Reviews (78)

Fascinating
After a recent visit to St. Petersburg, I became interested in learning more about the end of the Romanov dynasty and picked up this book on my return.I found it to be not only very well-researched but also extremely readable.Massie brings the characters to life on the page and creates a vivid, moving portrait of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra.This biography is most certainly not to be missed.

Eloquent
Quite simply, this is my all-time favorite book. I've worn out three copies over the last decade. Massie description of St.Petersburg bring Imperial Russia to life. AWESOME!!!!!!!!

A true masterpiece...
I started a love affair with European royalty while in junior high, and as luck or fate would have it, Robert Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra was published during this time.I was bitten by the Romanov bug and have suffered from this malady ever since.

Nicholas and Alexandra, the last Tsar and Tsarina of Imperial Russia, came from a distinguished royal pedigree.Nicholas was the son of Tsar Alexander III, and his aunt was Princess Alexandra of Wales.Alexandra was a Hessian princess and granddaughter of Queen Victoria.As youngsters, they fell in love and "Nicky" knew that "Alix" was fated to be his bride.Theirs was a true love match at a time when royal marriages were arranged for any reason but love.

Two events conspired to cause the Romanov tragedy.First, Nicholas was not a very strong-willed man.He let others dominate him (including his wife).When his father died suddenly at the age of 49, the young Nicholas was totally unprepared and untrained to be Ruler of all the Russia's. Second, Nicholas and Alexandra were very family oriented, and it was a crushing blow when their 5th child and only son was born with hemophilia.In desperation, they alienated much of Russia (to protect this secret) and fell under the harmful influence of Rasputin.Russia was ripe for revolution, and Nicholas and Alexandra were too blind to see what was happening in their own country until it was too late.

Massie does a stellar job of bringing Russian history to life in a way that reads like a novel.He also writes with a passion born of experience.When his son was born with hemophilia, Massie started researching how hemophilia affected the royal houses of Europe-especially the Romanov's.He details not just Russian history, but the history of this dreaded disease including various types of hemophilia, treatments, new advances, etc.The only negative about this book is in the timing.Massie wrote what was known in the late 1960's.But since the fall of communism and perestroika, we now know so much more about what happened to the Imperial family.Massie took this new information and finished the story in The Romanov's: The Final Chapter.One book should not be read without the other.

Nicholas and Alexandra is one of my favorite nonfiction books, and I find myself rereading it every five to six years or so.I enjoy it just as much with each subsequent reading.My original paperback was in such tatters that I finally treated myself to a new hardback copy.Even after all these years, the tragic fate of the Romanov's continues to haunt us.

fabulous book!
I love it when non-fiction books explores the "personal" aspects of historical events.

I minored in Russian History in college and recieved this book as a gift and love love loved it!

The life and eventual downfall of the last Tsar and his family was endearing in the details-- not necessarily the overall history. A great example would be the fact that on the eve of the Russian Revolution three of the five royal children came down with the measles; of course she was a little preoccupied!

Massie is an expert at blending primary historical texts (a lot of it is from the diary of the children's Swiss tutor Gillard) and his own words which makes the narrive flow much more gently than your average non-fiction historical book.

What I think is the most interesting thing Massie points out, at great length, is that Nicholas II and Alexandra were two people who did not possess any more or less basic human flaws than the average person, but the introduction of Hemophilia into their family completely (and understandably) threw their private and public lives into a complete kilter.

If you are not a fan of history or even Russian history I would still recommend this book, wonderfully written and researched about one of the most important events in the twentieth century!

If all history was written this well...
My wife dragged me to an exhibit at the Santa Fe Art Museum of items belonging to Nicholas and Alexandra. I knew nothing about the two, and saw little in the exhibit that further piqued my interest. But, on the way out, I did pick up a book on Rasputin as a souvenir. I started to read the Rasputin book, but then realized I could not appreciate Rasputin without first knowing the greater story of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. After researching what would be the best book to read, I got R. Massie?s Nicholas and Alexandra.

My oh my, what a fascinating read that has turned out to be. The high stars given by most other reviewers on this site are well deserved and on the money. Massie creates a captivating story in the process of describing a critical time in 20th Century history. I read it with the relish and enthusiasm of a richly embroidered page-turner. I normally do not read a lot of history. But if all history was written as well as this, I?d probably read so much of it that I?d scarcely have time to read anything else. I can?t wait to find other works that are as rich, informative, and entertaining as Massey?s Nicholas and Alexandra. ... Read more

Book Description

In this abridged audio edition, Strobel uses the dramatic scenario of an investigative journalist pursuing his story and leads and his experience as a reporter for the Chicago Times to interview experts about the evidence for Christ from the fields of science, philosophy, and history.Read by Dick Fredricks. ... Read more

Reviews (394)

Good read. But problems.
A former atheist, Mr. Strobel presents convincing evidence in these two closely related, even complementary volumes to prove that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be, the Son of God and Messiah, and that as a result, Christianity is the most logical religion. Using skills he acquired as a reporter in a metropolis, the author details the investigation he pursued.

He did not go to just preachers, or to any kindly old grandparents who have dedicated their lives to being at the church all day on Sunday. He used scientists, theologians, and even psychiatrists to make his cases. Drawing upon little known historical facts, archeology, psychology, and sometimes even gruesome medical evidence, each aspect is presented in a concise, easy to follow, yet intense fashion. Inconsistencies in the Bible are taken apart piece by piece and shown to not be inconsistent at all. Translation, perspective, and factors of history and culture the modern reader would be unfamiliar with are explained.

**** However, there are some facts that are not completely accurate; being stated too broadly, and some of the logic used does not ring completely true. Despite this, the sum total of these two books is sound, and whether read or listened to will provide the skeptic with enough proof to change his or her mind, and the believer to have their faith reinforced. At worst, each book is fascinating. At best, it will lead others to the faith.

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Excellent apologetics but horrible journalism
I wish Amazon.com didn't force reviewers to rate all books with 1-5 stars. Since I was forced to rate Lee Strobel's book _Case for Christ_ I gave it 3 stars, but that's not really how I feel. As an introductory apologetics book I would give it 5 stars, but as a work by a journalist I would give it 1 star. Read on to find out why.

Lee Strobel is an ex-investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune who describes himself as a "former spiritual skeptic." Using his skills as a former legal affairs journalist, Strobel set out to "retrace and expand upon the spiritual journey ... [he] took for nearly two years." The Case for Christ is a summary of Strobel's interviews with thirteen leading Evangelical apologists, including Craig Blomberg, Bruze Metzger, Edwin Yamauchi, Ben Witherington III, and William Lane Craig.

In light of Strobel's frequent reminders that he used to be a hard-nosed, skeptical journalist, I skimmed the table of contents and index to see which critics of Christianity he interviewed. In so doing, I discovered a glaring deficiency in Strobel's journalism: Strobel did not interview any critics of Christian apologetics, even though he attacks such individuals in his book. For example, Strobel devotes an entire chapter to his interview of Greg Boyd (an outspoken faultfinder of the Jesus Seminar), yet Strobel never interviewed a single member of the Jesus Seminar itself! Likewise, he repeatedly criticizes Michael Martin, author of Case Against Christianity, but he never bothered to get Martin's responses to those attacks. This hardly constitutes balanced reporting on Strobel's part; indeed, on this basis, one is tempted to dismiss the entire book.

Nonetheless, I was compelled to review _The Case for Christ_, for two reasons. First, it comes with a number of endorsements from high-profile Evangelicals. Second, Strobel interviewed a number of high-caliber Evangelical apologists, many of whom are worthy of consideration in and of themselves. Thus _The Case for Christ_ constitutes a pseudo-anthology of Evangelical scholarship.

I have reviewed Strobel's book in detail on my website, but here I will summarize its major strengths and weaknesses. _Case for Christ_ is a creative, well-written contribution to Christian apologetics. Moreover, Strobel is to be commended for summarizing the work of so many leading apologists for Evangelical Christianity in such a compact and easy-to-read format. Yet Strobel did not interview any critics of Evangelical apologetics. He sometimes refutes at great length objections
not made by the critics (e.g., the claim that Jesus was mentally insane); more often, he doesn't address objections the critics do make (e.g., the unreliability of human memory, that non-Christian historians do not provide any independent confirmation for the deity of Jesus, etc.) Perhaps this will be a welcome feature to people who already believe Christianity but have no idea why they believe it. For those of us who are primarily interested in the truth, however, we want to hear both sides of the story.

A must read for every "seeker"
THE best father's day present I've ever received. Wonderfully done. Lee Strobel asks the hard questions of world class experts and delivers a compelling case for my God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I loved McDowell's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict", but this is so much more readable. His mix of present day law cases to introduce and illustrate each segment drew me in and his personal interviews with the people who know the real facts about Jesus and the New Testament was entertaining as well as informative. It was like being in on the best conversations about Jesus you could hear.

I'm grateful for this author and this faith strengthening book. Christians: Buy it, read it and give it to others.
Non-Christians: This is a wonderful close-up of the facts about the life of Jesus.

Very compelling, but should give more opposing arguments.
Strobel does an excellent job of examining the evidence for the Ressurection of Christ from all angles. His findings are very logical and convincing. This is a really good book to read if you are as confused and skeptical as I have recently become. The methodical way that Strobel presents the evidence in this book argues very very strongly for the truth of the Bible. The only shortcoming as far as I'm concerned is his neglecting to really give the full arguments for the liberals and atheists (or if he did, they sure don't have very solid cases). I would highly reccomend this book to anyone interested in learning about the history and the evidence of Christ and the church.

A wonderful introduction into Christian apologetics
Lee Strobel has done a masterful job in tackling some of the most pressing and often heard questions about Christianity and the Christian faith. This book was a very easy read for many reasons. Two of which are: Lee is to the point when answering many pertinent questions; Lee presents it in such a logical and factual way that makes his claim that much more convincing. This is not only a great book to have for reference, but it is also a great book to give to the non-believer. ... Read more

Book Description

He was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. Nearly four decades later, as the world's oldest astronaut, his courage riveted a nation. But these two historic events only bracket a life that covers the sweep of an extraordinary century. In this engrossing book, John Glenn tells the story of his unique life--one lived at the center of a momentous time in history by a man who helped shape that history.

He is the kind of hero who resists being called a hero. And yet his exploits in the service of his country, his dedication to family and friends, and his rock-ribbed traditional values have made this small-town boy from the Midwest a true American icon.

John Glenn's autobiography spans the seminal events of the twentieth century. It is a story that begins with his childhood in New Concord, Ohio, in the aftermath of World War I. It was there that he learned the importance of family, community, and patriotism. Glenn saw firsthand the ravages of the Depression and learned that determination, hard work, and teamwork could overcome any adversity. These were the values he carried with him as a Marine fighter pilot during World War II and into the skies over Korea, for which he would be decorated for his courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Glenn flew missions with men he would never forget, from baseball great Ted Williams to little-known heroes who would never return to their families. Always a gifted flier, it was during the war that he contemplated the unlimited possibilities of aviation and its next frontiers: speed and space.

John Glenn takes us into the cockpits of the experimental planes and spacecraft he flew to experience the pulse-pounding excitement of the early days of jet aviation, including his record-setting transcontinental flight in an F8U Crusader in 1957, and then on to his selection for the Project Mercury program in 1959. We see the early days of NASA, where he first served as a backup pilot for astronauts Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom and helped refine some of the initial cockpit and control designs for the Apollo program. In 1962 Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 Friendship 7 spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. Then came several years in international business, followed by a twenty-four-year career as a U.S. senator--and in 1998 a return to space for his remarkable Discovery mission at the age of seventy-seven.

This extraordinary book captures the unique alchemy that brings a man to the forefront of his time. Married to a woman he first met when they were both toddlers, known for his integrity, common sense, and leadership in the Senate, John Glenn tells a story that we must hear. For this narrative of steadfastness, devotion, courage, and honor is both a great adventure tale and a source of powerful inspiration for an age that needs John Glenn's values more than ever before. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Delightful biography, but short on space hardware
John Glenn became the first American in orbit when he circled the Earth three times aboard Friendship 7. The most senior of the original Mercury astronauts, he was trumpeted as a hero upon return, but left the space program shortly thereafter because NASA wouldn't give their famous spokesman a second, potentially disastrous flight. Not until almost thirty years later, that is, when Senator Glenn returned to space at the age of 77, amidst a roar of publicity that rivalled his first mission. In the meantime, he had embarked upon a political career that included a shot at the presidency. A rather distinct biography.

In "John Glenn: A Memoir", the Marine turned Astronaut turned Politician shares with the world his life story, which spans the better part of a century and saw aviation progress from biplanes to the Space Shuttle. Yet this is a deliberate and slow-moving book, written in earnest and matter-of-fact prose. It progresses in strictly chronological order, spends a great amount of nostalgic detail on Glenn's childhood - including mother's cooking and playpen stories -, then moves on to the Marine days flying planes in World War II and Korea, then to his test pilot career. Always one step at a time, one little story after the other.

The results are a mixed bag: while the drama-oriented readers will call it outright dull, others might find the leisurely pace quite immersive and captivating. At the least, it is refreshing to read an astronaut biography that does not suffer from tunnel vision. The space program is not as much as mentioned until about half-time, and even recounting his NASA days, Glenn focuses on the big picture - the political and ideological implications of the space race - rather than technical detail. While the accounts of his actual Mercury and Shuttle flights are vivid and gripping, on the whole there is nothing about the space program that could not be found in most other, specialised books. Not surprising, given that Glenn's astronaut career was illustrious but brief, and something that the die-hard space buffs should consider.

The part between Glenn's flights focuses on his political career, his friendship with the Kennedys, and law making as an Ohio Senator. There is more talk about his loved wife and family, and more emphasis on duty, country, values. In truth, it must be said that the only things arguably more all-American than John Glenn are baseball and apple pie; he constantly reflects on his beliefs and guidelines, and never seems to waver in his uncomplicated optimism and patriotism. More remarkably, it all seems genuine, too: no image polishing, that's just the way he is. Indeed, Glenn colours his omnipresent love of America with plenty of humour and palpable feeling, and comes across not as preachy, but entirely likeable.

The concept of such an awfully nice moralist seems strange in today's cynical times, and this is perhaps the most telling point of all: the text seems like a document from a different age. Like the photographs that come with it, showing Glenn's wedding ceremony in uniform, or piloting Corsairs in World War II, this tale is something out of our reach, something delightfully dated. And "John Glenn: A Memoir" sure is a delightful book. Readers looking for a remarkably rich and varied life story can hardly make a better choice. Space enthusiasts lusting for nuts and bolts might want to think twice.

A thrilling, exhiliarating autobiography
Marine Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr., was selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959, and made his historic orbital flight aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962. But as this book reminds us, Glenn was involved in many other grand events in our nation's history. He was a fighter pilot in the Marines during World War II and Korea in the 1940's and 1950's, he served in the Senate for four terms in Ohio, and finally, in the fall of 1998, he made a historic return to orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery. This book captures the details of those events, sweeping the lifetime of this small town boy from the midwest, a true American icon. I thought it was very thrilling, and was interested in hearing of his accounts of his spaceflights , Senate career, and combat flights in the wars. Others have said it was boring because Glenn has almost never faced adversity in his life, but I thought it was entertaining nontheless. His accounts of the Friendship 7 and Discovery missions are nearly minute-by minute, very detailed, and I thought it was very well done.

The Story of a Perfect Life?
Based on this book John Glenn never got out of line, never got in any serious trouble or caused anyone else to get into trouble, had a perfect wife and family who always supported him 100%, even if it meant his being away from home for long periods of time. He even goes to the extreme of discounting a story about his concern over his height exceeding the max requirement for space travel. I found many parts of this book enjoyable, but left feeling I had only been reading a whitewashed version purified for mass consumption. On slight hint at the "real" John Glenn may be revealed in his writing a letter to NASA in an effort to overturn the decision to have Alan Shepard and Guss Grissom fly in space before him. This book left me with many more questions about the real man. Showing more of his human, occassionally risking and failing side would have added much to my enjoyment. Unfortunately this was missing.

Critical Reflections
There have been many assessments of John Glenn since February 1962, but perhaps none so critically important as those he has made in his Memoir's. All of us have fallen short of fully living our values and maintaining our ethical standards as we move through a life filled with temptations; we are but mortal. While Glenn is certainly an American hero of the highest caliber, and one of my favorites, his shortcomings remain a puzzle to me. The paradox of John Glenn is found in the staunch moralistic tone of his life before his Senate career, and his stance after taking that oath of office.

His criticism of the moral behavior of his fellow Mercury astronauts in 1960 is in stark contrast of his support for a president who was equally as guilty some 40 years later. His support for a political agenda that represents a normalization of deviancy leaves me wondering if his professed Christianity is truly a "born again" commitment or simply cultural attribute that can be influenced by power.

Glenn agonizes over his "guilt by association" in the Keating affair and presents a rather weak defense. He states that one of his reasons for entering politics was to prove that good men can survive and triumph in an atmosphere where power corrupts. Yet he leaves himself open on several occasions to simply reinforce the notion.

Glenn reviews his life in a manner that I found interesting and informative. As an avid space historian, he filled in a few areas of his life and the early manned space program that were unknown to me. Of interest too, are the occasional factual errors that have crept into the book, perhaps because much of the final composition was probably done by his co-author, Nick Taylor (who, overall, did a great job). Gordon Cooper's flight did not terminate early because "his spacecraft lost orbital velocity" but went the full 22 orbits. And, Gus Grissom was not "the first person to fly in space three times". He would have been had he not been killed in the Apollo fire. That privilege belongs to Wally Schirra who was the only astronaut to fly Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.

John Glenn accomplished more in his three careers (Marine, Astronaut, Senator) than most of us will do in any one lifetime. We pray that his legacy will truly be greater than three Migs, 137 orbits and 9,414 senate votes.

Fireflies in space
John Glenn is a space pioneer and knows first hand that there is a "lot more water than land on earth". You feel his honesty in his writing, his no-nonsense approach to every day of his life. And then at age 70 he goes out into space again. Flying "Friendship 7" around in space is the climax of his life for this "down-to-earth" man. The forceful fist of destiny came down on Glenn in the form of his image, the mirror, which knocked him out of politics; he thought he dropped out, but he was dropped out until after Watergate when the Senate calls him. Up to date nobody seems to know: what were the "fireflies" in the night of space surrounding "Friendship". There is this mystery in the otherwise "nuts-and-bolts" story of John Glenn. ... Read more

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Journalist Michael Ruhlman talked his way into the CIA: theCulinary Institute of America, the Harvard of cooking schools. It hadsomething to do with potatoes a grand-uncle had eaten deacades earlier,how the man could remember them so well for so long, buried as they hadbeen in the middle of an elegant meal. Ruhlman wanted to learn how tocook potatoes like that--like an art--and the CIA seemed the place togo. The fun part of this book is that we all get to go along for theride without having to endure the trauma of cooking school.

Ever wonder what goes on in a busy kitchen, why your meal comes late orshows up poorly cooked? The temptation is to blame the waiter, butthere are a world of cooks behind those swinging doors, and Ruhlmanmarches you right into it. It's a world where, when everything is goingright, time halts and consciousness expands. And when a few things gowrong, the earth begins to wobble on its axis. Ruhlamn has the writerlyskills to make the education of a chef a visceral experience. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

In-Depth Tour of Education at the CIA
This book provides an in-depth introduction to American professional culinary education as practiced at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).Ruhlman is a journalist who enjoys cooking and fashions himself as a decent cook.With the excuse of writing a book about the CIA, Ruhlman managed to get himself into the school as a special student, able to skip around the curriculum at an accelerated pace so that he could experience many of the lessons in a limited amount of time.Even though he was excused from many required classes and the required externship, it still took about a year for him to progress from basic culinary skills to covering the grill at the CIA's American Bounty Kitchen.This book is both a diary of Ruhlman's classroom experiences at the CIA and a description of the students and chef-lecturers at the school.

If readers aren't already tuned into the differences between broth, roux, and brown sauce, through reading this book, they will develop an appreciation for why professional cooks need to master each one. They will also become familiar with the structure of the educational program at the CIA, as Ruhlman discusses each curriculum block in turn; a diagram of the program is provided inside the back cover.Ruhlman explores several themes in depth, including the ethics of cooking for others, and the heroic physical standards that professional chefs must live up to.In a few places, Ruhlman gets bogged down in detail, or ponders his personal connections to the project a little too heavily.Overall, though, the book is enjoyable as well as informative.

this book is a great review of the CIA
For culinary students: if you don't care about the CIA, then skip this one (read his other book called soul of a chef, it's great). Although it's interesting to learn about the curriculum offered at the CIA, it's not really anything I needed to know in order to succeed in the culinary field.

Informative, but disappointing
I had a really hard time getting through this book, even though the whole idea of a book about going to culinary school appeals strongly to me.

From my perspective, the execution of this book felt flat. The writing isn't all that great. It's a bit scattered, and the author gets bogged down in details in some places, and this creates a whole series of speed bumps. It's as if he had better notes about some days than he did others and he or his editor didn't have the discipline to pare down those sections. Also, there's no real arc or story, and no clear conflict. He protests too much about the snowstorm issue because I think it's only real drama that happens to him personally through his experience.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the author didn't pony up the cash and time to go through the full coursework at the CIA himself. The school's management provided him an abbreviated version of the class that sidestepped the sort of boring parts. From reading, it's clear that most of the key instructors knew that he was writing a book. Now this does not necessarily mean that one can't write a compelling, plot- or character-driven story based on closely following other people's experiences, as both "House" or "Among Schoolchildren" by Tracy Kidder prove.

In this case, however, something's missing. I didn't come to feel strongly about any character in the book, including the author. Yet, here are young people who have bet small fortunes on their love for the kitchen, who sweated through a challening school only to remain poised on the edge of a difficult, competitive career. Surely, interesting human stories existed all around in him in those kitchens, but instead of capturing them, we got laborious descriptions about how to make stock.

Hence, for me it felt heavy. And, it's a personal feeling after having just finished this one that he fell short of writing a truly "inside" journalistic account of culinary school. It's not a bad book, and it does give a lot of information about culinary school if that's what you're after. I would recommend it to anyone planning to attend the CIA. For me, it just wasn't that great of a read.

Answers to our questions about the C.I.A.
This is an exceptional "read".My 18 year-old-son will be entering the C.I.A. in the bachelor's program, November, 2004.Food has been his passion since he was standing on a chair helping me (his mother) in the kitchen. Michael Ruhlman's books, this title and "The Soul of a Chef", have explained more about the workings of the Culinary Institute of America than any other research including a visit to the Hyde Park campus.For this we are very greatful. I have purchased several copies of this book and given them to friends, co-workers and relatives so that they might have some idea of what our son will encounter at the C.I.A. and everyone has given the book a great review.Thank you, Mr. Ruhlman!

Easy, Fascinating Read
I am a college senior majoring in Broadcast Journalism. However, I've always had a fondness for cooking, and a sense of awe regarding professional chefs. In this book, Michael Ruhlman Goes behind the scenes at the CIA, recording the classes, instructors, and students. As one might expect, the focus here is primarily on the training of potential chefs.
However, Ruhlman also spends some time thoroughout the book reflecting on his role as a journalist in the kitchen/school, and how his reporting sets himself apart from the skilled chef-instructors. This refelction is a point of interest to me, because as an aspiring newsman, I have to do some research about my story assignments so that I sound somewhat informed while on air, in print, etc. Ruhlman has to deal emotionally and mentally with the idea that he can't truly be a chef, but only go through the motions (more or less), even if he really wants to be one deep down inside. He also has some refelections and thoughts on a cooking career that are quite interesting, and I would imagine, accurate (I don't want to spoil anything)
I quick, easy to follow book for foodies, journalisits, and the curious. Pick it up! ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Another Hero has entered Valhalla
The Good Colonel just passed on to the Big O Club in the Sky today. None the less he has left a great legacy in this book. To call it one hell of a story would be an understatement of the 1st degree. It is a classic story of a poor hard scrabble kid who goes out and finds himself a home in the US Army. Hack was really one of the lucky ones who found a place where he could really excel. I found myself actually feeling sorry for the Enemy and some of his idiotic Superior Commanders. He must of been a hand full is all that I can say.

Vietnam - a defining point of his life
[Sadly for all of us, Col David Hackworth died shortly after I wrote this review. Nothing about him or my review of his works needs revision. Hack - we will miss you!]

Say what you want about Hackworth - you can't deny him his valor or experiences in the Army. "Hack" continues to thrive on controversy - one who is not afraid to stir the pot. This book was his first view on the public stage after his Vietnam exit from the Army.

As a young officer - I first read this book in the career stage of my commission - as a Major - and came away with mixed feelings about his views and attitudes. Hackworth's Vietnam experience - like that of John Kerry's, was a defining point of his life. Both came away from that service determined to change the way government uses the military. Kerry became an anti-military cynic; Hackworth lashed out at the systems' waste and stupidity - in an attempt to make the system better.

During war, Hack would be a leader one would wish to serve under. In peacetime - like so many other warriors - he'd be a disaster in the mind numbing training environment of a peacetime army. Like a fire extinguisher - keep under glass until an emergency demands his use.

The book is what it is. Many of his positions are factual and cannot be argued. When he drifts to politics - watch out! He has no friends in either political party.

Some favorite segments I carry with me from the book are paraphrased as follows ... 'after spending 2 trillion dollars to modernize the military, our boys went to war in Desert Storm [Iraq 1991] with duct tape covering air holes in the combat boots to keep the sand out' ...another ... 'while the rest of the world was using cell phones ... our military continued use of radio sets with lead acid batteries weighing over 25 pounds that didn't work as well' ...

If you have never served - and are thinking of signing up - maybe this will give you pause. If the world awaits you as a grand adventure - do what he did - and wear the uniform proudly for a majority of your adult life. At the least - Hackworth made me stop and think along the way. My latter years in uniform were constant battles against mind numbing stupidity and for care and protection of our countries' most valuable assets - the men and women who served under my leadership. I have learned much from this soldier. Buy and read the book. You will come away a changed person.

Odyssey it is
This isn't a mere bio, it's a walk thru Dave Hackworth's life...minefields (physical and mental). He seemingly holds back nothing. Parts drag...post war duty in Germany...but that's Army life. It's not as on the edge as his recollections of combat, but that's the way it was.
His writings on Korea alone make this a must read.
But it keeps going, giving you his evolving perspective on what was and wasn't happening in Vietnam. He calls a spade a spade.
There is a little overlap (not much), but I would read this first, then Steel My Soldier's Hearts. Then, look at his webpage and Soldiers for the Truth. He's squarely on the side of the dogface soldier for whom few speak for fear of their career. If I could chose the man to lead my Sons into war, it would be Hack.

WELL WORTH THE READ - WARTS AND ALL
I really hate military autobiographies.That being said, I must say I enjoyed this one.Col. Hackworths career is fastinating. Being a career military person myself, I could certainly relate to much he said.On the other hand, he was rather heavy handed with his ego thing.I doubt if he and I could ever be "buds" but we would, admittedly, be in better shape had we had more officers like him over the past 40 years.The writing is clear, enjoyable and informative.We get a very good historical overview of semi-recent military history and some wonderful "war stories" thrown in.All in all I have to recommend this one (I must admit to have read it twice).A very interesting life.

Try .
I've learned more about winning thinking and leadership in this book than I have from officers in the past eleven years of navy service. Shame these things are not practiced and taught as widely as they used to be. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jennifer Lauck conveys the perceptions, thoughts, and emotions of afrightened child with utter conviction and vivid immediacy in her remarkablememoir of the six years during which both of her parents died. Lauck opens in 1969,when she is 5 and her 31-year-old mother is entering the final phase of a decadeof severe health problems. Momma is beautiful and loving; we feel the tenderintimacy between mother and daughter, even as we see that Jennifer has assumed alot of adult responsibilities that make her fearful and obsessed with rules.Eight-year-old brother Bryan responds to Momma's illnesses with anger, and isoften cruel to his sister. High-powered, workaholic Daddy does his best, butis not around a lot. (The adult author subtly depicts the kids' half-consciousunderstanding that Daddy is seeing other women.) As Momma's health worsens andthe family moves to Southern California to be near a better hospital, Lauckcaptures in painful detail the atmosphere of physical decay that surrounds amortally ill woman. Momma dies on Bryan's 10th birthday. In short order, Daddyhas moved them all in with Deb, who obviously has been his girlfriend for awhile, and events spiral down from there. Daddy dies of a heart attack beforeJennifer turns 10; Deb keeps the stepchildren (whom she dislikes) so that shecan get their social security allotment; Jennifer is sent out to work at aresidence that is run by Deb's creepy Freedom Community Church. She is 11 by thetime that her aunt and uncle rescue her--a moment that is nearly as exultant for readersas it is for the girl whose trials they have shared for nearly 400 pages. Herharrowing story might sound unrelievedly grim in the retelling, but Lauck's lackof self-pity and the delicacy of her prose transform it into an odyssey ofendurance and transcendence. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (92)

A great memoir!
Jennifer Lauck superbly tells the tale of the first decade of her life. I'm amazed at how she can recount the early events of her life with such detail, but that also shows how much those events still live with her today. She told the story with the innocence of a child and yet at such a young age she was very aware of her surrounding and what was going on. She had to grow up too fast and didn't have much of a childhood. Losing both her mother and father, then her brother being distanced from her must have been hard. To top that off, she often read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which ended up shadowing her own life. She had an "evil stepmother" and ended up being put in a shelter, which provided her with an escape from her horrible stepfamily. She made lots of friends and things were going good until her stepmother re-entered her life.
As a mother, I find Jennifer's bond with her real mother very heart warming. Even though her mother died when Jennifer was still young and her mother was sick most of her life, it's touching to read how Jennifer remembers her mother with such fondness and love. They didn't have much time together, but what time they did have shaped the rest of young Jennifer's life.
It is an absolutely fabolous story that I'm glad I had a chance to read. It's inspiring to know that the petty problems I face day-to-day are nothing like what Jennifer Lauck has faced. I would definitely encourage everyone to read this book!

Triumph over tragedy
I bought this book several years ago.I was hesitant to read it amid all the hype (as my expectations of such things are rarely met) and it has been sitting on my book shelf gathering dust for nearly four years.I have to say, I am disappointed that it took me so long to get around to reading this powerful memoir."Blackbird" not only met my expectations; it exceeded them.I was truly touched by Ms. Lauck's recount of her terribly short-lived childhood.Lauck has an undeniably expressive style.She writes emotion beautifully and the reader has a definite sense of being present in Jennifer (Jenny) Lauck's life.Jenny Lauck is a tormented and distraught five-year-old little girl; her young life is full of misfortune and catastrophe (starting with the death of her mother).The adults in Jenny's life, with the exception of her father, are cruel and unyielding, polar opposites of the nurturing role models that they should be; but the reader is invariably buoyed by Jenny's peaceful spirit and impenetrable strength, which she unfortunately fails to see in herself.Throughout the story, Jenny speaks of crying too much and being weak, but her courage and fortitude are the only things that provide any stability in her young life.Jenny is proof that children are incredibly resilient and resourceful beings.Jenny Lauck handles each upheaval in her young life with incredible grace and perfect style, and Jennifer Lauck (the author speaking for the child) tells her tale with titanic clarity and unequivocal conviction.Why four stars then?Lauck is exceedingly redundant at times.At first, the redundancy seemed artistic and well-placed in the dialogue of a child's thoughts; but, by the end of Part Two I was frustrated with the excessive descriptions of the pictures in Jenny's copy of Snow White (among other irritating narrative repetitions).Character perspective is absolutely imperative to a good narrative, but so is being aware of who your audience is and what they will find compelling versus what they will merely tolerate.It wasn't so obnoxious that it discouraged me from finishing the memoir, but it interfered enough to merit a warning. Aside from that, I found "Blackbird" to be a gripping, dramatic tale of loss and redemption and I would highly recommend it.

A Compelling Memoir
As a writing mentor, I work with a number of people who want to write memoirs.Many of them have experienced traumatic childhoods.I routinely recommend that they read Blackbird: A Childhood Lost and Found, in order to learn how a master of memoir handles writing about abandonment, abuse, and mental illness without blame, self-pity, or sentimentality.Lauck uses her skills as a journalist to shape a compelling memoir of her childhood.Her courage and well-honed craft are outstanding.She not only has connected with readers, but has helped many of them along the path of healing.

my story?
I felt like Ms. Lauck was writing my story. Her experiences and feelings were so similar to mine it was unreal. I cried from the moment I picked it up to the second I put it down. I cried because it was a sad story, I cried because I related, I cried because someone had finally put my feelings on paper.
Thank you Jennifer Lauck.

real page turner
BLACKBIRD is a fabulous piece of work, a real memoir. Yet almost seems fiction in its accounts of life. This book has some wonderful qualities like that of NIGHTMARES ECHO,LOST BOY and COURAGE TO HEAL.
This is a real page turner,excellent style. ... Read more

Book Description

BiographyLarge Print EditionA simply elegant memoir.Newsweek* A New York Times BestsellerIn an exquisitely written memoir, Mia Farrow introduces us to her extraordinary life. The painful custody battle with Woody Allen led her to reflect on the incidents that had brought her to a place so incomprehensible. The result is What Falls Away, a memoir resonant with honest and beautifully crafted prose. Told with grace, understanding and humor, it goes beneath the surface of an amazing life to expose the inner workings of a mind and spirit for whom truth, compassion and faith are essential. Readers will not easily forget this remarkable book. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

An eloquent memoir of a troubled life lived selflessly
Truly memorable. I have gained much respect for this woman who I knew little of other than her role as Mrs. Woody Allen and the mother of Rosemary's Baby. Mia is truly a woman who has spent her life in the service of others, but who has had very little left to give to herself. I come away feeling that Mr. Allen's unquestioned genius is a subversion of and reaction to the unspeakable darkness that occupies his soul. There are no villains in this story so much as there are victims. Mia's children are blessed to have such a loving mother; Woody's despicable behavior in all its bizarre manifestations is the outward expression of a tormented soul that will never know peace, joy, or true happiness. He is surely suffering, as he has caused profound suffering in others. I wish Ms. Farrow and her children peace, love, and finally, contentment. But most of all, peace.

Touching and beautiful. Not soon forgotten.
Mia Farrow's life has been full of challenges, children, and celebrities, yet she has come through it all as open, caring, and strong as she could possibly be. If you want to read her account of the whole Woody Allen / Soon-Yi / Dylan Farrow affair, read this book. If you have ever seen any of the movies she or either of her parents have been in, read this book. If you have children, read this book. If you find any joy in life, read this book to reaffirm that there are a few simply magnificent and good people in this world.

Loved this!
I usually love to read a good mystery. I decided to try this one out and loved it! Mia is so honest about her life's ups and downs. I recommend this!

Farrow "Falls Away"
"What Falls Away" was apparently any sense of innocence that Mia Farrow had when she broke up with Woody Allen. Farrow's autobiography has a sort of wispy appeal, with her stories about life with Frank Sinatra and Andre Previn, but it only comes to life in the last third of the book.

Farrow came from a celebrity family and started acting early. It was the cause of her deteriorated brief marriage to legendary singer Frank Sinatra, and new homebody ways didn't save her second marriage to Andre Previn -- but she did adopt many special-needs or orphaned children, alongside her own biological ones. But her sprawling adopted family was imperiled when her longtime boyfriend Woody Allen was found to be having an affair with her adopted daughter.

The first two-thirds of "What Falls Away" lacks any real punch. It's low-sugar cotton candy, with Farrow talking about the celebrity life and her time with her two husbands. And she talks about adopting children, of course -- although as the number goes up, it gets harder and harder to tell them apart.

But Farrow's biography starts showing a pulse a third of the way. Her long-term affair with Woody Allen was a bit of a freakshow, and it's only when it comes to Allen that Farrow starts to show any passion of any kind -- good, bad, or just passionate. She tries to hold back her obvious -- and justifiable -- anger, but it seeps through the ink.

Unfortunately, as "What Falls Away" starts to show signs of life, Farrow's own portrait of herself unravels. It comes across as alarming that she was merely worried by Allen's bizarre behavior toward Dylan, a young girl he sexually abused. And that after finding explicitly pornographic photographs of her adopted daughter, Farrow went back to work with Allen. Yet Farrow seems helpless to stop Allen from doing anything. She couldn't even throw him out of her apartment -- her son had to do it.

Farrow's writing is wisp-thin and sort of vaguely new-agey, especially when she writes about her transcendental trips with the Beatles back in the sixties. It's not that good, but it's pleasant enough. Virtually everyone is painted in rosy hues, save Allen (who is painted a sort of slimy sludge color) and Soon-Yi (Farrow obviously doesn't know what her daughter is thinking). In fact, it's hard to tell what Farrow herself is thinking -- she only seems to skim the top of her feelings.

Mia Farrow doesn't exactly bare her soul in "What Falls Away." What she does do is expose Woody Allen, and a life that mixes the disquieting and the impressive.

ENCHANTING AND REAL
I was ready for anything with this book. I love the idea of Mia Farrow's unconventional lifestyle and her eccentricity but that does not a great writer make. However, I was really happily surprised at her lovely writing style. She is a natural talent. Her writing voice is clear and elegant and does justice to her very interesting life. I, of course, was interested in the Woody Allen scandal, but that is only a small part of what this book has to offer. Wonderful read. ... Read more

Book Description

Politics aside, people worldwide have come to admire Barbara Bush's wit, candor and compassion, as well as her unswerving devotion to her husband and children.Now, she gives listeners a very private look at a life she lived in the public eye for more than 25 years.With the contemporary American history as the backdrop, Mrs. Bush remembers the experiences that led to the White House, from growing up in Rye, New York and meeting George Bush, through life as a young bride and mother and the almost unbearable pain of losing a child.She talks candidly about her years in public life in Washington, New York and China, and describes her role as the wife of the Vice President, culminating in the climactic White House years.Drawing upon excerpts from the diary she has compiled for more than 30 years, Mrs. Bush takes us behind the scenes of the Persian Gulf conflict and the end of the Cold War, and introduces us to the world leaders and their spouses with whom she has developed friendships over the years.She also talks about both the Bushes' struggle to overcome Graves Disease, the disappointment of the 1992 Presidential campaign and the joys of rediscovering private life, and tells us why she threw so much of her energy and compassion behind the important cause of making America more literate.Filled with the funny, often self-deprecating and occasionally touching anecdotes for which she is well-known, Mrs. Bush's memoir will charm her millions of admirers and earn her many more. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Takes you around the world while meeting famous people.
This is a great book. You truly see what it is like to live in the political world. Barbara Bush uses humor and moving stories to show what her life was like in China, New York, Washington, D.C., and Texas. Her positive atitude towards people is truly encouraging. I look up to her.

I choose to love it!
I was 18 when Bush ran for office in 1988 and that was my first election to vote in. Needless to say, I voted for George Bush. I only wish I would have paid closer attention to his presidency then, because all dignity, grace, and respect left the White House with Barbara and he. Barbara Bush tells the story about a good life with no apologies. Everyone strives for the American dream, but few people enjoy it once they possess it. As a mother of three now, myself, I can appreciate her willingness to love and support her husband and family. I appreciate that she is a self realized person in her own right and was never threatened by, nor felt she had to compete with her husband's success. I loved being introduced to "Bar's" George Bush. Here is a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and a decent human being. Most of all, I appreciate the words she repeats several times in her book... "In life, we can choose to love what we do or hate it, I choose to love it" This book is very inspiring and should certainly pull the reader out of any depression or slump he may find himself in.

Finally, I will be voting for another George Bush next month!

A Beautiful Mind
After reading this book, I was reminded of Richard Nixon's famous remark; "there's a woman who knows how to hate!" I've never seen a person (outside of her own son, G.W.,) with a more deceptive public persona. Maybe Kitty Kelly will one day take a crack at writing a more true to life portrayal of this hateful harridan.

A Warm and Interesting Look
After reading this book, her husband's second book, and finally her second memoir, I did have a profound respect for her dignity, love for her family, and stamina. This book was an easy read and was absolutely fascinating to go along on exotic trips and learning about the side kick's day to day existence as wife to President. The book made me admire the Bush's as a couple more, the love for their kids and each other, and their principles, even if I did not agree with all of the latter.

Uneven book by a nice lady
It was interesting to learn more about Barbara Bush and her life. In particular I enjoyed to read about her younger days. This was something I hadn't heard much about before, and I thought it was nice to read about her family and friends, and not the least about how she met her husband George Bush. There was so much I didn't know, and the pages turned quickly.

I also enjoyed the end of the book. It was great to learn more about how she experienced the Gulf War and, in the end, the loss in the final president election that her husband was a part of. In this part, I found what I felt was missing in the middle part of the book: I felt she was more open about what she thought about people and situations than she was when it came to the Vice President and President years. It's natural to think that she couldn't be so open about what she thought about political leaders and situations during that period. I find that understandable, but it made this part of 'A Memoir' duller to read than the rest of book.

Even so, I liked Barbara Bush, because she seemed like a nice lady. ... Read more

Book Description

National Bestseller!

One of the greatest literary achievements in the history of English letters, the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary began in 1857, took seventy years to complete, and drew from tens of thousands of brilliant minds. But hidden within the rituals of its creation is a fascinating and mysterious story.

Professor James Murray was the distinguished editor of the OED project. Dr. William Chester Minor, an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War, was one of thousands of contributors to the dictionary. But Minor was no ordinary contributor. He was remarkably prolific, sending thousands of neat, hand-written quotations from his home. On numerous occasions Murray invited Minor to visit Oxford and celebrate his work, but Murray's offer was regularly, mysteriously, refused.

Finally, a puzzled Murray set out to visit him. It was then that Murray would finally learn the truth about Minor . . . that, in addition to being a masterly wordsmith, Minor was also a murderer, clinically insane - and locked up in Broadmoor, England's harshest asylum for criminal lunatics.

The Professor and the Madman is an extraordinary tale of madness and genius, and the incredible obsessions of two men at the heart of the Oxford English Dictionary and literary history. Written with riveting insight and detail, Simon Winchester delivers a fascinating glimpse into one man's tortured mind and his contribution to another man's magnificent dictionary.

Reviews (344)

Too little story, too much padding...
The title of this book, "The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary" is far more intriguing than the book itself. Once you get the main idea, that one of the most important contributors to the Oxford English Dictionary was an American living in a mad-house, there's not much more to tell. And yet, Simon Winchester goes on to tell it for another 200 or so pages.

The problem is that what sounds like a fascinating story really isn't. I mean, nothing much happens. Dr. W. C. Minor is delusional, murders a man, and is placed in a mental institution. Dr. Murray begins work on the Oxford Dictionary and makes a public request for volunteers to read through books and find examples of words. Dr. Minor responds to the advertisement from his cell, and is of great help.

Time passes. Eventually, both men die of old age.

End of story.

Simon Winchester tries to fill pages with baseless supposition, along the lines of "Perhaps it was this early experience of watching young maidens bathing in the river that would eventually lead Dr. Minor to the confused mental state that would, ultimately, land him in a mental hospital." After a while, though, one can't help thinking, it would have been nice if this book had an actual story behind it. "Perhaps Dr. Minor had an affair with the widow of the man he murdered. Although there is no evidence to suggest that anything of the kind ever occurred..."

What was interesting was seeing some of the early definitions of the words themselves, but that was a very small part of the book. Ultimately, "The Professor and the Madman" is a bit of fluff. There's enough information to make for a fascinating 5-page article, but it's extended and padded to fill a book.

Only for the very bored...

interesting story
This is a marvelous book about the Professor, James Murray, the primary editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, and the Madman, Dr. William C. Minor, one of the Dictionary's most prolific contributors, despite his incarceration in an asylum for the criminally insane after committing a senseless murder provoked by his delusions. The book tells the stories of each of these protagonists as well as the making of the OED itself, and nicely wraps up all of the connections, even to the point of showing what happened to the murdered man's family (whose widow visited Minor regularly
for months).

Quick read for philologists, historians, and others.
I like reading the occasional historical fact (rather than historical fiction) "novelette," and The Professor and the Madman was definitely easy to get through. One can learn much from books like this, particularly the way normal people lived their day-to-day lives in a certain time and place.

A few things I liked about this book:

1. One will assuredly learn a thing or two about the English language, in reading it. You will learn some obsolete words, the origin of some words, and just get a refresher of other, more common words. Each chapter begins with a dictionary entry of a particular word, some very normal words, some more exotic words.

2. The parallel lives of the two main characters are interesting to follow. One feels real emotions for both. There are a few shocking moments in the book, which stand out quite a bit in front of the otherwise fairly tame narrative.

3. I grew up with the Oxford English Dictionary, and I always wondered how they compiled all the words. It was great learning about how they did that.

4. The book covers an array of themes and topics, and a fairly diverse geography. Mental illness, civil war, sexual propriety, crime and punishment, one can learn a little bit about a lot of issues in the reading of Simon Winchester's book.

I wouldn't recommend the book to just anyone, though. It can be kind of slow, and sometimes one simply grows tired of bouncing back and forth between the two main characters. It is also fairly short; one sort of wishes for more detail on certain events. In some places, the book reads like a crime/detective novel from the 19th century, in others it is more like a biography. It sort of skips around from one style to the next, almost as if different parts were written at very different times by an author in very different states of mind. Overall, though, this book is a nice, quick read, a good plot, and you will learn a thing or two from it.

A Fascinating Footnote to History
Simon Winchester has written a very unusual book about a very strange series of events during the last century and the dawn of this one. First, we have various literary authorities in England deciding to compile and edit a massive dictionary (eventually it became the Oxford English Dictionary), which took 70 years to finish and filled multiple volumes. Then we have the editor of the project for most of its life discovering that one of his most valuable contributors was in a lunatic asylum because he murdered someone. The story goes from there.

Winchester is a good writer, and he milks this story for everything it's worth. He spends a good deal of time talking about side issues, as is common with this sort of slice-of-life thing. He does a very good job with them, as far as I can tell. I'm pretty knowledgeable with regards to the American Civil War; the author must tell you of the Battle of the Wilderness to explain how the murderer went mad, and he does so skilfully. The writing of the OED and its contents are intelligently discussed and dissected, and the history of dictionaries themselves was fascinating. The other characters, namely the editor of the dictionary itself, James Murray, are interesting and well-drawn.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It is short, but it's fascinating, and I would recommend it pretty much universally.

Fun and Accessible
Being a dictionary enthusiast, especially of the OED, I was excited to come across this book. It reads quickly, and has a wealth of factual information and also some fun speculation. The author uses lots of words which are themselves fun to look up, but also has OED references printed right in. I suggest that any fan of the OED read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Worth the price
A pity this book is out of print. I recently obtained a copy at a local thrift store, and it was more than worth what I paid for it. In many ways Robin Quivers' book is more interesting than Howard Stern's two biographies--her path to the Howard Stern show was not the straight path that Stern himself took. She worked in nursing, she went into the military, and she got involved with Werner Erhard-inspired self-help groups. Her upbringing was in a lower or lower-middle class home where she was subjected to abuse.

I liked it
A little dry in some places, this is still an interesting book. Robin is an interesting woman who has had an interesting life. The childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her father, her time in the military, and her involvement in transcendental meditation, make for a varied life that explains why Ms. Quivers is the perfect companion for Howard Stern on his daily radio show. She is such an intelligent and clear-minded woman, which is amazing considering what she has come out of.

All hail the Queen of All Media!

Publishing plans for BABA BOOEY: A LIFE have been canceled
When it was released several years ago, QUIVERS: A LIFE, the autobiography of radio and television's "Howard Stern Show" member Robin Quivers, had a short life on the bookstore shelves.

QUIVERS: A LIFE seems to have met the same fate as the musical careers of the Stern Show's Stuttering John Melendez and Fred Norris: a quick exit to WhoCares?ville. Public interest in even the closest associates of Howard Stern proves limited if Stern himself does not participate in the project. Just because Miss Quivers' life is part of "The Howard Stern Show," that does not mean the public wants a book independent of Stern's involvement.

Even Billy West and Jackie Martling, the most talented performers to work with Howard Stern, have not reached anything resembling stardom. It seems the sum of the parts do not equal the whole Stern show.

I imagine book publishers canceled plans for BABA BOOEY: A LIFE after QUIVERS: A LIFE proved lifeless to the book-buying public.

Funny thing is, the well-written QUIVERS: A LIFE keeps the pages turning. Robin Quivers gives the blow-by-blow on her troubled childhood and the resulting tough adjustment she had as an adult. And of course, the anecdotes about working with Howard Stern also keep it interesting.

Good background Knowledge
If you like to listen or watch Howard Stern, and you love his side kick Robin, then this book is a must read. It gives you insite to her life and helps explain a lot of things. While it was not the best book I have read, I did enjoy it.

Attention Howard Stern/Robin Quivers fans!
If you are a Howard Stern show fan, and want to hear Robin's side of things, read her book or listen to these tapes. It was great to actually hear Robin tell her story in tape format. She has definately not had an easy road to stardom and this reveals some trials and tribulations she went through to attain and achieve her goals. The story gives you a new outlook on Robin and explains why she is the way she is. A definate must! ... Read more

Book Description

An exciting scientific adventure from the days of wooden ships and iron men, Longitude is full of heroism and chicanery, brilliance and the absurd.It is also a captivating brief history of astronomy, navigation and clockmaking.

For centuries, the determination of longitude was thought to be an impossibility.Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land.

The quest for a solution had occupied scientists for the better part of two centuries when, in 1714, England's Parliament upped the ante by offering a king's ransom -- £20,000, or about $12,000,000 in today's currency -- to anyone whose method or device proved successful.Countless quacks weighed in with preposterous suggestions.

Then one man -- an unschooled woodworker named John Harrison -- dared to imagine a mechanical solution, a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land.Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer.
... Read more

Reviews (209)

Amazing subject, fascinating story
With "Longitude" Dava Sobel has written a very interesting book about the greatest scientific problem of the 18th century.

As a result of the 1707-shipwreck story (with a loss of 4 out of the 5 ships), the English Parliament offered in 1714 a 20.000 pounds reward to the person that could provide a practicable and useful way of determining longitude. (If you have forgot, longitude is the "lines" that runs from pole to pole). Not being able to determining longitude was a great problem. Ships spent excessive time trying to find its way back to port, or worse men, ship and cargo were lost at sea.

John Harrison (1693-1776) spent his lifetime trying to solve the longitude mystery. Harrison was a son of a countryman, with minimal schooling, and was self-educated in watch making. He made several timepieces, which all qualified for the reward, but the reward was delayed several times by the Longitude committee whom believed that other ways of measuring longitude were the preferred ones. Ultimately after a lot of harassment and trouble, Harrison was given the reward money.

Dava Sobel has done a wonderful job in this book, capturing Harrison's fascinating character, his brilliance, preserving and hard working nature. The author has also managed to strike a perfect balance between technical jargon and personal anecdotes, and she does it in such a way permitting the lay readers of the book to admire the elegance of Harrison's discoveries. I believe it is a sign of excellent quality when an author makes learning so interesting.

I was hooked from the first page of this book and I read it in 50-page gulps at a time.

Highly recommended!

John Harrison--an extraordinary person
John Harrison (1693-1776) spent his lifetime inventing and perfecting a series of timepieces to measure longitude. As Dava Sobel relates in her engaging narrative, "Longitude," until the 18th century sailors navigated by following parallels of latitude and roughly estimating distance traveled east or west. Ships routinely missed their destinations, often taking excessive time to arrive or succumbing to reefs off fogbound shores. Thousands of sailors and tons of cargo were lost.

In 1714, England's Parliament offered £20,000 (the equivalent of about $12 million today) to anyone who provided a "practicable and useful" means of determining longitude. Countless solutions were suggested, some bizarre, some impractical, some workable only on land and others far too complex.

Most astronomers believed the answer lay in the sky, but Harrison, a clockmaker, imagined a mechanical solution--a clock that would keep precise time at sea. By knowing the exact times at the Greenwich meridian and at a ship's position, one could find longitude by calculating the time difference. However, most scientists, including Isaac Newton, discounted a clock because there were too many variables at sea. Changes in temperature, air pressure, humidity and gravity would surely render a watch inaccurate.

Harrison persisted. As Dava Sobel writes, he worked on his timepiece for decades, though he suffered skepticism and ridicule. Even after completing his timepiece, an instrument we now call a chronometer, in 1759, he underwent a long series of unfair trials and demonstrations. Ultimately he triumphed.

Sobel, a science writer who contributes to Audubon, Life, Omni and other magazines, captures John Harrison's extraordinary character: brilliant, persevering and heroic in the face of adversity. He is a man you won't forget.

Brief but enjoyable
This slim volume tells the story of John Harrison who, although untrained, built four revolutionary clocks that changed how ships navigate at sea. It also tells about the political fight Harrison was forced to fight to win recognition for his work.

Written in a easy-to-read, "magazine" tone the tale goes quickly, whole years pass in a couple sentences. I wanted more details and this is where the book disappoints but it may not be the authors fault The book hints that many events weren't recorded and more details just aren't available.

One technical note: I think the font used in this tiny, five by eight inch book is a little small and the page numbers, even smaller, aren't readable at a glance. Or maybe I'm getting old.

Great story, but BEWARE of inaccuracies in this book.
John Harrison completes his first pendulum clock in 1713 before the age of 20. He made the gears for this out of wood which was radical for such a use, but as a carpenter, perhaps not to him---which is a mark of genius, I'd say; to reach beyond accepted norms in this manner. This he did after borrowing a book on math and the laws of motion; which he copied word for word, making his own copy. He incorporated different varieties of wood into his clock for strenth and later invented a bi-metal pendulum to counteract the expansion and compression of various individual metals. He also employed friction-free movements so as to do away with problematic lubricants. When intrigued by the puzzle of time at sea and the issue of longitude he contemplated substituting something not prone to gravity, as a pendulum of course is, to track times passing. In 1737 he creates a cantilevered clock 4 foot square. This the longitude board (which had offered a cash bonus to anyone who could devise a method in which time at sea could be kept) admired. Four years later he returns with an improved model; then starts on a 3rd model, like the previous two, also a fairly large sized clock.But there exists a problem within this book: An artisan freemason by the name of John Jefferys at the Worshipful Company of clockmakers befriends Harrison and then later presents to him a pocket watch in 1753. Then in 1755, while still working on his 3rd model, Harrison says this to the Longitude board: I have..."good reason to think" on the basis of a watch "already executed that such small machines[he's referring to pocketwatches] may be of great service with respect to longitude." He then completes version 3 in 1759. His fourth version appears just a year later, however, and is a 5 inch wide pocketwatch! The obvious inference made by the author is that after he received the pocketwatch from Jeffreys he seemingly put his version #3 on the backburner and soon started on the pocketwatch 4th version. The author does not claim Harrison copied anything from the Jeffreys model, but she certainly phrases this section so as to lend one to believe that this may have been the case; that Jefferys had a hand in the masterstroke invention Harrison eventually produced in version #4. This is not true. Harrison commissioned the watch he received from Jeffreys and was based on Harrison's specifications. It seems that Harrison simply asked Jeffreys to test an idea which he himself hadn't the time to attack just then; as he was still working on his 3rd version of a table-top prototype clock. Hence Harrison's above statement to the board in 1755 whence his ideas were validated by Jeffreys. In addition, the author plays up the part of the Astronomer Royal's part in attempting to impede Harrison from convincing the longitiude board of the efficacy of a time-piece solution to this problem over a celestial answer to this conundrum. The author also jazzes up the issue of whether Harrison received the prize the board promised to pay for a successful solution herein; even though the board supported him for upwards of 20 years as he pursued this quest. It's as if the author intentionally omitted some facts (that the Jefferys was a Harrison commission), and pumped up others (of a rival/foil on the board trying to impede Harrison and the compensation issue; implying that Harrison was jipped) just to make the story more compelling. John Harrison's story, however, is extremely compelling as it is and didn't need this extra spice served up by the author.Do read this (very short) book on how this Mr. Harrison solved the problem of knowing where one is when at sea; and if you're in London, visit the Old Royal Observatory and the Clockmakers museum (in the Guildhall) where you can see Harrison's wonderful creations in person. Enjoy!

The Man who Captured Time so Ships could Navigate Accurately
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Note: This review has been written from a city with the following position on Earth:

LATITUDE: (43 degrees 2 minutes North)
LONGITUDE: (81 degrees 9 minutes West).

In order to understand the significance of this remarkable book by Dava Sobel, the reader has to understand some words and phrases in the book's title and subtitle.

"Longitude" along with Latitude are two numbers along with compass directions that are used to fix the position of anything on the planet Earth (as in the note above). Lines of Latitude are the imaginary, parallel, horizontal lines circling the Earth with the equator (fixed by nature) being the "zero-degree parallel of latitude." Lines of Longitude or "meridians" are the imaginary lines that run top to bottom (north and south), from the Earth's North Pole to its South Pole with the "prime meridian" (established by political means) being the "zero-degree meridian of longitude." (Since the mid-1880s, the prime merdian has passed through Greenwich, England. Before this time, the imaginary line that passed through a ship's home port was usually used as the zero-degree meridian.)

Finding the latitude on land or at sea was easy and eventually a device was invented to make it even easier. But finding longitude, especially at sea on a swaying ship was difficult, a difficulty "that stumped the wisest minds of the world for the better part of human history" and was "the greatest scientific problem" of the 1700s. Ways of determining longitude astronomically were devised, but these proved to be impractical when used at sea.

England's parliament recognized that "the longitude problem" had to be solved practically since many people and valuable cargo were lost at sea when the ship's navigators lost sight of land. Thus, this parliament offered a top monetary prize that's equivalent to many millions of dollars today to anybody who could solve the problem.

Enter "a lone genius" named John Harrison (1693 to 1776). While most thought the solution to the problem was astronomical, Harrison saw time as the solution.

To calculate the longitude using time on a ship at sea, you have to realize these two facts found in this book:

(i) The Earth takes 24 hours of time to spin 360 degrees on its axis from east to west.
(ii) Noon (12:00 PM) is the highest point the sun seems to "travel" in a day.

To learn one's longitude at sea using time, as this book explains, it's necessary to do the following:

(1) Know the time it is aboard ship (local noon was normally used because of fact (ii) above).
(2) At the very same moment, know the time at a known longitude (such as at Greenwich, England).
(3) The difference in time between (1) and (2) is coverted to a longitude reading in degrees and direction (using fact (i) above).

Harrison's solution was the accurate determination of time of (2) above by inventing a reliable timepiece. This timepiece, in this case, would be set to Greenwich time. (Note that, as stated, (1) could be determined using the noon-day sun but this was not always practical. Eventually another timepiece was used to determine the ship's local noon for a particular day.) It has to be realized that this was the "era of pendulum clocks" where, on a deck of a rocking ship, "such clocks would slow down or speed up, or stop running altogether." Harrison was to capture time by building a marine clock or "timekeeper" (eventually called a "chronometer") that could be used on a ship at sea.

This book tells the "true story" of Harrison and his chronometers. (There were five built over a forty-year period. Harrison's first timekeeping device was known as H-1, his second was H-2, and so on.) Sobel uses accuracy (as evidenced by her thirty references), extensive interviews, and an engaging, mostly non-technical narrative (only essential technical detail is included) to convey a story that's filled with suspense, heroism, perfectionism, and villiany. All this in less than 200 pages!!

The only problem I had with this book is that it has hardly any pictures (photographs and illustrations). I would have liked to have seen pictures of the various people involved in this saga, maps showing where ships traveled, more photos of Harrison's amazing timepieces (both interior and exterior), and diagrams that explained important concepts. A diagram that actually showed how longitude, using a simple example, is calculated (using the steps above) would also have been helpful.

Finally, there is a good 1999 movie entitled "Longitude" based on this book. Be aware that even though this book is short, the movie is long (over three hours).

In conclusion, this book documents the exciting "true story" of how "a lone genius" solved "the longitude problem." Sobel states this more eloquently: "With his marine clocks, John Harrison tested the waters of space-time. He succeeded, against all odds, in using the fourth...dimension to link points on a three-dimensional globe. He [took] the world's whereabouts from the stars, and locked [or captured] the secret in a...watch."

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