result of diligent research, intensive interviewing and careful editing, the "Ellis Island Interviews - In Their Own Words" is a historical treasure trove. In the tradition of Studs Turkel, editor Peter Morton Coan has compiled dozens of interviews depicting the Ellis Island immigration experience. In their own words, immigrants from all walks of life relate the stories of their passage, often providing information about the places they came from, what their trip to the United States was like, why the came, and where they went after leaving Ellis Island. Each story is different of course, but each has a common goal: the dream of a better life in America. Coan also includes interviews with Ellis Island employees and provides background information on U.S. immigration policies and Ellis Island operations to help orient the reader.

Coan's excellent research and editing of the interviews has yielded an invaluable resource of our country's immigration history. The stories are fascinating, and the guts and determination possessed by many of the immigrants are beyond admirable. Reading the "Ellis Island Interviews" is a touching and humbling experience - it will help you to better appreciate what those who came before you have endured. Ellis Island ceased to be an INS port in 1954, and almost all of those who came to the U.S. through Ellis Island are now very advanced in age - we have Coan to thank for preserving their stories for generations to come.

This was originally in The New Yorker years ago, but I just got the book. Bowden provides a voice to the voiceless here, as we see the work of the photographers of Juarez. Content is king here, and it seems like they are witness to the apocalypse. One could get into the politics involved here and border issues, but I'd prefer to ignore that...its just a lovely book.

Great word and image combination that is as disturbing as it is thought provoking, all politics aside.

I've twice been to the Colonia's of Cd. Juarez. I have not, thank God, witnessed the violence.

I have seen the poverty.

The photographs in "Juarez, the laboratory of our future" are painful to view. The work of skilled local photographers, the pictures jump from the pages and into your heart. Life in a Colonia is a nightmare.

As the text makes clear, the causes of the poverty and violence are complex. But it is certain that we, the consumers of cheap goods, are adding to the pain when we buy the product output of Juarez, but bar the producers from escaping their Hell. The people in the Colonias are living lives very the close to those suffered by WWII slave laborers in Europe and elsewhere.

Where are the liberation forces?

This book focuses on all the ugly and evil aspects of this border town, and omits anything positive about the place. If you are a reader who has not spent considerable time working or living in Cd. Juarez, this book will grossly distort reality and scare you from setting foot into Mexico. I almost want to write a photo-book myself of all the virtues of the place. Yes, Juarez has it's share of problems, but as the citizens will tell you, things are always getting better. The writing seems very politically motivated, and definitely one-sided. I think someone could write a book just as disturbing while only focusing on slums in american cities. This book doesnt give Cd. Juarez a fair shake. But if you like photos of dead bodies, you will still enjoy this book.

I am speechless. The book is amazingly grueling. Rather than an attack on Juarez, it is an attack, a challenge to our humanity, hoping that we wake up and see the horrors so that we may stop them.

"Lost in Juarez and its eastertime too", Bob Dylan shrieks and after reading Bowden's masterpeice you can feel the connection. This is one of those efforts that stay with the reader long after the book is put down. It's haunting photos and depictions are hard to forget. From the pictures of the forgotten dead to the photo of a young wife bending over her husband who had just shot on a busy Juarez street. It is said that photographs don't lie, however, sometimes they tell an awful truth. Bowden captures the futility and danger of Juarez in every photo and what makes this effort unique is that the prose accompanying the photos actually enhances the effect. Wonderful work.

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK, I WAS ON OPERATION JUMP START, WITH THE U.S.B.P., SO THIS BOOK MEENS ALOT TO ME, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YOUR FAMILYS

The thing that surprised me about this book was how tough the training of these border agents is. Americans should know this and honor their hard work. This is a good book on a very important aspect of our nation's security after 9/11.

No doubt about it. This book covers the history of the Border Patrol. However, it falls far short of what it ostensibly bills itself and ends up more as a "fluff piece" than anything else.

As someone who has not only served as a Senior Border Patrol Agent (13 years) but also a Border Patrol union president and outspoken critic of the agency, I have studied this agency inside and out without the affects of tunnel vision that typically accompany the job (many say a necessity). Pacheco, as an active agent (when he wrote the book at least), appears headed in the right direction with the book and then suddenly veers off target. His somewhat ambiguous message that border security is a difficult task is obviously an attempt to straddle the line (I apologize for the pun) so as not to appear too contentious or controversial. Did he need to seek agency approval for publication since he was actively employed? If so, then the credibility issue leaps out and the book is worth the historical content alone if nothing else. If he did not need agency approval and was truly writing without restraint, then he failed to accurately convey the real state of the Border Patrol and border security.

Simply put, the Border Patrol, as with most of the Homeland Security subcomponents is disintegrating. Remember the incompetence of FEMA (a Homeland Security subcomponent)? Well, multiply that incompetence times ten. Heard about the poor morale of FEMA employees? Multiply that problem by one-hundred and you have an accurate picture of the Border Patrol. A Border Patrol in which the vast majority of otherwise employable agents spend ninety-percent of their time trying to get out. Those that choose to stay in do so only because of the comparatively worse off agencies in DHS. The bottom line is that as a former agent, I lose sleep at night knowing what I know.

Pacheco did cover the rigorous training regimen accurately even if it bordered on propaganda. That alone may attract candidates to the difficult and completely unrewarding position of U.S. Border Patrol Agent. The field stories are completely unappealing to anyone who served more than a week in a law enforcement position unless they are reading about their own exploits.

Read the book for enjoyment and homage. Just don't expect critical analysis. In fact, this book would be an enjoyable read at Stewarts Bridge (for you IB agents in San Diego).

This is an outstanding read. At times it reads like the newspaper; at times it reads like a novel. The author(s) have done an impressive job at combining details and narrative to get information across in a very enjoyable manner.

I highly recommend this book as an introduction to the life on the line of the US Border Patrol.

I received this book in the middle of finals and made the mistake of opening the cover. I couldn't put it down. I purchased the book to learn more about the USBP and now I want to be an Agent! The proud history of the USBP is illustrated well as is the current status of the organization. The author really seems to know what he is writing about and must've interviewed a hundred people.