Reviews (3)

A gem of a book
After reading Bray Hammond's "Banks and Politics in America" and his trenchant critique of the Jacksonian assault on the Second Bank of the United States (BUS), I was interested to learn how Robert Remini, a historian known for his pro-Jackson tilt, responded to that attack on the Old Hero.

The answer is: he responded with a crisp, cogent and remarkably fair and insightful history of the struggle over the BUS.

The BUS had a profound political, economic, and social impact on American life during its short life (1816-1836). In his book, however, Remini seeks to address just one side of the controversy: the political. He concedes that there was much good in the BUS from a strictly economic perspective and destroying it without a concrete plan to replace the monetary institution undoubtedly did harm to the American economy as a whole. But, Remini argues, it was the political implications of the War - not the Panic of 1837 or the subsequent failure to adopt central banking in the US for nearly a century - that had the more far-reaching consequences.

It has been argued that Jackson was the first modern president. It is undeniable that the power of the presidency took a giant leap forward during Jackson's two-terms and Remini shows that those monumental gains in power came mostly during and because of the Bank War.

In particular, Remini argues that the Bank War is directly responsible for three areas of enhanced presidential power: 1) the use of the veto to reject legislation for purely political rather than constitutional reasons, thus inserting the president into the legislative process and, in effect, making his opinion count for two-thirds of both Houses of Congress; 2) even though Remini believes that the majority of Americans didn't support the president's stance on the BUS, Jackson made the election of 1832 a referendum on the bank issue and claimed henceforth that he represented the will of the people and was there one representative; and 3) Jackson's sacking of Secretary of the Treasury Duane for his refusal to remove the government deposits from the BUS exerted the president's right to remove Cabinet members at will, further strengthening the executive's grip over the government.

In short, there is stunning agreement between Remini and Hammond on a number of issues. For instance, Remini concedes that Jackson's veto of the BUS re-charter in July 1832 was pure demagogic class baiting with indefensible charges against the BUS's operations. He also rejects the notion that Jackson's re-election was a popular show of support for his attack on the BUS and he credits Nicolas Biddle with running an efficient, although by no means perfect, central banking organization. Thus, on economic grounds, Remini really sides with Hammond. But, Remini maintains, the economics of the issue was a distant second to the politics of issue. The cause of the War was political - namely, Jackson's refusal to bend or even appear to bend to a political challenge - and the most significant results of the War were political. Remini's case is sound.

Lacking
This has to be one of the most boring books I have ever read in my life, therefore making it a waste of my time to read it. I would not have bought the book unless if I wouldn't have had to write an essay on it for my History 1050 class. I do not recommend this book for casual reading, in fact, I do not recommend this book at all. However, if you are involved in History as a profession, or if you are excited by History, then this is a book for you. It provides tons of information, but to me it is all irrelevant. If you are a college student with many other things to do like myself, I will personally tell you right now to leave this book on the shelf.

Review
Remini's book, Andrew Jackson and the Bank War, is a very good book in the way of information. Although it is not a "page turner," it satisfies in giving the information. I would not have purchased this book except it is needed for my American History course. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

this is a good book for a beginning hist class
This book really gives the reader a sense of what Hamilton and Jefferson were REALLY like. They had disputes and were mistrustful of eachother. There wasn't any school-boy stuff going on here. I recommend this book if you're interested in history and are in college. Good book! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

HUZZAHS FOR YOUNG HICKORY!
YOUNG HICKORY
The Making of Andrew Jackson
Hendrik Booraem

Character and personality are shaped, it is generally believed, almost entirely in the early years. When the poet William Wordsworth says, "the child is father of the man" he echoes an earlier poet, John Milton, who said, "childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day."

In this excellent biography by Hendrik Booraem we learn of the time, the events and the people that bent the twig that would grow into Old Hickory, the seventh president of the United States -- Andrew Jackson.

Old Hickory is but one of the many nicknames that adhered to President Jackson. It is a wonderfully appropriate name. The quality of hickory is strength and endurance; it is the perfect handle for any striking tool that delivers great force and will not break on impact. He was also called the Hero of New Orleans, Duel Fighter and Sharp Knife. It will probably never be known just how many duels Jackson fought, or even how many men he killed in the process. As president, Jackson was feared for his rages. They seemed uncontrollable, yet it is believed he used his anger as a precision tool to intimidate and control others.

"Young Hickory" provides a fascinating account of Jackson's life up to age 21. Biographer, Hendrik Booraem is a noted historian; this is his third book focused on the adolescent years of an American President. I have not read his first, "The Road to Respectability" (1988) about President James A. Garfield. But, I have read and reread "The Provincial" (1994) Booraem's penetrating take on Calvin Coolidge. That careful and insightful book goes further to explain the character of the 30th president than does any other single book published in the last 50 years. In the case of Coolidge -- Booraem's research is exhaustive and painstaking. Often, he discovered neglected primary sources or assigned a new spin to an old story. I can only assume that the same quality is present in his book on Jackson. Where the record is not clear, and that is often the case, he provides you with the divergent accounts and his reasons for the one he chooses and the basis for his informed speculation.

The style of this book is literate and graceful; the words conduct you to the world of young Andy Jackson and make you glad you took the journey. Young Hickory was born on March 15, 1767. He grew up in South Carolina and considered himself a native of that state. There is some basis for the stoutly held contention that he was in fact born in North Carolina. As a boy, Jackson endured hardship and suffering. It is a wonder that he survived his youth. But, let's have Rik Booraem speak from his preface:

"The story of his early life, which unfolded during the American Revolution in the Carolinas, is highly dramatic. He nearly died of small pox after being wounded and imprisoned at the age of fourteen. The war destroyed his home and his immediate family. He constructed an entirely new identity to replace the one he had lost. After becoming a successful lawyer, he turned his attention toward the land west of the mountains."

An Exciting Story
Young Hickory carries you along like a boat in a spring flood. The story of the British campaign in the Carolinas is as well-told as I have ever read. Booraem is a fine story-teller and paints an unforgettable picture of those exciting times. - ... Read more

Reviews (6)

one more word
I have mixed feelings about Michael Jordan. On the one hand, he is a great athlete. I respect his work ethic. He has turned in a number of great performances and is no doubt one of the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

There is a flipside. Michael Jordan got all kinds of special treatment while he was in the NBA. He was the first player I noticed who was granted all kinds of trips to the charity stripe because of unbelievably, ticky tack calls. He scored at least ten points a game at the free throw line from bogus calls. It was great when there was a picture session for 'greats of the game' with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Magic told Larry not to stand too close to Michael or they might call a foul. In front of reporters and television viewers, that was a classic comment by Magic. I believe Mike got 99% of all calls in his favor because he was such a cash cow for the NBA. Dominique Wilkins was robbed of a slam dunk championship when Mike scored a perfect 50 doing the same dunk Dr. J did years before. I doubt Dr. J ever received a perfect 50 for it. Dominique's dunk was much more impressive, and he received a 49.5. Please. Mike got in a fight with Reggie Miller, and only Miller got suspended at first. Only after there was an outcry did Mike get suspended. How are Mike's punches different? Mike elbowed Kevin Johnson to the ground for all to see, and Kevin was called for blocking!

I am not too impressed that the bulls beat the lakers in the NBA finals. Magic was double teamed every game every minute he was in. On top of that, James Worthy and Byron Scott were injured. Magic and Larry never won three championships in a row because the competition, teams, and players in the 80s were much better than the nineties. Luc Longley, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, or Bill Wennington stopping Kareem? Ha!

Sport Magazine recently had a piece on the ten greatest moments and ten greatest players ever in the NBA. Mike was ranked number one all time player. Kudos to Mike for mentioning in 'For the love of the game' that to pick a "greatest ever" is impossible because of all the different eras and evolutions of basketball. The nineties bulls were given three of the ten greatest moments in NBA history. This is just more Mike bias. Give me a break. There are hundreds of classic and amazing moments in NBA history. One of the moments picked was Mike beating the Jazz in the final minutes of his last game. He put his hand on Bryon Russel's backside and shoved him out of the way. Then Mike made the game winnig shot. All eyes were on Mike, but the ref did not make the obvious call.

There is also Mike's arrogance. According to him, Wilt Chamberlain was a fluke eventhough Wilt was a great all around player. He made a comment about Magic and Larry reaching a 'certain level of greatness' and that the two were not good on defense. What? Are we talking about the same Larry Bird? Shaquille Oneal is also much better and much improved than Mike gives him credit for. Shaq has turned into a solid defender, passer, and he works hard at both ends of the floor.

Mike's corporate poster boy behavior is laughable. He did ads for AT&T and then MCI. The Wayans family is also split between the two companies. Mike talked about the enviroment in Rayovac ads and then pitches hot dogs? Mike is not the only athlete who will pitch anything and everything to make millions. I wonder if Mike has checked into Nike's labor practices.

Players like Mike and Charles Barkley soured me on the NBA. Charles played like a thug and got away with it because he was a star. Plus, Charles insisted on wearing number 34 at Philadelphia eventhough it was retired for NBA great Billy Cunningham. The star treatment and inflated egos has grown old, and that has turned a lot of people off to sports. I miss the Lakers and Celtics match ups of the 1980s.

JEALOUS
AFTER READING THIS BOOK I CONCLUDED THAT SIR CHARLES IS JEALOUS OF MICHAEL JORDAN!

Great book
This book is exacatly what I wanted. It showed evert thing I expected and wanted. I not only shows the life and work of his lustrous but on his life before he was the most fundimenally sound basketball player. It showed that not only does he play basketball but it showed that he played 3 other sports. When I read this book I thought it would be like every other book on him saying how great he is and all his great feats. It did but at the same time it showed how he achieved it. It shows you how many times it took and what it takes to be the greatest ball player in the world.

Great for MJ fans, not bad for non-fan either
A book filled with comments from MJ's peers and celebrity admirers. Would've liked more, but a good one to add to your collection.

very dissapointed with barkley's skills in elaborating
JORDAN's story is really great and fantastic BUT...when it is brougth out by barkley, it is really very dissapointed HIS skill in elaborating is really the worst!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Broken Friendship Can Be Repaired
Merrill D. PetersonÕs Adams and Jefferson: A Revolutionary Dialogue is a well-documented study of how two men of differing characters and political views met and became life-long friends. Drawing heavily on the Adams-Jefferson letters and other primary sources, Peterson does a satisfactory job of explaining why these two men became friends and traced the very course of their friendship. In reading this book, I have learned that even though political events like the Election of 1800 and the French Revolution can overwhelm and destroy a friendship, a faithful friend can act as a go-between and help repair a friendship.

Wonderful Little Book
This book is a brilliant account of the fascinating relationship between two of the most brilliant minds in American history. It is a highly enjoyable read, and a welcome companion to the "The Adams-Jefferson Letters." ... Read more

Book Description

_>A monumental reassessment of Jefferson's character and impact..._> -- ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Have a good dictionary ready
This is a decent book. I was truly excited about reading it. I was particularly fascinated by the author's use of the paradoxes of Jefferson's words and deeds.

However, I found it hard to read due to the author's needlessly pretentious word choice. My appetence for consummating the reading of this tome was stymied by a repetitious exigence to avail myself of a dictionary due to polysyllabic profundity. ;-)

Artist and Intellectual as Founding Father
Alf J. Mapp, Jr.'s biography of Thomas Jefferson, A Strange Case of Mistaken Identity, successfully conveys the unique personality qualities that resided in one of our most influential and least understood Founding Fathers.

Rereading this biography on the heels of the Clinton Presidency one is struck by the similarities and differences between these two politicians. While Jefferson's intellect and accomplishments will never be equalled by William Jefferson Clinton, the outgoing incumbent shares certain characteristics with his namesake which the Mapp biography lucidly described five years before Clinton ran for office. The major difference between these two men may be that Thomas Jefferson did not hunger after the public's love the way a modern politician must in order to succeed. It is also highly doubtful that the American Public today would ever vote for an intellectual of such obviously of artistic temperment and intellect as the 3rd President. The "Elvis Presley" folksy charm of Bill Clinton is probably why he succeeded in his quest while Al Gore fell short in the Electoral College. Mapp's book succeeds in bringing forth what eluded many biographers before him, and that is the intensity of the passion and animosity that Thomas Jefferson stimulated in his politican adversaries. In this he clearly brings our outgoing current President to mind.

There are other parallels between the Jefferson legacy and the Clinton White House, the commitment to internationalism for one, and an egalitarian commitment to popular access to higher education for another. But the times and the men are ultimately different, and understanding this basic fact is made most palbable by Mapp's major contribution to a considerable trove of already existing Jefferson literature. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Michael Jackson book everyone has seen!!!
Okay, if anyone hasn't seen this, it's like in almost everylibrary I've been to. I grew up to this book. I checked it out dozensof times when i was little and have recently checked it again. It's a great book. It has pictures of Michael at home, on tour, guiness book nomination for thriller party (cover pic) plus at home pictures. Good book, folks good book! ... Read more

Book Description

Did young Thomas Jefferson like to fiddle?

What sweet treat did he discover in Italy?

Whom did Jefferson send to map the West?

Best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis tells the story of one extraordinary man who shaped our young nation. Besides serving as president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson also made his mark in the fields of architecture, philosophy, and science. In this stellar biography, Davis weaves a smooth, flowing narrative into his trademark question-and-answer format, peppering the text with informational sidebars and compelling quotes. Maps, reproductions from the period, and striking black-and-white illustrations by Rob Shepperson help capture the amazing diversity of Jefferson's talents, as well as the vitality of these revolutionary times.

Book Description

This beautiful celebration of Buddha brings together centuries of sculpture and painting from the East. The vast selection of photographs, ranging from the Indian subcontinent, to China, Tibet, Japan, and Indonesia, features richly gilded and jeweled bronzes, elaborate and colorful paintings, intricately embroidered silk hangings, and statuesque rock carvings. The artwork is accompanied by essays that explore the story of Buddha and Buddhist art in each region and provide additional information on topics such as the cave complexes of China, where more than a thousand rock carvings pay homage to Buddha. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is better than most older books on MIchael
I have to say other than all of this book being in black and white, except the cover it's a cool book. THere are pictures of michael with his white glove pre Motown 1983. Alot of Triumph tour pictures and some 1984 pictures. It goes all the way up to the Pepsi commercials. Alot of the pictures though from the 80's I have already and plus they are in color so that's kinda a down for the book. that's about it. it's a kid book like marvelous michael jackson or this is michael jackson or like that. peace ... Read more

Book Description

A descriptive catalogue of Joyce's letters and manuscript material deposited at Southern Illinois University, which is called one of the most important collections of one of the most important writers in the twentieth century. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Setting the World Ablaze is the story of the three men who, perhaps more than any others, helped bring the United States into being: George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Weaving their three life stories into one narrative, John E. Ferling delivers a genuine and intimate illustration of them and, in doing so, gives us a new understanding of the passion and uncertainty of the struggle to form a new nation.

The three sections of Ferling's study chronologically examine major epochs in the lives of the three men: youth and early adulthood, the years surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and finally, defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War. Through the medium of comparative biography, Setting the World Ablaze attempts to link personal and impersonal elements in the contours of the American Revolution and the war that accompanied it. A professor of History at the State University of West Georgia and a leading scholar of the Revolutionary era, Ferling draws on a firm command of primary sources and his own expertise of the period to examine fundamental issues critical to our understanding of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, as well as of the historical period. He abandons the standard iconography and focuses instead on what motivated and inspired these three men as human beings. For example, what forces shaped each of the three during his youth, what was each like as a mature young man before public affairs and fame changed everything, and what determined their behavior as activists? John Adams emerges from the narrative as the most underappreciated hero of the Revolution, while Jefferson is revealed as the most eloquent but also most overrated of the Founders. Personal anecdotes from all periods of their lives add to Ferling's already rich portrait and give the reader a unique sense of how Washington, Adams, and Jefferson negotiated the many challenges they encountered throughout their lives. --Bertina Loeffler Sedlack ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Incendiaries of Freedom
So many books have already been published about the American Revolution as well as about Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Ferling brilliantly analyzes all three towering figures within a specific historical context, to be sure, but also in terms of each other. He creates and then explores a matrix of juxtapositions between and among them, comparing and contrasting all three in relation to each other but also in relation to the historical context on which each had such a profound impact. What Ferling has created is both a history book of panoramic scope and a trilogy of interrelated (and to some extent interdependent) biographies. It is so well-written that I often thought I was reading a novel.

Since childhood, I have viewed certain books as "magic carpets." I include Ferling's book among them. It transported me back more than 200 years and deposited me amidst the brave and brilliant men who were about to set the world "ablaze" with their incendiary passion for an independence soon to be declared and eventually to be achieved. Ferling guides his reader through this highly combustible process. Of special interest to me is Ferling's presentation of Adams (characterized as the "Bulwark" of the American Revolution), a founding father not always mentioned in the same breath with Washington and Jefferson. With all due respect to Jefferson's accomplishments, Ferling concludes the final chapter with this observation: "To the end, he was incapable of accepting the reality of his culpability in the perpetuation and expansion of African slavery and the danger it now posed to the achievements of the American Revolution." And then in the Epilogue, Ferling asserts that the Revolutionary generation "was indeed fortunate to have had Washington and Adams as its greatest stewards and shepherds."

If you have a keen interest in the War for Independence and, especially, in those who led the new nation through and beyond that war, there is this magic carpet I know about....

Awesome and such a pleasure - Am Hist made FUN
Ferling writes in a very enjoyable and easy style, and in a comparative way that captivates. He skips from each former President to the next during similar periods and experiences in each's life - a style that I found a pleasure to read...Surely a tenured history professor and professional scholar knows better than an "avid reader." At any rate, I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it. One comes away with plenty of knowledge on our first three Presidents, but after reading only one book. Most importantly, the book is an accurate and thrilling look into the lives of three people who shaped our nation during its conception and infancy.

An easy, relaxing read.
This brief (300 pages) history of the American Revolution, as seen through the actions of Adams, Jefferson, and Washington, is a thoroughly enjoyable, pool side type of read. Granted, it is a superficial history of the Revolution, but provides an interesting perspective of the motivations, interactions, and rather different personalities of the three founding fathers. Mr. Ferling's work does seem to be at times rather colored in favor of Washington and Adams, which might be expected, as he has written biographies of our first and second presidents. He makes some rather interesting comments about Jefferson's personality; comments which come close to a psychoanalysis of our third president. Overall, if you are searching for a history of the revolution, this work is not for you. If you are ready for a relaxing narrative of the revolution, and the actions of these three individuals, you will not be disappointed.

Poor Perspective for a History Professor
As an avid reader of the American Revolution, I had heard great things about this book. Unfortunately, it was terribly disappointing. Ferling spends too much time raising Adams to god-like status, in an apparent attempt to continue his sole rehabilitation of Adams' place in our history (see Ferling's other writings). In short, it's a shame that an author that is a history professor spends so much time in the present analyzing what Washington or Jefferson should have done instead of telling us what they did keeping in mind the time period and atmosphere of the late 18th century. If you are looking for a critical analysis of our Founding Fathers, this book is for you. However, if you are looking for, heaven forbid, a book about history, skip this one.

Incredible History
This is the finest book I have read about the Revolution. Ferling is the best at making pure history great. He doesn't engage in phsycho stuff unless he has to. He is very sophisticated and somewhat difficult in the sense his vocabulary is amazing.

He admires washington. He presents the great soilder with a few faults. He makes a god out of Adams and a Demon out of Jefferson.

Great book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

He served as a member of the Continental Congress, governor of Virginia, minister to France, secretary of state, vice president and president of the United States.Yet his effort in shaping American foreign policy was one of his most important contributions.

This new biography of one of Americas greatest political figures focuses on Thomas Jeffersons role as a maker of foreign policy, from his formative years to his last days as a senior statesman.Although he was not the sole formulator of American diplomacy, Jeffersons voice was the most pervasive in the first generation of the republics history.It may also have been the most paradoxical.

Jefferson was an eloquent defender of non-entanglement with European powers, yet he advocated, it seemed, an informal alliance with France in the embargo of 1807 and with Britain on the eve of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.He was an articulate spokesman for an agrarian republic in the 1790s, yet he supported manufacturers during his presidency to ensure independence from European economic control.He was a believer in the efficacy of peaceful coercion, yet he employed military force against the Barbary powers in 1804 and advocated war against Britain in 1812.In this volume, Kaplan reconciles these contradictions in Jeffersons views and positions over a period of almost half a century.

He also looks at how the concept of the United States westward expansion worked as the moving force in forming Jeffersons judgments and actions in foreign relations.In completing the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson nearly doubled the territory of the young nation. Kaplan describes how Jeffersons fascination with the West led him to dispatch the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the newly acquired land.

Although much has been written about Jefferson, this volume is one of the few that examines the full range of his positions on foreign relations.Readable and authoritative, Thomas Jefferson: Westward the Course of Empire offers new insight into the man who shaped American foreign policy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice little book on TJ's foreign policy views(pro Jefferson)
Kaplan clearly likes Jefferson. His recounting of Jefferson's foreign policy tend to give Jefferson the benefit of the doubt. This book is very informational and fairly short at around 200 pages. I harbor many Jeffersonian ideological thoughts, however, I'd have preferred Kaplan to be a bit more critical of some of Jefferson's actions. Even so, the book still stands out as a good survey of Jefferson's foreign policy. 3 stars for a good book- but not exceptional. ... Read more

Book Description

This major new work looks at what debt meant to Thomas Jefferson and how that affected his political career and the early history of the American Republic. Sloan argues that Jefferson was always obsessed by debt:in the public sphere because he felt that it robbed people of their independence, and in the private because he was dogged by debt throughout his life.The book depicts Jefferson as a typical representative of the Virginia gentry, subject to debt during this period, but also as a tireless warrior against public debt, first as governor of Virginia and later as President of the United States.Sloan also discusses the role of debt in the American Revolution and Jefferson's vision of political power as the means of redressing economic power that he felt was in the hands of creditors. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is another of Michael's most popular biographies.
Every library probably has this as well. Again, i grew up onthis book. I checked it out at the library a lot. Most pictures youmight be familiar with. It has him posing with his llamas I think, Beat it picture a lot of stuff. Plus discography, did you all know that he was the backup on that song ("it always feels like somebody's watchin' me.") Yes it's him. I along with everyone in America said it wasn't him but it was and the book shows the proof. It's from Rockwell's song by the way. I don't remember the name. Made back in '84. If you're a huge Thriller era fan of MJ's like I am then you'll love this book. Plus early pictures of him as well!!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

both sides
I have mixed feelings about Michael Jordan. On the one hand, he is a great athlete. I respect his work ethic. He has turned in a number of great performances and is no doubt one of the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

There is a flipside. Michael Jordan got all kinds of special treatment while he was in the NBA. He was the first player I noticed who was granted all kinds of trips to the charity stripe because of unbelievably, ticky tack calls. He scored at least ten points a game at the free throw line from bogus calls. It was great when there was a picture session for 'greats of the game' with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Magic told Larry not to stand too close to Michael or they might call a foul. In front of reporters and television viewers, that was a classic comment by Magic. I believe Mike got 99% of all calls in his favor because he was such a cash cow for the NBA. Dominique Wilkins was robbed of a slam dunk championship when Mike scored a perfect 50 doing the same dunk Dr. J did years before. I doubt Dr. J ever received a perfect 50 for it. Dominique's dunk was much more impressive, and he received a 49.5. Please. Mike got in a fight with Reggie Miller, and only Miller got suspended at first. Only after there was an outcry did Mike get suspended. How are Mike's punches different? Mike elbowed Kevin Johnson to the ground for all to see, and Kevin was called for blocking!

I am not too impressed that the bulls beat the lakers in the NBA finals. Magic was double teamed every game every minute he was in. On top of that, James Worthy and Byron Scott were injured. Magic and Larry never won three championships in a row because the competition, teams, and players in the 80s were much better than the nineties. Luc Longley, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, or Bill Wennington stopping Kareem? Ha!

Sport Magazine recently had a piece on the ten greatest moments and ten greatest players ever in the NBA. Mike was ranked number one all time player. Kudos to Mike for mentioning in 'For the love of the game' that to pick a "greatest ever" is impossible because of all the different eras and evolutions of basketball. The nineties bulls were given three of the ten greatest moments in NBA history. This is just more Mike bias. Give me a break. There are hundreds of classic and amazing moments in NBA history. One of the moments picked was Mike beating the Jazz in the final minutes of his last game. He put his hand on Bryon Russel's backside and shoved him out of the way. Then Mike made the game winnig shot. All eyes were on Mike, but the ref did not make the obvious call.

There is also Mike's arrogance. According to him, Wilt Chamberlain was a fluke eventhough Wilt was a great all around player. He made a comment about Magic and Larry reaching a 'certain level of greatness' and that the two were not good on defense. What? Are we talking about the same Larry Bird? Shaquille Oneal is also much better and much improved than Mike gives him credit for. Shaq has turned into a solid defender, passer, and he works hard at both ends of the floor.

Mike's corporate poster boy behavior is laughable. He did ads for AT&T and then MCI. The Wayans family is also split between the two companies. Mike talked about the enviroment in Rayovac ads and then pitches hot dogs? Mike is not the only athlete who will pitch anything and everything to make millions. I wonder if Mike has checked into Nike's labor practices.

Players like Mike and Charles Barkley soured me on the NBA. Charles played like a thug and got away with it because he was a star. Plus, Charles insisted on wearing number 34 at Philadelphia eventhough it was retired for NBA great Billy Cunningham. The star treatment and inflated egos has grown old, and that has turned a lot of people off to sports. I miss the Lakers and Celtics match ups of the 1980s.

this is a great book for basketball fans
there are all sorts of neat features in this book. What I especially liked were the box scores, where you can see Jordan's changing cast and how it evolved. I don't agree with every ranking, but he's got good reasons for his choices. There's even a practice listed, which I thought was really interesting.

The author steps up and drains a trey!
Everybody has a favorite Michael story; it was a smart move for this writer to hash out an objective way--a formula that makes sense-- to rate stellar MJ performances on the court. In the same way that video stores carry Roger Ebert's movie/video book at the checkout counter, sports bars should stock Condor's book--right behind the Jagermeister and shot glasses--to settle countless Jordan debates that are sure to rage in years to come....

Bob Condor picks em...
Condor has some interesting choices...and he has a formula behind his picks... from his number 1 choice, to his 50th...we see a man depecting another man...and both of them know their game...although...i think the third game of the final series with the lakers should have been in there somewhere...but, thats just me ... Read more

Book Description

Critical Praise for Irwin Unger "[This] is the most thorough, fair-minded, and balanced appraisal of the money question&which has yet been produced&It provides a foundation upon which a coming generation of historians can build increasingly more accurate and plausible interpretations of this crucial period." —The Economist on The Greenback Era: A Social and Political History of American Finance "Sympathetic to its objectives but mindful of its unresolved contradictions, Unger summons us to a necessary reconsideration of how LBJ’s unfinished Great Society defines our current perplexities." —Booklist on The Best of Intentions: The Triumph and Failure of the Great Society under Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon Critical Praise for Irwin and Debi Unger "Along with the familiar sagas of the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights crusades, the authors catch the ferment of the underground press, community action programs, welfare rights militancy, the free speech and sexual freedom movements. Every page brims with relevance to the 1980s." —Publishers Weekly on Turning Point?: 1968 ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A tolerable one volume, full-life bio.
But not only does this book suffer the fate of any one-volume biography, that of being neccessarily incomplete, but it also is rather sloppily written, at least by the standards of academic works. It has about as many instances of trivial sloppinesses, such as "He tried outfor the baseball team..." or The new student activism was a electric shock..." as I'd expect to see in a mass-market paperback, mistakes which I'm much less willing to accept in a book like this one.

A far superior biography of Johnson can be found in Rober Dallek's two-volume set, "Lone Star Rising" and "Flawed Giant".

Author has a Bias
On reading a one-volume biography on an individual that had such a long career in public office you know that it is an overview, there is just not the pages to really go through the work he did. If you are interested in LBJ you know that there are any number of books that focus on his decisions with the Viet Nam war and his record on civil rights laws. There may be even a few that talk about his plan to assassinate JFK but they belong with in the fiction section. What this book provides to the reader is a well-documented and constructed book that covers his life. Personally I could have done with less on his life before the age of 18, but that is standard fair for a bio.

The reader gets a good overview of the civil rights battles and laws LBJ fought for and put in place. It covers this section rather well and it left me wondering if maybe the authors focused on this positive aspect of his LBJ's presidency to the detriment of his dealings with the war. To be honest this was the section of the book I was most interested with and felt the authors could have done a better job and provided more detail.

The book is a good overview of LBJ. I felt the authors had a positive view of LBJ and if there were room for maneuver, they would take the road that left him in a more positive light. This is a good, broad review geared for the reader that maybe just starting to look into LBJ or just wants a nice general overview. If this is what you are looking for then this is the book for you.

a very complex politician -- a simple man
an excellent biography of the career of LBJ, craftilly weaving between the simple values man and the complex politician. very worthwhile reading

A well written primer
The Ungers have composed a carefully researched, sympathetic and for the most part fascinating primer biography of one of the most demonized President in contemporary history.

What that means is while the Ungers do a fine job defending LBJ from his many attackers by illustrating many of his fine political gifts and successes, the entire book appears somewhat abridged.

The Ungers frequently hint at Johnson's warts and missteps, but never do they fully explore and expand. This is not to suggest that dirt digging would a better book make, simply that bringing such points up need, I feel fleshing out. Unlike McCullough, Amrose and Ellis, the Ungers aren't quite as successful as building, in a one volume form, the broader historical and cultural spectrum for LBJ. The book certainly needs a touch of "the bigger picture".

This criticism aside, LBJ certainly works as a fine introduction to a complex man who was a gifted politician who possessed an uncanny ability to forge bipartisian coalitions to pass a great many pieces of legislation. Were it not for the inherited morass of Vietnam, the Ungers suggest that history could have been much kinder to the man from Texas.

The LBJ as portrayed in this book is a driven man plagued by many contradictions, least of all his oscillation between depression and doubt and victory and satisfaction.

LBJ as book, despite its overall "Reader's Digest" feel, does introduce Johnson to a new generation. A solid read.

Brilliant and fair analysis of an overlooked political giant
What a treat it was to read a one-volume biography of Johnson which included just enough detail to give you a complete, colorful picture of his entry into politics, his ascendency in Congress, and his almost-brilliant Presidency! Unger focuses on LBJs childhood and relationship with his mother to set the table for the glaringly apparent psychological handicaps (insecurity, need for adulation)that held him back from greatness later in life. Reading about his years as a Congressional aide conjures up images of an innocent, pre World War II Washington DC where a young man could come from the dust bowl of Texas and seize the reigns of power. The story of LBJ's first, breathtaking campaign for Congress is memorable, as is the well-narrated U.S. Senate race a few years later, giving us insight into the complexities of the Texas Democratic Party of the 1940s. The reader rises along with LBJ through the U.S. Senate into his role as Majority Leader, and his fateful decision to seek the 1960 Presidential nomination (while avoiding the primaries) and his decision to run with JFK that year. Unger paints a picture of Johnson as a man with boundless energy and drive, who was instrumental in some of the great New Deal programs, which set the stage for the slew Great Society legislation he got passed in 1964 and 1965. When the book has you at the height of his Presidency, getting everything he wants from Congress, mastering his relations with the House and Senate in a way no President has been able to approach since him, with a booming economy and feeling on the verge of breakthroughs in civil rights, poverty, housing, environment and urban renewal, the ugliness of the war in Vietnam creeps in and you can actually feel the presidency weakening, the country dividing, and LBJ losing his place in history as some one who worked harder for minorities, women and the poor than perhaps every other President combined (if it sounds like idolotry, just read what he did!) The difficulties in Vietnam, and the agonizing decision over whether to run in 1968, while desperately trying to make a breakthrough in the peace process in Vietnam (all the while escalating the war and sending more troops just to preserve the status quo!)and Johnson's unseemly poutiness which perhaps cost Humphrey the 68 election to Nixon, all paint an objective portrait of LBJ as a man who basked in greatness and suffered in defeat, and one who demanded unrealistic loyalty from all those around him but showed little in return at times. He dies just 4 years after leaving the White House and it is sobering to read how he spent those years attempting to repair his image and remain relevant. This book was a great read for anyone interested in learning what is actually a history of our government from World War II into the 1970s. You finish the book feeling that Vietnam truly robbed Johnson of what would otherwise have been a brilliant presidency, and hoping that future historians will see his near-greatness. ... Read more

Book Description

"To Live in the New World, an illuminating study of the evolution ofAndrew Jackson Downing's landscape gardening theories, shows us a Downing who wasan original thinker, not merely a popularizer. In the process, Judith Major reveals AndrewJackson Downing was an advocate of American cultural landscape whose significancereached far beyond the world of design." -- Dell Upton, Professor of Architectural History, University of California, BerkeleyA. J.Downing (1815-1852) wrote the first American treatiseon landscape gardening. As editorof the Horticulturist andthe country's leading practitioner and author, he promoted a national style of landscape gardening that broke away fromEuropean precedents andstandards. Like other writers andartists, Downing responded to the intensifying demandin thenineteenth century for a recognizably American culturalexpression.

To Live in the New World examines in detail Downing's growingconviction that landscapegardening must be adapted to theAmerican people and the nation's indigenouslandscapes.Despite significant changes in its three editions, Downing'sA Treatise on theTheory and Practice of Landscape Gardening,remained true to the original intent: toguide countrygentlemen--with enough money, time, and taste--in thecreation of idealhomes and pleasure grounds. While mosthistorians and critics have focused onDowning's moreformally written treatise, Judith Major gives equal emphasistoDowning's spirited monthly editorials in theHorticulturist. In the journal, Downing "spokeAmerican" andencouraged his countrymen and women to practice economy, touseAmerica's rich natural resources wisely yet artfully, tobe content with a little cottage and afew fine native trees.

Although the book is not a biography, the people, events, andexperiences that shapedDowning's thinking on landscapegardening are central to the story. Significantly,Downingspent his life in the spectacular natural setting of theHudson River valley.Through his professional practice,travels, reading, and extensive correspondence, hegraduallybecame aware of the individual and collective needs that heserved.Landscape gardening, Downing came to feel, had torespect not only a client's desiresand means, but also thenation's republican values of moderation, simplicity, andcivicresponsibility. Major takes a fresh look at theinfluence on Downing's theory and practiceof British writerssuch as Archibald Alison, Uvedale Price, Humphry Repton, John Claudius Loudon, and John Ruskin, and analyzes for the firsttime his debt to the Frenchacademician A. C. Quatremère deQuincy's Essay on Imitation. ... Read more