Editorial Review

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Reviews (145)

despite some other reviews.....
this is a very good book.it's basically an auto-biography and gives the reader an insight into sylvia's early life and early psychic adventures.also, shows childhood pics and pics of her sons and grandchildren...definitely a good read!!

Save your money
One star is too much. I didn't know much about Sylvia Browne before I read this book, but I now know all I want or need to. This book left a distinct bad taste. The first 60 pages were devoted to chronicling the young Sylvia's social life and the succession of beaus that were supposedly in love with her, as well the various outfits she wore and how she styled her hair before going out on a date. Gifted or not, the whole book seemed boastful and conceited. Plus I really question the spirituality of a person that could dismiss her mother's death as "no real loss" and refer to her ex-husband as "evil" andproceed to slander him at every turn. She constantly wanders off in her anecdotes focusing more on details of crimes rather than psychic ability. This is a vanity book. Save your money and find something else to read.

What those with lost loved ones want to hear
The name Sylvia Brown sounded vaguely familiar to me when a friend of mine told me about this book and borrowed it to me so that I could read it.She grew up in a non-religious household and seemed eager for something to believe, and so she enthusiastically recommended it to me.I suppose I fit comfortably into that category of people that "believers" classify as "skeptics," and I am amazed by some of the reviews for this book that recommend it to all skeptics, saying that it will make a believer out of them.It will not.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Browne, Sylvia    6. Channeling    7. New Age    8. Parapsychology    9. Parapsychology - ESP (Clairvoyance, Precognition, Telepathy)    10. Psychical research    11. Psychics    12. Social Scientists & Psychologists    13. United States    14. Women    15. Biography: general    16. Parapsychology, psychic powers, ESP    17. Spirit communication & mediumship, spiritualism   

Editorial Review

General Powell may have undertaken this book as a form of paid political test marketing, but it turns out to be a success of an altogether different kind. We don't learn from this book if Powell is presidential material, but his recounting of the various steps of his career give us an unrivaled view of the ins and outs of military bureaucracy and shows how the modern American military, with its consistent emphasis on can-do attitudes and actual results, is a much more congenial place for realizing one's talents than our still-alarmingly pigeonholing general society. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

thought for the day
I read this sometime after Powell had already become Secretary of State, but before 9/11. At the time I read the book, I thought differently about politics than I do now, and this book had a subtle, but important effect on that change in perspective. It was among the factors that served a deepening in me. I have become less reactive and superficial when it comes to politics. That deepening was served not so much by virtue of what Powell says in this book -- although he does make a number of concrete points which were enlightening to me. It was more as a result of the fact that although he must have written it because he was toying with a bid for the presidency, I sense that he represents himself here pretty faithfully. I could therefore incorporate that feeling about him into my understanding of subsequent events.
There must be something about Colin Powell...
There must be something about Colin Powell. All through his career his superiors continually sought him out; and wherever he worked they always wanted him back.
Inspirational book
I enjoyed reading "My American Journey" and was thrilled that Colin Powell wrote an excellent, candid and honest autobiography and resisted the temptation to be self-serving. General Colin Powell achieved his remarkable success through merit and despite the various obstacles (which he saw as challenges) such as racism that could have thwarted lessor people.
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Subjects:  1. Afro-American generals    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Generals    6. Military    7. United States    8. Biography & Autobiography / Military    9. Biography: general    10. USA    11. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (6)

promising book needs some surgery
all of the true stories in this book have promise - they are interesting and thought provoking but unfortunately, the writers never follow through with the outcomes.You meet a patient, find out their problem - usually involving some sort of dillema for the dr. - they make their point but the outcome is left out.Did the patient die?They never say. (even a brief update after the essay would make a difference).
A gift
Getting to understand someone else's point of view is always wonderful. This book helped me imagine what it is like to be given a gift to heal and then have to learn what that means in real life. This book is not just for medical minded people but for everyone as the lessons these students learn can be applied to all of our lives/works. If nothing else, I am thankful for my health and all the doctors/nurses in my life.
A unique and intimate look into the experiences of physicians-in-training
If you ever wondered what it feels like to become a physician, I would highly recommend reading this book. Not designed to be entertaining but is instead an intimate look into the real life experiences of young and idealistic medical students as they move from the classroom to encounter the realities of patient care and the limitations of the health care system. These are very powerful and human stories, sometimes disturbing andheartwrenching and other times more positive. It's hard to imagine anyone reading this book and not be profoundly moved. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Boston    7. Massachusetts    8. Medical - General    9. Medical students    10. Medicine    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Study and teaching    13. BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs    14. Biography & Autobiography / Medical   

Reviews (16)

An utterly worthless book
An utterly worthless book that supposes one should indoctrinate themselves with ideas stemming from armed warfare and combat and support the hypocritical mentality of the military industrial complex in its complicity in sending, dumb, naive, young soldiers to die for "glory and the fatherland".This is mere propaganda that serves only patriotism, which is a fetid form of hero worship and false ideology.There is no point in dying for the state, and getting cheap medals and decorations for losing one's body parts.I'd like to see a book that shows war as it truly is, brutal and ugly, a complete waste of the human potential.

Where do such men come from?
This is a classic coffee table book.It's too large to fit on your book shelves but just right to rest on your coffee table.And, since it includes 117 separate and distinct stories of living men who won the Medal of Honor, you can pick it up, read a page or two, then put it down and come back to it later without skipping a beat.Best of all, the stories are interesting enough that your friends will enjoy scanning the book while you're off making the margaritas.
Turning the pages of this book is visiting a sacred place
I always feel reverence for the service given by the veterans of our armed forces.For me, it matters little what they did because they spent a portion of their life supporting the defense of our freedom.Everyone in the military matters.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Military    6. Military - General    7. Military History (General)    8. Biography & Autobiography / Military    9. HISTORY / Military / General   

Reviews (13)

A great book
Don't be fooled by the brevity or put off by the high price of this book - it's worth its weight in gold.If you have a university level math degree and you want to do proofs again, this book is for you.I have been able to understand everything in the book as a result of Prof. Dunham's amazing ability to explain things.I did have to resort to the Internet on occasion to brush up on some trigonometry and calculus.I have been reading it slowly for 2 years now and I'm only half way through - sometimes I pull it out when I need some brain exercise.If you like math, you will like this book.

Charming but historically inaccurate.
Once again, the Ivy League establishment has got it all wrong.They continue to perpetrate error in the historical record just as they do in the scientific record with that preposterous theory of evolution.
Nice book for readers with a background in math
I really enjoyed reading this book that describes some background on Euler and his work. It is written in an informal style, so for people with a math background it reads like a novel.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1707-1783    2. 18th century    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology    5. Euler, Leonhard,    6. General    7. History    8. History - General History    9. Mathematicians    10. Mathematics    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Switzerland    13. Biography & Autobiography    14. Euler, Leonhard    15. History of mathematics    16. Mathematics / General    17. Science & Technology   

Reviews (26)

Blackmun's Papers
Please be aware before you pick up this book that it is based almost solely on the personal and professional papers of Justice Blackmun, which he left to the U.S. archives for analysis five years after his death.
Not so much a Biography....
What Greenhouse has done with this book is taken a Lifetime Justice Blackmun's papersand condensed it into the "Best of"highlights.
Paragon of Liberalism
Towards the end of the Civil War, Lincoln wrote that "I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me." The same might be said of Harry Blackmun's life. Greenhouse however demonstrates that Blackmun also controlled events as well. The author writes that Justice Blackmun "was to be linked forever to a cause that had scarcely been his own." Greenhouse's book portrays Blackmun as incredulous at first as the nation reacted to Roe v. Wade. In fact, Blackmun initially wrote that the reaction to Roe would be "an unsettled period for a while" not fully realizing the ramifications of what he wrote. Yet, throughout his years on the Court, Blackmun came to the realization that Roe, like it or not, was his legacy, and as the Rehnquist court took over, he defended it to his utmost in Webster and Casey.
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Subjects:  1. (Harry Andrew),    2. 1908-    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Blackmun, Harry A    8. Blackmun, Harry A.    9. Constitutional history    10. Government - Judicial Branch    11. Judges    12. Lawyers & Judges    13. Politics / Current Events    14. U.S. Supreme Court    15. United States    16. United States - 20th Century   

Reviews (16)

The Grunt Padre
I have not yet finished reading this book, but I love reading it! I like the ideas and ideals this book presents that are possible for a person.They set the bar higher than I ever consider, and I think I live my life decently.It is an inspiring, comforting book. At the end of the book there is a website referred to where people can read the impacts of Father Cappadano's life experienced since the book was written.If you want some inspiration, history that reads like a novel, and a view of some of the positive things that can happen even in war, read this book!

Saint in the Making
Fr. Capodanno is in first stage of a process to elevate him to sainthood because of his life of sacrifices to the Marines he served with in Vietnam.My brother, Tim Hanley, had the honor and privilege to serve with this down-to-earth, dedicated priest who loved serving with "his Marines."Fr. Mode, whom I met, has made a wonderful contribution with his book and I thank him for it.A very moving, inspirational book of a man who gave his life for his fellow man.

The Grunt Padre
Outstanding book...everything you wanted to know about the Grunt Padre.Great reading especially for anyone who has ever been in the military. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Military    2. Biography & Autobiography / Religious    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Military    6. Religious    7. Biography    8. Biography & Autobiography    9. Capodanno, Vincent    10. Chaplains    11. Marine Corps    12. United States   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Marines    4. Military    5. Military - United States    6. Military - World War II    7. World War II    8. History / Military / World War II   

Reviews (5)

Las Vegas history: from mob to corporate
The complete saga of Las Vegas from its early roots with the mob to modern corporate times is presented in a lively history of the city's real rulers in SHARKS IN THE DESERT: THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND CURRENT KINGS OF LAS VEGAS. Many made their fortunes developing the casino business the city is most famous for today - but many myths have surrounded their activities - myths which columnist Smith dispels in an investigative history which tracked mobsters and their connections to the city's rich and monied.
Great book and great shipping time
I received this book almost right away.It's a very good summary of the people of Las Vegas written by someone who knows, John Smith.

An excellent read and a superb history lesson
With "Sharks in the Desert" John L. Smith wrote one of the best books about Las Vegas ever. This book has a lot of substance and it is full of information. Although it's nonfiction, it reads like a novel. Lots of valuable quality research are packed into the 400 pages. Although we have seen the TV specials about Las Vegas history, it was so refreshing to read John's book -- this is a great read from the first page to the last. The reader learns about today's casino moguls and the harsh but real techniques to separate casino patrons from their money. It also tells the story how like a gigantic masterplan Las Vegas rose from the barren desert into today's Sodom and Gomorrah. Smith is excellent in telling it like it is and this book is a great educational tool for anyone who wants learn more about the meadows, i.e. Las Vegas, and the people who developed this desert oasis in the past and who run this town like clockwork presently. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Business    4. Business / Economics / Finance    5. Business Ethics    6. Casinos    7. Gambling    8. Gambling - General    9. Las Vegas    10. Nevada    11. Organized crime    12. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. Biography: general    14. Entrepreneurship    15. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    16. The Americas    17. True Crime / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (69)

Lessons on Being a Dad and a Father
Big Russ and Me is a wonderful follow-up to The Greatest Generation.While The Greatest Generation wrote about everyday people who made everyday sacrifices to build our post-War America, Big Russ and Me shares how one man of the next generation, Tim Russert, was brought up to become an effective human being by one of those post-War men of admirable character.The book is written in a humerous and warm, loving tone.Above all, it demonstrates a man's deep respect and gratitude for his father's parenthood. Yes, one can be a dad and a father at the same time.Teaching self-discipline with a loving hand is the winning approach to raising a fine son (or daughter) who contributes to both the spiritual advance of manhood and to whatever endeavors the child chooses.

Big Russ and Me
An amusing memoir of growing up in Buffalo, NY and how different life was in the 40's than it is now.It's a good story about father-son relationships and how they have changed over the years.
excellent read!
If you lived through the 50's and 60's think it would been even more meaningful.It does tug at the heartstrings though.More than once I had to stop because of the tears.I wish I could have been as lucky to have the realtionship with my father.A quick, easy and lighthearted read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1924-    2. 1950-    3. American Journalism    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Buffalo    9. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    10. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    11. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Television Personalities    12. Fathers and sons    13. New York (State)    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Russert, Tim    16. Russert, Tim,    17. Television (Performing Arts)    18. Television journalists    19. United States    20. Biography & Autobiography / General    21. Bargain   

Reviews (71)

A picture is worth more than a thousand words.
What a joy it was to read this book, and another of Fischer's books; Paul Revere's Ride. Written in narrative storytelling fashion, the book moves briskly--but with urgency. I will save the long reviews for the top 500 writers here at Amazon, but I found this book to be extremely satisfying.What's more, not only does Fischer illuminate Washington's determination to keep the idea of liberty alive, he also writes about the tremendous help given the Continental Army by locals who continued to harass the British throughout the winter as they searched for food for themselves and their horses.

Simply outstanding research and writing
David Hackett Fisher's "Washington's Crossing" is a wonderfully written and research history of this seminal event in American history.I was admittedly hesitant to read this work, Pulitzer Prize and all, as I felt the topic a bit narrow for my tastes and it perhaps a bit too much like a high school history lesson.Luckily, I was very mistaken.
The Best of America
I eyed Washington's Crossing for a long time before finally purchasing it. Meanwhile in the past couple of years I read Ellis' "His Excellency, George Washington," and McCullough's "John Adams" and "1776."Although I am by no means finished reading about the period and its individuals, I have gotten a wonderful education in the lives and times of this era.All of these books complement each other and Washington's Crossing is the crowning piece that ties much of it together. Washington's Crossing is very pro-American and pays homage to Washington as a great man and leader. Revisionist and alternative views of the making of our nation do not have a place here. Instead, the author focuses on the best ideals that made the United States great such as respect for individuals of all stations, a willingness to listen to the views of others, flexibility and perseverance in adversity and changing situations, the placing of the good of the nation ahead of one's advancement and glory, and decency on the field of war. As a historical record the book is outstanding and tells the story from both sides. The British are not a faceless and evil enemy, but a group of largely decent and capable people trying to do the right thing from their perspective. We Americans should regard ourselves as fortunate in having them as our "mother country" and the basis for our own institutions. The various battles and maneuvers of the New York and New Jersey campaigns are described in detail, but not in a minute, mind-numbing matter, and the result is fascinating history. Many maps are included that will aid the reader in understanding the action. The book contains many appendices that provide much added and incidental detail that the reader eager for more knowledge will enjoy. "Washington's Crossing" is a keeper for a lifetime and now sits on a bookshelf awaiting my return. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1732-1799    2. Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-De    3. Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.)    4. Headquarters    5. History    6. History - Military / War    7. History: American    8. Military    9. Military - General    10. Military - United States    11. Pennsylvania    12. Revolution, 1775-1783    13. United States - Revolutionary War    14. Valley Forge    15. Washington, George,    16. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    17. History / United States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800)    18. History, American | Colonial & Revolutionary    19. USA    20. Warfare & Defence    21. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (62)

The limit of human endurance...
Imagine driving two hundred miles, a long boring journey no doubt. Seems like ages...
comparison
this is a fantastic book.the SAS are phenominal.this mission was flawed, and this book is a testiment to the hardcore training and personnel of the SAS.however, to address another reviewer's comments, i fully disagree with the assessement that the SAS are vastly superior to Delta Force.firstly, for a number of years ive had close affiliations with the special operations world, and personally know a great number of both Delta operators and SAS soldiers and have conversed with them greatly on training, tactics, and so forth.no arguement that both are superior to the SEALs, who have always been overrated and hollywood.but the fact is, it is a complete and utter fallacy to state that Delta dont have the training to survive the way this SAS team did.thats absurd.first, delta's founder, charlie beckwith, a green beret who spent time with the SAS, used the SAS unit structure and training criteria as a template for Delta.second, Delta and the SAS are two of the most closely aligned units in the world, with frequent exchanges, putting Delta operators through SAS training and vice versa, as well as executing missions together from time to time.bottom line, Delta is the US military's MOST elite, MOST well trained, and MOST combat experienced unit of the last 25 years.Delta operators and SAS soldiers dont bother with the comparison themselves, because they're of the same caliber and embrace each other.further, the reason Delta has never done what mcnab's team did is because they've never been in the situation, which by the way was caused by MISTAKES.now im not bashing the SAS, even the most elite units make mistakes, Delta has as well.ultimately, these men survived through a undominable will, and escape, evasion and survival tactics, and to assume that Delta does not have this training is ludicrous, not to mention wholly untrue.

good book
i think this book is very good.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1961-    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Europe - Great Britain - General    6. Great Britain    7. Military    8. Military - Persian Gulf War    9. Military History - Persian Gulf War    10. Military Personal Narratives    11. Persian Gulf War, 1991    12. Personal narratives    13. Personal narratives, British    14. Ryan, Chris,    15. Biography: historical    16. History    17. History / Military / General    18. Middle East    19. Ryan, Chris    20. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (15)

Elegant as silk, sharp as a scalpel
Kenji Yoshino's book manages a difficult feat: it is simultaneously elegant and hard-hitting. Yoshino, a professor at Yale Law School, blends memoir and legal history as he charts the changing attitude of American society toward homosexuality. Formerly, gays were treated as if they had a deadly disease--if they were not willing to change, forcible means such as lobotomy and electroshock therapy were at hand to "convert" them. Next, they were left alone as long as they were willing to hide their sexuality. The riots of Stonewall and the AIDS plague were watersheds in changing this attitude, as gay men and women demanded to be recognized as such AND treated as human beings.
Insightful and much needed
Yoshino is one of the brightest stars in civil rights discussion. I found his book insightful and even necessary for any real progress to be made for civil rights for all people.

What a career!
I found the personal coming out to his parents story very moving; it brought tears to my eyes.I also loved the epilogue and the story of the blue star.But, in between, what a lot of navel-gazing and counting of angels on the head of a pin.I'm a lawyer, but I admit I got lost in all the differentiations and attempts to focus the covering/reverse-covering analysis on each type of discrimination.Then, halfway-through, I learn he was only in law school in the 1990s.I've been practicing longer than that and he's the Harvard professor!(I realize that's a comment on me.)This guy has really carved out a self-referential niche for himself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asians In The U.S.    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Ethnic Studies - Asian American Studies    7. Gay lawyers    8. Gay rights    9. General    10. Japanese American lawyers    11. Lawyers & Judges    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Political    14. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    15. Practice Of Law    16. United States    17. Current Events / General   

Reviews (4)

a major work on education in our time by one of the great teachers
I have known Bill Chace since I was a freshman in his English class, so I am hardly objective. But I still can see with a clear eye that this is a great book. It helps us understand what education is about in our culture. What he says about the threats to liberal arts education from fundraising, athletics, tech transfer, careerism, and pressure to make all research applied and goal oriented should be read by anyone who claims to be an educated American with a care about our culture. The book moves effortlessly through his life, propelled by humor and strange incident, from his own funny and poignant undergraduate days, to his liberal bewilderment at Berkeley, to his experience of racism in the South of the 1960's, to his days teaching at Stanford, and then on to his presidencies at Wesleyan and Emory.
The Best of Its Kind
A disarmingly brave and revealing academic autobiography by a man whose peripatetic career on five college campuses (two where he was President) uniquely qualifies him as an observer of the academic scene. William Chace tells us at the outset, "[g]iven my experience, none of the rooms where the work of a college or university occurs is now a secret to me." True and unsurprising. What astonishes is that Chace actually invites his reader into those rooms where we observe, under the firm hand of his fine prose, the absurdities, the evasions and self-deceits, and the triumphs of courage that make up the variegated texture of modern American university life.
An insider's view of Higher Education
This charming and insightful educational memoir manages to tell us more about what's happening in higher education than could a truckload of educational studies.And Chace does it simply by telling his story.
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Educators    4. Higher    5. Biography: general    6. Education / Higher    7. Higher & further education    8. Sociology   

Reviews (5)

An excellent overview.
Does character define destiny? Here's a fine comparative biography of two greats in GEORGE WASHINGTON AND BENEDICT ARNOLD: A TALE OF TWO PATRIOTS, which contrasts personalities, objectives, lives and achievements. One rose above his enemies, the other joined them. Psychological and historical insights blend in an excellent overview.
An excellent history of the Revolution and an examination of the character of its hero and its great villain
This book was a pleasure to read.It presents aspects of the Revolutionary Warin ways that are often not given us.Too often, the founding is presented as a united band of enlightened brethren who created the founding documents with only minor differences.Washington is often depicted as the transcendent leader who was universally lauded.And Benedict Arnold is the brand name for traitor.Well, this terrific history by Dave R. Palmer, who was the superintendent of West Point, presents a realistic picture of the struggles Washington had in leading the armed forces and all those who had designs in removing him and advancing themselves or a favorite in his place.And the heroic contributions of Benedict Arnold in important battles through Saratoga are also noted.
This books answers a lot of questions
Like most Americans, my knowledge of Benedict Arnold was limited.I never fully understood why he betrayed his country nor did I appreciate all he meant to the war effort before he did, until I read this book.It fills in all the blanks.Arnold was a complicated man whose ego was his undoing.It's also fascinating to see the trajectory of his life compared to his contemporary, George Washington.I highly recommend this one.
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Subjects:  1. American loyalists    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Generals    5. Historical - General    6. Historical - U.S.    7. History    8. Military    9. Military - United States    10. Presidents & Heads of State    11. Revolutionaries    12. United States    13. American history    14. History / General    15. USA   

Reviews (12)

Captivating
I read this book in a day and a half.It was an unusual way to approach a book about scientific research, because it really reads like a novel.I am fascinated with this story, and I would reccommend anyone interested read it.

Genie deserves better.....again
What do you do when you find a girl as abused and isolated as Genie? When a girl has been locked away in solitude for so terrifyingly long - the only life she'd known since birth? When she is physically disabled as a result of her abuse? When she is disturbed beyond comprehension?......Why, make her the subject of linguistic research of course.