Book Description

Now president after the most dubious election in American history, George W. Bush is brought to task by controversial author J. H. Hatfield, who examines Bush's past and the questionable business and political practices of the Bush family. This updated edition documents the campaign to discredit and suppress the most talked-about biography of George W. Bush. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Hatfield Died for this Information
Released by Soft Skull Press in 1999 before the 2000 presidential elections, J.H. Hatfield's "Fortunate Son: George W. Bush and the Making of an America President," presents a comprehensive piece on three generations of Bush family interaction with America and the surrounding environment.

Hatfield asked George W. repeatedly for an interview before he released this book, but was turned down time and time again by the 43rd president of the United States. During Hatfield's years of investigation for this book, he interviewed many close friends and relatives of George W. Bush who revealed many deep and hidden secrets not revealed through the mainstream media; also, Hatfield used an unnamed source to provide information presented in the piece.

Hatfield, who is now dead by means of suicide, brought a lot of heat on George W. Bush during his 2000 presidential campaign with the release of this book; and thus, released a storm of criticism upon himself. By bringing to light the fact of George W. Bush's problems with alcohol and his disputed use of cocaine, the author Hatfield wrote about the best and worst sides of three generations of Bush family.

Beginning with the history of grandfather Prescott Bush, the writer lays out a historical perspective that could of easily caused an insidious demise to the family's reputation. The war veteran and 41st president George H. W. Bush, who left his mark on the oil rush, and son George Bush's controversial past and new found reform.

The piece is a hard and sometimes slow read and there are numerous facts and figures brought up in the piece which gives the reader a whole view of how the family worked through it's rough spots, and triumphed in successes. The book is easily defined as a political history of a family with massive influence on the United States of America, and their actions and reactions to the surrounding environment.

Although the read has it's slow spots and down points, Hatfield's piece is one of the few biographies burned at publishing, and for this, the book is necessary for future generations.

The truth is out there - probably
I put off reading this book for a long time, thanks to the questions we all had about Hatfield's integrity and the credibility of his charges against the Accidental President. This newly updated and better-annotated edition put these concerns to rest, and although it's not the best Bush biography I've read thus far, it deserves far more respect than it's received from the mainstream media. For a book which Bush's supporters went to great lengths to prevent from ever being published, Hatfield shows a surprising lack of antagonism toward his subject for the most part. Molly Ivins' "Shrub," Mark Crispin Miller's "The Bush Dyslexicon" and Paul Begala's "Is Our Children Learning?" are all far more openly partisan (and better written), but Hatfield does provide information not available elsewhere about the youthful indiscretion that Bush and his allies have otherwise done a superb job of keeping buried.

Using straightforward accounts from the public record and those who know him, Hatfield illustrates such issues as Bush's obliviousness to racial segregation in his hometown, his indifference to his studies at Andover and Yale, his alcoholism, his spotty record in the Air National Guard, his questionable business dealings, and his performance as governor. Bush's actions and words speak for themselves throughout the book, and Hatfield shows little inclination to analyze them to death or to put an actively anti-Bush spin on them. In fact, he occasionally sounds pro-Bush, noting, for example, that he got off to a respectable start in the oil business after graduating from Harvard Business School. Some of the less flattering accounts, such as that of his "service" in the Air National Guard, have a necessarily vague and incomplete feel to them, mainly because there simply isn't a lot of reliable information available about that period of Bush's life. Hatfield is, however, able to provide a number of accounts of cocaine use and womanizing that stand in sharp contrast to the family-values image Bush's handlers have managed to convey to the public. If Hatfield's research failed to answer many questions about the extended adolescence Bush himself has always refused to discuss, he did succeed brilliantly in raising many questions that deserve to be addressed but haven't been thus far.

The book's most famous accusation - that Bush was arrested for cocaine posession in 1972 and his father got the charges dropped - is more solidly supported than I'd been led to believe. Although Hatfield did fail to produce a source who was willing to confirm the story on the record, he names a number of sources who probably know the answer but - like Bush himself - refuse to confirm or deny it. Additionally, he provides three anonymous sources, not a lone Deep Throat as has been widely reported. The afterword does have a cloak-and-dagger feel to it all the same, and there are typographical and grammatical errors sprinkled throughout the narrative which have helped to make the book easy for Bush supporters to vilify.

But for all that, most of what Hatfield reports is well-annotated (in contrast to the original printing) and presented in a non-sensationalistic style. If Hatfield was not the ideal messenger, he at least provided us with an important collection of information that other journalists chose to gloss over or didn't have access to. As Mark Crispin Miller points out in his introduction, the Bush campaign's reaction to the book was just as telling in one sense as the book itself is. If it's inaccurate, why suppress it?

Celebrate your right to know. Whatever your politics, read the book and decide for yourself whether or not it's worth believing.

Not a bash, but rather, an investigation
When I heard of this book, I wondered why it was dropped from St. Martin's Press. Given the numerous books slandering Clinton, I figured this book was a slandering piece, and would be decried as nothing more than foolish slander, and naturally disappear in public interest. Instead, the book was pulled from the presses. Why? After reading this book, I found that not only does it not have the typical bash style of Moore or Franken, but it researches his past with accuracy and without humorous commentary - possibly so close to the truth that decrying it as nothing more than slander would be extremely difficult, and Karl Rove didn't want to spend time or lose face defending against it.

From the strange connections to Saudi Arabia to the forced policies of a governor, this book lays out the blueprint for what we are seeing today. Not only do I find the information frightening, but I find it to be on the mark. A man who stands for nothing but condemns everything, he is a dark man who does not deserve to be the president of a democracy.

A very good look at what's running the White House
The problem with writing a biography of George W. Bush is that it won't be nice. The details of his life leave no choice.

Fortunate Son puts all this on display. It shows a man who says the right things while doing whatever benefits him. The list of contradictions is as plain as day. Here are a few. In April of 1999 George blamed the film industry for desensitizing people to violence. Between 1983 and 1993 he was a paid director for Silver Screen Management. They arrange for investment in films. Twenty-one of the films they arranged financing for were R-rated. That was due to the violence they depicted. Arlington politico's passed legislation that allowed the Arlington Sports Facility Development Authority to seize land. It was turned over to the Rangers for development. As a minority owner of the team George was close to these people. As Governor he later pulled the teeth from those laws. His run for Governor was based on a platform of issues he misrepresented. His working existence is a series of shady business deals. His morality is rife with hypocrisy. The book is filled with examples of this.

Hatfield's research begs for more questions to be asked too. In 1978 George ran for the Congressional riding of Midland, Texas. It came out that 61% of his financial backing came from outside that riding. Most of it was from big business interests. Why? At that point George had nothing behind him (apart from the family name) to warrant that support. It was there though. The records prove it. It was revelations like this that got J. H. Hatfield in trouble with the upper echelon of the Republican Party (to say nothing of their supporters). He hadn't started out with intentions of discrediting Bush. If anything it was the opposite; his sympathetic writing style makes that clear. The book is well written. The information is concise. Hatfield doesn't condemn. He just reports the facts. He had avoided what he couldn't prove. His coverage of the (possible) fiasco during the Air Guard tenure had been sparse. There's no mention of the ties between the Bush and Hinckley families either. Hatfield would have found those. He left them alone though. It was only after attacks on his credibility that he did some more research. Then he found the details of the cocaine bust. It's hard to say how much more he'd have found had he lived. It's even harder to guess how much he would have proven. There seems to be plenty there.

Still, what he found was more than enough. It produced a very important book. Everyone should read it.

Well researched and revealing
After reading all the claims that this book used questionable sources and shoddy research, I almost wrote it off. But after actually reading it, I realized that nothing could be further from the truth. This book is not (unlike most liberally leaning books on the Bush dynasty) a biased and desperate slam on the president. The sources are certainly not "crackpot websites" as one reviewer claimed, and the book was not dropped by its first publisher because it was innacurate (it was dropped from political pressure from the bush administration).
I find it kind of funny that all of these such claims are accompanied by NO comments which would actually indicate that these reviewers even read the book (and then go on to make claims such as 'liberals will love this because they love anything that bashes the president).
I'm not what I would call a liberal. I'm certainly not a democrat. But I will admit I think Bush is a terrible president. This book helped to cement my dislike for the man.
This is not slander. It even portrays him in a positive light at times. It questions the claims of Bush detractors as well as supporters. It's thorough and (at least in its narrative, you can argue about the facts presented) for the most part unbiased (even though its hard to remain completely objective when you're talking about a man who publicly mocked a woman he just sentenced to death...)
The sources I checked up on were authentic. In the end, its a damning portrayal of our president. Anyone who is even remotely curious as to what kind of insanity is running through our commander-in-cheif's head owes it to themselves to read through this book.
In all truth, if you're a Bush supporter, you probably will have few problems with alot of what's revealed in this book. A friend of mine (who is a hard-core bush enthusiast) read the book, and his response (for the most part) was "so what?" But then again, he and I have a very different set of moral and political beliefs, and my response to the book was certainly different.
Take it for what it is. It's a biography. If you support him, you should know more about him. If you don't, this book will give you a few more reasons not to. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Memory lane
This book brought back memories of my past childhood. I was very excitied to see my father mentioned in the book.I think my cousin has done a wonderful job in the research and writing of this book.I am very proud ofhim.

A WONDERFUL BOOK!
Edward Lepoma has written a wonderful book, well researched and beautifully written. At last we know the influences that shaped Mary Mahoney into the great person she was.It was obviously written by someonewho understood Mary but who was not blind to her faults.

TRUE PICTURE OF A GREAT LADY
I am a long time friend of the author and became acquainted with Mary Mahoney and her restaurant through him.Mary was indeed larger than life and the author has captured this in his book.This is an excellentbiography.It is well researched and presents a true picture of a greatlady, warts and all.Mary was loyal to her heritage, friends, family, cityand her religion.She is still sorely missed as hostess, friend andbenefactor by everyone she touched in her joyful life.You will laugh andyou will cry as you read this book.

AN EXCELLENT READ
This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in fine dining and remarkable personalities.The author has extensively researched his subject and presented the biography in an easy, readable style.It alsogives an insight into the culture and customs of the American Gulf Coastfrom Alabama to Louisiana with its French Catholic heritage.Therestaurant recipes alone are worth the price of the book.

Masterfully Researched
I rated this book 3 stars (rather than 5) because the subject matter is of regional, rather than national, interest. I read the book with great interest because I am a writer too and was astounded (and a little envious)of the painstaking research, including dozens of personal interviews, theauthor completed. The quality of his research gives this book a wealth ofauthentic detail. ... Read more

Book Description

Life in Today's world is set at a frenzied pace. Everything has to be done faster and better than before and there is little time to sit back and enjoy the frivolous things in life. However, there are some places that still put value on simple pleasures such as enjoying a sunset or having a pleasant conversation with a neighbor. In a remote area of South Carolina known as St. Helena Island there is a community that had lasted for over one humdred and fifty years and is just as popular today as it was when it first began.

Pierre McGowan describes the friendly confines of St. Helena in The Gullah Mailman. Beginning with a detailed description of the island's history and physical topography, McGowan then launches into the biographical account of his father Sam McGowan's life. Sam left a promising social life in Charleston to become a mail carrier at this isolated community predominately inhabited by five thousand Gullah-speaking African-Americans. Over the years, Sam would become a trusted and respected friend to all the island's residents and their stories become his story in the impressive memoir.

Like his father pierre has also spent most of his life in St.Helena. His love for the community is evident in the special care he takes when describing the landscapes and the individual stories of the people that held such an invaluable place in his father's heart. The Gullah Mailman is a refreshing look at a life almost forgotten in today's hectic society and a reminder of the importance of community and family. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

May Swifter Editorial Minds Prevail. Soon.
Having grown up in the Bahamas, and then later visiting the Sea Islands off the coasts of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, I marvelled at the similarity of the spoken dialect. The intact African culture on Daufuskie and St. Helena was amazing to witness, given its proximity to the U.S. mainland via Beaufort, S.C. I have since made many friends in the area, and have watched as the local Gullah coalition has worked hard to maintain the purity and non-commercialism of their legacy.

Having said that, though, I don't honestly think that we'll have to worry about 'Gullah Mailman' being worked into the annals of classic Gullah literature. The book is so amateurishly bad that it begs gut-wrenching laughter. Non-linguist white people should not be encouraged to bastardize dialects under the guise of being quaint. [Disclaimer: I am a white person.] I could not stop laughing at his abysmal breakdown of the dialect, and had a hard time believing that the locals to whom he directed this farcical take on their language could keep a straight face either.

All in all, I'd stick with 'Legacy of Ibo Landing.'

Kimberly King-Burns The Briland Modem www.briland.com

A Delightful trip back in time, Southern - Style
Once you start reading this delightful book, you won't be able to put it down. Few have had the opportunity to experience life on the sea islands the way that Pierre McGowan and his father, Sam McGowan did during the period of the 30's through the 60's. Although there were certainly difficult times in many ways, both socially and economically, this book is a pleasant escape and will leave you smiling and chuckling. Great for those wishing to learn more about the sea islands and the people of the islands. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Sounds like home to me
I really enjoyed this book. The author described every moment in her life with such detail, it felt as if I were there with her. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants inspiration.

Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South
This book desperately wanted to be "Having Our Say" by the Delaney Sisters. Perhaps, if it had an editor, it would have been. As it stands, it provides a historical perspective of African American Deaf culture, but its text does not flow very smoothly.

Dare I say....
that I found this ... well ... boring? I suppose, on the one hand, I should be glad that Ms. Wright had a relatively uneventful and happy life, despite growing up both black and disabled in the mid-20th century rural south; but, frankly, happy and uneventful lives don't make for very interesting reading.

Sounds Like Home: Growing up Black and Deaf in the South
I really loved this book.I couldn't put it down.She made a lot ofdeaf friends at the school.She also made some blind friends.I laughed and cryed with her.You should get this book.

The most captivating book I've ever read.
This book makes one feel as if he/she is living the moment(s). The author writes from the depth of her soul and it is evident that she speaks not only of herself, growing up Black and Deaf in the deep South, but also for her other Deaf brothers and sisters whom she came to consider her extended family and the difficulties of adjusting to her hearing loss at such a tender age. This is definitely a "must read" book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

American History Lovers must read this!
To those who love American History will love the realistic and descriptive view of the Dismal Swamp. It is rich with events of African Americans as well, the connections the early settlers had with the Spanish, Native Indians, French, Dutch and Britsh. It describes the Dismal Swamp so well, I visualised being there myself and sharing the feelings of those worked, struggled and lived and died in the Swamp.

It is the story of a man who shared his love for the Swamp and the history behind it. I have made plans to visit there this Spring.

Take some time over coffee or tea and start enjoying your journey to the Dismal Swamp from the begining of George Washington personal interest in the Swamp to the 20th Century.

For anyone who has any roots to the Southwest region of Virginia, you will be pleasantly surprised. I found one of my husband's ancestors qouted in the book.

Holga Reyes ... Read more

Book Description

From 1936 to 1938, the Federal Writers' Project (FWP), a part of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration, hired writers, editors, and researchers to interview as many former slaves as they could find and document their lives during slavery. More than 2,000 former slaves in 17 states were interviewed. With Weren't No Good Times, John F. Blair, Publisher, continues its Real Voices, Real History ™ series with selections from 44 of the 125 interviews now archived in the Library of Congress that were earmarked as interviews with Alabama slaves.

Alabama was a frontier state. From the beginning, its economy was built on cotton and slavery and its laws were fashioned to accommodate both, which becomes obvious when related through the experiences of Alabama's slaves. A year after it obtained statehood, Alabama had a slave population of 41,879, as compared to 85,451 whites and 571 free blacks. By 1860, the slave population had swelled to 435,080, while there were 536,271 whites and 2,690 free blacks. When emancipation came to the slaves, Alabama's slave owners lost an estimated $200 million of capital.

These narratives will help readers understand slavery by hearing the voices of the people who lived it.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Presenting individual voices with a loud and clear message
Compiled and edited by Horace Randall Williams, Weren't No Good Times is an anthology of 46 of the 125 interviews of former Alabama slaves, conducted from 1936 to 1938, presented with the express purpose of thoroughly documenting and creating a record of life during slavery in the southern state of Alabama. A powerful primary source, presenting individual voices with a loud and clear message of what slavery itself was truly like, Weren't No Good Times has the absolute highest recommendation and is a must for school and community libraries and American History and Black History reference collections and reading lists. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Stunningly Beautiful, Moving Portraits Capture Texans
This is a beautifully photographed coffee table book picturing Texans from small towns and large cities all over the state. Photographed by Michael O'Brien, a photographer with a background in photojournalism, the book spotlights Texans as diverse as Willie Nelson, Lady Bird Johnson, ZZ Top, small town chearleaders, ranch families, and Laura and George Bush. Michael's wife, Elizabeth O'Brien, a writer, captures each person in a sensitive, personal interview which describes each Texan in that moment in time. The Face of Texas would be a wonderful gift for anyone who lives in the state of Texas or has friends or relatives there, or for anyone who appreciates beautiful photography or Americana.

Outstanding!!
The Face of Texas stands out within the array of Texas books that have been published in recent years. The photographs by Michael O'Brien--portraits of Texans, both famous and ordinary--are stunning; and the subjects themselves, from celebrities like Earl Campbell and Lady Bird Johnson to regular folks like painter Ran Horn of Van Horn, TX, the self-described "Van Gogh of Van Horn," and Ila Johnston, the beloved, retired Spur, TX high school teacher who just renewed her Texas driver's license at the age of 97, are fascinating individuals. The pictures in The Face of Texas are accompanied by well-written, plainspoken stories by Elizabeth O'Brien about each subject. The text and photographs combine to create a substantial picture of each person that transcends the visual; both writer and photographer treat their subjects with warmth and respect. The book is not meant to be a definitive portrait of Texas; as photographer Michael O'Brien says in his introduction, it is simply a collection of his favorite portraits taken over the years on assignment, primarily for various magazines. Bravo for O'Brien--what a phenomenal photographic journey!

Wonderful portraits of Texans
This is a beautiful and expressive collection of portraits of a wide variety of Texans, from the famous to unknown, real Texans. O'Brien has a great sense of light and clearly connects with his subjects, who are often pictured in their environment, so that you get a real feeling for the place as well as the people. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in photography or Texas.

magnificent & beautiful
We all love to watch people, we all love to learn about the stories people have, now we have the opportunity to see a wonderful slice of texas culture. This book captures the heart and beauty of each of its' subjects. From the largent family to willie to destiny's child to junior brown to ran horn to all the members of the fandangle to kinky...etc. Sinead, my 7 yr. old girl, has her favorites as well. All animal related: The gatorfest queen, ran horn, the prairie dog from the Fandangle, and last but not least kinky standing on the water. She said, "That one is weird...no one can stand on water, how does he stand on the water? I had to explain the magic of photography...i think she understood. You will also enjoy this book for the stories that Elizabeth writes. They are fascinating and very necessary to explain why and how and where are they now questions. You will not be dissapointed with this collection of stories and photo's!

Wonderful Book...a must for all Texas coffee tables
I will start my review my rejecting all of what the past reviewer Daniel Andrade said about the book. What he said completely reflects the tone of a somewhat jealous person and a selectabley one-sided arguement. The Face of Texas, which I had anticipated since its announcement, did not only capitulate some of Michael O'Brien's famous and somewhat artistic photographs but it also gave me something that other coffee table books did not: it a description of the photgraph...let me explain. Other coffee table books or general photograph books for example often lead me to be confused...I want to know the people in the picture...and yet, no one ever explains the picture. Elizabeth O'Brien did this beautifully, and I found myself more interested in the "nobodys" such as Sloan Peterson and her Austin High prom date rather than Willie Nelson and Troy Aikman.

And to make another point on Daniel's bittersome review, let me pose him a question. What do you think of when you think of someone's face? You think of the distinct features that you remember most easily. Let ask you another...what are the distinct features of Texas? People don't think of such things as its racial diversity...they think of cowboys, famous legends such as Earl Campbell and Troy Aikman and Willie Nelson, they think of small town Texas, the hill coountry, the Mexican influences. To refute yet another weak point of his review proves that he must not have looked at the book for very long and may have had some sort of squirmish with the publication of this book. Hardly anything is accurately protrayed these days but how doers that have any wager of me or anyone else buying the book or enjoying it? Not only would I highly recomend that someone buy this book for yourself, but maybe give it to a friend...it seems to make a wonderful present. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Mr. Peters: Friend and One of the Good Guys
I've known Jim Peters for many years, and have been at his side and witnessed both his investigative talent (who can forget Las Vegas 1995?) and skill at obtaining info from people not always willing to provide it. This is an entertaining story and a too brief glimpse into the life of a true Texas Ranger, before the computers and DNA changed the profession forever. Read it and wish you were there.

Jim Peters - Friend and Mentor
As one who is friends with Jim Peters, I can recommend this book to anyone who is a Texas history buff, especially those with an interest in Ranger lore.Jim truly was a Ranger when "Rangers were Rangers".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Jim Peters has had a remarkable life, and it's fascinating to read about his adventures as a Texas Ranger. The author makes you feel as though you're right there with Peters and the Rangers as they piece togetherevidence and track down the bad guys. The fact that these are true crimestories makes them all the more interesting. The ones involving coldbloodedkillers make you grateful for the courage and dedication of men like JimPeters. Other stories involving lesser crimes and dumb or unlucky criminalsare very funny. A neat book.

Entertaining True Crime
Jim Peters, Texas Ranger is extremely readable as it consists of great stories of the activities of this reknowned and capable Texas Ranger. The Rangers, of course, are the best of the best, and Jim Peters was highlyrespected by his fellows. He was involved in the resolution of a lot ofhigh-profile cases and the book is an interesting piece of both true crimeand history. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Perfect Complement to C. Vann Woodward's "Tom Watson"
Stephen Kantrowitz, a gifted writer, accomplishes that rarest of achievements in academia: theory that is actually readable. With "Ben Tillman & the Reconstruction of White Supremacy," recipient of the Organization of Amerian Historians' Hawley Prize, he wades through American history's murkiest waters, those of race and gender. And with remarkable clarity, Kantrowitz shows that you just can't sieve race from gender, or vice versa.

Perhaps what makes all the theory understandable is how well Kantrowitz grounds it all in the dirt of real-life "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman, a Red-shirt terrorist who advocated lynching and a reconstruction of white supremacy.

Kantrowitz also reconstructs our ideas of what exactly makes the stuff of white supremacy (hence, the title of the book includes a double entendre of "the reconstruction of white supremacy," as both subject and author are engaging in projects of "reconstruction," making for what I think is the most creative history book title I've seen). Instead of racial instinct formed in primordial ooze, Kantrowitz exposes white supremacy as a political program, similar to Philip Gourevitch's exposition of the political--as opposed to inherent or inherited--nature of Hutu Power in his equally masterful "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families."

This is a brilliant book: elegantly written, restrained, thoughtful, and thought provoking. It reminds us that white supremacy doesn't reside in our blood, but in our history--not just the past, mind you, but our still-unfolding history. As for whether Kantrowitz is fair to Tillman, the passages that made my skin crawl weren't accusations from Kantrowitz or the "anti-Tillman press" but words of hatred spewed directly from Tillman's lips. Don't get mad at Kantrowitz for putting Tillman up to the light illuminated by facts!

I'm baffled by the accusation that Kantrowitz is a "shallow author." This is a book of soul-shaking depth, a political tragedy that cuts to the marrow, all the more tragic because of its factual truth. The "obvious agenda here" is not Kantrowitz's. The OAH doesn't give out awards to "spin artists." No, you have to do some research and back up what you say with footnotes (Kantrowitz has 55 pages of them, in itty-bitty print). Amazon.com, on the other hand, with its admirably democratic attitudes toward open forum, allows people to say just about any old thing in reviews. The "A Most Innacurate [sic]..." review accuses Kantrowitz of "conveniently [choosing] to omit and obviously [failing] to research Tillman's admirable private life as it would destroy the credibility of the subject and agenda." Well, I don't know what to say except that while I think Kantrowitz does expose the private life of the biography's subject, Tillman and his white supremacist agenda, I agree that such an exposition does in fact "destroy the credibility of the subject and agenda."

A Most Innacurate Piece of Fiction
Obvious agenda here by a shallow author looking to capitalize on a recently re-elevated subject. The entire book fails to make any positive remarks about the most popular and elected politician in the history of the state of South Carolina. Most of the research by this "author" is conveniently taken from anti-Tillman press while bypassing all of the many contributions to the state and to the U.S. Senate. Tillman was honored and revelled by many fellow U.S. Senators from opposing parties (and from Northern States). He established Clemson University, Winthrop College and the Charleston Naval Shipyard. There were two U.S. Navy Ships named after him. None of these accomplishments and honors are worthy of mention by this spin artist. He conveniently chose to omit, and obviously failed to research, Tillman's admirable private and personal life as it would destroy the credibility of the subject and agenda.

Kantrowitz fails miserably in the area of accurate and balanced historical journalism. The slant is conspicuous and offensive and breaks the golden rule of interpreting sources and historic events in the context of the times they were written.

Don't waste your time or money.

marvelous distillation of powerful truths
The reader from Washington says the book is too long, but he wants more personal detail! How would that happen? Fact is, for a major figure in American political history, Tillman has found biographer whose economy of language is commendable; Kantrowitz only uses 309 pages to do a magnificent job of storytelling and analysis. And it is a great read, especially given the deep and subtle insights that Kantrowitz squeezes from this Dixie demogogue's pernicious but important career. And he does so without turning Tillman into a demon, but rather by revealing that the Senator was not so much a tribute but a trickster of the people, and far from being a populist, served the richest and most powerful of his constituents as he poured salt into the worst of the nation's wounds--the scar of white supremacy. This book is eloquent and profound, and could scarely have been better crafted.

Ben Tillman by Stephen Kantrowitz:Revealing But Too Long
Professor Kantrowitz, a professional historian, has written a book that is revealing of the man and the times but too long and detailed for the nonprofessional reader of history. He has mined old newspapers from South Carolina and other documents energetically--and it would appear that every one of his index cards, so to speak, has been carried over into the text. Consequently, there is more detail than this reader needed or could possibly absorb. This failing is compounded by the author's inadequate treatment of Tillman's life. Milestone personal and family events are mentioned in a sentence, with no indication that the author is interested in Tillman the person--although, to his credit, he does on several occasions remind us that Tillman was devoted to his wife and wrote her loving, and playful, letters. But Tillman's relations with his children are not covered adequately. Nor do we learn much about his nonpolitical relationships with friends, relatives and neighbors. In other words, Professor Kantrowitz has scanted the biographical aspects of his book in favor of doctrinal analsyis. He has given his readers too many excerpts from Tillman's speeches, letters and interviews--primarily on how he felt about the place of Negroes in a white-dominated society. Kantrowitz shows that Tillman took a hostile view towards Negroes, as African Americans were called (and worse) in the 19th Century, and yet he and other farmers needed them as low-wage laborers. His racism and support of violence, part of his calculated appeal to white "producers," are well established early on. But the point is made over and over. Tip to readers: Kantrowitz, a disciplined writer in some respects, introduces paragraphs with topic sentences. Very often the supporting detail that follows can be skimmed or skipped because the general point already has been made.

Circular History
I'm currently reading "Ben Tillman And The Reconstruction Of White Supremacy" as part of my ongoing effort to understand the failure of Reconstruction. This is an excellent book that, as one of the reviewers has indicated, is more a history of the post-Reconstruction development of white supremacy in the United States than it is of "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman, although Tillman's life story may be said to be a perfect illustration of white supremacy. Tillman, as a "Red-Shirt" mob and militia leader, governor, and U.S. Senator,loved to brag of his successful efforts to disenfranchise Afro Americans through fraud, murder, manipulation of the laws and legal processes, usurpation of legitmate governmental authority,campaigns of terror, lies, deceits, and the dividing and conquering of any cooperative, biracial political efforts by playing whites and their fears of "negro domination" against Afro Americans and their interests. But more, Tillman did not limit his attacks to Afro Americans aspiring to realize the full benefits of citizenship: poor, landless, uninfluential whites, supporters and sympathizers for Afro Americans' increased citizenship rights, whites who disagreed with his policies and political rule, Republicans, and the federal government were all his enemies and he attacked all of them with the same duplicitous ferocity. It is all too apparent that the legacy that he left was embraced by racists and segregationists throughout most of this century in their opposition to civil rights activities.

For those interested in the "real", too long hidden history of race and race relations in this country, this book is an absolute must for their libraries.

In my view, Kantrowitz joins Leon Litwack, Ira Berlin, Eric Foner, W.E.B. DuBois, Frazier, Woodward and the other luminaries of historical writing who worked to provide an accurate, inclusive history of the peoples of the United States of America with this book. "Ben Tillman..." is a book that will fascinate, enrage, infuriate, disgust, amaze, and disturb its readers, especially those who recognize what appear to be parallels between the latter parts of the 19th and 20th centuries and the beginning of the 20th and 21st centuries regarding race and politics.

Perhaps history is circular after all. Read the book and decide for yourself. ... Read more

Book Description

The tale begins with author and his father journeying from their home in a white Mercury to a largely fictional land beyond Maysville, Kentucky, where both father and son were born. This annual commute is ostensibly for the purpose of hunting squirrels, but they are seeking more, and in doing so they discover solace and legends in those wet, foggy woods above the Ohio River and in the lovable characters they discover there and in the nearby town of Persimmon Gap.

Cogan's Woods offers a fond look back at 1960s small-town America: sweating red metal Coca-Cola coolers filled with bottled soft drinks whose caps are imbedded outside the store in "an asphalt apron paved with hundreds of flattened bottle caps, country stores where "old timers of various shapes and sizes leaned into their stories," fresh-picked tomatoes that were "still warm and tasted of the sun," and legendary baseball teams like the Undefeated Persimmon Gap Bobcats."

Ellis offers lasting images and sensory paintings, all gleaned from this land where he and his father traveled, hunted, and rested. In the end, it is this simple mantra, offered first by a gravedigger and later by his dying father that settles into the boy's heart: "It's important to remember, it's so important to remember." ... Read more

Book Description

Non-Fiction humor about life on an actual Christmas Tree farm in, where else(?) Texas! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Park you bottom, put up your feet and prepare to laugh
I will never look at a Christmas tree the same again.What a funny, funny recounting of life in the not so fast lane of a Christmas tree farmer and his long suffering wife Betty.

If you've had a hard day at the office andwant to relax while reading about the hilarious trials and tribulations ofsomeone else, this book is the one.This is better than cherry vanilla icecream.

One of the funniest books I've ever read
This just has to be the funniest book I have ever read. I was doing a job for the publisher Bookmice, improving the appearance and usability of the HTML versions of several books: background, headings, internal links and soon.This kind of work doesn't involve much reading from the book, but when Istarted on 'Santa Claus Lane', my eyes were caught by a sentence, and I gotto reading, then I went to the start of the chapter to make sense of it. Before long, I gave away all pretense of working on the book, and simplyread it from end to end. Even then, the content wouldn't let me alone. Many of the stories were well worth a second read, and now weeks later,they still make me chuckle. Darrel has a wicked turn of phrase: * "Iwas watching a football game through closed eyelids (this is something onlymen can do)." * "...anyone who has been owned by kittens..."* "What's that noise?" she asked. "The wall," I said."Walls don't make noise." "They do when I bump them with myhead." He describes perfectly ordinary domestic episodes in a waythat'll have you laugh. I suspect this book is not for youngsters, but themore mature among us will identify with this self-effacing rogue and hisever-victorious wife Betty. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Outstanding Biography
Mark Foster does a terrific job defining the character and accomplishments of Carl Graham Fisher. This incredible life story played a far larger role in shaping America in the 20th centuty than most people understand. Largely forgotten, Fisher set the tone for American leisure time, and gave his heart to everything he did. Foster's insights to Fisher's motives and values provide a fascinating portrait of a man whose legacy lives on in Miami and in every turn of the wheel in American auto racing. Great reading! ... Read more

Book Description

If you enjoy reading something light, yet informative, that will take your thoughts off your problems, get THE GOLDER, OLDEN DAYS.Not only will you enjoy this lost lifestyle of the family, by you will chuckle all the way through! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful work by a wonderful storyteller
Dr. Kilgo's works are not widely known (as in "popular"), though he was appropriately recognized with the Townsend Prize for Fiction for "Daughter of My People", but his ability to turn a tale is unparalleled. The Hand-Carved Creche and Other Christmas Stories is not as broad in scope as "Daughter of My People", nor is it meant to be. Superficially it is an "easy read", but this is analogous to admiring a gift for its wrapping paper. (By contrast "Daughter of My People" is best savored over a period of days--or even weeks--rather than in a one-shot read.)

Even though the language and structure Kilgo uses in The Hand-Carved Creche are more flowing and perhaps not so finely honed as in his other works, it is Kilgo at his most relaxed best. There is more of Jim Kilgo in this book than in any to date, for what we see are glimpses -- no, more than that, they are long-lasting impressions of the mind and spirit -- into the boyhood of the man to come. But Kilgo's ability to place his reader fully in the context of these Christmas memories also allows the reader to connect to his or her own memories of Christmases past. And we get to ask and reflect on that basic question: what is Christmas really all about?

Not only will you not be sorry you read this book, but you will find yourself drawn to read it again and again as Christmas approaches each year.

Granted, my review of this work is likely somewhat biased by my personal relationship with Jim Kilgo. But I am also no fool: I recognize excellence when I see it.

***The death of Jim Kilgo on Sunday, December 8, 2002, due to pneumonia-related complications means that the world has lost a preeminent novelist and storyteller. He wrote for the love of the language and about his love of family, the outdoors, and friends. He was at the same time a self-confident, determined man and an humble, gentle spirit, never seeking the limelight or the glory. He will be missed.

What a nice way to spend Christmas
I discovered Kilgo through his stunning novel, Daughter of My People. This is a little book, but it is rich--more insight and meaning and substance here that there is in most 300 page books. Kilgo can really turn a phrase. And while his telling of his childhood Christmas stories set in South Carolina is perfect, the only problem if that I was left wanting more. ... Read more