Customer Reviews:
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-02
The Glory and the Dream is a two volume set of over 1600 pages. Mr. Manchester calls it a narrative history of America. It covers the years from 1932 to 1972. And I mean "covers". There are 37 chapters, almost one for each year.
These two volumes, as with all history books, contain a wealth of information, but Mr. Manchester's books seem to contain more information, if that is possible, than other history books. He is overwhelming.
Every time I pick up one of his books I end up re-reading the whole thing. And for some reason the man's style is always able to keep my interest. His feelings and intensity come through and not necessarily with his prejudices attached. He is just a good writer, plain and simple.
This set begins in the year 1932 with the Bonus Army marching on Washington D.C. It is a fascinating and tragic tale.
The year 1932 was "rock bottom" for America and the Great Depression.
When I picked up this first volume I thought it was the most radical thing that I had ever read. I thought that the book contained every corruptible thing about America that had ever been written. But now I realize it is, more or less, plain old American History. Since that time I have read more and more corruptible things.
I think reading William Manchester's account of things is what set me off on reading history.
William was a marine and served in the Pacific in W.W.II. He refused to become an officer - which has to say something for his character.
His style makes reading a learning history a pleasure.
Case closed - The best American history ever written.......2006-03-31
This is the book I recommend to people who say that they hate History as a subject. When I was reading Manchester's account in the beginning of the book about the Bonus Marchers in 1932, I could feel the heat and humidity of pre-war and un-airconditioned Washington D.C. And Manchester conveyed the suffering of these veterans and their desperation in clear and concise language. I don't think that any historian has written about the Depression in as moving and compelling a manner as he does. And this is only the begining of the book. There's more great passages in his description of the home front during WWII. He recounts forgotten stories such as the "I want to go home" riots by GI's at the end of the war in Europe.
I disagree with one earlier reviewer who thought that a weakness in the book was Manchester's alleged liberal bias. In fact, his account of the Alger Hiss affair is unabashed in showing Hiss's guilt and in highlighting Nixon's diligence in pursuing the truth.
I completely wore out the copy I bought back in 1980. I first read it in the hospital when I was recovering from elective surgery. I was so ensconsed in it that I finished it during my three day stay.
Superbly Readable History.......2005-12-27
William Manchester (1922-2004) provides a highly readable look at the USA from 1932-1972. This gripping narrative is written in the style of general history, yet readers come away with a profuond understanding of the times and events. The narrative begins with the nation in the depths of the Great Depression, with millions hungry, homeless, riding the rails, and looking for jobs that didn't exist. Enter Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, which greatly improved conditions. Then what followed was the Second World War, the post war boom, McCarthyism, Civil Rights, Vietnam, etc. The author does more than merely describe events and major personalities; he captures the feel of the various decades, looking at social conventions and changing mores over this 40-year period. Manchester even includes vignettes of major figures like Walter Reuther, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, etc. This is a superbly readable and slightly liberal two-volume narrative about the USA from the Depression to the end of Vietnam.
US History as Historical Epic in Magisterial Manchester Work.......2005-02-05
William Manchester bookends this sprawling, epic US history with two protests in the heart of Washington. He opens in 1930 at the rise of the Great Depression, with veterans across from the White House coldly shunned by President Herbert Hoover when asking for advance relief from the Great Depression, then brutally attacked by troops and national guardsmen led by Douglas MacArthur. He concludes with President Richard Nixon's second inaugural in 1973 at Watergate's rising, Vietnam demonstrators audible blocks away amidst calls for national unity and self-reliance.
In between, across 1300 pages, (excluding index and exhaustive bibliography) "The Glory and the Dream" chronicles the American Century's meatiest, most eventful years (1932-72). Manchester details a diary for and about what he called the "swing generation" but whom ex-NBC-TV anchorman Tom Brokaw (who cited Manchester as an influence) christened "the Greatest Generation."
These men and women endured and thrived through what, against Manchester's narrative, seemed (except for the relatively tranquil late 1950s) a non-stop whirlwind of hardship. Painting in broad strokes by economic numbers Manchester reveals compelling pictures of the Depression, bank and crop failures, Franklin Roosevelt's election and the New Deal, World War II, and the Korean and Cold Wars. He also includes near month by month chronicles and analysis on America's roots and involvement in the Vietnam War and Watergate, which takes up most of the book's final third. And of course, he addresses the still-shocking days of rage, murder, and decaying social fabric in the late 1960s.
Manchester's storytelling is expertly paced, foreshadowing careers of 20th century icons like Nixon, JFK, Marilyn Monroe and even the Edsel. He traces their steps to the national stage and devotes personal "Portrait of An American" sections to many (including Dr. Benjamin Spock, Edward R Murrow, and Ralph Nader). He does this deftly balancing international, social, and economic views of day to day life, worked, and socialized, even addressing political and social extremists (50s beatniks, 60s hippies, John Birchers). Isolationist vs. internationalist foreign policy views, themes as recent as last month's Iraq election, pops up throughout the book; virulent opposition to FDR's war mobilization leads to the opposition to the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. Vietnam's civil war slowly creeps across several administrations beginning with Dwight Eisenhower's, reaching the heart of American experience as the decade and book close.
Anyone knowing or having lived through part of the last half-century can reference America's seismic events at a high level. To Manchester's credit he reached deeper into the causes behind pop culture and historical touchstones like Nixon's "Checkers" speech, 1968's Vietnam My Lai massacre, the oft-overlooked 1936 hurricane crushing New England (and ineffective warnings against it), and Japan's 1937 sinking of the USS Panay which foreshadowed Pearl Harbor. He draws dimensional character studies amidst the era's scandals (the fall of Eisenhower right hand man Sherman Adams as one example). He allows you to understand personalities and issues behind history's strongest feuds: President Harry Truman against union leader John Lewis (or MacArthur, or Joseph McCarthy...), between Southern governors and other leadership against Dr. Martin Luther King, the Freedom Riders, the Kennedy administration, and finally against the Black Panthers' vicious 1960s anarchy. Finally, he chronicles the "silent majority" generation gap between Nixon/Agnew's divisive, reactionary leadership team and a generation's angry youth.
Before his death last year, Manchester wrote whole volumes on major figures included here (Winston Churchill, MacArthur, JFK). But given the relatively short time each is presented (except for FDR, who dominates the book's first half ), Manchester masterfully retells individual personal style, social time, major accomplishments, blunders, and closure to their lives and histories. "The Glory and the Dream" is filled with protests after violent counter protests (which Manchester respects even when he does not agree), well-drawn, memorable characters more remarkable for being real life characters, and insightful side comments on issues like the role of the vice-presidency and American tolerance of dissent.
At its publication, Manchester himself called "The Glory and the Dream" the culmination of his career, and for once it was not hyperbole. Anyone wishing to understand American character must start here; "The Glory and the Dream" is the finest history-based book I've ever read, and one of the finest in any genre.
Absolutely essential.
One of the Best by One of the Best.......2004-07-12
Manchester is really phenomenal, and this is an amazing example. To be able to not only hold interest, but literally nail the reader to the floor is a talent rarely held by historians. His portrait of the Depression and Roosevelt is great, including the much anticipated, and yet desperate end of FDR. Totally disagree with the other reviewer who claims that Civil Rights excuse Tonkin and Vietnam. LBJ deserves little to no credit for Civil Rights, that was the result of MLK and a large contingent in the Congress and it would have passed with or without him. Anyway, if you want to read a book that covers this period beautifully and makes you wonder how history ever got a reputation as boring, this is the one.
Book Description
Gold in the Water is the highly acclaimed and mesmerizing tale about the remarkable two-year journey an elite team of swimmers takes to the Olympic Games. P.H. Mullen creates a fascinating world of suspense and emotion, where the human desire for excellence rules and where there are no second chances for glory. Above all, Gold in the Water is about the triumph of the human spirit.
Customer Reviews:
Water is gold.......2007-08-23
Very nice book about swimming as a sport and the people, swimmers and coaches and more, in and behind it. One of few great books about swimming.
Just about the best book ever.......2006-10-23
Seriously inspiring, got me through a lot of long practises.
Great motivating story that will inspire you do follow your dreams..........2006-06-20
P.H. Mullen's Gold in the Water is a story that i first came into contact with a couple years ago. It is a fast paced true tale about average men trying to accomplish their goals. Reading the story over and over has helped me get through the hard times in and out of the pool. You don't need to be a swimmer to appreciate this story, but it does help. As I am in film school now, this is one story that can inspire more people then Remember the Titans with the Olympic power of Miracle. I encourage every athlete, Olympic fan, parent, or anyone who has a goal to accomplish to buy a copy of this book and one for their coach or mentor. It is a book to read over and over again.
Gold in the Water - Extraordinary Story!.......2005-10-24
As an athlete and the parent of a swimmer who's "Gold" is making it to the NCAA Championships one day, I believe this book is one of the few that truly captures the highs and lows of the swimming world. P.H. Mullen brought tears to my eyes with his compassionate, yet brutaly realistic retelling of SCA swimmers going for the gold. This story helps you appreciate what happens everyday with every swimmer who truly dedicates themselves to being the best! The emotional and physical sacrifices made by swimmers all over the U.S. are not paralled in very many other sports. This book should be read by every athlete who has a dream!
The Essence of Swimming.......2005-01-03
If you are not a swimmer already, you will want to be after completing this book. If you are a swimmer, then you will be thankful that someone has captured the essence of what those elite athletes at the other end of the pool do while you slog it out at 5 AM in the morning.
Mullen does an unbelievable job capturing the unrelenting workouts, the devastating highs, the excruciating lows, and reality of what happens when you stick your neck out there to pursue a dream.
Finally, as a competitive swimmer, Mullen is able to capture the awesomeness of these Olympians and at the same time showing that these people are indeed mere mortals. Most of the Olympians that I have seen train and have had the opportunity are much like Tom Wilkens: hard working, determined people who love their sport and are very approachable.
Customer Reviews:
Did Lincoln die Christ-like for his country's sins?.......2007-06-21
Once you've read this book, you will never look at Abraham Lincoln in the same way. Bennett writes a polemic here, but it is a well-researched and passionate effort. Although some of his conclusions are suspect, I respect the basic premise of this book, which is that our 16th President was a thorough-going racist. Bettett proves that Lincoln's political and philosophical mentor was Senator Henry Clay, a Kentucky slave owner. Lincoln exhibited racist speech employing the perjorative for "Negro" up until the last days of his life. He consistently frequented "black face" comedy shows that denigrated blacks in stereotypical ways. Lincoln always supported fugitive slave laws in Illinois and nationally. The Lincoln described by Bennett completely missed the concept of full emancipation for all African Americans. His lukewarm Emancipation Proclamation was only an attempt to stave off the radical abolitionists who were pressing for full freedom for all Black Americans. Lincoln's Proclamation promised to emancipate blacks in areas in rebellion (in which Lincoln held no practical jurisdiction), and did NOT emancipate slaves in areas that had not seceded or were militarily re-occupied. It was a halfway measure designed to obfuscate Lincoln's true agenda, i.e., gradual emancipation and/or deportation for colonization of the native born African American population. Bennett does a thorough job of demonstrating that Lincoln's speeches, especially the Gettysburg Address, were high sounding but did not include African Americans in the great American ideal of freedom for all. "All men are created equal" did not include blacks until Lincoln had been assasinated and was unable to obstruct the final version of the 13th Amendment. Eye-opening commentary includes a discussion of how Lincoln pursued the War for two years with pro-slavery, Democratic party generals like McClellan, Halleck and Pope. Certainly Lincoln's incompetence was responsible for extending the War and causing loss of life for over 630,00 Americans North and South. After reading Bennett, Lincoln comes across as ambitious, indecisive, manipulative, misguided, decidedly racist and desparately craving some kind of long-lasting historical legacy. Lincoln was slow coming to grips with the true nature of the War. He maintained all along that this War was being fought for Union, failing to ever grasp the eventual importance of the slave issue except to use blacks as political pawns to win the War. Lincoln comes across as Machiavellian and insensitive when he finally issues a weak Emancipation Proclamation only as a narrow military strategy to keep England and France out of the War. However, Bennett fails to address the impact of Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers after he adroitly maneuvered the South into firing on Sumter. Before his call for the 75,000, Virginia and North Carolina had not seceded and werre not predisposed to go out. By his precipitous actions, he forced these states out and then proceeded to ineptly preside over a botched, bloody, protracted War that could have been averted by more clear-headed, less confrontational diplomacy before the initial Battle of Manassas. Manassas led to Shiloh and, by then, the need to justify somehow the already horrific loss of life. Certainly, once the eleven states seceded, it was the effective end of American slavery because THEN the slaves could escape across international borders. A slave in Mississippi, once into Indiana, would have been free from pursuit, thus signaling the ultimate demise of an already eroding slave system. Lincoln's myopia regarding this key point insured not only the war deaths of so many Americans, but also set in motion the raw emotions and scapegoating which marked the brutal "reconstuction" of the post-war South. The pursuit of the War and the vindictive reconstruction policies after the War only exascerbated racist feelings that Southern whites may have felt toward blacks. This necessitated the Civil Rights marches led by leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. almost a century after this sad period in American history. Americans today are still dealing with the issues that Lincoln did not address during his tenure as president. Bennett's demonization of southern leaders like Robert E. Lee show his lack of overall perspective as to why Southerners fought for their respective states. He doesn't acknowledge that in the South over 90% of the fighting men never owned slaves and were fighting for their families, homes and farms. The Union invader was fighting only for Union, not emancipation if you listen closely to what Bennett's Lincoln is about. Abraham Lincoln was undoubtedly the deeply flawed, morally shallow politician which Bennett describes. However, Bennett interprets Lincoln's results only as a 20th century black militant. When you visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. after reading this book, you will read the Gettysburg Address in a different, less glorious light, and you will sincerely wonder why Lincoln merits such an exalted position on the National Mall. You will realize that the mythological Lincoln did not die Christ-like for his country's sins. He was not the Man of the Age, but a man who has been given the highest place in the American Pantheon because of his tragic death and the position power that he held during the American Armageddon. Another book on Lincoln that has been virtually banned for decades is Edgar Lee Masters' "Lincoln the Man", which gives an equally withering testimonial to the man behind the myth, but from the Copperhead's perspective. I'm giving "Forced into Glory" five stars for originality and Bennett's courage to write it in the contemporary "politically correct" atmosphere. This book is so "outside the box" that it has been virtually censured by the mainstream media. Many will speak negatively against its main premises, but will not take the trouble to actually read it and give it a chance.
Faulty Premise.......2007-02-21
It's seriously scary that some people will read this one book, and think they have Lincoln down, without ever bothering to read the full breadth of primary texts written by Lincoln himself, or put them in context with the age in which he existed. Lincoln is not a mythic god, and many white people such as myself are not nearly so naive as some of the reviewers of this book would have you believe.
What is bothersome is the very premise of the book, that Lincoln was "forced into glory," as though he had no free will in the matter. Lincoln constantly received death threats throughout his presidency, not from abolitionists, but from pro slavery elements. In fact, it could be powerfully argued that this gave Lincoln an equally great deal of incentive to be "forced into shame" (i.e. into doing nothing about slavery and thus preserving his life, as I have no doubt lesser men would have done). He knew all too well the dangers involved in doing what he did, but he did it anyway. And by the way, he was murdered because of it.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of the great heros of my life, and in my opinion, the world. One day, many years from now, I have no doubt he will be reevaluated and his moral being will be judged as having a deep and unforgivable fault, that being the many infidelities of his married life. Although any true account of King's life would indeed be incomplete without it (just as any account of Lincoln's life would be incomplete without it's less savory aspects), it should not be allowed to overshadow the tremendous good that he brought about. The same is the case with Lincoln. Parts of Mr. Bennett's book are sound, but unfortunately even those parts come across as suspect when his one-sided picking and choosing of facts in other parts of the book is taken into account. It's just sloppy and irresponsible scholarship. People's lives and motivations aren't so cut and dry as you would like to believe, Mr. Bennett. I hope readers of this book will not be so naive.
Finally the Truth .......2007-01-31
This book is without question, the best book I have read in a while. It is well written and thoughtfully put together. I applaud Dr. Bennett for his truthful work and years of dedication given to this book and community. This book should be mandatory reading in history classes throughout the states. Buy it!!!
American History As We Be Taught Is Myth!.......2006-12-22
A very good read. I think every person of African heritage should read this. We must realized that we have been horribly miseducated and fed complete lies they call history. Remember it is his-story, not history! Can I get a witness?
Why the Civil War was really fought.......2006-11-21
And we both know which side ends up writting the history we end up reading. The answer? It's always the side that wins. So any time we read war history that shows favor to the winning side, we have to do our own reaserch and make sure the history that we're reading isn't skewed a bit to exonorate the side that won (in this case, The Union).
There were also people from the North who were pro-confederate, other pro-slavery, others still were abolitionists. The Civil War wasn't about slavery but about taxing crops, livestock, and textiles from the South to the North.
Who produced most of the crops, livestock, and textiles? The slaves.
What kind of farms were the slaves in? Remember, in order to have a slave you had to afford to buy the slave(s), so not all farms would have slaves. The ones that did were plantations (multi-farms) of many little farms on one property. They certainly could afford many slaves to work the fields.
So if the slaves are the ones producing these goods, and they're being ordered to have these goods sent to the North, wouldn't that mean that the North is benefiting from the existence of having slaves? The ones that received Southern textiles, livestock and crops didn't want the slaves to be freed, because if they were then that would mean they very well might be out of business.
Now what about those other farms that couldn't afford having even one slave? This senario was the majority of the people who lived in the South. Not many people (per capita) had the money to live on a plantation and afford the price of buying slaves. The people who lived there just had to work the fields themselves. They might have supplied a small portion of their goods to the North, but probably not enough to make an impact since the plantations were much larger and could put out more products than a small farm could ever dream of.
To make things worse on the Southerners, the North had been taxing the South on its goods as an export. But the North wanted the South to stay with the USA and just let the North walk all over the South with over-taxing the people without the need to. Doesn't this sound like a the reason for the Revolution War, "Taxation without representation?"
Well I just hope that I opened some people's eyes to the true reason why the Civil War was fought.
I look forward reading this book, as it goes against what most historians say about Lincoln. It sounds like an intriguing and intuitive read.
Book Description
The most authoritative and captivating account ever written of legendary British naval commander Horatio Nelson's early career and rise to prominence
Among military and naval commanders, Horatio Nelson stands as one of the finest examples of inspirational leadership. The historian John Sugden charts the period of Nelson's career neglected by earlier writers-from childhood to his breathtaking victory against the Spanish fleet at Cape St. Vincent when he became an admiral, lost an arm, and won international fame. Like Alexander of Macedon, Nelson led from the front (not always a sensible custom). But he was a natural leader and a genuine hero, and his actions invariably raised his stock with his men, who trusted him as a commander willing to share their dangers.
Nelson combines groundbreaking scholarship with a vivid and compelling narrative style. Detailing every facet of Nelson's crowded life, the author offers the only full account of Nelson's early voyages and the first complete analysis of the formative incidents in his career. Throughout there are revealing and startling discoveries about Nelson's relationships with family, patrons, officers, and men-and with his women. Previous biographies have failed to penetrate the mythology encrusting one of the world's greatest naval heroes, and none has been based on a thorough examination of original sources.
Nelson will immediately become the benchmark against which all subsequent books about Nelson will be judged. It is a biography of the best sort: compelling, authoritative, and thrillingly alive.
Customer Reviews:
England's Greatest Naval Hero.......2006-09-09
There are possibly more books on the shelves of bookshops (certainly in England) about Nelson than any other English hero and because of the recent anniversary of Trafalgar many more have either been written or re-printed. How does the reader pick one out from the rest. Well my own recommendation would be to buy this particular volume,
In the historical time scale, Nelson lived and died in the fairly recent past, so many of the books written about him are only regurgitated facts that have never been checked properly, or may have no foundation in factual terms. John Sugden has left no stone unturned in his quest for the truth, not only about the public persona of the man, but also gives a brilliant insight into the life of the private man. His hopes, his fears, his weaknesses and his strengths.
John Sugden's writing style is both lively and stylish and does not leave the reader feeling overpowered with dull facts that he or she cannot take on board. Yes the book is a historical work, but it is written with a sensitive touch that almost makes the reader think they are reading an adventure novel. This is achieved without prostituting the historical content in any way. I enjoyed it immensely.
Excellent.......2006-07-03
This is a very detailed biography of Nelson, the best that I have read. It really deserves a high rating.
At almost 800 pages of narrative and 943 pages total, you really get your money's worth here (if money was an issue). It's thicker than your phone book if you're from Montana or the Dakotas. Heck, it's almost as thick as my Seattle phone book. And after reading it, my wrist muscles have become curiously strong.
What I like about it:
It is very detailed, this author really has spent the time to do the research and read the correspondences and contemporary accounts, it's no summary of already written books. That's very heroic in itself. I have a feeling that it's one of those rare books where academia is it's own reward and not just the profits, not that a biography of Nelson is going to be a bestseller (Maybe would have been in 1806).
Gives a very good feel of what Nelson was like as a person and professionally. All over the book Sugden gives us his impressions of Nelson and backs it up with correspondence and notes from either him or the people he dealt with.
Discussed his personal life in some detail, which is good because many other authors glossed over it, especially historical authors who had certain limits of decorum.
Gives a very good background of the naval service in Nelson's day and the political situation, that in itself was worth reading the book for. In fact, I can also say that it's the best description of the Royal Navy and the political situation from the naval services point of view at that time that I've ever read - not only informative, but serves as a backdrop of how Nelson developed and why he did the things he did.
When some things could not be explained, he did explain that no accounts or correspondence could be found to explain it.
This is not a book for the amateur. For the serious reader, the detail is what makes the book so absorbing, I revel in the detail, keep it coming. This book is not exceptionally easy to read. Again, serious readers will not find that a hurdle. For readers looking for a lighter (and shorter book) a search through Amazon will give you a lot of hits - just look for one about 100 pages long.
The minor negatives of the book
1) Some of the minutae was too minute, however, I easily skipped over those small parts. For a book of this caliber, better to have too much (which I can always skip over) rather than to have too little.
2) I wished that some actions were described in more detail, but perhaps there were no good accounts.
3) I wish there were some more maps and maybe some diagrams, but this ain't a picture book.
Overall, a very, very good biography. Highly, highly recommended. I look forward to part two. Meanwhile, some wrist strengtening exercises with the barbells.
Good, but just when things started getting exciting...........2006-06-28
As we know, not all history books are alike. Many are dry, while others try to make it interesting by either making stuff up or writing like Tom Clancy. Sugden does a good job of engaging the reader with interesting narrative, while clearly distinguishing facts from conjecture. You definitely get a taste for Nelson's charm, drive, as well as foibles. There is a lot of maritime terminology, but if you're interested enough to read an 800-page book about a naval hero, you can probably handle an occasional trip to the dictionary.
So I found the book very exciting, but I have one major complaint. The author claims to aspire to make this book the new definitive Nelson biography. He tells in great detail his glories of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, and then his great failure at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where he lost his arm. Nelson gets really depressed, and returns to England. Then there is a conclusion of his career. Sugden observes that even though Nelson was depressed at the time, and likely to retire, no one could have imagined what glories were still ahead. The end.
How can you have a definitive Nelson book, 800 pages long, and not include the Battle of Trafalgar? Argh! Admittedly, the vook title tells it right there, since these things happened after 1797. But if you're reading the book to learn about these things, well, you get the idea. I guess I'll have to read a different book to discover why his statue is in Trafalgar Square...
NOTE: Rumor has it this is part one, and supposedly Sugden will be writing another book, to tell the rest of the story.
Definately Not Boring.......2006-02-23
Its difficult for me to improve on the several excellent reviews of this work that have preceded mine. But most importantly I want to state quite categorically that this is not a boring book. Biographies by their nature are not action stories, they must discuss periods of their subjects life that are perhaps bland and slow, but without this our understanding of the person would be incomplete. Nelson was not solely defined by his actions in the great naval engagements in which he fought.
Nelson was a fascinating bundle of contradictions, self serving and adulterous, disparaging of superiors he perceived as inept yet immensely loyal to able subordinates, devoted to his country, and personally courageous. He was a man who embodied the fighting spirit of the Royal Navy at the peak of its prowess and whose methods of warfare continued to influence the navy for another century.
I await the second volume of this work with great expectations.
A Relentless Bore.......2006-01-26
This is a truly awful book. Sugden writes well enough, and no doubt the book is AUTHORITATIVE, but anyone looking to be entertained should simply forget it. The author never met a detail he didn't like, but by the end of this book, the reader will have met more than he can count. Simply put, Sugden goes into such detail about so many insignificant and downright dull matters that he loses any sense of perspective and entirely fails to creat an interesting and READABLE account of a truly interesting life. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Book Description
Little League baseball has come a long way. Organized into leagues and tournaments, today it's big business, a global entity in over a hundred countries. And every year in modest Williamsport, Pennsylvania, it all comes down to 16 teams of kids eying the ultimate prize: the Little League World Series.
The 2005 World Series featured Little League's greatest ending on its biggest stage. Now seen in over five million homes, the thrilling final game of the Series was the most dramatic in the fifty-eight year history of the Little League. With full access to the players, coaches and parents associated with both teams who played in that game, Charles Euchner delivers an astonishing and dramatic narrative that delves into every aspect of the teams involved: from training, coaching and parenting stressed out kids to politics, controversy and the ever expanding role of corporations.
Welcome to the hype, the hope and the soul of youth baseball.
Customer Reviews:
Major league preparation. Bush league execution........2007-07-18
I was excited to read this book when I saw it at my local library. I had just finished managing my kids' little league t-ball team (5 to 7 year olds) and was ready to read about kids playing at a higher level. I came out of the experience bewildered and disappointed.
Little League, Big Dreams is a jaundiced, uneven account of the little league world series and all of organized youth baseball. Charles Euchner did an excellent job researching the book. However, the writing is disjointed, and the structure of the book is almost impossible to follow. It seems like the book may have started as a series of articles because much information is repeated throughout the book. (How many times does the reader need to be told that Dante Bichette quit major league baseball upon hearing that his son hit his first little league homerun?)
While I agree with many of the points the writer attempted to make in this book, the unevenness throughout does little to bring those points home. In addition, His "Let the kids play" conclusion was too simplistic and not at all developed. Did I mention that Dante Bichette quit major league baseball upon hearing that his son hit his first little league homerun?
Did Not Hold my Attention.......2007-02-13
I'm not a big fan of non-fiction, but I am an avid reader and have been coaching Little League for a number of years. Normally, I think most non-fiction texts can and should be shrunk down by 90% and placed in a magazine so their narrative doesn't run dry. This book is a solid case in point. I got bored after four chapters and had to put the book down. It's not that the writing was bad, it's that the book went into too much detail about people I didn't care about.
If only this were an article in Sports Illustrated!
Little League - too much pressure on the Kids.......2006-09-15
This is an excellent book on the inner happenings of Little League Baseball. I really enjoyed the candid assesments of how parents and managers go overboard. The book though is not a bashing of the little league faults - it gives inside looks at what happens at williamsport and the teams...I really enjoyed the stories about the ugly rivalry between California and Florida and how Dante Bichette Sr. got out of control - also the stories about Curacao and Japan and how serious they take the game - the stories about the pitcher's not resting their arms and getting major injuries is a wake up...
Finally, the story centers on Hawaii and how they built their team swithcing from Pony to Little League - and how they practiced so hard - 6 days a week! Great stories about Little league baseball and how Travel teams are so much better and talented (cooperstown baseball)...
if you enjoy youth baseball - you'll love this book
Average customer rating:
- Bringing history alive
- Best All-Around Biography of Nelson
|
Nelson: A Dream of Glory
John Sugden
Manufacturer: Pimlico
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Naval
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0712667431
Release Date: 2005-10-31 |
Book Description
The most comprehensive and thoroughly researched account ever written of Horatio Nelson’s early career and rise to prominence — it is certain to become the benchmark book on Nelson.
There have been numerous biographies of Nelson, but most fail to penetrate the mythology encrusting Britain’s greatest naval hero. John Sugden has examined thousands of naval, military, diplomatic and personal documents. He has ruthlessly stripped away the legends and brilliantly reconstructed Nelson’s private and public life.
Nelson: A Dream of Glory charts the period of Nelson’s career most neglected by earlier writers — from childhood to his debut as a public hero after the victory against the Spanish fleet at Cape St. Vincent, when he became an admiral and stood on the verge of international fame.
Dealing with every facet of Nelson’s life — the man, the naval officer and the Georgian — John Sugden offers the only full account of his early voyages and the first complete analysis of the formative incidents in his career including his conflict with civil and naval superiors in the West Indies, his campaigns in Corsica and his service as a commodore in the Mediterranean. Throughout there are revealing discoveries about his relationships with his family, patrons, officers and also, with his women.
Customer Reviews:
Bringing history alive.......2006-08-21
Exhaustive historical non-fiction tends to be boring unless you're really "in to" that particular part of history.
Not this book. Although Age of Sail buffs will doubtless love it, it's so well written that, amazingly, even someone who didn't know who Nelson was would find it interesting.
Gets inside the mind of one of history's truly world-changing military men, is a fascinating read, and along the way illuminates such events as the French Revolution and the American War of Independance from not-often-seen angles.
I can't praise this one highly enough, but if I was forced to make a criticism, I'd have to go with the scarcity of maps and diagrams. The book contains some, but not quite enough for my taste.
I will definately order Volume 2 of this two-part work when it is published.
Best All-Around Biography of Nelson.......2006-04-28
This is a highly readable take on the first portion Horatio Nelson's rise to fame and greatness in the Royal Navy of Napoleon's Era. Sugden does a great job of incorporating the vast quantity of prior research, first hand accounts (letters, diaries, contemporary journals and Admiralty Records) into one seamless narrative of Nelson's early years. He addresses the different phases of -and sources of- favor that Nelson has held in the spectrum of public opinion: the initial hero worship, the post-colonial fall from grace, to the current status of respect that this great leader sustains.
Particularly enjoyable is the expanded account of Nelson's small unit leadership: often times this portion of his life is merely a brief synopsis in the prelude to one of his great fleet actions. How did Nelson become the man we know? How did he develop his talents and skills? Often times it comes across as an almost mystical ability; well, here is a very accurate narrative of that very human process.
I really can't recommend this book highly enough for aficionados of Lord Nelson; it will round out your understanding of the man greatly. "A Dream of Glory" can also be considered an excellent first glimpse for those who have yet to read anything about him, are researching for a college level paper, or are interested for personal reasons.
We can only assume that Mr. Sugden has a companion volume in the works, detailing the later and better known years of Nelson. I sincerely hope that the same level of detail and research is maintained, as well as the accessibility of the writing style. If so, we will be in for a treat.
Book Description
In this deeply felt, unforgettable book, Bill Reynolds journeys with a high school basketball team through the past and present of an American town. Fall River, Massachusetts, is a once-prosperous industrial center haunted by its history, the Durfee High School basketball team begins its annual drive for a state championship: a quest that inspires and sometimes consumes kids, coaches, families, teachers, and all of Fall River.Fall River Dreams is the story of one season's quest-a classic book about sports, youth, time, hope, and memory in American today.
Customer Reviews:
More than a basketball book.......2007-01-02
As a Fall Riverite, I am ashamed to have taken so long to read this book. This book is so accurate that it is scary. While the actual writing does lack some luster, it is certainly accurate weaving the city's history with key people, with the history of Durfee High School, and the politics that are still as evident in 2007 as they were in 1993. Chris Herren's basketball career at Durfee is chronicled with foresight as to what eventually did happen, evident to me that the author really did get to know the characters he wrote about because we all know what eventually happened to Chris, the dream that never really came to fruition, almost as if Fall River is cursed and has cursed its residents. Jeff Caron, the kid who was overlooked, according to the author in the book, is currently the coach of Durfee and its AD, taking the place of the everfamous Skippy Karam. Again, after reading the book, Caron's role in Fall River now seems exactly scripted the way Reynolds depicted Fall Riverites, destined to never leave, yearning always for the past. It's a good sports book, it's a good history book, it's a good story. There are some editing issues--spelling errors and misnamed places, but it's mostly annoying if you know that Columbus Park is not "Columbia Park," etc. If you are from the area, you must read! But even if you are not, if you know anything about Chris Herren, you will forever feel for him and his plight. I wish Chris would actually do an autobiography, it could be a lesson for all kids that nothing is a given.
Probably Doomed to not meet my expectations.......2005-03-31
I'm clearly not alone in having read "Fall River Dreams" after reading "Friday Night Lights." Several other reviewers have mentioned as much in their own reviews. Clearly, I had some expectations that it would be a basketball version of FNL, which it was, but it just didn't have the bite that FNL was able to dish out. Not that this was a bad book at all, but I think I was doomed from the start to always have that hanging over my head.
From a book standpoint, it was an enjoyable read, with a good amount of real life ups and downs mixed into it. I hate reading fairy tale non-fiction books, and fortunately this doesn't turn into one. Having read this over a decade after its first printing, I wish there was a new version with author commentary as there was with FNL. My interest in the players, especially Chris Herren, took me to the internet where I found quite a large amount of depressing post Fall River information. In some ways, it made the book more vivid. Reynolds might do well by refocusing on a few players with a re-release.
Overall a 3/5, mainly the 3 coming from a lot of repetitive commentary throughout. This book could have used a better editor.
fall river dreams.......2004-07-27
i thought this was a pretty good book. as a sports fan, i did get bored at times with all the descriptions of the city and it seemed repetitive after awhile. but overall, i did find myself not wanting to put the book down in order to find out what the outcome was going to be for durfee and chris herron.
Great characters, great book.......2004-07-12
This was one of the best sports books I've read in a while. I really enjoyed Friday Night Lights, and think that this book is it's equal. Thought I am slightly biased, growing up in the Fall River area, and personally watching several Durfee games. But no one can deny the honest and genuine nature of the emotionally charged characters in this story. The relationship between Skippy Karam and Chris Herren is one of a kind. Skip being the living legend trying to go out on top one last time, and Chris trying to live up to all the expectations put on him by the media, colleges, and his family, even though he cleary isn't ready to grow up. The interaction between these two is usually confrontational, but often hilarious as Chris continues to push Skippy to his limit.
Another great character that seems to almost get lost in the mix is Jeff Caron. Jeff is the second best player on the team, but would be a stand out at any other high school in the area. He seems a little jealous at times, but always remains a team player. He is a sort of an outsider among his teammates and the book does a fine job of telling his story.
grew up in fall river.......2004-05-27
This book was well written and told a good story. But i grew up in fall river and know the herrens personally - in other words there is alot more to the herren brothers and fall river than what was mentioned in the book (if you can believe it) but whatever. last I heard Christopher was married with children and doing well. big deal he screwed up. i have. chances are you have. he was a teenager. The one thing i dont get is that 75% of fall river never even heard of chris herren. The author makes a big deal about how important basketball is to the city but its a bunch of crap. good story though if youve never been to fall river. dont get me wrong the majority of the story is true but the man is trying to sell books. you know what ?christopher no longer lives in fall river and thats a dream for most fallrivians itself. basketball got him out of there - thats almost as good as a 25 milliuon dollar NBA contract. good for you chris
Book Description
As the British scheme to kidnap George Washington and bring the Revolutionary War to an end in one bold stroke, a tide of espionage ebbs and flows between the two opposing armies. It is 1780, and two very different men are sucked into these vicious currents. Tides that pull the men towards the bewitching embrace of Flora Kuyper, the beautiful spy who holds the future of America in her hands. This is a world of plot and counterplot, where a night of passion could lead to an act of treason and a man's avowed ideals could fashion a noose around his neck.
Customer Reviews:
Spies of the Revolution.......2004-01-21
Thomas Fleming captures the duplicity and destructive nature of espionage with this novel of spies during the American Revolution. By utilizing an incredible grasp of the time period, Fleming creates a very plausible scenario, a plot to kidnap George Washington. Caught between British and American spymasters is Caleb Chandler, a minister, who has lost his faith in face of war's destruction. He finds instead a woman of questionable loyalties and this leads him into a world from which he can find no escape. Filled with double dealing and a gamesmanship usually found LeCarre novels, DREAMS OF GLORY gives the reader of what cloak and dagger was like during America's early years. I did have some difficulty accepting some of the personality transformations different characters undergo, they seem to be more for the purpose of moving the plot along as opposed to having real depth, but the real focus here is on the intrigue and the setting. Fleming makes this combination hard to resist.
Great Spy Story from the Master of the American Revolution.......2000-12-26
Historian/novelist Thomas Fleming is at his best in this spy story set in the American Revolution. Great, complex characters, lots of historical detail and insight-- and a very suspenseful plot. Combines tragedy, patriotism, love, lust, and sudden, savage violence into a rip-roaring story.
Based on true events, Fleming provides insight into historical characters great and small. Towering above them all-- as he does in ANY book that is true to the events-- is George Washington.
A vastly under rated soldier, who learned quickly from his early mistakes, GW was also a brilliant spymaster, who probably integrated intelligence work with the tactical movements of his army, as well as any commander in US history.
Lively, informative, and entertaining, this continuation of Fleming's Liberty Tavern series is as fun a way to learn about American history as has yet been invented.
Books:
- The Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured Class
- The Intolerable Hulks: British Shipboard Confinement 1776-1857
- The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers
- The Making of the American Conservative Mind: National Review and Its Times
- The Political Zoo
- The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to American History (Politically Incorrect Guides)
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming (and Environmentalism)
- The Republican War on Science
- The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760 (Comparative Studies on Muslim Societies , No 17)
- The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin
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