A classic of WWI oral history

Richard van Emden has done it again, with another riveting collection of first-hand stories from the trenches and beyond. As we say goodbye to the last of the Great War veterans, van Emden's work becomes increasingly precious.<br /><br />His respect for these men shines through every page as he lets them tell their own stories, providing just enough context to maximise the drama and relevance of each scene. By the end, the reader mourns their passing along with the author.<br /><br />A timeless record of humanity in the face of insanity.

Straight from the horse's mouth

I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone with an interest in the life and ideology of Winston Churchill. From tiny acorns grow giant oaks - well, this your chance to witness the development of one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century written by the man himself. In addition to telling a compelling adventure story, this book radiates with vitality, wit, humour and intelligence. One of the best, if not THE best book I've ever read. Go on, buy it. You won't be disappointed!

Inspirational!

Brothers by David Talbot

I actually wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did."Brothers" falls more into the category of"why-dunnit" than"who" and I usually find such works a little tedious and long-winded. However, Talbot rarely over-emphasises a point and weaves many fascinating and engaging tales into his narrative. That said, there are some important points , such as the issue of Secret Service protection, that were only touched upon and could have been explored at least a little. <br /><br />As Jim DiEugenio has pointed out, Talbot's take on the Kennedy saga has altered drastically over the last decade or so. Way back in 1992, he wrote an artice on the movie JFK, in which he criticised Oliver Stone's theory that Kennedy was fighting a government opposed to peace and social justice and that this led directly to his assassination. In"Brothers," Talbot has made a 180 degree turn and now presents much evidence supporting Stone's controversial view. In my opinion, this speaks volumes about the integrity of the author. Unlike the majority of Kennedy researchers, talbot is clearly more than ready to go where the evidence leads him. <br /><br />Nonetheless, there are a few problems with"Brothers," the biggest of which is his treatment of the Jim Garrison investigation. Although it appears that Talbot is trying to take an objective stance, he ends up whitewashing the appalling behaviour of Walter Sheridan and doesn't acknowledge the government coordinated campaign to de-rail Garrison's probe. The New Orleans evidence is key to the conspiracy to kill Kennedy and the attack on Garrison deserves a more accurate treatment. <br /><br />All in all, an enjoyable read that has inspired me to look into the RFK murder - something I had vowed not to do after spending so many years on JFK! Buy it, but buy Bill Davy's"Let Justice Be Done" too to fill you in on the details of the Garrison case.

Totally engrossing

I received this book as a christmas present, much to my family's amazement. But as they browsed through it after our christmas dinner they were all drawn into it's web.<br /><br />This book provides an account of each troubles related death, beginning in 1966 then year by year. Each year begins with a brief statement of fact about the state of play in that year and then proceeds to detail each person who lost their life, along with a factual based account of the circumstances.<br /><br />It cleverly cross references other related entries. Before you know it you are caught up in the web going from an account of the hunger strikes to the shooting of three IRA members in Gibraltar to Michael Stone's attack on an IRA funeral and the subsequent murder of two soldiers at another funeral. And so it goes on.<br /><br />One line from the introduction of this book summed in up for me it is"an account of what happens when a community decides to resolve its differences through violence".<br /><br />I am sure there are ommissions, inaccuracies and mistakes but it is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the troubles and who wishes to discover more about the human cost of the conflict.<br /><br />

Well written, but don't expect the full story of 1917

A very well written book that successfully evokes the atmosphere of turn of the century Russia. Unusually for a biography, the youth of Lenin is actually quite interesting, and Service knows to quickly move on to keep the narrative moving. Occasionally, however, you wish for more details - the execution of his brother, for example, happens so suddenly it is almost shocking. <br /><br />By the middle of the book you are yearning to get to the revolutionary events of 1917, but again once there, it would have been good to have more details about events 'on the ground', and if you want a book about the 1917 revolution, it may be better to buy something more specifically about that (the impression here is that Lenin capitalised on circumstances more than he was actually involved in them). That aside, the whole is a fascinating tale told well. Service is not afraid to give his own occasional opinion on matters, while there's some analysis of how the communist revolution affected politics elsewhere in Europe, particularly in the reactive rise of fascism.

A good read,despite doubts as to its authenticity

One of the few books you can get that is a translation of a contemory Chinese book about daoism. As such, it is worth reading. It will give you a good background into what daoists 'get up to', or at least what the average Chinese person thinks they get up to. Wang Liping is a real person. A lot of people think he is genuine daoist master, on the other hand the newspapers in China have criticised him as been a fake. Make up your own mind.

An unfair victimisation

This book fails as the serous political biography it so desperately wants to be. <br />Half way through the book the bottom line is Bower does not like Brown and has decided to write one long personal desiccation of the new prime Minster's character that would be more suited for the pages of Heat magazine and often has the clarity and balance of a tabloid columnist. Brown is often painted in a negative light thought out the many pages a emotionally incompetent controlling unemphatic and weak willed man is sketched out for the reader one wonders if this book were ghost written by one of Browns many political foes.<br />We learn nothing of Browns philosophies his formative years rushed through in style befitting a Harold Robins novel. The writing style is gossipy and he said she said is the main melody. Brown's reactions to situations seem presumptuous or to be blunt fictionalized to add more paprika to this more then spiced enough mix obscuring it's bland premises. <br />You can imagine a group of secondary school girls or office stooges gossip about their headmaster or manager in this kind of fashion. <br />The book is a time pass to Bower's credit it is easy to get into but I'm sure I will finish it none the wiser on who Gordon Brown really is and what he really stand's for.<br />

A Great American

It is crystal clear why author David McCullough was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for this 1992 publication of"Truman." His meticulous narrative vividly captures the decency, dignity and determination of Harry S. Truman. Moreover, McCullough carefully explains how the farmer from Grandview, Missouri...who never graduated from college, managed to become the thirty-third President of the United States of America.

Truman was eulogized as the president who faced the momentous decision of whether to use the atomic bomb, he was praised for the creation of the United Nations, for the Truman Doctrine (to support free peoples), the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the recognition of Israel, NATO; for committing American forces in Korea and for upholding the principle of civilian control over the military. To this end, it must also be noted that Truman was the first president to recommend Medicare and that he had the courage to take a very strong stand on civil rights.

Truman was a man who lived by simple small-town Missouri articles of faith that urged individuals to,"say what you mean, mean what you say...keep your word...never get too big for your britches and never forget a friend." McCullough observes that,"they were more than words-to-the-wise, they were bedrock, as clearly established, as integral to the way of life, it seemed, as were the very landmarks of the community...not everyone lived up to them, of course, but to Harry it seemed everyone ought to try."

McCullough packs this book with an enormous amount of historical and personal information. For instance, Truman was the seventh man to succeed to the office after the death of the President...he was the first U.S.President to visit Mexico...he had a portrait of George Washington and Simon Bolivar in his White House office...he detested corporate greed...he was dedicated to his wife and daughter...he was a terrible speller...he was not an exciting speaker...he once worked in a haberdashery...he was in debt for years...he loved bourbon, he was uncomplicated, open and genuine...and without a doubt he was a great American. Highly recommended.

Bert Ruiz

A popular science classic

Gamow wrote this book out of some articles he published over 50 years ago. The basic facts of modern physics are presented through the explanations that an Einstein-looking old professor gives to a bank clerk. The dreams, nightmares and reveries of this clerk introduce you in the realms of the relativity or take you to a wild journey among quantum creatures.

There is also a revised version (The New World of Mr Tompkins) that incorporates discoveries made since the original work was published.

Easily readable by the general public this though-provoking book remains fresh and enjoyable.

An excellent sampling of King's writings and ideas.

After having read quite abit by and About King over the years, I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they were new to King's philosophies and ideas or a veteran of the movement he helped to create within this country and the world.

A brilliantly balanced review, essential to any history / po

As a modern history and politics student, I found this book an invaluable introduction to the topic and an important counter to some of the polemical accounts which dominate the subject. The structure of the book (as with most of the Seminar Studies series) makes it easy to delve in and out of with useful summaries of other people's arguments. I would highly recommend this book to everyone - including those with a layman's interest in the subject, as it is highly readable.

Excellent

KateRG31 has said it well - this book puts the outstanding German film"Sophie Scholl, the last days" in context. From this book you see the beginnings of the White Rose and how it developed. You also read about the other members of the group and how they also met their ends. The courage and moral compass of these young people was outstanding, and you find yourself wishing that you also could be so brave in the face of an iniquitous regime that had turned all moral values upside-down, that rewarded and promoted thugs and murderers and imprisoned and executed honourable people. The sad thing was that it took so long to overturn the verdicts (it finally happened in the 1980s).<br /><br />In a world where torture, murder and injustice are still practised, even by allegedly civilised countries (no names, no pack drill...), the Scholls shine out as examples of what humans and humanity can be.

hypocrisy epitomized

The pages are replete with inspiring passages that one would do well to comtemplate. Unfortunately, one cannot but help feel the same reaction that Gandhi experienced after reading the New Testament - that he had encountered a wonderful religion, but that too bad that no one had ever practiced it. Both Jack & Bobby Kennedy's personal and professional transgressions and moral failures cheapen the beauty of the passages they quote.

An inspiring read.

We often take for granted the little things in life - few people can have experienced having ALL of that taken away in an instant. Terry Waite gives gripping details about life in captivity and how it feels to be locked in a dark room for months on end without seeing or talking to a sole. He also includes a very interesting insight into his life before being imprisoned which would be worth reading on it's own. If you want to be inspired - read THIS book !!

A masterly tale

The story of Tommy Broom is a great tale of modesty in action. It has the thrills of a story that simply could not be invented interspersed with Tom Evans' sense of historical perspective.<br />Tommy's modesty is reflected throughout, and his mother's reactions and responses as he develops his RAF life and career are the examples of so many families and their sons and daughters during wartime Britain.<br />It is a story of the development of a successful navigator and his several pilots as the war moves from France to Berlin, and as the crews develop from innocent youth to professional warriors. A great read.

A chronicle of unfullfilled promise

Seldon has developed an interesting and fresh approach for this biography of Blair - and much comment has been passed about his approach of alternating between the twenty most important events of his life and the twenty figures to have had the greatest impact. This allows the reader to determine where Blair drew his influences from - indeed he appears to be uniquely ungrounded for a politician and has drawn much strength and many ideas from people around him.<br /><br />Seldon's main argument is that Blair has achieved little domestically in the UK because he failed to develop a detailed agenda for a number of reasons - not wanting to be hostage to fortune whilst in Opposition, a lack of time for preparation whilst in office, and perhaps most importantly road-blocking by Gordon Brown. Blair, and his colleagues it has to be said, have remarkably little experience of running any large organisation. At first glance this does not appear to bode well for Cameron, should he be elected at the next election.<br /><br />The book is effective in dispelling a number of myths that have grown up around Blair. The most prominent is that he stole Brown's rightful crown - it is easy to forget that Blair carried much more popularity in the country. It is also easy to forget how much of a modernizing role Brown has played within the recent history of the Labour Party. The second is that he has no real political philosophy. Whilst it is true that he has done much to accommodate Thatcherism, he has always had a fundamental belief in community, even if he has failed to successfully translate that into policy.<br /><br />The third, and the aspect of the book that I found to be most interesting was that on his relationship with Bill Clinton. Bush is often accused of having had a poor effect on UK foreign policy, but Clinton was similarly disinterested in payback for support from the UK. The question regarding UK-US relations therefore ought not to be"why did Blair fail to extract anything in return from Bush" but"why has Blair failed to extract anything from the Americans." Whilst a Gore Presidency would have been more sympathetic to the goals of the Blair Government, especially on the issue of Kyoto, they might not necessarily have been more open to Blair on other issues - the actions of Clinton on the Northern Ireland Peace Process is a case in point.<br /><br />Seldon write clearly and if his conclusions appear rather vague, that is only a reflection of the difficulty in finding a concrete legacy for Blair after nine years in office. Blair is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in British politics.<br />

EXTRAORDINARY & SIMPLY AMAZING

This book will bring tears to your eyes as Gill made her story so vivid to the reader. <br />What an inspiration and a lesson on how to live for us all. Gill Hicks is an exceptional person and everyone should read this book as it teaches us to cope with life's hardship but moreover, to admire life's most simple and beautiful things.<br />A great read!