F Books

Good, but ULTIMATE SACRIFICE the best book ever

While I thought this book was worthwhile in many respects, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE is simply the best book ever on the JFK assassination.Still, worth your time.

Vince Palamara-JFK/ Secret Service expert (History Channel, author of two books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.)
Pittsburgh, PA

BEST JFK ASSASSINATION BOOK: ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
BEST JFK SECRET SERVICE BOOK: SURVIVOR'S GUILT BY YOURS TRULY :)

This work is certainly one of the best investigations into the murder of President Kennedy.
It is a new version of his former book 'Conspiracy'.

Although the author admits that he could not find the ultimate truth, he believes that Lee Harvey Oswald was framed by an alliance of anti-Castro militants, the Mafia and members of the CIA. He could not find out if or not Oswald was a low level CIA agent himself. The author believes however that Oswald was used by U.S. intelligence without his knowledge.

The author also proves convincingly that the version of the killing proclaimed by the Warren Commission is untenable.

This book is a real thriller about a diabolic masterstroke. The real protagonists behind the curtain could load all the suspicions on one person, whom they then ordered to be killed. The whole plot was buried by the Warren Commission.

A masterly investigation.

As far as all facets of the JFK Assassination with objectivity, you won't find a finer book than this. Summers is open-minded, yet, cautious, so he isn't a conspiracy theorist or a debunker, In other words he is one great reporter. Clearly, from Dealey Plaza-to-Parkland Hospital-Bethesda Naval Hospital-Mexico City-New Orleans and the secret war against Fidel..there is plenty of tangible evidence in each area for conspiracy. The new material on Mexico City and a death bed confession from one of the well-connected players in the covert apparatus against Castro is featured.

This book is a completely revised and updated version of Anthony Summer's classic "Conspiracy", which was published in 1980 following a congressional committee's findings that there was a conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy. When it was released "Conspiracy" won rave reviews from such prestigious publications as Newsweek, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, and former Kennedy aides such as Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and Pierre Salinger praised Summers for his thorough research and sensible approach to the problem. It also won the coveted "Golden Dagger" award as the best "true crime" book of 1980. Although there have been many "pro-conspiracy" books written on the Kennedy assassination, this book is BY FAR the best-written, most reliable, and most persuasive. Summers, a respected investigative reporter for the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), did an exhaustive, years-long investigation into the Kennedy assassination. In this book he presents the various groups in America which had a good reason to try and kill Kennedy in 1963 - the mafia, the anti-Castro forces, rogue government agents, and of course Lee Harvey Oswald himself - and then presents the evidence he found for a conspiracy. Wisely, Summers doesn't advocate any single theory - he simply presents the evidence and leaves it to the reader to decide. The result is easily the best single-volume "pro-conspiracy" tome on the JFK assassination, and if you could only read one "pro-conspiracy" book this should definitely be it. However, there are always two sides to every story - and I would also strongly recommend reading Gerald Posner's "Case Closed" to get the single best "anti-conspiracy" book. After reading "Not In Your Lifetime" and "Case Closed" you will have seen the best and most persuasive arguments for and against a conspiracy to assassinate President Kennedy. Highly Recommended!

This book by Anthony Summers is the best overview available regarding the JFK assassination and the case for conspiracy. Summers comes across as a very objective writer, as well an investigator who made a major effort to track down those who could shed light on the key events. Although believing that a conspiracy existed, and that Oswald was a patsy, he also clearly spells out the evidence, which is quite convincing, that Oswald was also involved in it somehow--given, for example, some lies that Oswald told his questioners after he was arrested on November 22. Summers presents more solid information than just about any other book on the topic. Many witnesses that the Warren Commission ignored are covered in this book. The result is a compelling case that there was a conspiracy in the JFK assassination. This book contains the information that any objective person should be willing to think about before coming to a conclusion about the case. If you bypass this book, you will likely miss some key information required to make a reasoned judgement about what happened in Dallas that day.

I rate this book 5 stars and recommend it highly to both novice and advance numerologists. I was particulary impressed with Chapter 23 on world events. Particularly the century cycle, major cycle and directive cycle. I personally found it very enlightening.

Her knowledge concerning the meaning of the essence shown on the table of events was on the money! I was amazed at the periodicity that it was able to show in the charts that I worked with.. Truly fantastic...

This book is full of meat. Well written, for the most part, one can spend days exploring just one's own information. Proper cautions are given, and instant results are easily had. I am very impressed. You can buy other numerology books that may give slightly different readings, but this one covers more territory than ANY other.

I've been doing numerology for more than 15 years and am so thankful that I picked this book up first. It is the most nonjudgmental and verifiabliy accurate form of numerology I've found to date, and I use her work as my only source now. As a twin born 1 min. from my sister, only numerology told the difference between us, and so accurately that I was hooked. Dr. Juno Jordan and her association of numerologists spent 25 years perfecting it. Start here!

Excellent book on numerology. If you're interested in studying numerology , this is the book you want. Received it as a gift from my daughter in 1977. I had never been interested in numerology, but from 1977 until the present it has become my special "hobby". I say hobby, however it is more than that, I do believe it is a tool for understanding people. A must read if you like numerology.

Juno Jordan was an original. As the daughter of a well-known numerologist, Ms. Jordan definitely had this in her blood. This book is one to have in your collection if you intend to seriously study numerology. Jordan is concise and clear in every chapter. I highly recommend this to all students of numerology, both for beginners and more experienced students.

I know little about Oaxacan ceramics but was immediately drawn to this book by the unbelievably beautiful photos. many of the shots are done outside using natural lighting and it gives the pieces a lifelike feel that I find wonderful. And the creativity of the pieces themselves! A wonderful introduction to one type of Mexican craft.

This is a fantastically colourful & inspiring book...and of the many, many ceramic books I own this is definitely in my Top 5. Lots of beautiful & detailed photos and interesting text. The only downside is that there isn't really any "how to" section in the book to show you how to make the wonderful folk art featured.

Born and raised in México and having a deep appreciation of its diverse and rich folk arts traditions, and guided by the reviews, I bought this book. What others say is true- this softbound book is lavishly illustrated and is a wonderful introduction to the contemporary ceramics covered, as well as the six women potters dealt with. Thise with a love of Oaxacan ceramics will likely love this book as well.

There is but one, very significant problem: the title is, to me, completely misleading. The book actually covers two villages- Octolán de Morelos, and the reigning family of potters, as well as Santa María Atzompa and two of the many potters who work there. San Bartolo Coyotepec and the creator of world-renown black pottery, Doña Rosa Real de Nieto, and her descendants, for example, have no coverage in this book, nor do older more traditional forms.

Oaxaca is an incredibly beutiful state, with many traditions and crafts. This book covers a small fraction of them- and in my opinion misleads with a title implying it covers all the ceramics of Oaxaca. With that caveat, I highly recommend (and give a restrained five stars to) this book, within the scope of its limitations.

Having been to Oaxaca approximately ten times in the past 20 years, I can appreciate the quality and beauty of this fine book. The reasonable price of this "paperback" belies its perfect format/size and its gorgeous photography, text and printing quality.

I've rarely been satisfied with "crafts" books, but this one has been so perfectly written and executed, that it makes me want to jump on a plane and immediately fly to Oaxaca, to find and meet the fantastic artists presented here.

I met one of these women several years ago (Angelica Vasquez), and this glorious book will create an urge in many of its readers to meet her and the other artists that are included here.

I love this book. I have been to Oaxaca several times and have visited most of the potters in the book. On my last trip, I asked each of the women to sign my book near her picture. This is now one of my most treasured posessions along with my memories of Oaxaca. The photographs are great and the stories are beautiful.

I have loved this series. This is the first in the series. I am not a book critic and read purely for enjoyment. This was a great book that held my interest from beginning to end. I wish she would write more books like this series.

I was hooked on Obsession from the first chapter. Any good book should accomplish that. But it so captured me that, by the last chapters, I actually locked myself in the bathroom to finish reading without interruption.

Is Obsession a romance? A thriller? Yes, on both counts, but neither label does it justice. The plot is too breathless, and the characters too layered, to be pigeonholed so mechanically. I cried as Toni Matthews cried out to God for direction-torn between her growing attraction to Abe, a man not of her faith, and her promise to marry her long time fiancé. I cried for her fiancé as he realized he was losing her. And I cried for Abe as he faced his past ... and then his future. Oh, did I ever cry for Abe!

Life is not an either/or proposition-neither all sugarcoated, nor all oily. Macias nails that distinctive nuance through her characters, as she skillfully threads an astounding message of hope into a roller coaster plot.

It's a satisfying ride.

Although Obsession is a fine suspenseful read, the author's real strength is in characterization and the relationships between the various characters--Toni Matthews; her young sister, Melissa; her long-time fiance, Brad; and Abe, the detective she falls in love with. Ultimately, it was those relationships that kept me turning the pages. The dilemma Toni faces as she wrestles with meeting everyone's expectations (and her own) and following her heart is wrenching. You love both of the good men who vie for Toni's heart, even though it becomes apparent early on that Toni and Abe belong together!

How can Toni possibly resolve this situation without either compromising her heart by marrying Brad, whom she cares deeply about but doesn't love, and consequently devastating Abe, whom she loves, but who isn't a believer--or betraying Brad, his family, and her sister by choosing Abe? The author has created a truly gut-wrenching and yet uplifting story that's believable all the way. It will keep you turning those pages to find out not only how the case of her father's death and a young girl's disappearance are related, but also how Toni, Abe, and Brad finally work out their relationships for the best of all of them.

In her gripping novel, Obsession, Kathi Mills-Macias brilliantly interweaves suspense, romance, and faith to create a story that will keep you turning pages non-stop. Lead character Toni Matthews takes you on a tension-packed, emotional journey as she grapples with the serious life issues of love, doubt, and fear to emerge as more than a conqueror through God's faithfulness. You'll find yourself crying, laughing, holding your breath, and rooting for the good guy--all at the same time. Author Mills-Macias knows how to tell a good story. Don't miss this one. It's truly a phenomenal read!

Fantastic, riveting story. About a year and a half ago I read the third book in the trilogy, Ransom, and was totally impressed. I normally don't read suspense, but if they were all like this one (Obsession) I'd be hooked for life. From the first page the author sucked me into the story. Nothing was predictable. There were no pat answers. The emotion was real and the problems the characters experienced were realistic. I was totally impressed with how the author made you want the heroine, Toni, to drop a perfectly good Christian fiance for the "other" man in the story. Talk about perfect characterization! I cared so much about Toni's happiness that I was rooting for her all the way. When it came to her father's death, her gut instincts were correct and she stuck by her convictions despite the pressure from those around her. When it came to her commitment to her fiance, my heart broke for her. It just seemed like a lose-lose situation. Talk about pressure. So many women marry the wrong man because everyone is expecting them to. Throughout the story you think things won't get any worse for Toni, and then they do. I kept turning the pages and was on the edge of my seat for the entire ride, several times late into the night. Oh, and when the "other" man finds true faith, the way the author shows it happening is SO rich and profound. It was totally believable and I loved it! What a great way to explain salvation to someone from the Jewish faith! I'm reading the sequel, The Price, next. Then I plan to read Ransom again (in order this time) because it was good enough to read twice. Order this entire series. You'll be glad you did!

Book arrived on time in excellent condition. 100% satisfied with everything and will buy a couple more books as Christmas gifts.

For this former resident (Corona and Laurelton), Old Queens presented an engrossing, illuminating, and refreshing visual window on the area of New York that has received too little historical attention. Arranged by community, the book provides concise, individual historical narratives to go with a set of photographs of people and places and old maps that can only be called amazing. Indeed, the treasures of this book, for my taste, are the many photos from the era before the construction of the subway lines that transformed rural Queens into megalopolis. Many of the area photos (structures from the 1939 World's Fair, for example) will no doubt be familiar to many. What surprises, however, are photos such as the two page spread of an untamed, deserted pre-World's Fair Flushing Meadow, a lush meadow creased by the winding Flushing River, itself crossed by the vanished Strong's Causeway that carried Corona Avenue traffic across the soggy marsh to Lawrence Street in Flushing. Equally compelling are photos of the muddy looking thoroughly rural roads of Queens Boulevard and Merrick Road (in Springfield) from the early 20th century complete with isolated farm buildings. Perhaps the most symbolic photo, however, is the panoramic photo showing a spanking new IRT Flushing Line elevated tracks slanting across a nearly-vacant 1915 Sunnyside landscape that looks more like Ohio than New York City. This book helps the reader see Queens as it existed before the housing explosion. It also makes one wonder what might have been. In effect, Old Queens shows what was lost to all-too-rapid, unplanned suburbanization left entirely in the greedy hands of the marketplace. Lack of urban planning and nonexistent historic preservation is the unspoken theme that resonates often in this book. Who wouldn't want to live in one of those handsome, tree-shaded, Victorian homes on the shady, Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill, Jamaica, or Elmhurst? The question is academic, since none of these homes survived the Queens building boom of the early 20th century. Suppose Robert Moses had actually carried through plans to turn the Corona Dump/Flushing Meadow into an honest-to-goodness park with kinds of recreational facilities he lavished on his Long Island state parks? Suppose the city fathers (and local politicians) had taken a more custodial role and protected Jamaica Bay and it surrounding marshlands from pollution for descendants of the gentlemen angler shown pulling his crabpot out of a quiet channel in Meadowmere? While this reader would have liked to view a few photos from vanished communities, such as Ramblersville (Ozone Park), Black Stump (Fresh Meadows), or White Pot (Forest Hills), he believes that Seyfried and Asadorian have assembled a fascinating book that appears destined for the coffee table hall of fame, that is, if rabid readers don't tear it to shreds, first.

Queens usually takes third place to Manhattan and Brooklyn on NYC bookshelfs but this terrific photo collection will go a long way to remedy that. There's an enlightening introduction about the borough and wonderful photos/captions for 27 neighborhoods. My personal favorite is on pp.122-123, a jaw-dropping 1906 view of the strange junction of Jamaica Ave., Myrtle Ave. and Lefferts Blvd. in Richmond Hill. Today, this unique street pattern remains but, alas, the Triangle Hotel, later the Triangle Hofbrau, where the likes of Babe Ruth and Mae West imbibed, recently closed down. I've shown this book to a couple of former Queens people and they were amazed. Don't miss it if you're from Queens or have even a passing interest in urban history. Hopefully, the publisher is correcting a page-order problem in the beginning of the edition I purchased at a museum last summer, but don't let that hold you back. This is a real gem.

I guess we all have our own opinion of what we'd like to see in a collection of old photos and the history of a particular place. In the case of this book, there are lots of old photos and interesting memorabilia, like early maps and ads for housing developments, as well as a brief synopsis of each section of the borough through the photos' descriptions. The quality of the photo reproductions is quite good, overall, and the writing is fine. I only wish it was larger and had more from the area I grew up in but, never-the-less, still a worthwhile addition to anyone's bookcase or coffee table.

I grew up in Hollis, Queens during the '50s & and '60s and thought that I saw a lot of changes in the neighborhood. But this book is a real eye-opener showing how the area changed from farmlands in the 19th century (including developer's ads) to a fully built up residential community by the 1940's. The book is a must read for anyone who has lived in Queens

What I mean by the title I have given this review is that much of history described now-days is in terms of the history of peoples thoughts. There is a dogma in a lot of historical presentation that all people are the same and that the history of thought is all that matters. In short, most of modern history is from an existentialist point of view. Mr del Giorgio has written this history unprejudiced by this dogma.

The premise of J. F. del Giorgio is that different peoples do have different preponderances of traits that give rise to different cultures. In other words, who people are, does matter, different types of people make different sorts of choices, and the culture and history emerges from people. This results in a very different view of history from those that presume that history is simply a result of different choices that people make.

As a result, I believe that Mr del Giorgio's work is likely an accurate view history. As well he is a very good writer and the book is a pleasure to read.

For those that may dismiss Mr del Giorgio's work, I would like to point out that the only true existentialists are psychopaths!

Exciting the book of Jofe Del Giorgio (although I am afraid that it will give wings to the pretensions of independence of the Spanish Basques, with which I do not sympathize of any form). In particular, he quotes as example of erudition Sabino Arana, obviating his numerous offenses on the most elementary political and intellectual decency. But good, I suppose that that does not exclude the possibility of his anthropological erudition. Neither Celine or Heidegger have impeccable curricula.

Jofe starts by gaining himself the sympathies of all the readers of "Asterix" insinuating the possibility that that fistful of " unyielding Gauls " was, actually, a group of Basques (in fact, all the Celtic groups - between them, the Gauls - would be related with them). And not only that: such it seems that the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid are based on the exploits of the same ethnic, most ancient group of Europe (between 5.000 and 40.000 years). Neither it is doubt that D'Artagnan was a Basque (gascón). And Cyrano de Bergerac, of course.

But I hurry to make a point. Although I am radically an anti-male chauvinist, I assume the values of the feminism as been opposed against the boor, coarse and inconsiderate imposition of the masculine values. And I must point out that it would never assume the "Dark Reverse" of the machismo. That is to say, an equally unjust imposition of the values, rights and privileges of the woman. And of the work of Jofe it seems to be inferred that the situation was this in the world "euzco", pre-Aryan.

Neither I would like to live in a world as that one. We might even venture a dialectical interpretation, according to which the current machismo would be the "antithesis" of a previous feminist dictatorship. And this would allow us to dream of one -I hope, pretty close- synthesis of balance. I point out also that the network of speculations Del Giorgio is very well woven. None of them seems to be planned lightly, they all sound coherent and consistent (amen of fascinating).

I'm looking forward for the next Del Giorgio's book.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/06)

Author J. F. del Giorgio has written a fascinating book that addresses the origins of the European culture. In great depth, he discusses how women had strong roles early on. Women inherited, men took on their mother's names and kings were chosen by whom the daughter of the king married, not the son.

The Basques were a female structured society. Del Giorgio
discusses the genetic and cultural ties between Basques, Irish, Scots, Welsh, Celts, Scandinavians, Etruscans, and Pelasgians. Gene mapping shows how the Basques have spread out into other cultures.

An understanding of word and name origins shows how ancient cultures influenced and infiltrated others. As the Indo-European culture invaded Europe, women actually began losing their status. During the time that women had great power in the European culture, in other parts of the world they had diminished status and in many cases still do today.

A shocking example of this is demonstrated in India today. In some
areas, when a man dies his widow is burned to death because she is seen as having no value without him.

The book also covers an interesting discussion about how pagans and how some of their cultural traditions were carried over into Christian ones. The pagan Candlemas became the Christian Christmas. Del Giorgio
believes that in some cultures sacrifice and cannibalism still are practiced today. Hallucinogens continue to be used in ritual. Mushrooms are usually used. Today, there is a village in India where women are induced into hallucinogenic states by being bitten
by cobras. Some die from this.

I found this book to be very interesting and informative. It is obvious that a great deal of research went into writing it. It is impossible to discuss everything that is covered in it because there
is so much. After reading "The Oldest Europeans," it is good to keep as a reference book to refer back to.

I recommend this book to people that are interested in their European ancestry, women's issues or students of ancient history. You will find it fascinating.

This is a splendid piece of research combining all kind of sources to offer a plausible explanation to questions that remained unsolved, until now. A book full of answers for those who wonder how was the world like when God was a woman, and men adored Her.
Time, History, Literature, Linguistics, archeological sites and DNA findings serve the author to take the reader, in a humorous and daring manner, through unsuspected paths enlightening the odd nexus between such unlike characters such as James Bond, Vikings and today's Basques. A finely polished amalgam of theories and research!
Francesca Cordido, journalist

This book deals with history and miths in a serious and at the same time, entertaining way. I enjoyed it very much. It makes you want to know more about the theme, and thankfully it has a very ample further readings section.
I hope to read more books from this author.

This suspenseful tale has its origins in the murder of two elderly men on a Moorish tour of Morocco and Spain while in Cadiz. Denton Wright made a couple of billion dollars creating and then selling a dot.com company. He disappointed his murdered attorney father by not going to Harvard Law, and their relationship was at best strained. The other victim owned a California winery, supervised by his daughter.

Wright goes to California and meets with the daughter and they decide to learn about the murders. Along the way, Denton and his accompanying characters learn a lot about themselves and life in general. A well-constructed tale, it is fast-paced and well-written, and highly recommended.

It's a great, can't put it down read.

Billionaire Denton Wright's estranged father is murdered and Denton seeks answers- and more importantly- revenge. Denton is a fascinating character- sometimes a spoiled brat but always interesting.Denton's companions in the search are equally interesting. Mandy the sultry, exceptionally competent New York career woman, and Jenna, the leggy blonde vintner from California. And those are just the main characters-you'll enjoy the supporting cast as well.

The plot is, as they say, very fast paced, and Mr. Small's excellent description of the exotic locales(Spain and Morocco), notches the action up even more.

So put aside a few hours and enjoy, this book won't disappoint.

From the first page, the action explodes like a grenade. Small has an amazing ability to put you into the action. His descriptions are vivid. I found myself planning my escape from the thugs intent on cutting my throat as I turned the pages faster, and faster. Like his first story, "Alibi on Ice", "the Olive Horseshoe" has all the elements, mystery, sex, exotic locations, and great detail to make a great read.

A suspense -filled piece of work. The author's skill in making me turn the next page kept me up reading past midnight!! But it was worth the lack of sleep. The author's legal background made for reality too. G. Silver

To say that Ben Small matured as a writer from his first novel, "Alibi on Ice", is a massive understatement. His new book "The Olive Horseshoe" hits like a sledgehammer to the gut. From the first page to the last, the electric tension and explosive action never cease. Denton Wright may well become this age's new anti-hero. I want more.

Like another reviewer, I also have the pleasure of knowing Joe Martin. And while I knew of some of his remarkable achievements, I was astounded to read of many more. Like Joe, I have ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He, and his book, have inspired me to live life with joy, love, purpose, hope and faith notwithstanding the ravages of this disease. His book, like Tuesdays With Morrie, should inspire anyone and everyone. But while Morrie spoke as a dying man, Joe, with the same terminal illness, speaks with the vitality of a man truly living life to the fullest.

Laura Murphy Atlanta, Ga.

Mr. Martin's book is an inspirational and moving work for anyone to read, regardless of your position in life. If you've ever faced adversity, there is something to be learned about courage and optimism from this book. His candor, humor, and vision will inspire you and give you a sense of appreciation for this life we have. My mother is suffering from a degenerative disease, and this book gave me a new sense of perpective on what she and many others face as they battle each step of their disease. As a North Carolinian, I am proud that this brilliant writer and powerful soul is a leader for our community, and has been able to reach out and touch so many other lives. This book will make you cry, make you laugh, and most importantly, give you inspiration and appreciation for what you have.

I found this first person account co-authored by Joe Martin, who has ALS, very inspirational. Joe allows the reader to share his feelings of frustration as well as to grasp the depth of his convictions that life should be celebrated and cherished. Ross Yocke's commentary throughout the book provides an additional source of information which is helpful for the reader to gain perspective about Joe Martin's life with ALS. This short 178 page book pulls the reader into Joe Martin's reality, and allows the reader to share his religious and moral convictions, as well as to revel in his wonderful anecdots. This book reminds me of Tuesdays with Morrie. I hope others will enjoy reading On Any Given Day as much as I have.

Joe Martin and his family (family, friends and bank colleagues) are the greatest support system. Joe's life inspires, challenges and motivates all to do more. His will to live is refreshing, unbelievable given the impact of ALS on his body but not on his mind or spirit. For anyone facing disease, stress or looking for meaning, this is a must read.

It's a quick read and doesn't leave you down -- but instead deals with a tough subject -- living with a terminal disease -- with reality and purpose. You will learn how "you can live like this"

I cannot add much to the previous reviews-- all of with which I agree-- except this: Mr. Martin is, first and foremost, a writer. Indeed, he has ALS, and that is much of what he writes about here. But his lean, athletic style, keen observation and outstanding sense of humor would entice me to read router bit catalog copy, if Mr. Martin wrote it. I'm in search of his short story published in the Crescent Review (malcolm@walkaboutpress.org-- if anyone finds it first) and am hopeful he is at work on something else for us to enjoy and think about.

this made me laugh. i think his ideas are crazy and funny. my teacher said this was good and i think so to. i will read the book again.

I had to read a book this summer and read this one. I did a book report. It has funny things in it. I liked the story about the gangs and pets best. I don't like reading but this was not boring.

This book is filled with short stories that are very attention grabbing and full of "being a kid" action. The stories teach important lessons incorporating some of the values students have lost. Brian's book is very easy to read and with its intended design, the stories are condensed so to keep the attention of the reader. I believe the reading level is approximately middle school level. It is a wonderful teaching tool and the kids just love it. This can be read orally or individually. Thank you Brian for giving us such a valuable teaching tool!

This book was fun. Patrick does interesting things. He is funny. I like the stories.

Brian McNabb has given us a very satisfying group of stories, all about a normal boy growing up and making choices about who he wants for friends and about how he should conduct himself in his world of family and school and town. All the stories are told from the point of view of a young narrator between the ages of about 7 and 13. McNabb's talent comes in giving us an authentic voice. We hear a boy, not an adult pretending to be a boy. "Neckbreaker", though awkwardly titled, is my favorite of the stories. As it follows our hero over a period of several months, we see him gain insight into himself and others. It's a lovely rendition of an oft told tale. Much to McNabb's credit, he resists the urge to moralize. The stories are good as stories, they are enjoyable. Well done.

I read this book along with several others on Abe Lincoln and the Civil War. It provided additional facts from another view on secession and the Constitutional right to secession. I enjoyed it and would recommend a buy.

I was required to memorize the Constitution of the United States as well as that of the state of Illinois and the State of Arkansas before graduating eighth grade. This was a bit of a refresher course for me, though I keep a copy of the Constitution in my desk. I had always maintained that nothing in the Constitution forbade secession and when a student in Illinois, was called "secesh" for my simple and irrefutable argument. My family were Unionist Arkansans and Georgians but were, upon reflection mistaken. Lincoln trashed the Constitution as has every administration since that time. The South had the legal right to secede and exercised that right. The Confederacy offered to compensate the US government for improvements on their territory but were never heard by President Lincoln. It seems quite apparent that Lincoln was the direct cause of the worst war in US history and contrary to my earlier belief was more sinner than saint in the business. The first two thirds of the book makes a Constitutional case for secession as a right reserved to the states. I simply can't argue with that and can't find any provision in the Constitution declaring the Union eternal or secession illegal. It seems that the states formed the Union and had every right to depart from it.

The last part of the book deals with violations of the Constitution on the part of President Lincoln. There was not only inconsistency and violation of the Constitution which Lincoln had sworn to uphold but there was the logical inconsistency of saying that states never left the Union but in some sense must be readmitted to the Union. If they never left, how would they be required to be readmitted? It goes downhill from there to all sorts of violations of the civil rights of people both North and South.

Unfortunately, such has been the pattern of the federal government ever since. Perhaps it was right to free the slaves. I would ask was it right to violate the rights and therefore enslave all Americans as a result of the illegal suspension of habeas corpus or the other violence done to the rule of law by Lincoln? My perception of the man has changed from almost hero-worship to revulsion.

I have thoroughly checked references in this book before commenting. I even questioned the quality of the references and found all but one to be reliable. The one I could not verify was due to lack of time.

~One Nation, Indivisible? A Study of Secession and the Constitution~ is a fascinating overview of the constitutional issue of secession in the context of American constitutionalism. Hawes offers a sweeping point-by-point refutation of the unitary nationalist doctrines of Joseph Story and Daniel Webster. He also makes light of Webster's conflicting stance as he affirmed the right of state interposition at the Hartford Convention, and later reaffirmed the compact theory of the Union tacitly at his Capon Springs speech in the 1850s. Hawes offers an astute defense of the doctrine of secession, which was affirmed in express terms by three states in the state ratifying conventions of the late 1780s. In the most express terms, the founding fathers denied that the general government of the United States had any right whatsoever to coerce a sovereign state. Such naked coercion was diametrically opposed to the principle of rule by consent of the governed.

What this book does is manifest the illegality of the United States government under the Lincoln administration in the 1860s. Prior to Lincoln's election, the general government controlled by northern majority aggravated the continuance of the Union by pursuing a course of irrational tax policy which compelled southern secession. The Union was not founded on the principles of the inviolability of the national sovereignty, but on popular sovereignty and rule by the consent of the governed. Nearly two centuries after the adoption of the Constitution, the United States' fortieth President Ronald Reagan could proclaim, "[T]he Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government." That probably explains why Reagan said he would belonged to the other party had he lived in the mid-nineteenth century too.

This book is a nice supplement to Thomas DiLorenzo's book, and much more meticulous in examining the constitutional issues behind the secession issue. It offers a two-pronged defense of the actions of the Confederate States of America and a defense of the constitutional doctrine of state secession in general. I highly recommend it.

This book was the first I found in my look for books based on the politics of secession and while I haven't quite finished it, it is quite excellent and should be read by any serious student of politics.

This is a most intriguing book which debunks many of the myths surrounding Lincoln, an easy read, easy to follow and most thought provoking.