Amazon.com

All three of Ron Chernow's books are lengthy and solidly researched, but his background as a journalist shows in his ability here to convey complex material in terms of vivid characters and a well-defined theme. As in his National Book Award-winning business history (The House of Morgan) and his comprehensive biography of John D. Rockefeller (Titan), in The Warburgs Chernow employs marvelously detailed material to trace a single overarching story: the riveting and ultimately tragic odyssey of German Jews. The Warburgs were Hamburg's preeminent banking family from the 18th century until Hitler's Third Reich forced them to hand over their business to Aryans in 1938. But they also boasted among their family members a celebrated art historian (Aby Warburg), a Nobel Prize-winning scientist (Otto Warburg), and the financial angel of the New York City Ballet (Edward Warburg). Two of the "Famous Five" brothers married American women at the turn of the 20th century and became honored members of the Wall Street establishment, so Chernow's lively narrative imparts important U.S. social and economic history as well. But don't let all those fancy credentials intimidate you: The Warburgs features enough flamboyant personalities and high-class gossip to make this as entertaining a read as the latest issue of People magazine. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Power, Wealth and a Jewish Dynasty
Ostensibly the study of a remarkable, wealthy dynasty, The Warburgs is a monumental history of Europe, the United States, Israel and even Africa. The author manages to faithfully document the lives of these international bankers, nobel prize winning scientists, explorers and philanthropists against some of the most haunting events in human history.

That the Warburg family loved their German homeland is indisputable. Even after WWII, some descendents could not resist returning to Hamburg, to see the old estates, to embrace old nannies, employees and to on one occassion, steal back a valuable vase that the Nazi's had appropriated elsewhere. They were passionate German citizens later of course spurned and victimized.

From Imperial and then Weimar Germany, the Warburgs were integral to achieving the ends of their leaders; Max Warburg worked tirelessly up until the very end, to secure a peaceful neutralization of Hitler's intention for the Jews. He was involved in assuring a Dutch purchase of Nyassaland in Northern Mozambique which ultimately played a significant role for Rommel's troops.

The family with connections to the Rothschilds, Loebs, Kuhns and others had solid foundations in the U.S. with one Warburg advising Theodore Roosevelt and later, of course, FDR. And logically, from this family where ambivalence toward Judaeism was an on-going theme, there were inevitable struggles and betrayals during the seeding and conceptualization of an Israeli sovereign state.

The book has many levels of interest- it involves a history of culture and the arts, of Jewish European exodus to the U.S and to Israel, it presents scenes of wealthy Jews celebrating with Christmas trees, of kids attending Anglican schools, and even flirtations with far left and deeply conservative politics.

The book is a meditation on the nature of wealth and being Jewish, the insoluble interactions of the two and the frequently unintentional social responsibilities carried within those elements.

History of jew bankers
In this 1993 National Book Award winner, Chernow presents a sweeping yet intimate historical saga of an extraordinary German-Jewish banking family whose roots go back to the 18th century. Richly documented by Warburg family archival and oral sources, the study captures both the glory and folly of this family of grandees, whose remarkable impact on the world of international finance, politics, culture, philanthropy, and Zionism continues to resonate. With delicious detail spiced by psychological ruminations and sensitivity, with penetrating insight conveyed by sometimes sparkling writing, Chernow focuses on the individual heroes of the Warburg clan--especially Mak, Felix, Paul, Fritz, Aby, Eric, James, and Sir Seigmund--and deftly portrays the meteoric rise of the dynasty, its fall under the Nazis, postwar rebirth, and the ultimately futile struggle of most Warburgs to maintain a Jewish identity. This is biography on an epic scale. General readers, undergraduates, and above.

A Fascinating Lesson of Courage and Triumph in Adversity
Ron Chernow narrates with panache the riveting tribulations of the Warburgs, a prominent Jewish banking dynasty emerging in Germany in the sixteenth century. The author does an outstanding job in switching back and forth between the Alsterufer Warburgs and the Mittelweg Warburgs, the two rivaling branches of the Warburgs. Ron Chernow indeed vividly recasts the numerous actors of that saga against the economic, political and social backdrop of their time. The author brilliantly helps his readers understand the painful dilemma that many German Jews, keener and keener on assimilation into Germany, faced especially under the Weimar Republic and then under Nazism. Ron Chernow also underlines how several Warburgs emigrating outside Germany had a positive influence on the unfolding of some key domestic and overseas events. Ironically, M.M. Warburg & Co., the German cradle of the banking dynasty that Nazism and then internal infighting almost torpedoed with success, is the only one to remain independent today. M.M. Warburg & Co. is Germany's second largest private bank. S.G. Warburg is now part of Union Bank of Switzerland while Warburg Pincus, successor of E.M. Warburg, belongs to Credit Suisse.

A candid insight
The history of the Warburg family is a amazingly tragic, hopeful and truimphant one. Ron Chernow describes the tight rope that Jews trod, at different stages of world issues, in a captive and sensitive manner. The author describes the begining of the banking dynasty and progresses through each genration leaving a unremovable image of each member. With a few exceptions, for every successful and optimistic father there is a unsure and detached son. For every mother who was a perfectionist and hardworking, there was a loyal, ambitious son. Not being Jewish, but understanding the feeling of not being fully assimilated in my own society, i personally appreciated this balancing act. However i believe that the issues of their religion and their trade, whilst very significant, play a complementary backdrop to which is essentially a superb insight into a diverse and ambitious family. One which, i think we can all relate to. I'd recommend it for all readers out there.

Learn history through real events in a family
The best way to learn & really "feel" history is to see it in familiar events, like the story of a family. Ron Chernow has achieved this feat with all 3 of the books I have read by him -- the Rockefeller book, the Morgan book and this book. This volume resonated with me more than the others since I am jewish, and since a number of my ancestors were assimilationist german jews (but never of the magnitude of the Warburgs!). The foolishness & the triumphs of this extended family would have made interesting reading even without the context of world events, but that's what makes the difference between a fair book and a great book. Chernow is particularly good at weaving in the world events without sounding ponderous or pedantic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tom Wolfe began The Right Stuff at a time when it wasunfashionable to contemplate American heroism. Nixon had left the White House in disgrace, the nation was reeling from the catastrophe of Vietnam, andin 1979--the year the book appeared--Americans were being held hostage by Iranian militants. Yet it was exactly the anachronistic courage of his subjects that captivated Wolfe. In his foreword, he notes that as lateas 1970, almost one in four career Navy pilots died in accidents. "The Right Stuff," he explains, "became a story of why men were willing--willing?--delighted!--to take on such odds in this, an era literary people had long since characterized as the age of theanti-hero."

Wolfe's roots in New Journalism were intertwined with the nonfictionnovel that Truman Capote had pioneered with In Cold Blood. AsCapote did, Wolfe tells his story from a limited omniscient perspective,dropping into the lives of his "characters" as each in turn becomes a majorplayer in the space program. After an opening chapter on the terror of being a test pilot's wife, the story cuts back to the late 1940s, whenAmericans were first attempting to break the sound barrier. Test pilots, wediscover, are people who live fast lives with dangerous machines, not all of them airborne. Chuck Yeager was certainly among the fastest, and his determination to push through Mach 1--a feat that some had predictedwould cause the destruction of any aircraft--makes him the book's guiding spirit.

Yet soon the focus shifts to the seven initial astronauts. Wolfe traces Alan Shepard's suborbital flight and Gus Grissom's embarrassing panicon the high seas (making the controversial claim that Grissom flooded his Liberty capsule by blowing the escape hatch too soon). The author also produces an admiring portrait of John Glenn's apple-pie heroism and selfless dedication. By the time Wolfe concludes with a return toYeager and his late-career exploits, the narrative's epic proportions andliterary merits are secure. Certainly The Right Stuff is the best, the funniest, and the most vivid book ever written about America's mannedspace program. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (69)

I'd Give it 6 Stars If I Could
With the exception of The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, no story is a better match for Wolfe's hyperbolic, stream of consciousness writing style than The Right Stuff.

"the Honorable Mrs Squirming Hatch Blower!"--'nuff said.

the right stuff
"The Right Stuff" by Thomas Wolf details the manned space race between Russia and the United States. It focuses on the United States' effort to put a man into space. The story of the first seven American astronauts is told, along with a description of test pilots, scientists, and others involved with space flight during this time. Tom Wolfe accurately depicts the personalities of the cocky test pilots and their change throughout the book, where in the end, the end of being the heroes of the Space Race. The Space Race was, in fact, a vital part of our history and is the reason for some of our major technological advances today. This book is a great read and will really give the reader a taste of the time and views from Americans about this Race at the time.

The Right Stuff
This book accurately documents the Space Race between the U.S. and Russia. Im so happy Thomas Wolfe wrote this book because i never would have known that these events had happened this way. There is a lot to learn about the way space programs worked and the details and hardships these people endured. I was thoroughly intrigued by the way the sound barrier was broken and the skill it takes to fly airplanes at such high altitudes and velocities. The way the men trying to explore space believed in the programs was truly an inspiration to me. Up until this time, space travel seemed like such an impossible task, but after these accomplishments, the universe seemed just a tiny bit smaller. The way Wolfe displays the perserverence of the men inspires me everyday and I hope that it helps me to do something incredible one day as well.

Russia had the Right Stuff
This book was well written and enjoyable, and I like Tom Wolfe, but I kind of do not really see the point. The Russians put a man not only into space a month before we did in 1961, but put him into orbit. Good old righteous stuff Alan Shepard and John Glenn went subsequently in '61 and '62, but... what exactly was the point? Russia had already defeated us in this space race, and had sent Gagarin into orbit? JFK and US were so proud that many were crying when they saw what Shepard and Glenn did, but the truth is, America was behind USSR! Furthermore, Wolfe makes clear than it did not take too much to be an astronaut, as even a chimpanzee named Ham was able to do it. True skill in flying was like being X-1 test fighters, not being astronauts just "floating" in space. So where exactly was the right stuff? Russia beat us, and to be an astronaut was to float like a chimpanzee, seems that a more appropriate right stuff subject is the 1969 Moon Landing.

Insights into the Early History of Space Flight
For those familiar with the history of manned space flight, most of the information in this book is familiar. But there are also some "what if" alternatives mentioned. For instance, Shepard wanted a 3-day Mercury flight in 1963 following the flight of Cooper's Faith 7. This never came to pass. Considering how far the US was behind the USSR in man hours of space flight, this would have been a good idea.
... Read more

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In This Boy's Life Tobias Wolf created an unforgettable memoir of an American childhood.Now he gives us a precisely and sometimes pitilessly remembered account of his young manhood - a young manhood that become entangled in the tragic adventure that was Vietnam.Mordantly funny, searingly honest, In Pharoah's Army is a war memoir in the tradition of George Orwell and Michael Herr. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A disappointment; pretty mundane.
Wolff is a fine writer, and the book is certainly readable, but it added barely anything to my understanding of war, Vietnam, the soldier's life, etc. Frankly, I was disappointed, based on the previous work I'd read by him. Other Vietnam books, such as "Chickenhawk", "The Things They Carried" (the latter billed as fiction) and "We Were Soldiers Once, And Young" really put this one to shame, and I strongly recommend all of them, without reservation, to anyone who might be interested in this subject. This one you can skip.

Simply excellent
I read this after This Boy's Life which was terrific. In this book you get the same honesty the same dazzling writing. It's hard to pin down but the way Mr. Wolff writes you REALLY feel like you know him. There is no pretension, no hype to his writing. No bs. Wolff has alot of anecdotes to tell about his youth. Off the top of my head I can recall his experiences watching Bonanza on tv. in Vietnam. It was quite a story believe me. And it touched on things like, the savvy of his second in command, the day to day life of a soldier... This book is filled with telling stories like this. You won't see this sort of thing in your usual Vietnam memoir. Least I wouldn't think so. I will say one thing though. Before I read any of Wolff's work it seemed, from the reviews and the book jacket that I was in for a kind of dull book that had a way of obliging the reader to acknowledge it. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book has all the colors of the rainbow, chills, thrills, laughs, I mean this book has it ALL.

Unbelievably great story of a special forces officer
This is far from your typical war memoir. Tobias Wolff found himself in Vietnam almost accidently, but as a highly trained special forces officer. His experiences there are anything but gung-ho. Lots of powerful vignettes.

Everyone should read this book. It's that good.

Well written but ultimately a letdown
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. Wolff is a gifted writer, but it doesn't seem like he's got a whole lot to talk about when it comes to his time in Vietnam. Wolf portrays himself as an inept soldier, someone who got his officer's commission by an idiotic stroke of luck. He even gives examples to back it up. A great example is a practice parachute insertion, when he mistakes a garbage dump for his intended drop zone and orders his team to jump.

The more I read, the more I began to dislike Wolff. After reading the combat memoirs of men like Frank Miller (Reflections of a Warrior), Robert Mason (Chickenhawk), Bruce Norton (Force Recon Diary), and others, it's hard to feel otherwise. He comes off as an extremely self-centered individual-not only in 'Nam, but in every aspect of his life.

On a side note, the book ends with a truly bizzare paragraph explaining the type used to print the book and a brief biographical note about the type's creator. I have no idea what purpose this paragraph serves, but I mention it here because it is, by accident or design, one of the books most memorable parts.

An Honorable Man
"In Pharaoh's Army" is not your average war memoir, nor even your average Vietnam war memoir. Wolff joined the army because he wanted to be a man of honor and he trusted the government to use its soldiers well. Instead, he finds that while he is a better soldier than some, he is not the "wily, nerveless killer" that the Army wants him to be. He gets through Officer Candidate School (at the bottom of his class) only because he has the talent to produce the satirical revue for graduation night. New assignments repeatedly have little or nothing to do with his immediate prior training. When Wolff finally gets to Vietnam, he is sent to act as the American advisor to a Vietnamese unit, but with very little guidance as to what he is to advise them about. Tet is the only pitched battle Wolff describes, but the day-to-day challenges of mines, snipers, and being a white man in an Asian world make getting to the end of each day a triumph. Each day and every trip are endless until they are over. Survival has more to do with luck than with being a good soldier. Wolff's title is apt: "Here were pharaoh's chariots engulfed; his horsemen confused; and all his magnificence dismayed."

Wolff finds his honor in honesty. From the opening epigraph to the final paragraph, Wolff attempts to set it all down honestly, the lost war that is neither glorious nor action-packed. His prose is spare, straight to the point and yet poetic. The irony, when it comes, is devastating (and aimed at himself, as often as at others). Many of the stories would lend themselves to a more comic telling, but while the book is often humorous, Wolff always subtly reminds us that this is a deadly serious matter. The book is superbly structured, the selection and ordering of the stories designed to reinforce Wolff's points. Wolff gives us a real sense of the uncertainty and terror that pervaded every day, that led men to do things they can no longer imagine or explain. "How do you tell such a terrible story? Maybe such a story shouldn't be told at all. Yet finally it will be told." I'm glad Wolff did the telling. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

This biography of composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) describeswithunprecedented intimacy, affection, and respect the lifeof one ofFrance's greatest artists. After long being regarded as an oddity and an eccentric figure, Berlioz is now being accepted into the ranks of the great composers. Based on a wealth of previously unpublished sources, and on aprofoundunderstanding of the humanity of his subject, David Cairns's bookprovides a fullaccount of this extraordinary and powerfully attractive man. Berlioz, Volume I, previouslypublished only in Britain, is nowavailable toAmerican readers in a revised edition, together with the eagerlyawaited, newVolume II. These two volumes together comprise a monumentalbiographical achievement,sure to stand as the definitive Berlioz biography.

In researching Berlioz's life, Cairns has had access to unpublished family papers, and in Volume Ihe is able to portray all the people close toBerlioz in his boyhood,and to evoke a detailed picture of their lives in andaround La Cte St.-Andr in thefoothills of the French Alps. No artist'sachievement connects more directly with earlyexperience than that of Berlioz,whose passionate sensibility began to absorb the materialof his art longbefore he had heard any musical ensemble other than the local townband.Volume I also traces the student years in Paris and Italy and discussesBerlioz'sthree great love affairs, shedding remarkable light on his latercharacter anddevelopment. Volume I ends on the afternoon of December 9,1832, the day of the concertthat launched the composer's career. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Brilliant portrait of a complex man, vol. 1
An amazing biography. A work such as this will most likely appeal to only 1 out of 100,000 Amazon customers, but those who read it will never forget it, and once having read it will listen to Berlioz's music with a knowing insider's grin.

Cairns has done what is extremely difficult: he has created an easy-to-read, engaging, yet methodical and thorough modern biography in English of a composer who was born 200 years ago and whose paper trail was written entirely in French. The book has good humor but is not fawning or hagiographic.

A little note (pun intended): this is about Berlioz the man, and not about Berlioz as an ethnomusicologist's project. In other words, this is the study of a young man and how he came to know and create music, but not about that music per se.

Bonne lecture!

Great Scholar
David Cairns is a great Berlioz scholar. Like to meet him someday. His translation of "Memoirs" is much superior to Newmans.I bought the 1st volume of the biography some years ago when it first came out and the second a couple of years ago when it was first published. I revisit these volumes frequently. Berlioz was one of the really great romantics. At least 50 years before his time. Glad to see SF opera is planning on staging Cellini & B & B over the next few years. Sixtus Beckmesser

Incredible.
This really is one of the best biographies of any subject to come my way.I didn't know a lot of Berlioz's music before approaching this but it didn't actually matter.All the elements of a gripping novel are here only for they're true!-fighting paternal disapproval,living in poverty in Paris,eloping with a virtuoso pianist-it's all here and Cairns paints such an intimate picture that you can't but fail to admire Berlioz and his dogged determination to be a composer and write HIS music only to be continually rebuked in his native homeland.The efforts that the man had to go to just to hear his own music is truly heartbreaking.Biography doesn't get much better than this-especially if you're only even remotely interested in music or art.

A Passionate Man
This is a wonderful book both for the lay reader and for the musically knowledgeable. It says a great deal about how well written this book is that someone like me who knows nothing about music could still enjoy the book so much. Mr. Cairns takes the tale from the birth of Berlioz in 1803 up until 1832, when he was in his late 20's. You learn about his relationship with his parents, who were opposed to his choice of composer for a career, and his sisters. We are very fortunate that this was a great age for letter writing. Mr. Cairns makes judicious use of the correspondence between Berlioz and his family and friends to the point where you almost feel yourself to be a friend or family member. You get inside the young composer's mind as he tries to convince his parents that his desire to write music is not just a "whim", but something that he is absolutely passionate about and must do. Berlioz was also extremely sensitive and romantic. After seeing the English actress Harriet Smithson perform on stage in several works by Shakespeare he developed an obsessive love for her, even though he had never met her. He had an apartment across the street from where she lived and would longingly watch her comings and goings. He eventually wrote her several notes expressing his feelings but she rebuffed him, quite understandably one would think! (She had also heard a rumor, which was untrue, that he was an epileptic.) Shortly after coming to the realization that Smithson was unattainable Berlioz met the virtuoso pianist Camille Moke and they fell in love with each other and eventually got engaged. Alas, when poor Hector had to go to Rome to live in order to receive grant money from winning the Prix de Rome, Camille dumped him and opted for security by marrying a wealthy man. This soured Hector on women for awhile but did not diminish his love for music, nature and life. Mr. Cairns has been a professional music critic and is also a scholar, so he understands and ably explains the technical aspects of Berlioz's music. I was totally lost in these sections but my ignorance did not diminish my enjoyment of this sympathetic and wonderfully written book. ... Read more

Book Description

Auschwitz survivor Anna Ornstein recalls the tragedies of the Holocaust—and the small moments of grace that gave her the strength to endure—in MY MOTHER’S EYES, a triumphant testament to the human spirit.

After immigrating to the US as a young woman, Anna seldom spoke of the horrors she had experienced during the war. In time, as her family blossomed and grandchildren filled her home for the holidays, her daughter asked her to share some of her painful Holocaust memories as part of a Seder gathering. Over the course of the next 25 years, Anna added to this annual Passover tradition with another deeply personal recollection each year.The result, MY MOTHER’S EYES, is the moving account of how one woman survived—against all odds—with the fullness of her love, dreams and ambitions intact.

Award-winning artist Stewart Goldman paired his powerful images with Anna’s moving words to create a limited-edition gallery work, From Slavery to Deliverance. Available now for the first time as a book, MY MOTHER’S EYES bears witness to the faith, courage and tenacity of the human spirit. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

The incredible adventure and spiritual odyssey in Tibet
I first read Seven Years in Tibet 12 years ago. That it is as popular now as it was then and has been ever since it was first published in the 1950'speaks to its timelessness as a true adventure classic. But it is more than just an adventure story and Harrer, more than just an adventurer. As the story unfolds the reader's attention is drawn to the many layers of the author's odyssey across the "Roof of The World".

The descriptions of the physical and cultural landscapes and the people of the Himalaya provide a wonderful geography to this high, remote and troubled corner of the globe.

I am certain that a Buddhist would consider it Karma that the book was written in the first place and Karma that it has enjoyed such longetivity, especially in context of the apparent growing awareness by the global community of the Tibetan people's plight at the hands of the expansionist Chinese.

The recently released movie of the same title is a reasonably accurate adaptation of the book. The book, however, should be a must read for anyone with an adventurous spirit, a romantic imagination, and an empathetic soul for a peace-loving and persecuted people.

A story of an incredible adventure and a fascinating culture
I decided to read this novel because I enjoy travel literature, and also because of a recommendation from a friend from Liechtenstein who was acquainted with the author. I found this novel to be quite fascinating, telling a story of survival in harsh terrain, a love for the mountains, and the gathering of knowledge about an isolated and mysterious culture. Mr. Harrer's ability to survive in the Himalayas, his quick adaptation to Tibetan lifestyle and language, and his writing skills paint the picture of an incredibly intelligent and enterprising individual. This book lends strong support to the cause for a free Tibet.

Seven Years in Tibet
I was very surprised by this book becuase it is almost nothing like the Hollywood movie staring Brad Pitt. It was much better. The writting stlye was easy to read and involving and the candor of the books author about the people he lived with for years implies that he had a true love and respect for them, and had spent alot of time seriously observing them, this book was not written lightly or in a joking tone!! It' a wonderful story - read it!!

Fantastic book, Amazing Detail and Information, Too Much Ego
I read this book for the first time when I was only 13. I was absolutely captivated by Harrer's stunning descriptions of pre-occupation Tibet, and specifically Lhasa. Harrer portrays life in a world forbidden to foreigners and that no longer exists.

His memoir begins with his attempt to summit Nanga Parbat in the himalayas and continues through his captivity in a British POW camp through his many escape attempts to reach Tibet.

Harrer continues through his exhausting trek through the unwelcoming plains of Tibet, even encountering the infamous Khampa bandits.

Harrer then goes into his stay in Lhasa, emphasizing his time tutoring the young 14th Dalai Lama. He also discusses his time working as a public servant for Lhasa alongside fellow escapee, Peter Aufschnaiter, mapping Lhasa, building dykes along the river et cetera.

Finally Harrer discusses the downfall off Tibet due to the Chinese invasion from an insider's standpoint, even up to Harrer's escape from Tibet.

His writing makes old Tibet so real, and his final words (which I will not reveal) speaks to our hearts as humans, not as Americans, Chinese, Tibetans, Germans, Austrians, or whatever we may be.

The only flaw that I can think of for this book is Harrer's ego shows through his writing. While it is not a major flaw, it is annoying.

I highly reccomend this book.

A great story
This book is first of all a great story about a daring escape from a POW camp in Northern India followed by a fugitive's trek across some of the worlds most inhospitable territory. It seems impossible that anyone could have survived trekking over the Himalayas in winter with no equipment other than a few rags for clothing. The rest of the book is a remarkable eyewittness account of Tibet and especially Lhasa just before the time of the Chinese invasion. Harrer paints a vivid picture of a lively and colourful Forbidden City (Lhasa), and his great love of the country and its charming people shines brightly through. Towards the end Harrer becomes a personal tutor of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and his account of his relationship with the only 14 year old leader of Tibet is endearing and touching. I enjoyed the book very much not only because of the topic matter but also because of Harrer's honest, tough, and yet deeply respectful and caring attitude toward Tibet and its people. ... Read more

Book Description

What were the common childhood experiences of 700 eminent adults? Among things, they disliked school; their families valued education; they had strong mothers; and they grew up feeling "different" from others.This exciting update of the 1964 classic includes information from "Three Hundred Eminent Personalities" (1978), as well as from new biographies published in the last six years. Key findings include:

-Most had at least one ambitious parent who was striving and driving.

-Their parents were highly opinionated

-Their parents often held unconventional opinions that were shocking, even antagonistic, to others.

-Many of the parents--especially mothers--dominated their children's lives.

-As children, few liked school, and still fewer liked their teachers.

-Nearly all showed the characteristics used today to identify gifted children. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A classic that's great!
In grad school, we used to say that a classic is a book that was written in a foreign language and that no one reads. "Cradles of Eminence" is a classic, but it's wonderful. And it's fun. It's even well written. Who would have guessed?

I picked up the new edition because I remember studying the findings in psych classes years ago and because my kids seem to be very bright (no comments about probable paternity, please).

The book is a hoot. Tale after tale of famous folks' childhoods: enough anecdotes to keep one appearing brilliant for a thousand dinner parties. The analyses of what makes a great person great - the substance of the book's look at eminent people's childhoods - are well done (and the lessons of the book)...but they are no where as much fun as the stories and anecdotes. Great stuff on overprotective mothers (including Mao, FDR, Toulouse-Lautrec), hatred of school (almost all), love of learning (most), etc.

For what it's worth, the updates from relatives of the original authors is worthwhile (from a son and a neice -- makes sense given the book's topic: Yes?). I mean who wants to only know about Edison's, Twain's or Tolstoi's upbringing when you can also have juicy bits about the early homes of Oprah, George W, and Hillary.

I guess I could use the analyses of how to raise extraordinary kids...OK, more correctly, analyses of how extraordinary people were raised. In my next life, I'll read more to my kids, make sure their mother is constantly supportive and praising, discuss important political and social stuff at the dinner table, etc. I know I'm doing well on one count: My kids parents are strongly opinionated. That's one of the characteristics of parents of successful kids.

A great perspective
This book is a fascinating look at the family patterns of eminent individuals across many generations. I couldn't put it down. If you like biographies, this is the ultimate collection of interesting stories. ... Read more

Book Description

By the time he was killed in the jungles of Bolivia, where his body was displayed like a deposed Christ, Ernesto "Che" Guevara had become a synonym for revolution everywhere from Cuba to the barricades of Paris. This extraordinary biography peels aside the veil of the Guevara legend to reveal the charismatic, restless man behind it.

Drawing on archival materials from three continents and on interviews with Guevara's family and associates, Castaneda follows Che from his childhood in the Argentine middle class through the years of pilgrimage that turned him into a committed revolutionary. He examines Guevara's complex relationship with Fidel Castro, and analyzes the flaws of character that compelled him to leave Cuba and expend his energies, and ultimately his life, in quixotic adventures in the Congo and Bolivia. A masterpiece of scholarship, Companero is the definitive portrait of a figure who continues to fascinate and inspire the world over.
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Reviews (15)

Passionate and informative
This very passionate work does a good job of clearing up misconceptions and making Che's ideas and philosohy more readily available. Che has become a sort of enigmatic figure in our times and it is disturbing how so many people just plaster his image and "claim" to be a "compa~nero" without really knowing what Che stood for and what he accomplished in his life. This is a very welcome biography on one of the most influential and misunderstood revolutionaries. This book was written by someone who is not only passionate about it, but who is also able to be objective. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Che.

An materful work, a brilliant conclusion
As a bit of a Cuban Revolution scholar, I found Castaneda's book to add a depth and insight found no where else in the Che literature. The volume of footnotes may frighten some off, but they can mostly be ignored. This book gives a remarkable sense of the incredibly difficult task of actually trying to run a country after a revolution and in the face of such opposition. While much of the book is complex research at its' best, the final chapter is a thing of beauty. Castaneda give meaning to both the life of Che and meaning to the impact of the 1960's on the society at large. The final two pages are brilliant.

Well written but?
If anyone has seen the documentary about Who betrayed Che Cuevara on the history channel you will know that this guy was supposed to have read police reports, interrogation documents etc on the Bolivian two Bustos and Debray. Of course it is obvious he did not asnd has either made up or followed everyone else in accusing the wrong people of being traitors to Che. If a writer of historical books cannot get this right then this book lacks very much from the difinitive writing of Anderson. its worth reading but I'd buy Anderson's first.

a no spin look at Che Guevara
I was tired of seeing his face on all the t-shirts (as I am a college student) and not knowing just who Che was. Having read Castaneda's book, I now feel that I can say with confidence that I understand why Che's face has become such a countercultural symbol. Castaneda has definitely done his homework in preparing to write this compelling account of Guevara's life and death. The author does not attempt to glorify the revolutionary or to paint him as a villian, but rather provides the reader with details from both camps in order to allow him or her to make their own decision. The Che that emerges is a superb visionary and one of the few truly pure Marxist socialist leaders of the modern era, a throwback to the Bulsheviks of the early 20th century. This book has encouraged me to read more into Che's theories, and is one that I absolutely recommend to anyone, especially those readers who would tend to quickly denounce socialism due to there familiarity only with the corrupt brand practisted by the Soviet and Chinese camps. If only more of us were like Che Guevara in sticking with our convictions no matter what they may be!

Che for grown-ups
Castaneda's is by far the best work yet done on the subject, not only better written, but also more penetrating and authoritative than either of the other recent big bios--and all at something like half the length. Also, though Castaneda clearly admires Che, his insights and conclusions are still clear-eyed and uncompromising. This is Che for grown-ups, a real-life saint, as exasperating as he is inspiring, and all the more compelling for it. In fact, since reading this I can't think about the guy without getting a lump in my throat. No lie. So Hasta La Victoria Siempre, Commandante... wherever you are. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the 2002 Kiriyama Prize in Nonfiction

In 1988 Dr John Casey, a Cambridge don visiting Burma, was told of a waiter in Mandalay with a passion for the works of James Joyce. Intrigued by this unlikely story, he visited the restaurant, where he met Pascal Khoo Thwe. The encounter was to change both their lives.

Pascal grew up as a member of the tiny, remote Kayan Padaung tribe, famous for their 'giraffenecked' women. The Padaung practiced a combination of ancient animist and Buddhist customs mixed with the Catholicism introduced by Italian missionaries. Theirs was a dream culture, a world in which ancestors were worshipped and ghosts were a constant presence. Pascal was the first member of his community ever to study English at university. But in Burma, English books were rare, and independent thought was discouraged. Photocopies of the few approved texts would be passed from student to student, while tuition consisted of lecturers reciting essays that the students learned by rote.

Within a few months of his chance meeting with Dr Casey, Pascal's world lay in ruins. Successive economic crises brought about by Burma's military dictatorship meant he had to give up his studies. The regime's repression grew more brutal, and Pascal's student-lover, who had become involved in the movement for democracy, was arrested, raped and finally murdered by the armed forces. Pascal fled to the jungle, becoming a guerrilla fighter in the life-or-death struggle against the government and seeing many of his friends and comrades die in battle. At a moment of desperation, he remembered the Englishman he had met in Mandalay and wrote him a letter, with little expectation of ever receiving a reply.

Miraculously, the letter reached its destination on the other side of the world. Not only that, it would lead to Pascal's being rescued from the jungle and enrolling to study English at Cambridge University, the first Burmese tribesman ever to do so.

From the Land of Green Ghosts is the autobiographical tale of a remarkable triumph of hope over despair, and of an encounter between two very different worlds. Hauntingly and poetically written, it unforgettably evokes the realities of life in modern-day Burma and one young man's long journey to freedom despite almost unimaginable odds.

Reviews (12)

Highly Recommended
Culture, family, tradition, humorous or more severe anecdotes followed by a harrowing clash with a corrupt and brutal military government characterize From the Land of the Green Ghosts. Meanwhile, the story is told so gracefully that one feels eased into a desperate life and death struggle rather than abruptly confronted by it (as one might be with a Western writer.) The advantage is that when the author, the gifted Pascal Khoo Thwe, punctuates his narrative with a precise, violent detail, it stands out (as it should) in the reader's mind. At the same time, such frightening scenes are so immediate that they feel neither moral nor immoral, just simply horrifying, indicative of the repressive violence inflicted upon the people of Burma by the military junta controlling the country.

The author is unpretentious, highly perceptive, and graced with a gift for language and writing few possess (all the more remarkable because English was not his first, second or even third language.) Mr. Thwe is also candid about his fears that none of these qualities exist in him. He is mistaken. Moreover, what might seem an apparent pipe dream or convenient rationale for escaping jungle warfare -- that of "helping" his people through receiving an education at one of the world's most elite colleges -- is undone by the book itself. Certainly, it is easier to write beautiful prose while sitting in England than to dodge bullets and mortars (or succumbing to malaria) in the hot jungles along the Thai-Burmese border; but it would be impossible to conclude that any rebel fighter could have better informed the world about Burma's plight than has been done here by Pascal Khoo Thwe.

A Beautiful Book
This is a wonderful book and a very interesting read. It offers a both a detailed description of life growing up in a hill tribe in Burma and a broader look at the tragic consequences of years of totalitarian rule by the corrupt and failed government of Burma (now "officially" Myanmar). The author's journey to the border and subsequent escape from the country almost reads like a fiction novel. However, this true story is written with the respect and insight of a man well aware of the gravity of his country's plight. His book does the reader, and the people of his troubled country, a great service.

Great Memoir
Extraordinary memoir by a gifted writer with an extremely unusual story to tell.

A truly inspiring read
I don't post reviews, but this book was such a great one that I had to add my opinion.

The author's very personal insights into the Burma's struggles are profound. His early memories growing up in a tribal Padaung culture present a fascinating look at how the Catholicisim taught by missionaries coexisted with tribal myths (a favorite quote, from his grandmother: "The gods are like government officials. If you want things done quickly, you have to bribe the small ones.")

As his education progressed, so too did the unbelievable repression of the various Burmese regimes of the day (1960s to 80s). His experience as a student freedom fighter are gripping, as is his remarkable account of how a chance meeting with a Cambridge professor led to his eventual escape to England.

For me, this book did 3 things. First, it helped me glimpse the contemporary history of Burma (aka Myanmar), a nation that's always intrigued me, but a place of which I had very little knowledge. Second, it opened my eyes to some of the feelings and courage behind rebels and freedom fighters in oppressively-ruled nations, which allows me to read contemporary accounts of world events in a much richer context. Finally, it made me re-examine my own role in the world. While Pascal was fighting for his life as he made an unimaginable transition (to me anyway) from tribal to contemporary cultures, I was hawking software at trade shows or enjoying the tourist face of neighboring Thailand -- all with no idea of what was really happening in Burma. It was stunning that I could have been so ignorant to what was happening there at a time when I considered myself to be pretty aware of what was going on in the world.

A fascinating and extremely well-written book.

A Voice from the Burma Nobody Knows
Burma (aka Myanmar) is a country of many, many different ethnic and tribal groups. While the majority (69%) are Burman, there are many others including Karen, Kachin, Shan, Mon, and the author's own Padaung tribe. (The Padaung are most famous in the West for their "giraffe women" who wear golden rings about their necks that elongate their profile to freakish dimensions.)

Pascal Khoo Thwee's book is a narrative of his life as an ambitious young Padaung man trying to negotiate his way through the brutal, murderous, politically-dysfunctional culture that is modern-day Burma. It is an incredible story, cinematic in its dimensions and bizarre, fortuitous coincidences. Thwe gives voice to the Burma that nobody knows, i.e., life as experienced by one of its minority tribal groups.

Thwe's descriptions of his life among the Padaung are extraordinarly rich, with all the subtle nuances that only an insider could provide. His account of his flight from a hideous regime and life among the anti-government insurgents in the jungle is equally riveting. Eventually, he escapes to the rarified academic milieu of Cambridge University. It is a great story (and would make a fine movie.)

Unfortunately, it is in the account of his political awakening/transformation (the bridge between the two stories above) that the book falls flat. This was the most momentous and revolutionary period in the history of modern day Burma. It was when Aung San Suu Kyi came to world prominence and Burma looked like it had a hope of abandoning its decades long isolation and rejoing the modern (democratic?) world. One would expect that Thwe's narrative would sing at this point. Yet, it seems curiously detached -- almost mailed-in. It seems, in fact, to be reconstructed in significant measure from secondary sources. Only the death of his lover/girlfriend at the hand of the government has any resonance in accounting for his ultimate apostasy from General Ne Win's abominable political ideology.

I acknowledge that this may be unfair to Thwe in that I am thinking like a Westerner. He is candid in talking about his difficulties in coming to terms with concepts such as "human rights", "democracy", and "freedom of thought." Still, I feel that his account of the pressures that pushed him toward exile is woefully underdeveloped.

On the whole, this is a fine book. I learned much about minority cultures in Burma that I probably would not learn anywhere else. But. . .if you want to understand the revolutionary events that led to the great Burmese uprising of 1988 I would suggest that you look elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Real Life Vlad Scarier than Bram Stoker's Character
I, like many readers and movie fans, was pretty familiar with Bram Stoker's "Dracula" as a character. And as a history student, I was always intrigued by the settings and history alluded to by the books and films. This book by co-authors Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally fills in the gaps on Vlad the Impaler's upbringing, his history, his family, and his place in the world of Eastern Europe and the Carpathian mountains. The narrative is clear and well written, and it is not too academic in tone. It can be used strictly as a background source on Eastern European 15th century history, but I found it very entertaining to read simply on its own. This book is eerie and macabre without trying too hard...these are rare traits for any type of history book. If you love history and horror, then you can't go wrong with Dracula: Prince of Many Faces.

Excellent, captivating book!
Everybody has seen the "Dracula the vampire" movies, everybody does the Hungarian-accented "I vant to suck your blood" shtick, but virtually nobody really knows who the real Vlad Dracula was. I certainly didn't, and I'm kind of a history-geek.

While wordy and heavy reading in a very few places, this book was a fascinating look at the history behind the real Vlad Tepes ("The Impaler"), upon whom Bram Stoker loosely based his Dracula. It also offered an absolutely wonderful look into the trials and tribulations of 15th and 16th century Romania (or, more accurately, the principalities which would later become Romania). This was especially welcome for me, as I am adopting a child from Romania, and it is extremely enlightening to get a peek behind the complex history of this country and its people.

If you're interested in finding out about the "real" Dracula, I highly recommend this book. If you're also a history geek (or "buff," if you're not a proud geek like me!), I would go so far as to call this a must-read.

Dracula Book
This book was very good in my opinion because it gave more insight than most books about the time period of the famous Wallachian Prince Vlad III Dracula. In order to get the full effect of the book, one must understand the values of the people at that time. Prince Vlad III Dracula was a brilliant tactical warrior and understood the psychology of the invading Turks, which is where he gets his more infamous exploits. Many books tend to leave out how many rulers and conquerers did vicious and terrible things to secure order and maintain the peace. Prince Vlad III Dracula was no different than Richard the Lionheart, El Cid, or Atilla the Hun. This book dispels more of the myth and reveals the man in the times that changed him.

Okay.
The authors are abit long winded and I got bogged down by all of the names and dates. But is it interesting. I wish that there were more pictures.

Interesting book
I decided to read this book because I wanted to learn about the real Dracula -Vlad, the impaler,- and I wanted to learn something about the struggle against the Ottomans during the middle ages. I was satisfied in both those regards. However, I cannot say that this book was an easy read. I found the sentence structures often awkward, so that it didn't flow, and often there were so many different names of people and places that it was difficult to follow the details. Despite these difficulties, Dracula was a fascinating character, and since Europe during the middle ages generally interests me, I enjoyed a look at the Balkans during that time and in particular, the battle against Mehmed II. Even though Dracula was a terrible butcher (with a mind similar to Saddam Hussein's) I found his tactics in that battle fascinating and I found myself rooting for him. I found myself wanting to learn more about Hunyadi, but that is another book. I was glad I read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Highly Readable Look at the Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion in China was a very bloody affair. It cost the lives of over 25 million people. In addition it helped set the stage for the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the whole Dynastic System which ruled China for 1000's of years.

Though also a biography, the Devil Soldier is an interesting overview of the Rebellion and its eventual defeat. This book is much more readable than Spence's "Gods Chinese Son."

Carr is a great writer, his novels are great historical mysteries of early NYC. This book benefits froms Carr's ability to write and tell a story.

Anyone interesting in this time period will enjoy this book. Again it is much better than the one on basically the same topic by Spence.

Fascinating story of a rogue mercenary terrorist legend
In this involving and well-written account, Carr strains to elevate the importance of Ward, a historical footnote, a mercenary of questionable repute and eventual Qing dynasty functionary whose prime contribution was the cobbling together of the use of "superior and modern" Western weapons against backwards sword and spear carrying Taiping rebels. And by Carr's own account, Ward was only partially successful. To thank him for his assistance (which ultimately helped maintain both Western imperial domination of China, the opium trade, and the extension of the corrupt and weak Qing empire), in a relationship of dual purpose, the Manchu Qing regime (not the Chinese people)gave him an official title and a Chinese wife. Carr's pro-Western bias is strong, as is his strange love of the Ward myth, which he does his best to overblow. Carr's sourcing is spotty, and in too many places, he speculates---typically in ways that favor Ward. This book, and indeed the Ward story itself, presents a very enlightening model of how violent rogue mercenaries, terrorists, and intelligence cutouts are used to assist governments in "counter-insurgency" wars throughout history, such as the Phoenix Program.

devil soldier
A very enjoyable tale of a colorful historical character. Carr has a real flair for bringing such a strange time to life, and making it feel familiar. He talks about the Taiping rebellion as if it only happened yesterday, which adds to the sense of reportage and realism. I'm looking forward to the reputed John Woo movie adaptation, although someone should have checked the illustrations before they were finalised. My copy prints Ward's battle-flag upside down -- doubly embarrassing since it is the right way up on the book's cover.

Early battles in 'war on drugs'
This is a bit of a stretch for the conventional Western military history, but an excellent one. Most readers will probably think of General Ward's biography in terms of traditional 19th century nation state narratives. Let me propose a different one, the context is 'opium wars'. The story goal is defeating the merchants of opium, the English. The outcome is bittersweet. This requires the reader to do more 'reading between the lines' than usual, but the rewards are there for those interested.

While the book's focus is Fredrick Ward, a true soldier of fortune, the 'Chinese drug wars' are really more central. The period covered begins with the British winning the 'Opium War'. To make sense of this, imagine Columbian drug lords defeating the US Army and demanding control of an airport in Miami. By treaty right, the Columbian drug lords would we granted the right to fly cocaine to any airport in America. If you can imagine this, substitute Queen Victoria for the Columbian drug lords and Shanghai for Miami.

As should be required, the book begins by discussing hypocrisy. England's Royal navy is primarily in China to help the East India Company sell opium. The 'Christian' leader of the Taiping rebellion preaches puritanical virtues, but surrounds himself with concubines. Our hero emerges from the New England merchant class, a class that simultaneously smuggles slaves to the American slave states and finances abolitionist politics. Unfortunately, the theme is not followed throughout. The final chapter dwells on legal battles over Ward's treasures rather than the continuing twists in the drug wars and associated hypocrisy.

The narrative spends most of its time on Ward's invention, the 'Ever Victorious Army' or 'Ward's Chinese Corps'. As evidence that necessity is the mother of invention, the 'Ever Victorious Army' came into existence through the whim of fortune. Western powers in Shanghai had no desire to see it emerge, since it represented a threat to the British control of the opium trade. The Imperial Chinese were to entrench in tradition to accept the innovation. It was only the existence of a 100,000 man rebel army 30 miles from Shanghai that provided Ward his 'opportunity' to build his vision.

Fredrick Ward remains something of a mystery in his biography. He died in action before we could really tell what he was building. Few of his letters escaped destruction, so we rarely hear his own voice. Instead, Carr is forced to infer from events and news paper accounts. Most readers will have to overcome their skepticism about Ward's career being ample material for a full-fledged biography. In this context, Ward seems the forgotten inventor. Charles 'Chinese' Gordon won the publicity war and his buddies wrote the history books. Gordon 'China' role is limited compared to Ward. Gordon took over Ward's cross-cultural invention, the 'Ever Victorious Army', and won the army's last battle. His job was simply to maintain it long enough to win one battle, and peacefully disband the thing. For this, he gets his own big budget Hollywood movie, Khartoum, staring Charleston Heston. In contrast, Ward invents a modern Chinese Army and provides a working model to interested Japanese observers. Guess who I think more interesting.

A solid read
Carr appears to make the most out of the limited resources available on Ward, although he repeatedly reminds readers that almost all of Ward's papers were destroyed.

A good complement to Spence's book, Both are readable.

One shortcoming of the book is that Carr used Wade-Giles for the spelling of all the Chinese names of individuals and places. While this decision is understandable considering that some of the original documents used such spelling, Carr should have included a glossary with the Chinese and/or Pinyin names so that readers familiar with the Chinese and/or Pinyin names could more readily identify whom and what Carr is talking about.

He could have also put some of the sites into a modern context better.Such as that Siccawei is the site of Xujiahui and the cathedral, or that Hung Ch'iao is the site of Hongqiao and one Shanghai's airports. Finally, he missed that there is a Taiping memorial out at Kao Chi'iao (Gaoqiao), the site of one of Ward's battle sites. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great for fans and neophytes alike.
I find it a little odd that I just wrote in the title that people can be 'fans' of Gandhi. Like he is a rock star or famous model. But in essence that is what most people who admire influential people are. And I admit that I am a fan of Gandhi.

Being such I decided it was time to learn something about him that was not a movie (though the movie is very good; truncated but good) or a magazine article or some old handout from high school I found in a dark corner of my closet. So I chose Louis Fischer's short little biography. And I am very satisfied.

Mr. Fischer does not make any excuses for being a fan of Gandhi either. Like another biographer of Gandhi mentioned, it seems everybody whoever saw Gandhi and spoke to him felt the overwhelming need to write something, preferably a biography, of him. Mr. Fischer met Gandhi twice, stayed in his Ashram for a week as a guest, and he documents it in this biography.

I fear I will sound repetitive with my biography reviews, but once again this is a great introduction to Gandhi. Just over 200 pages, full of important details, but never drowning in the complications of them (though it gets close to such when dealing with the creation of Pakistan, which is admittedly complicated and difficult to explain).

Louise Fischer writes with emotion. This is not a straightforward academic account of the life and times of Gandhi, but a thank you letter to the spirit and power that Gandhi was. For one rare moment I let the emotion sway me as Gandhi's death was recounted and I felt a very rare sympathy that I have rarely ever experienced with the written word; a remarkable achievement.
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His life is his monument.
The perfect introduction. This is the perfect book for someone who wants to learn the essentials about the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi without having to wade through some of the larger books that have been written. This one is under 200 pages, and is laid out in three easy to read sections (From Birth To Greatness - Gandhi In India - Victory and Tragedy). Fischer does not bog down into political minutiae, post-assassination trial stuff, or hair-splitting Gandhi-isms (on this latter point for instance, Gandhi's own autobiography devotes four consecutive chapters to his internal agony over whether or not to include goat's milk in his vegetarian diet)! Fischer's book is more of an OVERVIEW of the profound world-shaking life that was Gandhi. Yet it is immensely informative, and well-paced. The author personally met with Gandhi in 1942 and again in '46, and his book shows that he had a wonderful understanding of the Mahatma's faith and convictions. Those who want to know more about Gandhi should, however, go on to read the autobiography (subtitled "The Story of My Experiments With Truth") and also Yogesh Chadha's "Gandhi: A Life".

The book ends abruptly with the three shots, the smile fading from Gandhi's face, and his final words on earth "Oh God."
"His legacy is courage, his lesson truth, his weapon love.
His life is his monument.
He now belongs to mankind."
We turn the page, and hope that something is there... but it isn't. The world since, has not seen anyone like Gandhi.

Inspiring, detailed and accurate.
Through this book Louis Fischer successfully presents the Mahatma of India to the English speaking world at large and especially to the Americans.The soul of Mahatma Gandhi is well captured here in words. The author takes pains to elaborate the political movements in Britain, the varied struggles of Indians in South Africa and the complexities of the socio-political situation in India in order to paint an accurate picture of one of the most remarkable human beings of the 20th century. The philosophy and witness of this Indian saint shall continue to influence and enrich the lives of millions in the years to come and Fischer's deeply moving story of his struggles shall go down into history as a worthy testimony to his life and message.

The book does inevitably contain Indian words and concepts, which could stand in the way of making it a leisurely reading. But the author has a great advantage since he has a familiarity with the Indian situation and a personal acquaintence with Gandhi himself. Anyone who is intereested in working for the advancement of humanity should learn about Gandhi and this is the book to begin with.

Courage and Truth
This is one of the best biographies I've ever read, in part because of the enormous charisma of the subject and in equal part because of the obvious respect and affection with which he is treated by his biographer, Louis Fischer. Gandhi's life and message can be a life-changing experience for one willing to think about his search for Truth, and his unwillingness to compromise even in the face of seemingly insurmountable opposition.

When I decided to read up on Ghandi's life, I was confronted with many many volumes. I didn't know which to choose, so I bought several, in hopes that at least one would be a good choice. I needn't have worried. This particular volume is small and thin, and I selected it in part because of its size - a thicker volume on a man I knew nothing about would have been too intimidating for a first exposure. What a wonderful surprise! Fischer's story of Gandhi's life was engaging from the first few paragraphs and riveting through Gandhi's last utterance.

Fischer does not analyze very much - this is not a history of Gandhi's influence on India and the wider world; rather, it is the personal story of a man who touched lives. Mohandas Gandhi is presented in the context of his world rather than Gandhi's world being presented in the context of him. To me, that creates a more approachable man, one whose life can be emulated, not just revered. This is a must-read with the potential to become a must-do, or at least a must-think. Highly recommended.

A Great Book With Lots of Info on Gandhi
Wow, what a info packed book. When choosing the book i was skeptical because i thought it would be really boring. But after I learned a little bit about him in History class I decided I would read it. To read this book you needed a lot of patience and you had to really be into it. At some times it got boring, but reading about all of the things he did and the struggles he went through for peace just amazed me. Like when he decided to boycott British goods, schools, and jobs. After doing that he got thrown in jail. Most people would have given up then, but that was just near the start of what had to come. He also did a lot of fasts to show peace and not violence. This book went into great detail talking about all of these topics. This book also showed a few pictures of Gandhi which helped you get a visual image while you are reading the book. So overall i give this book a 4 star rating because it was jam packed with great info and detail. ... Read more

Book Description

Acclaim for Lafayette

"I found Mr. Unger’s book exceptionally well done. It’s an admirable account of the marquis’s two revolutions–one might even say his two lives–the French and the American. It also captures the private Lafayette and his remarkable wife, Adrienne, in often moving detail." –Thomas Fleming, author, Liberty!: The American Revolution

"Harlow Unger’s Lafayette is a remarkable and dramatic account of a life as fully lived as it is possible to imagine, that of Gilbert de Motier, marquis de Lafayette. To American readers Unger’s biography will provide a stark reminder of just how near run a thing was our War of Independence and the degree to which our forefathers’ victory hinged on the help of our French allies, marshalled for George Washington by his ‘adopted’ son, Lafayette. But even more absorbing and much less well known to the general reader will be Unger’s account of Lafayette’s idealistic but naive efforts to plant the fruits of the American democracy he so admired in the unreceptive soil of his homeland. His inspired oratory produced not the constitutional democracy he sought but the bloody Jacobin excesses of the French Revolution."–Larry Collins, coauthor, Is Paris Burning? and O Jerusalem!

"A lively and entertaining portrait of one of the most important supporting actors in the two revolutions that transformed the modern world."–Susan Dunn, author, Sister Revolutions: French Lightning, American Light

"Harlow Unger has cornered the market on muses to emerge as America’s most readable historian. His new biography of the marquis de Lafayette combines a thoroughgoing account of the age of revolution, a probing psychological study of a complex man, and a literary style that goes down like cream. A worthy successor to his splendid biography of Noah Webster."–Florence King, Contributing Editor, National Review

"Enlightening! The picture of Lafayette’s life is a window to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century history."–Michel Aubert La Fayette ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Superb, compelling, & should be 'required reading'
This book is wonderful! It is very readable, fast-paced, and, unlike other 'dry' books about long dead historical figures, it keeps the reader turning pages, wondering "why didn't I learn about this great man - this Founding Father - in high school history class?" Well, in this time of cynicism where we all decry the lack of bona fide heros (outside of sports and entertainment), here he is - the Marquis de Lafayette! This book not only clearly outlines Lafayette's life and unbelieveable accomplishments, but also his ideals. He was a man who believed in liberty, equality, honesty, friendship, and honor. Without his brilliant military and political leadership, the 13 colonies would not have won independence from Great Britain. Without Lafayette - and France - the United States would not be, certainly not as we are today. The book also continues to describe Lafayette's impact on Europe, and his role in formenting republican revolution in France and elsewhere on the European continent. But always, he is true to his undying and immutable convictions about the rights of man. Even when threatened with horrid imprisonment and death, Lafayette did not waver in his ideals. He risked his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor for those rights. What a great man - a hero for the ages! A must read.....

Bravo!!!!
This is an excellent book!!!!! It reads like a novel and provides a wealth of knowledge about this great man. I'm only 13 years old, and I've read this book twice! If I could give it 6 stars, I would. I'd give it 10 stars!! Anyway, I definitely reccomend this book to anyone who wants to know about the Marquis de Lafayette.

Of Pulitzer Caliber
Unger's Lafayette is a brilliantly written biography. It is of Pulitzer caliber, and the most informative, revealing, and entertaining recount of Lafayette's extradoridany life published to date. It is not only a masterful biography but a valuable text on the American and French Revolutions and beyond.

Captivating story
Unger's Lafayette is one of the best written revolutionary period biographies. Most of us know Lafayette only for his American Revolution contributions. Unger's book takes us to the French revolution as well and Lafayette's key role in it. Here he tried to prevent the massacres that took place and personally paid dearly for his role. One can not help have strong admiration for Lafayette as a man of ideals, honesty and courage. Unger has written a highly readable and entertaining biography. I read his book on Hancock and was also imnpressed with Unger's ability to tell a story with an always interestimg prose.

The Marquis de Lafayette
Harlow Unger's book covers a biography that is stranger than fiction, starting with LaFayette's unique marriage and continuing with his fanatical dedication to the remote American struggle for freedom; his close relationships with Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and other world leaders; his exceptional military leadership; his continuing voluntary work for independence in his own country (including 13 months in a horrific prison) all the way until he died at the age of 77. Throughout the story, the mutual, unabated love between the Marquis and his very capable wife, Adrienne, provided even more dramatic episodes. Nearly every event was more amazing the the one before.
This is a detailed and eye-opening history of both the American and French revolutions and their great contrast. If the reader has trouble believing it is truly factual, he will be convinced with the frequent, verbatim letters and voluminous, documented historical references. This is absolutely a must read for anyone with an ounce of interest in western civilization. ... Read more

Book Description

This is an enriched biography of Constantine the Great. Withoutcompromising historical accuracy, it brings before the eyes of the reader as vividly as possibleConstantine's fascinating life, filling in the gaps byexploring the ancient recordsin Greek and Latinandthe findings of modern scholarship, reconstructing events or offering explanations to ancient riddles. It is astonishing how little the broad public in the Westknows aboutConstantine. Yet, he is the man who gave a newdirectiontoworldhistory.One may wonder if Christianity would have survivedif he had not embraced it with his imperial authority. Constantine's impacton our world is not the only reason forreading his story. His life is so richin drama. excitement, tragedy, violence, intrigue and high adventure thatthe story can be as engrossingas a good work offiction."Prof. Kousoulas is a masterstory-teller." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Constantine demystified
I must admit I had so many misconceptions about Constantine before I read this. It is a great read, written in a narrative style that made me finish it in one weekend. Highly recommended.