Book Description

The bitter and protracted struggle between President Thomas Jefferson and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall defined the basic constitutional relationship between the executive and judicial branches of government. More than one hundred fifty years later, their clashes still reverberate in constitutional debates and political battles.

In this dramatic and fully accessible account of these titans of the early republic and their fiercely held ideas, James F. Simon brings to life the early history of the nation and sheds new light on the highly charged battle to balance the powers of the federal government and the rights of the states. A fascinating look at two of the nation's greatest statesmen and shrewdest politicians, What Kind of Nation presents a cogent, unbiased assessment of their lasting impact on American government. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Solid But Not Deep
This book is written for a broad audience and aimed at exploring one of the oldest and most persistent problems in American history; the proper role of the Federal Government. Simon frames this book as a conflict between Jefferson, representing those who supported a weaker central government and emphasized the importance of individual states, and John Marshall, the great Chief Justice who led the Supreme Court to establish its critical role as arbiter of constitutional questions. The Marshall court's work strengthened the importance not only of the Supreme Court but of the Federal Government in general. This is not a new story, indeed, most of what Simon describes is the standard understanding of this period of our history. Simon is a good writer who describes the politics and legal issues quite well. His description and analysis of the behavior of the Marshall court is shrewd, emphasizing Marshall's careful attention to both politics and crucial legal issues. For example, it is clear that Marshall worked very hard to maintain unanimity among the justices, even for difficult decisions. Similarly, many of his important decisions were crafted to simultaneously achieve the goal of establishing his brand of moderate Federalism while avoiding inflammatory political consequences. Readers will finish this book with an increased appreciation for Marshall's considerable intellect and remarkable political skills. Beyond this, the book is disappointing in terms of explaining the wellsprings of these conflicts and important aspects of the debate. I think the emphasis on the rivalry between Jefferson and Marshall, which Simon probably chose as a framing device, actually tends to limit understanding of the nature of this conflict. While I respect Simon's desire to produce a relatively concise and accessible book, some aspects deserve enlargement. For example, Jefferson found the Court's tendency to rely on Common Law traditions irksome, believing the Court should have been more deferential to the wished of state legislatures. Does this represent a conflict between individuals like Jefferson whose primary intellectual influences came from the British Enlightenment versus a legal culture that grew up in the shadow of the great British Common Law theorists? To what extent did individual experience of the Revolution influence subsequent political positions? Jefferson spent the war as governor of Virginia or abroad. Marshall, in contrast, was an officer in the Continental Army and experienced in very concrete ways the inadequacies of the confederation government that preceded the establishment of our present constitution. This book is a good point of departure for individuals unfamiliar with this period of our history but further reading will be needed for anyone who really wishes to understand our early history. I recommend the The Age of Federalism by Elkins and McKitrick, a superb treatment of the Federalist period, as a starting point.

Thomas Jefferson as Adversary
On a recent vacation to Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello, my 14-year-old nephew commented that Thomas Jefferson didn't get along with Alexander Hamilton. The four adults accompanying him replied patronizingly that Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr certainly didn't get along, but didn't remember anything between Hamilton and Jefferson...

Of course, my nephew was absolutely correct. In an effort to rectify my obvious educational deficiency, I immediately embarked on a reading plan which led me to "What Kind of Nation", where I discovered that Thomas Jefferson also didn't along with John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

By the time I got to this book I had a pretty good feel for the politics of the period, having read "Founding Brothers" by Joseph Ellis, "Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington" by Richard Brookhiser, "Alexander Hamilton: American" by Richard Brookhiser and "James Madison" by Garry Wills. I believe this background helped me to maximize my enjoyment of "What Kind of Nation" because I was able to focus on Marshall's brilliance and perseverance in establishing the authority of the Supreme Court on an equal footing with the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Jefferson's antics were amusing, but old news. The way that Marshall dealt with Jefferson who was, after all, the President of the United States during the first 8 years of Marshall's 34 years as Chief Justice, is fascinating.

James Simon does a great job of telling the story without getting overly technical with the legal side of things. I think he strikes just the right balance, so that the lay reader (i.e., non-lawyer) can appreciate the significance of Marshall's extraordinary accomplishments.

One of America's great rivlaries
In all great conflicts, North vs. South, Ali vs. Fraser, Lakers vs. Celtics, and Jefferson vs. Marshall, it is difficult to remain neutral and unbiased. Simon clearly sides with John Marshall in the epic struggle between our nations Third President and Fourth Chief Justice, but Simon's partiality to Marshall does not detract from the accuracy of this book.

Readers will come away with a solid understanding of what fueled the fire of this great relationship of adversaries. Using myself as an example, I strongly disagreed with the SCOTUS' recent ruling against the Texas sodomy law in Lawrence v. Texas, and though I still disagree with the decision, I now clearly understand how Marshall set the precedent for SCOTUS to be the final arbiter for all things judicial and clearly placed the state courts into the role of subservient.

At times, this book is rather dry, but Simon successfully imparts a good flow of information. This book isn't for everyone, but is essential reading for the pre-law student or anyone interested in the relationship between these two monumental early Americans. Also, for anyone who, like me, is a state's rights advocate, this book gives tremendous insight into how the judiciary became the monarchial behemoth we are saddled with today.

Whether you are a Jeffersonian style state's rights advocate, or a Marshall style Federalist, you will finish this book with a greater understanding of things became the way they are.

a riveting, but slanted account
Mr. Simon has nicely outlined the titantic struggle between two cousins and their different views on the proper government and role of that government in America. This account is fairly readable, but dips into legalistic prose at times. The most remarkable aspect of the book is how little these two relatives shared in common. A point of detraction is that Mr. Simon fails to point out the many basic things the two cousins must have shared - like patriotism, belief in popular sovereignty, etc. Also, Mr. Simon seems to take a rather negative view of Jefferson. This is rather voguish these days, but I am not entirely convinced by the evidence Mr. Simon suggested. Suffice it to say that this is the best comparison account available that chronicles these two men and their opposing views.

How We Got Here
If you have read the Founding Fathers and the Constitution, and wonder how we got from there to here, this is an excellent book. It traces the evolution of the Supreme Court during the early years of our republic.

It frames this evolution in the thoughts of Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall. We see Jefferson's thinking that the Supreme Court would be some sort of advisory board, and that federal law should not reign supreme over state law. On the other side, we see John Marshall's strongly held beliefs that the Supreme Court should have equal power with Congress and the President, and that federal law should be considered superior to state law.

We see the various court battles that brought about judicial review and that cemented John Marshall's views as American policy.

A very interesting and thoughtful book. ... Read more

Book Description

A collection of some of the most historic and inspirational addresses by one of the most renowned political leaders of our day.

The most stirring voice to come out of South Africa, Nelson Mandela has brought his message of freedom, equality, and human dignity to the entire world. Now, for the first time, his most eloquent and important speeches are collected in a single volume.

From the eve of his imprisonment to his release 27 years later, from his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize to his election as South Africas first black president, these speeches span some of the most pivotal moments of Mandelas life and of his countrys history. And they memorably illustrate his lasting commitment to freedom and reconciliation, democracy and development, culture and diversity, and international peace.

The extraordinary power of this volume is in the moving words and intimate tone of Mandela himself, a living legend and one of the most articulate, courageous, and respected men of our generation. ... Read more

Book Description

"exhaustively researched" biography of Malcolm X ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Reader
This book was obviously written by someone who hates Malcolm X. He had nothing positive to say only negative. He even went so far as to make the reader feel as though everything that Malcolm ever said was a lie. He portrays Malcolm as a person who hated himself but I believe it is the writer of this book who hates Malcolm and his family.

Questionable
This book is good if only for the insight into Malcolm's childhood. Other than that, it makes too many cynical conclusions based on whatever it is the author was trying to get across-- which by the end, is still unclear. Reading the introduction one would assume that this book was poised to breathe new insight on Malcolm the political figure and man. However, what you end up getting is more of a repetitious editorial piece. The author almost insults the intelligence of the reader by constantly rehashing the possible reasoning for Malcolm's every move. At one point, he suggests that Attallah was favored by Malcolm because of her light skin (like his) the way his dark-skinned father had once favored him. Perry also volunteers the very real and most likely possibility that Malcolm took this particular daughter to different events because she was the oldest of the girls. This is just one example of how he insists on giving the reader something to ponder on Malcolm's sincerity as a Black leader, tangible or not. There are parts of this book that indeed ring true with me for what I have interperted Malcolm to be, but these instances are too few and far between. I was in no way expecting an idealized picture to be painted here, only this book offers no real balance. Beyond this wounded Malcolm he avidly portrays, what else was there? Also for the attention he gave to alleged homosexual activity, arson, etc. he mentioned Betty Shabazz sparsely as if she held no importance in Malcolm's life. I found that fact very telling. After supposedly over 400+ interviews, Perry could only gather enough to give the mother of Malcolm's six children passing mentions. I actually got more of a rounded glimpse of Malcolm the man in the biography of Betty Shabazz by Russell J. Rickford. I advise those who are thinking of reading this book first to check out the autobiography w/ Alex Haley instead, then tackle this one if you wish. Even for all its omissions and probable half truths, you'll come away from that book actually understanding something. After reading Mr. Perry's biography, you get the urge to so say, "So?! What was your point?"

Approach With Caution
You have to question what Perry wanted to achieve from this book. He seems to have missed, or overlooked, all of the important issues that Malcolm X stood for.

He takes the word of Malcolm's detractors as the gospel truth and diminishes Malcolm's teachings and beliefs by portraying them as paranoid.

Perry seems obsessed with highlighting flaws in Malcolm's personality and uses this device to side step the vital lessons which Malcolm was trying to teach - lesson's which still need to be learnt today.

By all means read this book, but do so very objectively.

Too many unsubstatiated statements
I was not too fond of this book, not because I'm a Malcolm fan, but there are too many conclusions that Perry makes with weak evidence. Such as Malcolm's father (and Malcolm himself) setting their houses on fire, Malcolm's alleged homosexual activity,Malcolm asking the Klan why they allowed Dr. King to live, etc. etc. One could see why Dr. Betty Shabazz (Malcolm's wife)told Perry to get lost!

A Telling Tale : The Life and Times of Malcom X
Bruce Perry'sMalcom gives an in depth analysis of one of the most controversial public figures in modern American history.Perry describes Malcom's troubled childhood in the Midwest, from his bouts with his fatherinfidelities and his unexpected death -ruled accidental, but not certain--to his, light skinned, mentally ill mother who was not afraid to keep herson in line by any means necessary. Living within a dysfunctional familyand having no friends, Malcom finds himself wanting to leave his lonely andslow-pace lifestyle for the exciting East Coast. Moving in with hishalf-sister in Boston,Malcom becomes involved in criminal activities,from petty dope slinging and "runnin' numbers", to sleeping withwhite women and committing burglaries.Eventually he finds himself behindbars and from there Malcom X emerges. Known as Red, Malcom becomesacquainted with an inmate, a devoted follower of the Nation of Islam, whoteaches Malcom that their is an alternative for black men other than a lifeof crime.Malcom X is introduced to classic literature, poetry, and Islam. The religion has a powerful effect on Malcom, who embraces its ways andultimately becomes a follower. When he is released, Malcom X quickly workshis way through the ranks to head minister of the most populated andsuccessful Black Mosque in America.According to Perry, Malcom was notonly a devoted minister to his mosque, but to several others as well.Hissuperior, the honorable Elijah Muhammad, was initially impressed with thearticulate, young orator.In time Malcom X rises in the movement. He grabsall of the headlines and from the media's point of view, becomes thespokesman for the Nation of Islam.Eventually,Malcom breaks from thegroup and starts his own, which never gets off the ground.He was shotdead during a speech in Harlem, New York in 1965. Malcom X, thoughpoorly educated and a product of a mentally and physically abusedhousehold, nevertheless tookcenter stage and improved the quality of lifefor Black America.Bruce Perry gives the reader a personal account ofoneof America's enigmatic and flamboyant intellectuals of the twentiethcentury. ... Read more

Book Description

This New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 1998, is now in trade paper.

From the bestselling author of Eyes on the Prize, here is the definitive biography of the great lawyer and Supreme Court justice. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Gave Me Appreciation of "Other" Part of Civil Rights History
I (like many people, I bet) usually think of the civil rights struggle mostly in terms of Martin Luther King and bus boycots. This book tells the story of the legal battles that were mainly lead by Thurgood Marshall leading up to and including Brown vs Board of Ed that ended "separate but equal" and the cases after. The book follows Marshall's life to his appointment to a judgeship, the Solicitor General in LBJ's administration to his time on the Supreme Court. However, I found the time period from post WWII to the 60's as the most interesting. The importance of these legal battles is often forgotten. I guess it took MLK to really turn the nation's hearts, but Thurgood was the one who changed the laws. Williams does not deify Marshall and discusses his shortcomings - he was a heavy drinker, cheated on his wives and he his behaviour would be considered sexual harassment today. I am very glad that I expanded my knowledge of the history of the civil rights struggle by reading this book

An incredible account of an amazing life
This is one of the most wonderful books I ever read. Thurgood Marshall is one of the most dynamic figures of the Civil Rights Movement. Williams not only gives an excellent and engaging account of Marshall's life, he represents the time in a manner that easily imagined. I was not alive during this period of time, but reading Williams' book made me feel as though I had experienced it. So often, when an author truly likes and admires his subject, the work that results is biased and not well-rounded. You can tell when you are reading something that is one-sided and too tributory to be accurate. Williams' admiration for this great man shines through in his book; however, it is by no means a song to Marshall. Williams' is fair in his dedication to not only Marshall's courage and brilliance, but also his fallibility and humanity. This is what brings the history to life. When you finish reading this book, you will feel as though you know Thurgood Marshall.

Very tedious, superficial
Maybe its unfair that I read this book after reading the spectacular autobiography of John Lewis, Walking in the Wind. However, I found that this book was too detached from the man. I did not come away from this book with a better understanding of this man than I did before hand. Thurgood Marshall is one of the most important people of 20th century America but you don't see why in this book.

The major problem with this book is its writing style which makes reading this book tedious. I found myself bored by page 200. Also, I believe the Brown decision is given 20 pages and his solcitor general appointment is given more.

If you want to learn more about this guy, study the cases of the era. Sweatt v. painter, Brown of course, etc. Marshall's personal life really is irrelevant towards understanding this man's accomplishments. I would not recommend this book.

A facinating look at a man who helped set things right...
Juan's engaging and highly readable book may not be a "comprehensive" Marshall reference, belabored with extensive footnotes & references, but persons interested in Civil Rights, or American history will find the man Turgood Marshall compelling & complex, and the book enjoyable and very informative.

A Complex Personality who changed the direction of history
Williams certainly understands the value of Marshall's great contributions to the long overdue advancement of African-Americans. Often over shadowed by King and Malcom X, Marshall accomplished much with his work in the courts to pave the way for the end of segregation. The sections leading up to Brown were compelling and helped bring the reader back to time that is very different than today, but not too long ago. People unfamilar with the reality of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s will find this book invaluable. However, the strength of this book is that it paints Marshall not only as a great man, but a man with flaws. His dealings with other leaders, especially his conflicts with other great African-American leaders, his late night drinking, his womanizing all make him more human and more compelling. Not only was Marshall a significant fiqure in the Civil Rights movement, but he was also human, a man that readers can relate to and understand. ... Read more

Book Description

Relying on over 150 interviews as well as Marilyn's letters and diaries, this work by best-selling biographer Spoto casts new light on every aspect of the actress's tempestuous life. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Wonderfully Done by Donald Spoto
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was so hard to put it down once you got going. You really find out a lot about Marilyn's life that no one has ever talked or written about before. I've liked Marilyn since I was about 13 or 14 and now I'm 26. I've always been interested in her life and now I feel like I finally know what it was like. This book really covers everything, from birth to death. To really find out what happened to Marilyn, READ THIS BOOK!

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK OF MARILYN.....EVER!
I have been a serious Marilyn collector for Years.Donald Spoto's book is the closest thing to finding the "real" Marilyn.He tells it like it was.I have long been sick with all the bull that's been written about Marilyn. Here the ending makes sense.Donald Spoto researched unbelievable amount of material,including Marilyn's spychiatrist's private papers.This book is very accurate as i have many, many pictures collaborating this biography.Don't waste your time with the outrageous claims of socalled Marilyn friends. The worst of them being that Robert Slatzer! I have THOUSANDS of Marilyn Pictures and he is only in 2 of them.And they look like tourist photographs, taking at Niagara Falls in '52. In all my books,NOBODY close in her Life EVER mentioned this man.I think the guy is full of .... myself.Get this BOOK!

PS: I have a complaint about the review from "READER FROM USA" on January 8, 1999 - Get a grip! It is people like you that keep this rediculous stuff about murder going. Reading your review i realized u don't know what u are talking about."Donald Spoto just adds his own facts?", excuse me but did u see the amount of material this guy was into? AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN ONE IODA OF PROOF OF MURDER BY ANYBODY.

You will walk with Marilyn
This is the most in-depth look at Miss Monroe's life from birth to death. The times and dates that Mr. Spoto was able to resurrect will amaze you, I have never seen so much detail in a book. Once I started reading it I could not put it down much to my wife's dismay. You will actually get to know Norma Jean and Marilyn as well as anyone in her life, a great read!

a chasm of inductive leaps
Spoto spends a lot of time drawing conclusions backed up by flimsy evidence and armchair psychology. It all comes off as a little too Freudian.

Incredibly detailed
In this bio, Marilyn finally egts the treatment she deserves, no as the sex goddess but as a human being. Spoto uses hundreds of interviews and uses it in the bio. Often it was pretty touching and heartbreaking. Poor Marilyn, if only she ever had the chance to be happy. You can see how trained Spoto is in using his craft in writting for this biography, at times it is rally poetic making the buio almost sound fictional like a novel, and novels are great. All and all the bio paints a loominous and intimate portrait of one of Hollywoods most precious actresses. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Letters by Mozart in sparkling new translations that capture the flavor of the writing, transmit every nuance, and render every thought faithfully and accurately. What was Mozart really like--wild? sublime? responsible? fun-loving? bright? foul-mouthed? Reading these letters, we learn in his own words that he was all of these and much more. Here is the composer at his most intimate and unguarded, expressing his feelings about life, love, music, and the world around him. For this collection, Robert Spaethling has carefully chosen letters written by Mozart over a span of almost twenty-two years--from his first journey to Italy as a shy teenager to the final months of his life in Vienna. The letters, together with the accompanying introductions, chronicle the composer's life, personal development, and artistic growth. These new translations into English, the first in more than sixty years, are faithful to the original German even to the point of misspellings, which abound in the early correspondence. No effort has been spared to find language as closely equivalent to Mozart's as any translation can be and to clear up references in the letters to people, places, and events. Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life makes wonderful reading for anyone who has ever loved a work by the composer, from the deceptively simple Eine kleine Nachtmusik to the towering, magnificent Requiem. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This lively book will deepen your appreciation of Mozart
What a fine accomplishment! According to the introduction, this book contains about 2/3 of Mozart's surviving correspondence. It has letters from and to Mozart and the translations are very lively and bring the personality of the composer to life. In older translations it seems that care was taken to make him sound like the monumental cultural force that he has become. But in this book, Mozart is a boy, a young man, a young husband, a fiery genius, and at times lost, grieving, and even confused.

The book is organized chronologically and provides biographical information that gives each letter some context. There are many useful footnotes as well as a couple of maps and list of Mozart's travels. The author has even included some notes about the various currencies in order to help the reader understand the discussions of money in the letters.

I can't emphasize enough what a lively read this book is. I found that I simply didn't get bogged down and enjoyed reading it. Yes, there are some portions of some letters I skipped, but that is one of the beauties of the book. You don't get lost simply because you skipped some mundane portions of one letter or another.

Mr. Spaethling is to be congratulated on this fine achievement. If you are interested in Mozart in any way, this book will deepen your appreciation of the living breathing person who wrote all that music. It didn't come from some alien dimension. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this wonderful and complex human being did it all and we are much richer for it.

A whole new view of Mozart
Those of us who know a little about Mozart believe that he was perfection incarnate, part angel, fluttering down to endow the world with heavenly music. (There probably is some truth to that.) This book, however, reveals a whole new side of Mozart, a very human side. As beautiful as Mozart's music is, the more beautiful it becomes after reading this book. Understanding his big heart, hard work and, yes, even imperfections, increases one's appreciation of his music.

Bravo!
This book enabled Mozart come to life for me. The translation was very good. It showed, (in english), how Mozart worked on his grammar and spelling as he got older. Since he was "home educated", he had to work at this.

I could not put this book down, reading a few letters every day, I saw how Mozart grew from a boy into a man with a family. He was a really good guy, it's a shame he had to die so young.

I would say, to anyone who wants to know more about Mozart, buy this book. You can form your own opinion of him, then you can buy the "expert's" books.

After having read this book, I would like to know more about Constanze!

Fascinating!
Anyone who has ever heard any of Mozart's work knows that he is a fantastic composer - arguably the best ever. But every recording of every one of Mozart's pieces could not begin to provide the glimpse into Mozart's life that this book does. Contained herein are hundreds of Mozart's letters to those close to him, starting from when he was a boy traveling around Europe to a mere three months before his death in 1791. And whilst the fact that all of these letters are translations does make for some awkward reading at times, it also adds to the authenticity and thusly makes it all the more interesting.

I cannot recommend Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life highly enough to anyone interested in Wolfgang Mozart. It is an unparalleled first-hand account of Mozart's life by the man himself, and is a must have for any classical music enthusiast's collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Born in Austria in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his first piece of music, a minuet, when he was just five years old! Soon after, he was performing for kings and emperors. Although he died at the young age of thirty-five, Mozart left a legacy of more than 600 works. This fascinating biography charts the musician's extraordinary career and personal life while painting a vivid cultural history of eighteenth-century Europe. Black-and-white illustrations on every spread explore such topics as the history of opera and the evolution of musical instruments. There is also a timeline and a bibliography.

Illustrated by Carrie Robbins.
Cover illustration by Nancy Harrison. ... Read more

Book Description

"I believe in recognizing every human being
as a human being, neither white, black, brown, nor red."

This was just one of the messages that Malcolm X brought to people of color. He lived by the idea that black people should demand equality by taking their lives and futures into their own hands. With guidance from the religious leader Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm became one of the most powerful leaders of the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s, and his beliefs live on today.

Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, together with illustrator Leonard Jenkins, delivers a straightforward and compelling portrayal of one of America's most influential figures.

Reviews (1)

Outstanding!
This book really captures the heart, the mind, and the troubles of Malcolm X and society in the 1960's. The beautiful illustrations are wonderful at expressing complex emotions and complement the words of Walter Dean Myers extemely well. This book is fabulous as children seek to understand the complexities of those turbulent times. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This intellectual biography ofthe 16th century Italian quotes exclusively from Machiavelli's own words rather than quoting others who commented upon him. In this way de Grazia, a professor at Rutgers, paints a colorful portrait of the man entirely in the context of his time. In The Prince Machiavelli had famously examined the dilemma ofthe ruler who must find a resolution between political necessity and ethical behavior. By thus inventing 'realpolitik' Machiavelli entered the language of political discourse, and got himself rather a bad name. De Grazia's book, which won a Pulitzer Prize, goes some way to rehabilitating him, suggesting that his immoral means were put to good political ends. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Intellectually stimulating and thought provoking
To those of you looking for an easy read on Machiavelli, I recommend going somewhere else. This book isn't going to skimp on the scholarly side just to make it easier to read for others. This is an intelligent book for an intelligent reader. Grazia intricately weaves together the mindset of Machiavelli as we see him through his many works and letters to friends.

At first I was a little disappointed, perhaps because I was looking more for the momentous doings of Machiavelli. Yet, as I worked through the sheer volume of this biography (not by number of pages, yet rather by the number of words per page) I began to grow and respect Grazia as I slowly began to realize who Machiavelli was and how his thoughts and ideas influenced so many. His thoughts are his astounding accomplishments and those we certainly see here.

For those interested in reading an intellectual book, definitely read this one. Machiavelli always believed that a person becomes a learned person through reading. For someone who agrees with this mindset I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone that has intelligence enough to want to learn rather than those readers who simply are looking for an easy read.

Finally a decent book on Nicolo
I give this book an easy 5 stars.This is much less intimidating than many of Nicolo's own writings... De Grazia is interested in his subject, fun, and ultimately very sympathetic to Machiavelli.The book shows how Machiavelli was a poet, a lover, a (really good!) comic playwright, and a champion of democracy, in addition to being one of the founding fathers of political science.I've read the majority of Nicolo's surviving work, often in the Italian, and De Grazia truly portrays him as he was... a courtier after Castiglione's model who (even after his death) suffered more than his share of the "unremitting malice of fortune."READ IT!!!

Niccolo and His Philosophy
Let me say first that I did not find this book difficult to read or comprehend, as some reviewers have implied it might be. It was, and is, a scholarly work, but Grazia makes the material lively, interesting, and above all understandable. Each thread in the tapestry that he weaves around the life and philosophy of Niccolo (as he calls him throughout the entire work) is discussed separately but folded back into the whole at regular intervals.

Grazia introduces us to Niccolo Machiavegli (Machiavelli in the Tuscan style) in Chapter 1, a figure often reviled in later ages. From Chapter 2 onward we are treated to an analysis of his works, political, social, and dramatic in the context of an overarching political philosophy. What I found most interesting about Machiavelli In Hell is the interleaving of Niccolo's life with this analysis. He becomes a person rather than the one-dimensional cutout we are often given in school texts - a man of feeling, ideals, and intelligence. With some persistence and careful reading you can it make through this book with a greater understanding of what Niccolo gave to later generations, or even his own. It is not a substitute for The Prince, The Art of War, or the Mandragola but an introduction.

An historian's Machiavelli
This is a work of scholarship, not intended to be a page-turner, as other reviewers noted. It is rare to find historical studies that succeed in giving a sense of the subject's mindset. Here one can develop a sense of the Renaissance statesman and philosopher's intellectual journey, withoutmodern idealistic baggage.I have read several studies of Niccolo, andthis is the the best by far.

A real treat if yo are ready for some gumnastics
Come on. When I checked the reviews and found it averaging only two stars I had to object. The best book on Machiavelli is Leo Strauss' "Thoughts on Machiavelli, which makes this one look like a first gradeprimer. That a book is too intellectually challenging is not an objectionagainst it. This is an excellent biography. But it needs excellent readers. ... Read more

Book Description

The full impact of Malcolm X, his personality and his mission come urgently to life in this definitive anthology of his writings, speeches and manifestos along with writings about him by an international group of African and African American scholars and activists. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Everything is a conspiracy...
It doesn't take very long to understand this person's view of the world: everything is a conspiracy against the black man. Just read a few of his speeches in this book, just his view on the most simplistic things, such as anthropolgical terms of race classifications, that they are designed to promote whitey, and you'll realize this book is not very objective. This book dares to call Malcolm X the most pivotal figure in Afro-American history. Carver who? Booker T. Washington who? MLK who?! No, no, no. Didn't you know that Malcolm X--the pro-violence, Islamic extremist--is your hero? Pathetic. Dangerous propaganda in the wrong hands. I am throwing my copy away; I won't resell it.

Interesting
I had to read this book when I was doing a paper for school and at first I thought that this was boring but as I got into the book the life of Malcolm X was very intregueing. I enjoyed learning about this facinating man. Read ths book-it is very good. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Bad subject, great presentation
Madonna is the ultimate emperor in new clothes (all pomp, no circumstance), but these Rolling Stone Files collections are well organized, easy to follow, and fascinating in their ability to let us follow a career via some of the best writing in the business. Madonna is a fascinating anomaly because of her almost freakish ambition combined with an appalling lack of real talent. That makes this a very readable collection, even if I never listen to the music or see the godawful movies.

Awesome
Great if you love Madonna, as I do. Also, good if you are just interested in reading about her. She is fascinating....always has been, always will be. Madonna is a living legend! Also recommend, Encyclopedia Madonnica.....Madonna is absolutely fabulous!

The 3 best books about Madonna
1. This one (Rolling Stone Files) 2. Encyclopedia Madonnica (Matthew Rettenmund) 3. Madonna Unauthorized (Christopher Anderson)

With these 3 books you will learn more about Madonna then she even knows about herself.

Mandatory for any fanatic who wants to know more about this show-biz lady, other then what they see and hear on radio, TV, onstage, and onscreen.

Viva Ciccone!

Triumphant!!!
Rolling Stone and Madonna?Why not.Her being in the cover on all reincartions deserves a compilation.Essential to all Madonnaics,here we could trace her humble begginings,rise to fame,the endless critical scrutiny...it's all here and more.Missing though are the tongue in cheek covers,picture,and one liners.(Perhaps,one need to buy RS coffee table book Covers,to totally enjoy the moment).Concise,right on track and enjoyable!!!

madonnaology
Being a Madonnaologists in my own write, I enjoyed this history. I also found the Madonna stuff in POSTMODERNISM FOR BEGINNERS, intriguing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This extraordinarily thoughtful book by Barbara Leaming, a literary star among movie-star biographers, offers the last thing you'd expect in a book on Marilyn Monroe: new information from verifiable sources. Sure, lots of the tragedy is familiar: an abused, confused girl from an orphanage with a mother in a madhouse rises from sexual party favor for homely showbiz men to the movie superstar who pushes them around, until she crashes, a victim of self-loathing and drug addiction.

The thing about a tragedy is that its heroine isn't a victim--she's responsible for her fate. Leaming does scholarly spadework, digging up hard facts from sources like UCLA's 20th Century Fox collection and the diary-like first drafts of Arthur Miller's semiautobiographical work, and she makes sense of Monroe's motives. She even apparently solves Monroe's suicide with clues from the star's psychiatrist's letters in the Anna Freud collection. Her last overdose may have happened just because her shrink went to dinner with his wife and she felt abandoned.

But until pills killed her, Monroe wasn't a candle in the wind. She burned with ambition and knew how to craft a persona and play power games--with moguls and with the commie-busters hounding her husband Miller. Leaming plausibly analyzes the Miller-Monroe-Elia Kazan love/hate triangle, sizes up the Kennedy connection, busts her acting coach Lee Strasberg as "chillingly mercenary," and deftly shows just how her life entangled her art, film by film.

This book has a woman's touch: it's a work of sharp intellect and emotional insight unclouded by lust or star worship. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Reviews (26)

No one respected Marilyn,
least of all Marilyn! Here was a sad and tragic woman who just wanted to be loved, but even when she was loved, she was unable to believe it or accept it. This book is so sad and heartbreaking. It left me wanting to comfort the little girl inside Marilyn Monroe. She longed for respect, but also did not believe she deserved it. Marilyn should have had therapy when she was a young girl. By the time she was in therapy, it was too little, to late.

This book is fascinating. I loved that Barbara Leaming gave us a lot of details, because it helped me to really get a feeling for Marilyn and her life. I also enjoyed reading about other people such as Arthur Miller, Joe DiMaggio, Elia Kazan and Lee & Paula Strasberg. (To name just a few!)This book gives you a very clear picture of Hollywood and all of its selfish, greedy and self-oriented people.

This book makes me feel that Marilyn did not get a fair shake in this world. It is also apparent, though that Marilyn made some big mistakes that hurt her badly. She was a lost girl and she needed help and guidance that she never really got. Most of the people she received 'help' from had their own agendas and so their 'help' focused more on them than it did Marilyn. There was a huge part of Marilyn that never grew up. She was fragile and was unable to stand the harshness of this world, and so, she self-destructed.

Excellent book - sad book - intriguing book - absolutely worth reading!

Marilyn's Death a Suicide? Hardly, but this author says so.
Although this book is interesting, it offers nothing new about Marilyn. While it is a very detailed account of her life, Barbara Leaming describes Marilyn's suspicious death in all of 3 pages. She takes the easy way out to end her book by just saying "everything pointed to the conclusion that Marilyn had killed herself." Everything? What about the facts that Bobby Kennedy was seen at her house the evening of her death, the police files on her death "vanished," her autopsy specimens were "discarded" before they were analyzed, and the fact that most of the people involved the night of her death have changed their stories numerous times? Monroe's time of death was estimated to be approximately 5 hours before the police were called! There wasn't even a glass in Marilyn's room with which to swallow the pills! Marilyn was obviously murdered, and the cover-up continues. Leaming does Monroe no justice by perpertuating the myth that she overdosed. This book will be disappointing to Marilyn's true fans, and it is yet another attempt by an "author" to make money retelling the same stories.

best book on monroe, finally some logic.
For the reader who claims that this book repeats the old stories about Monroe, the problem is that you seem to want this fantastic thorough writer to create/fabricate stories that never have happened, such as perhaps murder conspiracy theories, people want a soap-opera life for Monroe, whereas the truth is much more simple. She died by an overdose. Why can't people accept that? Perhaps suicide or even accidental suicide is not enough for some people's imaginations. But this book makes Monroe's life and death come as a reality and not another "let's make money on Monroe book" by making up stories. She was depressed, unhappy, and she died by her own hand. That's all.

I wish I hadn't listened...
This book definitely changed the way that I perceive Marilyn Monroe. My past exposure to her has just been in a few of her better-known films, such as _Gentlemen Prefer Blondes_ and _Some Like It Hot_. If you believe Marilyn was a smart, witty, loveable, strong role model type of woman that she portrays in these films, don't listen to the tapes. After listening, I have come to the conclusion that Marilyn is a drug addicted, self centered, psychotic, emotionally disturbed woman, whose only life skill seemed to be hiding her true self while in front of a camera.

What did I learn about Marilyn? She was chronically late for work, regularly too intoxicated to work, and frequently refused to work, even when conditions met her already signed contract.

Barbara Leaming presents Marilyn as a woman who is constantly the victim of circumstances around her. Marilyn's troubles are attributed to a bad childhood, or the pressures of a jealous husband. The stress of having to look good all the time is the cause of her going on a tremendous eating binge. The misery from all of her abandonment is what causes her to do drugs, and to strike out at the most important people in her life. A director's misinterpreted word of encouragement forces her to stay out of work for the week. Her mother's disapproval is why she must wear a dress that leaves her nipples exposed to a political dinner. All the while she agonizes over why the men at the studio don't take her seriously.

The tapes themselves were produced well, easy to listen to; the speaker had a pleasant tone throughout. The only drawback here was - with the story expanded over 12 tapes, I was certainly ready for it to be done, long before it was done.

If you do listen to the book on tape version, keep listening after the end of the story. There is a pretty decent excerpt from another book on tape about Judge Judy.

As much as I have to say that I hate the way this biography changed my view of Marilyn, I have to give it a good rating. Over all, 4 stars. That's 5 for the story being so strong as to change my opinion this thoroughly, but minus one for the constant victim theme, that I can't believe honestly reflects reality.

disappointing.
Don't buy this biography of Marilyn Monroe if you are at all curious about her thoughts and feelings, details of her personal life, or her mysterious death. However, if you want to read hundreds of pages all about Marilyn's battles with 20th Century Fox studios, her dissolved partnership with Milton Greene, and how she spent her money, then this is the book for you. Leaming's primary source was Marilyn's extensive file at Fox, which leads to an extremely disappointing and impersonal look at a dynamic icon. I recommend _Legend_ by Fred Lawrence Guiles instead, though non-conspiracy fans tend to prefer the Donald Spoto biography. Either is preferable to this one. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A superb brief introduction to a misunderstood thinker
I first read this short introduction to Machiavelli about ten years ago, when it was a volume in the Oxford University Press Past Masters series. It has been resurrected in updated form to be a part of their Very Brief Introductions series. The changes are all to the good. Whereas the Past Masters edition was printed on cheap paper with a tendency to age and yellow, the new edition features updated bibliography, the addition of graphics, reset font, a sturdier binding and paper cover, and a much higher grade of paper. In everyway, this new volume is an improvement over the earlier edition.

Content wise, you couldn't ask for a better brief introduction to Machiavelli. Skinner is one of the great historians of political thought of this generation, and probably the finest. His knowledge of 16th and 17th century political thought is difficult to rival. He covers Machiavelli's political thought in loosely chronological fashion, blending the highpoints of his biography with longer expositions of his three great political works. There are four chapters in all. The first details some of Machiavelli's experience working as a diplomat for the Florentine republic. It was by observing many of the political leaders he dealt with that he gathered the ideas for the composition by which he is best known today, THE PRINCE. Chapter Two provides a brief sketch of the contents and argument of THE PRINCE, and it alone would justify the purchase of the book. Luckily, the book contains more, including an exposition of his DISCOURSES ON LIVY in Chapter Three. This chapter (and Machiavelli's book) should be of great interest to any American interested in the founding of the United States, because many of the Founders considered themselves students of Machiavelli, though not of THE PRINCE, but the discourses. Most of the Founders had a fascination with the Roman Republic, and in founding the United States sought to emulate many of its features. Much of their exposure to the Roman Republic came via Livy and through Machiavelli's book, which covers the first ten books of Livy's history of Rome. The final chapter covers the history of Florence that the Medici family commissioned him to write, a history that expresses a deeply ambivalent opinion about the value of principalities over republics.

Skinner's book will not substitute for the reading of Machiavelli, and it certainly cannot constitute an in depth study of his work. But it makes an absolutely ideal overview to anyone about to read any of Machiavelli's works. ... Read more

Book Description

February 21, 1965–Malcolm X is assassinated in Harlem’s Audubon ballroom, becoming even more inspiring a figure in death than he has been in life.

June 23, 1997–After surviving for a remarkable twenty-two days, his widow, Betty Shabazz, dies of burns suffered in a fire set by her own grandson.

In the years between, their six daughters reach adulthood, forged by the memory of their parents’ love, the meaning of their cause, and the power of their faith. Now, at long last, one of them has recorded that touching and tumultuous journey in an unforgettable memoir, Growing Up X.

Born in 1962, Ilyasah was the middle Shabazz child, a rambunctious live-wire and self-described “Mommy’s girl” who fought for–and won–attention in an all-female household, a warm place as full of fun as learning, chaos, and love. From the first days after her father’s death left the family famous (and homeless) to the years of private schools and personal bodyguards . . . from studying the Muslim faith to understanding the mystery of boys . . . from coming to terms with her father’s murder to the shock of her mother’s passing, Ilyasah’s life is one of stunning contradictions: deprived and privileged, unique and endearingly normal.

Here is a girl carrying on the legacy of a renowned father and indomitable mother while navigating childhood and, along the way, learning to do the Hustle. Here is a child who was a different color from other kids at camp and then, years later, a young woman not radical enough for her college classmates. Above all else, here is a tribute to a mother of almost unimaginable forbearance, a woman who “from that day at the Audubon when she heard the shots and threw her body on our own, [never] stopped shielding her children.”

Written with great warmth and simplicity–and featuring reminiscences of famous friends, colleagues, and acquaintances like Coretta Scott King, Muhammad Ali, and Spike Lee–Growing Up X is a fascinating, first-ever look at a family many have admired from afar . . . and never seen so close. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Breathtaking.....
I have always wondered about the life of Dr. Betty Shabazz and her daughters after the death of Malcolm X. And now I know Ilyasah's story...or some of it. I respect Dr. Shabazz and the way she raised her children. Growing up in this society is difficult. I can not imagine how she took on the task of explaining why their father could not come home or how to explain the impact he had on the entire country. Dr. Shabazz raised her girls as queens. Unfortuneately many of us had to learn those lessons later. Ilyasah couragously gave readers a glimps into the lives of the Shabazz family and a little of her growing pains. She learned from her sister Attallah that she was already that daughter of Malcolm X, she did not have to prove anything to anyone. She had to find her own self.

I recently attended a book signing and Ilyasah was humble, warm, friendly, beautiful and then some. I loved the way she chatted with my 6 year old, who attended the signing with me. I have, in the same way that Dr. Shabazz started to teach him of his origins and his greatness. She also pointed out simple things about her parents that I never thought of. I loved that way the story started with her father's death and ended with her mother's death. I cried from beginning to end. I am also glad that she did not go into detail about her nephew...(some things should stay within the family).

Thank you Ilyasah for sharing a little of your life's story with us.

Peace and Blessings!!

Growing Up X is a must read
Ilyasah Shabazz did a great job in chronicling the life of her family. The book offers an inside look at a great American family being headed by a strong single mother and living in the legacy of a dynamic father and husband. It is so captivating and allows the reader to experience various emotions.

It is a fun read. A must read.

Good
This book gave an inside scoop on how Ilyasah and her sisters were raised by their mother Betty. I was surprised at all the privalages they receieved. There were some interesting facts on her mother and father's relationship that warmed my heart. All and all though I feel this book only dabbled on she & her sisters as a family unit. There was no mention of the birth of her sister's children, what they were feeling as expectant mothers, any marriages that took place. I found that disappointing, however it was still a good read.

Don't Waste your Money
This book fell so far from my expectations it is hard to begin explaining the things that I didn't like about this book. Ilyasah is constantly talking about herself and not really about the family as a whole. She does bring out some interesting points about Malcolm X that I didn't know, but overall I think this book is just a quick claim-to-fame type of book. I am sooooooo glad that I did not spend money on this book and I wouldn't advise anyone to purchase this. Please check it out if possible.

Fell Shory of Expectations
This was a very dry, perfunctory piece of work. Nothing new or interesting revealed. In fact the book boiled down to Ms. Shabazz expressing the equivalent of "look at me! I'm Malcolm X's daughter. I'm my mother's favorite child. Aren't I great!" I was sorely disappointed. I would have liked to know more about her sisters as well but she craftily kept them at bay. I highly recommend the Autobiography of Malcolm X and any collection of his speeches to get a real understanding of the man. By-pass this work unless you're just looking for someone who's stroking her own ego and basking in the fame and accomplishments of her parents. ... Read more

Book Description

SINCE MALCOLM X EXPLOSIVE AUTOBIOGRAAPHY THIS IS THE M0ST IMPORTANT BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ. SEVENTH CHILD

A family memoir of Malcolm X
Rodnell P. Collins, nephew Of Malcolm X with A. Peter Bailey

Malcolm X The Man Behind The Myth
A Loving Sister's Blood Memories of a Challenged "son"
His Controversial Analysis about American Foreign Policy
Never-Before-Published Family Photographs and Letters

Seventh Child, Seventh Son: A Family Memoir of Malcolm X. offers invaluable contribution and insight to one of twentieth century americas most charismatic, controversial and provocative figure. On Malcolm X Of the forty publications in eight languages, none provided such insight on a man and his time's, excepting, his own Autobiography. Through the eyes of a compassionate loving sister, Ella Little-Collins, knew him best and her son, Rodnell Collins, to whom Malcolm X was a much-loved and admired uncle and mentor,

Ella's enduring and tenacious loyalty to her brother permeate the entire book. She was Malcolm's protreptic, not his inhibitor, Malcolm-Little (the child) was an inherent pedagogue, Ella felt. To accomplish this task she became his legal guardian brought Malcolm into her home after their father was lynched and Malcolm mother was Institutionalized, Late in his teenage years he Was very rebellious, this contributed to his incarceration to prison, Ella arranged for his transfer to a progressive prison colony, with a large open library, the prison. offered University course's in theology, Malcolom debated University students, and recieved his certificate in theology from one of the participating Universities.

While in the nation of Islam, Ella often served as confidant he confided his growing concerns about the rampant corruption in nation of Islam headquarters. Ella and Rodnell lived those moments with Malcolm and his family, when attempts were made on his life, The night Malcolms home was fire bomb, his sister and nephew came to their rescue. Rodnell along with members of Malcolms organization were publicly attacked by three car loads of nation of, Islam thugs and informents in Boston, Massachusetts trying to make and attempt on the life Of Malcolm X 1964. It was his sister Ella who finance his trips abroad and to the Holy city of Mecca Saudia Arabia.

In the early dawn hours before Malcolms assassination Ella and Rodnell were his discussant's, on the human-right's violations of Africans americans and Native Americans by the Untied States, an issue he intented to bring before The United Nations World Court. A public pronouncement, he make in relationship to that, The African and Asian American diaspora and their connection to United States foreign policy, the two speeches both In New York City, April 8, 1964 and December 12, 1964 "Communication and Reality", he knew his pronouncement and position with the N.O.I. at that time may I mean his life, Malcolm forebode, Ella, that of my death " I feel like a grain of sand on the sea shore, if in someway I have change the course of the tide" It would have been with his life, he knew he had to answer to god for any of his own mistakes the import of those words did not take heart of Ella in those early hours before his death that day, But it would come.

African and Asian numeral science and the science of cosmology use base numeral seven. It is practiced among these society the seventh child or son will emerge and perform great works or a leader. Malcolm X was his father's seventh child.

Twenty five years before her death, in august 1996, Ella worked on a memoir of her brother and the little family through the generations with several author's James Baldwin, Louis Lomax, and Art Aveilhe to no avail. A first cousin, educator Oscar V. Little, began researching the Little family genealogy, she was enthusiastic and elated when his diligence came to fruition with the discovery of great-grandparents, Tony and Clarrie, and family primogenitor AJAR, brought from West Africa to enslavement in the Carolina's. in early 1800s. " It was Malcolm found wish to know his ancestor who first arrived on these shores", Ella told Rodnell, whose earliest memory of his uncle being held in his arms as an Infant while Ma prepared family dinner". When illness incapacitated his mother in the mid 1980s, Rodnell inherited the memoir project. Ella L. Little Collins passed all archived information, Letters, Photographs, several documents and her memories on to him. " I became as committed to the project she cherished all those years". ... Read more

Reviews (12)

do-it
Mind provokeing book, with insight to behind the life and family history of one of the countrys greatest Malcolm X, A must do read.F.

a very informative and thought provoking book.
i really enjoyed the book,ive always admired malcomx,what he stood and was willing to die for.iloved reading about his relationship with his family especially his sister,made me see malcolm in a whole new light ,also made me think of what a difference one person can make .i am deeply influenced by malcolm and this book just reenforces that.

The Seventh Child
This book gave me a greater appreciation of Malcom X as a world leader and a human being. I really enjoyed reading this book during a visit to the Middle East. If you are really into Malcom X and want to know more about him and who he was, do yourself a favor and read this book.

One of the better Malcolm X books
This is clearly one of the better Malcolm X books as it actually tells us something new and firsthand unlike so many other such books that glutted the market in the early 1990s. A bonus is the revelation of the name of Malcolm's actual African ancestor that he wanted to know about through most of his adult life (this was discovered by a family researcher. "Malcolmites" have much to enjoy and learn from here-buy it!

WONDERFUL READING MATERIAL
I JUST STARTED READING THE BOOK LAST WEEK AND CAN NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. I AM A HISTORY MAJOR AND READING THIS BOOK WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION ABOUT MALCOLM AND HIS OWN FAMILY HISTORY IS WONDERFUL.

MR. COLLINS DID A WONDERFUL JOB!... ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (12)

A Most Useful Biography
Viroli concisely depicts the people and tumultuous events of 16th century Italy. This illuminates Machiavelli's 15th and 16th century historical examples, and helps the reader of _The Prince_ and _The Discourses_ to obtain a firmer grasp of Machiavelli's subtle and ephemeral ideas.

Reading Viroli has helped me see that Machiavelli was a man out of season, and that this contrariness is key to understanding his works. Machiavelli saw, and experienced that the tectonic momentum of centuries of declining political and military virtue in Italy (and the rest of the world) could not be reversed by a single man in a single lifetime, whether he be an outcast Secretary of a failed government, like Machiavelli, or a deposed military strongman like Cesare Borgia.

Machiavelli's experience as Secretary fed his scholarship. It led him to understand the changes in peoples and states. Machiavelli reveals that truth very carefully and quietly in books that are seemingly straightforward and brash. The aspiration to rule, he might say, requires blindness to history, and a love of myth. The would be prince can not see that the highest examples of Princes, men who are revered for changing the course of whole nations, were failures and were despised by their contemporaries. Their "revolutions" unfolded over the course of generations as the mass of the people absorbed a new teaching, and a common language.

Rather light but enjoyable biography of Machiavelli
Machiavelli has been unfairly portrayed as the unethical and ultimately immoral original proponent of "realpolitik". By contrast he was a strong patriot of his native Florence, a city-state surrounded by larger, more powerful political entities and forced to participate in various alliances and rivalry's in order to insure it's own political survival.

Known more for "The Prince" (His other writings such as "Discourses on Livy" and "The Art of War" are not as well known) than anything else, Machiavelli was also a great supporter of Florence's republican form of government. He understood that a nation needed it's own citizen army rather than depend on foreign mercenaries or powers for its protection.

This biography written by Maurizion Viroli takes us on a more personal journey through Machiavelli's life. We're exposed to his personal friendships and relationships which show him as a much more sympathetic and ultimately likeable individual.

Understanding his position after his fall from office, one can see why he wrote "The Prince" for Lorenzo Medici. A well written and well translated biography, this is a good starter for anyone interested in the life an background of Machiavelli as well as a decent primer for the political scene of the beginnings of the Italian Wars of the sixteenth century, an event whose occurence is only now being realized as the real beginning of early modern europe.

Pleasing revisionism
This biography presents the full Machiavelli, not just the cynical philosopher of politics. The reader discovers many other facets of his sometimes lusty, sometimes ironic, sometimes mischevious personality. The book places Machiavelli in the context of local events current to his time. We can see how he was influenced by, and tried to influence, the politics of his day. Above all, this book conveys Machiavelli as a writer, more effective in offering advice than he was at managing events. Viroli's brief essays at the beginnings of some of his chapters are elegant works in themselves. A plan of Renaissance Florence would have been a useful addition.

Machiavelli as a human being rather than an epithet
This is a concise and lively account of Machiavelli's life. It provides the general reader with much needed context and background in order to read Machiavelli's works with any kind of understanding. While there are good scholarly works that can provide the feeling of more intellectual heft, this book should not be underestimated simply because it is easy to read and doesn't require weeks to read.

Machiavelli is one of those brand-name characters that evoke certain reactions in people in such a generalized way that people mistakenly believe they know something about the man and his work. This book can help debunk much of that received nonsense. It is surprising how "modern" a man he was considering he lived nearly 500 years ago.

The author has admiration for Machiavelli's skills as an analyst and as a diplomat, has sympathy for his personal suffering and disappointments, and forgiving in his attitude towards Machiavelli's human failings (the author might not even agree they were failings - they were just human). And that is the book's greatest contribution; it shows its subject as a human being rather than a caricature or a statue.

In any case, I found this to be a very valuable and entertaining book. I recommend it highly. You can draw your own conclusions about the subject and they author's conclusions. But you will have gained a lot in the process of coming to those (now better informed) conclusions.

There are a few helpful maps throughout the book and a suggested reading list at the end. The translation is terrific.

The man behind the smile
"No man has been more misunderstood," some would say. Who truly is the man behind the famous smile of determination and challenge? Why would anyone advise a ruler to be deceitful? Viroli's Niccolo's Smile is one of few biographies on Niccolo Machiavelli which can help lead us to the answers of our most controversial questions about his life. The book starts off by stating Niccolo's date of birth, family life, and means of education. However, if you read closely about his education, the author helps unlink a clue for us behind the mystery of how Machiavelli was launched into his political career. In the middle of the book are the tales of Machiavelli's first and most important missions while he was second chancellor. Viroli also talks about the politician's most famous work which he's known for, The Prince. Here and there the author talks about Machiavelli's love life and hard times in life, including his banishment in 1513. Sadly, the book does have a depressing ending when it starts to unwind when the author tells the details of this poor man's, whose ideas were ahead of his time, last, depressing days.

My favorite part of Niccolo's Smile was the chapter about Niccolo's banishment from Florence. I liked this chapter because it was written with such an amount of detail. To me, it seemed like the author interviewed Machiavelli because he knew Machiavelli's exact feelings during every minute of his expulsion from his native town. It was in this part of the book which made me feel the deepest sy