Reviews (3)

I LOVE THIS STUFF!
Springsteen fans have been very lucky as of late as he has been putting out more and more product.While non-fans may wonder what all the fuss is about, let's face it, if there is one rock ledged who is sorely lacking in the way of specialty releases, it's the Boss.How nice then to finally see things like the '75 London concert DVD and CD released last year, a revamped Seeger Sessions disc with songs that popped up on the tour and during rehearsals we otherwise would not have had on the actual release and items like this book and the coinciding "Greetings from E-Street..."
good job

Fantastic Tribute to a Great Artist.
I am a life long Bruce Springsteen fan, and so, I have become more objective with my opinions of this spectacularly gifted musician. In Dave Marsh's 'Bruce Springsteen on Tour 1968 -2005, the reader is taken deep into the movement that the Boss has set out, transforming American rock n roll, and in many ways putting a kick back into the American music industry.What is most fascinating in this biography is the wonderful and mostly unseen photographs of Springsteen and crew on tour. There are nearly 350 pictures or so, and nearly each of them tells a unique story of the movement that is Bruce Springsteen.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Concert tours    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    6. Genres & Styles - Rock    7. History & Criticism - General    8. Music/Songbooks    9. Rock musicians    10. United States    11. Music / Rock   

Reviews (3)

Outstanding biography of an outstanding American leader
Washington Post reporter Karen DeYoung clearly finds the mark in her most auspicious biography of, in my opinion, America's finest leader in recent memory.Colin Powell truly is a great American and merits such a treatment of his life's story.I had the good fortune of speaking with him at some length one time on the telephone and found him to be a leader among leaders, in charge without being dictatorial, and utterly "cool."I trust that he will continue to inspire budding leaders of like integrity and ability to step forward and serve.
AMERICAN HERO: THE MEASURE OF A GREAT SOLDIER!!
Five MAXIMIZED Stars !! This biography by Karen DeYoung, associate editor of the Washington Post, is a monumental work of excellence, detailing the life and times of Colin Powell from his humble beginnings through his tenure as Secretary of State under President George H. W. Bush to his current endeavors. While the 1996 Colin Powell autobiography, "My American Journey", was excellent in examining his life and "his good stories", it misses the tumultous and controversial decade that followed. DeYoung's book paints on a larger canvas from an outsider's viewpoint with a huge number of sources. At times she juxtaposes activities at different points on the globe between Gen Powell and his wife Alma. Many other times she sculpts Powell in bold relief in some of the major events of US and world history, among an almost unbelievable cast of characters that can only be described as 'awe-inspiring'.All of this is captured in stunning prose and laid out in impressive detail, with ultimately an investigative flair that rivals any of the current 'political tell-all' books, although that is not the objective here. A totally absorbing read of over 600 pages!
Good book and read, just wish there was something more.
I bought this book to fill in the gap from his previous book, My American Journey.A good chunk of Soldier deals with the Iraq war and perhaps rightly so, as his UN presentation continues to haunt him.While I can appreciate all he had to go through, it's still hard to swallow some of his reasoning for doing that presentation as well as the defense of the Bush administration afterwards.I was hoping he would apologize candidly to the American people for misleading them.He adamantly refuses to do so and I wonder if he realizes this refusal puts him on par with the Bush administration refusing to acknowledge how bad things have become in Iraq, as well the false justification for this war.
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Subjects:  1. African American generals    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Blacks In The Military    7. Generals    8. People of Color    9. Political    10. Statesmen    11. U.S. Federal Executive Bodies    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Editorial Review

Bill Buford's funny and engaging book Read more

Reviews (71)

Erratic, boring and without passion
This book reads like a term paper written by an overly diligent student who's not really interested in his subject. The author erratically jumps from one topic to another to demonstrate that he has really done lots and lots of research.
Same story, different book.
I love to read narrative books on food.I also love to read cookbooks.But to me, this book is too similar to the more entertaining "Kitchen Confidential."I have no problem with the actual writing of the book, Buford is a great an enthusiastic guide to the inner workings of a kitchen.But I am tired of reading about how hellish and stressful it is to work in a restaurant kitchen, and glorifying the macho boys club of the professional culinary world.Yes, we get it, it's not really all that glamorous to work in a restaurant day in and day out. If you have never read a book like this and are infatuated with Mario Batali, I say go ahead and read it, but if you have read "Kitchen Confidential," there's not much new here.

Armchair Sous Chef
Having spent hours watching the Food Channel:Iron Chef America, Throwdown and even Rachael Ray, one always thinks that it doesn't look so hard...that is until you try to accomplish medium dice of anything with a consistent size.Somehow anything I chop looks as even as if I had done it in a food processor.So why don't I use one you ask??Because they don't on Iron Chef America, they slice and dice with ease.
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Subjects:  1. Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cookery    7. Cookery, Italian    8. Cooking    9. Food    10. Italy    11. Literary    12. Methods - Professional    13. Personal Memoirs    14. Tuscan style    15. Tuscany    16. Cooking / General   

Reviews (8)

Fake memoir
This story was probably constructed from a number of real memoirs, other sources like films, and Jung's and the author's imagination.Helmut Jung may have been a soldier on the Eastern Front but what he claims to have seen there owes more to imagination - perhaps the author's - than reality.Units composed of seven foot Mongols? (p. 297).Really. In the fifty or so books I have read about the German-Russian war nobody else noticed such units. In the same chapter, a description of the capture of a group of female Russian soldiers appears to have been lifted from the film version of 'Cross of Iron'.There are numerous other elements traceable to other sources throughout ths ridiculous book. Avoid wasting money on this 'memoir'.You will learn nothing about the real experience of combatants on the Eastern Front that you haven't already read elsewhere.

A Work of Fiction
I agree with some of the other reviewers that this is most likely a work of fiction.There is no real information given about the supposed author, Helmut Jung, other than his "incredible" wartime exploits. There are too many mistakes in the book about Jung's training and service to believe this is anything more than a piece of fiction put together by the American writer...it doesn't read or feel right.Save your money and buy "Black Edelweiss" for a real biography of a German soldier.

The Jekyll and Hyde of german wwii memoirs
First of all, this book is 464 pages long, apart from a small paragraph about Mr. Jung at the end there is nothing else, you get what you pay for, 464 pages of reading material. There are also no photos. Now, this memoir is a rollercoaster of emotions, paradoxes, anomalities, irregularities and some simply senseless and hard to believe asseverations by Mr. Jung and the author, who should have at least researched a little bit more, edited a bit better and should have gotten himself a good grammar dictionary, unless that is, he chose to leave the book as it is to keep the element of reality present. At times Mr. Jung sounds so real and truthful you can't help but pity him at others you could swear he is a jew posing as a german soldier. Now I don't blame Mr. Jung for his mental lapses (most people don't remember what they did 2 weeks ago) so after so many years one can understand his memory lapses. However mistaking the 6th army for the 10th at Stalingrad is preposterous to say the least. His asseveration that the SS went around shooting wounded german soldiers from penal batallions is simply hard to believe. During the actions of our Blue division in Russia we had a squad of men assigned to follow up behind the main body of troops checking the russian dead behind us and making sure they stayed very dead, for these vermin were treacherous and they would fake death in order to shoot us in the back. The Waffen SS had a similar way of dealing with russians (read Blood Red Snow). Also we were forbidden from building fires at night no matter how cold it might be (this was a sure way to have snipers pick everyone off one by one, have our positions identified by artillery spotters), yet he claims they would build this huge fires and huddle around at night! The war in the east was a metaphysical encounter of extreme ideoligies, the far right on our side and the far left on theirs. We alone had the sole opportunity of stoppping the spread of communism within our grasp and were betrayed by the very western civilization we sought to safeguard and preserve for the new generations. One look at the map of Europe after wwii will tell you who really won and for what purpose the western powers really fought and shed so much young blood. Mr. Jung was as caught up in this hell as the rest of us were and like us he did what he had to do to survive, however a man should have convictions and a sense of belonging to his nation and while he did his share, he did it for himself... we did it for our people, our nation and for western civilization. To those of you who might find this offensive I remind you of the words Julius Streicher spoke to the hangman at Nuremberg in 1946, "someday the russians will do this very same thing to all of you". Time proved him right.
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Subjects:  1. 1926-    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Campaigns    6. Eastern Front    7. Europe - Germany    8. Germany    9. Heer    10. Historical - General    11. Jung, Helmut,    12. Military    13. Military - World War II    14. Panzer-Division, 7    15. Personal narratives, German    16. World War, 1939-1945    17. Biography: general    18. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)   

Editorial Review

Barack Obama's first book, Read more

Reviews (8)

Obama Wraps His Personal Journey Around His Political Beliefs With Refreshing Authenticity
As the acknowledged rising star of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama has done an admirable job in maintaining the precarious balance between being a media lightning rod and a largely unproven senator out to establish his record. While it may speak to the current vacuity in the party's leadership, Hillary Clinton aside, Obama certainly cannot be underestimated for the political acumen he has displayed during key high-attention moments like his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He wrote an insightful personal memoir over a decade ago before entering politics, "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance", which I read a couple of years back and thought was quite lucidly written if rather guarded in exploring his racial dichotomy.
A prelude to the White House

STRAIGHT TALK, IMPRESSIVE IDEAS FROM A MAN POISED FOR THE FUTURE!
Five SAGACIOUS Stars!! Senator Barack Obama shows in this highly personal reflection that he is a man of great IDEALS and iDEAS. Indeed, he appears to be more 'statesman' than 'politician'. The book is almost conversational in tone, making it easy to read. Senator Obama's own written words anoint him as a man possibly poised on the edge of greatness, when we all want new political 'heroes', Republican as well as Democrat (and Independents like myself). He is a relatively young Democratic Senator from the great state of Illinois with the name recognition of a much older politician, nationally and internationally.In Africa and in the US, he hasalmost 'rock star' status among certain groups.
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Subjects:  1. African American legislators    2. Biography    3. Essays    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Government - Legislative Branch    6. Legislators    7. National characteristics, American    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    12. U.S. Senate    13. United States    14. Current Events / Political   

Reviews (79)

Good but could be better
I just finished reading The Glass Castle, a much different memoir, and this one is poorly written in comparison. Most of the problems are in editing. Sections of the story are repeated and there are some inconsistencies in timelines etc. It is an interesting story, and surely bittersweet for some who have lost a family member in a car accident. I would imagine that they are pleased for the author but at the same time tempted to wonder why their loved one wasn't "chosen" to survive.

Heaven is just the beginning of the journey
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey is the story of Baptist minister, Don Piper, and the consequences of a January day when a horrendous collision with an 18-wheeler cost him his life--for 90 minutes.
Should be called "3 years for Recovery" not "90 min in Heaven"
I gotta tell you, I dont read books very much..I'm not a big reader but the title of this book caught me. I wanted to read about heaven...I am a Christian and this book really caught my eye.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Christianity    5. Future life    6. Heaven    7. Miraculous Phenomena    8. Near-death experiences    9. Parapsychology - Near-Death Experience    10. Religious    11. Religious aspects    12. Biography & Autobiography / Religious   

Reviews (86)

A lovely, lovely find...
I heard this book discussed briefly earlier this year on the Today Show and decided to order it since, at the time, I was in the throws of my own divorce.Ms. Gilbert chronicles her international journey of self-discovery with such amazing detail and tenderness and humor that I recommend this book to anyone who has found him or herself in a place or state that he or she would like to change or leave (I imagine, that's everyone!).The story is engrossing and the writing is skillful.I couldn't put it down, and I feel more empowered to follow my own dreams and heart after finishing the book.That's 5-star material if I've ever seen it.

Surprise - you are in control of your life....
A re-count of the author's year spent in Italy, India, and Bali in the wake of a difficult divorce.This book is easy to read and enjoyable.The author does an excellent job of providing her outlook on the variety of experiences she has + how they relate to her dealing with her "life issues."She eventually comes to the self-actualizing realization that she is in control of her life (as opposed to anybody else) and takes steps to make herself happier.

Boring
Just another self indulgent autobiography.It was too boring to read and had not much to say.If you are in for light reading, go for it.Do not expect too much from this one or you might be very disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1969-    2. Adventurers & Explorers    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Description And Travel    9. Gilbert, Elizabeth,    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Travel    12. Travel writers    13. Travelers    14. United States    15. Women    16. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Editorial Review

David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly, fascinating memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care, and somewhat nurturant to her children--but not to David, whom she referred to as "an It." This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school!--but mostly it was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert schoolteacher saved David. One wants to learn more about his ordeal and its aftermath, and now he's written a sequel, Read more

Reviews (1753)

The Best Book Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a story about a young David.His life was practically perfect and then it all changed.His mother beats him from age 4-12!It's horrible, but it is such a great book.You will cry when he cries, and you will hurt when he hurts, but you will feel his angry and hate for his mother when he does!
A story about a Brave child
I read this book in 2 days, less then 24 hours. I was so touched by David's strength that he had from a very young age. It's hard to believe anyone especially someone's mother would do the kind of things she did to David. It's sickening and sad. I am glad David decided to tell his story, as I'm sure it has helped other people. I am currently reading David'd 2nd book the lost boy and hope to get hid 3rd book as well as his brother Richards books
"A Child Called 'it' " is a good read!
"A Child Called 'it' " is a book about a young boy,David, who is severely beaten by horrible, cruel mother.No one knew the purpose of this,(the beatings) but it maybe she was taking out her anger from her constant fights with her husband or maybe she is just very frustrated with having all the respnsobilities of being a normal,kind, and caring mother to all of David's other siblings.Although it was extremely unlikley for David to survive, his hope & faith kept him alive.
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Subjects:  1. Abuse - General    2. Abused children    3. Abusive mothers    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. California    9. Children of alcoholics    10. Daly City    11. Family relationships    12. General    13. Pelzer, David J    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Specific Groups - Special Needs    16. Child abuse    17. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (1)

No Excuses: Read this book
Let's first be clear: I am not a Notre Dame, New England Patriot, or for that matter a Charlie Weis fan. However, after reading this book, you can cross off the Charlie Weis part, I am now quite an admirer of his. This book, in short order, chronicles Coach Weis'time from his own high school football and college days, through his coaching career from the high school to his current job as head coach of the Fighting Irish. Citing his high school coach as his first ideological hero, through South Carolina's Joe Morrison and the two Bills (Parcells and Belicheck), Coach Weis offers insight into each of their philosophies and motivation techniques and how he incorporated each of their styles into his own coaching. Lastly, he chronicles his first year at Notre Dame and how he approached changing the team's attitude to a winning formula as last season's record indicates.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Collegiate Athletic Programs    5. Football    6. Football - General    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Sports - Football    9. Sports - General    10. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Reviews (322)

Excellent book!
Joan Didion is able to capture for the reader what a terrible ordeal losing any loved one is, let alone two within a very short time. She deals with the fast death of her husband and the longer, slow death of her daughter. The writing is excellent, the sadness you feel is unbelievably real. What's true is that in all of our lives, what is one way one minute can change ever so quickly the next.Ms. Didion captures this feeling to a tee.

A beautiful book, but it's not really intended for other people
I'm trying to think of how to delicately recommend against reading Joan Didion's latest (for which she won a National Book Award). Some disjointed notes:
Two types of Research
More than anything else, I think Didion's latest book shows her truest colorsas a reporter.Though ostensibly a memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking is at its center an in-depth investigative report on the effects of grief, from its onset and onward a year.Didion blends research in the "field" -- hospitals, all the venues of her own experience -- and research with doctors and through print media to give us not only a moving record of her own experiences, but also a critical study into the personal, psychological, physiological toll grief can take on a person.Like her earliest works, thisbook seems effortless, almost spoken, in very measured and easy prose, which seeps into the reader and makes you even more moved by her accounts.An excellent book, both from the stand point of memoir and reportage, and an exceedingly excellent book from the stand point of being both blended into one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Didion, Joan    7. Didion, Joan - Prose & Criticism    8. Dunne, John Gregory - Prose & Criticism    9. Dunne, John Gregory,    10. Family relationships    11. Journalists    12. Literary    13. Novelists, American    14. Personal Memoirs    15. United States    16. Women    17. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (3)

The Inside Story
Ok, if you are a die-hard Democrat, this one is definitely not for you.But if you are a fan of 41, or at least want to experience a real inside the whitehouse look at the life and times of an American president, then check this out and you won't be disappointed.I liked it because I like the man.I've met him and he was very nice.(See my picture with GHWB in 'customer images' above).

The Real George Bush Sr.
I just finished the book and enjoyed it. I have always had great respect for George Bush Sr. and I think Doro did a good job of bringing to light his kind, respectful ways. I really think history will judge him well. However, most of the book were things I have already read but at the same time, I enjoyed reading what it was like growing up with him as a father.

Loving tribute to a father
Whatever your politics-you will enjoy the story that Doro Bush Kich has written about her father. It is a story written about a father who is truly loved and admired by his daughter.I enjoyed the ancedotes about growing up in a famous family and how the lessons that President George H.W. Bush learned from his wonderful mother stayed with him throughout his life.She always told him to be humble and think of others.From the ancedotes in the book-he took those lessons to heart. There are several examples of his kindness and thoughtfulness sprinkled throughout the book-many are well known stories and some haven't been heard before. There are good times and bad recounted in this book (as in all family stories).Mrs. Bush Koch lists all the people in the back of the book who have been quoted, told her stories and written her letters about her dad-they come from both sides of the aisle.This is a great addition to my library of presidential biographies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Children of presidents    6. Daughters    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Presidents    9. Presidents & Heads of State    10. U.S. History - 20th Century (General)    11. U.S. President    12. United States    13. 21st century    14. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. USA   

Reviews (113)

Informative but casts too wide a net.
Bruce Bawer's book is informative and covers quite a lot of ground in its description of the insidious nature of radical Islam in Europe and how the political elite are more enamoured with political power over a propagandised electorate instead of applying themselves to the defence of freedom. But that is what European style government is all about despite the contemporary terrorism of radical Islam, and is--like democracy--the antithesis of freedom.
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West
Hardly a more timely subject can be found.Perhaps long overdue, if you want to educate and inform yourself about what is really going on behind the press headlines, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Thoughtful, but exaggerates Europe's fate
Having lived in Europe for a few years, I can safely say that the extreme liberal PC policies of "Sure! Anyone can live here!" mentality towards immigration have lead to a dangerously large anti-European Muslim population. This will be a large issue for the continent in the current century, but is Europe going to become part of a monstrous Islamic Calliphate? Highly doubtful
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Europe    4. Islam - General    5. Islamic Government    6. Islamic Studies    7. Islamic fundamentalism    8. Muslims    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Public Opinion And Foreign Policy    12. Public Policy - Social Policy    13. Public opinion    14. Religion    15. Religion, Politics & State    16. Sociology    17. Political Science / Social Policy   

Reviews (129)

Wow you have to read this!!!
Reading this book has changed the way I have looked, felt and believed in life. I couldn't put it down, and everyday I keep thinking about it. I have shared with others the aw inspiring inspiration I have received. I am not one to read a lot of spiritual books or self help books. I have read a few but this one definitely surpasses any book I have read in a very long time. I am blown away. And it has made me take stock of my own life and my beliefs and it has shifted. I started thinking about whom in my life do I need to forgive. I truly recommend this book to everyone! We all need it especially now with what is going on in the world today.

Life-changing story
I could not put this book down.I've read several other books on the Rwandan genocide and I really appreciate this one the most for breaking down a complex political situation/history into one that is easy to understand for all readers, not to mention one of the most emotionally touching books I've ever read.This book has changed my perspective on life.

Best Book I've read all year!
I love to read, mostly spiritual self-help books, and a few biographies. I would say I read about 2 books a month on average, sometimes more. Any way I simply could not put this book down. I felt as if I was experiencing everything she was experiencing, and I could not help but admire her faith in God. She reminded me how good God is, and how he can do the impossible if we just trust him. I plan to give the book to a couple people as Christmas presents this year, so that they can truly embrace how blessed they are. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa - Central    2. Africa - History    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Catholics    6. Civil War, 1994    7. History    8. Ilibagiza, Immaculâee    9. Inspirational - General    10. Motivational & Inspirational    11. Personal narratives    12. Prayer    13. Religion    14. Religious    15. Rwanda    16. Spiritual Healing    17. Self-Help / Motivational