Reviews (13)

Plausible but...
There are some good things and there are some very bad things about this book.
Errata
What Carroll and Graf Publishers desperately need is 1. a fact checker and 2. a proof reader.Shameful display of factual errors. With sloppiness of this sort, why would I ever dream of believing the basic (and unbelievable)premise.
Excellent Research
This is the story of the downfall of Robert Maxwell, a man who had almost everything that a simple mortal could dream with, a family, a billionary business, fame, important business and political contacts but with a huge megalomaniac complex that pushed him to play several dangerous games with the espionage of Israel, the industrial espionage and the underworld factions of the East mafias but his biggest mistake was when he try to play the blackmail game which put in jeopardy the security of the state of Israel and the Mossad agent around the world forcing then to "eliminate" this personage.
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Subjects:  1. 1923-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Criminals & Outlaws    7. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    8. Espionage, Israeli    9. Great Britain    10. Israel    11. Maxwell, Robert,    12. Mosad le-modiin ve-tafkidim    13. Newspapers    14. Political    15. Publishers and publishing    16. Publishing    17. Publishing Industry And Trade    18. Rich & Famous    19. Spies   

Editorial Review

Born in 1920, Helen Thomas was one of United Press International's very few female journalists for years. She promoted herself to UPI's White House Press Corps in 1960 ("I just started showing up every day") and has reported on eight administrations. Her episodic, old-fashioned autobiography contains anecdotes about each president, their first ladies, and their staff. Her stories are often funny, and she doesn't mind when the joke's on her: "Isn't there a war somewhere we can send her to?" Colin Powell inquired after being buttonholed at a party; President Carter's mother said the greatest lesson she learned in 80 years was, "Never to open my mouth around Helen Thomas." She's also fair: even the press secretaries get balanced treatment, though Thomas criticizes the White House's growing efforts to "manage" the news. (Her most affectionate political portrait is of the unmanageable Watergate wife Martha Mitchell.) Thomas pays loving tribute to her parents, hardworking, religious Syrian immigrants, and to her late husband, Associated Press reporter Doug Cornell, but she keeps the focus on the people and public events she covered. Scrupulously impartial when reporting the news, she feels free here to be bluntly opinionated, especially in her unrepentant advocacy of the media's responsibility to ask uncomfortable questions, even when the public condemns them as intrusive. Read more

Reviews (38)

Incredible life....
It's one thing to be a history buff and read about events of our country and the world. It's another to live it.Thomas has been an active part of almost every major historical event our country has seen for decades.It's a life the rest of us could only dream about.I thank her for giving me the opportunity to read about the behind the scenes events that have made up our history.The writing is very newspaper-like ie short and to the point.It's perfect for the busy adult who wants to pick it up for short spans.

Everthing you didn't want to know about Helen and very little about anything else
I was looking forward to reading this book but was sadly very disappointed. Helen Thomas takes great pains not to rock the boat. She is in a position to make intelligent insider analysises, but she chooses instead to sit on the fence. She seems tickled pink that various presidents noticed her! And her birthday!!!! Sheesh!

white house years
I wanted to give this book at 5 star rating but the first two thirds of the book are written too much in the style of a quick notetaking journalist and I found the writing needing of more narrative. The ' I was there and they thought I was a female tiger amongst men' message over and over again gets tired after a while. The photos of the author with the presidents are ok but Ms. Thomas should have included those moments in history that she was a part of, Nixon's resignation, Clinton intern scandal, Reagan--Iran-Contra, etc. Ms. Thomas' final third of the book is excellent. The writing changes. She elaborates and the book excels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. Historical - General    7. Political    8. Presidents    9. United States    10. Women    11. Women journalists    12. Biography & Autobiography / General    13. Biography: general    14. Washington state   

Reviews (3)

Moving Farewell
The author's third and final memoir volume is very moving, but falls just short of its outstanding predecessors (THE START & NIGHTMARE YEARS) due to lighter sprinkling of contemporary history.William L. Shirer (1904-1993) lived a remarkably full life, and at age 85 retained the immense talents that ranked him among our top journalist/historians.Here he recounts returning to a defeated Berlin in 1945, his firing by CBS News (told quite differently elsewhere), and his struggle to write RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH while semi-blacklisted and half-broke in the late 1950's.Shirer also takes a limited look at the events of the 1970's and 1980's, describes his prolific seniority, and pays tribute to friends lost to advancing years.The author's bittersweet account of his final visit to Paris 60 years after having first lived there in the 1920's speaks volumes.This journalist-turned-author was a perceptive realist, somewhat headstrong and pessimistic, and well seasoned by wine, women and song.Writing that wonderfully readable prose of old newspapermen, Shirer certainly left his mark - as had been predicted in his college days by a long-forgotten editor back in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (see THE START).
Excellent, but not up to the first two in the series.
Shirer's historical narrative suffers somewhat when he turns the spotlight on himself.The first two books in the series, where his focus is growing up in early 20th century America and his years as a foriegn correspondent, are outstanding.In this voulme, his focus is on his blacklisting, struggling as an author, and his vindication in writing the definitive history of Nazi Germany.Instead of the candor he displayed in the earlier works, at a few points he leaves me feeling he is holding back.His description of his firing by CBS leaves me wanting more, some feeling of why there was such pressure to remove him.Instead, he just gives us his criticism of how he was wronged.I felt this same reluctance to be totally honest with the reader when he described his visit to the Soviet Union in 1982.He seems to have a stong admiration for Russia, but he just won't lay his cards on the table. Shirer's memoirs of McCarthyism and beyond
I rate this a 9 because it isn't quite The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, or The Collapse of the Third Republic.For any other author, this final volume of memoirs would be a 10.Academic historians hate the man, because he has outdone them at every turn and has made modern history readable.This final volume of memoirs is fascinating, because it recounts Shirer's view of his departure from CBS -- a view far different than that expressed by Ann Sperber in her biography of Edward R. Murrow.It is fascinating because it sets the reader down, and explains what it was like to be a world class author and intellectual unable to ply his craft due to the inclusion of his name in the notorious "Red Channels".In the final analysis, it is fascinating because it is William L. Shirer writing about William L. Shirer surviving ouster from CBS, McCarthyism, and going on to write two of the most important works of contemporary history the western world has ever been privilaged to read. This work cannot be commended too highly to the intellectually aware.Conservatives and other knotheads ought best to look elsewhere, for these are fools that Shirer does not suffer gladly, indeed at all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (William Lawrence),    2. 1904-    3. 20th century    4. American Journalism    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. General    9. Journalists    10. Novelists, American    11. Radio Journalism    12. Shirer, William L    13. Shirer, William L.    14. United States   

Reviews (13)

'A Beautiful Mind'
The number one element stopping Blacks today is the absence of consciousness and the Orisha Biko exudes that. His essays are honest and concise and he gives you a glimpse of what South Africa was like and the resistance by him and a number of other Africans. Blacks have to be leading the league in terms of 'liberation literature' but it doesn't matter because they don't read and when they do it's not material like this. Hence, the situation remains.

A must read - highly recommended
Despite the dramatic shift in the political climate of South Africa since his death, Biko's words and beliefs are every bit as relevant today. His Black Consciousness movement was as much a political force against apartheid as it was an indictment of self-inflicted notions of inferiority. This book powerfully tells the story of Biko's life, his beliefs and the circumstances of living in banishment in South Africa. In the absence of any physical memorial for Biko, this book is a powerful rememberance to a man who should not be forgotten, and a tribute to an author who bravely brought us Biko's story.

Touching
Woods wrote this book to show the world how desperate the need for change was in south Africa.There is a vast seperation between the black natives and the whites in south africa, up until recently the country lived under a currupt white goverment which did not allow blacks to live in white towns as anything other then slaves, forcd them into awful getto which had awful living conditions, taught them in school only what they needed to know to serve the whites, and constently terrorised their neighborhoods.Steve Biko stood up peicefully, not demanding radical change, but understanding that he must change what has happened to his people.Black Contiousness was his approch.He wanted the natives of south africa to learn their own history at school and not the whites, he wanted them to have pride in themselves and understand their own humanity.Steve Biko was band and very liking killed for saying this.Blacks who stood up in South Africa always seemed to die in police custodity one way or another.After his death Woods was inspired to write this book, he was band in South Africa and risked his life to escape the country with his book.This is a must read for anyone who is not educated about the hardships of South Africa or Africa as a whole. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1946-1977    2. Biko, Steve,    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Historical - General    8. Journalists    9. Political prisoners    10. South Africa    11. Biko, Steve    12. Biography: general    13. Woods, Donald   

Editorial Review

Peter Godwin grew up in Rhodesia during the end of white rule. While his Read more

Reviews (39)

good background
I enjoyed this book . There was a lot of information there I enjoyed . If you are interested in Africa a good read.

Ground realities with humour
a book which manages to portray all its characters with humour and sympathy and no condescension - the humour, especially, is very good and serves to take the edge off reading something that could potentially disturbing. do read for an insider's look into life in Africa in the 2nd half of the 20th century...

Great book!
This is a very thorough book about the current history of Zimbabwe, but two things are missing one of them is the date of events, for some readers like me who has never read anything about Zimbabwe, need to know what is the time that certain things are happening. And the other thing is a bit about his life with his parents and his partners that would have given a bit of spice to this book. But beside these the book is really great no wonder it won the "Orwell Prize"! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa - South - General    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. Personal Memoirs    7. History / Africa   

Features

• Bargain Price

Reviews (20)

Hopeful, uplifting, and energizing!
First let me say that Dan Savage's book "The Commitment" should be required reading for anyone working for marriage equality for same sex couples. I think those of us who feel so strongly about this issue get too caught up in trying to "convince" the other side that we are worthy of marriage. Rather than get mired in all that, Dan Savage just tells it like it is, calmly and logically pointing out the numerous large holes in every ridiculous argument our opponents make (to me the most ludicrous of which is that marriage is about the having and raising of children). In Dan's words, "Some people in love decide to have children, some don't, but either way society benefits when two people in love make a formal commitment to care for each other...Denying same sex couples the right to marry amounts to a refusal to recognize that gays and lesbians are capable of love. It also communicates to gays and lesbians that we are better off single than coupled. Both are lies."
Thankful for his voice
Dan Savage effectively argues for the legalization of same-gender marriage with this absolutely hilarious narrative in which he shareshis love and devotion to family. The laughs are needed, considering the frustration and anger that so many of us have felt as we continue to try to convince the people of our country that same-gender couples deserve the same legal recognition and protection that male-female couples traditionally receive. Marriage equality is an important civil rights issue to which fair-minded Americans should give their support not just by way of their votes at the poles but by speaking out as well.Dan Savage speaks out beautifully. And I love his mother, "The Mad Clipper."

The Commitment
Although I am not married the thought of it has ran through my mind several times.. So when I came across this book I thought it could give me some insite on "The Commitment".. Sure enough this really shed some light for me and I'd recommend it to anyone that's thinking about getting married or even those who are married. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    3. Family relationships    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay adoption    6. Gay male couples    7. Homosexuality    8. Marriage    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Same-sex marriage    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    14. Bargain   

Reviews (8)

Most Worthy
The sequel to Raine's highly accomplished, insightful, and poignantfirst memoir, Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis, The One That Got Away fills in the gap between the late eighties and the present, and tracks the occasionally painful arc of the author's professional career and personal life. Compared to Midlife Crisis, the tale is a darker one. Whereas Midlife Crisis had its share of regret, his new memoir has both regret combined with a substantial dose of bitterness, which on occasion gets the better of the author. Still, it's an excellent and in some places truly exceptional piece of work, not lacking in its share of humor, warmth, and wisdom that is clearly hard earned but generously shared. Also, it's simply a pleasure to read such wonderful writing.

Truly impressive and insightful memoir
Howell Raines writes an incredibly insightful and thoughtful memoir. His descriptive prose is so vivid, and his observations are so accurate that you are "in the moment" from the first paragraphs of the book.
The author is the one who got away!
While at the new york times, the author 'got away' with lies, innuendo, misstatements, and untruths that he believed he could pass along to the readers as unbiased reporting and news. Under his supervision, reporters were uncovered as fiction writers and the truth about his political agenda was made known. As a result, he was forced to leave in shame. Now for him to try to re-write history again is a mistake. He doesn't get two bites of the apple. We are aware of his campaign to undermine the values and traditions upon which our country was founded. He has no shame and is an embarassment to to the journalistic profession. The book is an attempt to elevate his low standing and to recover from the shame that has been heaped upon him. Shame on you howell. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. Fishing - Flyfishing    7. Fishing - General    8. Fishing Sports    9. Fly fishing    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Raines, Howell    12. Raines, Howell - Prose & Criticism    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (38)

God Bless America
A friend recommended this book to me, I enjoyed it.It is a very quick read.I have never had a burning desire to go to Paris and after reading this book Paris has been put on my "don't go there" list.Assuming her portral is accurate I fear I would quickly be labeled an ugly American were I to visit the City of Lights.

Good Book About The French Culture
I saw some one and two star reviews below.Perhaps these previous reviewers don't understand:The purpose of this book is to help us people who aren't French understand 'why they are like that'---the purpose is not to "defend" French culture or make excuses.
A superficial, misogynistic view of the Parisian rich
While I didn't lose any money on this book (thankfully!) the time I lost checking it out from the library and reading it makes me angry enough.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Americans    3. Biography    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Europe - France    6. France    7. France - History    8. General    9. History    10. Homes and haunts    11. Humor    12. National characteristics, French    13. Paris    14. Paris (France)    15. Rochefort, Harriet Welty    16. Social History    17. Travel    18. Travel - Foreign    19. Women journalists    20. Travel writing   

Reviews (19)

Great read!
Ben Fong Torres has lived a life that many of us dream about!Meeting some of the most famous rock stars the world has ever known and getting a chance to do what he loves to do!What a great country we live in!Reading Ben's tome about growing up in California was so interesting..Ben writes with such honesty and wonderful detail that you can imagine yourself propelled back in time sharing those experiences with him!I admire Ben for his straightforward account of growing up asian american in this country and as an asian american I really identified a lot with what Ben went through!Fantastic book!

A Straightforward Look at an Interesting Life
It would have been tempting for Ben Fong Torres to write one of those "rockstars I've met" memoirs, replete with purple prose about purple people. Ben Fong Torres takes a different tack in this autobiography, telling us about two disparate worlds. One is the world of being the child of Chinese immigrants, living without a great deal of money. The other is the story of a man who seemed born to be a journalist, coming of age in 1960s San Francisco.
An Inspirational Story For All
This was a wonderful story and one I would recommend to anybody, especially children of 1st generation immigrants. Being the child of 1st generation immigrant parents, I could also relate to Mr. Fong-Torres search for identity and acceptance. I was moved by his perseverance and determination at getting ahead in life. The fact that he didn't fit the typical Asian mold of becoming a stereotypical doctor or lawyer, but rather the head editor of a musical writing empire (Rolling Stone Magazine) impressed me even more, because he showed a very souful spirit, one that went after his passion of music rather than trying to pursue an obligation at attaining a status symbol job in order to prove success as an Asian-American. In addition, I also thought his stories were fun and entertaining. He grew up in a very colorful time (particularly the 60's) so it was enjoyable to read about all his experiences from that era, which helped make him who he is today. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Chinese American    5. Composers & Musicians - Rock    6. Fong-Torres, Ben    7. Journalists    8. United States    9. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (15)

honest and open
Honest, open, and very well written.Authors parents and my parents are long time friends. Although I do not know the author, we probably met as kids.The deaf community is a very close knit group.Deaf parents are very caring and loving. It's a one day, cover to cover read.

Boring
I was supposed to read this book for my Sign Language class, but I started the first chapter, and was incredibly bored. This book is slow, and boring.

Candid, Easy Reading
I went to high school with Lou Ann.We were not good friends, but I knew her parents were deaf.At that time, I felt that Lou Ann was diligent with her studies and way too mature for us to be friends.I read this book many years ago.I loved the book and knew some of the people she mentioned.I am in a book club now and I am going to recommend this story.I think it is a good read for anyone.Lou Ann was a kind person and I'm sure she has helped many people in the deaf community.Even today, I think there is a great variance in how different members of the deaf community interact with the hearing population. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Case studies    4. Children with Special Needs    5. Deaf    6. Family & Relationships    7. Family relationships    8. Family/Marriage    9. General    10. Journalists    11. Sign Language    12. United States    13. Walker, Lou Ann    14. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (39)

The only way this book could be enhanced...
The only way this book could be enhanced is to have a CD of her broadcasts for NPR.Unfortunately I live in a part of the country where NPR broadcasts are hard to get and it could have made it even better.Unfortunately because I didn't get to hear the broadcasts I could only guess at their content from what the book mentioned.She writes well and seems to find the "hidden stories". Her husband's e-mails are a great voice from the other side of the correspondents life.Itr only adds to the pleasure that he is also a great writer.He had me laughing at some points I certainly hadn't expected to laugh.Overall though the book is great and highly recommended, however I'm sure it's even better if you've heard her NPR reports.

True Journalisam
Enough good words have been said about the book. But ultimately, this book is not about the war. That's why readers who expected to get detailed war stories will be disappointed.
Amazing chance to learn the story behind that voice on the radio
As a listener to NPR, I feel so much closer to Garrels after learning the backstory behind her reports from the trenches of Iraq.She has extreme skill and intuition at conducting herself in a foreign country, at making people willing to talk, at befriending the right people.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Diaries    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. History - Military / War    7. Iraq War, 2003    8. Journalism    9. Journalists    10. Military - Iraq War    11. Press coverage    12. Radio - General    13. United States    14. Political Science / International Relations   

Editorial Review

Best known for his syndicated sexual advice column, "Savage Love," Dan Savage shares his own story in Read more

Reviews (120)

Honest account
This is such a cute, humorous and honest story; a very entertaining and easy read.

Made Me Weep
This is an incredibly honest recounting of how the author and his boyfriend adopted a child.It was fascinating to read about "open adoption", at the time of the book only legal in three states, Washington, Oregon and New Mexico. This system is where the birth mother is allowed to choose the adopting couple and continues to visit the child after giving birth.Worried that no young mother would choose a gay couple, they still go through with the grueling application and review process and are rewarded by being the first couple in their orientation group to be picked.The mother is truly a fascinatingly real character and Savage does a wonderful job portraying her.The scene at the hospital when they finally take the baby is heart wrenching and the author beautifully explains how experiencing the mother's grief completely validates the open adoption approach.This simple book encompasses so much about the human condition it becomes a spiritual beacon of tolerance and compassion.

A Defense of the Book
I felt I had to respond after one person failed miserably in reading comprehension.First, in the beginning of the book Savage made the point and he and Terry had discussed infidelity and were committed enough to their relationship that that would not be enough to break them up.As to the claims about the birthmother being mentally ill, they took care to show that she wasn't.She was able to care for herself, make logical decisions and was sane enough to know that her chosen lifestyle made it impossible to be a good mother to her son, hence choosing adoption.And they didn't relocate to get away from her.They lived in Seattle and used an agency there.She was currently living in Portland, but since she regularly moved from city to city, it wasn't an issue.In fact, those who bother to read the whole thing will discover a chapter in which they flew to L.A. to meet with her after the birth and to allow the birthfather to see the baby.(And according to the legal agreement they signed, they can't keep her from seeing the kid a certain number of times a year, and Savage himself deplored the fact that some adoptive parents don't follow the signed agreements.)A lot of the other complaints seem based on the fact that the reviewer could not tell sarcastic humor from genuine sentiment.Savage is not a hearts&roses style writer.He's a hardcore cynic and likes making shocking jokes, like his fake birthmother letter in which he jests about having drug addicted friends babysit.For every time he made a joke about a baby as an expensive hobby, he also mentioned looking forward to being able to teach him to walk and talk and later watching his Little League games.Plenty of other writers have made similar jokes about their children - Erma Bombeck said she wanted to trade hers in for dogs, Bill Cosby has written about wanting to send his to jail for being annoying.It has nothing to do with how they actually parent - they're just trying for a laugh.Plus, if he really thought it was just a lark, would he and his boyfriend have gone through so much to adopt?
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Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Alternative Family    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Literary    7. Parenting - General    8. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    9. Advice on parenting    10. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers   

Editorial Review

When Timothy Garton Ash graduated from Oxford in 1978, he went to live in Berlin, ostensibly to research and write about Nazism.But once there, he gradually immersed himself in a study of the repressive political culture of East Germany. As if to return the favor, that culture--in the form of the dreaded East German secret police, the "Stasi"--secretly began studying him. As was Stasi's practice, over the years its study produced a considerable paper trail. After the fall of the East German communist regime, a government apparatus was established to allow those targeted to see their Stasi files, and Garton Ash discovered and pored over his. He then set about to interview the people who made this gross intrusion possible, the several case officers, and the numerous regular-citizen informers. The result is nothing short of a journey into the darkest recesses of the totalitarian mind, taking its place honorably alongside Read more

Reviews (10)

Interesting Look At The Stasi Through One File
This is essentially an internal adventure story: it is the story of one man returning to his past and revisiting his younger self by reviewing his East German security service (Stasi) file. Ash, a Briton, was a graduate student at Humboldt University in the late 1970s-early 1980s. As a foreigner in East Germany, he was monitored by the ever-thorough Stasi, which managed to keep records on millions of East German citizens as well.Reading his Stasi file (made available after German unification) forces Ash to remember incidents from his past and reveals to him the identities of numerous Stasi informants -- some of whom were his friends.Ash then visits these informants and confronts them with evidence of their collaboration.In perhaps the most interesting part of the book, Ash visits the Stasi officers in charge of his case.
Skip it
While this book provides detail to what everyone knows (the Stasi spied on everyone, including the sixth of the population that worked for it) it offers very little else. Missing is any sense whatsoever of the psychological effects of living in this kind of society or any kind of nuanced understanding of what it has meant to confront these files. Ash gives some small indications of what his own responses were, but as a Westerner who expected to be spied on for his activities, his experience is not very instructive. Garton Ash has many things to be proud of, but this book is not one of them.

Excellent Book about a sensitive subject.
I came across this book by accident just searching for books about East Germany on Amazon.com. On a personal note, I myself immigrated from the USA to the DDR (Home of my fathers family) in 1982 and lived there until 1987 when I was expelled for political reasons. This book told of many things I personally experienced, confirmed many things I had long suspected and informed me of many things I never knew.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Deception    6. Europe - Germany    7. Foreign public opinion, Britis    8. General    9. Germany (East)    10. Great Britain    11. Internal security    12. Journalists    13. Political    14. Political aspects    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    17. Garton Ash, Timothy    18. Germany    19. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (2)

Enjoyable and Well Written...
I enjoyed the sections on the youth and family of the author as well as those chapters following his career.The book is extremely well written.I bought it as a gift for my journalist son and decided to read it first and was pleasantly surprised that I liked it so much.

A Life in Print
By a person few-- outside U.S. publishing circles-- will know. The book is best when describing the high politics within major (mostly New York-based) magazines and papers. Sections on the author's youth and family will be of little real interest to most.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers   

Reviews (4)

Excellent and gripping
I have read several reporters auto-biographies but Peter's is the most interesting and gripping. It is full of insightful detail that really makes you feel the excitement and terror of being a war correspondent.

Peter Arnett:Best Wartime Reporter of Our Generation
For anyone with the least bit of interest in the Vietnam "police action" and the Gulf War, and honest wartime reporting from someone with an impenetrable sense of integrity, this autobiography is a "must read." Dr. Arnett's autobiography should also be required reading for all jounalism students as a measure of their worth and what it takes to persevere when the "real story," the story on the ground, may not necessarily match that of the "party line."

Great war coverage
Want to know what really happened on the battlefield in Vietnam and else where? Read this book. As with most good journalists who stood firm maintaining the freedom of the press, and gave the public a true picture of what was happening abroad, he was railed on by the Pentagon and Whitehouse officials throughout his career. I've just read the book and something especially haunting was the last chapter. He is covering Afghanistan, the year was about 1993 after the 'freedom fighters' got rid of the communists and the entire country is ridden with corruption, violence, and warring factions. While waiting for his plane to Kabul he has a conversation with an influentialPakistani who blamed the chaos on the "mercurial American foreign policy". Saying "all you Americans cared about was destroying communism, and you welcomed extremists to the struggle and trained them to kill. But many of those people don't like you either, and you're the next target". On the very last page, Arnett ends the book as he is leaving Afghanistan, he writes: "The collapse of the Soviet empire, the end of the Cold War, had not brought harmony to Afghanistan, merely conflict and criminality. And the United States would reap a bitter harvest from the seeds of the Islamic revolution it helped sow. I was glad to be leaving Afghanistan but I knew that the story was not over". I would probably have to go back". As usual,the Pentagon and their right-wing pundits who attack people like Arnett as sympathizers, and conspiracy theorists, have been proven wrong by history, and the current events today. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Journalism    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Broadcast journalism    6. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    7. Journalists    8. New Zealand    9. War correspondents    10. Arnett, Peter    11. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Subjects:  1. Form - Essays    2. General    3. Humor    4. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers    5. Collections & anthologies of various literary forms    6. Humour collections & anthologies    7. JOURNALISTS_BIOGRAPHY   

Reviews (9)

Mencken is as relevant today as he ever was
Remarkably, so much of what Mencken warned about during his day is applicable today.If you were to read his columns and replace FDR with Bush you would swear he was talking about Bush and the neocons.The similarities leading up to both world wars are eerily similar to today's world.Rodgers does an excellent job providing as many details as one cares to take in.

A Champion of Individual Rights
Marion Rodgers has written a thorough biography of H. L. Mencken.He was a man of many facets, and they were all turned on.He was a champion of individual rights, and one wonders what he might have to say with the present political climate in this country.Although he often projected a blustry disposition, he also demonstrated a tender side as well.He appeared to be a confirmed bachelor, but he did finally marry while enjoying the company of numerous women who tried to make him their "catch".He also showed that he was quick with a quip with such examples as "golf and idiocy are the same word."There is also his well known definition of puritanism as "The haunting fear that someone somewhere may be happy."I found it interesting that although Mencken stated he was an agnostic, he would refer to God and heaven at various times.During his old age he lamented the fact that there was so much more writing he would have wanted to do and couldn't now that his health had deserted him.I rate the book four stars based on my interest level.I had first heard about H. L. Mencken through his definition of puritanism, and felt it would be interesting to know more about the man.The book was a long read, but it was worth the while.

Superb biography on a master of civil rights and language...
Mencken has long been one of my favorite persons to quote. Ever since I got my first quote book when I was about 11, and have been attracted to those who are able to say so much in such superb, yet small ways...Mencken has always been up there with Twain, Ambrose Bierce, my scientists Einstein and Feynman, Will Rodgers. Notice something about this group? They all lived within the same time period: around the time my parents were growing up. Yet, I am sure if I had been alive then with my family's upbringing, I may never have been introduced to the writings of these men, especially Mencken who wrote for magazines, journals and the newspapers.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Mencken, H. L    6. Editors    7. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    8. Journalism    9. Journalists    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers    13. Biography: general    14. English    15. History, American | 1900-1945    16. Literary studies: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (3)

And They Lived Happily Ever After
by Daniel Cabot, Martha's Vineyard Times. Ralph Graves Writes of Desire
OBJECTS OF DESIRE uses what seems at first an implausible premise--that an object can tell the story of love. But as Mr. Graves writes about his or his wife's desire for an object, the circumstances surrounding its acquisition, and their enjoyment of it, we are drawn in to an understanding of the dynamics of the couple's long and tightly woven marriage. An Ode to Love
By Cynthia Riggs, Vineayrd Gazette. At a time when more than half of all marriages end in divorce, it's heartening and more than a little reassuring to read this author's love letter to his wife of 45 years.Graves has written ten books, ranging from a novel about the Roman Empire to a murder mystery set on his beloved Martha's Vineyard.This is his most deeply felt and charmingly written book, as well as a portrait of the woman who has shared his life for so long. He tells much of their story through objects that have been important to them.Many of these are gifts.As he puts it, "Every present that is given in the course of a marriage makes a cumulative contribution to the marriage itself. Every gift must be personal."Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Business    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. General    7. Marriage    8. Humor / General   

Reviews (4)

Excellent and unique look into the effects of the Vietnam War
I am a military history buff.I especially love to read books written by people who were there, or in this case a person who was greatly effected by the events described.I picked this book up on a w