Editorial Review

With over 11 million active players, World of WarCraft has quickly become the world's most popular ""Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game."" The World of Warcraft calendar features screen shots and rich landscapes taken from this action-packed game. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Like a raging wildfire, August 25, 2009

Big country, big people, big problems: an epic American tale, September 6, 2009

Well written history of an important event, September 12, 2009

Two Stories, Much to Learn, Keeps You Longing for the Next Page!, October 11, 2009

Another Excellent Book from Timothy Egan, October 8, 2009

Amazingly educating and entertaining at the same time, August 29, 2009

Gifford Pinchot, January 23, 2010
Pinchot was a friend of my grandfather and inspired my father Arthur duBois to go to Yale Forestry School. "Big Burn brings to life his mystical personality and his relationship with Teddy Roosevelt. Beautifully written and and easy read. Arthur W. DuBois

A Fine History of a Major Turning Point in the History of Forestry in the U.S., October 11, 2009

"The forests wanted to burn", September 2, 2010

When President William McKinley died of gangrene after being shot in September 1901, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt had to make a middle-of-the-night dash for Washington from a remote spot deep in the Adirondacks. This was a fitting start for a presidency that established the conservation movement in U.S. politics and placed 230 million acres of land under Federal protection as national parks, preserves and forests.

In its first section, The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America details Roosevelt's love of wild places and his relationship with Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot was a McKinley appointee in the Department of Agriculture, a Yale man from a wealthy family, among the first professionally educated foresters. Roosevelt and Pinchot had a vision of the American wilderness as a sacred trust belonging to all Americans. The country was being gobbled up by grazers, miners, and especially the timber industry. Homesteading, the great opportunity for settlers spreading west, was often a front for big business acquisitions; fortunes were being made by a few at the expense, Roosevelt believed, of Americans yet to be born. He was determined to protect our heritage for those future generations. Pinchot and Roosevelt both came from privileged backgrounds but enacted populist policies, often infuriating the wealthy industrialists who had their eyes on the great spaces.

Under Roosevelt's presidency Pinchot tried to manage the vast Federal forests on the pittance Congress allowed him, staffing the service with a corps of committed young foresters, most of them from the Yale forestry program. Pinchot did not believe in removing the Federal land from commercial use; his vision was to lease cutting rights and regulate heavily to preserve the health of the forests. His greatest hubris was in his attitude toward fire: he believed that an agile, adequately funded Forestry Service could control and effectively eliminate forest fires. As fires were started by lightning, by sparks from trains, and by the many other works of man, the foresters used trenching and back-burning to contain them. The forests aged and filled with combustible debris, and it was inevitable that one day it would burn and burn, and not be stopped.

It was just chance that led me to this book exactly one hundred years after the furious fire that burned vast forested sections of Washington, Montana and Idaho. This great fire destroyed three million acres of forest--parts of the Bitterroot, Clearwater, Coeur d'Alene, Lolo, St. Joe's forests, and gobbled up several towns. Author Timothy Egan devotes the second section of the book to a detailed play-by-play of the two-day inferno and the courageous foresters, army troops and woodsmen who fought to contain it. In August 1910 the woods were tinder dry, clogged with brush and dead trees, and wanting to burn. Several smaller fires were fanned together by high, dry winds and became a "kinetic engine" that burned until the wind stopped and rain fell.

The third section of the book covers the political demise of Gifford Pinchot, Roosevelt's attempt to return to national politics with the Bull Moose Party in 1912, and the changing fortunes of the Forestry Service. Egan's somewhat dramatic title is to a certain extent substantiated by the change in forestry management policies, and now logging in the national forests is in decline because it's cheaper to farm trees and import them for construction than to log under forestry maintenance policies. There is mention of the modern acknowledgement that the forests MUST burn to some extent, to allow their renewal in the aftermath of fire.

I enjoyed this book very much but you can see that like Caesar's Gaul, it's divided sharply into three parts, and that gives it an uneven quality. The extreme detail in the first section, and particularly in the description of the two-day fire and its aftermath, leaves too little space for the arc of public policy in the last hundred years--it's a disaster novel set between bookends of serious history. Four stars; I listened to the ten-hour audio production from Audible, narrated by Robertson Dean.

Linda Bulger, 2010

An Extreme Burn, January 14, 2010
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan is probably the best non fiction book I have read yet. He starts a little slow because you must know the people and how the conservation movement started. The book builds in intensity with each chapter.It is the history of Teddy Roosevelt's fight to start the conservation movement. With John Muir and Gifford Pinchot they started the fight to preserve our land. National Parks and Forest Rangers to protect them was established. While many in this country did not see the need to protect our land, this trio fought and succeeded. While this fight was hard nothing could prepare Teddys group for what was about to happen.
What happened was the Big Burn. One of the largest, deadliest fires in history, these men stood their ground and fought it. It talks of certain Rangers and how they fought the fire and survived, or how mistakes led to their demise. The book is written in story form so it is easy to read. The characters come to life with Egan's descriptions of them.
In the three page chapter where the fire starts, I did not take a breath while reading! I felt as though I was in the fire. I could see it, feel the heat from it and fear it. It takes a great author to do that. I could'nt stop reading the book after the fire broke out. The acres and acres of destroyed land and the deaths of those that fought to protect it will be remembered because of this book.
Because of reading this book I have been interested in bio's of Gifford Pinchot and Teddy Roosevelt. If you want to read a great book...read this one. I guarantee you will enjoy it. You will laugh, cry and have feelings of dislike for and with people involved in the fire. I am grateful that we have these parks to visit and enjoy. I am even more greatful for the Rangers that protect them.
Read this book. It will change you. You will not be sorry. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

From a master historian, the story of Lincoln's—and the nation's—transformation through the crucible of slavery and emancipation.In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, Eric Foner gives us the definitive history of Lincoln and the end of slavery in America. Foner begins with Lincoln's youth in Indiana and Illinois and follows the trajectory of his career across an increasingly tense and shifting political terrain from Illinois to Washington, D.C. Although “naturally anti-slavery” for as long as he can remember, Lincoln scrupulously holds to the position that the Constitution protects the institution in the original slave states. But the political landscape is transformed in 1854 when the Kansas-Nebraska Act makes the expansion of slavery a national issue.

A man of considered words and deliberate actions, Lincoln navigates the dynamic politics deftly, taking measured steps, often along a path forged by abolitionists and radicals in his party. Lincoln rises to leadership in the new Republican Party by calibrating his politics to the broadest possible antislavery coalition. As president of a divided nation and commander in chief at war, displaying a similar compound of pragmatism and principle, Lincoln finally embraces what he calls the Civil War's “fundamental and astounding” result: the immediate, uncompensated abolition of slavery and recognition of blacks as American citizens.

Foner's Lincoln emerges as a leader, one whose greatness lies in his capacity for moral and political growth through real engagement with allies and critics alike. This powerful work will transform our understanding of the nation's greatest president and the issue that mattered most. 16 pages black-and-white illustrations and 3 maps ... Read more

Reviews

a classic book on Lincoln and required reading, October 14, 2010
We see Abraham Lincoln as "The Great Emancipator", who ended slavery in the United States of America. Lincoln's words describe and inspire us, remaining as current as the day they were spoke. We see Lincoln not as the man but as the larger than life occupant of the Lincoln Memorial. Lincoln's 1860 nomination is not because he is or is thought to be "The Great Emancipator". Lincoln is a moderate on slavery and race, acceptable to both wings of the party.
Abraham Lincoln's and Americans journey to emancipation is the subject of this excellent book. America faces serious divisions over slavery but very few over race. The wish to end slavery often did not include what to do with the former slaves. Northern states, with few slaves, accepted gradual emancipation and managed to tolerate their Black population. In the majority of Northern states Blacks could not vote, could not serve on a jury nor could they testify against a White person. Some Northern states essentially ban Blacks. In many more states, they are under server restrictions and required to post bonds to insure good conduct. Garrison said that Illinois is essentially a "slave state" due to the restrictive laws on Blacks.
This is a book about race relations more than about slavery. The majority agreed that slavery is "bad" but cannot see a reasonable exit. Gradual Emancipation is an acceptable answer. Slaves born after a set date become free when they become n years old. The current slaves either remain slaves or become free after n years. This pushes the race problem away, leaving it for another generation to deal with. Immediate Emancipation ends slavery but has few answers to the race question. Colonization is a popular answer. Questions on transporting four million people to Africa or some other location is not answered. Nor is the question of how many Blacks voluntary will leave the United States.
Black rights are the major problem. To avoid full citizenship, "rights" are subdivided into acceptable and unacceptable units. Natural rights, not being enslaved, being allowed to seek work and being secure in your person are acceptable because they enshrined in The Declaration of Independence. Political rights, being able to vote, serve on a jury or testify in court are questionable. The majority of Northern States say no to these rights. A few liberals accept "more intelligent Negros" as possible candidates for political rights. Social rights, being able to mix with whites as equals are not considered. Lincoln spends a good deal of his time answering Democratic attacks in this area.
This is a history of Lincoln's journey from Whig to Republican, from gradual to immediate emancipation from colonization to political rights. America move along with Lincoln, one sometimes ahead of the other but both leading and encouraging the other. It is not an easy journey nor is it a quick one.
Eric Foner is an excellent author and historian. This well-written book is informative and easy read. Forner is careful to maintain a balanced approach and never descends into bashing, Lincoln, America or the South. This should be a classic book on Lincoln and required reading.

An in-depth examination of the great question facing a great man, November 21, 2010
Eric Foner's "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery" is the finst study I have ever seen of Lincoln and the central question that America faced in the middle of the 19th century: what to do about slavery? Foner's book traces in great detail Lincoln's evolving public responses on what to do about slavery (and rce) from the 1830s until the eve of his death in 1865. And I do specify "public responses" because in private Lincoln played his cards very close to the vest, and it is extremely difficult to determine exactly how far his true inner feelings varied at any particular time from what he said or wrote for public knowledge. Obviously, his opinions modified with time; the Lincoln of April, 1865, was not wholly the same man as the Lincoln of mid-1861, just as that man differed from the Lincoln of 1860 or 1858 or 1854. The line between consciously forming and leading public opinion on the subject versus being led by external events is not readily discerned in every case, but Foner does as thorough a job of analysis as we are ever likely to see.

"The Fiery Trial" demands close attention, as the narrative thread winds and twists among the myriad complex issues presented by slavery and its attendent racism. In the end, the story does become one of change, how one extraordinary man traveled from the ordinary deep, casual racism of the time and place of his birth to a position that impelled him in the end to embrace a notion of equality that not only forbade slavery but demanded even-handed treatment before the law and even expanded to include that simple justice required extension of the right to vote. It was a long journey, and Lincoln was neither the perfect saint of later myth, nor the racist demon featured in so much recent revisionist history, but instead was a complex, real man who grew in stature to meet the greatest challenge of his era.

Worthy of a BOOK OF THE YEAR award!, November 19, 2010
This book is a 'must read' for anyone who has a true interest in Abraham Lincoln, American Slavery or the American Civil War. I borrowed this book from the public library, and 27 pages into it I was so impressed that I immediately purchased a hardcover copy of my own.

The Real Lincoln, December 28, 2010
In my humble opinion, Eric Foner is incapable of writing an unbiased book on Lincoln or the WBTS. He joins many others who praise Lincoln as the great emancipator and savior of the Union; neither of which are true. Lincoln did not free the first slave, the Thirteenth Amendment gets that credit. Neither did Lincoln preserve the Union. Instead Lincoln destroyed the Union of free and voluntarily joined states. In its place rest a Union of states bound by force of arms, murder and pillage.

Foner does make a stab at telling the truth about the real Lincoln, but falls way short of the complete truth. Foner comes on the scene after other more capable authors have covered the subject accurately and thoroughly.

For a better understanding of the real Lincoln, I recommend three books, "The Real Lincoln" (2002) and "Lincoln Unmasked," (2006) by Thomas DiLorenzo and the third by John Avery Emison entitled, "Lincoln Uber Alles" (2009). And to round off the truth about Lincoln, DiLorenzo explains the cause and effects of Abraham Lincoln's policies in "Hamilton's Curse." (2008)

The people deserve to know the whole truth about Lincoln from all sources. Foner's book, "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery," is definitely NOT that source or book.

"Resolved: That this government was adopted the people of the several states of this union as common agent to carry into effect the which they had delegated by the constitution in fulfillment of this high and sacred trust this government is bound so to exercise its powers as not to interfere with the reserved rights of states over their own domestic institutions and is the duty of this government to refrain from attempt however remote to operate on the freedom of speech and the press as secured to the freedom of each state by the constitution and laws thereof That the United States are bound to secure to state a republican form of government and to protect each of them against invasion or domestic violence and for no other purpose can congress interfere with the internal police of a state." NILES NATIONAL REGISTER JAN 1838 MR FLETCHER'S ADDRESS

Abraham Lincoln betrayed the aforementioned trust not to interfere with the reserved rights of states over their own domestic institutions, and invaded a Sovereign state, by waging war against women and children. Lincoln is a murderer of women and children and for that we give him a national holiday.

One of the Best Books I have Ever Read On Lincoln, December 28, 2010
This book tells it like it really happened. It doesn't misquote or leave out very very important messages Lincoln conveyed. Like his impression of the Dred Scott case, and the Kansas-Nebraska act. I love these people that quote Thomas DiLorenzo as a great writer. DiLorenzo and Bennett neither one has one thing good to say about Lincoln. I admit all the Lincoln worship has gone way overboard, and it is good to get another perspective. However this book should not be bashed. At least I thought it was a good read and honest opinions. If you do decide to read someone like Thomas DiLorenzo, you need to buy the book that rejects his flaws - Lincoln Vindicated. ... Read more

Editorial Review

On June 14, 1940, German tanks rolled into a silent and deserted Paris. Eight days later, a humbled France accepted defeat along with foreign occupation. The only consolation was that, while the swastika now flew over Paris, the City of Light was undamaged. Soon, a peculiar kind of normality returned as theaters, opera houses, movie theaters and nightclubs reopened for business. This suited both conquerors and vanquished: the Germans wanted Parisians to be distracted, while the French could show that, culturally at least, they had not been defeated. Over the next four years, the artistic life of Paris flourished with as much verve as in peacetime. Only a handful of writers and intellectuals asked if this was an appropriate response to the horrors of a world war.

Alan Riding introduces us to a panoply of writers, painters, composers, actors and dancers who kept working throughout the occupation. Maurice Chevalier and Édith Piaf sang before French and German audiences. Pablo Picasso, whose art was officially banned, continued to paint in his Left Bank apartment. More than two hundred new French films were made, including Marcel Carné’s classic, Les Enfants du paradis. Thousands of books were published by authors as different as the virulent anti-Semite Céline and the anti-Nazis Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Meanwhile, as Jewish performers and creators were being forced to flee or, as was Irène Némirovsky, deported to death camps, a small number of artists and intellectuals joined the resistance.

Throughout this penetrating and unsettling account, Riding keeps alive the quandaries facing many of these artists. Were they “saving” French culture by working? Were they betraying France if they performed before German soldiers or made movies with Nazi approval? Was it the intellectual’s duty to take up arms against the occupier? Then, after Paris was liberated, what was deserving punishment for artists who had committed “intelligence with the enemy”?

By throwing light on this critical moment of twentieth-century European cultural history, And the Show Went On focuses anew on whether artists and writers have a special duty to show moral leadership in moments of national trauma. ... Read more

Reviews

A Panoramic View, November 8, 2010
Presents a vivid and readable panorama of French life during the German occupation of Paris, with particular attention paid to the various artists, journalists, film makers, writers and intellectuals of the time. The activies of many notables are featured--i.e. Coco Chanel, Maurice Chavalier, Sartre, Camus, Picasso, etc.

Only toward the end of the war, did the Resistance garner active moral and armed support. Prior to that, complacency and/or collaboration seemed to have been the rule. Several interesting photographs add to the value and interest level of this historical account.

The artist's dilemma, December 16, 2010
Alan Riding's book raises one of the most difficult issues concerning intellectuals living under foreign occupation:to what extent should they resist the enemy? Should they show defiance or show indifference to the occupying forces? What is the intellectual's role in a situation of war?
These questions started bothering Mr.Riding thirty years ago when he asked the same questions about the artists' response to dictatorships in South America. He writes that "few sold out to the dictatorships" then. After started living in Paris, he realized that the same questions could be asked about the French intellectuals and artists during the Nazi occupation in the forties.(p.10,Introduction)
His book starts with the fall of France in June,1940, when the German army drove into Paris unopposed. Within weeks, the remnants of French democracy were quietly buried. Riding continues to introduce us to a very big number of writers, painters, actors, entertainers and dancers who kept being busy under the Nazi occupation.
Broadly speaking, the artists were divided into three main groups: those who collaborated, those who opposed the enemy and those who chose to remain indifferent in a no-man's land. Among those artists discussed are Edit Piaf,Picasso, Chevalier, the pianist Alfred Cortot, the composers Boulez and Messiaen as well as the virulent anti-Semitic writers Celine, Brasillach and Drieu La Rochelle. Camus and Sartre are also discussed in detail. Marguerite Duras joined the resistance along with her husband, Robert Antelme, while the writer Colette spent much of the occupation in her apartment where her Jewish husband was forced to hide every night in a maid's room in the building's attic.
Theaters, nightclubs and cabarets made sure the show went on.
In one of the best chapters of his fascinating book, Mr. Riding discusses in great detail the trials held after the war against those who actively collaborated with the enemy. Laval's trial in October 1945 was most dramatic and then the trials of some artists followed, among them the trial of Brasillach who was condemned to death. Another writer, Charles Maurras, was condemned to life imprisonment.
Riding emphasizes one main thing and that was about writers who had shared one fundamental need during the occupation: that of seeing their words in print. Other artists acted in the same way, showing their motivation to keep appearing under the limelight.
Although some purges were conducted, the cultural life of the French continued after the war and only some artists have undergone judicial procedures.
The main conclusion of the book is that the answers to the questions posed at its very beginning are hard to answer and diverge. Life under the Nazi occupation was not a contrast betweeen black and white, and the many ambiguities, the numerous variants of the German occupiers, the many cases of collaboration or resistance-all these only emphasize the complexities of the whole central issue examined in this interesting book, which is based on extensive research (documents and diaries,mainly) and interviews and also includes sixteen pictures og the main protagonists.
In short, this book is extremely informative, extremely entertaining and a brilliant cultural history which shows how the elites in France reacted during a relatively short time when they were facing evil.

Right, Left and caught in the Middle, December 15, 2010
France was the major cultural space of the western world in the 1920s and 30s. But it was increasingly wracked by intense cultural conflict in the 1930s between a reactionary and anti-Semitic Right and a socialist and often Communist Left. Intellectuals in the two camps engaged in literary warfare against a wider cultural backdrop of world-class art, music, ballet, and theater.

Then came 1940 and total political defeat. The German Occupation became a petri dish in which to gauge how different individuals and groups reacted under an often deathly stress. Many French gave a grudging acquiescence to the Vichy government under old Marshal Petain since when you lose, you lose. Many turned against this government "by stooge." After Germany invaded Russia in 1941, the French Communists organized and executed a highly effective and very brave resistance. Many non-Communist resistants also joined the overall movement. So there was a small, vibrant underground cultural resistance.

More interesting is the journey of the Right Wing writers. From being hate-filled polemicists in the 1930s, this group now had the power through their magazines to denounce other Frenchmen and cause their arrest by the Germans, possible deportation to concentration camps, or simple execution in France. Somewhere in here you find the Seventh Circle of Cultural Hell. The irony was that many were brilliant writers and thinkers who took a wrong turn in their personal development, the lure of the romance of extreme ideology with its promise of total commitment so beloved by intellectuals. This is one of the most fascinating sections of Riding's book.

Another interesting section is the account of American Florence Gould, who hosted a very popular salon in Paris during the Occupation. She was also involved in shady financial shenanigans with high-ranking Nazis in a Monaco bank. She said she did this to protect her husband, who was suspected of being Jewish. After the war, she survived investigations into possible collaboration and went on to become a prestigious supporter of the arts and recipient of the French Legion d'Honneur. Riding concludes, "Over the years, Florence's wartime salon and her questionable choice of friends have been quietly forgotten." So for the right people, money buys the prestige of privilege, which can be counted on to buy "understanding" from the right people.

The last section deals with the "epuration," or period of revenge starting with the Liberation and lasting into the peacetime years. This became the mirror-image of the denunciations by the Right Wing writers--a period of false denunciation, settling scores, and for many the safety of silence.

What is not emphasized, but does come out, is that many average French people and workers behaved well under difficult circumstances while many of the elite and privileged behaved rather badly. This book is a beautiful exposition of how a good people behaved in an awful war.

ONLY ABOUT THE COVER - Careless designer, October 24, 2010
Ready to read this recently acquired book, I'm amazed at the lack of detail --and absolutely lack of editorial respect-- shown by the designer of its cover (although the editor of the book is the one ultimately to blame). The upper photo of the female dancers is clearly not a genuine image taken at the period described in the book. Make-up, costumes, lights and style belong evidently to a much later date in history and may not even be from a show performed in France. To me, this substracts a lot of feeling and authenticity from the cover, which should always be an essential part of the book. I'm giving an average three-star rate just because this systems forces me to give something. This does not reflect the quality of the text, which I haven't read yet (and which could be worth a higher evalution). ... Read more

Editorial Review

As good a rifle company as any in the world, Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, kept getting the tough assignments -- responsible for everything from parachuting into France early D-Day morning to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. In Band of Brothers, Ambrose tells of the men in this brave unit who fought, went hungry, froze, and died, a company that took 150 percent casualties and considered the Purple Heart a badge of office. Drawing on hours of interviews with survivors as well as the soldiers' journals and letters, Stephen Ambrose recounts the stories, often in the men's own words, of these American heroes. ... Read more

Reviews

Indispensible companion to the miniseries., October 1, 2001
Notwithstanding the wonderful HBO miniseries based on this book, "Band of Brothers" is an entertaining and worthwhile read in its own right. Ambrose skilly fully weaves personal accounts from the paratroopers of E Company into a compelling story of the war in the European theater. Ambrose has earned his stripes as one of the premier historians of World War II, and with good reason. His writing style is easy to read, he does a great job of individualizing the large cast of characters and he masterfully sets his story within the context of the greater conflict without distracting the reader.

All this makes the book essential reading for those watching the HBO miniseries. The miniseries is great cinema, but the medium is necessarily limited in how much background it can bring to each episode. After the first few episodes I started reading the book along with the show, and it helped me in distinguish the characters and orient what was happening. Also, the book gives you a greater understanding of why certain objectives were so critical to the war effort. When I've read the part of the book that corresponds to a new episode, I get to focus on the performances and visual aspects of the show. Reading the book only enhances the experience of watching the miniseries.

A vivid, personal picture of warfare, March 23, 2003
Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose, is the story of E (Easy) Company of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II. It's a very personal account, as Ambrose conducted numerous interviews with the surviving members of the company and uses those interviews to imbue a sense of closeness to the action and the men who went into that action. It's a very effective book, though it does seem to be "history lite." I'm not really sure why, because Ambrose has obviously done a lot of research in producing this story. Perhaps it is because it's not a typical history book with documentation from all over the place. Instead, he seems to have used only a couple of sources besides the men of Easy themselves. Then again, is that a bad thing? Personally, I don't think so, at least not in this case. Ambrose is not attempting to write a history of World War II. He's writing the story of a group of men who formed relationships and bonds that would carry them through the rest of their lives.

I found this book fascinating. Most of the history books I have read have been very abstract, telling about the moving of units and what they did and how successful they were in battle. They always have some personal angles involved, either talking about letters written home, or some personal stories of valor. Ultimately, though, they are about the battles themselves. These books can be very interesting.

Band of Brothers tells us everything about a group of men and how they fought. We get to laugh with them, we get to see the horrors that they have seen. We also get to see the incompetence that sometimes becomes prevalent in wartime. Ambrose doesn't pull any punches, and neither do the men of Easy to whom he spoke. They are very outspoken about the people they didn't like. Not just people, but also nationalities. One thing to keep in mind when reading this book is that the only impression of nationalities that these men had were when they were going through territory, wondering whether or not they would be running into enemy fire at any time. Some people of these nationalities may take offense at some of the statements in this book. One fault with it is that Ambrose doesn't really make clear whether or not these feelings are just the feelings of the men at the time, or if these feelings have stayed with the men ever since.

The descriptions of the action are just incredible. Never before have I seen war from this perspective. While I have seen graphic descriptions of combat before, this story takes the reader to a much deeper level. We get to see the fear and the determination of these soldiers, the comradeship that forms among them. We get to see individual episodes of action in each battle, we see friends die, we see true heroism, and how situations can get messed up in an instant. We also get to see the foibles of the men, how some of them got drunk at every opportunity, how they dealt with war and what it did to them. It truly is remarkable.

One other thing that is missing in this book, to an extent, is a sense of context to these events. Ambrose does provide this occasionally, especially when talking about Market Garden and the plight of the British paratroopers in the city of Arnhem, but he's not always successful in doing this. I wasn't expecting long passages about what was going on elsewhere, but there are times in this book where the action seems very isolated from the war around the men. It's a very narrow view, and while it is understandable since this isn't a history of the war, it does make the actions of Easy seem a little removed.

There are few maps in the book, but they do the job. They are at the front of the book, and they consist of a map of northern France and England, a close-up map of Utah Beach (the beach behind which Easy dropped on D-Day), a close up view of Market Garden, and close-up view of Bastogne. They do the job, letting you follow a bit of the action. I don't know if it would have been possible, but it would have been nice to see some maps of the cities involved in the battles, so we could get a sense of what the men of Easy were doing in each battle. But again, that may not have been possible, so I won't hold it against Ambrose.

I really liked the chapter talking about the men after the war. I felt it really solidified the relationship that the reader has with these men. You have spent the rest of the book getting to know these men and seeing the horrors of war with them, and now you get to find out "the rest of the story." It adds the perfect climax to the book, and reinforces the feeling that this is a personal history of a group of men and not a history of warfare. Some of the fates are tragic, but most of them just got on with their lives. It was nice to see.

Ultimately, this is a very valuable book for anybody who likes reading about warfare. It adds a very personal touch to the whole thing. There aren't long descriptions of blood and guts, but you do see just enough to feel the tension along with these men. I feel like I know these men, and I'm proud to know them. They put their lives on the line for freedom, and they did it willingly and without question. They didn't like it, but they did it anyway. Seeing their story told in such a manner was a wonderful experience. So what if it's history lite? It's a valuable story and it's wonderfully told. That's all that matters.

Band of Brothers is outstanding!, April 14, 2000
I rated the book Band of Brothers 5 stars. Band of Brothers is a very interesting book about E Company, part of the 101st Airborne Division of the Army back in World War II. The book begins with E Company's basic training at Camp Toccoa and all of the men's hatred of their C.O. Lt. Herbert Sobel. Band of Brothers gives detailed descriptions and first hand accounts of men from E Company telling about their experiences throughout basic training and the war. The book ends with what the men of E Company did after the war was over and where their careers took them. Band of Brothers is a great account of what many companies in World War II went through. I enjoyed this book thoroughly because the men actually told real stories of what happened to them and their friends in the war. This was one of the main reasons I chose this book and the fact that I think Stephen Ambrose is a fantastic writer. Many of Ambrose's books are enjoyable to me because he actually does some of the things that men in war did just to get a feel of what they went through. I have also read Americans at War by Ambrose and am now currently reading What If? by Ambrose. Both of these books are excellent as well for many of the same reasons. Ambrose gets the most out of all the interviews he does with veterans, which makes his books very intriguing.

A Personal History, October 24, 2002
As you would expect from the title, this book is focused on the stories of the individuals who made up this "band of brothers". Stephen Ambrose based his account on personal interviews and diaries and letters written at the time, occasionally moving back to a larger view when he quotes from an official history or other text.

This is the story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101 Airborne Division. A famous group in a famous unit, fighting from Normandy in the early hours of D-Day, through Holland in the spectacular failure of Operation Market-Garden and Belgium in a gallant stand at Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge, all the way to Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" in the Austrian mountains, where the victors had a well-deserved feast of wine, women and song.

This is an incredible story, told mainly in the words of those who were there, and you can feel the fear, exhilaration, killing fury, bitter cold and biting hunger along the way. But ost of all you can feel the camaraderie of soldiers thrown together in a remote training camp in 1942, who trained and fought as a band of brothers and now, sixty years on, still maintain their closest friendships with each other.

In another sense it is a story of an amazing soldier - Second Lieutenant Winters, one of the founding officers of Easy Company, who ended up a Major commanding the battalion. He led his troops with coolness and courage, intelligence and humanity. He gained more than respect, he gained the love of these warriors, and he earnt it through common sense decisions in training and in combat. His decisions saved the lives of his men and cost the enemy dearly, and his small unit actions are still cited as textbook examples.

This book is chockablock full of infantry minor actions. Advance, assault, defence, withdrawal, patrolling and raiding - all told from multiple viewpoints in stark detail - the war in microcosm as seen by airborne infantrymen.

There are maps and pictures, an index and an epilogue describing the postwar careers of the men of Easy. This book stands alone as totally engrossing war story, but is also an essential companion to the magnificent HBO miniseries.

As a brutally, touchingly honest story of men at war, I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is an instant classic.

Terrific, Intense Look At A Company Of American Soldiers, August 20, 2000
No one has been more prolific or entertaining in his efforts to bring the gritty, unit-level personal experiences of the Allied drive from Normandy into Germany to the public's attention than Stephen Ambrose. In his series of books including "D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War Two", "The Victors", "Citizen Soldiers", and the present book, "Band Of Brothers", he has masterfully employed a little-known treasure trove of personal interviews with thousands of Allied soldiers to marshal an absolutely absorbing, captivating, and insightful treatise on the nature of combat as experienced by the men and women in the forefront of action as it transpired all along the front.

In this volume he concentrates on the exploits of a company of soldiers from their indoctrination into combat with the assault on the beaches in Normandy, following them as they fight their way, along with two million other Allied soldiers, into the heartland of Germany itself. In a book memorable for its unusual focus (for Ambrose) on a small group of men we come to know and admire for their all too human traits and character foibles, the spellbinding story of men in combat is made more vivid, vital, and personal than is possible in any other way. By concentrating on the ordinary men of E-Company as they move through a panorama of death and destruction, their personal stories, private adventures, and shared horrors in the midst of carnage, chaos, and confusion become a fascinating and compelling tale. By filling the pages with men we comes to know better than in his other books, we watch with amazement as they moved into free fire zones where anything that moves dies, and in the process Ambrose paints an indelible portrait of the unbelievable madness of war.

This is a story that should be told again and again, so we never forget what it took to take back Europe from the beasts who first stole it so savagely, of the men who died on the beaches, who fell for freedom in the surrounding countryside, all to prepare for those like this company of ordinary men who relentlessly pushed deeper and deeper into the interior of France, finally pushing the battered and beaten Germans all the way back to Berlin. This was the single greatest adventure of the 20th century, an epic struggle in which millions of Brits, Canadians, Australians, Frenchmen, and Americans took back by force of arms the liberty and freedom that had been wrested away from the mainland so cruelly four years before. This, then, is the story of how that crusade to liberate Europe unfolded through the personal experiences of a small group of American soldiers.

Mr. Ambrose has become a virtual cottage industry in the World War Two section of your local bookstore, while he has also published works such as his recent best seller on explorers Lewis and Clark. Meanwhile, he has become phenomenally successful because many of his books have captured the public's imagination by being so readable, entertaining, and informative. While popular success doesn't always equate to critical worthiness, in his case it consistently seems to. This is a wonderfully worthwhile, eminently researched, exhaustively documented, and superbly narrated book on the most historic struggle in the long and painful struggle to finally liberate Europe. Enjoy!

Band of Brothers, June 18, 2001
This is the best book I have read on small unit actions in World War II. Ambrose has set the standard for others to follow. The soldiers in this book are real, I had the pleasure of meeting the 1SG while stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. With 18 years of service in the Army with experience in Armor, Infantry, Artillery and a History Degree this book is flawless. I had the honor of commanding a company in the 82nd Airborne Division and made this book a manditory read for my Lieutenants professional development. The brilliance of Ambrose as an author is his blending of accurate history and technical authenticity without sacrificing the bond between soldiers; the human side often missing in history books. If you love this book you must read Pegasus Bridge and Citizen Soldiers by the same author. Can't wait until his next book!

I met an Easy veteran, and the book did a GREAT job., August 26, 2001
Despite what the Amazon armchair critics would have you believe, this book is really a fantastic effort to document the experiences of what was an elite Army unit in World War II Europe. I read this book only a few weeks before meeting a veteran from Easy Company, Sgt. Amos "Buck" Taylor, and I came away from that meeting confident that Ambrose was, in fact right on the money, and those who argue otherwise need to talk to someone who was there for their comeuppance. Few of us can conceive of, let alone would pass, the training that went into these soldiers before they left the States for England. Described in detail, it gives you that much more appreciation for what the men really did. Taylor's memories echo strongly all I read about Tocoa and Capt. Sobel. When the unit finally deployed in support of D-Day operations, their training gave them an enormous edge. Taylor's own experiences were not unique, but it wasn't long before the whole unit accomplished their goal and waited for the next time they would be needed. A strong theme throughout the book was the bond formed among the men of Easy, which I saw much in evidence that night. Mrs. Taylor also is a part of the reunions, and still marvels at what her husband did. The unfortunate fact is that Buck has never told her a lot of things, and has blocked many out- the book and conversation Buck had with us was the first introduction she had to many of the things her husband saw in war-torn Europe. Ambrose's diligent research is accurate, well-written and truthful. Ignore what those who don't know have to say- I've heard it from one who was there- Band of Brothers is a true story, and hard to put down, much like the men of Easy so long ago.

This is how unit histories should be written!, October 2, 2001
Since reading Citizen Soldiers about a year ago, Stephen Ambrose has been one of my favorite military historians. Having read several different unit histories before, I found Band of Brothers a refreshing exception. Choosing more personal level instead of usual "platoon this did that while being supported by X squad" is an excellent way of telling about small unit actions. Ambrose follows 1944-1945 Screaming Eagles' European battles mainly through certain members of E company. He has chosen just the right level of telling their (E company's) story without writing too much about same person at a time or certain battle or other happening. While reading this book one finds out that these elite soldiers were just ordinary men with same problems all other people had at that time. This book isn't some serious tactical study but a true war story which has been told just like war stories should be told.

Apart from this book I also highly recommend Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers and D-Day for all those who are interested about US Army in western Europe during later part of WW2.

An Oral History of Our Bravest Warriors, September 21, 2001
Band of Brothers is a detailed and personal account of the experiences of the 101st Screaming Eagles' Easy Company as they fight across fortress Europe. This book is not an history lesson, nor is it guide to WWII tactics and strategy. It is a true story collected from the yarns of Easy Company survivors that tells the tale of citizen soldiers and their experiences as they battle the Nazi menace. Ambrose is in top form as he organizes and puts to pen the tragedies and victories of Easy Company. Watch the HBO series if you want, but READ THIS BOOK.

very real, November 23, 1999
My father was with the 101st Airborne from the Normandy jump to Bastogne. Many times I tried to elicit information from him but he was always aloof about the war. Mr.Ambrose seems to capture and highlight the realities of this special division. Now, with Saving Private Ryan and this book, I understand what went on and what these brave souls had to endure. People tend to forget and try to put the past aside but God Bless writers like Mr.Ambrose and other like Spielberg to remind us and take a moment to say thank you, Old Timers. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Now in paperback, AMAZING GRACIE is a moving, funny, and inspirational canine rags-to-riches story. "Tears will stain the pages as you read about Gracie," says USA Today. The Chicago Tribune advises, "If you're short on inspiration, read Amazing Gracie." "You don't have to be obsessed with dogs to love this story" (Philadelphia Enquirer), "Two paws up" (Portland Oregonian), "humorous yet poignant" (ASPCA Animal Watch). Booklist comments that "Dog-loving teens, especially reluctant readers, will eat this up." AMAZING GRACIE was nominated as a Young Adult Choice for 2002 by The International Reading Association-proof that it's a great crossover book.

Gracie was a deaf and partially blind albino Great Dane with a delicate constitution and a penchant for small miracles. Dan is the man-sad over the loss of his last dog and trapped in a dead-end job-who adopted her. Three Dog Bakery is the burgeoning and much-publicized chain of canine bakeries that, inspired by Gracie, Dan and his friend Mark founded. A love story, AMAZING GRACIE describes how Dan saves Gracie, the loneliest pup in the litter, then how, over the next ten years, Gracie saves Dan and Mark, teaching them the real meaning of happiness. There's the moment of meeting, when Gracie gets to her feet like a clumsy foal and nuzzles Dan's nose. Gracie's romance with the pint-size Boston Terrier next door. And the eureka moment (born of Gracie's anorexia-inducing dislike for commercial dog food): Dan teaches himself to cook and within three days begins baking the dog cookies that will transform their lives. AMAZING GRACIE is a dog-lover's treat. ... Read more

Reviews

Delightful, moving -- a great gift for dog lovers
I laughed, I cried (sobbed, really), I fell in love. This is a sweet, sweet book and more -- a love story and the chronicle of a man coming into his own. It ranks right up there with J.R. Ackerley's "My Dog Tulip" in the annals of classic dog literature. I plan to buy a copy for every dog lover I know. I hope this book will encourage people to take a chance and rescue an animal that may not meet the standards of the AKC. Millions of dogs and cats are put to death each year in the U.S. because no one wants them, and this story is proof of the great potential for love and joy these dogs have.

An Excellent Book for Dog Lovers Everywhere!
I just finished this wonderful book and plan on buying more copies for Christmas as gifts. This is the story of Gracie, an albino, deaf great dane puppy who inspires Dan, her owner, to start the chain of bakeries: Three Dog Bakery. It was a funny book, although the last pages will definately get to you if you've ever been through an older dogs final days.

I truly laughed out loud through much of the book... Gracie's love life reminded me of my own! Her life, although she was deaf, was full of love and devotion, but she definately had a mischeivous streak which all dog owners will relate to. This was simply a wonderful read that provided much more story than I was even hoping for. Amazing Gracie proves that dogs can inspire and teach us as well as make excellent companions!

Story of how one dog can change the world
'Amazing Gracie' is the heartwarming story of how one neglected, deaf Great Dane named Gracie changed the lives of everyone who loved her. It is a book for everyone who loves dogs, as well as for anyone who has known 'a nutty dog person.' It is also the story of how Gracie inspired those who loved her to change and grow, and eventually to start Three Dog Bakery. I have recently adopted a deaf sheltie, and personally found many of the deaf dog anecdotes in the book funny and true to form. However, what I REALLY love about the book is that we learn that Gracie wasn't just a special deaf dog, but a wonderful dog, PERIOD. The book tells us very subtly that deaf dogs are just dogs that can't hear... otherwise they lead perfectly normal doggie lives. Hopefully, more people will see how wonderfully sweet our deaf dogs are, and won't think to put them to sleep just because they can't hear. They are great dogs, it's a shame more people don't/can't experience that love. Dan Dye's love for his pups, and his sharing that love with all of us, have made us all better humans, and dogs. Gracie's legacy lives on in all of us.

IF YOU LOVE DOGS, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
This is a wonderful book about an amazing dog named Gracie. In my opinion it is a must read for anyone. It is a book that will make you laugh and cry. Gracie's story will show you how animals can touch our lives and how blessed we are to have them in our midst. You will not be able to put this book down! Another thing, the royalties from this book go to The Gracie Foundation which is a non-profit emergency relief fund for neglected and abused animals. By reading this book, you will not only see how Gracie changed a man's life but you will help to carry on her memory by helping animals in need. Please take my advice and buy a copy right away- I don't think you will be sorry.

Dog lover's delight!
Amazing Gracie is a wonderful story about a deaf, partially blind, albino Great Dane. Her story is told with humor by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff, and whimsically illustrated by Meg Cundiff. This book, written sensitively, but without melodrama, will make you laugh, rejoice, cheer and cry. It is also the story of the beginnings of the wonderful bakery for dogs, Three Dog Bakery. Humorous parts include Gracie's first day in her new home, Dan's dress shoes, and what the dogs were possibly thinking at stategic moments in the story. Since this is a book about Gracie's entire life, it naturally includes the end of her shining light. Be prepared to cry. This is a book that will last in my mind for a long time!

Amazing Story
This book is beautifully written. I could not put it down. This story has made me think of my life and what happiness my animals have brought me. Gracie was truly an inspiring dog and will be missed forever. Many thanks to Dan for sharing his story with the world. Buy this book - you will not be dissappointed.

Not just for the dog-lover!
My boyfriend just gave this book to me as a Xmas present (I am a HUGE dog lover), and I could not put it down. I read the book in one day, which is a good thing because my boyfriend (who is NOT a dog lover, though he certainly doesn't mind them) insisted that I let him borrow it. It turns out that before wrapping it up and giving it to me, he read the first few chapters to make sure it was a good story and later wanted the book back to finish.

When I first received the book, one look at the cover with the picture of an albino Great Dane puppy with incredibly memorable eyes told me that I was going to love this book. And I did. Gracie's story is beautifully told. It is a story about a dog, but it is also a story about faith, loyalty, and love. To say it is a book only a dog lover would enjoy would be to say that Lassie was a movie only a dog lover would watch. It is a book that anyone, animal lover or not, would appreciate. It is touching and humourous and is bound to make you stop, look around, and feel very very blessed for the things you see.

Amazing Gracie Will Touch Your Heart
My husband brought home a copy of Amazing Gracie and looking at the cover said, "Just look at those eyes"! We were immediately smitten with Gracie, a deaf, albino, great dane puppy that was truly a miracle!

Amazing Gracie is a heart-warming, inspiring, unique and comical story that you don't want to end! Author Dan Dye eloquently shares the colorful stories of Gracie's life which touched the hearts of many and became a tremendous inspiration. Every page of this book is warm and fuzzy!

Amazing Gracie earns five stars ***** and is worth the highest recommendation! What a perfect book to give as a gift for the holidays! You will absolutely fall in love with Amazing Gracie! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World, here turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions.Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Kurlansky's kaleidoscopic history is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece. ... Read more

Reviews

Definitely worth his salt . . ., April 6, 2004
It's become a party cliche to comment on our need for the results of combining a poisonous gas [chlorine] and a volatile metal [sodium]. Kurlansky passes quickly over such levity to seriously relate the role of sodium chloride in human society. While at first glance his account may seem overdone, a bit of reflection reveals that something so common in our lives is easily overlooked. Salt is essential to our existence. Our need is so strong and enduring that we tend to take its availability for granted. As a global history, this book is an ambitious attempt to re-introduce us to something we think common and uninteresting. It's immensely successful through Kurlansky's multi-faceted approach. He combines economics, politics, culinary practices, tradition and myth in making his presentation. About the only aspect ignored is the detailed biological one explaining why this compound is so necessary to our existence.

Because our need for salt is so fundamental, its history encompasses that of humanity. Salt was basic to many economies, Kurlansky notes. It's acted as the basis of exchange between traders, was the target of empire builders and even paid out to soldiers as a form of "salary" - hence the term. Venice, a coastal city tucked away from the main tracks of Mediterranean trade, bloomed into prominence when it discovered it could garner more profit by trading in salt than by manufacturing it. The Venetian empire and later renaissance was founded on the salt trade.

Empires may be built on salt, but can be felled by misguided policies on its trade and consumption. One element leading to the downfall of the French monarchy was the hated "gabelle", or salt tax, which imposed a heavier burden on farming peasants than it did on the aristocracy. The reputation of tax evasion borne by the French relates to the resentment expressed over the salt tax. A British regulation on salt resulted in similar reaction leading to the breakup up their own Empire. It was a "march to the sea" led by Mahatma Ghandi to collect salt that galvanised resistance to British rule. Over a century after the French Revolution, the British were displaced from India for similar reasons - greed.

While acknowledging the importance of salt in our lives, Kurlansky notes that determining how much is "too little" or "too much" is elusive. Many people today claim to have "salt-free" diets while remaining ignorant of how much salt is contained in our foods, both naturally and through processing. Yet, as Kurlansky records, salt has appeal beyond just the body's needs. He records numerous commentators from ancient Egypt, China and Rome who express their admiration for salt's flavour-adding qualities. Sauces based on various ingredients mixed with salt permeate the book. He notes that the salt dispenser is a modern innovation, supplementing the use of salt in cooking processes.

Salt's decline in conserving food, which changed the amount of salt we consume directly, came about due to increased world trade, displacement of rural populations into cities, and, of course, war. "The first blow" displacing salt as a preservative came from a Parisian cook; a man so obscure that his given name remains disputed. Nicolas [Francois?] Appert worked out how to preserve meat by "canning". Adopted by Napoleon's armies, the technique spread rapidly. The technology of the Industrial Revolution led to effective refrigeration. Kurlansky gives an account of Clarence Birdseye's efforts to found what became a major industry.

Although the topic seems overspecialised, the universal application and long historical view of this book establishes its importance. Kurlansky has successfully met an immense challenge in presenting a wealth of information. That he graces what might have been a dry pedantic exercise with recipes, anecdotes, photographs and maps grants this book wide appeal. He's to be congratulated for his worldly view and comprehensive presentation. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Taking a love of Salt to its logical extreme, December 6, 2003
Salt is one of those things that turned up all over the place in my high school studies. It turned up in chemisty (sodium chloride), in biology (the amount of salt in our bodies and what we do with it), in history and English (check out the root of the word: "salary"). So sure, salt's important. But does it merit its own entire book about its history? Turns out the answer is both yes and no...

I like these small, focused histories (as you've probably guessed if you've read any of the other reviews I've written). I've read many of them, including another one by Mark Kurlansky, Cod (which I rather enjoyed). So when I ran across Salt, I was certain I wanted to read it. I liked Kurlansky's style, and I already knew that the subject matter would be interesting.

And it was. In Salt, Kurlansky walks through both the history of salt and the influence of salt on history, presenting a wide and varied picture of one of the [now] most common elements in our modern world. And he does this in the same engaging fashion that he used in Cod; although, with fewer recipes. So why not give it five stars? Well, it has a couple of noticable flaws that tended to detract a bit from the overall presentation.

The first flaw was in the sheer number of historical snippets that were included. While I'm certain that salt has been important in the broad span of human history, there are a number of these historical anecdotes where he was clearly reaching to demonstrate the influence of salt. Salt may have been involved in these incidents, but it was peripheral at best, and the overall tone sounds too much like cheerleading. Cutting a few of these out would have shortened the book without detracting from the presentation at all.

The second flaw was the meandering path that he takes through the history of salt. He generally starts early in history, and his discussion moves along roughly as history does as well; however, he has a tendency to wander a bit both forward and backward without effectively tying all of this together. I'd have preferred to either walk straight through history while skipping around the world (effectively comparing the use and influence of salt around the world) or to have taken more time to discuss why we were rewinding (effectively following one thread to its conclusion and then picking up another parallel one). To me it made the presentation a little too choppy.

There have been other criticisms as well; for example, the chemistry is incorrect in a number of places, but if you're using this as a chemical reference, then you've got serious issues with your ability to library research. Of course, that begs the question of what errors are in there that we didn't catch. And it does tend to be a bit repetitive in parts; although, this could have been used to good effect if historical threads had been followed a bit more completely.

While I had a few dings on the book, overall I liked it. The fact that I read it end-to-end and enjoyed the last chapter as much as the first is a testament to my general enjoyment of it. It wasn't the best book I read last year, but I'll certainly keep it on my bookshelf. So, back to my original question: does salt merit its own book? Yes, it does, but perhaps in a somewhat shorter form.

A book to read with a grain of salt, April 23, 2003
I was browsing the new releases section of my local library when I happened to see this book. It had an interesting premise, and looked to be unlike any book I'd read before. I've read histories of people and places, but never of ingredients. I checked it out skeptically, and was pleasantly surprised.
Kurlansky is a very talented writer, he manages to make salt suspenseful. The book's purpose is to examine how salt affected the history of the world. He succeeds in this. However, the history is not really coherent, it doesn't really flow. Salt is essentially a collection of vignettes. These vignettes are grouped in chronological order. The first part of the book deals with salt in China and Rome. Part 2 concerns salt's effect in the Middle Ages and the wars of independence. Part 3 concludes the history by examining salt in modern times.
The main failing of this extensively researched account is Kurlansky attempts to link salt to every major world event. According to him, dissatisfaction with the salt tax led to the American and French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution came to be because of salt, and salted foods allowed the world to be explored. Nonetheless, the history is accessible and a fun to read, even if some of the author's conclusions are a bit off base.

Kurlansky uses salt as a thread to link cultures and history, March 21, 2003
Salt" takes the reader through thousands of years of human cultural and scientific development, all-the-while making it interesting and accessible. The common character throughout is ordinary table salt, which up until 100 years ago, played a far more important role in human society and economics. Through the use of this everyday material, Kurlansky takes us on a tour that from ancient China and Rome, to Britain's rule of India, into the slave operated salt mines of Europe, down to Avery Island during the American Civil War (and the creation of Tabasco Sauce); all with a focus on the cuisines of those places and times. A long book that I was sorry to finish.

The history of civilization taken with a grain of salt, March 14, 2003
Mark Kurlansky has written a witty and erudite history of mankind's love affair with salt. From Lake Yuncheng 8,000 years ago in what is now modern-day China to the fine granular perfection of a box of Morton's, Kurlansky uses salt as a lens through which to view the development of technology and nations. He ends the book with the not un-ironic recognition of what took eighty centuries to achieve -- abundant, perfect white salt -- is now common, cheap and disdained.

This is an informal and amusing book, filled with what seems solid research and clear thinking. Half history and half food writing, Kurlansky visits Portugese cod-fishing fleets and Roman salt mines, ancient Asian saltworks and Edmund McIlhenny's salt island in New Iberia Parish, Louisiana. He uses the repeated cycles of history to visit certain recurring themes: a human's need for salt making them vulnerable to taxation, and thence rebellion, as well as the growth of technologies, particularly drilling technologies, spurred by the need for, and want of, salt.

Today, with blast freezers, refrigerated truck lines and jets that can move fresh seafood around the world, we have forgotten just how critical salt once was. Nowadays we can tinker with our salt intake and question its affect on health, but for men and women laboring under the sun in salt-poor regions, it was life itself. Kurlansky remninds us of these things, and how the humble white crystal has been part of our development as a civilization.

Wonderful, but too long., October 2, 2003
Salt added to the diet is necessary to humans in an agricultural economy. Before refrigeration, it was also necessary as a preservative. Consequently, it has been a primary trade good, either by itself, or in the form of salted foods and sauces. It is therefore quite possible to look at the sweep of history by concentrating on the salt trade, and improvements in technology for acquiring or transporting salt, and get a unique and fascinating view. Remember the 3 way trade between Africa, the Caribbean and the American colonies? Salt even figured importantly in that. Kurlansky often provides peripheral information of high interest, and for those interested in cooking, there are a bunch of recipes from throughout history. I wish that Kurlansky had provided a little more detail on the science of food preservation. More of a concern is that Kurlansky has written an amazingly complete book. For the casual reader it can get to be too much, and I sometime found a need to skim, which is never fun.

Salt of the Earth---Chemical Heritage magazine, March 12, 2003
Salt is a multidisciplinary historical look at salt, a material closely tied to civilization. As its title claims, it is a history of the world from the perspective of salt. The book is hard to put down with attention grabbing chapters such as Salts Salad Days, The Leaving of Liverpool, The Odium of Sodium, Big salt, Little Salt and The War Between the Salts. Since the author has received an award for excellence in food writing, it should come as no surprise that the text contains its share of historical recipes.
In the course of the book we are introduced to an astonishing range of cultures and visit many areas where salt has been found and harvested. From Egypt to China, Rome and the Celts, India, Africa and America, the story moves back and forth, skipping between time periods and cultures. The reader is assisted in the journey by well-drawn maps. I especially enjoyed learning about the many ways salt has been harvested, from the sea, evaporating brines or mining rock salt. I also was intrigued by the influence of salt on fields diverse as economics, taxes, politics and technology. For example, we learn about how Gandhi and Indian independence got its start in rebellion against oppressive salt taxes leveled on the Indians so that British salt makers would have a market for their surplus salt.
In the book we meet salt-connected people like Li Bing, governor of what is now Sichuan in 250 B.C.E. and a hydraulic engineering genius. Besides building the worlds first large scale dam for flood control and irrigation, and opening up central China for widespread agriculture, Li Bing was the first to drill for salt brine. The author shows how this naturally led to our geologic understanding of salt domes and eventually how to drill for oil in such domes. At this time the Chinese became the first to tax salt and attempt to fix its price, something hard to do with such a cheap and readily available material.
It is in his slant towards food that the author is most comfortable, talking about the many ways salt and food intersect. We and introduced to salt and food preservation, spices and flavorings, sour kraut and salted meat, fish and fishing, even the harvesting and production of caviar. There are two chapters on Avery Island in Louisiana, the first on salt mining by the Avery family which supplied much of the Confederacys salt, the second on Edmund McIlhenny combining two products of the island  hot chili peppers and salt  to make Tabasco sauce.
The book appears to randomly skip around between cultures and time periods, visiting China and America several times. It also ignores any time period later than mid twentieth century and does little with modern, nonfood uses of salt. The author gives no citations or footnotes for his many quotes or facts, relying instead on a fairly extensive bibliography including books and a few articles. While he talks about the science of salt in parts of a few chapters, I would have liked to learn more. He does fairly well with the changes in technology involved with salt. While I enjoyed reading the book it left me with many historical and scientific questions unanswered. Its real strength is in describing the historical relationship between salt and food. I found it pleasant to read.

Good Book, May 19, 2005
Reading the other reviews I see that almost everyone either loves it or hates it. I loved it. Salt was what Oil is today. I cut bait on a book if it's not interesting to me and I had no problem reading this cover to cover. I'm a non-fiction reader and a business person, not a literary type or a writer, so stylistic issues that other reviewers surfaced didn'd bother me. I also loved Giles Milton's "Nathaniel's Nutmeg."

A Terrible Disappointment, February 28, 2005
Having read and loved "Cod" by Mr. Kurlansky, I was looking forward to "Salt". Cod was interesting, readable and entertaining as well as being a comprehensive history of an interesting and little known topic. I thought Salt would be the same. Perhaps the best way to sum up the difference between the successful Cod and the tedious Salt is to note that Cod was 294 pages and Salt, 449.

Salt is tedious and redundant. There is no central theme. The author takes us all around the world, salt lick by brine spring to relate how every salt producer produced the salt and then distributed used or distributed it. There were plenty of trees, but Mr. Kurlansky never found the forest. Every chapter was merely a new stop on the tour. The tour was so disorganized that it did not proceed geographically nor by time.

A few hundred pages shorter and this would have been so much better. A few examples of salt production types and an overview would have improived it to be readable and interesting.

There are some pearls such as the Chinese were producing salt with the aid of natural gas while Europeans were virtually still in caves. The Egyptian mummification was also interesting. Unfortunately, these were in the first chapters.

Interestingly, Mr. Kurlansky's history virtually ignores the twentieth century. Very little is included about the 20th and 21st centuries except a few excerpts of salt producing areas that went under and the noting that Morton and Cargill are now the two largest producers. Virtually nothing was included about how they got that way or how salt use and production compares today with 100-200 years ago.

This is a very tough read. I would not recommend it after the first 80-100 pages. With those read, unfortunately, you've got the book.

A gem of a book, June 8, 2004
This is a gem of a book. It discusses and intertwines the history and importance of salt from prehistoric times until now in the context of the various types of salt, preserving and brining meat, fish and other foods, cooking, cheese making, health, geology, geography, place names, world trade, world history, warfare, art and investments, to name a few topics.

The descriptions of the role of salt in the American Civil War and the Caribbean islands were fascinating. Then there were the Romans, the Mayans, The Aztecs, the Chinese, the French, the Germans, the English, the Dutch, the Russians, the Scandinavians and others and their involvement with salt.

The recipes for cooking with salt are aptly chosen from about 4000 years of recorded history and are remarkably similar to those in use today. The colorful view and history of the San Francisco salt ponds from an airplane were always a bit of mystery to me, but no longer. The origin of towns and cities whose name ends in "wich" was enlightening, to say nothing of Salzburg and the many salt mines in the world.

In short, this book is a grand, well-written, informative and often amusing world panorama of salt filled with a host of pearls of learning. It is hard to put down and makes 449 pages pleasantly fly by, leaving you with a taste for more. If you have ever used salt, you really should read this book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Book Description

Reviews

Comprehensive history of an important American character, October 2, 2010
Paul Kengor, an established historian and tireless researcher, has produced an amazing historical tale of one of America's most important actors in the last century: the dupe. Though the title may sound inflamatory, the research is rock-solid and of the highest academic caliber. Both sides of the political ailse can pick up this book learn an incredible amount of American history.

Communism did not know any national boundaries in the 20th century; nor does radical Islamic ideology in the 21st. As such, Dr. Kengor recognizes the overarching effect of "the dupe" across party lines in America. There was not one cookie-cutter type of dupe as Kengor relates in the book. There were those who were duped for ideological reasons, political reasons, and even those who recognized they were being used - yet persisted in their actions. Kengor's point is that people need to seriously re-examine history in light of the revelations in this book about how some of the most important people in American history have acted towards America's enemies and how, in return, America's enemies have used them.

I can't emphasize how impressed I was when I looked at the endnotes of this book. Students of history will appreciate the fact that nearly all of the sources used in this book are primary! A rare find for an academic book these days! The author gives everyone, those who will agree and disagree with him, the chance to look at publicly available sources and draw their own conclusions. As a result, I could hardly disagree with any of his conclusions. I have studied this period of history extensively and was genuinely shocked by some of the revelations in this book (the ones about Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, and America's early Progressives come immediately to mind).

It is a sad commentary on the state of the American education system when facts like these are not taught, not out of some grand-conspiracy, but out of simple ignorance. Many people do not know of the Katyn Forest Massacre, the Soviet invasion of Poland in WWII, the effects of Soviet spies, etc. Thankfully though, we now have this book to shed some much needed light on this corner of American history that has long been ignored and repressed: The Dupe.

Fascinating Yet Disturbing History From Paul Kengor, October 21, 2010
Professor Kengor's latest scholarly, thoroughly documented work, based upon recently released Soviet archives and FBI files, provides powerful evidence of how a number of American liberals directly contributed to the advancement of world-wide Communism - doubtless history's deadliest ideology, ultimately claiming more than 100 million lives. For some, that contribution was deliberately made - with the hope that Soviet communism would eventually overtake the west. For others, it resulted from an astonishing naivete, along with a willingness to ignore clear evidence, sometimes observed with their own eyes. These latter accomplices are the "dupes" of the title - leftists used by the Soviets and other communists to spread their deadly ideology to the west.

Professor Kengor shows how some, but by no means all, of these "dupes" eventually came around to see - if not outright reject - the destructiveness and danger of the Soviet menace, iconic academics like John Dewey among them. Interestingly, Kengor puts to rest some of the right's recent misgivings about Woodrow Wilson - no dupe he - and shows Wilson to have been a strongly committed anti-communist long before others realized the extent of the threat the west faced once Lenin seized Russian power.

Importantly, Kengor's research makes clear that the Soviet Union's world-wide ambitions during the cold war were every bit as real, powerful and extensive as the anti-communists of the period had claimed - and that the anti-anti-communists were, at best, misguided, irresponsible and blind to what was going on all around them.

Finally, as evidenced by some of the more disturbing passages, this book is not merely some exploration of ancient history. Rather, as Professor Kengor starkly illustrates, "dupery" of the left continues to the present day.

As with all of Professor Kengor's books, Dupes is well written, thoroughly researched and thought-provoking. Moreover, he has, with this book, performed a great historical and public service - helping us to better understand the threat we still face as a nation, as our leaders choose to let their ideology, rather than the overwhelming evidence laid out clearly before them, guide their foreign policy decision-making. One can only hope that our current leaders read, and heed, the lessons of this book.

Dupes is highly recommended.

A tour de force !, November 19, 2010
According to Paul Kengor's new book, the most horrible crimes perpetrated against human beings were not because of wars but because of the most terrible ideology,namely: Communism. The Crusades' and Inquisitions' number of victims pale in comparison to the greatest killer of history. Suffice it to say that only in Communist China more than 60 million people paid with their lives during the times of the greatest butcher known in history,aka Chairman Mao.
Starting with the Bolshevik Revolution through the Cold War and right up to the present,Kengor shows to what extent Americans have been duped by America's most dangerous opponents,thus demolishing the myth about how the Left bought many axioms which were considered to be the ultimate truth.
There are many exmples given and superbly analyzed about the various dupes,among them the advisors of FDR,the Vietnam generation radicals,movie actors and other intellectuals,writers,historians and many other public figures.The duping of Americans is still going on even during theses times.
The book is extremely well-researched by a brave historian and has many photos of the documents examined-here for the first time-and should serve as a warning for both camps,the Left and the Right,about the way the adversaries of America have succeeded-and still continue-in manipulating the brains of those who are naive enough to believe lies. It is a riveting story and one cannot afford to miss it at all.
This volume should be in anyone's library under the section of: excellent and outstanding histories!!

Every Patriot - Democrat or Republican- Should Read, November 7, 2010
Dr. Kengor, through much fact sifting, proves why he is an authority on communist era history. From before the cold war up to now, he relates the use of "dupes" through the liberal progressive movement to advance the communist agenda in the United States. Dr. Kengor writes in an understandable style, and walks you through his points like he is instructing one of his classes.

Learn from History, November 4, 2010
This is not the first book to examine the itellectual development of the left(Mona Charen's "Useful Idiots" and Paul Hollander's "Political Pilgrims", also Flynn and Sowell). Books like this are important for two reasons. First, so called progressives have inflicted gargantuan costs in pursuit of their idealistic visions. The loss of prosperity and lives in the past is tragic, but irreversible. These costs are, of course, is water under the bridge- a sunk cost. Second, and more importantly, too many people have failed to learn from the past failure of 20th century utopianism. We are living with the legacy of past ideological-political influences. The Soviet Union is gone, but its influence persists in the minds of self-described progressives.

There are a few surprises in this book, especially where Woodrow Wilson is concerned. Not every "progressive" was a dupe! Some of the most telling parts reveal the CPUSA for what it really was.

Kengor deserves credit for continuing the historical investigation of Soviet influence on the beliefs and actions of some Americans. Critics will accuse him of bias in his interpretations of the facts, but there is still plenty of interesting history in this book. Read it and decide for yourself.

Pulling Back the Curtain, December 15, 2010
This is an outstanding book. It is very well researched, and is a pleasure to read. My concerns that it would be dry, and difficult to stay with, were misplaced. As an American who has been puzzled for decades about how the far left has had so much influence in the political and cultural affairs of this country, I learned a great deal about how that happened. This book confirmed a great deal of what I have learned from other sources, and expanded that knowledge significantly. We owe the author a large thank you.

Unique perspective on history, December 20, 2010
Dupes offers a unique perspective on history that you won't find in the vast majority history books. Why? Clearly, too politically incorrect. After all, we have been spoon fed by the media, history books, schools, etc. that the "real" bad guys are the anti-communists, McCarthyites, certainly, never the communists. Tell that to Josef Cardinal Mindszenty and the numerous others who had to suffer imprisonment and torture at the hands of communists (Not to mention the millions who died because of Lenin, Stalin, and other "enlightened" leaders). The number is staggering.

With meticulous notes, Kengor sheds light on the history too many deny, don't want to know about. Maybe those are the greater dupes. It would be nice if we could read this and say that was in the past. However the poisonous infection of communism has simply morphed into other more accessible words like socialism and progressivism.

After defining a dupe--"those Americans who have unwittingly aided some of the worst opponents of the United States", Kengor reaches back into history beginning with the Bolshevik Revolution, going through the various periods of history--Woodrow Wilson, FDR, etc. and how key players were influenced (duped) into believing that Marxist ideology and/or other communist aggressors and/or governments were really not so bad. Although a large portion of the book focuses on the communist influence in American politics and government, Dupes includes Americans influenced by other opponents of the United States.

The book is a hefty 607 pages, but that is because a large portion of the book includes exhaustive notes, lest the reader say, that just can't be. Sorry, the evidence points to the truth. Since the book offers a fascinating look at history, it is easy to jump around from one subject matter in the book to another, whatever the interest is at the moment, Frank Marshall Davis, Radicals, Ted Kennedy, etc. If you are looking for an informative expose of American politics and government, this is what you are looking for.

Extremely important work, December 11, 2010
Great book.I would like to comment on Polish aspect of this book.
I would like to thank author for bringing to light soviet infiltration in USA and
reminded us that misinformed US, negative propaganda by CPUSA, left atrocities committed in
Poland on sidelines or absent or portrayed in negative light, especially by the Hollywood.

Communists and todays Russian politicians, namely Putin (KGB colonel) continue soviet line of politics.
Which means- divide alliances and support line which would weaken NATO,USA, EU.

I am a fan of practical applications and would like to raise question?
Did USA stopped being naive towards Russia?

If you like the subject- Please review Biskupski "Hollywood's war with Poland" and "I saw Poland betrayed" by Bliss-Lane ... Read more

Editorial Review

THE STORIES BEHIND the WORDS THAT MAKE HISTORY

"Four Score and Seven Years Ago"
The Gettysburg Address as told by an eyewitness of the event

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"
Franklin Delano Roosevelt's stirring call to courage

"Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You"
John F. Kennedy's unforgettable inaugural address

"Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall"
Ronald Reagan's demand for freedom for the people behind the Iron Curtain

Plus Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton on the speeches that influenced them most

Also hear...

• The voices of every U.S. president since Benjamin Harrison in 1889
• A reading of the first presidential speech ever, George Washington's "American Experiment" address
• A reenactment of Abraham Lincoln's incendiary "House Divided" speech
• Campaign recordings of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson
• FDR's assertion that Americans have a "Rendezvous with Destiny"
• Dwight D. Eisenhower's warning against the "Military-Industrial Complex"
• JFK proclaiming "Ich Bin Ein Berliner"
• Lyndon Johnson adopting the civil rights hymn "We Shall Overcome"
• Gerald Ford promising that "Our Long National Nightmare Is Over"
• Ronald Reagan consoling the nation after the space shuttle Challenger explosion
• George H. W. Bush's call for a "Kinder and Gentler Nation"
• Bill Clinton speaking from the pulpit where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final sermon
• George W. Bush's ultimatum to Iraq and his promise to its people that "The Day of Your Liberation Is Near"

"All students of American history, indeed, all civic-minded Americans, will find a place on their bookshelves for My Fellow Americans."
-Senator JOHN MCCAIN

"My Fellow Americans makes the voice of American presidents ring in our ears and makes us understand in a new way the nature of political leadership in this country."
-ELENA KAGAN, Supreme Court Justice

"The best of presidential speeches, compiled by one of the finest presidential speechwriters."
-DAVID FRUM, George W. Bush speechwriter, author of The Right Man

The history of the United States lives in the words of its presidents-words that heal, inspire, and sometimes divide a nation and the world. My Fellow Americans brings to life two centuries of American history as you read and hear the presidential speeches that defined our nation's most dramatic moments.

My Fellow Americans presents, in text and on two audio CDs, more than forty of the greatest speeches from American presidents. Former White House chief speechwriter Michael Waldman introduces them, telling their dramatic stories and explaining their impact. In original essays, presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton describe the talks that influenced them the most. You'll also find captivating photographs, illustrations, and handwritten manuscripts, including:

• Never-before-seen handwritten speech notes used by President Clinton
• The speech, announcing an attack on Cuba, that President Kennedy did not have to give during the Cuban Missile Crisis
• An actual photo of Lincoln at Gettysburg
• And much more...

The accompanying audio CDs let you hear these great speeches as they happened-some recordings are more than one hundred years old-and reenacted speeches from before the dawn of recorded audio. We hear the voices of every president since Benjamin Harrison. Experience some of our greatest moments, such as "The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself "; "Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You"; and "Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down this Wall." Hear Lyndon Johnson adopt "We Shall Overcome" for all Americans; John F. Kennedy proclaim "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" at the Berlin Wall; and a fascinating account by a man who saw and heard President Lincoln deliver the Gettysburg Address.

My Fellow Americans presents a fascinating journey through American history that can be shared with your family and friends, whether you're reliving the event or hearing it together for the first time.

"Reading [these speeches] and listening to those available from the late 1800s onward reveals the styles and strengths of each president and also the prevailing American outlook in times of war, peace, confidence, and anxiety."
-JAMES FALLOWS, author and national correspondent, The Atlantic Monthly

"The grand panorama of American history unfolds through these presidential speeches, shrewdly selected and ably annotated by a veteran presidential speechwriter."
--ARTHUR M. SCHLESINGER JR.

About the Author
MICHAEL WALDMAN was director of speechwriting for President Clinton from 1995–1999, after serving as special assistant to the president for policy coordination. He wrote or edited nearly two thousand presidential speeches, including two inaugural addresses and four states of the union. Waldman is the author of POTUS Speaks: Finding the Words That Defined the Clinton Presidency, A Return to Common Sense, and Who Robbed America? He is executive director of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, a leading law and policy institute that focuses on democracy and justice. He lives with his family in New York City.

About the Narrator
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS is co-host of Good Morning America and appears regularly on World News Tonight and other ABC News broadcasts. He is the former anchor of ABC's Sunday morning program This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller All Too Human. Prior to joining ABC News, he served in the Clinton administration as the senior advisor to the president for policy and strategy.

Reviews

Presidential Tour Guides, February 11, 2004
The history of the United States comes alive in the words of its presidents.

There comes a dramatic time in the life of a person, party, organization or nation that cries for the uplift and release of a speech. Someone is called upon to articulate the pride, hope or grief of it all. The speaker becomes the center of attention and the world stops to listen.

That responsibility is often shouldered by our President. Great Presidents not only act as the country's head of state, but also the voice of its people. They help define who we are and what we experience. In my opinion, their speeches constitute one of the best expressions of the nation's mood.

This book presents 40 of the nation's greatest Presidential speeches. Former Clinton Speechwriter Michael Waldman, introduces them, anchors them in history and explains their impact.

Acknowledging that speeches are written for the ear, not the eye, this book contains two CD that allow you to hear many of these actual speeches. Some of the recordings are more than 100 years old. The voice of every President since Benjamin Harrison is included.

This book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the nation's history guided by the words of our Presidents.

A Splendid Approach to Learning History, October 31, 2005
This book has a concept or format that is guaranteed to make American history come alive as never before. It's a reprint of the most significant speeches by all of America's presidents. In addition it is supplied with two CD's. These contain the actual voices of every president since Benjamin Harrison in 1889. It also includes comments by ex-presidents Ford, Carter and Clinton on the speeches that influenced them the most.

This book is a capsule of American history done in a way that brings it home faster and easier than any standard history textbook. It's a large format book and at 480 pages it can contain a lot of material and it does. It is a splendid book.

Excellent reference book, March 23, 2006
I actually heard Michael Waldman (the author) give a lecture regarding the genesis of this book. Mr. Waldman was President Clinton's chief speech writer for 5 years. When Mr. Waldman once asked an aide for a reference text on the most important presidential speeches in history, he was told that no such text exists. It is my understanding that this was the primary motivation for Mr. Waldman to write this book.

I thoroughly delight in reading the speeches that Mr. Waldman has selected. In particular, I am in agreement with Mr. Waldman regarding the centrality of Abraham Lincoln's speeches in American History. I have come to agree that the Gettysburg Address is "the most important speech" ever given by a president.

This is a book that I have read over and over again. It continually inspires and challenges my views of myself as an American. I highly recommend it to everyone. ... Read more

Editorial Review

FLYBOYS is the true story of young American airmen who were shot down over Chichi Jima. Eight of these young men were captured by Japanese troops and taken prisoner. Another was rescued by an American submarine and went on to become president. The reality of what happened to the eight prisoners has remained a secret for almost 60 years. After the war, the American and Japanese governments conspired to cover up the shocking truth. Not even the families of the airmen were informed what had happened to their sons. It has remained a mystery--until now. Critics called James Bradley's last book "the best book on battle ever written." FLYBOYS is even better: more ambitious, more powerful, and more moving. On the island of Chichi Jima those young men would face the ultimate test. Their story--a tale of courage and daring, of war and of death, of men and of hope--will make you proud, and it will break your heart. ... Read more

Reviews

Horrifying tale, October 30, 2006
The publisher deserves some criticism for misrepresenting this book on the cover, dust jacket copy and all that stuff. I thought I was picking up an Ambrose-like narrative kind of story of the WWII fighter pilots. Instead, the book starts with a "big picture" historical view of what the author clearly views as two imperial powers colliding, with little understanding of each other. In other words, US - Japan relations went from Perry's opening of Japan (a destructive act, in the author's view, that was necessary because Chichi Ima, the centerpiece of the story, was needed for US merchant shipping purposes) to total, savage, unconditional war by 1941. (Of course, Japan had been at war already in China and elsewhere in the region; and the US and Britain had been playing behind-the-scenes roles that mattered a great deal in those years.)

"WWII" is thought of as one big thing when it was also, and perhaps more so several linked disputes and hostilities. So, the author provides an interesting and important view, helping readers see the historical line of sight in terms of Japan and the US. The sort of moral equivalency (some other reviewers here called it "liberal guilt") that grows out of this analysis is disturbing -- and unexpected, because nothing about the book's packaging hints at this tone. I felt like I was reading something of a piece with, well, most US history books written these days that are not forgiving or "patriotic" about any of the brutality that's occurred since Europeans hit the shores.

However, having set up the book this way, the author has given himself the breadth to write eloquently about the horrors experienced by both sides of the conflict. The book may spin off into too many directions -- for example, trying to determine whether the atomic bombs were even worth it since the destructive power of the napalm bombing of Tokyo and other cities may have been worse. There are other writers and other books that are more thorough and thoughtful about this topic, although the images the author creates of the taciturn, cigar smoking Curtis LeMay letting loose the incendiary raids is unforgettable -- and does cause an American to have to look in the mirror.

The personal accounts are really the heart of the book and are important on many levels. This has to be one of the first books to put together historical sources to tell a narrative like this. And that narrative is gruesome, so be prepared.

Finally, Bradley may be right that Hirohito should've been prosecuted as a war criminal, not set up as a titular, spiritual head the way MacArthur did it. How would history have been different? I'm definitely interested in reading more about this from other authors.

Courage, skill, and the right stuff under fire - but questionable assesment by the author, July 26, 2006
A well researched and well told story of navy flyers and more than the specific stories of men the rise of naval aviation's and its new found role in war.

Please be aware this book contains some horrific details of the murder and muliation of US service men by Japanese forces in the Pacific which may be well beyond the comfort level of some readers.

There was much about this book I found compelling:

The Flyboys themselves were wonderful, admirable characters which demonstrate once again the debt owed to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and those who fought along side them.

Flyboys is one of a number of books which at long last are addressing openly the horrifying facts of Japanese behavior in the Pacific theater. Unfortunately, this is coming generations too late to avoid the near universal denial of such things in Japan over the last 60 years.

The US knew far more of the details of prisoner treatment and execution than if shared with the public or with families.

However, there was one huge negative I never could quite overcome and that was the author's continual effort to compare US actions such as the use of fire bombing Tokyo to the actions of Japanese officers in the field which are not moral equals. To question whether the use of napalm was an effective war measure is fair. to use it to justify sadistic murder and canibalism strains jouranlistic, even novelistic credulity to the breaking point.

As the son of a WWII vet Bradley of all people should understand that war, any war no matter how unavoidable, is an obsenity requiring good men to place the great deal of their humanity aside so that they may restain an even greater evil. Yet somehow it escapes the author that horrific, although impersonal US bombing, no matter how you want to define the morals of war on the civilian population, does not require the same level of moral depravity that is required to kill a defenseless prisoner by hand and then remove from their still warm and quivering flesh, their internal organs so that you may dine on these morsals. One action reflects even in the worse case a perhaps flawed methodology of trying to end the war, while the other reflects deeply personal sadism and evil.

For all its virtues and flyboys has many this comparison left me dismayed.

Why America Dropped the Bombs, May 6, 2007
I am old enough to have lived through the war and remember it well. I never knew why Japan declared war on the U.S., even though I have taken every history class offered throughout my school career. "Flyboys" is probably the most brutal book I have ever read, almost too difficult in places. I am grateful to James Bradley for having written this book, I now understand why America dropped the Atomic Bombs and put an end to that war. "Flyboys" is a must read.

Controversial, but a Must Read, January 9, 2009
This book is ostensibly a recounting of the grisly fates of several airmen who went down over Chichi Jima and fell into Japanese captivity, a story that was heretofore unknown. True, this story is covered, and covered well. However, I suspect that the author, on reflection, realized that A) the stories were only about 50-100 pages worth, not enough for a book and that B) the book was, effectively, going to be a recitation of how evil the Japanese were.

I mean, don't the Japanese deserve it? Their treatment of prisoners was incredibly bad (though probably not worse than that of the Russians) and their behavior in China was beyond reprehensible. At the same time, the United States wasn't all peaches and cream either. Let's face it, we genocided the heck out of the Native Americans, laid waste to the Philippines, and killed millions of civilians by bombing enemy cities. Every major power, China, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, the United States, Italy... every one of them has committed its fair share of unthinkable atrocities at some point in their past. And, thing is, every nation has a tendency to forget its own transgressions. Yeah, Americans know about the Native Americans, but it doesn't strike the same note of horror that the Holocaust does, or that Japanese war crimes do. In the same way, if you were to ask the Japanese, i mean, they're aware of the things they did in WW2, but the firebombing of Japanese cities, the dropping of atomic weapons...

The book ends up being somewhat of a history of war crimes, of both the Japanese and the Americans. Its basic thesis is this: what the Japanese did in World War II was unthinkable, and what they did to the prisoners was horrible, and to ignore those things is a moral failing. At the same time, it's naive to view these acts from a position of national self righteousness, when our history is full of atrocities.

There are many reviews here that argue that the book, by discussing American war crimes, is trying to lessen the horror of the Japanese acts. This is an understandable position. The book is controversial, no doubt about that. While you may disagree with the author, you owe it to yourself to read this book, and make your own decision. It is well written, well researched, and an entertaining read.

History That Needs Telling, October 20, 2004
The Japanese have NEVER acknowledged their war atrocities. Their textbooks and museums hide their horrible behavior during WWII; the average Japanese knows little if anything about the Rape of Nanking, or the slaughter of millions in Manchuria and Korea, or the vicious treatment of POW's by their troops.

Even in the U.S. we've hidden, and continue to hide, the horrors committed by the Japanese against our POW's. "Flyboys" details the sickening treatment by the Japanese of a small group of American Naval Aviators shot down during attacks on the tiny island of Chichi Jima.

After the war, the courts-martial of the Japanese involved in this affair were sealed and classified Top Secret - because of fear of retribution against Japan by a horrified America. The cover-up lasted until Bradley, who wrote Flags of Our Fathers (about Iwo Jima) heard from a reader who told him the story of Chichi Jima. Bradley, then uncovered the full story via the Freedom of Infomation act and wrote this very powerful book.

It's a horrible story; one that should not be hidden, but instead should be told and retold.

Good read, with notable except ion of equating our bombing to Japan's crimes, December 7, 2006
I found myself torn by this book. I was in awe of the bravery and patriotism of the naval aviators portrayed. That part of the book was inspiring. I was disgusted by "liberal guilt", or whatever else you want to call it when someone says our bombing of Japan renders us no better than the Japanese at that time. There is no moral equivalence whatsoever between our actions and Japan's actions. They attacked us (never mind what they did to the Chinese). They started the war and refused to surrender.

The US was faced with 2, and only 2, alternatives to ending the war. First, they could implement the devastating campaign of bombing. This involved a minimum number of American casualties. Second, we could have invaded Japan. Analysts estimated the number of American deaths from such a strategy in the hundreds of thousands, if not over a million. Sorry. The first and foremost responsibility of our government is to look out for the welfare of its own citizenry, not the citizenry of a fanatical nation hell-bent on world conquest and genocide.

Coming from the son of a Navye corpsman wounded at Iwo Jima, I found Bradley's views puzzling. Would he have preferred that his Dad be forced to invade Japan?

Excellent look at the end of WWII and impact of air power on the war, April 3, 2006
I found this book more intriguing than Bradley's Flags of our Fathers, which I also enjoyed a great deal. Fly Boys is fascinating on several levels. Bradley does an admirable job giving a quick history of flight, and highlights those who predicted the dominance of the "third dimension" in future wars.

The story then shifts to the 'fly boys' of WWII, more deeply focusing on a group involved in attacking Chichi Jima and the Japanese mainland toward the end of the war. Several were shot down, some were captured, some made it back, one became our 41st President. Without going into too much detail, the fates of some were extremely grave, way beyond what I would have expected.

What I particularly enjoyed about Fly Boys is Bradley's objective and highly disturbing look at the morality of man in times of war. The same atrocities are viewed as either a war crime or an heroic act, depending entirely on the perspective; and many of these atrocities are graphically described in the book. This book is extremely graphic, and very gruesome, and while repulsed by the behavior of the Japanese, I was also taken aback by the behavior of our own country in past wars that was at times equally reprehensible. War is hell, and other than "The Forgotten Soldier", this book makes that about a clear as any I have read.

I learned a great deal in this book: details about the end of the war, the American rationale for the firebombing of the Japanese mainland, what the Japanese did in China prior to the War, and more. I highly recommend this read to anyone wanting to learn more about the impact of air power in WWII, or even to those with less interest in the war who want to realize just how good we have it today.

Needless progagandizing and profiting on the memories of heroes, May 9, 2006
This book confused me. It's not that the book was difficult to read; in fact, it's a very easy read. The problem with the book is that rather than just telling the story of the flyers, the author delves into a litany of moral equivalence and cultural relativism to make the barbaric conduct of the Japanese seem to be no different from that of the United States. Indeed, a book which one would think to be a sympathetic portrayal of pilots who fought, died and were brutally killed by the Japanese seems to turn the concept on its head. In the first 107 pages, he effectively blames the US for `ethnically cleansing' the Native Americans, stealing half of Mexico and then greedily using gunboat diplomacy to open up Japan to trade while we invaded an uninhabited island named Chichi Jima, where the `Flyboys' fought in WWII. In 1862 when Japan's first steam ship seized Chichi Jima back, the author notes sagely, that the Japanese had `learned their lessons [of conquest] well." In other words, it's our fault became militaristic

Most galling of all is the author's deliberate attempt to draw parallels between America's actions Philippines to the Rape of Nanking and the invasion of China by Japan. It would have been one thing to say the Japanese used America's methods and occupation of the Philippines as proof that America was hypocritical, but then to provide facts which gives an even portrayal of America in the Philippines. However, if one were to read his version of the Philippines/American experience, you'd think all Americans were genocidal war mongers. He chooses the worst quotes from US military figures and the worst examples of barbarity of the 4 year insurrection, making it seem these events and speakers are emblematic of the American conduct at the time. It's a dead lie.

He claims that in 4 years America caused the deaths of 250,000 in about four years which he says is `serious killing' since Hitler and Tojo killed 400,000 in 8 years, making our monthly kill rate as high as Hitler and Tojo as US `civilizers' of the Philippines. First, this number is a blatant mischaracterization. Americans did not kill 250,000 people. Stanley Karnow, the author of the seminal work on Vietnam and author of a similar book on America in the Philippines, is no American apologist and no right wing militarist, yet in his book, In our Image, he disagrees with the author's perspective. 200,000 people did die, but only if you account for famine (i.e. no food production) and disease caused by the side effects of war. Second, Tojo and Hitler deliberately set out to kill any non-German and non-Japanese to provide living space for their `superior' peoples. As seen below, that was not our goal in the Philippines. Third, logic would dictate that if the US were as brutal as he claims, how did we beat the Filipinos? We usually had no more than a 40,000 men in arms there and were weeks away from America. The reason Karnow points out is simple. We proved to the Filipinos that we were different from colonizers. Those same `barbaric' soldiers in the Philippines were opening schools in remote villages and teaching peasants how to read, something only rich Spanish allied Filipinos were entitled to. In ten years, the literacy rate jumped from 20 to 50%

Americans passed laws limiting how long we could stay, requiring that Americans could not own vast tracts of land. Americans bought land from the Catholic church and gave it to the people. No money ever left the Philippines, all tax revenue went to the government. Americans doubled the survival rate of children because we established inoculations and health clinics. Within 10 years, Filipinos were running their own government and had the first modern constitution and national assembly four years after we arrived. Philippines President, Manuel Quezon, is famous in the Philippines for complaining of the difficulty of fostering a national identity under such benevolent control. He said, "damn the Americans, why don't they tyrannize more?" I doubt the Chinese said that about Japan nor Europe about Nazi.

His comparisons make even less sense after he goes through the grotesque litany of butchery and savagery of Japan in China. Raping every woman they met, wiping out every person in Nanking, killing 250,000 in one region because the Doolittle raiders landed there... it turns my stomach. Trust me, I know some American soldiers and leaders committed evil acts in the Philippines and in WWII, but to attempt to use those discrete incidents into a theme of Americanism is wrong. He even goes so far as insinuating that our decision to cut off oil from Japan made Japan expand the war and attack us at Pearl Harbor. Without the embargo, Japan might not have felt the need to attack South East Asia for its oil, limiting the war only to China and no where else in Asia.

Why did I read the book if I hated it so much? Very simple. The person who recommended it to me did so because I love history. When he described the author's viewpoint of our conduct in the Philippines, I was stunned at how one sided he was. I had to read the book to see it for myself. There are so many who don't know history that a propaganda effort, disguised as history, serves only to push a perspective, not the truth. My kind of history is the way I like my news. Give me both sides and let me decide. This author knows history doesn't support the view that the US was as bad as Japan in 1941 so he bends the truth to prove his viewpoint.

To be frank, I feel sorry for the surviving Flyboys who were interviewed and the families of the deceased Flyboys whose true story is allegedly finally told in this book. I think he took advantage of some old men, old loves, their families and some real American heroes to make a buck. I wonder how many of those men and women who read the book and saw an America they recognized. I know I didn't.

Remember Bush 41...He's in here, February 28, 2010
After reading Flyboys in all its horrific detail and the attrocities carried out by both sides during WWII, you might be surprised that I was most moved and surprised by the story of the former president of the United States George H. W. Bush. Having lived through the Reagan and Bush presidencies I assumed that I had a relatively accurate picture of George Bush both as V.P. and President. I knew, as most people did, that he was the child of priviledge. The media told me that he made his fortune in the (gasp) Oil Industry and was a toady for corporate types. The press also portrayed him as a wimp. I remember the Doonesbury columns that wouldn't even show a caricature of him. He was so insignificant that Trudeau represented him with a mere blip on the page. Of course I knew he served in WWII but I assumed he had some cushy appointment that kept him out of harms way.

You can immagine my surprise when I read the account of his service in this book. Here was a man who volunteered to serve his country and became the youngest navy flyer in the service at that time. He flew 58 combat missions including the ill fated attack on chichi jima. Despite his heroic actions both before and after being hit by flack, he had to bail out after giving his crew the best possible chance for survival, even at the detriment to his own safety. His courage and sacrifice earned him the distinguished flying cross and several other citations. Only through the grace of God did he avoid the fate of the other flyboys discussed in this book. How such a man could have been vilified and marginalized by a vicious and partisan press that has to look up the meaning of words like courage and sacrifice is beyond me. I hope to God that all those smarmy, arrogant, self important critics of what can only be described as a great man have the opportunity to read this account of his heroic service. Gary Trudeau isn't fit to lick George Bush's boots.

Much more to this book than the cover would indicate, December 15, 2007
I was suprised in reading this book that it is not just the story of a group of US aviators during WWII. This book also covers the history of Japan and the US over the last couple of hundred years which culminated in the conflict. It explains the reason behind the military fanaticism of the Japanese soldier during that period, but also peels back some layers of United States history to reveal some uncomfortable details of our past as well which many readers may not be familiar with. The end result is not a book which points a finger toward one root cause, but an unbiased assessment of complicated events and histories leading up to the war in the pacific. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Deborah Blum follows New York City's first forensic scientists to discover a fascinating Jazz Age story of chemistry and detection, poison and murder.

Deborah Blum, writing with the high style and skill for suspense that is characteristic of the very best mystery fiction, shares the untold story of how poison rocked Jazz Age New York City. In The Poisoner's Handbook Blum draws from highly original research to track the fascinating, perilous days when a pair of forensic scientists began their trailblazing chemical detective work, fighting to end an era when untraceable poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime.

Drama unfolds case by case as the heroes of The Poisoner's Handbook-chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler-investigate a family mysteriously stricken bald, Barnum and Bailey's Famous Blue Man, factory workers with crumbling bones, a diner serving poisoned pies, and many others. Each case presents a deadly new puzzle and Norris and Gettler work with a creativity that rivals that of the most imaginative murderer, creating revolutionary experiments to tease out even the wiliest compounds from human tissue. Yet in the tricky game of toxins, even science can't always be trusted, as proven when one of Gettler's experiments erroneously sets free a suburban housewife later nicknamed "America's Lucretia Borgia" to continue her nefarious work.

From the vantage of Norris and Gettler's laboratory in the infamous Bellevue Hospital it becomes clear that killers aren't the only toxic threat to New Yorkers. Modern life has created a kind of poison playground, and danger lurks around every corner. Automobiles choke the city streets with carbon monoxide; potent compounds, such as morphine, can be found on store shelves in products ranging from pesticides to cosmetics. Prohibition incites a chemist's war between bootleggers and government chemists while in Gotham's crowded speakeasies each round of cocktails becomes a game of Russian roulette. Norris and Gettler triumph over seemingly unbeatable odds to become the pioneers of forensic chemistry and the gatekeepers of justice during a remarkably deadly time. A beguiling concoction that is equal parts true crime, twentieth-century history, and science thriller, The Poisoner's Handbook is a page-turning account of a forgotten New York.

... Read more

Reviews

A Genuine, But Highly Entertaining, Poisoner's Handbook, December 31, 2009

The Birth of Forensic Medicine Against a Backdrop of Prohibition, January 15, 2010

A CSI for the Jazz Age, January 8, 2010

The Not-too-chemical Handbook, October 21, 2010
As I started "The Poisoner's Handbook", I thought this was a great book: a fine history of modern American forensic science, told through a double biography of Norris and Gettler, two of its major founders, and illuminated with engrossing tales of murder, mayhem, and nightmarish misadventure. That thought died as soon as I started to spot the technical explanations that were uninformative, misleading, or downright wrong. Will a dozen examples do?

p. 56: Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) is not a potent acid or corrosive; it is just about the weakest acid known. The fact that it is ferociously toxic has nothing to do with its acidic strength.

p. 22: Chloroform is not terribly corrosive; on keratinized tissue (normal skin) it has no effect at all.

p. 86: You cannot get anything by mixing arsenic (As), copper (Cu) and hydrogen (H2) because the first two are metals and the last is a gas that does not react spontaneously with either of them.

p. 179: Radium (Ra) does not react with water to produce radon (Rn); it produces Rn by atomic decay.

p. 183: Radium (Ra) does not decay to produce polonium (Po) and radon (Rn) - its atomic weight is far less than that of Po and Rn combined so it cannot produce both. It can decay to produce Rn, which then decays to produce Po.

p. 187: Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is not slightly acidic; as any highschooler knows, it is moderately basic.

p. 191: There is no such thing as diethyl phlatate. (Did Blum mean diethyl phthalate? Did anyone proofread this book?)

p. 201: Ethanol (EtOH) does not "dissolve" into acetic acid; it is converted to acetic acid by tissue enxymatic activity.

p. 206: DDT is not an organophosphate; it contains no phosphorous at all. It is a chlorinated hydrocarbon.
passim: Blum does not seem to realize that wood alcohol, methyl alcohol, and methanol are just three different names for the same compound, used at different times as chemical terminology became more precise over the years.

And at least two misconversions from US weight units to metric.

How Blum got a Pulitzer for popular science writing and a job teaching it at the university level I cannot imagine; perhaps her zoology is better than her chemistry (it would have to be much, MUCH better), but her chemistry is far too inadequate to qualify her to explain it to others.

I propose that henceforward any book purporting to explain chemistry for the layman should be vetted by a committee of ten members randomly chosen from the American Chemical Society, before it is let loose on the unsuspecting public. Why shouldn't popular science writings be subject to the same peer review that professional writings are?

If Blum had left out the chemistry or else got it right, this would be a four-star book; as it is, it's a one.

"This is a Poison. Warn Everyone...", December 30, 2009

Fascinating forensics history book - sort of a "CSI NYC, the Early Years", December 28, 2009

Well Researched, Well Explained Doesn't "Read Like Fiction", December 22, 2009

An excellent read, May 8, 2010
When I first saw this book, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to read it. But, it sounded intrigueing. Now, I extremely gladd I did. It's and easy read, it flows, and you really don't want it to end. I was really sorry when I got to the end, I wanted it to continue. A good written account of the birth of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology while weaving into a story. It's great when you are reading and all of a sudden you get to say to yourself "So thats why". I did that many times and throughly enjoyed the book, it will take its place in my permanent Library.

an amazing book, April 26, 2010
I am very interested in forensic medicine. when I read the review of Deborah Blum's new book I was intrigued and had to purchase it. This is for anyone who loves history, science and medicine and crime. As a New Yorker I had no idea that the first medical examiner was not a physician. I just assumed that position required such (it does now). I enjoy the way the chapters are organized...according to the type of poison. A good read and not terribly technical.

Immensely Entertaining and Engaging Account of Prohibition Era NYC, Murder by Poison & the Birth of Forensic Toxicology, April 22, 2010
This book hit a home run. It took us back to NYC in the early 20th Century, combining the prevailing politics, culture and science and how it dealt with death from exposure to toxins--either in the workplace or at the hands of a murderer. Entertaining, interesting and educational, the book describes how the the NYC Medical Examiner's office evolved from being headed by a drunk political hack to being competently run by accomplished and dedicated men of science. Investigating death and disease in the workplace and baffling murders by poison challenged these men, and they responded, with nothing more than some beakers, their education and their ingenuity and determination. In the process, the science of forensic toxicology was born. Unlike the overwhelming number of examples where scientific discovery and achievement resulted from commercial motivation (which I have NO problem with), here, forensic toxicology's creation and advancement drew its motive force from the altrustic need to reveal and punish premediated murder. The author's style was excellent for the subject matter, and demonstrated a true affection for the era and the science. She described complexity in an entertaining, understandable and even folksy way, and at times, made me laugh out loud. To disclose a personal bias making this book so enjoyable to me: Over the course of my adult life, I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with a few toxicologists, and I find common characteristics--tremendous intellect, scientific curiosity and objectivity, knowledge and appreciation of past and present scientific literature, and a laser-beam focus on detail and precision. I recommend this book to anyone who likes history of scientific discovery ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Reviews

A Rare Surprise, April 18, 2010
I downloaded this book free on my Kindle thinking it would be a work about the Apostle Peter. It turned out to be a very interesting novel about a young British pastor who became a chaplain during World War I. Rather than dealing with interactions between the chaplain and combat soldiers, the novel goes into the young chaplain's struggles with his faith and the temptations he faces while being stationed in France.

It was a bit difficult for me to follow at times due to the heavy use of early 20th centure British slang. This Kindle lookup feature was very helpful. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Reviews

Scant information, September 20, 2010
The book was OK, but I didn't find a lot of detail about Boone's life. It did tell of his wanderings and Indian fighting life. There was not a lot of detail about his family, except the ones killed fighting Indians. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Since he was a small boy, Mosab Hassan Yousef has had an inside view of the deadly terrorist group Hamas. The oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader, young Mosab assisted his father for years in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy, politics, status . . . and power. But everything changed when Mosab turned away from terror and violence, and embraced instead the teachings of another famous Middle East leader. In Son of Hamas, Mosab Yousef--now called "Joseph"--reveals new information about the world's most dangerous terrorist organization and unveils the truth about his own role, his agonizing separation from family and homeland, the dangerous decision to make his newfound faith public, and his belief that the Christian mandate to "love your enemies" is the only way to peace in the Middle East. ... Read more

Reviews

Love Your Enemies? How The Son Of The Founder Of Hamas Went From Jihad To Jesus, March 6, 2010
I first met Mosab Hassan Yousef, the oldest son of one of the founders of the Hamas, by phone in 2009. We spoke several times for several hours, getting to know one another and taking each other's measure. Later, we corresponded a bit by email and finally met for coffee. It was an unlikely encounter, to be sure. How often, after all, does a former aide to an Israeli Prime Minister and a former aide to the leader of a terrorist movement meet and become friends. But we have. And the reason is simple: we have both been transformed by the love of Jesus Christ.

Mosab was raised a Radical Muslim. He believed "Islam is the answer, and jihad is the way." He was poised to become the future leader of Hamas. As such, he would have become one of Israel's most dangerous and wanted enemies. But something happened along the way that changed everything. Mosab came to the stunning conclusion that Hamas was evil, that Islam was wrong, that suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks were abhorrent, that Israelis were his friends not his enemies, and that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. In short, Mosab has become a Revivalist. Today he believes "Islam is not the answer, jihad is not the way; Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Jesus." What's more, he believes that the only way for Israelis and Palestinians to truly find peace with each other is to first find peace with God by embracing the Prince of Peace -- Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem; Jesus, who was raised in Nazareth; Jesus who died on the cross in Jerusalem, and rose again, and is coming back to the Holy Land soon.

How this transformation happened -- and the choices Mosab has made as a result -- is the subject of one of the most powerful books I have ever read. SON OF HAMAS, written by Mosab and journalist Ron Brackin, is part spy thriller, part spiritual testimony of a young man leaving terror for redemption. It is a must-read book and one can only hope it becomes the basis of a major Hollywood motion picture.

In just the first week since the book was released, Mosab has received enormous media coverage -- Haaretz, Ynet News, CNN, Fox, NBC, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, and Forbes, among many others. Most of the reports and interviews have focused on the intelligence intrigue of how Mosab became a double agent for Israel's Shin Bet secret service agency against Hamas, helping to stop scores of terrorist attacks and saving countless Jewish and Arab lives as a result. Unfortunately, most of the reports have glossed over the spiritual side of Mosab's journey. The good news is the book covers both sides of Mosab's life in gripping details.

Here are a few tidbits worth considering:

* Mosab hated the Jews. He cheered when Saddam Hussein fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War, and was disappointed when Israel wasn't destroyed. He wanted Hamas to seize back all the land of "Palestine" from the Jews. But in 1996, at the age of 18, he was arrested by the Israelis for buying automatic weapons to kill Jews. He was sent to an Israeli prison. There he was stunned at what he saw: Muslims torturing Muslims. "I had never heard a human being scream like that guy did. What could he have done to deserve that." (p.97)

* "Nearby, fellow Hamas members -- fellow Arabs, fellow Palestinians, fellow Muslims -- shoved needles under [his friend] Akel's fingernails." (p. 100)

* "Every day there was screaming; every night, torture. Hamas was torturing its own people! As much as I wanted to, I simply could not find a way to justify that." (p. 102)

* Months later, after being released from Israeli prison, Mosab was walking past the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Someone -- not knowing who he was -- invited him to a Bible study. Curious, he attended. They studied the New Testament, and gave Mosab a copy to read for himself. "I began at the beginning [in the Gospel According to Matthew], and when I got to the Sermon on the Mount, I thought, Wow, this guy Jesus is really impressive! Everything He says is beautiful! I couldn't put the book down. Every verse seemed to touch a deep wound in my life. It was a very simple message, but somehow it had the power to heal my soul and give me hope. Then I read this: `You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.' (Matthew 5:43-45)....I was thunderstruck by these words. Never before had I heard anything like this, but I knew that this was the message I had been searching for all my life." (p.122)

* "For years I had struggled to know who my enemy was, and I had looked for enemies outside of Islam and Palestine. But I suddenly realized that the Israelis were not my enemies. Neither was Hamas nor my uncle Ibrahim [one of the torturers in prison] nor the kid who beat me with the butt of his M16....I understood that enemies were not defined by nationality, religion, or color. I understood that we all share the same common enemies: greed, pride, and all the bad ideas and the darkness of the devil that live inside us....Five years earlier, I would have read the words of Jesus and thought, What an idiot! and thrown the Bible away....But now, everything Jesus said on the pages of this book made perfect sense to me. Overwhelmed, I started to cry." (p.122-123)

** Joel C. Rosenberg is the New York Times best-selling author of Epicenter 2.0: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future and Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform

a must read, March 2, 2010
This book was very well written and gripping - i couldn't put it down! It was filled with details of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, yet was easy to understand and follow. The story pulls you in so much that it 'feels' more like reading a fictional spy book than an autobiography. From a literary standpoint this book was an amazing work. Making a history lesson interesting is no easy task.

The story itself is also amazing. As a Christian, it was inspiring to see how one sentence from the Bible was able to transform Mosab's heart and change the course of his life. As a result, many lives were saved. It is also a work of peace, helping us see that there are no cut and dry answers to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. All have done wrong, with Jesus all are capable of peace.

Amazing job, Mosab! Thanks for sharing your story.

Whatever your politics, this is a good read, March 4, 2010
I heard about this book and its author on NPR a few weeks ago and preorder it on my Kindle. While I was expecting a good story and some unique insight into the Arab side of the conflict my hopes were not high for the quality of writing and storytelling that I assumed a man with a military and religious background could produce. Boy, was I wrong about the quality!!! The book opened up the inner working or rather lack of inner workings within Hamas and loudly vindicated what Israel and the whole world knew about Arafat as a selfish global beggar, who was the main driver behind the second intifada with no regard for the well being of his people. The story is extremely well written and shares a writing style with Natan Sharansky's Fear no Evil. While the author's Christianity plays a large role in his life journey this book should be enjoyed by everyone. I am surprised at how good the actual writing style was and commend Masab on the lives he has saved through considerable risk to his own. Hopefully there are many more operatives like him operating in Gaza and will lead to the release of Gilad Shalit.

the real thing, March 4, 2010
if you are serious about understanding the MIddle East and the ideologies competing for dominance over there this is a must read. Joseph as we call him will be remembered in history as a great man of faith and courage. Take this book very seriously it comes at great cost.
-Pastor Matt Smith
[...]

A Rare Gem, March 4, 2010
My only regret in purchasing this book is that it was so riveting it made me late for work! It is a heart warming story of a man's journey from hate to love for all of humanity. After decades of studying the Middle East and thousands of hours spent studying Islam, I can verify that the author is clearly the real deal. While he characterizes and explains things in a different manner than I sometimes would and his view that "delivered from the oppression of Europe, Israel became the oppressor" is, although an understandable view from his prospective, not entirely fair, his overall understanding of what drives the Israeli-Islamic Conflict is far superior to 99.99999 percent of the views I see regarding the topic. The author is one of those rare souls that managed to figure out some of the most complex and difficult issues to understand in the World today given all of the disinformation and errant opinions, both inadvertent and intentional, promulgated about the conflict and Islam. I guarantee that you will not regret purchasing this book. The author also has great courage to speak out as he has. May God protect him. The author's view of Israel as an oppressor is no doubt a sincere view, but it is a view clouded by his proximity to the conflict. Sometimes when we look at something too closely we suffer from a bit of myopia. While Israel's conduct may seem oppressive at times to one who has suffered from Israel's attempts to defend itself, it is conduct driven by desperation and the need to protect its people. But for the enslavement of Arab Muslims by Islam and the cultural effect of Islam on the entire Arab culture - even non-Muslim Arabs - Arab and Jews could and would live in relative peace together and the Arabs would proper from the industriousness and economic vitality of Israel. The fact is that far from being an oppressor, Israel is the one hope that inhabitants in the area have of living under a relatively fair and just government. All the Arabs need to do is quit trying to destroy Israel and to indiscriminately kill Jews and they will reap the benefits of Israel's better attributes. But when you try to destroy a people, it is hardly a surprise that their natural, instinctive self-defense response will seem "oppressive."

This is a great read and you will have no buyer's remorse. I was only sorry that the story was not longer! The author is an exceptional man wise beyond his years.

Most incredible story I ever read..., March 14, 2010
...and I read a lot. I drive 2+ hours a day back and forth to work listening to Audio Books. This is a gripping story, I can't stop thinking about it. The risks he took, leading a double life at the top of the most violent group of killers in the world. Most books are interesting but I don't expect to ever shake this one. Mosab is still on a mission. We sit around fretting about the Middle East while civilization unravels. Mosab is perhaps the only man with a complete picture of the wretched travesty, and he's not sitting, he's carrying the world on his shoulders. Our leaders are lost, so Mosab is putting his life on the line to save as many as he can. My heart goes out to him. For those of you who pray, pray God will protect and sustain Mosab.

Completely changed my view of the Middle East, March 3, 2010
I am a sucker for spy novels, but have often been disappointed by nonfiction accounts of spies. Spycatcher was particularly disappointing. Son of Hamas is unlike any spy nonfiction I have ever read. It is gripping reading, and I could not put my kindle down until I had read it all.

Mossab Hassan Yousef has helped me understand the Middle East in a new and profound way; In the past I was strongly tempted to see Israel as the good guy and anybody else as the bad guys, but he helped me see many shades of gray in Palestine. Yousef's story is more than a compelling spy thriller or political geography. It is also the story of his repenting of his sins, and believing in Jesus Christ for his salvation. I can barely conceive of how difficult it must have been for him to break his family's heart, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. This book is an absolute must-read. I hope Mossab is adjusting well to life in the United States.

Fast-paced, Sensational, Heartbreaking, May 13, 2010
"Son of Hamas" is a fast-paced, sensational, heartbreaking read. Mosab Hassan Yousef's story is unique and important, and he tells his story with frankness, tears, and outrage. He is the son of a founder of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas; he himself was a prisoner, an Israeli spy, and, eventually, a convert to Christianity. The book is an easy read; you can finish it in a couple of sittings. It's really more of a long magazine article than a book, though. Neither MHY nor his co-author, Ron Brackin, delves deeply into the many complexities of the story. Rather, the book's focus is on recounting of this or that spy activity. From this book, I didn't gain deep insight into what it's like to be an undercover agent, to betray one's beloved father's ideals, or to convert from Islam to Christianity.

MHY's description of Hamas is scathing. The most memorable passages in the book describe Hamas members torturing other Palestinians in Israeli prisons. MHY worked as the torturers' scribe. He wrote their fastidious accounts of what the tortured inmate confessed to. These files read like pornography. Inmates confessed to unbelievable acts, acts that included cows and cameras. It was clear to MHY that these victims were making up stories to satisfy their torturers' twisted appetites, and to, thereby, make the torture stop.

The Hamas torturers focused on men who did not have outside protectors to avenge their torture. One poor soul, Akel, was targeted for torture because his only living relative outside prison was a sister who would not harm anyone in revenge for Hamas shoving needles under Akel's fingernails. Too, Akel was a "simple farmer" "never accepted by the urban Hamas" who took advantage of him. MHY describes a Palestinian prisoner throwing himself against a boundary of razor wire. An Israeli guard was about to shoot him. The man explained that he was not trying to escape the Israeli prison, but, rather, his fellow Palestinian inmates.

The bulk of the book consists of journalistic accounts of this or that spy operation. Clever ways are devised for MHY to meet with his Israeli handlers. Other clever ways are devised for MHY to avoid being detected as a spy, even as he meets with top figures like the PLO's Yasser Arafat. MHY thwarts suicide bombings and tries to make sure that terrorists are imprisoned, rather than killed. Fans of espionage may find these passages intriguing.

By chance, MHY runs into some Christians and begins to discover Jesus in the pages of a gift Bible. MHY left Islam and became a Christian. This made life completely impossible for him among his beloved home and family. He had to leave Israel for the US. Even that departure had to be orchestrated by Israeli intelligence.

The intense heartbreak MHY has experienced in his life is suggested in this book, but never plumbed. I wonder if he'll ever write a more probing, confessional book that will explore what must have been a very tough life. MHY's love for his father and his family is obvious. His family has disowned him; they have to. Islam mandates the death penalty for apostates. MHY was born into an impossible situation for an ethical being. He loves his father; his father supports terror. He loves his family; his family must renounce him for leaving Islam. He loves his homeland and his people; too many of his people are committed to pointless violence and are rigid in their resistance to any alternative point of view. I suspect that many readers reading this book will be moved to pray for MHY and his family as well. Readers will pray for his safety, of course, but also for peace for the many heartbreaks he has experienced, heartbreaks not of his own making.

Review of Son of Hamas, March 8, 2010
The title of this book describes exactly what it is. It is a gripping, powerful, terrifying tale of unbelievable choices, political intrigue and betrayal of the most potent sort.

Mosab Hassan Yousef, known as the "Green Prince" to the Shin Bet (an Israeli intelligence service comparable to America's FBI), is the oldest song of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a cofounder and leader of Hamas since 1986. What is Hamas? It is an Islamic resistance movement in the West Bank and Gaza, listed by several organizations and governments as a terrorist organization.

My Aunt bought this book and read it quickly and I couldn't resist the pull of it. I remembered reading about Mosab (Now Joseph) in an article a few months back and thought how fascinating his story must be. Fascinating doesn't even begin to describe this journey.

There are facts and facts laid bare in this book. I don't even know where to begin writing about it. The relationship Mosab has with his father is one that defies all typical American assumptions when it comes to terrorist relationships. Despite his father's heavy involvement in Hamas, he proves that the line is not always black and white and that there is a wide expanse of gray there in the middle. While his father does not participate first-hand in the terrorist acts nor actively condone them he does nothing to stop them which causes Mosab to have one of many second thoughts as to his place in the conflict.

Most of all, this is a story of salvation - although it begins to get a bit lost. This is not a book that preaches to you. It's a simple statement of fact from a man raised in a deeply religious, Muslim family and lifestyle and how he struggles with the differences between the God of the Bible and the God of the Qur'an. An example is this paragraph:

"Somehow, I seemed to always benefit from divine protection. I wasn't even a Christian yet, and al-Faransi certainly didn't know the Lord. My Christian friends were praying for me every day, however. And God, Jesus said in Matthew 5:45 "causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." This was certainly a far cry from the cruel and vengeful god of the Qur'an."

One of the parts of the book that struck me the most was the following passage. In this section of the book Mosab is speaking of an Israeli man, a Jewish man (Amnon) who refuses to serve in the military despite it being a required 3 year term. The reason for Amnon's refusal? He cannot justify killing.

"When he still refused to serve, Amnon was arrested and imprisoned. What I didn't realize was that Amnon was living in the Jewish section of the prison the entire time I was at Ofer. He was there because he refused to work with the Israelis; I was there because I had agreed to work with them. I was trying to protect Jews; he was trying to protect Palestinians.

I didn't believe that everybody in Israel and the occupied territories needed to become a Christian in order to end the bloodshed. But I thought if we just had a thousand Amnons on one side and a thousand Mosabs on the other, it would make a big difference. And if we had more ... who knows?"

Mosab is now currently living in California. His father refuses to denounce him in order to protect him from death. His father denies that Mosab ever had any information about Hamas and was not a member of the organization. I don't know whether this is the truth or not, but I do know that what I have read in this novel shed a definite light on some things and made me think long and hard about a situation which, up until this point, was dark and mysterious.

I applaud Mosab's courage in telling his story and I am thrilled at the message that he conveys through it. If only we had a thousand people to listen and take up his way of thinking just think what we could do. And like he said in this book, "if we had more... who knows?"

A Horror House of Mirrors, March 7, 2010
The devout Muslim son of an Imam Palestinian leader, befriended by Jews and working for the Israeli "CIA", converts to Christianity while spying for Israel and still protecting the life of his Hamas father in the midst of vengeful incursions by Israel into the West Bank.

And that's just the easy part!

Moab Hassan Yousef, this SON OF HAMAS founding leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, tells a compelling story. He takes the reader from his rock-throwing boyhood in the first Palestinian intifada, through his teenage years of imprisonment with its threats of torture by both his Israeli captors and his fellow Palestinian prison mates, to his heart felt desire to save his people, all people, from endless violence and death. While the author's writing style, in collaboration with Mr. Ron Brackin, may come off at first perhaps a bit adolescent, reading on, the reader is taken into experiences that are anything but childish.

From "true believer" as the son of an Imam to befriending the Jewish state, to encountering "the one true God" of neither of them, Moab Yousef takes the reader through all three camps. Yet, despite the author's earnest attempts to light the way to peace, the reader may be left, as I was, still holding a lamp of hope while wandering the geopolitical wilderness.
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