I tend to be skeptical whenever someone is called "The Conscience of The Senate (or Congress)," as we all know I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
I tend to be skeptical whenever someone is called "The Conscience of The Senate (or Congress)," as we all know a little too much about politicians to believe any such thing.
While there are a lot of endnotes, this is still a popular history, and one where the biographer is in love with the subject. That's not always a bad thing, but in this case, it comes off as so last year.
Bill O'Reilly's popular history of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln is entertaining, and informative. It does, however, push the controversial theBill O'Reilly's popular history of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln is entertaining, and informative. It does, however, push the controversial theory that Edwin Stanton was one of the hidden figures behind the dastardly deed. Be advised....more
This is study of the muscles of the human body, tracing the science and history of strength training. There's aI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
This is study of the muscles of the human body, tracing the science and history of strength training. There's a whole lot of propaganda, but a lot of information as well....more
Eleven stories of risking one's life for a cause greater than oneself. Not something you see a lot anymore. It was interesting reading about John GlenEleven stories of risking one's life for a cause greater than oneself. Not something you see a lot anymore. It was interesting reading about John Glenn before he became a senator and succumbed to Washington....more
In 1793, canal digger William Smith discovered that by tracing the fossils he found while digging, he could divulge the history of the world. He creatIn 1793, canal digger William Smith discovered that by tracing the fossils he found while digging, he could divulge the history of the world. He created a map of his discoveries. Of course, the scientific establishment of the time tried to bury him. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
This is a book about the firing on Fort Sumter, which led to the fighting part of the Civil War. More ScholarlyI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
This is a book about the firing on Fort Sumter, which led to the fighting part of the Civil War. More Scholarly than the book Bill O'Reilly might write, it is still a popular history
It seems like the author is unsure who his audience is going to be. I think he is used to writing True Crime, rather than actual history, so he flails about trying to find a villain. He finds some weird pro-slavery advocates, and castigates President James Buchanan a lot, as is fashionable. However, the Grimke Sisters, reviled abolitionists, are wholly absent from the narrative. The incident where John Brown tried to foment an insurrection at Harper's Ferry is given short shrift, as well.
While the incident at Fort Sumter is a tragedy, sure enough, I don't think it fits into the definition of a crime, and that's where Larson falls short. Maybe he'd have done better with Harper's Ferry....more
A biography of Peter Ustinov's father, who just by being a pleasant fellow managed to be one of the most successful spies of his time, even though he A biography of Peter Ustinov's father, who just by being a pleasant fellow managed to be one of the most successful spies of his time, even though he didn't seem to do a whole lot to hide it.
Stories of the author's father in Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge. Unlike some of these books, it dI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Stories of the author's father in Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge. Unlike some of these books, it doesn't portray the old country as some sort of paradise. This is a beautiful, but hard scrabble country, where everybody seems to scrambling even before the government collapses. These stories are harrowing and deserve to be remembered....more
An overview of all the important developments in wrestling from 1984 and 1985. A lot more matches that ended with somebody receiving lashes than I remAn overview of all the important developments in wrestling from 1984 and 1985. A lot more matches that ended with somebody receiving lashes than I remember. The saga of Lord Humongous was interesting. I didn't realize so many wrestlers played the same part....more