Naked
by David Sedaris
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 1998)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Editorial Review

Hip radio comedy fans and theater folks who belong to the cult of Obie-winning playwright/performer David Sedaris must kill to get this book. These would be fans of the scaldingly snide Sedaris's hilariously described personal misadventures like The Santaland Diaries (a monologue about his work as an elf to a department store Santa) seen off-Broadway in 1997. In a series of similarly textured essays, Sedaris takes us along on his catastrophic detours through a nudist colony, a fruit-packing plant, his own childhood, and a dozen more of the world's little purgatories. ... Read more

Reviews (345)

funny
this was my first introduction to this guy and i love him! i wish i could be that prosaic about my own family! listen to the audio, laugh out loud, scare your co-workers, FUNNY!

Love it
By far one of David Sedaris' best pieces.Could not stop laughing!

The truth about families!...
I loved this book. Each individual story was entertaining and hilarious! The entire book kept me laughing. Going through his day to day routines, coming to find that nothing was as it seemed. Very good, it's deffinately a must read. However, there was some profanity and sexual content. ... Read more

Isbn: 0316777730
Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Form - Essays    6. General    7. Humor    8. Humorists    9. Humorists, American    10. Sedaris, David    11. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Lost In Place : Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia
by MARK SALZMAN
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (28 May, 1996)
list price: $13.00 -- our price: $10.40
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Editorial Review

The author of Iron and Silk looks back to his tortured youth with self-deprecating humor and wistful fondness.The oldest child in a middle-class household inConnecticut, the son of a piano teacher and a social worker, by age six the author was an eccentric with enormous aspirations - none of them ever fulfilled- who stood out not only from his more conventional parents and brother and sister but from everyone else in his suburban neighborhood.A hilarious memoir in the tradition of Russell Baker's Growing Up. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Laughed out loud
Memoir of Mark Salzman's adolescent years in Connecticut.Outrageously funny in spots, touching in others, and interesting throughout.The author's description of Sensei O'Keefe and the stories surrounding the Kung Fu Dojo are riotous.Ed, his eternally pessimistic father, adds another element of humor to the story.The novel describes an eccentric teenager's failed attempts to "change myself into something I'm not.The story of my life."He obsessively pursues first Kung Fu to become a fearless warior, then years of cello training to achieve a dream of becoming a concert celloist, and majors in Chinese at Yale because "it was the one subject I had a head start in and could therefore look smarter than I really was."The book is a good reflection back on the eccentricities of adolescence with a profound message offered in the end.

This book is an absolute gem.
This book is an absolute gem. How often do you come across a martial arts book that is not just well written but genuinely, heartbreakingly funny? Mr. Salzman has already shown us he can write in his first book, Iron and Silk, the story of his two years spent in China teaching English and practicing wushu with Pan Qing Fu. The book was later made into a critically acclaimed film of the same name. In Lost in Place, the author lets us in on the secrets of his adolescence. Anyone who has ever been seized by the desire to shave his head, dye his pyjamas purple, and abandon the fast food of suburbia for the wandering life of a Zen monk will love this book.
We follow Salzman through the perils of teenage life, goofing off at school and then frantically trying to make up, agonizing about dates, buying his first car, choosing what to study at university, and in general giving his long suffering family a hard time, and all of this while struggling between Eastern and Western worldviews. We meet some strange people he encountered in his attempts to become a Bruce Lee clone, such as the ominous Sensei O'Keefe, the rowdy and foul-mouthed master of the Chinese Boxing Institute, with his dreaded brainwave, "cemetery sparring". Apart from the stories of Salzman's various martial art experiences, some hilarious and some appalling, there are some well drawn scenes of his interaction with his father, who is described as a good natured pessimist, probably not a bad thing to be for someone forced to compete with the glamorous Bruce Lee for his son's affections. There is a lovely scene of his father listening to an outpouring of his son's existential angst. We get a picture of a gentle, mature man with a nice sense of irony. He must be proud now of how his son has turned out. Salzman has written four critically acclaimed novels, one of which was a finalist for the LA Times Book Review Award. He is a great storyteller and this book will not let you down.

Boy, can I relate
In addition to a memoir, this book is an effective mediation on what it really means to master something. We see Salzman try to become a martial artist, and, later, a cello soloist, the first with considerable dedication, the latter with a certain amount of natural ability; in both cases, though, he eventually realizes that he just doesn't have what it takes to really master the discipline. In the case of Kung Fu, after three years of study, he encounters a drugged-out man who threatens him with a lead pipe. In spite of the fact that he could probably easily disarm him, Salzman's nerve fails him and he hands over his wallet. Later, with the cello, he gives up after seeing one performance by legendary cellist Yo Yo Ma. He ends up finding his greatest success as a mailboy for an attorney.

One thing that struck me as interesting is that (I read somewhere) 'Kung Fu' refers to any human skill in Chinese (making a 'Kung Fu skills' redundant, like ATM machine); it's sort of a metaphor, then, for everything Salzman pursues.

Another thing to note is that in spite of the subtitle 'growing up absurd in suburbia,' Salzman's martial arts training is astonishingly difficult. His teacher is a borderline psychopath who curses and hits his students (at one point he throws Mark against a trophy display case), and the school regularly practices full-range sparring with no protective equipment except for a cup, which is about as hardcore, comparatively, as playing the cello with the skin stripped off your fingers. ... Read more

Isbn: 0679767789
Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Childhood and youth    8. General    9. Literary    10. Ridgefield (Conn.)    11. Salzman, Mark    12. Social life and customs    13. Biography & Autobiography / General   

The Hot Zone : A Terrifying True Story
by RICHARD PRESTON
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 June, 1999)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
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The dramatic and chilling story of an Ebola virus outbreak in a surburban Washington, D.C. laboratory, with descriptions of frightening historical epidemics of rare and lethal viruses. More hair-raising than anything Hollywood could think of, because it's all true. ... Read more

Reviews (406)

The Hot Zone Review
Originating in the depth of the African Rainforest, a peculiar new form of life has come to our attention. This monster is invisible to the human eye, acting in an almost ghostly way. It acts fast, spoiling its chosen host with no mercy whatsoever. The monster has been unleashed. A few of the most deadly viruses are the very monsters that will be brought to your attention.
The book The Hot Zone by Richard Preston could be portrayed as a perfect example of a horror film. The only difference is that every single event and image portrayed in the book is true. Please be warned that this book has very graphic and grotesque imagery and is not suitable for people of a young age or people who have easily upset stomachs. My opinion of this book is that you will never get bored with it. It is full of many surprises and tends to lure the reader into its details.

good story; bad writing
I, honestly, really enjoyed this book. But...I thought the writing was sub-par....almost too factual to even include the extras about peoples' personal lives (like the Jaax family).Preston also doesn't create vivid examples.He, at one point, discusses a virus likened to the island of Manhattan but doesn't put it in the right context for size.--Hence, in the end, the example is meaningless.

Great book.Do read it.Just don't consider it literary gold.

Great
Good book because it has real people in it and it is real. I can't belive that humans have survived this terrible event in history. The words on the pages will remain in my mind for the rest of my life.It is like i was there seeing all of it for myself. ... Read more

Isbn: 0385495226
Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Diseases - Contagious    4. Ebola virus disease    5. Infectious Diseases    6. Medical    7. Primates as laboratory animals    8. Public Health    9. Research & Methodology    10. Reston    11. Virginia    12. Science / Research   

Into Thin Air : A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
by JON KRAKAUER
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (19 October, 1999)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $11.16
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Editorial Review

Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end. Written within months of the events it chronicles, Into Thin Air clearly evokes the majestic Everest landscape. As the journey up the mountain progresses, Krakauer puts it in context by recalling the triumphs and perils of other Everest trips throughout history. The author's own anguish over what happened on the mountain is palpable as he leads readers to ponder timeless questions. ... Read more

Reviews (1314)

Que libro!
5 stars is short for this book, after reading It makes you feel quite dizzy, about how death can close so fast up there on a mountain, all of a sudden.

Nothing that an outsider expectator may say can change or diminish what is related here, about what happened on the spring of 96 at the top of World.

But I want to leave two messages, first for Beck Weathers, if you ever read this lines, I really would be proud for that, you define the term for endurance and principles.In my opinion Americans like you founded your country, and might stay at the TOP of United States too!!, I hope some day I could give you a hug personally, I never seen a survivor treated that bad!!... Sorry.

The other message is for Jon Krakauer, as an Ecuadorian Climber, and as a human I must say, forget that guilty feeling, after what you survived up there, you must thank God that you are still alive! just to remind you this: you did a great job up there and writing this unvaluable book.Astounding research, and a survivor hug too!

And for both of you, if you ever came to Ecuador give me a call with pleasure I can show you part of my amazing country.

Congratulations

Francisco

What a book, translated to spanish = Que libro!

Read 'The Climb' by Weston DeWalt Instead
Reading 'The Climb', you will come to understand that Krakauer is another overpaid Westerner, full of hubris. He slept in his tent after his return from the summit of Everest, knowing that others from his team were in peril.Alone, Anatoli Boukreev attempted a rescue.

Riveting - But Tread Cautiously Through It
This account ignited a long distilled passion for the mountains, and renewed interest in the Outdoors.Krakauer (the name itself conjures up courage and strength)writes with immediacy and more important, from firsthand experience.He's a hardcore adventurer, he's lived it, and is one of those rare, original people able to express what is often inexplicable.This book was easy to read in one or two sittings, and tremendously compelling (leading me to read Into The Wild and other books related to the 1996 Everest incidents).

I was also one of those chagrined to discover, after having loved and being incredibly excited by this book, that for all its accuracy, there are some areas that should not be read without circumspection.Although the book mostly avoids The Blame Game, it lapses into this once focus moves to the Head Climber of Mountain Madness, the heroic but inarticulate Boukreev.Krakauer's facts are interspersed with some opinions, and a few of these opinions, especially those of Boukreev (who died in 1997, in an avalanche on Annapurna 1, instead of remaining in America to receive one of the highest awards for mountaineering bravery) - some of these opinions are distasteful.

While I am merely a reader, and I respect and admire the talents of these men in the mountains a great deal, I do wonder what prompted Krakauer to pursue his character assissination of Boukreev.Krakauer has dogged determination in his writing as much as he does in his climbing, but also a stubbornness, and in writing Into Thin Air (which he did incredibly quickly after the fact) seems to strive to be seen as the one and only leading authority, acknowledging that it is not perfect, but nevertheless the complete'the best'and total story of that 1996 climb.This is unfortunate, because Krakauer himself was on the mountain, and his own perceptions were not 100%.He does succeed in communicating his experience with profundity.He fails though, in a few of his many interpretations, including of some of his own mishaps, and thus, has opened the door to a raging debate on 'what really happened', including, for example, what happened to Andy Harris, his encounter on the Kangshung Face, and important conversations he was not privy to close to the summit.

His 'Postscript' response to The Climb goes to great lengths, and like the rest of the book, turns out to be well worded, but does not hide what eventually are borne out to be a few inaccuracies (inadequacies?).His experience on Everest is not his best mountaineering experience (he was at one point assisted by 2 guides), and Boukreev fared far far better.Actions, should at the end of such events, speak louder than Krakauer's (or anyone else's) words, and Boukreev's actions do. Krakauer's behaviour on that day was quite limited by comparison.

Krakauer needs to be more gracious to a man who helped insure the safety of every one of the members on his team (all but the leader survived,) with no permanent damage, while 4 members of Krakauer's team died, and at least one survivor had severe and permanent damage.The idea should not be to blame people in mountains, when things go wrong, but to recognise the right things that happen that save lives.

Krakauer's own account of his meeting with Beck Weathers also differs from Weather's own version.Krakauer actually resisted Weather's desperate plea for assistance, although Krakauer paints a more gracious picture of himself in his story.The point though, is not to point fingers, and Boukreev puts it perfectly when he says 'each is responsible for his own ambition' on the mountain.Thus, others should not be blamed when things go wrong, but hopefully, will have the wherwithal to respond in these extreme circumstances.The reality in the Death Zone is one person who breaks down, slows down, and needs assistance causes a domino effect, it leads to an exponential increase in the risks to the lives of others, as valuable resources of energy and oxygen and time get used up.

We live inworld of soundbites, of show, and of course the 1996 Incident has been written about, and made into a television show.

Into Thin Air powerfully communicates the meaning and drama of that high world.It's most important defects though, are notrecognising the astonishing courage of a man who stood up through the storm that day while it seemed everyone else, including the sherpas, whimpered in their tents.Few understand what happened, and Into Thin Air sadly perpetuatesthat mystification as far as it communicates Broukeev's role.Read The Climb after Into Thin Air, for more perspective.It's equally engrossing, well written, but a far more genuine account. ... Read more

Isbn: 0385494785
Subjects:  1. Accidents    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)    5. Mountaineering    6. Mountaineering accidents    7. Mountaineering expeditions    8. Specific Groups - General    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
by JUNG CHANG
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (03 October, 1992)
list price: $16.95
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Editorial Review

In Wild Swans Jung Chang recounts the evocative, unsettling, andinsistently gripping story of how three generations of women in her family fared in thepolitical maelstrom of China during the 20th century. Chang's grandmother was awarlord's concubine. Her gently raised mother struggled with hardships in the early daysof Mao's revolution and rose, like her husband, to a prominent position in the CommunistParty before being denounced during the Cultural Revolution. Chang herself marched,worked, and breathed for Mao until doubt crept in over the excesses of his policies andpurges. Born just a few decades apart, their lives overlap with the end of the warlords'regime and overthrow of the Japanese occupation, violent struggles between theKuomintang and the Communists to carve up China, and, most poignant for the author,the vicious cycle of purges orchestrated by Chairman Mao that discredited and crushedmillions of people, including her parents. ... Read more

Reviews (259)

Buy it, read it, treasure it
Of a dozen or more books that I have read on China, this one definitely rates as the best of the lot. Tracing the lives of three generations of Chinese women, from the fall of the Qing Dynasty to the end of the Cultural Revolution, it is as good for its historical account as it is for its personal insights. Often tragic and often heart-warming, it tells China's modern history exceptionally well. Having had more than 250 highly positive customer reviews which (at the time of writing) give it a four-and-a-half star average, the popularity of this book speaks for itself. The reader will not be disappointed, no matter how far we reviewers go to setting it up for a fall as if by trumping it up too much. We could never do this, as our writing skills barely compare! It is not only the best book I have ever read on China - a history, a multi-biography, and an adventure story in one - it is one of my favourite books of all time. Buy it, read it, treasure it.

An Incredible Book
'Wild Swans' is perhaps the greatest book of all those I have read. It is simultaneously a chronicle of the epic events that shook China and the world during the 20th Century and a person tale of survival in a world gone mad.

As the personal stories of three generations unfold against a backdrop of war and revolution it is hard to remember at times that one is actually reading a true story - not a novel and not embellished in any way. This book drew me in more than any other I have read and despite its considerable length I completed it in just one day - almost in a single sitting.

Starting in the last years of the two millennia old Chinese Empire the book moves into the uncertainty of the warlord era that followed Sun Yat-sen's 1911 revolution and then passes into the age of Kuomintang and Japanese oppression before passing on to the civil war when the author's mother witnesses spectacular brutality on the part of the Kuomintang and decides to throw her lot in with the communists. The narrative continues on through the civil war and onwards - revealing a world increasingly worse as Mao's megalomania grows and madness grips the world's most populous nation.

The climax of the book comes with the onset of the Cultural Revolution and the stories here are both spectacular and terifying simultaneously - seeming like a real life 1984 as one by one friends and relations meet terrible fates in purge after purge - torture, execution, exile...

This book is not a light-hearted read - it is the tale of the events that collectively constitute China's 20th century history - perhaps the greatest tragedy of last century. Everyone should read this book - it is insightful and powerful.

History worth reading
"Wild Swans" is the autobiography of Jung Chang, a London-based writer who grew up during the Cultural Revolution in mainland China.Her story covers three generations of her family's history.Chang's grandmother was a concubine whose feet were bound at the age of 2, just before the practice disappeared in the early 20th century.Chang's mother was a hard-working government bureaucrat whose passion for Communism glowed brightly in 1949, but was extinguished during the repressive years of Mao's leadership.And Chang herself endured the hardships of life in China in the 1960s and 1970s, but emphasizes that her suffering was minor compared to that of her countrymen.

"Wild Swans" is a great book.It's one of those rare finds that both educates and captivates.Readers who have an interest in Chinese history will discover a fascinating account of life under Mao and Deng.And those who enjoy a first-person memoir from an author who led an interesting and challenging life will be drawn in by Chang's stories."Wild Swans" isn't the best-known memoir out there, but it's a good one to read and share with others. ... Read more

Isbn: 0385425473
Subjects:  1. 1952-    2. Asia - China    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Chang, Jung,    8. China    9. Historical - General    10. Women    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Chang, Jung    13. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Alive : The Story of the Andes Survivors (Avon Nonfiction)
by Piers Paul Read
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 May, 1975)
list price: $7.99 -- our price: $7.99
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Reviews (135)

Alive
Live or die.This is the question that the survivors of the horrible 1972 plane crash in the Andes had to ask themselves.When rescue was out of the question, they were given the terrible choice of either eating their deceased friends or perishing from starvation and malnutrition.The disaster began when a Uruguayan airplane set out from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile. While flying over the Andes, the copilot brought the plane down too early.The plane crashed, and for around ten weeks the survivors had to live in the middle of a valley in the Andes.At one point an avalanche goes into the plane and kills eight survivors.The book also follows the valiant quest of the parents to find their missing children.Throughout the book, most keep the hope that their sons are still alive. Do the 18 remaining survivors live or die?To answer this question, read Alive, by Piers Paul Read.

There are many characters in this book, and Read does an excellent job of portraying each one's personality.Since there are so many, I'll only discuss the main ones.These are Fernando Parrado, Roberto Cansessa, Vizintin, Eduardo and Fito Strauch, and Daniel Fernadez. Parrado, Cansessa, and Vizintin are the of the group, and they have to try to find their way out of the cordillera (elevated valley in a between high mountains) to civilization.All of them are strong of heart and mind, andtheir fellow hold them in high regard.Over the course of the book they go on two substantial expeditions.The Strauch cousins (Daniel, Eduardo, and Fito) are the other powerful group amongst the survivors.Although physical ailments keep them from going on expeditions, the take the gruesome job of cutting up the human flesh and are united by their family bonds.Fito is the inventor of the group, as he devised a water making device.All these people were real, and these things really happened. There are many more survivors that each did their best to help the group, but those six are the main ones.The only thing bad about them is the similarity of their names.

This was one of my favorite books, especially out of nonfiction stories.It is amazing to think that these brave boys survived the bitter cold, near starvation, and the mental breakdown that often occurred when away from family, friends, and just plain people for so long.I myself would find it so hard to eat the flesh of my friends, but when you think about it is just a silly taboo.I really enjoyed the authors style of writing.At times, I felt as though I was up in the Andes myself, enduring all of their hardships.There were also two stories going on, one about the parents and the other about the survivors.Three adjectives I'd use to describe this book are interesting, inspiring, and informational.Alive was a thrilling story of human adaptability, ingenuity, and courage.Get a copy today!

Everyone should read this
I remember in college reading about these plane crash survivors who walked out of the Andes after having been stranded for several weeks...So when the book came out a few years later, I read it in one sitting. Well, actually, when I started to fall asleep I put it down, but as soon as I woke up started again until I finished.It is still one of the most compelling books I've ever read and in discussions with people on favorite books, it is at the top of my list. The other reviews describe the story, but what is so compelling is how this survival situation brought out the true characters of the teammates--which ones got hysterical, which ones turned to mush, which ones became the leaders--and how ultimately heroic they all were.What the reader keeps asking oneself is, "What would I have done in that situation?" How would I have handled the extreme situation these mostly upper-class boys found themselves in? The author does not spare the reader the grisly details of the crash and its aftermath.I did not find it boring in the least. I relished all the details--the descriptions about their lives before the crash, their families' annguished search for them...It is truly a heart-rending--and triumphant--story. Also, the movie of this event done in the 1990s is surprisingly good. I recommend that, too. The decpiction of the plane crash in the mountain is particulary jarring.But, the book is stunning. Read it!

An Exellent Book
I thought this book was a very insightful veiw into the thoughts and feelings of the Andes Survivors. It started out very slow but soon escalated to point at which I couldn't put it down. All in all this was a verry good book and I recomend it to any fans of non-fiction. ... Read more

Isbn: 038000321X
Sales Rank: 11570
Subjects:  1. 1972    2. Accidents    3. Adventurers & Explorers    4. Aeronautics    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Cannibalism    8. Film & Video - General    9. Specific Groups - General    10. Survival (after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc.)    11. Travel / Adventure   

CHRISTIANE F
by F. CHRISTIANE
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 February, 1985)
list price: $3.95
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Reviews (12)

You will never stop thinking about this book
I read this book while I was living in Italy in the late 1990's. At the time I was very fluent in Italian and it was the first novel that I had read in Italian (titled Noi, I Ragazzi Dello Zoo di Berlino). It was especially resonating because Italy has its on problems with heroin, and I had two Italian friends who were severly addicted. Christiane's story gave me new insight into my friends' lives. I will never forget this book and I would like to read it again in English as well as see the film, It obviously translates well as it has been read by teens and adults all over Europe and trancends the time Christiane's story orinally took place. The paperback copy I read was actually printed for educational use in Italian schools. It should be required reading for all young adults and I plan to purchase a copy for my teenage sisters.

christiane F
I purchased this book from the bookstore at the age of 14. I use to hide it from my parents because of the title.I once again found it in the attic of my parents place and re read it at the age of 35.It was still as shocking as the first time i read every page in anticipation.Drug addiction at its most tragic.

Horrible and sad
I first saw the movie version of this book about 10 years ago.I was stunned and I had to read the book.After much searching and alot of trouble I found it at a used bookstore.The search was worth it.The book takes the reader deeper into Berlin's underworld and truly exposes the heroin lifestyle for what it is, a nightmare.i also recommend the book Panic In Needle Park, if you can find it.... ... Read more

Isbn: 0553261371
Sales Rank: 995417
Subjects:  1. Berlin (Germany)    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Drug abuse    5. Moral conditions    6. Non-Classifiable    7. Nonfiction - General    8. Prostitution   

Just Desserts: Martha Stewart the Unauthorized Biography
by Jerry Oppenheimer
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 May, 1998)
list price: $6.99
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Reviews (38)

A fascinating look at one of America's pop culture icons
Before the story broke about the insider trading scandal involving Martha Stewart, I did not have a good idea of who she was. I was curious to find out so I purchased "Just Desserts". The book did not seem to be a "hit piece", as others have portrayed this book. What I found was a writer who disected the image from the the real person. It is a very interesting study on Martha Stewart's troubled past regarding her domineering father and Martha's need to become rich and famous no matter what the cost and no matter who got in the way. I came away feeling very sorry for her. Whether you are a fan of her's or not, the book does a very good job of showing the fake from the real. The onscreen personae and her real actiions behind the scenes will shock and astound. The author also delves into the fantastic business savy that Stewart displayed throughout her career. She was very often underestimated, but always a step ahead of the competition. A real modern day Jeckyl and Hide story.

Not only does the book describe the interesting antics and unreal behavior of Stewart, it also touches on the gullibility of the people who surrounded her and how they naively followed her every whim. It is an interesting study of how people will believe in the image of a person and cling onto it no matter what the true reality is. In the case of several people such as her former husband and several business associates, they finally saw past the facade and saw the real person behind the disguise.This is a tragic story but very revealing on what motivates some people towards ultimate fame and power.

The Ultimate Stepford Wife-Martha!!!!!
Ok, first off, let me say that I have nothing wrong with a woman that is independent, hard working and creative.

What I do have a problem with is a woman that won't get therapy for her lack of people skills due to her lousy childhood.

Look Martha, not all women feel "inadequate" becaue they don't spend lots of time on silly compulsive activites such as gathering fall leaves from the backyard and matching them! (when you're rich and have a staff, then you can do these things)

Do I feel rage or jealousy becaue I don't do these things? No.

Do I realize that Martha would be nobody without her PR machine and spin doctors? Yes.

Does she make pretty stuff? Yes,

Does she have some serious interpersonal problems? Yes.

Good book all around.

I do feel sorry for her family.

And yes to some reviewers, even men have to contend with this.

Makes Oprah seem like a fuzzy kitten...
WOW, was this a ruthless illustration of Martha Stewart!She's described as an obsessive-compulsive insomniac (she would only sleep for 2-4 hours a night, then get up and paint her entire house in one day), who's main goal is to be on top through ruthless power and manipulation (she stole business ideas, designs and didn't give credit to friends, coworkers... to the point where if a person demanded royalties, she would find some loophole in the legal system to prevent them from getting any profits -- Me-YOW!)This depiction is a far cry from the soft-spoken homemaker you see on her show.She's described by family and friends as dominating, cold, sadistic, abusive and absolutely ruthless.She even cuts down her elderly mother in front of her family: "She only makes peasant food!" she snipes.I've never read anything like it.

It starts with Martha's family and where she came from in New Jersey.Apparently, Martha's father was a perfectionist who shoved his beliefs, anger and attitude down her throat; nothing was good enough in his eyes and because of him, the Monster-Martha is what is alive today. Even as a child, she sabotaged a little girl's cake recipe in order to take her little business away for herself.Signs that a powerful, heartless woman was going to surface.

Martha was cutthroat and vindictive.She pretty much screwed over anyone and everyone around her to further only herself -- she didn't even care about her family, including her daughter and husband, whom she brow-beated to death in front of family and friends until he (who was just wimpy from the start) finally had the nerve to leave her, prompting incredible stories of stalking, vandalism and public screaming fits -- till he had a restraining order put on her.

Martha is depicted as someone who never learned affection, or at least had an incredible dark side that was calculating and vindictive.She would purposely hire people who were creative and brilliant, but they either had low self-esteems to begin with or she broke them down.She DEFINITELY was masochistic and manipulated everyone who came in her path on her rise to power.The only time her affections seemed to be positive, were when sex was involved, and then she came across predatory.She's also illustrated as an incredible liar; family and friends reflect on her writings of her "happy past" and say all of them are either exaggerated or completely fabricated.

After reading what a terror she was in the past, I can actually believe the insider trading stories -- it just fits.Oh and the new edition adds that little chunk in the end.

Upon finishing this, I'm blown away at what a terror she was and has become.She is obviously a person who will stop at nothing to be on top, including her cheapness and just downright vicious scheming.She's also obviously brilliant, with a chip on her shoulder about her poor past and is also considered racist, sexist and as the book says: "WASPy in true form."

Martha Stewart is a nightmare in this book!I wouldn't want to come within 20 ft. of her (much less meet her in a dark alley) after reading this.Personally, I think she's mentally screwed up something fierce, but the fact that she concentrates all of it into her work is phenomenal.

4 stars -- one missing due to some anonymous sources (which I don't always trust as true) and the fact that it pretty much had NOTHING positive to say about her; I would have liked to see a little positive stuff.You know, to kind of balance it out.Then again, maybe there wasn't anything positive.This woman is the anti-Christ!

Otherwise, good trash to read! ... Read more

Isbn: 0380731649
Sales Rank: 655803
Subjects:  1. Artisans    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Businesswomen    5. Fiction    6. Romance - Historical    7. United States   

A Bright Shining Lie : John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
by NEIL SHEEHAN
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (19 September, 1989)
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This passionate, epic account of the Vietnam War centers on Lt. Col. John Paul Vann, whose story illuminates America's failures and disillusionment in Southeast Asia. Vann was a field adviser to the armywhen American involvement was just beginning. He quickly became appalled at the corruption of the South Vietnamese regime, their incompetence in fighting the Communists, and their brutal alienation of their own people. Finding his superiors too blinded by political lies to understand that the war was being thrown away, he secretly briefed reporters on what was really happening. One of those reporters was Neil Sheehan. This definitive expose on why America lost the war won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 1989. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Well worth the Pulitzer Prize
Had it not been for the movie it was the basis for, I would never have learned a Big slice of the truth about Vietnam, and I'm thankful I found a softbound copy of this for just the equivalent of US$4.95 in Philippine pesos last year.

A Bright Shining Lie is the life story of John Paul Vann, one of the most controversial, yet indispensable, figures of the Vietnam War. What's more epic about this book is that the one person who knew him real well from Vietnam took SIXTEEN LONG YEARS to write, collated from a large collection of sources dating back to the war: taped interviews, printed materials (including the Pentagon Papers), and experience from being a UPI war correspondent.

Neil Sheehan did a commendable job by compiling all the facts about John Vann's early life: his being born out of wedlock, a literal SOB, and his experiences at Ferrum, to name a few were all good parts to read. He was also able to shed light on the stories about his relatives, and how they all connected with Vann's.

Aside from what I've read in other books about the Dien Bien Phu siege, Bao Dai and the rigged elections of 1956, I did not learn more about the early history of the Vietnam War until I read A Bright Shining Lie. Once again, in the chapter "Antecedents to a Confrontation", Sheehan's star shines as he detailed the history of Vietnam's struggle for independence and resistance to foreign domination (by taking note of some of Vietnam's early heroes such as Nguyen Hue), starting from the Chinese, all the way to the Japanese, French, and later the Americans. It was in this book that I first learned that the term "Viet Cong" was actually American-made, and Edward Lansdale, the man behind Ramon Magsaysay's success in the Philippines, had a role in placing Ngo Dinh Diem as South Vietnamese leader, thinking he could repeat what he did in the Philippines. The passages about the Denunciation of Communists campaign in 1955-56, the near-draconian rule of the Ngo Dinhs, plus the endemic corruption, and discrimination of other religions and people in the rural areas (no thanks to Diem's usage of his Catholic friends as administrators) further undermined Diem's ability as a leader for the Vietnamese people, and he was obviously ignorant of the signs.

The Battle of Ap Bac, the major skirmish that brought the Vietnam War to a whole new level, has an entire chapter devoted to it, and narrated in exquisite detail on both sides, and included a map Vann wanted to use in briefing the Joint Chiefs.

The battle, it's aftermath and the repercussions from it, gave Vann the ammunition he needed to confront the senior military leadership on how they ran the advisory effort in Vietnam. He knew what was wrong and made it his mission to make them understand, but the passion with which he pursued his goal was paid in full by a lot of frustration when, due to some politicking by officers who didn't like Vann, he was denied the chance to brief the Joint Chiefs just when he was already at their office, ready to go.

I would have loved to add more of my thoughts about such a riveting book as this, but I've ran out of things to say. Hopefully I can add more later..

Great book!

Did He Lose His Principals As A Result of His Opportunities?
Neil Sheehan's "A Bright Shining Lie" is a compelling story focused on how one man lost sight of a truth the national was just struggling to come to terms with.Not only does Sheehan takes us deep into the life of a complex man with amazing clarity and a strong sense of balance, he does so in a fashion that makes it a real "page-turner".
Despite his numerous character flaws, the reader can't help but feel sympathy for Vann.He gave his life to the military and to a conflict he had once thought unwinnable, but at the terrible expence of his relationship to his family.
If you are looking for a great read about the Vietnam War, I strongly recommend "A Bright Shining Lie".

Bright Shining Bias
Normally I give rabidly anti-Vietnam War books like this one star.In Mr. Sheehan's case, Ive ramped him up for two reasons.First, unlike most of his kind, he uses South Vietnamese sources and shows many of them at least a modicum of respect and sympathy.Also, he does an excellent job of critiquing the American War effort during the Westmoreland years.

In this novel, the author tries tell us of the folly of the American war effort in Vietnam by looking at it through the life of John Vann.Lieutenant Colonel Vann blew the whistle on the poorly thought out American war effort when he served as a military advisor in the early 60s.He advocated focusing on improving the lot of the average South Vietnamese over fighting Communists.He essentially believed that if rank and file Viets were happy with their lot in life, they would not help the Communist effort to take over the Republic of Vietnam.Sadly, the military bureaucracy ignored him.Vann retired from the military but returned to the war as a civilian advisor.He participated in the war from the mid 1960s until his death in 1972.

The best part of this book is the part that deals with Westmoreland and his predecesors' poorly thought out strategy.They thought that all they had to do was bring in a large American field army and kill Communists.As we all know, the plan was a disaster.Sure, they killed lots of Communists.But there was always more flowing down the Ho Chi Minh trail.Add to that, Westmoreland and company were sigularly uninterested in civil affairs.So besides not killing enough Communists, there were always sufficient recruits in the South who were disgruntled with things as they were.All an all a well crafted analysis.

Sadly, the rest of the book is worthless.Sheehan begins with the assumption that Ho and his murderers were the only legitmate leaders for Vietnam.Anything opposing them was futile (if not downright evil).If the subject matter didnt involve the deaths and enslavement of millions, Sheehan's inconsistancies would be hilarious.At one point he states the South Vietnamese Diem government was illegitimate because it took on the trappings of the old style Viet dynasties.Yet within a few pages of this conclusion, he states the Communists were the right people to lead Vietnam because they were descendants of and acted like the old style Mandarin leaders! Huh?!!??Heres another one.Sheehan is harshly critical of the Republic of Vietnam Land Reform policies.Fair enough.There were problems.But he curiosly wraps up Ho's land reform program that led to the murder of thousands by claiming it was a mistake by Ho's underlings!Say what??Mr. Sheehan, I hope youre reading this because I would like to educate you on something.North Vietnam was a police state.People didnt sneeze (let alone execute thousands) without permission from the leadership.Not only that, land reform based murders were commonplace in Communist revolutions.

Which brings us to another problem.Sheehan bends over backward to excuse Communist thuggery but cuts absolutely no slack for the South Vietnamese and their allies.A previous post notes Sheehan obsesses over My Lai but gives little analysis to the NVA atrocities in Hue.The systematic murder of thousands is described as a "stupid mistake" while the criminal actions of one American lieutenant violating numerous orders is characterized as shorthand for why the US war effort was illegitimate.Add to that, Sheehan tries to minimize the Hue murders as the actions of hot headed renegade Viet Cong.This is not true.The Hue massacre was done by North Vietnamese soldiers carrying lists of tagets likely drawn up in Hanoi.Heres another gem.Sheehan brushes off the Communist penchant for killing droves of innocent bystanders in shellings and terrorist bombings by noting they sent out warning messages.This in contrast to his harsh condemnation of US killing of civilians in Free Fire Zones (Gee Neil, the US gave warnings too you know).Oh and one more.Sheehan notes Ho and the Communists came into prominence after WW2 by murdering off all the non-Communist nationalists.He says this is okay because the non-Communists were trying to kill the Communists.Besides that, the non-Communists just werent patriotic enough.Isnt that special!

The book is also fatally flawed by its premise.Basically, it shows Vann to be a sell out.Sheehan does this by showing how Vann changed from his civil affairs focus in the early 60s to a "bomb them into the stone age" mindset by the late 60s and early 70s.Sheehan actually puts lots of evidence in the book showing this was a legitmate change but just cant seem to put two and two together.The fact is, by the end of the 60s the battle had switched from an insurgency battle to a traditional war against an invading army.Distributing high quality rice seed and giving land to peasants just doesnt stop North Vietnamese Army juggernauts very well.

Another problem is its behind the times.In particular it paints the North Vietnamese as free willed patriots and the South Vietnamese as illegitimate puppets unable to survive without the aid of foreigners.Its fairly common knowledge today that the Chinese had almost the same number of troopers in North Vietnam (conducting security and engineering work to free up NVA units for combat) as the US did in South Vietnam.Still, one would wonder if good old Neil ever wondered why all the equipment captured from the VC and NVA was stamped "Made in China" or "Made in the USSR".

A major disappointment.But then again what did you expect from a known pro-Hanoi reporter! ... Read more

Isbn: 0679724141
Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. Biography    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Military - Vietnam War    6. Soldiers    7. United States    8. Vann, John Paul    9. Vietnam War, 1961-1975    10. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975    11. History / Military / Vietnam War   

From Beirut to Jerusalem (Updated with a New Chapter)
by Thomas L. Friedman
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 July, 1990)
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Reviews (130)

Book explanatory and in Depth as Resource in Report
For a school project in which I chose the topic of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, my teacher recommended to me this book; she is a Thomas Friedman fan.Although I am not, I decided to give the book a try, and was glad I did.

First of all, Friedman did an excelent job of presenting the ins and outs of the Middle Eastern conflict, and furthermore made it somewhat interesting to those who don't know much about the subject.Friedman's insight into the hearts and minds of the average citizen of Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied territories, provided a solid base for my report and sparked my ineterest in a subject I never thought about before.

On the other hand, Friedman seemed to be trying to appeal to too many audiances.The book often runs on and on about very small details, which, although are interesting, seem to provide no support for the overall style of his work.

Other than that, I was impressed that, as a high school student, I was able to comprehend and appreciate Friedman's novel.The experiences Freidman shared were a great resource for my report and overall could be an interesting read for anyone who is interested in a quick look at the last century of the conflicts in the Middle East.

A good memoir
Friedman gives his stigma from the very beginning: he is a Jew, his fascination with the Middle East led him to study Middle Eastern politics and history, he is a correspondent for the New York Times and he cites Bernard Lewis. All the above would render anyone who's read more than one book on the subject at least suspicious.

Oddly enough, Friedman manages to strike a relative balance and preserve some form of neutrality in his arguments.

Sure enough, there are some outrageous comments and inaccuracies to be found in this book. Take for example "the liberating quality of news from Israel has particular appeal for Europeans who carry guilt over the Holocaust" (as if the Holocaust was a joint European effort), or that in the Western news media's coverage of the '87 Intifada "the extensive focus on Israeli soldiers beating, arresting, or shooting Palestinians was so obviously out of proportion...", or "Arafat apparently thought he could continue forever not making the real...preparations for war that would have satisfied the Palestinian hard-liners" (maybe the fact that Palestinians did not have an army as such played a role in that), or "Allah Akhbar" instead of Allahu Akbar etc.

However, there are certain things that work very well for this book: one is that Friedman cannot escape his journalistic background, so to speak, a fact which greatly enhances this book's readability. It's fast-paced and concise, and although nearly 600 pages, it's one of those books that could be read in just one sitting. Two, a fact which also has to do with Friedman's work as a journalist and pertains to all the interviews conducted with heads of states, leaders of organizations, religious communities, militia as well as the common people, that have found their way into this book either whole or excerpts thereof. They are revealing, enlightening and provide insight into the various sides' views, the reasons and forces that drive them and the rationale behind their actions.

Where Friedman dissappoints me is at the finishing chapter of the book's first edition: upon his return to the US and looking back on his whole experience in the Middle East, he resorts to parrotting the usual narrative regarding overall impressions as well as the usual rhetoric regarding American involvement. Friedman is one of the hundreds who had read about the Middle East (Orient), studied it, dreamt about it, fantacised about it, was fascinated by it, only to visit a part of it and find out that it wasn't really what he had expected it to be and he didn't really like it after all (those who've read E.Said's "Orientalism" know what I mean). And then comes America's role as the savior, as it has a lot to offer to help this region, which, finally, Friedman refuses to pronounce as hopeless (he does admit, to his credit, that America would be doing so not for the sake of the region, but rather to protect and further its own interests).

In his more recent afterword (included in the latest edition), Friedman gets more practical and particular and focuses on the difficulties in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict. Although his views may seem one-sided, they do have validity as they're based on the only thing that (unfortunately and regretfully) really matters: power.

All in all, this is a personal account, a memoir, and if read as such, it's a good book. Don't fall into the trap of reading it like it's a history book expecting a detailed and chronologically ordered account of events. More importantly, don't fall into the trap of reading it like it's a sociology or anthropology book, providing an analysis on the psyche of the Lebanese, the Palestinians, the Syrians and exposing their philosophy, values, characteristics, rules of conduct etc. If for no other reason than that this book focuses exclusively on just one aspect of their reality: the conflict.

And that's why I have to wholeheartedly disagree with Seymour Hersch (whose acclaim for "Beirut to Jerusalem" appears with that of other journalists and critics on the book's first page): "If you are going to read one book on the Middle East, this is it." What an injustice to and contempt towards a whole people! For there is a lot more to the "Middle East" than just the Lebanese war and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

fair and balanced, sort of...
I've always enjoyed reading Friedman's articles for the New York Times, which like him has a persistent but mild pro-Israel bias.However Friedman always manages to keep a rational perspective most of the time, which makes his writing very palatable.

This book is a great overview of the huge hopeless mess that is the Arab-Israeli conflict, is well written and well-researched unlike your typical PRO- or ANTI- polemic that are published en masse every year.Very enjoyable and enriching, even if you don't agree with all of it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0385413726
Sales Rank: 3543
Subjects:  1. 1973-1993    2. 1993-    3. Arab-Israeli conflict    4. Ethnic Studies - General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. International Relations - General    9. Jewish-Arab relations    10. Middle East    11. Middle East - General    12. Politics and government    13. Current Events / International    14. Friedman, Thomas L    15. Journeys   

The Blue Suit: A Memoir of Crime
by Richard Rayner
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 1995)
list price: $19.95
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Reviews (1)

Fascinating and candid confessional
I read an excerpt from this book in Granta and couldn't put it down.What's so riveting about a guy talking about his former life of crime?In this case, he's a Cambridge student who steals for thrills.You keep wondering, "When is he going to get caught?"It's not a moral tale of a fall from grace and subsequent redemption.It's more like the strange tale of a man's youthful excesses ... Read more

Isbn: 0395752884
Sales Rank: 762515
Subjects:  1. 1955-    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cambridge    7. College students    8. Criminals    9. Criminals & Outlaws    10. England    11. Novelists, American    12. Popular American Fiction    13. Rayner, Richard,    14. Rayner, Richard   

Soul of a Chef: The Journey Towards Perfection
by Michael Ruhlman
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (22 June, 2000)
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Editorial Review

For his first book, The Making of a Chef, hands-on journalist Michael Ruhlman attended the most prestigious cooking school in the U.S., the Culinary Institute of America. He also earned his chef's whites and began cooking professionally. Ruhlman ventures further into the secret lives of chefs with his second book, The Soul of a Chef. This enthusiastically researched report is divided into three parts: The first concerns the Certified Master Chef exam, a brutal weeklong cooking marathon that measures the skill levels of professional chefs. The second and third parts of Ruhlman's book are devoted to the careers of two different chefs, Michael Symon of Cleveland's Lola Bistro and Thomas Keller of Napa Valley's legendary French Laundry. The thread connecting these three tales together is Ruhlman's quest for culinary perfection: Does it exist? Is it possible? How is it even measurable? Ruhlman does indeed stumble onto the realization of his high-minded ideal, serving up a palatable conclusion for hard-core foodies equally obsessed with the perfect meal. --Sumi Hahn Almquist ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Great Read, Good Insight into American Culinary Culture
`The Soul of a Chef' is the second of Michael Ruhlman's journalistic explorations into the world of culinary life in America. The book contains three long essays that chronicle parts of the careers of three different chefs at three different levels of achievement. Thus, the journey toward perfection is more the journey of the author than it is a journey by a single chef.

The first essay is a telling of the events in one examination for the title of `Certified Master Chef'. The certification is carried out and bestowed by the Culinary Institute of America, often characterized as the Harvard of American cooking schools. The examination runs for more than a week when, on each day, the candidate must complete a particular task. The candidate knows the object of each task at least a day in advance, so they may at least mentally prepare for their challenge. Almost all tasks are taken from the pages of classic French cuisine, some lifted almost directly from the pages of Escoffier's books on the subject. Out of about a dozen qualifiers competing at each session, held once every six months, usually only two or three candidates pass the test and are awarded the title. The author participates in the competition under the ruse of being an inspector from a fictional qualifying organization that is verifying that the tests are worthy of an imaginary certification. In that way, the author can observe and interview all the candidates without arousing suspicion or apprehension in the candidates. Thus, this book picks up the narrative on American culinary careers at very much the same place the author left off at the end of his first culinary investigation `The Making of a Chef'. Most candidates have been chefs for a few years and are looking to add to their credentials and marketability, especially those who work as consultants to food service organizations. In many ways, this chapter is the most interesting, as it holds your interest to see if the featured candidates in the narrative will achieve their certification.

The second essay had a much weaker hold on my interest, although the quality of the writing was equal to that in the first essay. The essay title, `Lola' is the name of a major Cleveland restaurant whose owner and head chef is Michael Symon, a CIA graduate, who may be familiar to some of you as one of the co-hosts on the Food Network show `Melting Pot' where he and Wayne Harley Brachman explore eastern European cuisines. In addition to this distinction, Symon has been recognized as a `Food and Wine' best new chef, so he really does not need the kind of recognition one achieves by earning the Certified Master Chef award. Symon's position in the middle essay is a sign of his rank above the CIA Master Chef candidates and below the very top of the American culinary scene represented by the chef in the last essay. The most interesting episode in the tale of Symon and `Lola' is in the story of a visit by John Mariani, a major American restaurant critic where it seems as if just about everything goes wrong. The moral of this story to me is its demonstration of how difficult it is to maintain 100% food quality in a very good restaurant. There is a very good reason why the executive chef stands at the expediter's table and checks on outgoing dishes. The connection between the second and third essays is the fact that Symon and his new wife go to Napa Valley to dine at the French Laundry restaurant for their honeymoon.

The third essay takes us to the very top of the American culinary hierarchy of achievement. It deals with the career of Thomas Heller, the owner and executive chef of The French Laundry. He has been recognized as the best chef in California, followed by recognition as best chef in the country by the James Beard awards. His quest for perfection is legendary. It is no coincidence that Ruhlman is the co-author of Heller's `The French Laundry Cookbook' as I am sure this essay was done at the same time as he was working on the cookbook. Heller's reputation is well known among foodies, so I won't dwell on it here. I will only recommend this essay, plus a chapter in Tony Bourdain's `A Cooks Tour' as excellent profiles of this very important American chef.

For knowledgeable foodies, this book is a pure delight. Just knowing how to make pasta Puttanesca enhances one's enjoyment of the story in the second essay. For non-foodies, the book will appeal as well or better than other famous journalistic essays such as Tracy Kidder's `Soul of a New Machine'. The book contains some recipes.

Highly recommended reading.

Beautiful, beautiful book.
In this book, Michael takes us into the kitchens of the CIA once again. He shows us some of the best chefs in the country, as they labor under the enormous stress of taking the CIA's 'Certified Master Chef' exams.

He then travels to two of America's finest restaurants and explores the character of the Chefs who created them. Along the way, we meet some other colorful characters and some very delightful-sounding food.

That's it in a nutshell. The reason I love this book is because it shows the heart and intensity of what I can only call the 'love of food' and the 'striving for excellence' that both of these Chefs possess. The discussion of their ingenuity in creating new dishes is very interesting as well, but it is the sheer PASSION for cooking that Michael communicates to us that kept my eyeballs glued to the pages.

I have now read both of Michael's books on this subject: The Making of a Chef and The Soul of a Chef. I finished them both in about two weeks and my understanding of the world of cooking, not to mention my faith in the human race (how could you not love a species that is capable of such positive, again, passion??), has simply been...transformed.

Thank you, Michael.

Great book about dedication to one's profession
Ruhlman divides his work into 3 parts.The first part chronicles the intense Certified Master Chef exam.The second and third parts deal with the lives and cooking of Michael Symon of Lola in Cleveland and Thomas Keller of the French Laundry in Yountville, CA.The book's title pretty much says it all.The chefs portrayed in this book strive for nothing less than perfection, and Symon and Keller have apparently reached that level with some of their creations.Ruhlman's description of the CMC exam reveals what an intense and harrowing experience this test of cooking skill is.He follows seven candidates through ten days of the examination which everyone fails but one.He then proceeds to describe the work of Symon and Keller.Both chefs' stories are inspirational in that they prove that success has as much to do with dedication and diligence as innate talent.I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand not only what it takes to be a great chef but what it takes to be successful in any profession.The only difficulty I had with this book was that I did not understand many of the cooking and food terms the author used.A glossary would have been nice.Anyway, a great read! ... Read more

Isbn: 067089155X
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Cooks    5. Gastronomy    6. Methods - General    7. Methods - Professional    8. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    9. United States   

Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War
by Mark Bowden
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (28 February, 2000)
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Editorial Review

Journalist Mark Bowden delivers a strikingly detailed account of the 1993 nightmare operation in Mogadishu that left 18 American soldiers dead and many more wounded. This early foreign-policy disaster for the Clinton administration led to the resignation of Secretary of Defense Les Aspin and a total troop withdrawal from Somalia. Bowden does not spend much time considering the context; instead he provides a moment-by-moment chronicle of what happened in the air and on the ground. His gritty narrative tells of how Rangers and elite Delta Force troops embarked on a mission to capture a pair of high-ranking deputies to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid only to find themselves surrounded in a hostile African city. Their high-tech MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters had been shot down and a number of other miscues left them trapped through the night. Bowden describes Mogadishu as a place of Mad Max-like anarchy--implying strongly that there was never any peace for the supposed peacekeepers to keep. He makes full use of the defense bureaucracy's extensive paper trail--which includes official reports, investigations, and even radio transcripts--to describe the combat with great accuracy, right down to the actual dialogue. He supplements this with hundreds of his own interviews, turning Black Hawk Down into a completely authentic nonfiction novel, a lively page-turner that will make readers feel like they're standing beside the embattled troops. This will quickly be realized as a modern military classic. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Reviews (627)

A great book
This is one of the best military books I have ever read. The author uses great descriptions to keep you right in the action. The writing is tense, sharp, and easy to read. I was finding it hard to put down.

Goodnight Mogadishu
A couple years back I saw an amazing movie, Black Hawk Down. I was so moved by the movie that once I heard it was based on a book I eventually went out and bought the book. Before I go into the book, I should make a not that I count the number of books I've read that I wasn't required for school without having to take off my shoes. Even though I'm not a big reader, I knew this would be something I'd enjoy. It did take me a while to finish with the book clocking in at 430 pages. Not to mention my penchant of reading my magazine subscriptions before getting back to my place in the book

As for the book itself, everyone should know the story by now. Like the movie, it chronicles the failed 1993 mission in the Somali capital of Mogadishu that ended with two Black Hawk helicopters being shot down by Somali insurgents that left many Americans solders dead or wounded. The movie itself did a very good job keeping with the spirit of the movie, but with the book at 430 pages, there were plenty of things that were left out of the 144 minute movie. Where the movie focused almost exclusively on the actual battle, the book covers more of led up to the conflict and goes more in depth analyzing the outcome. The movie also depicted only a handful of the solders that were involved the book profiles about three times more. The movie spent almost of the screen time focused exclusively on Somalia, but the book also looks into the families of the soldiers back home and also looks in on some of the response from Washington.

Included in the version of the book I bought (the Movie Tie-In Edition) was an eight page Afterword by author, Mark Bowen, written in 1999 as it was interesting to hear Bowen talk about the impact his book made (even before the movie was made), even being embraced by the military itself. It would be interesting to see what else he would say about the impact now that the movie has been released.

The Back Hawk Down incident is even relevant today as we are currently fighting a primarily urban war in Iraq. Many of the problems the soldiers were facing in Mogadishu, the current soldiers are facing in places like Baghdad and Fallujah with not being able to tell the difference between insurgent and civilians, the opposition carrying rocket launchers and other high-tech weapons, and questions of "why are we there?" from a portion of the population back home. Interestingly enough, Bowen said in the book that not finishing the job in Mogadishu would make the United States look week opening us up to attacks abroad thinking we would retreat like we did in 1993. And it looks like he was right with the Embassy attacks, the attack on the USS Cole, and later the September 11th attacks. Many experts even point to Somalia as the inspiration for Osoma bin Laden and Al-Quada.

Black Hawk Down
It's is an interesting book which captures the details of this unique battle.It was a case of military power totally misreading the ground realities nothwithstanding the bravery of the individual soldiers.However, one glaring fact that seemed to be not shown in the correct light is the crucial role Pakistani forces placed in the rescue operation.According to number of sources if the Pakistani military had not moved that quickly the number of casualties would have been much higher.Despite,not being in the picture of this operation Pakistani forces backed by Malaysian forces broke through all the road blocks to reach the trapped troops.Pakistan at time time was one ofthe most sanctioned country by U.S and it was perhaps politically not correct to acknowledge the extraordinary role that Pakistan army played in the last stage of this epic battle.However, now with the rediscovered friendship between U.S and Pakistan a more true account should perhaps be brought forward. ... Read more

Isbn: 0140288503
Subjects:  1. Africa - General    2. Army.    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. Military    6. Military - Other    7. Military - Strategy    8. Military - United States    9. Modern - 20th Century    10. Operation Restore Hope, 1992-1993    11. Task Force Ranger    12. United States.   

The Life of Elizabeth I
by ALISON WEIR
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (05 October, 1999)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
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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. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Highly Detailed And Ravishingly Entertaining.
Nowadays the most fascinating news we can hope to attain from the British monarchy is where Prince Harry was caught smoking dope or punching a cameraman. But all histories have their moments of real fascination, within the English monarchy there is no more universally appealing story than that of Elizabeth I. The 1998 movie only helps to show just how iconic Elizabeth is, probably the most iconic queen England has ever produced. Alison Weir's "The Life Of Elizabeth I" is a magnificent book that chronicles the life of Elizabeth and in rich detail explores both the icon and her human side, Weir bravely takes on the rumous about Elizabeth's love affairs and explores each one. She also brilliantly transports us to the England of the 1500s, giving us a tour of a world where death was almost certain before the age of 41 and where being a Protestant or Catholic was not simple religious association like today, but a position that could very well mean life or death. The character of Elizabeth that Weir builds is that of a strong-willed, independent-thinking queen who was not afraid to speak her mind, be natural (yet still retain a sense of the formal and majestic) and had the wits to take on powerful enemies and survive to see another day and establish the England that gave us Shakespeare. Weir does not however only present Elizabeth the icon, she also lays bare the theories of why Elizabeth would not marry and who her lovers were (Weir leaves it for the reader to decide if any of the relationships might have been sexual). There are also brilliant comedic moments where you laugh and smile at some of the outrageous, almost ridiculous situations Elizabeth would find herself in with a world pressuring her to marry and provide an heir. One of the special things we get from reading "The Life Of Elizabeth I" is the sense that this author loves the subject and has obsessed herself with it. This is such a detailed, monumental work that it deserves to be read more than once to be able to process all the information, emotions and history. The world has had it's share of intriguing, towering leaders from Alexander The Great to Winston Churchill, Elizabeth is surely among them and Weir's book not only informs you but gives you the sense that you have gotten to know the character.

Deliberately limited in scope, so limited in appeal
In her introduction to "The Life of Elizabeth I," Alison Weir states that it "was never meant to be a political biography, nor did I intend to write a social history of the times. My aim has always been to write a history of Elizabeth's personal life within the framework of her reign...." If that dovetails with your interest in Elizabeth I at this time, then this book may be for you. I, on the other hand, failed to grasp the earnestness of Weir's caveat before starting the book, and ended up frustrated by its deliberately limited scope.

Like Weir's captivating "The Children of Henry VIII" and "The Princes in the Tower," this book benefits from her exceptional research skills--though maybe too much. It covers in excruciatingly fine detail, almost to tedium, every angry scowl and fit of pique (and there were evidently many), every chaste romance and court squabble Elizabeth had during her reign. Unfortunately, Weir seems to have trouble managing the volume of details, and they frequently detract from the flow of her writing. This enslavement to connecting every available dot also costs her the passionate storytelling that made "The Children" and "The Princes" so engaging.

Rightly, however, Weir delves deeply into Elizabeth's love affair with Robert Dudley and into the machinations of her several non-marriages. Weir does a passable job of conveying Elizabeth's emotions, and you can feel the queen's sadness at Dudley's death. But Elizabeth's life offers so much material that Weir is required to move on immediately, continuing to hop from topic to topic in order to touch every milestone within a reasonable page count. In the end, I found myself wanting more information on things merely hinted at, such as religious burnings and court behavior, which the book is simply not intended to cover.

By not going into sufficient detail on Elizabeth's statesmanship, her place among her contemporaries, her imprint on history, and the culture of the time, Weir gives the reader little context in which to understand Elizabeth's choices and actions. That's fine for a reader who is familiar with Elizabeth's era and political role, but for someone looking for a well-rounded introduction to her as a historical character, this isn't the book. At least it wasn't for me.

"The Life" is a valuable companion to the political biographies available on Elizabeth; after spending several laborious weeks slogging through it, I plan to read one of them and figure out what it really means. I give "The Life" four stars because of Weir's skill and accomplishment--I give myself zero stars for not taking her warning more seriously.

A rich and colorful account of Elizabeth's personal life.
Elizabeth I was one of the most impressive monarchs in European history. Born in 1533 of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, she was declared illegitimate upon Anne's execution. Elizabeth's childhood was turbulent, and it was much a matter of luck that she ever came to power at all, preceded in the line of succession by her half-siblings Edward and Mary, and her legitimacy being a matter of heated debate. Elizabeth finally ascended the throne in 1558, at age twenty-five, upon Mary's death. From the very start she faced adversity. After Queen Mary (nicknamed "Bloody Mary" by an unadoring public), most Englishmen were unenthusiastic about having another female ruler. To succeed, Elizabeth would need to present herself to her people as an almost superhuman figure, a symbol of both strength and purity.

Those considering this book should first be aware of what it's primary purpose is. It deals mainly with Elizabeth's private and social life. Politics does of course come into the book, as it can't be entirely separated from the life of a monarch, but this is not its main focus. Weir writes in her preface: "This was never meant to be a political biography, nor did I intend to write a social history of the times. My aim has always been to write a history of Elizabeth's personal life within the framework of her reign . . . The manuscript was originally entitled "The Private Life of Elizabeth I," but it very soon became apparent that Elizabeth's 'private' life was very public indeed, hence the change of title." The bulk of the book concerns itself with Elizabeth's relationships with other people, both personal and diplomatic. And much of this took the form of courtships. Elizabeth recognized her ability to use herself as a pawn, turning her biggest challenge - her gender - into an asset, and manipulating fellow rulers through the marriage market. She took full advantage of this, often to the exasperation of all around her.

And of course, no account of Elizabeth's personal life would be complete without much attention paid to her particular relationship with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Weir does an admirable job in exploring the complexities of this friendship and star-crossed romance, offering one of the most compelling accounts of it that I've read anywhere. Many people have embellished the story of Elizabeth and Dudley, letting their imaginations run wild around all the details that we cannot know for sure, but Weir remains objective and honest, acknowledging the facts and offering her well-reasoned opinions, either in affirmation or refutation, of the common rumors.

Long a fan of Queen Elizabeth I, and of the Elizabethan period of British history as a whole, I dove into this book with eagerness and, since I had previously read and been impressed with Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," high expectations as well. I was not disappointed at all. One of the striking characteristics of Weir's books is their readability. Unlike much of the dry material put out by Academia, her writing is full of life and highly accessible to a general audience. "The Life of Elizabeth I" reads more like a story than a biography, remaining rich in detail but arranging the information in such a way that it stimulates rather than strangles the reader. Elizabeth really comes alive through Weir's words, and one gets to know her most intimately as Weir reveals all the nuances of her character, strengths and weaknesses alike. The book also offers a wealth of information on lifestyles and customs of the time, painting a colorful background for Elizabeth's life.

Included at the back are an extensive bibliography, clearly showing how exhaustively Weir researched for this book; genealogical tables on the Tudors, the Boleyns and Howards, and the Dudleys; a thorough index, making it easy to refer back information on any person, place, or event connected with Elizabeth's life; and a "Reader's Guide" that includes discussion questions for reading groups. This is one of the most engaging and informative biographies I've ever read, and I recommend it most highly to anyone interested in Tudor history. Well worth the read. ... Read more

Isbn: 0345425502
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. Biography & Autobiography / Royalty    14. Reading Group Guide   

Angela's Ashes: A Memoir
by Frank McCourt
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (25 May, 1999)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
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Editorial Review

"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes Frank McCourt in Angela's Ashes."Worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." Welcome, then, to the pinnacle of the miserable Irish Catholic childhood. Born in Brooklyn in 1930 to recent Irish immigrants Malachy and Angela McCourt, Frank grew up in Limerick after his parents returned to Ireland because of poor prospects in America. It turns out that prospects weren't so great back in the old country either--not with Malachy for a father. A chronically unemployed and nearly unemployable alcoholic, he appears to be the model on which many of our more insulting cliches about drunken Irish manhood are based. Mix in abject poverty and frequent death and illness and you have all the makings of a truly difficult early life. Fortunately, in McCourt's able hands it also has all the makings for a compelling memoir. ... Read more

Reviews (1692)

Poverty sucks!!!!

Do you like to read autobiography?Then, Angela's Ashes was written for you.The book is a non-fiction work.In 1938, Frank McCourt and his family lived in America.Later that year, his sister was born and died one night when she was an infant.His alcoholic father and his pious defeated mother and Frank and his brother's moved back to Limerick, Ireland.
This book is a classic, of what an Irish childhood was like living in poverty.Frank McCourt made it clear from his book that Irish Catholic childhood his miserable.
Frank was a poor boy who lived in America after the death of his sister Margaret.His mom couldn't stay in the house.She would often hear Margaret and smell her and see her even though...They move back to Ireland.Were it's worse then America.When they got to Limerick the Irish people lived in poor houses they were starving.Frank's father who has a problem with drinking.Who can't hold a job, when he gets a job he gets paid, spends it on beer.Angela Frank's mom is sad, loves her family, but hates her husband for drinking.Angela's mother doesn't like Malachy, which is Frank's dads' name.They don't like him because his from the north.So one-day Frank's dad left and never came back.It was hard on his mother, frank got a job.They had to move out of their house they lived with some guy.Who control his mother....
I've reviewed this this autobiography and I loved it.The way his family believed in the Catholic Church how much love and strength they had for one another.The survival of Frank and his brother's is what the book is mainly about.They were poor and hungry.This book inspired me and made me feel good about myself that I come from a culture that takes care of me.If you read this book I hope you have a new perspective on you life.

A review by A. Zimmel
One may look back on their childhood to remember the