Book Description

...now I put everything into equal sized brown cardboard boxes with a colored label on the side for the corresponding month and year. I hate memories full of melancholy, and deep inside I hope all those boxes will get lost, so I won't have to look through them ever again... On the other side, I would really like to keep these things, so that they can find a new use one day.--Andy Warhol, 1975
Beginning in the 1970s, Andy Warhol collected and stored the remains of his most unusual life in 612 brown cardboard boxes, the so-called Time Capsules. To date, only 100 of these boxes have been opened and examined. Everything Warhol deemed interesting and worth keeping--from precious objects to the most quotidian of souvenirs--was gathered together in these prosaic containers. The collecting strategy was straightforward enough: Warhol would keep an open box beside his desk, dropping in the daily flood of correspondence, magazines and newspapers, gifts, photographs, business records, collectibles, and ephemera that passed through his hands. This Time Capsule in progress would be taped shut and dated by an assistant when Warhol deemed it complete. Today, Warhol's leftovers provide us with the possibility for entering the atmosphere and curious cosmos of a life whose 15 minutes of fame may never really end, despite its physical end having long since passed.~This first publication of Warhol's most personal diary will help the careful reader to reconstruct the artist's personality. Each and every item contained in Time Capsule 21 is meticulously revealed. This particular box was chosen because it contains a phenomenal amount of Warhol's art from the 1950s and 1960s, as well as common documents that have turned out to reveal facts about Warhol's life and work--that have, for instance, led to the dating of the drawing Dead Stop (1954) and the establishment of an approximate date for Warhol's first meeting with Leo Castelli. Also included are many images that Warhol used for source material. Leafing through Time Capsule 21, the reader has only to let each object take him or her on a journey into the murky past of The Factory, Studio 54, and Warhol's other haunts.

Essays by John W. Smith,Mario Kramer and Matt Wrbican. ~Introduction by Thomas Sokolowski and Udo Kittelmann.

Hardcover, 8.25 x 11.5 in./304 pgs / 200 color and 100 b & w. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Boxing
Ok, we all know Andy Warhol kept everything, but how boring is that? Not so boring at all, as it turns out. Maybe the Warhol Museum picked the best time-capsule box, maybe they are all full of interesting goodies, but box number 21 is a doozey. And everything Andy packed away is there on the page ready to comb over, connect to paintings, make assumptions and check out like any well trained obsessive. For fans of Warhol this book is a must and the best of fun. Lots of pics, not too much elevated art talk and beautifully produced. ... Read more

Book Description

Elizabeth B. Pinson shares with us her memories of Alaska’s emergence into a new and modern era, bearing witness to history in the early twentieth century as she recalls it. She draws us into her world as a young girl of mixed ethnicity, with a mother whose Eskimo family had resided on the Seward Peninsula for generations and a father of German heritage. Growing up in and near the tiny village of Teller on the Bering Strait, Elizabeth at the age of six, despite a harrowing, long midwinter sled ride to rescue her, lost both her legs to frostbite when her grandparents, with whom she was spending the winter in their traditional Eskimo home, died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. Fitted with artificial legs financed by an eastern benefactor, Elizabeth kept journals of her struggles, triumphs, and adventures, recording her impressions of the changing world around her and experiences with the motley characters she met. These included Roald Amundsen, whose dirigible landed in Teller after crossing the Arctic Circle; the ill-fated 1921 British colonists of Wrangel Island in the Arctic; trading ship captains and crews; prospectors; doomed aviators; and native reindeer herders. Elizabeth moved on to boarding school, marriage, and the state of Washington, where she compiled her records into this memoir and where, at age ninety-two, she now lives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hageriva (great, brave, and mighty woman)
This is the biography of Dona Gracia, a Jewish woman who lived in the 15th century and whose personality is characterized by intelligence, shrewdness, generosity, and religious devotion.Born in Spain, she went to Portugal in 1492, following the expulsion of the Jews.In Portugal she was forcibly converted to Christianity and became one amongst many "New Christians," "Marranos," or "Conversos."At the age of 18 she married Francisco Mendes, the richest merchant in Lisbon at that time.Seven years later she became a widow and successfully took over her husband's business.Determined to reach Turkey where under the protection of the Ottoman Empire she would be able to profess her faith freely, she embarked on a long journey, which took 17 years.This journey took her to London, Antwerp, Lyon, Venice, Ferrara, Ancona, Ragusa, Salonika and finally Constantinople.Throughout her perils she proved to be highly courageous and an excellent businesswoman.She used her wealth and contacts to help Jews escape the Inquisiton, became the self-appointed protector of the conversos, built houses of prayer and teaching, devoted herself to good works, and was know as "the heart of her people."

There are two importnat factors in the history of Dona Gracia:first, she represents one of the rare examples of fight against repression to the Jews by the use of commercial tactics (the Ancona Boycott), and the first to establish a Jewish colony in Paletine (Tiberias), a self-sustaining settlement for Jews and conversos from an hostile Europe.

The author Cecil Roth is a well-known historian.He clearly demonstrates his admiration for Dona Gracia, his praises are many, and openly admits to the fact that he has not been able to find any historical proof to the contrary.Despite this embellishment, Dona Gracia remains a distant character, she carries an aura of mystery which contributes to her "divinity."Had the Jewish faith room for "canonization" Dona Gracia would certainly be a downright candidate.Her name stands amongst famous Jewish women, and as her contemporary the author Samuel Usque says, "she is much a heroine as Miriam, Deborah, and Judith."

A great historical novel!
This novel was amazing in detail and mesmorizing in content.It was well researched!I would recommend this to anyone who loves romance, intrigue, deceit and history. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just OK
I am a big fan of Tony Horwitz's work. Confederates in the Attic may be one of my all time favorite books. Having said that, I would not recommend this book. He did not write this book, and that is clear from the first page! This book is really quite dry. It reads like a textbook, but without the depth.

Average accounts
A wonderful account of American exploration. From Cabeza De Vaca to Fremont and beyond this book gives quick sketches of Americas great explorers. Although it seems to stop short and seems to miss a few people this book gives a whirlwind tour of adventure, American style.

Rip Off!
How disappointing!

My husband and I have been enthralled by Horwitz's earlier works, witty and entertaining while providing insight and education. The Devil May Care is none of the above.

After reading the preface by Horwitz I was anxious to begin. Two paragraphs into the first biography I was puzzled and then as I scanned the book appalled.

"edited" by Tony Horwitz...not "by" him. The writing is dry and frankly boring. While a number of the subjects could be fascinating, they are rendered lifeless and static. My own children wrote with more color and life in Junior High School than the alledged "authors" of these biographies.

Do not waste your money on this book...it might be worth the money in paper-back at the used book store but not before. And shame on Amazon for promoting this as a Horwitz book. It's not. ... Read more

Book Description

Memoirs of a Swedish War Nurse is a lively interview American journalist Lois Lindstrom had with Karin Wiking, a Swede who served in five incredible Swedish Red Cross missions during WW II, and today continues to serve the helpless and homeless for Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in four Scandinavian countries.She also served as the walking companion to Axel Munthe, the best selling author and the Swedish queen's personal physician; and she recalls interesting conversations with movie star Ingrid Bergman, French singer Maurice Chevalier, and Swedish opera star Jussi Bjorling. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A lyrical tribute to the Aleutian Islands
Ray Hudson's memories of Unalaska and its people form a beautiful portrait of a time and place. As a former resident of Unalaska, I highly recommend the book. Although the community can no longer be called a village, the Aleut roots described in Hudson's tale are still there. And his deeply evocative descriptions of the land--one of the most remote and beautiful in the world, I'm convinced--are wonderful. The descriptions of everything from fog to wildflowers to stormy nights are moving and accurate. A definite must to anyone traveling to the Aleutian Islands--and a terrific travelogue for the armchair traveler.. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This should be the first Stein book in any collection!
Using Stein's words and pictures of her, her contemporaries and the places that were the backdrops of their lives, Renate Stendhal has created one of the most vital picture-bios of Stein and her era. The introductory essays at the beginning of each chapter set the stage for what follows, giving the reader a clear chronology and context. The excerpts from Stein's works are helpful in determining which of Stein's works(many of which are still in print) you'll want to read next. Everyone who was anyone in their crowd is here. A great gift for anyone interested in the literary/artistic period between WWI and WWII. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Review by Davey Porter, Editor of the "Mountain News"
"I Saw You in the Moon" an Engaging Read
By Davey Porter, Managing Editor of the "Mountain News"
March 25, 2004
Page B9

Unlike most aspiring writers clogging the new release lists on Amazon.com., self-published author Lonna Lisa Williams has something to say and she says it well. And the joy of reading her work is discovering the vast improvement seen from book to book.

"I Saw You in the Moon" picks up where "Crossing the Chemo Room" left off, recapping and reporting on what has happened to many who appeared in that book, and then continuing with the diary-style memoir that has enough in common with the average reader to keep the pages turning.

Normally memoirs are reserved for the rich and famous. Publishers salivate over the kiss and tell 'now it can be told' voyeurism that makes memoirs sellable. Author Williams is neither rich or famous, and she has no sordid secrets to reveal, so what is the attraction? Frankly, it is Williams' ability to connect with her reader. It is her ability to make one feel she is sitting across the kitchen table telling the latest tale about the mundane aspects of family life which, pieced together as a whole, make life worth living.

This is never more apparent than when, in a heartbreaking essay, Williams recalls trying to convince a friend from her church that suicide is not the answer. "Effects of suicide last a lifetime--effects you will never know," Williams pleads. While unsuccessful--the friend ends up killing herself--Williams' faith and strength through family see her through and even though we may not personally know the people intertwined in her stories, we care, and the pages keep turning.

That Williams is able to at once report on a family vacation to New Zealand and then switch gears to recall the traumatic Southern California wildfires as she and her family evacuate to safety speaks of her gifts as a writer.

Williams also laments the world of publishing, comparing it to dark imagery seen in "The Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. "The publishing world is a Tower guarded by the Dark Lord," she begins. "If you can't get in through the big black gate, like Frodo, find another way."

Williams and clan jet down under and upon their return, "I find a generic letter from Harcourt saying they don't accept unsolicited manuscripts."
When tea and chocolate fail to salve her disappointment, Williams goes into the forest, sits under a tree and prays.

"I Saw You in the Moon" is a gentle book from a caring and sweet individual who--in spite of the missed opportunities of the publishing world--deserves to be read. All of Williams' books are available at Del Lago's in Lake Arrowhead Village, or online. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sampson for America
Rockwell was a legend. He grew his hair long and had dark penetrating eyes. A 'Man of god' an early convert to Mormonism he became one of Smiths most trusted men. When Joseph was killed he had risen to become a defender of the Mormon church, but a defender who preffered the gun to the good book and a horse to the pulpit. Rockwell helped lead his people west and then his legend grew. He fought indians and crushed anyone who would threaten the church again. He helped found Deseret, the mormon nation and carved a living out of the hard scrabble desert of Utah.

He served as a Church leader for many years and the eastern press never forgave him for his involvement with the Danites, a secret society that took vengeance upon the gentiles who persecuted Mormons up and down the old northwest eventually chasing the Saints out of Missouri and Nauvoo.

This harrowing story of blood and guts and honor is told in a folksy manner that brings you back to the camp fire for one more round of tales. The most amazing poart of this book is that Rockwells story is true. An american classic.

A great read for anyone interested in the history of the Mormon church, the american west, or the individual tradition of self defense.

The definitive biography of Rockwell
Harold Schindler's biography on Mormon bad-boy Orrin Porter Rockwell is still the best biography of Rockwell out there. Moreover, it may be one of the best biographies of any early Mormon written. This book is not even so much about the quiet, enigmatic Rockwell as it is the genesis of an American religious movement.

Rockwell is a hard historical figure. He is a legendary figure whom the LDS church has tended to whitewash. Non-Mormon historians have had a tendency to villify him, making him a murderer and a theif. Somewhere, undoubtedly in the middle, lies the truth. Instead of writing an indictment or an apology for his life, Schindler writes a well-balanced account of Rockwell's life. He doesn't necessarily try to provide answers or justifications, only gives the facts and lets the reader decide. No doubt Schindler's objectivity and meticulous research has made this volume stand the test of time to become a classic in Mormon history.

I don't think I have ever said this about a book before: Probably just as engaging and interesting as the book itself are the footnotes which sometimes take up more of the page than the text. This is an awesome bibliographic reference as well. Not only does Schindler tell you about the life and times of Rockwell, he also tells many fascinating historical asides. If you don't believe or are suspcious about his research, then one may look at the documents he was viewing. Schindler does an excellent job of backing up most everything that he says.

Killing for Christ and Profit.
I became interested in reading about Orrin Porter Rockwell while reading about him in the History of the Church by Joseph Smith; I wanted to know who this person was and what became of him after volume seven. A few months ago I watched that b&w Hollywood Brigham Young movie and there was Orrin P Rockwell leading the Saints into the Zion of the hour. This book told me just about everything available about this strange figure in history, in a reasonably good, if decidedly Pro-Rockwell narrative. Schindler presents Rockwell as a Saint rather than a drunken fanatical assassin at every oppotunity when the historical records seem a bit cloudy; fortunately, however, the author has put in some wonderful footnotes which often contradict or illuminate Schindler's assessments. The reader is indeed given all the evidence and can either side with Schindler or form his own judgement about all those apocryphal murders and the secret combinations of the Danites.

Purtie Rockwell Revealed
I enjoy American History and especially biographies, usually first-hand pioneer autobiographies are best. This book by Harold Schindler, however, I especially appreciate for it's earthy and realistic portrayal of a time, people and one, mostly unknown but equally notorious character, namely O.P. Rockwell. This book is a must read and has been painstakenly documented/researched by the Author to reflect as accurate a reflection of what the written documents, eye-witnesses' accounts and governmental records can believably reveal.

The only portion of this work that I find to be somewhat incredible is that if Porter Rockwell is responsible for only half of the events, murders and heinous acts that are mentioned in this book, it seems impossible that he has avoided the notoriety that should place him in a league with the most infamous personages of the "Wild West". His cold-blooded conduct ranks him with the Daltons, Youngers or James'. His loyalty, sense of duty and shootist skills place him on a par with Bill Hickcock or Wyatt Earp. His plainsman knowledge, scouting and hunter skills liken him to William Cody. Not bad company for a figure whom doesn't have a greater fame as one of the most infamous characters in Western History. This was a very pleasant and interesting read, especially for those in search of the more authentic stories with,"...raw hide leather, bumps and bruises".

The Wild Side of Mormondom
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Traditional LDS history paints a picture of Nauvoo and Salt Lake City as though they were the very seats of culture and industry. The reality was, they were both on the edge of the frontier, and consequently, they tended to be rough places. No one figured more prominantly in the "Wild West" of the Mormon kingdom than Orrin Porter Rockwell.

One of Schindler's significant contributions to the landscape of Mormon history is the perspective of the "regular folks" who were cowboys, farmers, and hunters who lived close to the land, mixed with Shoshones, Utes, Gosiutes, Paiutes and others, and who were engaged in a daily fight for survival. Rockwell's life, while steeped in Mormon theology, doctrine and experience, was also one of gunfighting, saloons, Indian fighting, stagecoaches, the California Gold Rush, and everything that is so quintessentially "western." I've read a lot of Church history, and this is the first time I really got a flavor for that element.

The difficulty with this book is that it still leaves you wondering whether Rockwell was a saint, or a ruthless killer. Unfortunately for history and historians, Rockwell was himself illiterate, and so there is no personal record of his life and dealings. On the other hand, because of his reputation, there is much that was written that portrayed him as a zealous destroyer, the mercinary of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. To Schindler's credit, he doesn't draw any conclusions on the life of Rockwell...he leaves that difficult challenge up to you!

Regardless of who Rockwell was or wasn't, this is an engaging book that addresses most of the notorious "stories" that veil Rockwell in the mists of intrigue, mystery and wonder. You'll gain a fresh perspective on the rough-hewn life of pioneer times, the Wild Side of Mormondom! ... Read more

Book Description

In the haunting tradition of Joe McGinniss's Fatal Vision and Mikal Gilmore's Shot in the Heart, True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa weaves a spellbinding tale of murder, love, and deceit with a deeply personal inquiry into the slippery nature of truth.

The story begins in February of 2002, when a reporter in Oregon contacts New York Times Magazine writer Michael Finkel with a startling piece of news. A young, highly intelligent man named Christian Longo, on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for killing his entire family, has recently been captured in Mexico, where he'd taken on a new identity -- Michael Finkel of the New York Times.

The next day, on page A-3 of the Times, comes another bit of troubling news: a note, written by the paper's editors, explaining that Finkel has falsified parts of an investigative article and has been fired. This unlikely confluence sets the stage for a bizarre and intense relationship. After Longo's arrest, the only journalist the accused murderer will speak with is the real Michael Finkel. And as the months until Longo's trial tick away, the two men talk for dozens of hours on the telephone, meet in the jailhouse visiting room, and exchange nearly a thousand pages of handwritten letters.

With Longo insisting he can prove his innocence, Finkel strives to uncover what really happened to Longo's family, and his quest becomes less a reporting job than a psychological cat-and-mouse game -- sometimes redemptively honest, other times slyly manipulative. Finkel's pursuit pays off only at the end, when Longo, after a lifetime of deception, finally says what he wouldn't even admit in court -- the whole, true story. Or so it seems.

Book Description

Over the course of some 1,000 alphabetically arranged, biographical entries, Who's Who in World War Onebuilds up a complete and vivid picture of the major figures in the Great War, and from all 32 nations involved.
With the individuals included ranging from the British air ace, Albert Ball, to the German foreign secretary, Richard von Kuhlmann; from David Llyod George to Rasputian; from the British war poet Siegfreid Sassoon to Serbian assassin Trifko Grabez and the Emperor Wilhem II
this book's breadth of coverage makes it the definitive biographical guide to the First World War.
Each entry provides biographical data and basic factual information about its subject's role in the Great War, and in the case of major figures there is also an assessment of their reputation in light of the latest scholarship.
Maps, cross-referencing, a list of military ranks, a guide to further reading and a thorough introduction complete what is at once a comprehensive work of reference and a fascinating overview of an important period in twentieth century history. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Notable American Women of the Past
As a teacher of American Literature for almost 20 years and now a librarian in a high school this 3 set volume has been invaluable to students who want to find out about women who contributed toAmericansociety.The well known names are profiled but more than that, the moreobscure contibutors are documented.Students have appreciated finding whatthey need and then get excited to discover more information about womenother than the one person they may have been assigned to research. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When he was 10 years old, the author watched as his brother Michael losthis mind. High on LSD and screaming uncontrollably because God was torturinghim, the 14-year-old smashed everything in his bedroom, his feet red with bloodfrom broken glass. Michael collected snakes and let them slither around hisnaked body; he beat Greg nearly senseless, then smashed his own forehead into asharp branch in repentance; he stayed up all night, watching Christiantelevision or "puzzling over his strange and cruel distance from God." Theirparents, preoccupied by the ceaseless work that had taken them from a dirt-poorVirginia town to an affluent suburb that they really couldn't afford, thoughtdrugs the problem and throwing Michael out the answer. Not until 1977, when hewas 21, did they learn that he was an acute paranoid schizophrenic, so severelymentally ill that he probably would never be healed, although medication mightcontrol his behavior. Michael became increasingly dangerous, but could not beinstitutionalized against his will; when he set their house on fire in 1993, thefather's reaction was relief: "This was the best thing that could havehappened.... He'll be put away." He was, and, Bottoms acknowledges, "We've allfound a peace without Michael that we're not willing to give up." There's nofalse sentiment in this unflinching memoir of a family that's alienated, insteadof united, by tragedy: "We all hid from each other," Bottoms writes withcharacteristic candor. "We shared a space, a roof, nothing else." There is,however, tremendous sorrow for a blighted life and the havoc that it wrought.Bottoms's finely crafted prose offers no consolation or easy answers--simplyemotional precision and the satisfaction of hard truth. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Book Description

Anecdotal, inspiring, frequently amusing, and elegantly concise, the obituary page of The New York Times has earned a huge following. The Last Word is a fascinating compilation of 100 of the most colorful, entertaining, and touching obits that have appeared in the last few years.

The collection deliberately omits celebrities to concentrate on an eclectic mix of lesser-known men and women whose compelling lives have often changed the world they lived in. You may not have heard of Julian Hill, but he changed your life as the inventor of nylon. You'll meet others like him: a quiet man who braved the hostility of racists to integrate the University of Georgia; a woman who turned chopped liver into a million-dollar business; the man who gave the Beat Generation its very name; and a reclusive woman who turned a $5,000 nest egg into a $22 million fortune that she left to a school she never attended.

The collection also includes commentary by some of the Times's finest writers and contributors such as Jules Feiffer, William E. Geist, James Gleick, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Anna Quindlen, William Styron, and Wendy Wasserstein. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

thought-provoking and entertaining
You wouldn't think a book of obituaries would be entertaining, but it is when the obits are well-written and celebrate the lives and characters of the 100+ people found in this collection. The subjects are most often unknown to the majority of us, but the various authors (including well-known NYT obituary author Robert McG. Thomas, Jr.) humanize each subject and inspire you to contemplate your own life. Most essays are a couple of pages long, and there is an introduction by Russell Baker.

Indeed, the Last Word on Obituary Writing
Rather than an ode to death, this book cherishes lives onced lived by all kinds of people. Whether brilliant or simple, rich or poor, actions great or discreet, each of the people written about contributed to society in a meaningful (and often surprising) way. Equally outstanding are the authors of these obituaries, whose writing talents manage to entertain, educate and move the reader deeply without being maudlin. Even more importantly, this book forces us to examine our own lives: what will people say about us when we've faced our Maker? For those of us who come up pitifully short, this book inspires even the common man to contribute to society, and strive for -- and hopefully, attain -- spiritual immortality.

A helluva book
I teach Memoir Writing to local seniors and I routinely use this book as an example of outstanding biography. It's one thing to write a 250 word bio but quite another, and much more demanding, to pen a few-hundred-word last goodbye to someone and do it with panache. The NY Times has three books of obituaries, this is the most recent. The quality of the writing is, in many cases, superior to anything in the rest of the newspaper(all the obits here were published in the Times). I especially like the reviews of Robert McG Thomas, who died within the past year at age 60. His obituaries deserved a Pulitzer. His obits are worth the price of the book. Everybody deserves a last word. These obits are not just about famous people but about average joes and janes who have been extraordinary human beings. I'd even recommend this book for spiritual reading because the lives here are inspirational. I teach writing and am always on the lookout for examples of prose that will knock my socks off. This is one helluva book.

A must for any commode (that's a compliment)
In our celebrity-obsessed culture, in which bland, no-talent know-nothing windbags like "Dharma and Greg's" Jenna Elfman are considered national treasures and given lengthy pseudo-important profiles in glossy magazines, it is refreshing to read about lives that actually have meaning; about people who commit their lives to doing interesting things for others and for themselves; people whose lives take amazing twists of fate, people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances and react in ways that no one could predict. The genius of this book is that it covers not the obvious obits of international icons like, say, John Lennon or Richard Nixon, but people whom you may have never heard of, such as the inventor of kiddy litter or the great bluesman Willie Dixon. And they are written not as morbid reflections on death, but as the book's subtitle says "celebrations of life." The Last Word also holds the important distinction of being the greatest bathroom book I have ever read. Why not put it in your own john?

A delightful and witty collection.
A delightful collection of lives which I read cover to cover in one sitting. Offers a fascinating glimpse of la comedie humaine--often witty, sometimes sad, always remarkable.

I was turned onto this book when it was selected for the Book-of-the-Month Club--I cannot recommend it enough to anyone interested in the lives of others. A great gift. ... Read more