Reviews (3)

Disney Fans Must Have
This is a must have for the Disney fan.This book gives in depth detail into the man who created the "happiest place on earth", from the people who knew hime best.His family, friends, and employees.I have read many books on Disney, and this ranks in the top 2(along with Imaganineering).It tells the stories of his triumphs as well as his tragedies.I highly recommend this book.

NIce story about a true genius
This book is not a complete and detailed biography, but is a nice tribute to Walt Disney. It has a lot of photos, and the most interesting parts of the book are "personal side" sections.

Proof That Walt Disney Was The Original Dream Worker!
Walt Disney is well on his way to becoming the most written about creative talent in American film.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1901-1966    2. Animators    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Performing Arts    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Children's 12-Up - Biography / Autobiography    8. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    9. Disney, Walt,    10. Performing Arts - Film    11. Rich & Famous    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts    14. Disney, Walt   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (5)

It's one thing to know the right words,but another when and how to use them.

Wit Beyond Comparison
I received this book as a birthday gift from my lovely wife.I loved this book so much I bought is twice more as a gift for a departing superior and for a friend of 10 years.Anyone who has a love of history (particularly this era) will love this book, anyone in possession of a sense of humor will appreciate this book as well.
Very Enjoyable
This relatively small book is divided into several sections with slices from Churchill's life and quotations related to politics, speaches, friends, animals, family, etc.
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Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Churchill, Winston,    5. General    6. Humor    7. Presidents & Heads of State    8. Quotations    9. Quotations, English    10. Sir,    11. Biography: general    12. Humor / General    13. Humour    14. Reference/Quotations    15. USA   

Reviews (46)

The Great Communicator Writes Too!
The Great Communicator has done it again!"An American Life" takes the reader from his birth in Tampico, Illinois to the return to California with mission accomplished.Ronald Reagan earned the moniker "The Great Communicator" for his ability to reach an audience."An American Life" proves that he could do it in ink too.His writing is direct, easy to follow and engaging.The theme of the book is the optimistic world view of the Reagan we knew.There is little introspection.Reagan knew what he believed and told it with gusto!Many of the stories are ones with which we are familiar.This book is the Gipper's exposition of his belief in family values and the individual. The readers are drawn into the issues which defined the Reagan Administration.
Interesting reading
This autobiography is interesting reading indeed, in that Ronald Reagan was a very fascinating person and his life certainly amazign in every aspect. I hesitate to give it a raving review and more than 3 stars, as it doesnt seem to fully live up to the subject matter. It lacks analysis and sophistication, but is still worth a read.

please note it is abridged and disordered!
I got this audio book CD rented (...), and soon found the editor of the CD seems misplaced the section of the orginal book. It is quite frustrating to me when I want to "look" at the book while listening to it!!!
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. General    6. Historical - U.S.    7. Politics and government    8. Presidents    9. Reagan, Ronald    10. U.S. History - 1980s    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (7)

Great little book
This is a great book to have if you appreciate all that President Reagan represented and accomplished, or if you were not around to understand the massive impact he had on our nation, then this is a greeat introduction to our 40th president.
My shop's best seller
Visitors to the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home buy more copies of this book than any other that we sell.Filled with positive little tidbits from a family perspective!It's great!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simple but worthwhile...
I was born just two years before Ronald Reagan was elected president, so I have virtually no memories of his work as a politician.However, my limited study of recent history left me with the impression that Reagan's life warranted further investigation.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-1989    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Historical - U.S.    6. Politics and government    7. Presidents    8. Presidents & Heads of State    9. Quotations    10. Quotations, maxims, etc    11. Reagan, Ronald    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents   

Reviews (3)

The best book about Warren Buffett (including his Berkshire days)
First, I want to mention two constructive feedback about this book. One is that this book is probably only suitable for Warren Buffett fanatics/fans. For general investors interested about Berkshire Hathaway or how Warren Buffett invest, this is probably not the best book to read (as it has so much more info. i.e. more than 1000 pages). Second is that I have read this book more than once and I still don't know how the book is organized (the chapters aren't following chronological order, alphabetical nor topical order), therefore it is quite confusing to read as you progress from one chapter to another. Only after you read enough chapter (or completed the book) then you can put it all in the big picture in your head (from Warren's childhood till his current Berkshire days). Nonetheless, kudos to Andrew Kilpatrick for putting this book together. Moreover, once you know the limitation, this book is easily considered the best book about Warren Buffett in my opinion.
Makes Sense for Value-Oriented Readers
The average American reads about 2 books averaging 200 pages per year.This books comes in at 1682 pages, so this could be the only book you need to buy for the next 4 years (assuming you read 400 pages per year).That, in my opinion, is a great value and a great way to simplify your life.Make one decision now instead of having to make many over the next four years.Hopefully Kilpatrick's next book will be 2000 pages, which would be a 5-year book.Some may argue that Kilpatrick could have made his points in 1500 pages or even 1400 pages, but bottom line is giving readers value.For the same price that most 1400 page books carry, Kilpatrick gives you 1682 pages.
Mr. Kirkpatrick, please hire an editor
Once again, this book comes out with more repetitious chapters.This book can be a resource for some new material, but it is not to be read straight through.Self-publishing has its downside, and this book demonstrates that.Kirkpatrick is a nice old newspaperman, and he has written several scores of short articles and collected them into his idea of a book.It must pay very well, emotionally if not monetarily, becuse he keeps doing it, but it does not serve anyone who values their time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Business    6. Capitalists and financiers    7. General    8. Stockbrokers    9. United States   

Editorial Review

In the decades that have followed Sylvia Plath's suicide in February1963, much has been written and speculated about her life, most particularly about her marriage to fellow poet Ted Hughes and her last months spent writing the stark, confessional poems that were to become Read more

Features

• Unabridged

Reviews (25)

An idiosyncratic pure beat and melodic force
Whether you read The Journals of Sylvia Plath as a writer's notebook, as scenes from a marriage, as social history, or as daily bulletins from one of the most star-crossed love stories of all time, the journal's words help to keep alive the writer who has been called "the literary girl's Elvis" while also bringing us news of how she thought, how she taught, what she read, how she wrote, along with the most primal news of her legendary marriage, a marriage that so often seemed golden, closer than close, but whose ardent claustrophobia was more precious to Sylvia than it was to Ted, and whose tragic aftermath also turned out to be notorious, horrible, with Assia Wevill (the woman Hughes left Plath for) killing herself in a copycat suicide, and also killing their little daughter, and with even Hughes's final wife (the non-writer and therefore the one who was supposed to be stable) threatening to kill herself when she discovered, not long before Ted's death, that he not only had a mistress, he had also over the years been the lover of a fair (no, make that unfair) number of others.
Great Book , but Wish Ted Hughes had not destroyed parts....
I love this book and read it again and again.It gives deep and detailed descriptions of life in 1950s England and to a lesser extent the U.S.
Mesmerizing Read
This book offers an interesting glimpse into one of the more mysterious minds of our time.So much has been said about Sylvia Plath over the last forty or fifty years, and this collection of her journal and diary entries makes for a fascinating, and honest, look at the person behind the name. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American poets    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Diaries    7. Literary    8. Plath, Sylvia    9. Poets, American    10. Women    11. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (6)

A Man Ahead of His Time
Hollingdale's biography/analysis of Nietzsche and his philosophy was an unexpected delight.I had already read Walter Kaufmann's translations of Nietzsche's major works when I came upon Hollingdale's volume; expecting little, I was amazed at the additional insights the author offered into Nietzsche's thought and world outlook.I would recommend this book to anyone who is new to Nietzsche - who would like to learn something of his philosophy, but who has held back because they feel Nietzsche, and perhaps, philosophy in general, is too remote or difficult. A book that does Nietzsche justice
Anyone interested in a lucid,fair,nonsense and distortion-free overview of Nietzsche's writings and life could do no better than to start here.Hollingdale avoids what the usual crowd of Nietzsche biographers and explainers and interpreters stumble over.Here you will not find the deconstructionist nonsense of Gilles Deleuze or the turning of Nietzsche into a contradictor of his own writings a la Heidegger.Perhaps no philosopher in history has had so many bad advocates and screeching and intentionally misleading and misinterpreting critics as Nietzsche.So much fetid,vapid and idiotic writing has enveloped Nietzsche that it threatens to destroy the philosopher altogheter.The future of Nietzsche scholarship needs many more individuals like R.J. Hollingdale if one of the most profound,original and critically important figures of the modern world is to be given proper justice.More importantly the public sorely needs to have the means to better understand why this philosopher is the axis on which all philosophy of the last century turns.Most of what Nietzsche wrote is still terribly misunderstood and reviled for no good reason.Hollingdale is one of the few,but hopefully the beginning of a flood of well thought out,accurate and sober scholars who will help integrate this most fascinating and courageousphilosopher into our public discourse and common knowledge.

A book that does Nietzsche justice
Anyone interested in a lucid,fair,nonsense and distortion-free overview of Nietzsche's writings and life could do no better than to start here.Hollingdale avoids what the usual crowd of Nietzsche biographers and explainers and interpreters stumble over.Here you will not find the deconstructionist nonsense of Gilles Deleuze or the turning of Nietzsche into a contradictor of his own writings a la Heidegger.Perhaps no philosopher in history has had so many bad advocates and screeching and intentionally misleading and misinterpreting critics as Nietzsche.So much fetid,vapid and idiotic writing has enveloped Nietzsche that it threatens to destroy the philosopher altogheter.The future of Nietzsche scholarship needs many more individuals like R.J. Hollingdale if one of the most profound,original and critically important figures of the modern world is to be given proper justice.More importantly the public sorely needs to have the means to better understand why this philosopher is the axis on which all philosophy of the last century turns.Most of what Nietzsche wrote is still terribly misunderstood and reviled for no good reason.Hollingdale is one of the few,but hopefully the beginning of a flood of well thought out,accurate and sober scholars who will help integrate this most fascinating and courageousphilosopher into our public discourse and common knowledge. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. History & Surveys - 19th Century    5. Philosophers    6. Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present    7. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm,--1844-1900    8. Philosophy / History, Criticism, Surveys   

Subjects:  1. (Franklin Delano),    2. 1882-1945    3. 1884-1962    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. General    6. Roosevelt, Eleanor,    7. Roosevelt, Franklin D    8. Biography: general    9. Roosevelt, Eleanor   

Editorial Review

The art of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was all about his private life, but written in a code as obscure as T.S. Eliot's. Now Charles Cross has cracked the code in the definitive biography Read more

Reviews (218)

The Courtney sanitized version of events
Cross used Ms. Love as a source and the book is fraught with inconsistencies. Towards the final chapters, things like " kurt being the verbal tactician" while "courtney pleaded with him to get help and then had to be physically helped to the car" (paraphrased) read more like a plea for pity towards poor little courtney.Cross starts off very deeply looking into Cobain's psyche then pulling back and letting 'third party' narration carry the book towards the conclusion.Decent read, good photos.

kurt kobain book reveiw
this book is great i love how the author puts so much detail into this book and care of kurt cobains life! i love the storyline and arangement into it and think it is very organized and well put out. i love how he puts quotes into the book from people that have met him because that is what makes a good book and what makes a biography even better than other books out their in this world. i also like how he describes how he feels at times in his life and thing in the book of what he have said. i recomend this book to other fanns of kurts or even the band nirvana or any other people looking for a great book to read but cant find one. trust me this is a good book and you will like it

Charles Cross is DA MAN!
Quite simply a riveting and very informative and enlightening book.
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Subjects:  1. 1967-1994    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cobain, Kurt,    7. Composers & Musicians - General    8. Composers & Musicians - Rock    9. Genres & Styles - Rock    10. Rock music    11. Rock musicians    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Composers & Musicians   

Editorial Review

The long life and powerful personality of England's beloved Virgin Queen have eternal appeal, and popular historian Alison Weir depicts both with panache. She's especially good at evoking the physical texture of Tudor England: the elaborate royal gowns (actually an intricate assembly of separate fabric panels buttoned together over linen shifts), the luxurious but unhygienic palaces (Elizabeth got the only "close stool"; most members of her retinue relieved themselves in the courtyards), the huge meals heavily seasoned to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. Against this earthy backdrop, Elizabeth's intelligence and formidable political skills stand in vivid relief. She may have been autocratic, devious, even deceptive, but these traits were required to perform a 45-year tightrope walk between the two great powers of Europe, France and Spain. Both countries were eager to bring small, weak England under their sway and to safely marry off its inconveniently independent queen. Weir emphasizes Elizabeth's precarious position as a ruling woman in a man's world, suggesting plausibly that the single life was personally appealing as well as politically expedient for someone who had seen many ambitious ladies--including her own mother--ruined and even executed for just the appearance of sexual indiscretions. The author's evaluations of such key figures in Elizabeth's reign as the Earl of Leicester (arguably the only man she ever loved) and William Cecil (her most trusted adviser) are equally cogent and respectful of psychological complexity. Weir does a fine job of retelling this always-popular story for a new generation. Read more

Reviews (115)

The Life of Elizabeth I
Alison Weir, a very successful popular historian, has written an absorbing biography of the ever popular Elizabeth I. However, serious students of history should beware. The author makes only cursory attempts to be even handed in her analysis of this controversial queen. Colorful, mercurial, brilliant are all apt descriptions of Elizabeth, but if you're Irish or Catholic, you might use other adjectives. Ms. Weir pretty much dismisses those other unmentionable attributes with a hohum, let's get on with more Eliza worship. I'd like to see a more balanced, criticalpicture of this Tudor monarch.

The Virgin Queen
A lively and readable introduction to Tudor History. Ms. Weir makes Elizabeth come alive on every page and it becomes obvious why even now, more than 400 years after her death, people are so fascinated by her. The prose is engaging and avoids the trap of becoming overly scholarly and plodding as some historical biographies are wont to do. Reading this left me wanting to know more, and I highly recommend Ms. Weir's other books on the Tudor family, especially 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII'.

Compelling like a mystery novel
I came to this book out of my interest for Elizabeth from the striking film with Cate Blanchett. While the film is not entirely historically accurate, it captures the emotional impact of Elizabeth's reign. This book has drawn me in and I'm about one third of the way through it, and find that I cannot put it down. It is very accessibly written, very exciting, and reads almost like a mystery novel. It answers all my questions about Elizabeth, her time period, and her reign. If you want to know more about her in broad strokes as well as specific details, and want something other than the feared 'dry, academic' style, by all means please pick this book up. It flows, reads fast, and stays in your mind. Very well done. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1533-1603    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Elizabeth    7. Great Britain    8. Historical - British    9. Queen of England,    10. Queens    11. Royalty    12. Women    13. History / World    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (62)

The Journey Almost Ruined Them
"Dean and Me" (2005) is Jerry Lewis' candid tell-all, pulling no punches, about his life with Dean Martin.Through 340 pages (hardback) Jerry recalls fondly their early days on the nightclub circuit, the team's quick cashing-in on their growing fame, Dino's shyness except around the ladies, and Jerry's brief association with marijuana, to name only a few memories in this book.
A Great Read
I am way too young to have witnessed the magic that was Martin & Lewis.I don't think anyone will ever be able to put a name to whatever it was that Dean and Jerry did but, in my opinion, I think Jerry did a wonderful job of explaining the whole process of the team becoming a team.
Loved the book
I am a little young to recall Dean and Jerry together, so when a friend offered me the book, I wasn't too excited.However, after I read the book, I just didn't want it to end.It is a wonderful story.Now I am going to watch some of the old Martin and Lewis shows and introduce them to my 16 year old.You won't regret the book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1917-1995    2. 1926-    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Comedy (Performing Arts)    8. Entertainers    9. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    10. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    11. Individual Actors And Actresses    12. Lewis, Jerry,    13. Martin, Dean,    14. Personal Memoirs    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (1)

Keep looking.Brunt didn't find him.
This is a reasonably well-written book by somebody who is supposed to be an expert on sports, though some of his hyperbole makes me wonder about that.(He describes a game where Orr got three goals and two assists as the most amazing, incredible, unbelievable performance by a defenceman in the history of the sport, when half a dozen defencemen had had 4 goal games, others had 6+ point games, and Orr himself would do better in subsequent years.)
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Hockey - General    5. Sports - General   

Editorial Review

Robert Caro's Read more

Reviews (125)

Terrific Book
Robert Caro is just flat out a great writer.I marvelled at half page paragraphs in which he would paint the most intricate and vivid picture about some minor point.Such economy and elegance.I loved it.Overall, his work on LBJ is just awesome.
Can't Wait for the Next Installment!
Absolutely one of the best biographies I have ever read.Fascinating, insightful and brilliantly written!As I finished reading it, I found myself longing for the next installment about the vice presidency and the presidency.I will be reading it as soon as it comes out!

Amazing History
Robert Caro has produced another, long masterpiece with the continuation of his biography of Lyndon B. Johnson. This is the second Caro book I have read and the first LBJ book (the other book was The Power Broker, his epic about Robert Moses).
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Subjects:  1. (Lyndon Baines),    2. 1908-1973    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Johnson, Lyndon B.    9. Political    10. Presidents    11. Presidents & Heads of State    12. U.S. History - Post World War II Period    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    16. Johnson, Lyndon B   

Editorial Review

An exhaustive, soul-searching memoir, Bill Clinton's Read more

Reviews (675)

My Life
Bill Clinton writes a very interesting account of his life in an inviting conversational style. His story-telling approach easily draws the reader into the events of his life. I especially enjoyed the amount of time he spent discussing his childhood. He expresses the pain and isolation that he felt very well. He is a talented communicator and this comes through as he tells his story. The words flowed one after another and I was easily captivated by the details. This review actually refers to the audio CD unabridged version, Part I. However, after 21 CD's for Part I alone, I did become tired of all of the drawn-out explanations and wished I got the abridged version. Overall, it was a great book and I am going to also read Part 2. It provides insight and apology for the actions of our ex-president. He seems to have written it to make amends with those he offended.

Bill Clinton is brilliant !
Why did I decided to listen to an autobiography, I still don't know, autobiography's have never interested me before? However, Bill Clinton's autobiography, articulate and exceedingly detailed, was the exception.
Good read
Well written, good book. Interesting to read his perspective on world events different from what I was seeing in the media. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1946-    2. 1993-2001    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Clinton, Bill,    8. Historical - U.S.    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Politics and government    11. Presidents    12. Presidents & Heads of State    13. U.S. History - 1990s    14. U.S. President    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    17. Memoirs    18. Autobiography    19. Political    20. Clinton, President Bill    21. U.S. Political History    22. History   

Reviews (269)

Just my two cents
Not everyone that refuses to hold Lincoln up as a godlike figure is a neo-confederate.On the other hand, all this talk of Lincoln being a tyrant and the war being one of Northern aggression is nonsense.