Reviews (74)

Take the Cannoli
She's a staple of This American Life on Public Radio International, and she's also appeared in GQ, Salon and Request. Her humor and wit are sharp and perceptive. But, let me work from the back cover blurbs.
More Sarah Vowell, Please
Take the Cannoli was a wonderful mixture of essays that was throughly enjoyable. As I have become used to with Sarah Vowell, her family, her relationship with her twin sister, her friends, her thoughts on the world in which she lives, her love for history, and the challenges of her everyday life flow through many of these essays, interconnecting them in ways that you do not expect. The essays in Take the Cannoli are consistently good, often made me laugh out loud, and in some cases changed my perspective on a particular subject. Although I didn't always agree with her, I certainly appreciated her passion.

Ms. Vowell: American Hero
Sarah Vowell is one of America's best writers in the genre of humor. Personally, having read both Sedaris and Rakoff, two other fantastic humorists, I am rather partial to Vowell. Take the Cannoli seems to demonstrate her ability to both make us think and laugh. It seems that in most of her essays, I learn about as much as I laugh. Personally, I thought the title essay was extremely well done and isdeserving of much praise from the literary community. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    6. General    7. Women    8. Biography & Autobiography / General    9. Cultural studies   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Regional Subjects - Midwest    6. Women    7. Biography: general   

Editorial Review

Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for African Americans. And there's the vividness with which he depicts black popular culture--try as he might to criticize those lindy hops at Boston's Roseland dance hall from the perspective of his Muslim faith, he can't help but make them sound pretty wonderful. These are but a few examples. Read more

Reviews (265)

eye opener
Mike Young obviously did not read the book.I read it 3 times and it changed my life forever.The book clearly states that it is the autobiography of Malcolm X AS TOLD to Alex Haley and if you had read the book yourself you would realize that Malcolm was simply telling the story to Alex Haley.He was too busy to sit down and write the book himself and predicted his own murder in the last pages.Maybe you, Mike Young, should take on the challenge of being a thinking human being and read it on your own with an objective mind and then come back and tell us your real thoughts.

People Can Change!
Simply, one of the most amazing stories of change ever told in the English language - and still one of the most mis-understood men in the 20th century.

A tribute to Black Manhood
Some books can change your perception, but only a few can wipe out age-old assumptions, and force you to rethink everything you thought you knew. The question of RACE is at the heart of the American society, and in this book, not only African-Americans, but Americans of all colors, black, white, red and yellow, will find themselves reassessing what racism entails, for Malcolm X life, is a poignant testimony of the black man's struggle against both individual and institutional racism.
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Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Black Muslims    7. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    8. Islam - General    9. People of Color    10. Political    11. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    12. Biography & Autobiography / People of Color    13. Biography: political    14. Black studies    15. USA   

Reviews (4)

The interviews make this book
Streissguth's journalistic approach is a refreshing contrast to the psychological blather of many biographical writers. There is a healthy balance of respect for Johnny Cash and a straightforward look at his extramarital relationships, substance abuse, and devotion to Christianity. Both the complex and simple sides of Cash are revealed through detail-rich interviews with those who knew him well. Indeed, the extensive interviews with band members, friends and family are what make this book so compelling and fresh. For instance, the interview with Rosanne Cash, his eldest daughter, helps us understand Cash's drug addition, his role as a father and the insecurities he experienced as a performer. The Man in Black has never been revealed in such color and light.
Review from friend and minister, Rev. Jack Shaw
JOHNNY CASH The Biography... is so much more than just another `Johnny Cash' book. As I began reading it, I quickly found myself wishing that this remarkable resource had been available before I met John. I believe that it would have better equipped me to... `Understand'.
A fresh look at Johnny and his life
I found the book to be a great read.More than just the same rehash of his life that I have read before.Streissguth has broken new ground in his telling of the Johnny Cash story.He brings important players--such as brotherRoy Cash and former manager Saul Holiff--out of the shadows, traces the roots of various Cashian myths and offers new insights throughout.Fits the bill for Cash fans and newcomers alike.Great photos, too.The following passage is an example of the new perspective that the book delivers: "Drug use became Cash's convenient sin, the one that made for a great redemption story but that had no visible victims other than himself.As long as the drug-obsessed media focused on his addiction, the story functioned as a smoke screen.Cash rarely had to deal publicly in any substantive way with questions about extramarital affairs he engaged in during the 1970s and 1980s or with the pain that he'd brought upon his wives, daughters, friends, and band members."
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Composers & Musicians - Country & Folk    6. Composers & Musicians - General    7. Country And Western Music    8. General    9. Genres & Styles - Country & Bluegrass - General    10. History & Criticism - General    11. Music/Songbooks    12. Biography: film, television & music    13. Country & western   

Editorial Review

In the epilogue to her biography of Mao Tse-tung, Jung Chang and her husband and cowriter Jon Halliday lament that, "Today, Mao's portrait and his corpse still dominate Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital." For Chang, author of Read more

Reviews (156)

So Horrific It's Unbelievable
Mao: The Unknown Story is one of those books that is hard to believe. It is hard to believe someone caused the death of so many millions of people, yet little is known about it. It is hard to believe Mao did not care if over half of the earth was killed in a nuclear war as long as he became a dominant world leader. It is hard to believe that Richard Nixon's visit to China was responsible for our withdrawl from Vietnam, the entrance of China into the UN and the security council, and that Nixon traded prestige by his vist (and subsequent votes in the US) for assistance in the modernization of Chineese arms. Ping pong for respect of a terrible tyrant - a poor trade.
Very Powerful
A very engaging book, I read it daily until I finished it.Though it was a biography of Mao, it was also a well researched, very revealing look at how Communism (the Maoist version in particular) works.Mao made Hitler look like an amateur (as did Stalin) yet there are those who still defend him.Its amazing to me that no one can defend Hitler without being marginalized as a nut (and rightly so) yet people who defend Mao and Communism in general are seen as having a valid point of view.This book makes that impossible to continue to do.Everyone should read it in my opinion.The world will see more men like Mao and as the saying goes, if we don't understand history we're doomed to repeat it.
Great history of modern China
The biography of Mao Tse-Tung is the history of modern China. The authors' extensive research into the life of Mao has produced a gripping story not only of an important historical figure, but also an interesting portrait of a megalomaniac who would stop at nothing to seize complete and total power. On the one hand the story is inspiring because Mao succeeded where many had failed inspite of repeated failures and aggregious mistakes along the way. On the other, this man was pure evil: inhumane to his subjects, un-fatherly to his children, unloving to his many wives and distrustful of anyone and everyone. He modeled a state in his own image with disasterous consequences.
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Subjects:  1. 1893-1976    2. Asia - China    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. China    8. China - History - 20th Century    9. Heads of state    10. Historical - General    11. Mao, Zedong,    12. Political    13. Psychohistory    14. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Reviews (9)

Take It Easy turns Take It to the Limit
Having enjoyed Hoskyns' story of L.A. rock's origins and evolution in his Waiting for the Sun, and having read Michael Walker's overlapping (in subject matter, time of study, and time of publication) Laurel Canyon [also reviewed by me], I approached Hotel Cal with anticipation. Although I was still in childhood/adolescence at the time of the early 70s that Hoskyns' new book surveys, and although much of the music was not so much liked by me as simply absorbed from its immensely popular and understandably nearly ubiquitous presence on the local L.A. radio stations at the time, I found myself recalling dozens of songs that I have not heard since three decades ago!
Of Egos and Eagles
A superbly involving narrative history of an extraordinarily fertile era for American popular music. Hoskyns examines the tension between creativity and commerce that was beginning to make itself felt big-time in the late 60s and clarifies the relationships - musical, business and personal (and the many and varied permutations thereof) - that existed during this remarkable period. I recognised all the names - Ronstadt, Souther, Mitchell, Browne, Mama Cass, The Byrds, Geffen, Young, Crosby, Stills, Nash etc. - but, until now, wasn't completely aware of how they all fitted in to the bigger musical picture. It's an extraordinary tale of monumental egos and of idealism turning sour: the sunshiny optimism of California in the 60s, when anything seemed possible, giving way to the darker cynicism of the 70s as the LA scene imploded, the Eagles stopped talking to each other, the men-in-suits seized power and punk reared its less-than-pretty head. Next stop for me: Hoskyns' "Waiting For The Sun"; Richie Unterberger's two books on folk-rock and John Einarson's "Desperados: The Roots of Country Rock"...and a lot of CDs.
Wish I coulda been there
While I did enjoy this book,I guess I expected more of a gossipy tone about people's love lives and friendships.I also expected a more visual aspect-descriptions of houses,etc.What I got was factual: who wrote this song,who was this persons agent type thing.Interesting,just not what I expected. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. California, Southern    5. Composers & Musicians - General    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. General    8. Genres & Styles - Rock    9. History    10. History and criticism    11. Music trade    12. Music/Songbooks    13. Rock music    14. Rock musicians    15. California    16. Music / Rock    17. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    18. Vocal music   

Reviews (35)

Crossing Over
I thought this book was exactly what the title said; except it i very hard to escape any way that we are brought up......I found Ruth Garrett to be an extremely brave woman who did not let her background or her father squash her spirit.......She seemed to be a bright, inquisitive individual, whose life would not have been as "mind expanding" as it should have been.......Not everyone is meant to live the life they are born into; and her belief in God has strengthed because of her experiences in the "English" world.I commend Ruth and Ottie for their bravery and what they are doing now to help other X-Amish........
Disappointing
This book did not live up to its description.It is a very superficial look at the societal and familial forces used by the Amish to control the behavior of their members.I ended up feeling sorry for the writer, Ruth.She believes, quite erroneously, that she has escaped a repressive life in order to be with the man she loves.In truth, she is being used by a thrice-divorced man, old enough to be her father, who is too morbidly obese to hold a job.Really quite sad.

Crossing Over: One Woman's Sensationalistic Exploitation of Her Amish Heritage
It's difficult to not come to the conclusion after reading this book that the author is a confused, naive and, unfortunately, also very insincere.She claims that this book was written merely to inform others about her life and to help others in the same predicament.Moreover, she claims to love both her father and mother, and to cherish her Amish heritage.Yet what we really find in this book is quite the opposite.
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Subjects:  1. 1974-    2. Amish    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Controversial literature    8. Ex-church members    9. Garrett, Ruth Irene,    10. Lutherans    11. Religious    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Religious   

Editorial Review

A biography of the woman who, indirectly, was the catalyst for many of the troubles in the Middle East, including the Gulf War. In 1918, Gertrude Bell drew the region's proposed boundaries on a piece of tracing paper. Her qualifications for doing so were her extensive travel, her fluency in both Persian and Arabic, and her relationships with sheiks and tribal and religious leaders. She also possessed an ability to understand the subtle and indirect politeness of the culture, something many of her colonialist comrades were oblivious to. As a self-made statesman her sex was an asset, enabling her to bypass the ladder of protocol and dive into the business of building an Empire. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

It's still about oil
When Gertrude Bell was helping draw the lines for what is now present day Iraq it was about oil then and it's about oil now. Anyone wanting to understand a little bit about the culture of the Middle East should read this. A very interesting book about the female "Lawrence of Arabia."

Now we know who to blame
This is an interesting book, the most popular biography of one of the most interesting people of the early part of the last century. Gertrude Bell is largely lost to history, which is a shame. She was an expert on Arab affairs and Middle Eastern politics, a true polymath back when you could be such a thing. She spoke numerous languages, wrote "travel" books (accounts of travels she'd had in exotic places), was an accomplished historian and archaeologist, and worked during World War I as what amounted to an intelligence agent, serving further as an advisor after the war, liasing with the Arabs in Iraq. In addition to all of the above, she mapped out the boundaries of the country that became Iraq, and late in life founded the first museum for antiquities in Baghdad. All this in a man's world, where women weren't supposed to venture.
A woman who was a vital player in the modern history of the Middle East
This book was chosen for discussion by a member of our non-fiction book group. Along with other courses intended for continued learning, the group is affiliated with a local college. I would not have been interested in this bookotherwise, because I had never heard of Gertrude Bell.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Colonial administrators    6. Great Britain    7. Historical - British    8. History Of Women (General)    9. Middle East    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - History    12. Political    13. Women    14. Women Orientalists    15. Biography & Autobiography / Women   

Reviews (2)

Required Reading For Today
This is a wonderful, thoughtful and extremely interesting book. We can always learn from the past. Myra MacPherson tells a compelling story. A fascinating must read!!!
You Don't Have to Agree with Him
With the hindsight of several decades, it is easy to poke holes in I.F. Stone's writings.Yes, his notion of combining a free society with socialism was utopian. Yes, his economic arguments tend to be wooly in the extreme. Yes, he was wrong in denying the Soviet connections of some of his communist friends. Stone's books stay fresh despite those mistakes because he was right about a lot: governments, racism, wars.
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Subjects:  1. (Isidor F.),    2. 1907-    3. American Journalism    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    9. Journalists    10. Media Studies    11. News Reporting    12. Stone, I. F.    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers   

Editorial Review

Left to his own devices, John Adams might have lived out his days as a Massachusetts country lawyer, devoted to his family and friends. As it was, events swiftly overtook him, and Adams--who, David McCullough writes, was "not a man of the world" and not fond of politics--came to greatness as the second president of the United States, and one of the most distinguished of a generation of revolutionary leaders. He found reason to dislike sectarian wrangling even more in the aftermath of war, when Federalist and anti-Federalist factions vied bitterly for power, introducing scandal into an administration beset by other difficulties--including pirates on the high seas, conflict with France and England, and all the public controversy attendant in building a nation.Read more

Reviews (631)

A Life Well Lived
The book biggest strength is that it uses many quotations of John Adams, Abigail, John Quincy Adams, and Jefferson to tell its tale. These people were intelligent and very good writers. I enjoyed the biography. I enjoyed McCullough's writing style and the leisurely pace he sets for himself. The biography clearly portrays a man who lived long, did many great things, and died at peace with himself. The book glosses over Adams' weaknesses and I thought spent way too much time on what Jefferson and Adams thought of each other, but these are minor flaws. I enjoyed Morris's biography of Roosevelt more, but this book was a good summer read and was far better than McCullough's 1776. I learned how this nation owes a great debt to this great, but flawed man.

I wish I could have met him
Like another reviewer, my interest in history is quite new. The author's presentation of John Adams left me wanting to know much more of this great man. David McCullough's excerpting of Adams' professional and personal writings exposed a passionate man of deep convictions and possessed of an intellect and idealism beyond his generation. While Mr. Adams was acutely aware of and deplored his own ego, he, at the same time was critical of his own limitations. Even with this conflict, Adams could still say, "I thank God that he gave me stubborness when I am right."
More quotes and facts, less opinions and emotions.
First of all, I did not exactly 'read' this biography. Instead I purchased the CD version which I distilled via my car sound system every morning on my way to work (I have enjoyed countless biographies of great american figures this way, and still been able to read many more technology related books).
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Subjects:  1. 1735-1826    2. 1775-1783    3. Adams, John,    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Historical - U.S.    9. Politics and government    10. Presidents    11. Presidents & Heads of State    12. U.S. History - Constitutional Period To Civil War (1789-1860)    13. U.S. President    14. United States    15. United States - Colonial Period    16. United States - Revolutionary War    17. Adams, John    18. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    19. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    20. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    21. Biography: historical    22. Political leaders & leadership    23. USA   

Reviews (217)

And I thought The Lovely Bones was hard to put down...
I rarely find a book I just Cannot Put Down.One of the rare ones was The Lovely Bones--and it wasn't just the plot.It was the language, the crystal-clear voice-in-your-head narrative that spoke and spoke of pain and sadness and resolve.It was infused with a realism and was both beautiful and haunting.Like the lean, hard and seemingly lengthened muscles of a runner, Sebold's voice is discernable above the din of modern fiction yet it is not haughty or self-involved... Hearing her voice is like the moment you know you are going to be really good friends with someone you just met:comforting and clear, it makes you want to lean closer to absorb it.It made me a devoted fan of Sebold as I am sure you are, too.
A difficult, but engaging read
I suspect I'm like most people who have read this book.I read an interview with Sebold and she said as she was writing "Lovely Bones" she was struggling with the rape scene.Because she had been raped herself, she wasn't able to write about it effectively in "Lovely Bones" until she had dealt with her own stuff.She put down "Lovely Bones", wrote "Lucky", and then picked up and finished "Lovely Bones."Very interesting.
An Incredible and Worthwhile Read, But ...
I was disappointed by the ending. It seemed quite hastily concluded. I wanted more details on her recovery process--how she was able to save herself. That would definitely help readers who have been through similar experiences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Case studies    5. General    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Rape victims    8. Trials (Rape)    9. United States    10. Women   

Editorial Review

Fans of Read more

Reviews (94)

Interesting, Entertaining, and Well Written
I loved this book.It was educational and at the same time highly entertaining.There are several themes going on in the same book.First there is the actual review of restaurants and education of food and wine.Second, there is the truth about restaurants, food, and service that is exposed.Finally, there is the journey of the author and what she learns about herself, desires, and needs.All three themes are woven seemlessly to make a highly fun book to read.

Kudos to Ruth
I just read this book cover to cover on a flight back to NYC from Barcelona.My mouth watered as I read the included reprints of her past reviews of NYC restaurants - even after my five days of fantastic Spanish cuisine!But more surprisingly, I was drawn in by what seems to be quite an honest glimpse of the NYC restaurant experience seen through the eyes of many "characters".The book left me such respect for the depths that Ruth Reichl went through in order to dine as the everyday person would experience, especially in NYC's "best" restaurants.Her recounts made me actually appreciate the research and dedication required to write a truly objective (as objective as food tastes get, I suppose) review.A very easy and enjoyable read.
Made me want to eat out more
Ruth's description of the lift of a restaurant critic was both a fascinating read and mouthwatering at the same time. Her descriptions of the disguises and deferring treatments in New York's finest restaurants made for a quick page turner.Her recipes and reviews scattered in each chapter made me bothwant to eat out more often and try to cook some of those dishes myself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Business    6. Cookery    7. Cooking    8. Courses & Dishes - General    9. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    10. Food writers    11. Hotel And Restaurant Management    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers   

Reviews (189)

The Education of Little Tree By: Forrest Carter
This book is about a boy orphaned very young who is adopted by his Cherokee Grandmother and half Cherokee Grandfather in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennesse during the Great Depression. He Grandparents named him Little Tree. He is taught how to hunt and survive the mountains the Cherokee way, taking only what is needed by his Grandfather. He is taught the joys of reading and education by his Grandmother. He also learns the way of white businessmen and tax collectors and how Grandfather scared the away. Little Tree is sent off to an indian boarding school run by whites. We learn of the cruelty of indian children. Little Tree learns how the world differs from the Cherokee way.
The WORST book I ever recorded...
When I was first chosen to narrate this book, I knew nothing of the racist past of it's author -- I knew only that it was the single worst book I'd ever been assigned.The negative AudioFile Magazine review of my recording (quoted here on Amazon) is completely fair.Reading the book to myself in order to prepare to record it, I found it annoying in the extreme -- the so-called prose is precious and poorly written, and the allegedly authentic colloquialisms are grating.When it came time to say it all aloud, for the first time ever (and I've narrated upwards of 200 audiobooks) I found it impossible to invest this piece literary flotsam with any emotional content whatsoever.As declining the job was no longer an option, I merely tried to stay out of the way and give it as simple and logical a performance as I could, but I was unable to compensate for the God awful writing, and unable to disguise my contempt for the entire enterprise.It remains the worst recording I have ever done, and I was, for a time, quite ashamed of it.Now that I discover more about it's hate mongering author, I'm actually pleased that the recording stinks.I now believe I gave this garbage exactly the reading it deserved.(I must add that I learned a valuable lesson: never record a book you loathe.I was subsequently offered the execrable "Left Behind" series for young adults, but having suffered through "Little Tree," knew better than to lend my voice to the spewing of "Christian" hate.)

Disappointing
This book was assigned school reading.I found it rather boring and the language used in the story became annoying after a while.Not recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. Classics    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Readers - Chapter Books    6. Biography: general    7. Historical fiction    8. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    9. Tennessee   

Reviews (8)

Bad Vibrations
Hopefully this is the final book on a genius, Brian Wilson.There's not much more to say and this book's fault is it may say it in much too much detail.Brian Wilson, founder of the Beach Boys and brilliant composer/arranger begins a descent into drugs and mental illness.Everyone knows the story.What this book does is not tell the surface story but rather give every detail of virtually every song written as well as the band member relationships focusing mainly on the dysfunction.
The best book on Brian Wilson to date

A Hard Book To Put Down, A Joy To Read
This is a great book for any Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan. As a hardcore fan like myself you may want more detail but he points out other sources like Timothy White's book "The Nearest Faraway Place" where he drew information and where I am headed next after finishing this one. You really end up feeling like you know Brian Wilson and his bandmates after reading this. You get a real picture of what happened- this is extremely fluid- really well done.There are a few areas that would have been nice to have more detail on, like David Marks for example, although he is interviewed here.The book is good enough though that I would buy the next edition which I hope might include the reunion of Wilson/Love/Jardine/Marks/Johnston on the rooftop of Capital Records recently and the Wilson/Jardine reunion for the mini Pet Sounds tour. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1942-    2. Beach Boys    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Composers & Musicians - General    9. Composers & Musicians - Rock    10. Genres & Styles - Rock    11. History & Criticism - General    12. Rock musicians    13. United States    14. Wilson, Brian,    15. Biography & Autobiography / Composers & Musicians   

Reviews (56)

Some good stories, a few misses
Russert has distilled a large number of readers' letters into a very readable book.There are a number of truly inspiring stories in this collection.There are, however, a few that were disappointing.I also found a few admittedly minor items rather annoying: the commentary by Russert at the start of each story doesn't really add much; and the chapter on baseball should have been named "The Yankees", as Russert manages to ignore just about every other team in the sport in favor of the pinstripes.Still, it's enjoyable to read some of the many ways that fathers influence their children's lives.

A How To book if ever there was one
Take the choicest moment in your life with your dad, a scene or words spoken that truly personify all that is your own father, multiply that by a thousand, and you have "Wisdom of Our Father's".