Book Description

Two-year-old Neil Reagan stared at his new brother and squawked, “I wanted a sister, not a loud crying brother!” Little did big brother Neil know that someday his baby brother would become the fortieth president of the United States.

In this colorful biography, Libby Hughes chronicles the life of Ronald Wilson Reagan, beginning in the small, remote town of Tampico, Illinois, and ending ninety-three years later at his home in Bel-Air, California. Reagan started his diverse career as an Iowa radio sportscaster and later acted in more than fifty movies. He served as president of the Screen Actor’s Guild, won a landslide victory as governor of California, and served two terms as the president of the United States.

Ronald Reagan—nicknamed “Dutch”—was a jokester and a storyteller whose straight-talking, Midwestern style attracted the admiration of friends as well as world leaders. Ronald Reagan: From Sports to Movies to Politics will remind you why the Great Communicator became one of America’s favorite presidents.

“Whatever else history may say about me when I’m gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears; to your confidence rather than your doubts.”—Ronald Reagan, fortieth president of the United States ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New information about Reagan's youth
Not only is this a colorful and informative account of Ronald Reagan's boyhood, but the author tells what historic events were taking place in the nation and world throughout Reagan's life. There are many anecdotes to support Reagan's ability to tell stories and turn criticism into humor. ... Read more

Book Description

In a letter to David Gurewitsch, Eleanor Roosevelt's personal physician and friend during the last fifteen years of her life, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote, "Above all others, you are the one to whom my heart is tied...." This defines the intense relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and David Gurewitsch-- friends who often traveled and entertained together and eventually, after his marriage to Edna Perkel, bought and shared a town house in Manhattan.

Their private friendship, a companionship they both treasured, has always intrigued historians, but not much was known about it. David kept diaries and took thousands of photographs, but he never publicly discussed their time together. Now, for the first time, his wife, Edna, has decided to reveal their story and hers after she married into their complicated relationship. Reading David's diaries and the hundreds of letters that he and Mrs. Roosevelt exchanged over the years, and then reflecting on her own life after the death of her husband, enabled Edna finally to write this story. She sheds new light on Mrs. Roosevelt's very private journey of self-discovery as she gained the confidence and knowledge to follow her own personal and political convictions: visiting Khrushchev at his home in Yalta, working on Adlai Stevenson's campaign, being charmed by the young Senator John Kennedy into giving her support for his presidential candidacy, and above all inspiring the love and respect of people all over the world for her compassion, eloquence, and devotion to humanity.

Given her husband's unique role as doctor and confidant to Mrs. Roosevelt, Edna Gurewitsch draws on his insights and her own as a close friend to offer us a very human and inspiring portrait of this complex woman. Perceived as a strong and deeply caring person, which she was, Mrs. Roosevelt also struggled terribly with loneliness and jealousy and a need to transcend her sometimes overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. Her capacity for friendship was enormous, and Edna Gurewitsch describes what it was like to be on the receiving end of her exceptional thoughtfulness-- the carefully chosen gifts left on doorsteps, the generous notes, and the open conversations she welcomed with a humility that never trumpeted her own virtues or called attention to herself as one of the great minds of the twentieth century.

Kindred Souls is filled with personal and unpublished letters from Mrs. Roosevelt. Sometimes chatty and fact-filled, but more often heartfelt and passionate, these letters reveal her yearnings and vulnerabilities as well as her comings and goings, her personal as well as her global concerns. And yet they are always balanced by her special dignity and probity. The book also includes thirty-two pages of never-before-seen photographs taken by David Gurewitsch. Combined with the author's own memories and observations, Kindred Souls is a unique, intimate look at three friends and their extraordinary lives.
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Generous, enlightening & uplifting
This is an astonishingly generous book that gives a different look at the real life of a larger-than-life woman. Mrs. Gurewitsch was (apparantly) completely unthreatened by the strong, deep, and intimate (in the non-sexual sense of the word)relationship between her husband and the redoubtable Mrs. Roosevelt. She limns the outlines of the relationship gently, with great compassion for Mrs. Roosevelt and frank admiration for her many accomplishments. Still, this is not hagiography- Mrs. Gurewitsch tells her story with simplicity and affection, but is still clear eyed about her subjects human foibles.

Through her portrait, and through the extracts of letters to David, it becomes clear that the infamous Lorena Hickok letters must be read in the context of an era (and a woman), in which language was rather more effusive.

Like so many things about Eleanor Roosevelt, the book is a bit bittersweet, but she clearly had made her peace with life, and in the end Mrs. Gurewitsch has repaid Mrs. Roosevelt's trust and friendship. The book is not a comprehensive biography, but you may inspired enough by what you read that you go read one!

A different look at Eleanor Roosevelt
I enjoyed this book. After reading so much "trash" about Mrs. Roosevelt and her friendships, this book is revealing without delving into smutty, unproveable theories. It provided a lot of personal information about Eleanor Roosevelt's last years, public and private, as well as valuable insights about her complex personality. On occasion, the author's somewhat proprietary feelings toward her connection with Mrs. Roosevelt were in evidence, but on the whole, it is a memoir that no one with an interest in Eleanor Roosevelt should miss. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The book to read to find out all about Eleanor Roosevelt
This book is about Eleanor Roosevelt, from the time she was born to when she became the wife of Frankl D. Roosevelt,a U.S. president. Eleanor had a very tough life. her parents and her brother died when she was young, and she whent to live with her aunt,who was also ill. Many nights she could not go to sleep because she missed her family.When Eleanor was nine or ten she was sent to a private school where the girls did not pay any attention to her. Eleanor also had some good times in her life, like being married to the President of the U.S.A., having childeren, and being respected as an important person. She cared about people and became the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission became one of the most important committees in the United Nations. I would recomend this book to people everywhere who like to read biographies. ... Read more

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"Must" reading for all Ronald Reagan fans & supporters.
This biography of Reagan provides a fine survey of the popular present from his childhood through his presidency, and is based on extensive interviews with his family and friends. Reagan: An American Story is a highly recommended pick for any interested in Reagan's life and times. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Reagan: The Man and His Presidency, a sympathetic oral history of the Republican president who revitalized American conservatism, follows a pair of similar books by the Strobers on JFK and Nixon. For this volume, the authors interviewed 108 political insiders and others who knew their subject well, with everybody's insider perspective--from George Bush and Jordan's King Hussein down to the family astrologer, Joan Quigley--taken at face value. While the book does offer important insights on the 40th president's character and management style, and juicy first-person accounts such as Gerald Ford's take on the failed negotiations to have him join Reagan's ticket as a virtual "co-president," it is by no means a comprehensive history of the Reagan administration. In fact, this probably isn't the first volume on Reagan to own or read--for that, check out Dutch by Edmund Morris or Ronald Reagan by Dinesh D'Souza--but it certainly provides a nice addition to the libraries of Reagan devotees. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Vivid Testimonials
Do you REALLY want to know about the Reagan presidency?Then read this book.No fluff, no guff.Just verbatim testimonials from dozens of prominent figures of the Reagan era.Ignore the imbecilic prattle of the anti-Reagan Marxists who despised the man.One helpful hint:take some notes.The authors and editors give the job titles of the interviewee only when they are first introduced.Later in the book it is impossible to remember everones's job titles, and you'll be turning back to earlier text. This is the only reason I docked it a star.

Our most Treasonous president...
This lopsided book won't change the minds of most Americans who agree that ronald reagan was one of the decietful presidents this century.He makes Nixon and Clinton look GOOD.He subverted the Constitution and lied toboth Congress and the American People over the Iran Contra scandal--one ofthe most embarassing and shameful incidents in American History.

A great summary of the President by those who knew him best
Outstanding review of the President by those who knew him best.Detailedinterviews with members of the cabinet, advisors and family members.Theinterviews are broken down into categories (such as Alexander Haig,Domestic policy, etc.) and it is fascinating to hear what those closest tothe situation had to say.For Reagan fans, it will confirm his position asthe greatest leader of the 20th Century (although it is not biased in anyway). ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Edited and Compiled by Doug Phillips

Roosevelt adored his children, four of whom were boys, each of whom he was intent on turning into a man of action. He once commented that his own father was the greatest man he ever knew. His commitment to being the same example for his sons was evident not only in the remarkable globe-trotting adventures on which they accompanied him, but also in the copious letters that he wrote to them, many of which communicated deep truths about manhood, Christianity, and courage.

The Letters & Lessons of Teddy Roosevelt for His Sons contains some of the most interesting letters and lessons that T.R. wrote to his boys and ably demonstrates how fathers can embrace with vigor their charge to raise up manly sons. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

To better know the man
It is easy to take potshots at historical figures as long as they remain impersonal.There are some who would like to call TR a racist or imperialist or some other catchphrase.In The Letters and Lessons of Theodore Roosevelt for his Sons, however, you must get to know the person.Even if you don't agree with everything he did historically, you come away with a sense of who the person was and what his priorities, personality, and sense of honor and responsibility were all about.I don't claim to be unbiased, being a great admirer of the man.The letters only reaffirmed what I believed and made me respect the man all the more.The only minor thing that annoyed me about the book was the editor's mention in the foreword about the "Christian" character of Roosevelt's stances.Those concepts belong to all people of honor, and are not attached to any given religious tradition.
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Author Commentary
All of my books are written with an intention to "breathe life into history".I want kids to read about historical figures and learn about these icons' personalities.Finding obscure facts that are interesting, striking and funny make these books nutritious (for the mind!).I wrote this book because I wanted to show some new sides to Babe Ruth.Babe really did save baseball - from inspiring kids to changing the game of baseball with his titanic home runs.Enjoy the book.For further Ruth reading check out Robert Burleigh's powerful picture book Home Run! Another new title is Lynn Curlee's picture book about baseball parks...Whack! ... Read more

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Remarkable
Chronicles life of Ronald Reagan from humble beginnings to success as a film star to his ascent to the presidency & current retirement. 1st prntg. Great photos!

A rich tapestry of President Reagan's remarkable life.
For those looking for a visual biography, this books serves well. Using dozens of photographs spanning President Reagan's life, J.H. Cardigan takes the reader on a tour of Dixon, Illinois, Hollywood, Sacremento and finally Washington, D.C. While the books spans the entire life of the former President, the author moves at a quick pace, keeping the reader interested and entertained. One of the best in its category! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This memoir by the daughter of one of America's most beloved sports heroes appears just in time for the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of major league baseball. Those expecting to find a darker side of the taciturn, dignified Jackie Robinson will be disappointed: Robinson, according to his daughter, was a devoted father and a civil rights activist whose messy rifts with more outspoken black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are barely mentioned here. Robinson was evidently a complex, deeply reserved man, and it seems likely that even his daughter, whose affection for her famous dad is obvious, did not know him well. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Robinson Home
I guess I went into this book with the wrong expectations. I thought this would be a book about Jackie Robinson. But it was almost exclusively about Sharon, his daughter. And though she had an interesting life, I feel like her book didn't go far beyond the surface.

I felt like she really didn't know her father all that well, or at least she didn't express that in the story. I have no doubt that Jackie Robinson was as great a man as the public believed him to be. However after reading this book, it seems like Sharon got parts of her life from reading articles from past newspapers. I don't feel like I understand the workings of her family any better than I would if I had simply watched old news clips.

I wasn't ever bored with the book and I am glad that the Robinson's were a functionsl black family amidst so much external societal strife. Sharon does do a good job of showing the rest of us the priveleages and the tribulations of being the child of a famous African-A! merican in the 1950's and 60's. She also shows that there are still racial conflicts even when blacks and whites are on the same economic level. Overall its a B+, Robinson was not only a premiere ballplayer, but an outstanding father! ... Read more

Book Description

CRASH! Young George (Babe) Ruth sends his friends' baseball right through a kitchen window. George runs in fear all the way to his father's tavern, where he finds a dollar. That's enough money to buy ice cream for all his friends to make up for the lost ball! So he takes it. Even as a boy Babe Ruth was generous. But sometimes, it got him into big trouble.... ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The only good biography of Ayn Rand in print
This book is an excellent celebration of Ayn Rand as a writer and a person. The author understands the kind of spirit Ayn Rand needed to write such phenomenal novels and to develop a new philosophical system. It is the trend these days to produce "debunking" biographies that sneer at genius and achievement. Lincoln is an opportunist, Columbus is a bad navigator, Jefferson is racist, Edison is an exploiter, yada yada. Those envious of great geniuses such as Rand will always resort to smear tactics, because their envy would rather believe such cynical nonsense. The author Michael Paxton didn't stoop to the cynicism and bitterness found in the tracts of Rand's enemies (whose criticisms of Rand waited until she died, if that gives you an idea of their underhandedness). Paxton gave an open, honest, and consequently admiring treatment of Ayn Rand's life and work. It was the kind of treatment that got the documentary (upon which the book was based) nominated for an Academy Award (for best documentary). Let's see the cynicism factory do that! I am a big fan of Ayn Rand's stuff, so I know what I'm talking about. If people can't get enough of her biographical details, I recommend "Letters of Ayn Rand" as a good source for what her thought and spirit were like, straight from the genius's mouth. And you're in luck, because it's available from .... Amazon Books! (unsolicited plug). I believe another biography is coming out soon, based on Rand's personal journal-writing, so we may soon have a second biography worth praising.

Byoo-tee-full! A real pick me up!
A gorgeous little book! Nice pictures, nice admiring tone for an eminently admirable person. Made me want to see the movie.

Should it be criticized for its ignoring or giving only a mere mention of Rand's faults and/or the worst moments of her life? Well, read the introduction. Paxton says right out that his purpose is not to tell all but "to express the summation of who Ayn Rand was as a person," as demonstrated by benevolent, joyful, heroic sense of life. So he has selectively focused on certain aspects of Rand's life but not others. Is this nonobjective of him? No, because every biographer must include some facts and omit others. Which facts are included depends on the author's purpose. In Paxton's case, he's wrong only if his view of the essence of Rand's life is wrong. If certain facts of Rand's life don't contribute to an understanding and appreciation of her sense of life, then, in Paxton's case, they are justifiably omitted. (It goes without saying, of course, that Paxton rejects the unbacked-by-evidence claims of Rand's ghoulishness by the Brandens, et al.)

Some people probably find fault with Paxton's purpose, but I don't know what to say to them other than that the purpose of MY life is enjoyment. I don't and shouldn't want to focus on the sad and disgusting little details when I don't have to.

New Discovery
I had never heard of Ayn Rand till I spotted the DVD "A Sense of Life" in the local library the other day!!! I am a fan of documentary bios.,so wanted to take a look...film opened a new world to me...I had seen "The Fountainhead" with Cooper in the past..kind of a "soaper"...but this DVD brought a whole new perspective to me about a very interesting woman!!! I produce an access TV show where I live....I'm into film productions...found this a delight!!!

An inspiring look at a philosophic genius.
This book is a fascinating portrait of Ayn Rand. It shows in engrossing detail the depth of her thinking and brilliance of her philosophy, Objectivism.

As a companion to the Oscar-nominated movie this book is a great coffee table reminder of one of the greatest accomplishments of the 20th century; Ayn Rand's creation of a fully integrated, non-contradictory code of morality.

The story of a woman who said she would stop the motor of the world - and didn't. ... Read more

Book Description

Jackie Robinson changed the face of baseball and captured the attention and hearts of America when he strode onto Ebbett's Field on Opening Day, 1947, as a Brooklyn Dodger. He broke baseball's color line, paved the way for African-American players in all professional sports, and became a pivotal figure in the struggle for racial equality.The Jackie Robinson Reader gathers together writings that demonstrate the cultural impact of Robinson's actions and the life of the man himself. In addition to Robinson's own words, there are contributions from some of baseball's greatest figures, including:* A previously unpublished manuscript by Arthur Mann, Branch Rickey's confidant, on why he chose to sign Robinson
* An excerpt from Roger Kahn's legendary Boys of Summer
* Actor Woody Strode's memories of his days playing football with Robinson at UCLA
* A notable exchange of correspondence between Robinson and activist Malcolm X
* A never-before-published 1946 report from the Major League Steering Committee, which defends the exclusion of blacks from the major leagues.The Jackie Robinson Reader covers the entirety of Robinson's life, creating a definitive work on the man, one no baseball fan will want to be without. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jackie Robinson
This book is pretty good.I just wish it would tell me more about baseball at that time.I learnd a few things abut Jackie, like how he lead the league in hits in in 1949 with 342 hits and drove in 142 runs.He was also MVP that year and thats why I gave this book 4 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Roosevelt as Progressive Conservative
I read this book over twenty years ago and remember it as very well written and particularly illuminating on Theodore Roosevelt's patrician approach to Progressivism. The offers an exciting and concise view of the how Roosevelt established an important, if limited, role for government in American economic life.

It shows how much difference one man can make to both his political party and to his nation. The book was written at a time when the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt was very much in the shadow of FDRoosevelt's new deal. It provides an intense contrast with the current, sorry state of the Republican party and national politics, in general.

Not Blum's best work!
I was very disappointed with John Morton Blum's biography on Theodore Roosevelt. I found it to be poorly written and some chapters were rather ambiguous and confusing.

The first few chapters were good but the book steadily went downhill from there. Theodore Roosevelt was such a lively, exciting character and Blum's book did not bring out any of that excitement. I found the book informative but very boring and dull. ... Read more