United States Books

Over all whether you like Ron Paul and his libertarian like views, the analysis that he presents is rather cut-and-dry. Following a wide range of issues that pertain to the American Political spectrum he piece by piece goes through the steps he sees as necessary in order to achieve what he refers to as a "revolution" similir to the spirt in which the Constitution was originally written. This book is NOT FOR BEGINERS in political science arena unless you intend to have both a dictionary and encyclopedia handy in order to appreciate the history and political science subject matter.

Someone recommended reading this, and I'm glad - Revolution presents so many challenges to current perspectives on government that it forces a re-evaluation of one's world view. While it's impossible to present a full school of thought in such a short piece, Ron Paul raises so many issues that it makes one question how our nation has been run for so long.

Again, I see this book as only an introduction to the Libertarian perspective, but it's got my interest. It's not enough to convert me, but it does force me to study more. I've still got a lot of questions, and I have to research some of the assertions presented... but it's raised a lot issues that people need to hear.

Dr. Paul doesn't pick a particular political party in his writing he is offended by anticonstitution politicians in both parties. I bought this as DVD's and enjoyed the form as well as the thought. Dr. Paul isn't a conservative but a libertarian.

After reading this book I was deeply saddened that Ron Paul's campaign was not taken more seriously than it was. His plans and ideas for this country are so far removed from the "pop culture" political climate that dominates American politics today. After reading this book I realized that this country made a big mistake not electing Mr. Paul. All I can hope for now is that if Mr. Paul will not run again in four years someone will pick up his torch and run with it. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone who is even thinking about calling him or herself a "Patriot".

Whether it's Ron Paul who leads us there or not, this book gives us a clear picture of where we need to go. Once the government is out of our lives for good, we can begin to enjoy life as American Citizens once again, instead of being treated like *mindless consumers* by the parasites who fight for more and more government control and intervention into our personal lives.

Unfortunately most Americans are not aware of the extent to which our inalienable rights are being undermined by treasonous public servants bent on ignoring the very document they were sworn to uphold. It is our right; it is our duty, to hold these treasonous criminals accountable for their actions. We need to get back to our roots; we need to say these words in public again and really think about what is important to us as Americans.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."

-Thomas Jefferson

Over all whether you like Ron Paul and his libertarian like views, the analysis that he presents is rather cut-and-dry. Following a wide range of issues that pertain to the American Political spectrum he piece by piece goes through the steps he sees as necessary in order to achieve what he refers to as a "revolution" similir to the spirt in which the Constitution was originally written. This book is NOT FOR BEGINERS in political science arena unless you intend to have both a dictionary and encyclopedia handy in order to appreciate the history and political science subject matter.

Someone recommended reading this, and I'm glad - Revolution presents so many challenges to current perspectives on government that it forces a re-evaluation of one's world view. While it's impossible to present a full school of thought in such a short piece, Ron Paul raises so many issues that it makes one question how our nation has been run for so long.

Again, I see this book as only an introduction to the Libertarian perspective, but it's got my interest. It's not enough to convert me, but it does force me to study more. I've still got a lot of questions, and I have to research some of the assertions presented... but it's raised a lot issues that people need to hear.

Dr. Paul doesn't pick a particular political party in his writing he is offended by anticonstitution politicians in both parties. I bought this as DVD's and enjoyed the form as well as the thought. Dr. Paul isn't a conservative but a libertarian.

After reading this book I was deeply saddened that Ron Paul's campaign was not taken more seriously than it was. His plans and ideas for this country are so far removed from the "pop culture" political climate that dominates American politics today. After reading this book I realized that this country made a big mistake not electing Mr. Paul. All I can hope for now is that if Mr. Paul will not run again in four years someone will pick up his torch and run with it. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone who is even thinking about calling him or herself a "Patriot".

Whether it's Ron Paul who leads us there or not, this book gives us a clear picture of where we need to go. Once the government is out of our lives for good, we can begin to enjoy life as American Citizens once again, instead of being treated like *mindless consumers* by the parasites who fight for more and more government control and intervention into our personal lives.

Unfortunately most Americans are not aware of the extent to which our inalienable rights are being undermined by treasonous public servants bent on ignoring the very document they were sworn to uphold. It is our right; it is our duty, to hold these treasonous criminals accountable for their actions. We need to get back to our roots; we need to say these words in public again and really think about what is important to us as Americans.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."

-Thomas Jefferson

Both of my sons and my husband enjoyed this book. A lot of fun to read.

Amazing that in a few weeks, Mick Foley poured his life and soul into 760 pages of notebook paper that would make it, lightly cut and without any major edits, onto book, and earn it's New York Times #1 Bestseller's List. If only it weren't for that Oprah! (readers of the book will understand)

Starting from childhood, he makes it quick, but sweet as he tells humorous stories about his friends, and the origin of the name "Cactus Jack", and his time in college, including the inspiration for Dude Love and the start of his wrestling career.

Foley's writing is so personal and engrossing that he easily captures our attention with riveting stories ranging from lying to his parents and almost getting caught skipping a bus to college in order to catch a wrestling show (the famous Madison Square Garden match between Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco), to gaining the respect and friendship of ex-wrestler and trainer Dominic DeNucci and being taken under his wing, knowing Foley couldn't afford classes, by reducing his fee, and then not charging altogether.

Foley's tales of his independent circuit runs are definitely a grungy, and in some cases heartwrenchingly painful experiences, which his natural humor and goodnatured attitude help liven up and spare us the angst he must have felt, but without completely sugarcoating it.

All along the way, Foley maintains a very brilliantly hidden line between kayfabe and shoot, though focusing more on the shoot aspect (for nonwrestling fans, kayfabe means the "fake" world of wrestling, including storylines and gimmicks, shoot is reality) and readily admits his talent isn't in technical or even very good wrestling, but rather in taking bumps and making the other guy and himself look good.

From hellish stories of being stalked by crazed female fans thinking his real name is "Cactus Jack Manson" to wrestling in Nigeria and almost getting robbed by the corrupt government police, to losing out on a 3,000$ paycheck in Africa after the president of the country he wrestled in (who organized the event) was assassinated and the regime overthrown within weeks of his departure, Foley's wit and charm keep the story of his life so lively, you'd think it has to be fiction.

Moving on to his time in WCW, he recounts the horrors of the backstage mechanics, from Ric Flair's awful booking and the backstage team's failure to recognize great potential talent, and hiring college TV production students to man their editing, to Foley's disillusionment as the feud between he and Vader was played down, a massive bump taken by Foley which the commentators could have brilliantly sold was sardonically mocked with a derogatory statement like "that's got to be excedrin headache #9!!", and Cactus Jack being attempted to be turned into a childishly ridiculous heel that would have ruined Foley's career.

Then came Foley's run on the independent circuit, and shows for ECW, including full transcripts of some of his best, and in my opinion some of the best ever, promos, trying to be anti-hardcore and promoting WCW and trying to get Tommy Dreamer to go to WCW and be the pretty boy wrestler again.

From the independent circuit, to stardom in the WWF, Foley is never sparse on details about stories while on the road, his many friends along the way from Mr. Haiti in Africa, to Steve Austin and Steve (William) Regal, The Undertaker, Sting, Owen Hart, Vader, and of course Terry Funk. Virtually every stop from his career, including the Japanese tours, the King of the Deathmatch, etc, and the evolution from "Mason the Mutilator" to "Mankind the Mutilator" to "Mankind" and the use of all three of his gimmicks in the WWF to eventual WWF Championship gold.

Throughout it all, Foley never loses his charm or wit, or the incessant Al Snow bashing, with plenty of pictures scattered around the text and plenty of personal stories (like the time he shared a house with a junkie, a guy who was having sex with his girlfriend's 16 year old daughter, and the 16 year old trying to flirt with Mick) and stories with friends (like "Vader" Leon White's spendthrifting with hotels, or Owen Hart's penchanse for practical jokes) that his story never gets old or repetitive and when the story finally ends, you feel like you've known Mick his entire life.

This is THE shining example of a great book about a pro wrestler's life, and I hope his other two books are just as great.

Mick Foley's "Have a Nice Day" is his first and his best. It is a whimsical journey in the life of one of the greatest hardcore wrestlers ever. Foley has always had the gift of gab, and it translates very well to the written page. Hysterical, insightful, and heartwarming.

If you are interested in the behind the scenes of wrestling, here's a great place to start. Mick speaks on his rise from childhood fan to wrestling superstar. He even talks breifly about the Boiler Room Brawl and his Cleveland promos! (I wish he would have went more in-depth on these topics, though.)

See a different side of wrestling with this autobiographical book. You'll laugh your way through this brilliant work of art and ask yourself how Foley survived.

The story of the rise and domination (within horse racing circles and the world at large) of the most celebrated race horse in history. Chronicling the horse, owner, trainer and jockeys; paying special attention to their remarkable place in history during a time in the late 1930's when the world needed a hero like Seabiscuit.

A terrific tale of heart and determination. The characters are richly drawn and the world of horse racing is told in a way that is fascinating to the non-enthusiast. The narratives of the races are constructed so well that they will keep your heart racing long after the horses are back in the stable. Wonderful stuff.

I purchased this book years ago when it first came out. My husband is an avid fan of horse races and having went with him on numerous occasions I became interested in reading about them myself. This book will not disappoint and even though the movie was very good the book is tons better (which is almost always the case). I enjoyed reading about the background of all the people involved with Seabiscuit it is a real heartwarming story about a horse that everyone gave up on but everyone ended up having hope in. A trainer that was an outsider and an owner that wasn't your average horse owner and the faith he put into the jockey who was left by his parents at a horse track because they couldn't afford to keep him home (it was during the Great Depression). I could probably go on and on about the book because I enjoyed it very much.

I saw both flims the original with Shirley Temple/Lon McAllister also the newer version both were great
So the the book was a must have also to learn what had happen to rest of the story(the horse/the people)

This is a wonderful book about an unbelievable champion - the kind we need today in America. A champion that reaches into the hearts of the people, unifies us and inspires us to prevail. The men who believed in Seabiscuit were not perfect, nor was Seabiscuit but they all managed to be imperfect winners. The writing itself might be a bit flourished but it is certainly well-researched and the story is entertaining told. Hillebrand has captured the ironies, truths, the agony and ecstasy of horse-racing and life itself as well. This one will make you cheer.

When I finished reading this book five years ago, I thought "Wow, that is the greatest sports book I have read." Well, I still think that way and I've read some great sports literature since.

It's the combination of fascinating mini-biographies of Seabiscuit's owner, trainer and jockey that make this book so entertaining. These were fascinating people and if you were a horse racing fan, the era was just about perfect. People went nuts over horse racing, baseball and boxing. It's not like today where football, basketball and hockey share the limelight, sports-wise.

Author Laura Hillebrand's account of owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith and jockey "Red" Pollard are just incredible. These man have amazing stories and what they and Seabiscuit attained in racing, are almost unbelivable.....yet everything in this easy-to-read book is true. From the early pages on, the book hooks you in to the point where you care deeply about all the main characters.

I'll always remember getting to the chapter which told about the famous match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral. Hillenbrand had done such a great job of building up to that, I almost didn't want to read on for fear I would be greatly disappointed. That's how involving her book was for me, and for many others.

I guess the highest praise I can give this book is so good that it got me back reading, after a long absence.

I give this book two stars mostly based on personal taste. It is a fun read, and has an up-beat tone that leaves you feeling pretty good about people and the world. Unfortunately, though, there just isn't much to it. The scenery, characters and story telling are a banal mix of Hickham's strung-together memories and a big rusty can of Americana. There isn't anything very ambitious or exciting about it; Rocket Boys is simple, straight-forward, and decently entertaining. If it were a food, it would be chicken soup. A hearty, unimaginative, comforting bowl of chicken soup.

I enjoyed this true life story so much I bought a copy for our grand children. It is inspirational, I would like to see it on the reading list for middle schools everywhere. When young people are motivated, encouraged and supported, they can and many times will do amazing things. To struggle through some difficult circumstances, have some expected support and some un-expected opposition and to achieve their goals was a great story. The relationship between Homer and his father will be related to by many. One page will have you laughing and the next will have you in tears.
I loved it.

If you were born in the 40s as I was, in New York, reading this book will take you back to the time you 'heard' about the coaltowns in West Virginia. This story will match your memories ... not to mention your memories of the era it represents. I LOVED it!

escape via rocket, October 6, 2008
By V. N. Dvornychenko (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews


Part "Angela's Ashes" (Frank McCourt) and part "I Aim for the Stars" (Werner von Braun), this book chronicles the efforts of a teenage boy to escape the confines of his West Virginia coal-mining milieu. Fourteen-year-old Homer/Sonny Hickam (the protagonist and author) is determined not to follow in the footsteps of his coalminer father - who is already showing signs of black-lung disease, a disease which will eventually kill him.

Homer/Sonny has an older brother, of whom he is very resentful. Among his brother's "sins" are ease with the girls, success at high school football - and most of all - favor with the parents. Normally there are only two paths for escape from Coalwood: the military, or a football scholarship.
The brother, Jim, holds a strong suit in the football option. Homer, slightly built and very nearsighted, knows he has no chance at footfall - and, so it would appear, with the girls. Then a miracle happens.

The "miracle" that provides a third avenue of escape is the launching of Sputnik by the USSR. The shockwaves produced by this event change American values almost overnight. Intellectual "nerds" suddenly become fashionable. Homer hatches a plan which he hopes will eventually land a job designing rockets for Werner von Braun. The plan is to design, build and launch model rockets. Homer collects a circle of followers - mainly other "nerds" -- and together they put the plan into action.

Besides the shockwaves produced by Sputnik, another kind of fault line runs right through the Hickam household. On one side stand Homer with his mother, on the other his father and brother. A major reason for the fault line is that the mother does not wish to see her sons follow the fate of her husband. But that is not all; it appears the mother has certain misgivings about her marriage. With her artistic bent, and something of a free-spirit, she harbors feelings that perhaps -- just perhaps -- she married beneath her station. A consequence of her frustration is that she succeeds in pulling Homer/Sonny over to her side, resulting in a more-or-less permanent rift with the father. It is also interesting to speculate what other personality traits may have resulted from Homer's closeness to his mother. Homer appears to have a penchant for being attracted to girls that give him conflicting signals - somewhat in the manner of Lucy of the famous comic strip, they entice him, only to pull the ball away at the very last second. Homer is also attracted to an "older" woman (though she is only in her early twenties), his science teacher, Freida Riley.

Although Homer appears to fear and hate everything about mining, some of the most spellbinding moments are excursions into the mine. His favorite science teacher would not, however, approve of the chemistry in the book, which contains several mistakes.

I began by characterizing "Rocket Boys" as part "Angela's Ashes" and part "I Aim for the Stars". In retrospect, is little doubt that "I Aim for the Stars" constitutes the minor component. Although much of the book details the design and building of rockets, Homer's fascination with rocketry and Werner von Braun appears to be mostly motivated by this "ticket out of Coalwood." The epilogue to the book reinforces this. After some delays, Homer Hickam does indeed go to work for NASA, and enjoys a successful career. But sadly, no speculations appear in the book regarding man's role in the cosmos - the "extraterrestrial imperative" Krafft Ehricke called it - nor did any subsequent books on astrodynamics or space theory emerge.

The author produced a sequel "Coalwood Ways." Published only two years later, it covers much the same territory, but has a very different flavor. It concentrates on interpersonal relations, and is much "sweeter" in its outlook than its precursor. It gives the appearance that the author underwent some personal event between the two books which changed his outlook. A film, titled "October Sky," was made based on "Rocket Boys." It has a different flavor yet. "Rocket Boys" is a fine book, and after all is said and done, it would appear that Homer Hickam's true calling is writer.

THE EXPERIMENTS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED.

Loved this book. Was on the last chapter when I threw October Sky into my Netflix queue; Hoping I'd have it in hand when the book was finished. Timing was perfect. As usual, the book eclipses the movie, but both are great. Passing it onto my 10 year old son who already has aspirations of going into the sciences. Enjoy!

What a story! What a writer! I could not put this book down. Colin Channer is a talent. I cannot wait to read his next adventure.

The book was well written, great humor and very relatable for anyone who has ever been in love or would like to be. The only thing is that the cover does not give the book any justice. At first glance you would think its one of those trashy romance novels, however its about more than romance, its about true love and the romance behind it.

This novel was a soulful journey. It connects with the reality of relationships and with all of its struggles and triumph. I was drawn into the characters from the opening page. He tells this tale with a poetic spin. His words unfold beautifully and each character takes on a life of its own. I think readers will find a little bit of themselves in this book. I loved it!

This book is a beautiful experience. It is one of the most passionate and real books that I have ever read. I couldn't put it down and I wish that it was longer. The emotions of the characters are so strong that they leap off of the page. This book makes you want to go out and fall in love and hope that you experience half the passion and true love that these characters experience.

Colin Channer to me is like a modern day Picasso with a pen. His dialogue is compelling, soul-stirring and purposeful and his characters are engaging. You can almost close your eyes and imagine yourself seeing the story unfold as if you were a fly on the wall at a gallery in New York, a beach house in Jamaica, or the Streets of London. This is the mark of a truly great storyteller.

Our main character, Fire, is a "simple" man with a "complex" life. By simple I mean he wants what any sane person would want, a circle of good life-long friends, a fulfilling life, and someone emotionally and physically available to share it all with. So, when he meets Sylvia, he feels like he has found the one. What he doesn't know is that Sylvia, an engaged magazine editor, is all but disengaged from her own true desires for her life. Soon we see that complications abound, and the journey they take throughout the story takes the reader on a cross-continental journey in search of introspection, true meaning and, possibly, true love.

An interesting point is that Channer's characters are written from their souls - what drives them to do the things they do is less about their gender than their emotions and their pasts. With such a multi-faceted story, several layers of conflict, we still get a crystal clear picture and understanding as to why things unfold teh way they do. It is a believable, gripping, page turner, and Channer conveys it effortlessly.

Waiting in Vain, simply put, was one of the two best books I have read in a long time. The other was Satisfy My Soul (also by Colin Channer). As an aspiring writer, I wish my prose was as naturally beautiful as Mr. Channer's. Until it is, I will keep devouring his work in hopes that some of his literary poeticism rubs off.

One of the better books I've read. Perfect from beginning to end. A suggestion; watch the mini-series first. The characters (in the mini-series) are so perfectly cast that when the book is read, you immediately connect with them. This book will linger long after you've put it down. This is a modern literary achievement that should not be skipped.

Absolutely loved it! I have ordered two more books by this author and am sure it won't be the last.

Like Gone With the Wind, Lonesome Dove is a critically acclaimed Pulitzer-Prize winning commercially successful novel about family hardships during the end of an American era. It also compares with The Godfather and Shogun as a great epic story with many fascinating characters in life-and-death plots. This is not merely a cult favorite, but is widely admired by readers who love good literature.

In early 2003 I first read this tome after eighteen years of having wrongly scorned it as being JUST a cowboy Western. I re-read it in 2008. If you've not read this because it is set in the fabled American Old West, you're denying yourself a delicious reading experience. Readers used to rapid page-turning, short quick chapters, and simple concepts (not that there's anything wrong with that) may not find this to their taste, but as commercial literature for mature adults, this is excellent.

Like Tolstoy's War and Peace, this is a sprawling book, a mass of life, though all the structural elements of the traditional three-act drama are present. It was originally written as a feature film.

Reasonable minds may differ on a short summary. Objectively, this is a post Civil War story about a cowboy trail boss and his best friend, former Texas Rangers, who lead a team of men who drive three thousand cattle from Texas to Montana. Most of the story takes place on that difficult drive, which is filled with well-developed subplots. Only one of the two main characters survives it, so I'd classify this in retrospect as a tragedy.

But, reading it without knowing the end, this is a grand experience full of comedy, misery, and triumph as they decide to undertake the travel, go on the travel, and arrive at their fated destinations. The character that died had lived a full life with few big regrets; the other character had to go on living with his big regrets.

My regret is that I waited so long before reading this.

Put this one your reading list. This novel endures.
Robert Beattie

I was pretty disappointed with this book. Only a couple characters are actually interesting and almost all of them are one-dimensional. Their actions often do not make sense and are totally irrational. Maybe I do not know much about the west but it seems really easy to die on a cattle drive and whores are really well accepted. The deaths seem implausible and it is amazing how much these men cry. The request and quest at the end of the book were stupid and very annoying. Call, a main character, acts totally out of character at the end. All the characters seem to be at extremes, for example: extremely dumb or very smart. There are two types of men in this book: ones who fall instantly and hopelessly in love with every woman they see, and those who would never touch a woman. There are one two types of women: proffessional whores and then amateur ones.

It took a very long time to get to any meaningful part of the plot. It also seemed like there were only about 20 people living west of the Mississippi because the same characters constantly encountered each other after traveling long distances. The whole book seemed kind of pointless when I was done reading and like a waste of time. Maybe I missed some great message that McMurtry wrote into the book.

This is one of those rather rare books that can be classified as a "cross over book." That is, you really need not be a fan of the Western genre to appreciate and enjoy reading it. I fall into that category. While I have certainly read Westerns from time to time, I do not particularly like them nor do I seek them out. This work is quite different though. I have to admit that I have actually read this thing twice over the years and if I make it much longer, will probably read it again one of these days. I was that impressed with it.

The story or plot has been reviewed to death here, so I will not dwell on that aspect of the novel that much. Suffice to say the setting take place from Texas to the northern U.S. and points in between. It takes place during the latter part of our western expansion period. The tale centers around a cattle drive from Texas and then north. One of the beauties of this book though, is that McMurty has woven quite a number of tales, plots and subplots into this story but has done it in a way that there is not mass confusion for the reader and they all, i.e. the subplots are indeed linked in various ways.

For me though the story was almost secondary. The strength of this work lies in the characters the author has so well developed. From page one you absolutely become involved with each and ever individual McMurtry introduces, even the bad guys. The author has the ability to make the reader feel he is there with them, seeing what the characters see, feeling what the character feels. Secondly, the physical description of the country, area and location of this (or these) tales is second to none. I have had the opportunity to have either lived, visited or extensively travel in or through all the locations mentioned in this book and can attest to the fact that the author has nailed them perfectly. His vivid and accurate descriptions of the country are second to none. Third, I love McMurtry's humor. I actually found myself laughing out loud at some of his ploys. On the other hand, when the author records grim happenings, they are truly grim and you feel those as much as you do any other part of this story.

I truly feel this is one of the better novels written over the last 40 years or so and truly deserved a Pulitzer for it. I doubt that most readers, i.e. those that actually read the book, will not enjoy each and every word. As an added bonus, there has been a wonderful movie made of this story and unlike most instances, the movie is almost as enjoyable (not quite) as the book. I do recommend this work very highly. McMurtry is a natural story teller and has the wonderful ability to record his stories in the written word. If you have not already done so, give this one a read. I seriously doubt you will be sorry.

I heard of the name of David Mccullough in the past as a writer, but was never inclined to check out his books. Just recently while perusing the news channels his name was discussed as a fascinating author so with my interest peaking, at the first opportunity I went and purchased a copy of Truman. From start to finish I haven't been disappointed. With more than a thousand pages it's like two volumes in one. Majority of the pages are filled with quotes from Truman. It's like having the subject speak for himself. I brought John Adams and Brave Companions by the same author afterwards.

David McCullough writes the best, most throughly researched books I have ever read. I have only read Truman and John Adams. I intend to read all of his works.

The alternative title here should read, "Why Didn't I Read This Years Ago, Too?" 'Cause like the Martin Gilbert biography of Churchill ("Churchill: A Life"), it's massive (1000 pages). Plus the subject of McCullough approaches the stature of the man revealed by Gilbert.

Harry Truman brought Lincoln to mind for me, as both Presidents embody the very meaning of "integrity." Yes, Mr. Truman had his human failings but, unlike some Presidents I have known, I'm left with absolutely no doubt that #33 performed his often thankless/always grueling task to the best of his ability--and Mr. Truman was a man of considerable ability.

Alan Brinkley, who wrote the New York Times Book Review of David McCullough's Truman, came up with these rather remarkable words on the life of Harry S. Truman, "My God, he's in color!"
You can bet your --- on that! Mr. Truman was indeed in color. This book by David McCullough goes into the very life and soul of a man who did what he thought was best for God and Country.
Mr. Truman's humble beginnings in Missouri from a farmer, an Army Captain in World War I to a Judgeship traveling the back roads in rural Missouri show the way of a leader. Along the way he was a part owner of a men's clothing store in Kansas City with his wartime friend Eddie Jacobson.
In 1934 Truman, through the efforts of the Pendergast Political Machine wins the Senatorial election as the Junior Senator from Missouri. McCullough goes into great detail of the trials and tribulations facing Harry S. Truman, common man who defends the Constitution and remains a no nonsense kind of guy.
His selection by Franklin Roosevelt to be his Vice Presidential running mate in 1944 was a political surprise at the time. Only 82 days after Harry Truman took the Vice Presidential oath, he becomes the President of the United States.
In the beginning even Eleanor Roosevelt thought that Harry S.
Truman was out of his element. Wrong!! Instead we find a man able to make decisions, such as to drop the Atomic bombs on Japan. Harry institutes the Truman Doctrine in Europe to provide military aid. He encourages the Marshall Plan, to aid economic recovery in Europe. He develops NATO and initiates the Berlin Airlift.
And oh by the way, he wins the Presidency by himself in the 1948 upset of Thomas Dewey. Give Em hell Harry!!
Later, Truman's stance in the Korean Conflict and his dismissal of Douglas Macarthur stands as his true "Give Em Hell Harry!" declaration. His stance made him unpopular. Indeed he could not run for the Presidency in 1952 because of his dismissal of the "American Caesar". But Harry was indeed right! 24 years later good old Harry S. Truman was revered by the very popular group Chicago in their rendition entitled "Harry Truman". 24 years too late, historically Harry turns out to be one of the very best Presidents of all time.
Of all the Presidents of the 20th Century, Harry S. Truman stands out as the best of them all! McCullough has personalized this in his 10 year effort. This is indeed my favorite book. 10 Stars! No Problem!!!

This biography of Harry Truman is about what you would expect from David McCullough--a detailed, massive work, illuminating the character of Truman with detailed documentation. The end result is a book that appears to capture the nature of its subject excellently. On the front inside cover, there is a quotation from a reviewer that speaks to the effectiveness of this book: "Perhaps the biggest tribute one can pay a biographer is to say that through him one comes to know his subject almost as though in person." I second that sentiment, after having read the 992 pages of text.

One assessment of Truman is telling, and suggests how a common man could become an uncommonly good president. Adlai Stevenson, upon Truman's death, said that Truman was a lesson about all Americans (Page 992): "an object lesson in the vitality of popular government; an example of the ability of this society to yield up, from the most unremarkable origins, the most remarkable men."

His origins are well detailed by McCullough. The movement of his forebears to Missouri, the struggles of his parents, and his own struggles. In some senses, it is apparent that his role in World War I was a key moment in his life. He came to be a leader--and very effective at that--in an artillery unit. He made fast friends who stayed loyal to him for decades (including a son of one of the leaders of the Pendergast machine in Kansas City). He grew greatly as a consequence of his wartime experience.

After the War, as many know, he experienced a series of reverses, including a failed haberdashery business. But he persevered. At one point, the Pendergast Machine turned to him to run for county judge. He won! Thus began his political career. An irony, of course, is that someone who was well reputed for his honesty began his career under the sponsorship of one of the most important (and corrupt) political machines in the country. But the Machine never really forced him into corrupt behavior and supported him pretty steadily thereafter. His rise in politics is outlined, including his run for and election to the United States Senate. It appeared close to impossible for him to have won--but win he did. There is a nice discussion of the efforts to have him become the Vice Presidential nominee of FDR in 1944.

From there, of course, his accession to the presidency after Roosevelt's death. The biography does a fine job of outlining his ups and downs, his triumphs (desegregating the Armed Forces, continuation of New Deal agenda, helping end the Second World War) and his failures (nationalizing the steel industry). Korea eroded his support and he ended up with approval ratings similar to George W. Bush.

After his presidency ended, he exuded energy as he became an "elder statesman" of the Democratic Party; he helped develop support to get his presidential library off the ground and completed.

All in all, this ranks as one of the finest serious presidential biographies around. If you wish to learn in depth about Truman, this is a good place to begin. It is also a work that is nuanced, pointing out his foibles and flaws as well as his strengths. Highly recommended.

This book is not a how-to; it's a story of one person's attempt to deal with her aging father. I did NOT find it useful to wade through all the stories to try to find the nuggets. There are plenty other good how-to books out there.

I did enjoy reading this book, at first because it made my own foray into the world of caring for aging parents seem tame by comparison, and then because of the author's obvious commitment to her parents' well-being (at times at the expense of her own) and her tenacity in navigating the maze of doctors, caregiver options, and other aspects of this journey. I feel inspired to perhaps hang in there a bit longer and give it all I have out of love for parents who perhaps weren't perfect, but they ARE dear, and it feels good to be able to assist them in their most vulnerable time of life.

This book is a valuable resource to anyone who is caring for an elderly family member. While reading the often funny, always touching, occasionally horrifying memoir, I learned so much about caring for my aging mother. This is rich with advice, examples, and brilliance. Thank you, Jackie, for sharing your story with us. I will buy more copies and give them to my friends whose parents are approaching the age where they'll need some care. I am also now taking assessment of my own behaviors as I get older; I don't want any of my bad habits following me into my golden years! It is clear from your Jake Tales that these habits may become exaggerated as we get older and I don't want my kids to have to deal with me if I'm going to be difficult

This is an excellent book for those who find themselves frustrated by the behavior of elders who are suffering from just enough dementia to be wreaking havoc, but not enough to be institutionalized. I read the book in one evening because I was desperate to learn how I might deal with an elder's belligerent outbursts, illogical thinking and unwillingness to accept help. The author faced similar issues with her father and her examples rang 100% true to me. At the end of the book, the author provides specific techniques and tips for modifying the elder's behavior. I tried some of her suggestions the very next day, and it worked! The sense of calm that I gained, knowing that I now had a "toolkit" of resources and ideas from this book, was invaluable to me. Save your sanity - get this book if you are dealing with demented elders now, or think you might be in the near future!

As a professional caregiver coordinator for a local Area Agency on Aging I read a lot of books on caregiving and Alzheimer's disease. This is the best book I have read on the subject. The story is told with humor, but it is full of excellent tips and education on the subject. A must read if you are a caregiver caring for an Alzheiemr's loved one.

The only thing that kept me from giving this a 5 star rating is the "web review" listings...If I am travelling around with my book, I want that to be the only thing to which I refer without having to take the extra step of going to a computer.

The book has a lot of great insightful observations about what to do and see around the island. Savvy travelers and hospitality folks love the book and rave about it all the time.

A must if travelling to the Big Island; this book is fantastic; fold out maps, tons of great advice.

I personally have never gone wrong with these guides. My family and I have been visiting the islands for a few decades, and ever since we found these guidebooks, we have used them exclusively. I don't know exactly how many years we've used them, but we've seen a few editions fill our book case.
While some people won't necessarily have the same experiences as the author, all of our trips to recommended areas have resulted in enjoyment.

One thing to note, however, is that these guides were somewhat revolutionary in the extensive, unbiased reporting they provided when they first came out. Now that more people are using them and discovering the 'secrets,' not every place is as private as they once were. The hidden gems are now "revealed," so one might find less traveled paths a little more occupied. However, while there aren't really new spots being pointed out (mostly just reiterations of old editions), they still are pretty spot on in the descriptions and suggestions.
Be sure to check the publisher's website for updates, I mark them in my book to limit unwanted surprises each trip!

This is the second edition of this guide I've purchased. It's excellent for planning and to use on-the-go on the Island. I find it best to back it with the Trip Advisor forums and the Kona forum. Definitely rates an "ono".

I purchased both the Lonely Planet Big Island Guide and this book. After spending a lot of time reading both, the differences between the two became very apparent. Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed is more suited to older and luxury travelers who want to stay in the most expensive resorts, take luxury tours, and eat at expensive, touristy restaurants. It does a great job of talking about all of these, but glosses over or ignores most budget hotels, hostels, budget-priced restaurants, and adventure-type tours. The maps in the book were just ok. Unlike the Lonely Planet guide, it was hard to figure out where some things, like restaurants and attractions, were. The photos in the book ARE pretty awesome, and most of the background info is very interesting. However, as a guide book, "Hawaii The Big Island" fell short, and I found myself planning most of my trip out of the Lonely Planet guide.