(Larger Image)
|
by Sheila T. Gregory
ISBN: 0761812857
Binding/Media: Hardcover - 174 pages
Condition: Used: Acceptable
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. EX LIBRARY copy in a good condition. Library markings present. The first page, which had library stamps, was removed by the library.
More Product Infomation
|
|
by Andrew Young
ISBN: 0840769989
Binding/Media: Hardcover - 172 pages
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: Sold with pride. Gently read copy in like new condition.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
This is a touching book that should be read by all persons
Rating  (5)
Date: 1999-04-05
13 out of 14 customers found this reveiw helpful
Way Out of No Way is the story of one of the most well respected yet underappreciated figures in America. Starting from childhood, Andrew Young describes his early life growing up in an middle class family during the great depression. Andrew Young describes how there was pressure on him to continue in the family business, yet he knew that there was something else in store for his life. From meeting his wife to working with Martin Luther King, this book takes you behind the scenes of the Civil Rights Movement, the marches and how the events were organized. Young describes his life after the movement from his meeting with President Carter, his position as US Ambassador, his time as Mayor of Atlanta, to the death of his wife. This is a touching book written about a man whose work has touched every American.
|
(Larger Image)
|
by David Matthews
ISBN: 0805081496
Binding/Media: Hardcover - 320 pages
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. Book in very good condition with VERY LIGHT reading wear. EX LIBRARY copy which did not spend much time in circulation before being released. Library markings present but no further markings or imperfections.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
beautiful and moving
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-01-29
This is a beautiful book.
The author's strength is in his storytelling, describing a harsh environment that many of us on a fundamental level may not relate to, but can either deeply understand his accounts of daily struggle (not solely racial) or are fascinated and illuminated to a world that is unfamiliar to us. He has an incredibly rich memory for small and intimate details and I admired his ability to be so open and honest about his life, his shortcomings and his personal struggles of feeling compelled to choose one race, one part of his heritage, over the other. It was this mix of emotions I felt while reading this book, from the hilarious to the distressing, that made me send it to quite a few friends and family, only too interested to see what they took from it, if anything. They were not only moved by his account, but we were all left with a narrative whose imagery and impressions will stick with us for a very long time.
|
|
A Memoir
Rating  (1)
Date: 2010-01-12
0 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
This was a boring book. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I will donate this book to good will and maybe someone else will enjoy it. I'm glad I used a gift certificate to get this book. It did not hold my interest after the second page. please tell the author to step up his writing skills.
|
|
A big ego and bad editing make for a troubling read
Rating  (2)
Date: 2009-12-30
I was given this book and read it with great expectations. Matthews can write and he's got a great story to tell, but stylistically he's all over the place. The better sections are plainly written and heartfelt, while others have florid footnotes and, worse, refer to the reader as "Dear Reader." He's self-loathing--a sentiment the reader will agree with as the book ends-- and his section about those cry baby Jews whining about the Holocaust should turn off most readers.
|
|
LOVING THIS
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-10-02
I'm only half way through the book and I'm absolutely loving it. Originally, I thought it was going to be a bit too heavy in subject matter and consist of things that are either over my head or that I can't relate to at all... but I don't want to put the book down! With the cleverness of Woody Allen and David Sedaris, and the earnestness of J.D. Salinger, Ace of Spades, is basically the perfect book.
|
|
Sadly disappointed....
Rating  (3)
Date: 2008-09-08
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I had seen the author on several talk shows and found his life story to be very interesting and inspiring. Unfortunately, that didn't translate into writing very well for me personally. I was excited to buy this book but found that I didn't get near the prospective I had gotten from his television interviews and felt more like there were others ways I could have spent that time. Sorry if I am offending anyone but this guy should stick to television because his story is one more people should hear, but they won't get it or learn from it if they only read the book.
|
(Larger Image)
|
by Frank McCourt
ISBN: 000649840X
Binding/Media: Paperback - 352 pages
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: Sold with pride. No writing, no highlighting. Copy in very good condition with normal reading wear.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
Breathtaking
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-07-21
What an eye opener, a page turner. Leads you right into his next book: 'Tis.
|
|
Angela's Ashes
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-05-21
At first I really didn't know what to think as I began reading Angela's Ashes.Angela's Ashes: A Memoir
The author basically writes with an Irish accent. I had been looking forward to reading this book for a long time and I was kind of worried that this style of writing was not going to work for me.
I guess I was very wrong. This was a wonderful read! The stories and his style were perfect! I loved everything about this book except that it ended! It was so sad and desperate at times and funny at other times. I found myself smiling as I read of the conversations between Frankie and his Grandmother. I have met quite a few people that had come over from Ireland in my time but by just reading this book, I felt as if I knew them that much better.
Of course I will read the next book "Tis" because I need more!
|
|
MY FAVORITE BOOK...
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-03-06
I would recommend this to anyone. Recently I did a book report on this book and loved every part of it! I would want to warn you ut had funny parts and very depressing parts =D
|
|
One Of My Favorites Of All Time!
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-02-24
This is a must read! I just reread this book all in one sitting. It is such a wonderful, however tragic story. Despite the hardships throughout the book with alcoholism, poverty and premature death there were clever and hopefully moments as well leaving me with a "Hurrah" for Frankie! With Frankie's tribulations of an alcoholic father spending all his wages at the pub, too little or nothing to eat, loss of family and enduring Catholic School he seemed to remain unaffected by it all. An innocence of sorts. Frank McCourt's Memoir is a treasure to read and one which left me laughing, cheering and crying all at the same time. I highly recommend it!
|
|
ASHES ONLY ASHES
Rating (2)
Date: 2009-11-22
1 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
ASHES ONLY ASHES
REVIEW: McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: Scribner, 1996.
Angela's Ashes is the recitation of a life of poverty suffered by an Irish boy in the middle decades of the 20th century.
The book is repellant. There is no other way to describe it. No other response is possible when a reader is presented with such anguish, and repressed anguish, emotionless anguish.
I am uncertain why readers are interested in a story of such unredeeming misery. There must be a masochistic element in the readership of the book. Or, there must remain in our society many persons of repressive Catholic background who remember their miserable Catholicism while coming of age.
But then I do know the interest the story elicits. There is such guilt in our society because of our materialism and hedonism that the book performs a catharsis in its readers. (A corollary of this perception is that white folk like to hear about other white folk in extremity, as it relieves them about the misery they may be inflicting on those who are not white.) The members of this society seek to punish themselves, as evidenced elsewhere by the horrible, frightful and vulgar behavior in our entertainment media and our personal relations. The book is part of that milieu, culturally perverted, the "dumbed-down" of every value and decency. Even though the author may not have intended such an effect, once the book was published it became part of it.
The book is not a triumph of the human spirit. Rather, it is the ravings of a simple ego seeking to survive as does any dog, though a literate one in this case. It plumbs the depths of our dysfunctional society, and resonates there in our psychic malaise. I will demonstrate how the author accomplished it, whether by craft or chance and in his understated manner. Immediately at the beginning (page 11), the author writes: "It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while." Do you understand how perverted is this statement? The bad childhood is thus the standard for life and art. It casts us immediately into a hopeless existence. Then (on page 145), the author's mother tells us that she is in hell (as are all of us who read the book): "Bridey laughs. Oh, Angela, you could go to hell for that, and Mam says, aren't I there already, Bridey?" It is hell, a special hell created just for the Irish because they believe in it so fervently. It is made of the Damp, the Drink and the Dump, otherwise known as the Church. The author goes on to claim (on page 202): "It's lovely to know that the world can't interfere with the inside of your head." Oh, no, this is disingenuous. The world does nothing except interfere with the inside of your head. That's what the Damp, the Drink and the Dump do. It is the everlasting struggle for your mind, a battle you must fight tenaciously and without rest forever. The author furthers this point (on page 247) by having the young boy think: "It's a mystery. That's what the priests and the masters tell you, everything is a mystery and you have to believe what you're told." Thus life is stupidity compounded with the refusal to use the rationality that the universe endowed you with. The novel culminates with the wisdom distilled from his life that Mr. Sliney (on page 353) imparts to the young Frank: "What I want to tell you is, Never smoke another man's pipe." That's what the entire miserable life of the boy is: smoking another man's pipe.
So there you have it: miserable hopelessness, hell, messy inside of your head, life as mystery, and smoking someone else's pipe. Nothing could be more dysfunctional, and thus a reflection (writ small) of our times. The popularity of the book is the indicator of our malaise.
The book made me feel unclean and violated in mind and in emotion. The grossness of the father sucking the snot out of his infant son's nostrils unfortunately will stay with me forever. It is an ugly book despite the superficial charm of its language. The relentlessness of that language deceives its readers about its repellant nature. It is thus evil, and profoundly depressing. It is a memoir of identity with a vengeance. The book is a symbol of the catastrophe of our civilization, or even of our species. The ashes are those of Angela's poor, hopeless fire, and those dead, sour, caked and soggy ashes encrusted on another man's pipe.
I am happy the author survived his childhood, if indeed he has, and made as an artist a minor masterpiece of a major misery. And in America (on page 363) there is the statement, "...a great country altogether?" Hummmmm. (TRC 03-05-01)
(TRC Final Revision 08-17-09)
|
(Larger Image)
|
by Frank McCourt
ISBN: 000649840X
Binding/Media: Paperback - 352 pages
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: Sold with pride. No writing, no highlighting. Copy in very good condition with normal reading wear.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
Breathtaking
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-07-21
What an eye opener, a page turner. Leads you right into his next book: 'Tis.
|
|
Angela's Ashes
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-05-21
At first I really didn't know what to think as I began reading Angela's Ashes.Angela's Ashes: A Memoir
The author basically writes with an Irish accent. I had been looking forward to reading this book for a long time and I was kind of worried that this style of writing was not going to work for me.
I guess I was very wrong. This was a wonderful read! The stories and his style were perfect! I loved everything about this book except that it ended! It was so sad and desperate at times and funny at other times. I found myself smiling as I read of the conversations between Frankie and his Grandmother. I have met quite a few people that had come over from Ireland in my time but by just reading this book, I felt as if I knew them that much better.
Of course I will read the next book "Tis" because I need more!
|
|
MY FAVORITE BOOK...
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-03-06
I would recommend this to anyone. Recently I did a book report on this book and loved every part of it! I would want to warn you ut had funny parts and very depressing parts =D
|
|
One Of My Favorites Of All Time!
Rating (5)
Date: 2010-02-24
This is a must read! I just reread this book all in one sitting. It is such a wonderful, however tragic story. Despite the hardships throughout the book with alcoholism, poverty and premature death there were clever and hopefully moments as well leaving me with a "Hurrah" for Frankie! With Frankie's tribulations of an alcoholic father spending all his wages at the pub, too little or nothing to eat, loss of family and enduring Catholic School he seemed to remain unaffected by it all. An innocence of sorts. Frank McCourt's Memoir is a treasure to read and one which left me laughing, cheering and crying all at the same time. I highly recommend it!
|
|
ASHES ONLY ASHES
Rating (2)
Date: 2009-11-22
1 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
ASHES ONLY ASHES
REVIEW: McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: Scribner, 1996.
Angela's Ashes is the recitation of a life of poverty suffered by an Irish boy in the middle decades of the 20th century.
The book is repellant. There is no other way to describe it. No other response is possible when a reader is presented with such anguish, and repressed anguish, emotionless anguish.
I am uncertain why readers are interested in a story of such unredeeming misery. There must be a masochistic element in the readership of the book. Or, there must remain in our society many persons of repressive Catholic background who remember their miserable Catholicism while coming of age.
But then I do know the interest the story elicits. There is such guilt in our society because of our materialism and hedonism that the book performs a catharsis in its readers. (A corollary of this perception is that white folk like to hear about other white folk in extremity, as it relieves them about the misery they may be inflicting on those who are not white.) The members of this society seek to punish themselves, as evidenced elsewhere by the horrible, frightful and vulgar behavior in our entertainment media and our personal relations. The book is part of that milieu, culturally perverted, the "dumbed-down" of every value and decency. Even though the author may not have intended such an effect, once the book was published it became part of it.
The book is not a triumph of the human spirit. Rather, it is the ravings of a simple ego seeking to survive as does any dog, though a literate one in this case. It plumbs the depths of our dysfunctional society, and resonates there in our psychic malaise. I will demonstrate how the author accomplished it, whether by craft or chance and in his understated manner. Immediately at the beginning (page 11), the author writes: "It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while." Do you understand how perverted is this statement? The bad childhood is thus the standard for life and art. It casts us immediately into a hopeless existence. Then (on page 145), the author's mother tells us that she is in hell (as are all of us who read the book): "Bridey laughs. Oh, Angela, you could go to hell for that, and Mam says, aren't I there already, Bridey?" It is hell, a special hell created just for the Irish because they believe in it so fervently. It is made of the Damp, the Drink and the Dump, otherwise known as the Church. The author goes on to claim (on page 202): "It's lovely to know that the world can't interfere with the inside of your head." Oh, no, this is disingenuous. The world does nothing except interfere with the inside of your head. That's what the Damp, the Drink and the Dump do. It is the everlasting struggle for your mind, a battle you must fight tenaciously and without rest forever. The author furthers this point (on page 247) by having the young boy think: "It's a mystery. That's what the priests and the masters tell you, everything is a mystery and you have to believe what you're told." Thus life is stupidity compounded with the refusal to use the rationality that the universe endowed you with. The novel culminates with the wisdom distilled from his life that Mr. Sliney (on page 353) imparts to the young Frank: "What I want to tell you is, Never smoke another man's pipe." That's what the entire miserable life of the boy is: smoking another man's pipe.
So there you have it: miserable hopelessness, hell, messy inside of your head, life as mystery, and smoking someone else's pipe. Nothing could be more dysfunctional, and thus a reflection (writ small) of our times. The popularity of the book is the indicator of our malaise.
The book made me feel unclean and violated in mind and in emotion. The grossness of the father sucking the snot out of his infant son's nostrils unfortunately will stay with me forever. It is an ugly book despite the superficial charm of its language. The relentlessness of that language deceives its readers about its repellant nature. It is thus evil, and profoundly depressing. It is a memoir of identity with a vengeance. The book is a symbol of the catastrophe of our civilization, or even of our species. The ashes are those of Angela's poor, hopeless fire, and those dead, sour, caked and soggy ashes encrusted on another man's pipe.
I am happy the author survived his childhood, if indeed he has, and made as an artist a minor masterpiece of a major misery. And in America (on page 363) there is the statement, "...a great country altogether?" Hummmmm. (TRC 03-05-01)
(TRC Final Revision 08-17-09)
|
(Larger Image)
|
by Bill Richardson
ISBN: 0452288649
Binding/Media: Paperback - 384 pages
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. Remainder. Previously UNREAD copy which has been removed from our store shelves.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
Personalizing of History
Rating  (4)
Date: 2007-09-08
2 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
The first part of this book was initially disappointing. The constant "I did this..." or I travelled to ..." sounded like so much puffery - what one might expect in a book by a Presidential candidate. The more I read, however, the more I realized that the "I" was essential to the entire focus of the book. The book brings history alive from the actual events and conversations in order to show that individuals can help make history or at least nudge it in a desirable direction. Historical events can not be viewed in a vaccum. They are most meaningfully understood in the context of the minor details of the events themselves. One that jumps out is Richardson's meeting with Saddam Hussein (regarding the release of two individuals who strayed into Iraq from Kuwait)when Richardson casually crossed his legs and inadvertently showed the soles of his shoes to Saddam. Saddam jumped up and left the room. It turns out that showing the soles of ones shoes to someone in that culture is a real sign of disrespect. The best part of the book is "Richardson's Rules" which he sets forth in anecdotal context throughout the book (with the list summarized at the end). The "Rules" are a great guide for dealing with not only high level political or diplomatic negotiations but also with everyday personal and business relationships. All in all a very enjoyable read for someone who overwhelmingly reads fiction - not non-fiction - and certainly not political books.
|
|
What a man!
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-09-03
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
How very fortunate this country is at this time in our history to have someone of this magnitude and calibur seeking the Presidency. His experience and different way of thinking allow hope for a better tomorrow for the US and the world. Good luck to you, Sir. Good luck to us all that you lead us all into a brighter and more peaceful tomorrow.
|
|
What Makes Bill Tick
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-08-12
0 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
Bill Richardson is a rather unimpressive candidate. However, candidates aren't elected - Presidents are. Having said that I can say that I believe Bill Richardson is ready for the Presidency. The question becomes is America ready for Bill Richardson?
The book is about as interesting as Bill Richardson's performances in debate. Clearly, this is a book about Bill's life, by Bill himself. Many of his positions are explained, but it is not comprehensive, and not meant to be. Reading this book will give the impression of what makes Bill tick, so I give credit for writing a successful book. There is no shorting the reader of 360 pages of substance. Personally, I too would like to see more from Richardson, and in fact, this is already happening.
Campaigns for officials that are based on results and performances while in office must have someone touting that record, and this is what Richardson does without much modesty. Between World's describes the position Richardson inherited from birth and the position Richardson has dealt with throughout life. The book moves from his childhood in Mexico to his life in school in New England. Richardson was the one in the middle that learned to relate to everyone. His entry into public service and political office was destiny. When you combine these with love for individuals and an unapologetic stance you have a man with superior credentials as a diplomat.
A portion of the book that could be developed further is "Richardson Rules". Richardson doesn't discuss development and application of his rule set, but presents these as simply his personal rules - I don't know whether as a human being, a public official, a diplomat, or other.
Richardson comes across as result-oriented, fun-loving, but serious. Inspiration here comes from hard work and having done a job well - unfortunately, not great oratories and smooth gestures. Richardson could partially compensate with combinations of brutal honesty and jest. He must continue to rouse voter curiosity with more manufactured "celebrity-in-jest" performances such as the one created for the New Mexico gubanatorial election. It wouldn't be a bad move if Richardson says in debate, frankly, I suck at this. I want to be telling you what I've already achieved as President - not what I would like to achieve.
|
|
A Career Politician: The Good & The Bad
Rating (4)
Date: 2007-07-11
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I had been hearing good things about Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson, so I decided to pick up his autobiography. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of autobiographies or biographies for that matter. Especially, not ones with the sole intent of extolling the author's virtues. So that's why it gets a B-. And I'm just not a huge fan of the writing style that biographies employ. It just gets a little boring and tedious at times. But to be fair, the book gave me a better picture of Bill Richardson than I had before. About half-way through the book, I was seriously thinking about giving him some consideration with my vote. Although I know he'll never get past the big 3 of Edwards, Obama, and Clinton. He grew up in Mexico (born in US) where his mom is Mexican and his father American. He was a senator for the state of New Mexico, the ambassador to the UN that followed Albright, Secretary of Energy for Clinton's second term, and current 2nd term governor for the state of New Mexico. Needless to say, that makes him extremely qualified. And hands down the most qualified of all current presidential candidates. To his credit, he tells it like it is. And for a politician, it doesn't feel like he is full of BS. He has a record for giving his opinion even when it's controversial. And has offended both parties at times, despite being a staunch Democrat. But he's honest. Over and over again he gives examples where he spoke his mind and how it either paid off or got him in trouble. So that I respect. But ultimately, I feel like he's a politician. And a bit of an opportunist. I do believe he has a vision for this country that centers around a better energy policy. Which I totally jive with. Ultimately though, I just feel like he's a politician at heart. And I don't really want a politician in power. I want someone who is not definded as a politician. And I'm well aware of the rarity of that.
|
|
Bill Richardson, the book, the lite version
Rating (3)
Date: 2007-05-21
3 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
I have been interested in Bill Richardson as a potential presidential candidate for some time so I wanted to read his story to get some more information on what he might bring to the Democratic race. So should you read this book to learn about Richardson? Sure but you may be left wanting to know more as I did after finishing it.
This book, true to its subtitle "The Making of an American Life", chronicles Richardson's life, his childhood in Mexico, his high school and college years in the US and the major turning points in his life. The book is very good at this and more interesting than I thought but it does not have much detail of proposals to solve many of the national problems we are facing today. There was a list of highlighted important sayings called "Richardson's List". This I thought might be a list of what he thought would help steer the country to a better position in diplomacy, health care, environment, and the economy but was a synopsis of what he had learned in his career on how to be a successful politician, diplomat and negotiator. Hopefully if his campaign goes well we will have the opportunity to hear more from this very accomplished statesman.
|
(Larger Image)
|
by Alan M. Dershowitz
ISBN: 0671760890
Binding/Media: Paperback - 384 pages
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: Sold with pride. No writing, no highlighting. Copy in very good condition with minimal reading wear.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
utter bunk
Rating (1)
Date: 2005-08-14
25 out of 53 customers found this reveiw helpful
Norman Finkelstein conclusively demonstrates that Dershowitz is a plagiarizer and that his claims about Israel's "superb" human rights record are complete bunk. All reputable human rights organizations support Finkelstein's arguments and not Dershowitz's. Dershowitz's book merits a minus 10, but the lowest grade one can give it is one star. The fact that one can find copies of this book for sale for 1 cent indicate its scholarly and moral usefulness. Dershowitz is now involved in a concerted campaign to have Finkelstein shut down, pressuring Harvard Bookstore and the Barnes and Noble bookstore at DePaul University in Chicago to cancel speaking engagements by Finkelstein. Harvard cancelled its invitation for fear of "economic retaliation," Barnes and Noble said the book was "too controversial," and invited Dershowitz to speak about his "book" instead.
|
|
An interesting discussion of Jews in the world today
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-05-04
9 out of 18 customers found this reveiw helpful
Plenty of Jews exhibit chutzpah (nerve). But there is a flip side to this, the fear of "shanda fur de goyim" (embarrassment in front of the gentiles).
Dershowitz analyzes the discrimination he's seen against Jews. In some places, it is non-existent. In others, it is significant. In yet others, it is striking. He begins with his experiences in trying to find employment as a summer hire in various law firms. Of course, discrimination against people on the basis of race, religion, gender, and (if known) sexual preference is now much less than it used to be. But we see some of the history of it among law firms and at Harvard.
One issue that I found intriguing was that of the Carmelite convent at Auschwitz. Now, I do not see any reason for Jews or anyone else to consider Auschwitz, of all places, holy ground. But I am well aware that many people do consider it as such, and I respect their views on the matter. And it was up to the Catholic authorities whether or not to make a deal with the Jews to not have a Carmelite convent at Auschwitz. But once the Catholics made that deal and a bunch of nuns broke it, a rabbi and six other Jews were totally within their rights to ask the nuns to explain what they were doing there, and even "trespass" on convent grounds to pray. And it was certainly out of line for Polish Cardinal Glemp to make a totally wild and preposterous accusation, namely that these Jews were trying to murder the nuns and destroy the convent. I think Dershowitz was right to take the case against Glemp for defamation here.
There is an good chapter about Zionism. That includes a discussion of Jewish antizionism. Dershowitz explains the pressure on Jews to be antizionist and to oppose Israel as Jews. He thinks they are wrong to do so. I agree. I think everyone ought to support Israel's (or any other nation's) right to exist as a human being, or oppose it as a human being! Or be neutral as a human being.
I recommend this book.
|
|
Too much venting, too little substance
Rating (2)
Date: 2001-07-31
25 out of 39 customers found this reveiw helpful
Overall, I am a huge fan of Dershowitz's books. I thoroughly enjoyed the Best Defense, From Genesis to Justice, and even his novel, A Just Revenge. I felt, though, that Dershowitz went a little overboard with his views of Jews in America. In many ways, I am almost embarassed to be viewed in the same light as him (As a Jew) because of his extreme views. He made it seem as if the world was out to get Jews, even in America. He does make many good points about Jewish identity in America, but to me he comes across as whining more than discussing.He does use some great arguments and has a pretty clear account of Jewish history in America. His description of his family and neighborhood is nice to read to understand where he grew up and what his background is. I especially liked his description of his own family as I was reminded in many ways of my own. I gave the book 2 stars but that is compared with his other books. It is not a bad book or a bad read. In many ways, I found it very informative but I would choose one of his other books rather than this one.
|
|
Readable, Clear, and full of Chutzpah
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-12-30
16 out of 31 customers found this reveiw helpful
Dershowitz's succinct analysis and flowing prose make for a powerful read. The author recounts his Brooklyn youth, law school, and his career at Harvard University. He also examines anti-Semitism, separation of church-and-state, assimilation, and other facets pertaining to Jewish and non-Jewish life in America. Dershowitz emphasizes that American Jews must stop maintaining low profiles or feeling anxious about our success (and non-success), as doing so is the essence of second-class citizenship. His point is well taken, but perhaps newly arrived immigrants from Russia and other anti-Semitic lands will doubt his premise. I didn't always agree with the man's pro-Israeli views, but on balance this is a very thoughtful and informative book.
|
|
POWERFUL WRITING AT THE SERVICE OF A MAXIMALIST STANCE
Rating (3)
Date: 2000-04-25
25 out of 50 customers found this reveiw helpful
The well-known liberal attorney and Israel advocate Alan Dershowitz maintains in this book that Jews should be more self-assertive. They shouldn't feel "shenda fur de goyim" (Yiddish for "shame before the Gentiles") as they did in the past. They should be proud of their achievements, instead of begging to be forgiven for them. They should abandon their "sha'a shtil" ("remain quiet") attitude and loudly denounce the faintest hint of anti-Semitism they might detect either in their personal experience or in society at large. And, most important of all, they should have no mixed feelings about supporting the state of Israel, regardless of this country's human rights record. Dershowitz' writing is powerful, expressive - and flawed... When it comes to discussing Israel's policies, Dershowitz adopts a maximalist stance. Israel is almost always right-and when it isn't, it doesn't matter. This civil rights advocate fails to find much wrong in a country where atheists do not enjoy the right to get married. He fails to clearly denounce the administrative detention (i.e., imprisonment without a charge) of Palestinians, on the grounds that all detainees are known to be terrorists or terrorist contacts; in other words, since they are anyway guilty, it doesn't matter so much whether they enjoy legal guarantees or not. He believes torture may in some cases be necessary to extract critical information, as of terrorist attacks, and therefore condones some instances of the government-approved use of torture in Israel, against international law which forbids any kind of torture... The bottom line of [this] book is that because Jews were formerly persecuted, they should be allowed to practise some bigotry without being criticized. Fortunately, Jews around the world do not share this view... This book will be enjoyed by... [those] who see Israel's legal and practical discrimination of Arabs as a first step towards ethnic cleansing, and who will be delighted to learn that a liberal Jew finds such discrimination tolerable. It will be far less welcome, however, by those Jews who, like the author of this review, don't like to be told what they should think about Israel in order to be good Jews.
|
(Larger Image)
|
by Liza Mundy
ISBN: 1416599436
Binding/Media: Hardcover - 224 pages
Condition: New
Comments: Sold with pride. UNREAD, new copy with publisher's mark.
More Product Infomation
|
Customer Reviews
|
Decent book by the wife of the then candidate.
Rating (3)
Date: 2010-06-16
0 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
We got this book as part of the Vine program. I tend to stay away from political reviews and for this one I am going to try to remain neutral. Call me Switzerland, but thats the stance I am taking. This book is mildly entertaining with stories of the life of the wife of the then candidate for president. With hind site this book seems to be a pretty good anthology of the family of the soon to be president of the US.
Overall I thought the book was pretty good and had some merit. I did get pretty turned off about 1/2 way through and struggled to finish. It was not the message, the writing or whatever, it just seemed like a standard biography and ehh... was ok.
Thanks for reading my review.
|
|
I agree, this book is kind of lame...
Rating (3)
Date: 2010-05-12
I really wanted to love this book. I picked it up (like I pick up most of my reading) because the cover caught my eye at the library. It's hard to get through and I came really close to abandonning it, but then I got to the part when she meets her hub, and then my interest perked up again. I agree that the writing wasn't very compelling, the book seems to be caught in the awkward position somewhere between journalism and opinion-ism. I would have liked it more if it was half as long and left the opinions out of it. I do disagree with the comments that suggest the author takes a negative view of Michelle Obama or is semi-racist. I thought the author was in LOVE with Michelle, overly so. Brushing off things that might appear negative or offering some lame excuses. The not-so-perfect moments in her life is what makes her *gasp* human. Michelle Obama seems about as perfect as they come. Its nice to know that maybe (like everyone else on the planet) she has done something or said something that is less than flattering. I did, however, learn a few things from reading this book, so I wouldnt say it was a complete waste of time. And, I still LOVE Michelle. And, actually, there is a paragraph or two in the book that made me love Laura Bush, where I was complete indifferent before. ;)
|
|
Just could not finish this book.
Rating (1)
Date: 2010-05-05
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I tried very very hard to finish this book as I find Michelle Obama to be an interesting woman. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, I can only get so far. The problem I have with this book is that there really isn't too much about Michelle in this book. Instead, it has a lot of assumptions about what kind of a woman she is.
The author goes into details about what her childhood must have been like based on the neighborhood she grew up in. If you want a pictorial of a Chicago neighborhood, then maybe you might like this. However, I could not get over all the repetitive facts and the fact that the people that were interviewed aren't even that close to Michelle.
None of it is really from Michelle's prespective and more so from perspective of the author and basing Michelle's life on a lot of semi-facts. I would wait for a better biography of Michelle where she actually is involved in it.
|
|
Knock on one more Door
Rating (3)
Date: 2010-01-27
I enjoyed the book, but wish the author had provided more in-depth coverage of significant events in Michelle Obama's life. For example, every attorney has lasting memories (perhaps nightmares) of studying for the bar exam, taking the bar exam, and receiving the bar exam results. None of this was addressed in the book. There are a lot of questions out there. Michelle graduated in the Spring, yet she was not admitted to the Illinois Bar for a year. Did she blow the Summer Bar Exam and have to retake it, or is there some other explanation for this delay?
|
|
Review of Book
Rating (1)
Date: 2010-01-04
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I didn't really enjoy this book. The author tried cramming too much information into 200 pages and I think she left out too much information. She threw in random interviews and meetings with people throughout her life. I would have liked to learned more about Michelle's life as a kid and all the hardships her and her family had to deal with. I also thought the author could have expanded on the chapters that talked about the recent election. Michelle had to have gone through a lot but the author only gave us examples of some criticism she recieved during the campaign. I would also have like to known how her life changed after Barrack Obama won the election and what life is now like for her being the first lady. Overall I think the author did a poor job on the biography.
|
(Larger Image)
|
by Jack McKivigan
ISBN: 0737715235
Binding/Media: Hardcover - 176 pages
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. No publisher marks, no shelf wear.
More Product Infomation
|
|
Number found:17 Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next |
|
Amazon Bestselling Books
|
|