Reviews (5)

Great research
Wonderful book.Easy to follow, but very detailed. Great pictures. I have also read Blood On The Moon by Mr. Steers, and this work is first class also.Dr. Mudd was lucky Andrew Johnson released him. If he had nothelped fellow prisoners and guards recover from Yellow fever, he would have deserved to remain in prison for life, and Dr. Mudd should get credit for that.The Mudd family should be glad he didn't get what he deserved - the gallows next to Mary Surratt!

Demolishes the Mudd family spin...
This book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the "good doctor" was completely guilty of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth.Despite the way the Mudd family has manipulated the story and the media for decades, the truth is finally coming out!!!

A Must for Assasination Buffs
A True account of Mudd's involvement. Though he cried foul, "Theguilty dog barks the loudest".

THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED ANALYSIS OF MUDD'S COMPLICITY WITH JWB
The Notes' section alone is worth the cost of the book!

A Must For History Buffs
This is an outstanding analysis of the evidence of Dr. Samuel Mudd's complicity with John Wilkes Booth. ... Read more

Book Description

The year's most important biography -- of a leader who still speaks to our times

In the bestselling tradition of Truman, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David Herbert Donald offers a new classic in American history and biography -- a masterly account of how one man's extraordinary political acumen steered the Union to victory in the Civil War, and of how his soaring rhetoric gave meaning to that agonizing struggle for nationhood and equality.

Culminating his half-century of study of Lincoln and his times, Donald brilliantly traces Lincoln's rise from humble origins to the pinnacle of the presidency. He reveals the development of the future President's character and shows how Lincoln's enormous capacity for growth enabled one of the least experienced men ever elected to high office to become a giant in the annals of American politics. And he depicts a man who was basically passive by nature, yet ambitious enough to take enormous risks and overcome repeated defeats.

Much more than a political biography, Lincoln seats us behind the desk of a President who, was both a master of ambiguity and expediency and a great moral leader, as he makes the decisions that preserved the Union and shaped modern America. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Superb account of 16th President
Recently, I picked up David Herbert Donald's biography of Abraham Lincoln for the second time in 4 years. I now realize that I was too young then to appreciate this superb account of the our 16th President. Inspired by a meeting with President Kennedy in whick JFK criticizes historians for judging presidents who must make decisions without the 20/20 hindsight of historians, Donald undertook to write this biography from Lincoln's perspective -- analyzing him and his decisions based upon only what Lincoln knew, believed, and sought to accomplish at the time. We see the great struggles of the mid-1800s completely through his eyes; thus, while Donald doesn't delve into what (I'm sure) are fascinating related subjects, like the details of the great military campaigns or internal Confederate politics, we do gain an insightful look into the life and character of America's greatest president.

I agree with other reviewers that while there is not enough of Lincoln's personal life -- at times I had to remind myself that the man even had kids! -- Donald still skillfully paints a portrait of an amazingly complex man. Fueled by a desire to escape the fate of his uneducated, unambitious father, Lincoln felt driven all of his life to succeed ; he felt pushed forward to a great destiny by God, or the "Doctrine of Neccsity",that was completely out of his control and would lead him safely down life's path. He was an incredibly charming man who could light up a room with his energy, but he also regularly plunged into a deep and dark depression. He was utterly self-confident and knew he was the equal of any man. Intitially a moderate who opposed abolishing slavery in the states, he slowly realized that either slavery would be destroyed, or the Union surely would be.

He was also a master politician. He sensed early on in the 1840s that the nation was on the brink of a new era and that the Whig party had to adapt to the changing times, or die. After his beloved Whig party disintegrated, he helped establish the IL Republican party and, after an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 1858, triumphed over well-known and powerful opponents like William Seward and Salmon Chase to win the presidential nomination and election in 1860. Throughout his political career and his tenure as President he stuck to the center and walked a tightrope between the Conservatives and Radicals in his own party and the Peace Democrats in the other party. While unailingly honest, he understood the political value of ambiguity to cloud facts that he would admit only if forced. Finally, at the dawn of his second term, he had so outmaneuvered all of his opponents in the Congress, in the North, and in the South, that he stood as the unquestioned master of American politics -- not bad for a boy who had grown up in a log cabin with less than a year of formal schooling.

Doanld shows us Lincoln, the man and not merely the statue. Like the rest of us, he was a fallible human being who wasn't always sure that what he was doing was right but sure that he owed it to his country to serve it with honor and dignity in its hour of greatest peril. Donald makes it clear that we owe our country to this man, and one can't put down this book without agreeing.

Just the Facts
The author is a well-respected historian with a brace of books, many of them on politics in the Civil War era. Here he has written what is essentially a political life of Abraham Lincoln, and he shows us Lincoln the politician in great detail. To be sure, Lincoln's early years are here, and his stumbling love life, but to an extraordinary degree Lincoln was an ambitious man who saw that law and politics were to be his path, and he single-mindedly applied himself to becoming a lawyer, and to political work.

There is much of interest in this book, but it lacks the warmth and the narrative felicity that make a chronicle of a life really come alive. Throughout, Donald uses "Lincoln"-never "Abe" or even "Abraham". It's a small thing, but it contributes to the book's impersonal tone. Moreover, he almost never describes Abe Lincoln's feelings, and only occasionally touches on his personal life, such as his relations with Mary, or how he reacted to the deaths of his sons. Lincoln comes to seem a man almost independent of his environment-certainly indifferent to food or comfort, or, we suspect, love-who reserves his real passions for the machinations of politics. However, the author does make credible Lincoln's moral and political greatness; he just does not quite give us a feel for the man. It sounds like Donald's more recent book, "Lincoln at Home", could be the ideal companion volume to this one.

Good Account of A Complex and Interesting Man
Overall, I found Donald's account of Honest Abe to be a good one and I humbly offer what I thought were the good and bad points of this book:

Good:

1. The first couple of chapters describing Lincoln's early life were quite interesting and informative, from the strong relationship with his stepmother to the strained relationship with his father. Reading about his other early struggles and failures further impressed me with Lincoln's persistence and incredible tenacity.
2. Deep level of detail concerning certain points of his life, notably his early law practice, political career, and relationships with cabinet members. If you like this kind of information, then this book is right down your alley!
3. Interesting descriptions of his relationship with certain generals, notably George McClellan (aka "Young Napoleon"). I developed a greater appreciation of the military pressures Lincoln endured during the Civil War.

Bad:

1. The book's length - the text was right at 600 pages and at times proved to be a dry read. While interesting anecdotes were incorporated, the text often seemed to drag on with dry policy decisions. Granted, I am more interested in military affairs as opposed to politics. However, I still believe the book spent too much on the politics and not nearly enough on the military.
2. Personalization of Lincoln - as mentioned in other reviwes, I concur that the reader still misses the essence of Lincoln (What did he experience and how did he really feel about a policy issue or military action? How about more of his relationship with his wife and children?). While the reader is often told things like the incredible number of hours Lincoln put in while in the White House, the essence of Lincoln is left out.

Overall, I do believe the book is a worthwhile read - just be ready to spend plenty of time due to the large content!

Since this is the first comprehensive biography of Lincoln I have read, I cannot honestly compare it to other Lincoln biographers. However, I can say that I have read other biographies (Lee, Grant, etc.) of other famous Americans and I feel like I have gotten to know the person better instead of just knowing ABOUT the person.

Despite this, I still recommend the book.

Long and Often Hard to Keep up But Worth It!
I don't have much time to read as would like to so I read this book when I had time. It is well-crafted book. It offers the best biography of one of my favorite heroes. This book will give a clear view of Lincoln and his political life. Not much is written on his domestic life. For that you need to read the other book by David Herber Donald on Lincoln.

LINCOLN
This is a very good place to start with Abraham Lincoln. However, I wouldn''t make it your only resource.
There are a lot of other great novels such as "We Are Lincoln Men" and a lot more others.
However, this one book covers a lot about Lincoln. ... Read more

Book Description

After the heartbreaking death of his son Willie, Abraham Lincoln and his family fled the gloom that hung over the White House, moving into a small cottage outside Washington, on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, a residence for disabled military veterans. In Lincoln's Sanctuary, historian Matthew Pinsker offers a fascinating portrait of Lincoln's stay in this cottage and tells the story of the president's remarkable growth as a national leader and a private man. Lincoln lived at the Soldiers' Home for a quarter of his presidency, and for nearly half of the critical year of 1862, but most Americans (including many scholars) have not heard of the place. Indeed, this is the first volume to specifically connect this early ""summer White House"" to key wartime developments, including the Emancipation Proclamation, the firing of McClellan, the evolution of Lincoln's ""Father Abraham"" image, the election of 1864, and the assassination conspiracy. Through a series of striking vignettes, the reader discovers a more accessible Lincoln, demonstrating what one visitor to the Soldiers' Home described as his remarkable ""elasticity of spirits."" At his secluded cottage, the president complained to his closest aides, recited poetry to his friends, reconnected with his wife and family, conducted secret meetings with his political enemies, and narrowly avoided assassination attempts. Perhaps most important, he forged key friendships that helped renew his flagging spirits. The cottage became a refuge from the pressures of the White House, a place of tranquility where Lincoln could refresh his mind. Based on research in rarely tapped sources, especially the letters and memoirs of people who lived or worked at the Soldiers' Home, Lincoln's Sanctuary offers the unexpected--a completely fresh view of Abraham Lincoln--through the window of a place that helped shape his presidency. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Something new about Lincoln
This book provides new information about Lincoln and his family, which is highly unusual for someone as researched as Lincoln. Based on letters and recollections of the people who saw him there, this book gives a picture of Lincoln in robe and slippers away from the chaos of the war time White House. A definate addition to what is known about Lincoln.

excellent and timely
This is a well written book and very timely as action is being taken to renovate the Lincoln Cottage. I reside on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home where the cottage is located and know the value of the cottage in our history. The facility is now known as the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington. The cottage has always been known as the Anderson Cottage. ... Read more

Book Description

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial looking out over thousands of troubled Americans who had gathered in the name of civil rights and uttered his now famous words, "I have a dream . . ." It was a speech that changed the course of history.

This fortieth-anniversary edition honors Martin Luther King Jr.'s courageous dream and his immeasurable contribution by presenting his most memorable words in a concise and convenient edition. As Coretta Scott King says in her foreword, "This collection includes many of what I consider to be my husband's most important writings and orations." In addition to the famed keynote address of the 1963 march on Washington, the renowned civil rights leader's most influential words included here are the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," the essay "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence," and his last sermon, "I See the Promised Land," preached the day before he was assassinated.

Editor James M. Washington arranged the selections chronologically, providing headnotes for each selection that give a running history of the civil rights movement and related events. In his introduction, Washington assesses King's times and significance.

Reviews (6)

AMERICANS SHOULD REALIZE THIS 'DREAM' TO THE FULLEST!
Dr. Martin Luther King's collection of writings and speeches, "I Have A Dream", brings aspiration to light. The events that surrounded the life and death of this true hero reveals the shameful fact that no matter how great the United States of America is today, it is one country that was nurtured with inhumane machinery: slavery, racism, injustice, Mickey-Mouse freedom, and Mickey-Mouse democracy. I hate to think about it, but it is an honest fact, which we should all come to terms with. Nobody can rewrite history.
The 256 pages that is "I Have A Dream" was enough to highlight the wickedness and the violence that were deliberately sustained in America, for a full century, after a bloody Civil War ended her tenacity on slavery.
One question that will always beg for answer is: How on earth did U.S. Presidents who presided over the ruthless color-bar era qualified for those Nobel Peace Prizes that they received? Knowing what life was like in the U.S.A. just a couple of decades ago melts my heart. "I Have A Dream" is a big eye-opener!

The essential King
"I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World," by Martin Luther King, Jr., is a fine collection of texts by this important figure. The book has been edited by James M. Washington. Coming in at less than 300 pages, this is a concise but meaty book.

Washington includes King's most important texts: the "Letter from Birmingham Jail"; the "I Have a Dream" speech; his Nobel Prize acceptance speech; "My Trip to the Land of Gandhi"; "A Time to Break Silence," his 1967 speech criticizing the United States war in Vietnam, and more. These writings and speeches cover King's great themes: nonviolent resistance, the African-American civil rights movement, etc.

Those seeking a more comprehensive collection of Kings' work should seek out "A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr." also edited by James M. Washington. At more than 700 pages, this is a truly monumental collection, and includes much material not found in "I Have a Dream": the 1965 "Playboy" interview, transcripts of television interviews, and more. But for those who want a shorter text that cuts to the heart of King's life and work, "I Have a Dream" is perfect.

"I Have a Dream" reveals King to be a true Christian prophet, and a man with a global vision. As literature, these texts also show King to be the heir of such American thinkers as Henry David Thoreau and W.E.B. DuBois. Highly recommended.

Soul Force
In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. used several techniques and devices that were central to the theme of the civil rights movement. One such device was his use of time-sensitive words such as "now" that served as instigators aimed at prompting immediate action. He asked his listeners to seize "the urgency of the moment" because he knew that his cause had garnered enough support to make the push toward total, unrestricted equality. He warned his opponents that they would not see rest until freedom was won; there were far too many people rallying for justice than could be ignored.

King also spoke about the importance of using "soul force" as opposed to physical force. He was determined to be guided in every action by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance, similar to the ones lived and taught by Gandhi. He knew that his soul force, although seemingly tedious at times, would eventually triumph over every last obstacle of hatred standing in his way. Even though the country was still very much in a state of transition at his passing, King's soul force did indeed lead to the civil rights movement's success. To those members of our society still fighting for freedom even today, that success stands as a powerful testament that no matter how bleak the situation, nonviolent soul force can overcome unjust bias and discrimination. I believe that this is an important lesson, and therefore, I also believe that every American should read King's speech; it is clear that even today, we all still have something to learn.

Excellent introduction to Dr. King's works
This collection of Dr. King's writings includes all the major speeches -- such as I Have A Dream and I See the Promised Land, as well as important writings such as Letter from A Birmingham Jail. It also has great essays on the lessons Dr. King learned from Ghandi and a wonderful introduction from Mrs. King. This is a great collection to get started learning about Dr. King -- from his own pen. I highly reccomend it.

Inspirational
Reading the speeches of Dr. King are inspiring. You get a glimpse into his mind and to genuinely understand the struggle he was up against. I'm not just refering to the Civil Rights movement. you also get insights into the responsibilities and pressure he felt as the leader of this movement. He was a man who changed history. This book offers glimpses into his humanity as well as his motivational and inspirational speeches. A must for anyone interested in American history, the Civil Rights movement or in biographys. It will continue to effect you long after you have put the book down. ... Read more

Book Description

The best and most complete biography about the influential Beatle. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A Must Read For Any Lennon Fan
I loved this book. I all of my reading about the Beatles and John Lennon himself, this one told me the most. I had spent the last four months reading a different Lennon book, that was even smaller then this one, and I think I read "Lennon" in about two weeks. It was so much easier to read and Coleman wrote it beautifully. From the start "Lennon" was a book that I never wanted to put down. I think I even read it twice, it was so good. This book is guarenteed to make to laugh, cry, and maybe even curse when you hear about the treatment John recieved during his lifetime. From his tragic childhood, to the Beatles, to Yoko, to Sean and his awful death in 1980, you will love and maybe even understand John a little better than before. This is one of the greatest biography book ever published and ever will be published for that matter. It's a must read for any Lennon fan out there, young and old

Finally a good book about the man much adored and missed.
Ray Coleman's biography is terrific due to its depth. It gets longs and tedious at times, but many of the details are essential to understand such a complex man as John Lennon. Coleman being a personal friend of John also gives the reader great insight, rather than reading a book by someone who has never been acquainted with him. I believe Coleman portrays Lennon warts and all. He doesn't really shy away with faults of John, and tells about how he roughly treated Cynthia and Julian, describes how he hurt many people in his young days being inconsiderate of cripples and deformed people, and tells about how he did get involved with drugs too heavily and ignored many important things going on around him. Being personaly acquainted with Lennon, Coleman also tells about the intimate, vulnerable side of John rarely revealed during his life. The book gives an accurate representation of John as it shows many sides of such a complex man. I believe this is a true must have for beatles fans and those he want to find the truth about a great man stolen from us by some maniac.

a witty genius
I think Ray Coleman gave an in-depth approach to writing this book. He didn't attack John Lennon in any way, he just told facts. He talks a lot about John as a teenager, a star, a father, and a husband. This book was well written and insightful. At times it did get very tedious, but nonetheless interesting and definitely a book for any Beatles, or John Lennon fan to read. Being a HUGE Beatles fan, it made me see another side to John Lennon that I was oblivious to. Paul used to be my favorite Beatle, but now it is John. It was obvious that Ray was a close friend of John's, which really let the reader see the REAL Lennon. He doesn't sugarcoat Lennon at all. He tells about how John would make fun of cripples, and how he was heavily into acid and other drugs. He tells about John's arrogant approach toward women, and how he sometimes ignored his family. He also lets us see the sensitive side of John. Ray Coleman really lets the world see what a witty, intelligent, loving on the inside, "hard" on the outside, genius that John Lennon was.

COME TOGETHER AND READ THIS BOOK!
This is an outstanding biography of the man who came to be known as the Chief Beatle and the Founder of the World's Greatest Band, the Beatles!

Coleman does an in-depth analysis of the former Beatle and traces his ancestry. One comes away with a "sense" of John, the natural and environmental forces that molded and shaped this highly gifted and articulate man. One can smile at the bright, high-spirited child who reached developmental milestones early and was also an early reader; one can smile at the artistic boy who created complex drawings at a very young age; one cheers for the talented young boy who proved to be quite adept at things musical.

Coleman does an admirable job of portraying John's natural parents, half-sisters and the indomitable aunt who raised him in realistic lights; one gets a good sense of how each one of these people influenced John and how his life experiences were expressed by his early experiences. In a very touching description of John reconnecting with his natural father, one feels John's anguish at having been promised a life with him and denied; one feels John's devastating maternal loss when his natural mother Julia is killed in an accident when John was in his teens.

John takes those experiences and fleshes them out musically; his songs "Mother" and "Julia" are songs that come straight from his early loss. His interpersonal relationships with the other Beatles, his first wife Cynthia and their son Julian and his second wife Yoko and their son Sean are fully examined in this work. John describes the "strong women" in his immediate family and how he drew strength from their examples. This book makes readers feel as if they are seeing John emerge from his own "Hard Day's Night" to "Starting Over," which appeared to be where he was in his life during his last five years. Sadly, on December 8, 1980 an assassin's bullet silenced the voice of the man who got the world to listen.

This is a must read for all John Lennon fans and for people becoming familiar with his work. Please listen to John Lennon.

Probably the best bio out there
Aside from being one of the best musicians in the history of rock and roll, John Lennon was also a philosopher and an activist, and while so many modern day activist/musicians seem to lack credibility, if not to be downright charlatans, Lennon seemed to deeply believe in what he was doing, and made serious use of his fame as a tool for social good. And, as I say, he was a phenomenal musician. This bio is one of many that have been written about the former Beatle, and it is, in my opinion, the best. The volume chronicles Lennon's early life and spends a substantial amount of space delving into the triumphs and conflicts of the Fab Four. You come away grasping much of the complexity that made Lennon such a prolific musician, but also what drove him to want to better the world. Coleman's intimacy with Lennon shines through the book. It is a must for any Beatle's fan. ... Read more

Book Description

Forty years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. electrified the nation when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King's prophetic utterances started the long overdue process of changing America's idea of itself. His words would enter the American lexicon, galvanizing the civil rights movement, becoming a touchstone for all that the country might someday achieve.

The Dream is the first book about Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legendary "I Have a Dream" speech. Opening with an enthralling account of the August day in 1963 that saw 250,000 Americans converge at the March on Washington, The Dream delves into the fascinating and little-known history of King's speech. Hansen explores King's compositional strategies and techniques, and proceeds to a brilliant analysis of the "I Have a Dream" speech itself, examining it on various levels: as a political treatise, a work of poetry, and as a masterfully delivered and improvised sermon bursting with biblical language and imagery.

In tracing the legacy of "I Have a Dream" since 1963, The Dream insightfully considers how King's incomparable speech "has slowly remade the American imagination," and led us closer to King's visionary goal of a redeemed America.

Reviews (5)

The Power of God in Man
Martin Luther King was not an unusual black man; in fact, he wanted much of what many black men before him, probably all black men and women wanted. But Martin Luther King was a very unusual man, who happened to be black. His degree of passion, his conviction, his hope, and his perseverance were unlike most before him, and most after him, with the inspired, God given desire to make the world a better place for everyone, including blacks. His vision was not just the result of respect and reliance by his people, it was divinely inspired so that his passion, his hope emerged and blossomed before millions, many of whom were not familiar with him, his history, or his prominence and reputation. He was possessed of those rare qualities, and that rare talent, of the ability to inspire others to believe in themselves, and the world, that they had the dignity to alter their own dynamics, the manner in which they lived, and in the manner in which they were treated by others. As an evangelist, he was superb. For that, like Jesus, and many other prophets who have been threatening to the status quo, his ability to show others the way to self respect and to peace were certainly the force of why his life was taken so early, and so brutally. He was more than a leader; he was a messiah for the many black people who had waited so long for one to lead them out of the psychological bondage which was still very real to them. He positioned himself to show the way, and how to do it in the least offensive manner possible, by non-violence. He was a pillar of strength that even whites unfamiliar with him understood the necessity of yielding to God's will, instinctively knowing that all men were equal, and that all needed the recognition of being equal. Indeed, whites were aware of their obligation under the Constitution to recognize that equality but felt no compulsion to expect it of themselves until Martin forced them to face the truth they had so long avoided. Not only did he demand of blacks the energy and commitment to themselves, he demanded the energy and commitment of whites to respect themselves by being brave enough to help resolve the problem that had long festered in American social reality. The timing was right; the message was right, and Martin was right. He allowed none out of God's boat and helped everyone see that upon that ship, we were all afloat upon the ocean of humanity, and would indeed survive or perish. That message remains very much a part of his legacy, and today's reality although we face other issues as well, and the issues are now broader than ever. No one on earth has the option to say no to God and expect that it will be of no consequence to the world. He was the most remarkable of men that America has ever produced guided by his own devine light within as a beacon of humanity for all to follow.

More than a cuddly icon
Let me get first vent about the frustrating parts of this book before I get to the good stuff. First, at 229 pages of text, this was a rather short book, made shorter by Hansen's annoying habit of repeating important stretches of speeches. Second, the chapter analyzing the various drafts of the speech is probably better suited to a scholarly dissection of the speech than to a popular book. As was the chapter describing King's preaching style. And I got tired of ascribing every change in the speech to MLK's "genius". The man was exhausted, under threat and working on the run. Surely some of his decisions could have gone differently?

But minor grumpiness aside, I found this book hard to put down. The description of the organization for the August 1963 March on Washington was fascinating in its details about the people who attended it. One got the impression that the day was pretty disorganized, with the crowd making decisions on its own about when to start marching. Hansen also did a nice job of showing the internal disharmonies among groups within "the movement," as well as hinting that MLK's leadership done to him rather than pursued by him -- less because of his ability to manage and lead than because of his philosophical sophistication, personal courage, stamina and eloquence. That King comes across as a preacher and a prophet (as opposed to a great organizer) does him no disservice, but actually helps to humanize him and make the Civil Rights movement more real. Hansen did a nice job handling the post-1963 life of the speech. He is honest about the impatience that some blacks felt about the 'dreaminess' of the speech, especially as the movement's gains stalled and the violence continued. Hansen nicely captures the slightly radioactive nature of the speech among national politicians (many of whom were wary of King's alleged Communist sympathies) in the years before King's death and the cloyingly hagiographic tributes about King and the speech after 1968.

Hansen shows how King's memory has been sanitized and rendered harmless by linking him exclusively with the "I Have a Dream" speech. In opposing the Jim Crow laws, a main (but not the only) point of the speech, King targeted a system that was abhorrent to Northern whites and a source of shame to many in the South. Getting rid of it was the relatively easy matter of making the abuses public. But King's next targets proved more difficult -- the hard work of eliminating more subtle forms of racism from American hearts on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. King's premature death allowed Americans to accept him as a national martyr and prophet, but ironically delayed the more difficult soul-searching about America's war plans in Vietnam, its endemic racism and the blind economic violence perpetrated against the poor and powerless.

"I have a dream" - more than just a speech
I read "The Dream" in one sitting this weekend. The book vividly recaptures the spirit of the time during which Rev. King developed and delivered this inspiring and world-changing speech. At first I was afraid that the author's decomposition of the speech would diminish the power and effectiveness of the speech. On the contrary, his deep exploration into the speech itself and the events leading up to that day, together with fresh perspectives on the moment itself and the years following its delivery enhanced my admiration for both the speech and Rev. King. The author's inescapable conclusion is that there was much, much more at work than a man delivering a televised speech to a supportive crowd. This singular moment in Rev. King's life was the catalyst for much of the advancement that we all benefit from today. Yet this same event is also being used by some to impede further progress in the complete fulfillment of The Dream. This is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend for anyone who wants to learn about the history of that day and its subsequent impact over the next 40 years. It will also be of particular relevance to those with an interest in public speaking.

King of the Dream
I've listened to King's famous speech dozens of times and read a number of books on King, but it wasn't until reading Hansen's captivating description and analysis of the speech that I realized how little I knew about this seminal event in American history. This book is unusual in that it is both hugely readable and phenomenally informative and insightful.

Places Speech in Proper Context
I recommend this book. It is a quick, informative and enjoyable read esp if you are interested in how a speech is prepared and delivered.

I agree that the "I Have a Dream" speech has become a cliche among many and ignores King's post-1963 life.

It would be nice if the book could have contained a CD of the speech but the King family owns the rights to the speech, I think, a point not ever addressed by the author. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My Favorite book!
I love John lennon so i started reading biographys on him and interviews, etc to learn more about him. When I read "The Playboy Interviews With John Lennon and Yoko Ono" I HONESTLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I couldn't believe it; i started reading it in the afternoon and didn't put it down until late at night where i finished it! It is a wonderful, wonderful book with John's sense of humor and yoko's too and their insight into the world. It really is my favorite book because it is close to a John Lennon autobiography as the world will ever know. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

A Good Book About John and Yoko!!!!!!!!
I think that this book was very good. It took the reader in to the private lives of both John and Yoko. It gives us an inside look on what their own private lives were really like. That being when John was with The Beatles and his life afterwards and up to the end of his life. I recommend reading this book. It takes you into John's thoughts about life!!

essential insights
This is the definitive book regarding John Lennon. He reviews almost every song he wrote with or without Paul McCartney, which alone is worth the price of admission. In addition to that, he provides insights into his personal philosophies and world views. One could call it the perfect companion to the recent Beatles Anthology book. Crucial reading. How sad he had to die a little over 2 months after these interviews were conducted. Unfortunately out of print, do yourself a favor and try an out of print book search; you won't regret it.

One of my very favourite books...
I first read this book back in 1983, to gain a little insight of John...and it quickly became my favourite book. Although I don't think Yoko was or is everything he thought, this was a man who truly loved his wife, and believed with his whole heart and soul in their marriage and life together. He was enjoying making music again, so much (this interview was done in September of 1980) and was looking forward to the future...hoping he'd be there with us. His love for his music, his wife, his sons, and even the Beatles are all there. He gives his opinions on every subject he can think of, both positive and negative, in his usual witty, straight-to-the-point manner that we all know him for. The interviewer did a great job, and was clearly a man who admired John Lennon as much as I do. He did a great job in this book, and it is my absolute favourite, out of all of my collection. Anyone who wants a peek into what John thought and felt and wanted you to know, should read this book...you will treasure it as I do. ... Read more

Book Description

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation's capital to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone and to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. This book captures the spirit of this landmark day and brings Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech to vivid life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent illustrated story of the March on Washington
"Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington" tells the story of the historic day when one of the most famous speeches in American history was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Author Frances E. Ruffin sets the stage for King's "I Have A Dream" speech by providing the background on why civil rights leaders called for the March on Washington. The illustrations of Stephen Marchesi are combined with photographs of white only laundromats, colored entrances, and separate (and clearly unequal) drinking fountains. By the time the story gets to King's speech, students will have a good understanding of the rhetorical facing the speaker. The "I Have A Dream" speech is nicely summarized and the book concludes by talking about how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed a lot of the wrongs depicted in the opening section. This book is designed for students in the first through third grades (Level 2) and makes an excellent introduction to the civil rights movement and would be very useful for students to read during Black History Month to help them understand why King's birthday is a national holiday. I especially liked Marchesi's picture of President Kennedy watching King's speech on television; it might be useful to ask students to look at that picture and imagine what the President might be thinking as he listens to what King had to say. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. for young readers
This book will be enjoyed by all students. It really speaks from the heart and instead of continually writing on all the negative stuff that authors seem to write on, i really think that Adler focused on writing on all the positive things that King did for the nation. The book was beautifully written.

History in pictures
Filled with teachings of peacefully protesting fair laws for all people, David
Adler gives us a picture book of Martin Luther King, Jr. In it, he shares the
early life of MLK Jr, his young experiences with racism and segregation and on
to his dreams as well as highlights some of his well-known protests. In these
protests, he speaks of a world free of hate, prejudice and violence.

This book is a great lesson in history for our children and also covers a few
other events in the plight for civil rights. Casilla's illustrations do a
decent job of giving us a pictorial view of the events chronicling King's life.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
...

Excellent first biography
The entire "A picture book of..." biography series byDavid Adler is outstanding. Perfect for lower elementary studentsdoing their first real report. Makes a great read-aloud for non-readers as they are easily completed in one sitting. They are loaded with information including a timeline of important dates. The illustrations in this book are not cartoon-like as in his other biographies of Washington or Lincoln, but are appealing to young children. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Civil War with anew angle
I have read numerous Lincoln books and they basically tell the same stories I've read before. This book is very different. The author is able to weave Lincoln's and Whitman's lives together even though they never met. Some of the comparisons between Lincoln's speeches and Whitman's writings are uncanny. The author also provides a refreshing, intimate view of Washington life during this period - the politics, famous people, events, day to day life, not to mention how to get a government job. Obviously you can see that I am not a book reviewer, but I have to recommend this book. The fusion of history and poetry duirng this difficult time is fasinating. I just wish these two great men (with their flaws) could have sat down at one point and actually talked. Oh what a story that would have been! Also thanks for helping me better understand Whitman.

what more to say
Can't add much to these reviews except to say that this book brought tears to my eyes.

Lincoln and Whitman : Parallel lives in Civil War Washington
Beginning with Abraham Lincoln's fascination with Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, the author uses Lincoln's activities in the nation's capital as a backdrop for the story of Whitman's life there during the Civil War. Working as a copy clerk, Whitman spent most of his free time comforting wounded Union soldiers. A dedicated Lincoln admirer, he also planned his walks around the city to coincide with the President's carriage rides, often waving to Lincoln as he watched him pass. The closest the poet came to the President was to see him from an adjoining room in the White House. As Whitman published his book of poetry Drum-Taps, Lincoln was assassinated. Whitman's grief led to his poems "When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom'd" and "O Captain, My Captain." Both are included here, along with brief interpretations. The author's premise that there is value in juxtaposing the lives of a famous president and a poet is not supported. There is not enough evidence of a strong connection between the two men to warrant a book on the subject. Epstein (author of biographies of Aimee Semple McPherson, Nat King Cole, and Edna St. Vincent Millay, as well as a number of books of poetry) emphasizes literary aspects rather than historical ones. A marginal purchase that only libraries with Whitman collections need consider.

Historical Poetry
Anyone who loves either Lincoln or Whitman will find themselves in their world. Epstein commands an amazing knowledge of place and time, transporting the reader back to Civil War America. He does so with great humanity and depth. This book was an experience I will never forget.

The Spirit of the Times
With such wonderful reviews from other readers and reviewers, what more to say? Mr. Epstein has explored the life of the most literary of our Presidents. He found a man of deep political sensitivity who longed to express his and the nation's personal grief during a long, frustrating war. And he has explored the life of the most personal of American poets. Here he found a man who longed to express the national longing in poems drawn from the blood and sweat of of the seemingly interminable casualties of that war. What strikes one most is how keenly they both knew their limitations and how very carefully they each chose their moments to speak. By describing these two lives in parallel, a compelling portrait emerges of the spirit of those terrible times. This book is a page turner at many levels. Buy it and read it and tell others. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect Introduction, Beautifully Illustrated, Great Price!
Like the other title of this series, "Faith in the Byzantine World," Tomlin's book is beautifully illustrated with maps, color photos, excerpts from primary sources, and more. You really will love to look at this book, let alone read it! As the other review has noted, this book is quite sympathetic to Luther and his theology, but it does present the reader with a fair and strong understanding of the Roman Catholic context of the Reformation. Highly recommended for catechism class or adult group study, or as a companion to a more detailed account of the Reformation (Jaroslav Pelikan's Volume Four of his "The Christian Tradition", for example). You will certainly not go wrong in buying this book! Enjoy!

Luther in a nutshell
This is a sympathetic treatment of the life and impact of this giant of the Reformation era.
The author is conversant with the modern re-interpretations of Luther, but he focuses on the objective facts of Luther's life and beliefs, as well as the dynamics that helped make Luther a bridge from medievalism to the modern world.
Filled with colorful anecdotal material and Luther's interactions with friends and adversaries, the author portrays the human side of Luther in the development of his belief system. The concluding chapter sketches the importance of Luther's thought and its lasting influence.
This handbook on Luther is a glossy publication with useful sidebars, contemporary paintings, and modern photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Mary Todd Lincoln
This is a very well written book on the life of the sixteenth President of the United States.
Mary Todd Lincoln has been one of the most missed represented women in history. Her reputation has been tarnished due to William H Herdan. Herdan and Mrs. Lincoln hated each other, and this why she has often been misunderstood in history.
Mary Todd had a lot of emotional problems that were not understood at the time and Lincoln himself had a degree of mental, and emotional problems. I've always personally believed that his own problems have been foreshadowed because of his wife.
Mary had lost two children during her life, and she witnessed first hand the assignation of her husband.
I don't think that any of us, can fully understand. The pain that she went through the last few years of her life.
I think it was even worse for her because her own son Robert Lincoln put her in a mental institution. Again I blame this because of the time she lived in. If she had a court jury here in the 21st century, I believe that things would have turned out very different for her.
Mary Todd Lincoln was an amazing women who live during the wrong time. She was more intelligent then a lot of the men she know and this is why I believe that she and Abraham Lincoln made such a great pair.
I really hope that when people read this book, they will have a better understanding of her.
I also can only hope that more people will try to do more research and have more impute about her in future novels on Lincoln himself.

A fascinating portrait of a much-maligned woman
Mary Todd Lincoln is commonly dismissed as the "crazy" First Lady, un unpleasant burden on an outstanding president already burdened by a country at war with itself. I admit that I held this conception before reading Baker's biography of Mary Todd Lincoln. Baker, however, successfully convinced me that Mary was simply misunderstood, victimized by the press of the day, and manipulated mercilessly by her oldest son, Robert, following Lincoln's assassination. Though Baker has little to work with concerning details of Mary's early life in Kentucky and then Springfield, she makes up for it with fascinating accounts of what life was like for women of Mary's station in the early- to mid-1800s. Baker also offers a fascinating portrait of the much-maligned Mary who fled later in life to Europe and a quieter life. We see Mary's faults, but we also see the abuse she suffered in public as a result of those faults being exaggerated by her enemies. Ultimately, Baker offers an account of the perils of being a confident, outspoken woman in the 19th century.

Mary Todd Lincoln
This is my most favorite biography in the world. It's about the wife of the 16th President of the United States.
The writer really lets you know more about Mary and she doesn't write just trash about her.

MRS LINCOLN
This is the story of a women named Mary Todd, who grew up to be the wife of the sixteenth president of the United States, one of our most beloved leaders.
Unlike her husband who's named is absorbed in legend, Marry Todd Lincoln has been unfairly betrayed in history.
During a time when men still held most power in our country. Mary was often looked down upon and her own son even help establishing her living in a mental institution, ( I really don't think would happen in this day of age.)
Mary was infract very intelligent and very influence in her husband's career.
I honestly just don't think people could really understand what the poor women most have gone through during the last few years of her life.
I mean she must have replayed the scene of her husband being assented in her mind over and over again, and the fact that the way she handled her grief, and stress differently put her in the insane category.
If you ever want to learn something on Abraham Lincoln's wife, then I suggest this book.
You will probably learn information on the Lincoln family that you never learned in high school, let alone any were else.
I think this would be a good start for any one who wants to really learn about Marry Todd Lincoln, and why so many historians, have continued to berate, and bash her in history through out the years.

Mary Todd Lincoln as a real person
Jean Baker succeeds in presenting Mary Todd Lincoln as a troubled, but real human being, which is an accomplishment given her reputation. (I mean Mary's reputation, not Ms. Baker's ;))With the loss of her mother and the subsequent losses through out her life, Mary comes across as a person who expected and worst and whose expectations were frequently met. In another time she could have been a CEO or an attorney. It is easy to see what Lincoln was attracted to and how Mary was likely to resond to a man interested in her thoughts and political insights, not just her family background and prospects as a mother. Lincoln, at least, had a caring stepmother which is more than Mary had. She was a complex woman with many strengths and serious emotional problems. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A superbly written and highly recommended account
Mrs. Robert E. Lee: The Lady Of Arlington by author and biographer John Perry is the absorbing life story of Mary Custis Lee, the proud, patriotic, articulate and passionate woman, who was the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, and who married Robert E. Lee, military leader the Southern forces during the American Civil War. Mary Custis Lee's dynamic life, including the stoic weathering of years of separation from her husband, the loss of two of her children, her abiding faith in God, and more, are expertly chronicled in this superbly written and highly recommended account.

Outstanding Biography
I love everything about this book. They way it traces Mrs. Mary Custis Lee's family all the way back to George Washington and takes it forward from their. The way it describes the acquisition of Arlington. I have never seen a biography written better and keep my attention word for word till the end prior to this book.

A Rehabilitation of Gen. Lee's Wife
"History has given Mary Custis Lee a bad rap," writes John Perry in the opening sentence of LADY OF ARLINGTON: THE LIFE OF MRS. ROBERT E. LEE. "I'm out to change that."

And change that he does. Perry rehabilitates Mary Custis Lee from a whining, neurotic invalid whose weakness and selfishness made everybody around her miserable and demonstrates that she was, in fact, a charming, attractive woman who turned heads in the Supreme Court chamber as a teenager and who almost certainly received a marriage proposal by no less a man than Sam Houston.

"Over her sixty-five years," writes Perry, "friends, relatives, and perfect strangers consistently described her as cheerful, smiling, welcoming, and industrious. She read Latin and Greek, and when she ordered a copy of LES MISERABLES, she wrote the bookseller to send it in either English or French, whichever was more readily available."

True, had not her great-grandfather been George Washington, and had she not have married Robert Edward Lee, the greatest of Confederate generals, we probably would never have heard of Mary Anne Custis. But Perry shows that she was a fascinating and inspiring woman in her own right.

Mary Custis Lee was an excellent painter, a published author, a legendary hostess, a tireless fund-raiser for charities, a devout Christian, staunch patriot, the mother who cared for seven children when their father was away from home for years at a time, and a devoted wife who nurtured her beloved husband's career even as arthritis crippled her body and the ravages of the Civil War drove her from the only home she had ever known.

Through diligent and dedicated research, John Perry has tracked down false rumors, half-truths, and conflicting claims about his subject and, by bringing the real Mary Custis Lee into the light, has set the record straight.

"Certainly the most exciting discover was Mary's prayer journal at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond," writes the author. "As far as I can learn, none of it has ever been published or even examined before. Filled with her innermost thoughts, hopes, and fears, it casts new light on every word we have from her."

Was the discovery of Mary's prayer journal a blessing or a curse? Although some readers may rejoice in Mary's expression of religious emotions (concerning which Perry puzzlingly writes, "No one would ever read this"), others may find her diary to be overwrought, tedious, repetitious, and ultimately boring.

Be that as it may, Perry's diligent and dedicated research has tracked down false rumors, half-truths, and conflicting claims, and, by bringing the real Mary Custis Lee into the light, has set the record straight.

Her Own Book¿
3.5 Stars

I was attracted to this book as a result of reading, "April 1865". I found General Robert E. Lee to be a particularly fascinating person, both militarily and in his personal life, and so a biography of his wife seemed to be an appropriate progression. I had never read material on this historical figure, so this books promise of the inclusion of her diary for the first time was also an attraction. The book was less than I had hoped for, while Mrs. Lee certainly held a unique place as a result of The Civil War and her relationship to George Washington, this book did not seem to justify its necessity.

Mrs. Lee like many women of the southern wealthy families lost virtually everything she ever called her own as the result of the war. She also was a beneficiary of the provision of a new home, and a more rapid return to a form of normalcy due to her husband's appointments, and then her son taking his father's place as a college president after the war. This was a return that was measurably longer for other families. The transition she did not make with her husband was the progressive acceptance of what had happened, and acknowledging the new reality that post war America would offer to those of the losing side of the conflict.

Mrs. Lee came from a family that was very progressive with regard to abolition and many other issues typically credited to The North. Unfortunately these thoughts did not carry through the war, and when compounded by her illness and the confiscation of the family homestead, she spent the balance of her life growing progressively angry. The US Government did return the title to her Arlington home after her death, and after it had thoroughly been destroyed as a family home. This home was also the site of many of George Washington's belongings, including the bed he had passed away in, his carriage, silver, literally rooms of possessions. This estate that had been the calling place of successive presidents and dignitaries like Lafayette was turned into a deforested piece of land, a squatter's village numbering several thousand people, and a national cemetery that encroached to the edge of her families graves.

The offerings from the diary are fairly slim in their variety and information they share. They are deeply personal notes of a devout Christian woman, however they do not offer great and original insight to her life.

This book is about much more than Mrs. Lee; it could have been called, The Families of Arlington. There is much that is of interest regarding her relations, and details of General Lee's correspondence, however she alone does not fill this book. Other work has been written about Mrs. Lee, and has received high praise; a reader might be better served to read other work prior to setting out with this offering by Mr. Perry. ... Read more

Book Description

Bishop's unforgettable chronicle of the movements of Lincoln and his assassin during every moment of the fateful day of April 14, 1865. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A classic book
This is a classic book on the Lincoln assassination. Anyone contemplating a serious study of that fateful night of April 14, 1865 should start with this book. Even though it was published over twenty years ago, Bishop's book has stood the test of time.
What is so appalling is the gross neglect and incompetence by the government after the shooting.

The Lonely Hearts Assassin
This is a colorless telling of the Lincoln assassination but, to those suffering from inflated verbiage and "recreated" personal accounts of historical events, the absence of editorial opinion may be one of the strengths of this book. Author Jim Bishop gives us an hour by hour account of events leading up to Lincoln's murder. 9:00 a.m.;10:00 a.m....etc...written as one would write a newspaper story.The effect is occasionally dull as everyday life, but my purpose in reading the book was to garner the unembellished facts of the Lincoln tragedy and to learn some things I had omitted from my education.This book did that very well for me.It also gave me insight into contemporary feelings and thought during the last days of the American Civil War.

Much of what I learned from reading this book is well known by more astute readers of history, but I was surprised to find out the larger dimensions of the conspiracy to murder Lincoln. I didn't know, for example, that Booth and his fellow conspiratorstried to kill William Stanton, Secretary of Defense; and vice-president Andrew Johnson, and others on the same evening that John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln with a single-shot derringer at Ford's theatre. I didn't realize that the president's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was such a hard pill to swallow and I was completely mystified by the cast of characters who gravitated to and were lead astray by the egoistic and self-absorbed actor who saw himself as the saviour of the doomed Confederacy.

I feel now, after reading this book, a great deal of the gloom that settled down on the nation's capital, much like America felt the pall that fell upon the nation after the Kennedy assassination.It is gratifying to know that most of these miscreants and bumblers who changed history were hanged.Nonetheless, the tragedy always looms larger than whatever satisfaction may be derived from the execution of justice. That heroic men and women can be laid low by the idiot's bullet, that history can be altered by the serendipitous juxtaposition of events, that the best energies of our universe can be thwarted by back-shooting cowards...are facts that haunt us especially much today as we struggle to make sense of political terror and assassinations of large dimension.

Fascinating - You will live that day by reading this book
I truly enjoyed this book.A masterpiece in the sense that it reconstructs the day Lincoln was shot.You will live that day in the 21st century by reading this book.Hour by hour all the actions and conversations of all key personalities have been dissected and presented.This is a great historical forensics book.

Entertaining "biography" of an event
The Day Lincoln Was Shot is an old book.It was available when I was in grade school, but although I entertained an interest in history at the time, I was not yet into US history.A friend recently reintroduced me to the book, since he knew I had developed an interest in the period.I must say, I am glad he did.The book is strikingly well written and very well researched.Jim Bishop was not a professionally trained historian, but he was a writer with an interest in history and a methodical manner of approaching his subject. According to the introduction, the author kept notebooks on each of the major participants of the drama of Lincoln's last days, adding to them whenever scraps of information came his way.When he finally put pen to paper he had such voluminous data in anecdotal form, that he was able to untangle events in a way that no one before him had been able to do. Although he puts speeches into the mouths of his subjects, this dialogue is reconstructed from information from diaries, printed speeches, trail transcripts, and other documents from the time, that give credence to the author's construction.

The book is written on an hour by hour basis, departing from this format only to add a chapter on events that immediately preceded the fateful day. The author follows the activities of each of the major participants, describing their behavior, interactions, and words, creating a drama every bit as riveting as a novel or play.

I had read a biography of John Wilkes Booth that had raised the possibility of a conspiracy by Northerners to remove Lincoln and his more conciliatory approach to reconstruction by using a misguided Booth as a pawn in their political designs.At that time, I felt that there was a distinct possibility that this might have been the case.Bishop's book, however, made it apparent that this theory is not new but has been around since the events themselves.The author discusses the theory that the Secretary of War Stanton may have been behind such a scheme, but dismisses it as misguided, though I'm not entirely sure that his reasons for doing so are any more valid than the previous author's were.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the book is that Bishop doesn't leave one hanging at the end. Lincoln isn't just dead as the finale.The author details some of the fates of those who participated in the events. We are not only told what happened to the perpetrators of the murder, but what became of individuals like Secretary of War Stanton, Vice President Johnson, Surgeon General Barnes, Ulysses S. Grant, among others.We are even told of the fate of the Ford Theater and its owner.The wrap up is very good.

The book is a delight to read.It's full of information and colorful detail.It's clearly and understandably written, and would make entertaining reading for anyone from 5th or 6th grade reading level to the adult.

Terrific hour-by-hour journalism
This book sat on the shelf for too long before I picked it up.Too bad for me, because it is a gripping narrative that holds the reader's interest right up to the final page.I found myself wanting Bishop to keep going after Lincoln's death, since the book was such an absorbing read.Bishop says in the forward that the book is "pretty much a journalistic job," but acknowledges that some of the quotations are reconstructed rather than direct.It is up to the reader to determine how much faith to put into Bishop's details, as in this account of a chance meeting between John Wilkes Booth and a co-conspirator on the afternoon of the assassination: "Atzerodt, drunk and brazen, said that he 'enlisted' for capture, not murder.Booth sneered at the carriage maker called him a coward."The reconstructions are plausible, and it appears all the important quotes and activities are based on thorough documentation.This hour-by-hour recounting of 24 hours and 22 minutes of April 14 and 15, 1865, will appeal to general readers as well as history buffs. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Well written interesting book on the life of Martin Luther
I really appreciate the way this book is written. It is written with a lyrical style. It is not dry and boring, as are some biographies. It provides the reader a very compelling introduction to the life of this great teacher of the church. It brings the Reformation to life and helps you understand what the issues were that caused Luther to protest the practices of the church in his day. The book points the reader to the core issues, without getting sidetracked into all sort of theories and myths about the Reformation, or trying to resolve debates and arguments among scholars.

This is clearly the book to begin with if you want to learn about Martin Luther and the Reformation.

I like the way the book weaves photos from the new Luther movie throughout the text. It is beautifully printed, in clear and easy to read print on quality paper. PLUS it is a hardback. It is quite a good value.

I loved this book
I really enjoyed this book. It was not full of jargon and technical scholar-talk. It made me want to learn more about Martin Luther. I appreciated how it laid out the story of Luther in a clear way, walked me through his life to the very end. The pictures from the new Luther movie are GREAT. This book is a great deal, for a hardback, etc. Thumbs up!

Super Book and Super Deal
This book is a perfect book to give to anyone who knows little about Martin Luther. Those who do will enjoy it as a great overview and summary of his life and work. It is a sturdy hardback book, that is beautifully produced. The photos in it are from the new movie out about Martin Luther. Strongly recommended.

Great Introduction to Martin Luther
I have to be fair. I blasted another book about Luther, but this one I need to praise. It is clear, to the point, well written, easy to read and easy to understand. It explains the big issues in a direct simple manner. This is a great book I would recommend to anyone looking for a really good "first book" on Luther. From here people will be equipped to learn more about Martin Luther and his work. Great deal for a beeautiful hardback with really nice photos from the new movie out about Martin Luther. Highly recommended!

Excellent Intro to Great Reformer
This is re-release of 1962 book under different title, here released in conjunction with "Luther" the movie. Photos from the film are included throughout the book with the appropriate section of the Reformer's history.

The flow is good and follows Luther's life and career. It emphasizes the important highlights of his life, and will provide any reader a substantial overview of this great servant of Christ. Viewers of the excellent movie can benefit greatly from reading this before and after seeing the movie.

For those who would desire to go deeper, suggest you start with James Kittelson, "Luther the Reformer", then to go more deeper suggest you see Martin Brecht's classic three-volume set (the best on the Reformer). One should also visit the magazine "Reformation Today" website and their section "Lutheran Bibliography" for further reading suggestions. ... Read more

Book Description

Part slave narrative, part memoir, and part sentimental fiction, Behind the Scenes depicts Elizabeth Keckley's years as a slave and subsequent four years in Abraham Li