Biography Books

I thought this book was quite funny and very entertaining. I have read the other reviews and obviously their are many different views and walks of the city but Ms. Reed pokes fun at herself as much as she does others so I think people are taking her remarks far too seriously. I loved the back ground on the people and history of the city.

I admit it, this book made me green with envy. Like the author and many others, I've always been drawn to New Orleans and have dreamed of living there for years. At the same time this book will make you blue at the damage done by hurricane Katrina to this lovely, complicated city and sadly, blue over the future of our beloved New Orleans. The author definiely entertains with her story of how she ended up in New Orleans. I loved reading about so many familiar places and characters and also could relate to her home remodeling nightmare. What is humorous in hindsight, can be awful to experience, and remodeling in New Orleans is doubly difficult. Kudos to her loyalty to the city, her spirit and her hope for a better future. I hope we read more from this author.

The book and story in themselves are completely entertaining and
informative. The reader realizes a much better understanding of some
of the events and aftermath of Katrina. Also the life and times of
Ms. Reed are there for all to enjoy. I read the review in the Ny Times,
purchased it from Amazon.com, and couldn't put it down.

Being a native of N.O. and having moved away 20+ years ago it was great
to re-connect

I have visited New Orleans a number of times, both before and after Katrina, which certainly helped me to appreciate and understand a little of Julia Reed's references and locations within the city. Without this, I believe a reader would be pretty lost. Even with my knowledge, I found myself getting confused a few times, not about the locations, but because of her tendency to jump from one subject to some rather detailed thought or personal memory that had a vague connection in her mind. This, along with her constant, detailed recollections of dining and boozing, eventually became rather tedious and annoying to me by the end of the book. Those were the bad points, which did not entirely ruin my experience in reading her book. They just made it more difficult to enjoy.

But I did enjoy it, for the most part, though it was not a book that I couldn't put down. I read it over a number of days which I believe helped me to absorb it a bit better. As I pointed out, there was a lot of jumping between one time span to another, from her days as a youth, throughout the earlier days in her career (which led her to choose to settle in New Orleans), and then many different references to her friends and acquaintances, and her personal experiences, usually including the details of their dining and drinking, associated with those relationships. I felt it was a bit fragmented.

Although much of her lifestyle would be considered very uncommon to most, I still found it an interesting read. She had and has a privileged existence and her viewpoint is not that of ninety percent of the population. Her experiences during the return and rebuilding after Katrina were pretty elitist and rare. I can't think that those that had lost everything would be rejoicing about a few bottles of wine or a restaurant reopening, but I'm sure these seemingly shallow actions do not completely reflect her day to day experiences. It was interesting to read about an "insiders" experience, even if it was a rich, rather self-absorbed, socialite's one (though she claims not to be). It is what it is.

I will probably reread it and recommend it to those of you familiar to New Orleans that think you may find it interesting.

The many reviews alrady posted about this book already to a good job summing-up its content and subject matter. Therefore, I'll simply say this is absolutely the single best memoir yet written about the Iraq War, specifically from the perspective of an Infantry NCO. I eagerly devoured this book within a 24 hour period and was enthralled by Bellavia's story on every page. Highly recommended and should be required reading for soldiers, politicians, journalists (especially journalists), and, hell, the general public.

Mr. Bellavia, words cannot possibly thank you and your fellow veterans enough for what you have done for this country.

Bellavia is a highly decorated vet of the Battle of Fallujah in 2004. This is his account of the time leading up to the battle and of the battle itself. People need to be constantly reminded of two things; first, how totally brutal real war is, and second, how important it is to honor the people who go to war on our behalf. This book does both in spades. The gritty description of the action as the US Military faced the early stages of the Iraqi insurgency is gripping. There were many times when I found myself on the edge of my seat, or I had to take a break from the reading and unwind. It also describes the bonds developed by combat vets quite well. This bond comes from facing mortal danger and unimaginable hardship together. It is something we should all strive to understand. Without any spoilers I will say that the dramatic climax is personal and gripping, combat writing at its best.

I have never had the urge to write a review before, but this book has overwhelmingly compelled me to do so.

What made this book an astonishing standout to me was not only the constant gripping action, but the brutal honesty with which the author writes. Brutal honesty not only about the events, but the real and hardcore emotions he goes through in dealing with the events as they unfold. It is hard enough to imagine doing the things he has done for his country, but even harder still to imagine coming to terms with those things and sharing those horrors with others - completely uncensored. Now that really takes some guts in my opinion.

When I first ordered this book, I was really hoping it wasn't going to be just another journal of long patrols, and daily discomforts, with the occasional bit of action thrown in to spice things up. I was not disappointed. From the minute you open this book, David Bellavia smacks you in the face with the gut-wrenching, filthy, inhumane realities of the boots-on-the-ground perspective of the U.S. Army shooters in Iraq. The action starts almost instantly, and takes you for a ride throughout the book that is as intriguing to read as it is exhausting. What you are left with at the end is a new perspective that the headlines and news stories could never give, and a profound new respect for what our soldiers go through to protect and defend our most basic rights of freedom.

Some of the reviews have commented on the use of language (to which this book is chock full of obscenities), but I think anyone who has served the military as an enlisted person already knows, that kind of language is just par for the course. If anything, I think there were probably more swear words left OUT of the book, than were actually spoken in real life on the battlefield. That's reality. And that's why the language is in the book. Its not meant to offend, or exaggerate, its meant to epitomize what it is truly like when your right there next to your buddies and the bullets start flying. I personally am glad Sgt. Bell' didn't clean up the book - war is not clean, or nice, or polite, and it should not be presented that way.

Ultimately I think this book is a perfect illustration of an old quote that I have always held in high esteem...

"Freedom has a taste to those who have fought for it, that the protected will never know." (author unknown)

i brought this book to try and understand what my man faces, when "doing his job",it was spell binding, gripping, should be compulsory reading for everyone,these guys are heros and real men, if you only read one book a year , make it this one, good book by a good man, job well done

This story is not about feminized boys in earrings and eyeliner, piercing or polish, bling bling or sagging clothes.
It's not about gangsta rivalries or wigga wannabes - Xbox, cars or whoes.

It's about young adults in a death struggle to manhood, carrying firearms, bombs and bandoliers.

It's a story of the transition from the privileged silk cords of American culture to the stainless steel cable of American courage:
A cable that will air lift, under withering fire, the next great generation of American loyalty, relentless bravery and reluctant, though resolute heroism.

It's a story of sacrifice, blood and treasure
The hand-to-hand blood of both brother and belligerent, spilled on body armor and in foreign sands.

The sacrifice of wives, and mothers, and children.
The treasure in America's soul.
Some of which only the progeny of warriors will grow to truly know.

No wonder liberals hate the military: it turns young boys into men.

Got ADD? Grab a gun. You'll either focus or you'll die.

It was an eye opener into Anderson's life and amition to do what he obviously it very good at, along with the pain of losing his father and brother.

Anderson Cooper is one of the best journalists to come along in a long time. He has gotten me interested once again in current and world events because of his honest and compelling way of reporting and seeing things.

I thought this book was excellent and well written. I could not put it down. It pulled me in the whole time and I usually don't completely finish books in 2 days.

I think it is a must read for anyone wanting to understand our world as it is today.

I trust major newspapers more than the broadcast media, but there are trustworthy stalwarts who stand out on the tube. Anderson Cooper is one such person.

I "only" knew him to be a reporter with integrity, and who was unafraid to challenge the blatantly self-serving blather days after Katrina hit, drawing upon the observations of his own eyes, and sympathetic to the plight and indignities of the NOLA residents.

Andersen shared enough of his family background, both privilege and tragedy, to provide another element of respect. This is a man who could easily have coasted on family fortune, hobnobbed in the Hamptons, and lived a leisurely, carefree life. He committed himself to a career, and was compelled to go to the sorriest (and riskiest!) places and situations on Earth. The memoir itself is an easy read. It's informative on events he witnessed. AC shares enough of his background to provide perspective, but it is fact and background only - no rosy glasses, no salacious tidbits. Enough.

If you think this guy is likeable, read this book. By the time you finish, you'll respect him.

This book is fantastic! I purchased it and read the entire book within 72 hours. His descriptions of the accounts are breathtaking. The section that touched me most was about Katrina and the Aftermath. I lived in New Orleans as a volunteer relief worker for 1 year, November '06 - October '07. It was a life changing experience for me. The experiences I had begin 14 months after the storm. To read Anderson's accounts, just hours and days following the storm, it was unbelieveable. To read his accounts from the view of someone who was choosing to be there, it's amazing. I recommend this book to everyone.

I loved this book. He is a wonderful journalist. I recommend this book to anyone that loves world news and travel all in one.

I travel a ton and I am so sorry I didn't climb Brunelleschi's Dome. After reading this book, I want to go back, just to climb and see all the details I just read about. At times the book got slow and technical, but it was overall fascinating.....Stands the test of time....

The story of Brunelleschi's Dome is about a unique architectural accomplishment, one that has not been surpassed in the hundreds of years since it was built. The story is not just about the Dome, but about Brunelleschi and his competitors. It even gives us a glimpse of the era in which it takes place.

The book is short, only 167 pages. It is somewhat superficial; it does not delve too deeply into any one aspect of the Dome, the people or the time in which it was built. Readers with specialist knowledge or interest in any of those areas might be disappointed. Some of the descriptions of the building technics used and of the engineering of the Dome left me confused. More diagrams would have helped.

While this book does not have enough information in any one area to interest specialists, I thought it was a great read. It was an well written narrative on an interesting topic I would not have known much about otherwise.

No, this isn't a book about an Italian guy with a big head, although Filippo Brunelleschi certainly had a massive ego. Brunelleschi's Dome is about the city of Florence generally during one of the greatest periods of genius and creativity in human history. It is also, specifically, about the life of Filippo Brunelleschi, a classic genius of the Italian Renaissance, and his magnificent dome which dominates the skyline of Florence to this day. Like so many of his contemporaries, Brunelleschi had a high level of expertise in a variety of fields. He was an artist, an engineer, a craftsman, a philologist, and an overall solver of impossible problems. He was also a bit of a whack-job whose failures were nearly as spectacular as his successes.

With this book, Ross King has penned an engrossing popular biography of Brunelleschi, as well as a history of the construction of his famous dome. While the book goes into some detail regarding the engineering behind the construction of the dome, the prose is never heavy and is written so that the layman, such as myself, never gets bored or lost.

My wife and I visited Italy in 2000 and climbing to the top of the Duomo was one of the high points (literally!) of the trip. I wish I had read this book beforehand! I therefore highly recommend it to anyone who is planning a visit to Florence. It will give you that much more appreciation for the amount of work--and genius--that went into the construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

King's book is historical, but it reads like a novel as it weaves Italian history in with the fascinating account of Brunelleschi's rise from nowhere to become one of the greatest architects and engineers in history. Having toured the Florence Duomo and wondered "How did they build that with no heavy equipment," it is amazing to find out how they really did. This book is reasonably short; well written; and very informative. Highly recommended.

The dual papacy had been resolved in favor of Rome (1416). Florence was the interim home for the Pope while permanent quarters were being readied in Rome (1420). Florence considered itself the new Athens of the western world, and on August 19, 1418 Filippo Brunelleschi submitted his design for the dome of the city's new cathedral. His design pushed the technology of bricklaying to never seen before sophistication, producing a dome 143 feet in diameter; a dome which is still the largest masonry dome in the world. His radical design and construction techniques for the double-walled dome required no temporary central scaffolding and support.

The work was interrupted by disease, war and political upheavals. Finally, the octagonal dome was completed in 1436 and the lantern on top of the dome was completed in 1461, fifteen years after Filippo's death. Ross King weaves a wonderful story about this technological feat. This book should appeal to all art, architecture and history buffs.

This book is insightful, entertaining, and can connect with people of all faiths. I had a hard time putting this book down, as it makes you not want to get off of the roller-coaster ride of soul-searching and suprises.

I loved this book. It offers an illuminating glimpse into wildly different sects of Christianity - from mainstream to little-known sects you couldn't have invented if you tried. Ben Cohen took a bold and controversial journey into the Christian Bible Belt to better understand himself, and that moxie is just as apparent in his lucidly and humorously written retelling of his journey.

The message of My Jesus Year is that there is a spiritual intersection of all religions - that all religions have unique ways to tap into the souls of their followers. And that there is no reason why we can't all learn from each other to strengthen our own unique beliefs and styles of worship.

My Jesus Year has a body full of humor, intrigue, and fascinating tidbits - and a soul full of charm.

Some of the best recent books on faith and spirituality are from "outsiders." Secular scientist E.O. Wilson wrote "The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth," atheist Hemant Mehta wrote "I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith through an Atheist's Eyes," and, let's face it, Anne Lamott's popular persona is built on her outsider status.

It's in that spirit that I strongly recommend Benyamin Cohen's "My Jesus Year."

He's funny. I mean, he's Anne Lamott funny. And, he's friendly as he's having fun with others and with himself. You'll find yourself chuckling as he describes trying to slip into an enormous Pentecostal megachurch to learn what's drawing thousands upon thousands of Americans to these venues.

This "five-foot-two bespectacled Jewish kid in a mosh pit of faith" suddenly discovers that the church's video crews have zeroed in on his face and he's shocked to discover: "My Jewish face on Jesus' JumboTron for all to see! Oh, God, forgive me."

We learn a lot about Benyamin's Jewish life, his family life, his vignettes from this year-long Christian pilgrimage and, in the end, his conclusions about faith in America.

In closing, he writes a pitch-perfect summary of how millions of young Americans see our national smorgasbord of faith: "Despite the gospel choirs and Christian rockers, despite the baptismal baths and Christmas trees, despite the wine, wafers, and confessional booths, and even despite our theological and philosophical differences, there is a deeper thread running throughout. There are many roads leading to spiritual maturity and even to God Himself, and all of us have to find our own way."

This is an important new voice. His journey is fun to follow and, when it's done, you'll begin to realize that many of us feel like spiritual outsiders today, looking in on houses of worship and wondering how we might fit inside.

As an educator with both parents still together after 50+ years, this book is a HUGE insight into what more and more young men face growing up without a male role model. Often our words reflect our own experiences, which can alienate those we are trying to help.

Even for those had a father growing up, there are still things a human father will fail at. Miller helps us to comprehend the greatness of the word "Father".

To Own A Dragon is, I believe, one of Donald Miller's best books. He is more well known for Blue Like Jazz and Through Painted Deserts, but I think this one is one of his most insightful. He has always been very honest about the fact that he grew up without a father and this book dives into that story much deeper. As one who grew up with a distant father the book was very healing and spoke to me by someone who knew what it was like.

This is a wonderful and healing book for anyone, male or female, who is struggling with a father never present.

In his typical laid-back style, Donald Miller explores the effects that growing up without a father had on him. To Own a Dragon must be understood within the genre of "memoir." It is not meant to an exhaustive exploration, only what the author felt and dealt with while going through the event he is writing about.

I appreciate Miller's honesty, his straight forward approach the what a child experiences. I grew up without a father in the home, and found this to be an enlightening and encouraging read. I found myself constantly saying, "I am not alone! I am not the only one who feels this way."

I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles having grown up without a father. It will not answer all the question...it may not answer any of the questions...but it will let you know that you are not the only one.

I would rank this book 3rd out of the 4 books that Miller has written. It is still fabulous, but not as geared towards me as Through Painted Deserts and Searching for God Knows What. And I am anxiously awaiting the release of Let Story Guide You, which, contrary to our order sheets, has not come out yet, but that's not the point.

In this 192 page book Donald Miller and John MacMurray explore the spiritual significance of what it is like for a male to grow up without a Father figure. They then go on to explore Miller's personal experience of allowing God to become that fairy tale like figure in his life. Thus, the title of the book comes from Miller saying that having a father was like owning a dragon, "nothing more than a fairytale."

As usual Miller's writing style captivates the reader. The way in which he subtly draws his audience in a exposes his inner thoughts and feelings is fascinating, not only as a reader, but for anyone who has ever aspired to write anything(which is about 83% of you, I know)

He explores the problem of misguidance for those who grew up without a father, the discipline needed to become as one under a father, and then he goes into the humanity of spirituality and the true key to masculinity/manhood. The chapter on manhood was really powerful.

Again, Miller explores a whole new region with his uncanny ability to articulate his streaming conciousness, as prompted by the simple things in life, in a profound and mesmerizing way. I recommend this book to, obviously, those who grew up without Fathers, or a Father who was not a spiritual leader. But I believe that anybody can find some worth within the pages of this book. It will make you scratch your whiskers in thoughts.

I find this book to be beneficial to anyone with BPD or a loved one who has BPD. I could relate to almost every page and would recommend it to anyone.

I'm the wife of a BPD spouse and after reading every book I can on the subject as well as belonging to support groups, trying therapy, this book, for me was the most helpful. It has enabled me to have a better understanding and to see more clearly what's really going on when an episode begins. I am much more aware of using S.E.T. I read this book in three days and I know I will read it again before I go back to S.W.O.E. again. I think this book should be a must read for any partner or relative of someone with BPD.

Cleverly written, this book draws the reader into her life. I was amazed at the honesty that the author uses in describing her fight with borderline personality disorder. I was attached to this story and was sorry to reach the end of this book. Using this book as part of my research for my thesis was insightful and thought provoking.

I've read many memoirs of mental illness in my life and I truly believe this one is the best. It's gripping, moving, well written, and a great source of hope and inspiration.

It must have taken an incredible amount of courage to write a book like this. Rachel doesn't shy away from showing the uglier sides of borderline personality disorder, and many reviewers have dismissed her as a "spoiled brat". However, I was impressed by her strength and determination in overcoming her problems, and her guts in sharing her story to help others.

One thing that struck me when I read the book was Rachel's financial situation. From previous reviews, and from the knowledge she had psychoanalysis three times a week, I had assumed she must be a very rich woman who could afford to see her therapist as often as she wanted. This turned out not to be the case at all. In order to pay for her therapy, Rachel had to accept handouts from family members who'd abused her, get into debt, and at one point make a deal with her psychiatrist where she cut back on sessions and he lowered his rates. I think it was this resolve to get the help she needed and pay for it however she could that allowed Rachel to recover, where many others would have given up.

I have just discussed Get Me Out of Here with a friend who has BPD, and who read the book herself a few years ago. She told me it was Rachel's memoir that encouraged her to get back into work, so that she would be able to afford to choose her treatment. She is now seeing a private therapist and well on the way to recovery.

I would recommend this book as a source of hope and insight to anyone who has BPD, and as a source of understanding to anyone who doesn't. Just be prepared to read it with an open mind.

I just finished 'I Hate You - Don't Leave Me'... I thought this would be a good followup - from the consumer's view. I was right. The book was very emotional and graphic, even disturbing at times. The patience of the folks around the author during her recovery was astounding! Her description of her feelings during both episodes and treatment was extremely helpful in developing a sense of empathy for someone suffering from this disorder. All in all, a very useful book!

One caveat... I am not sure this is the first or second book for someone who has just been diagnosed with bpd - at least not without running it by a health professional first.

I definitely recommend this book.

All the best,

Jay

If you love the real life stories you hear on NPR this is for you. Touching and poignant, listening to these give you hope and understanding for people in many different walks of life.

This was a great purchase. I haven't finished it, but wish I would of known about this sooner.

I had never heard of the StoryCorps Project until recently. Since I am facilitating a memoir writing group, I ordered Listening Is an Act of Love.
I loved it! Every page was a gentle focus on real people's lives. I highly recommend this book. Don't miss it!

StoryCorps is America's largest oral history project and was begun in 2003 by Dave Isay.

I became aware of this book while listening to the StoryCorps excerpts that air on NPR Friday mornings. One morning in particular I heard the story of the unofficial spokes people for StoryCorps, Annie and Danny.

Their love affair is told in the final pages of the book, the chapter entitled "The Story of StoryCorps." When my daughter and I heard their segment on NPR that morning on our way to the coffee shop, we were held mesmerized until it came to an end. It was one of those "transfixed in the parking lot" moments. We sat there, tears streaming down our faces until the end. We didn't go inside for our time of coffee and conversation until we could compose ourselves. That was the day I heard about and decided I had to have this book.

There are two versions, one which comes with a CD and one without. I made the mistake of saving a buck and going without. I recommend getting the CD. I suspect it makes the experience all the more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, the book is fabulous and full of stories that fill your heart with light and love.

Every section of the book has heart-wrenching pieces. Stories that will define the American experience. The section entitled Fire and Water is particularly emotional as it deals with stories from the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 and Hurricane Katrina.

I will recommend this book, and give it as gifts to my parents and others.

These are great stories from everyday people. If our legacy is the stories of our lives that we share with others, then this CD is what we should all be recording for our family and friends. I only wish there were more than the 20 included.

Was not impressed. Seemed to be repeating what every other writer said about Sitting Bull.

quite a comprehensive review of the history of the Lakota tribe and the input of sitting bull. I would have preferred a history by one of the first people instead.

Tatanka Iyotake - Sitting Bull - was not the killer of Custer. He was certainly no villain. He was a spiritual leader of our People. According to my ancestors, who handed this story down to my generation, Custer killed himself rather than take what he had coming - and had fully earned - at the Battle of the Greasy Grass / what the majority culture calls "the Little Bighorn". I'm a great-grandmother now, writing through my man's account, and I have no reason to doubt the truth of the story my ancestors told.
We kept it among ourselves because of the repercussions we suffered back then, and still suffer today. To this day, we Lakota out here in "Dakota" Territory are harrassed in every way, all too often. Not as openly as used to be, but it's still there - the coffee-shop talk, the disparaging stereotypes, stuff like that. I call it, "the Custer effect". My People beat the crap out of Custer and his goons that June day so long ago, and whites have been crying about it ever since, and trying to "prove what really happened".
Custer was no hero; he was a murderer of babies and women, unarmed warriors and the elderly. Sitting Bull was a man of great pride and honor and strength. This book is worth reading more than once. Thanks for writing it!

SITTING BULL
Bill Yenne

Sitting Bull by Bill Yenne is an interesting read. Yenne utilizes Stanley Vestal, Jerome Stillson of the New York Herald, Sitting Bull's Hieroglyphic Autobiography, and an assortment of first hand accounts to present this historic American Indian. For all of us "Custer People", there is a chapter on the Little Bighorn Battle in which Yenne writes "Custer probably feared that if he delayed his attack for another twenty-four hours - as he planned - then Gibbon would be a day closer and Custer would have to share this victory with him". There is an argument which establishes a good book. The book is filled with informative and controversial quotes. Yenne frequently dwells on Washington's government officials arguing over the necessary actions to solve their Indian dilemma. Politicians and red tape do not make a good western adventure, unfortunately that was their role in the history of the American West. I want to be with Custer out on the plains or in an Indian camp, not in an office in Washington.
Overall, the book was very good. Even the cover with Sitting Bull's picture and autograph is notable.

Just finished reading "Sitting Bull." Enjoyed it very, very much. There are wonderful photos and maps, one including good old Highmore, SD. The book is a dramatic and scholarly accomplishment. Professor Yellowtail's glowing endorsement must feel like a crowning feather. Has he given the author an Indian name?!
I was surprised to learn that Sitting Bull was only with Bill Cody's Wild West in 1885 and never went to Europe, never performed for Queen Victoria. As the book points out, it was his deaf stepson, later known as John Sitting Bull, who toured Europe with Cody's Wild West during a few years after the turn of the century. Indeed, the popular confusion about this persists and resurfaced the other day at lunch with our tennis players. How nice to have it right!