history

Yes, the title of this review is a takeoff on the episode titles for this wonderful TV series, and it also applies to this fantastic book. The authors have really done their homework; this book has all the behind-the-scenes details on the series on its stars. I was a huge fan of the show since the beginning and hung on to the end, and this book is a trip back in time for me. Whichever lady was your favorite Angel (I'm a definite Jill fan), you'll find fascinating info about everyone associated with the hit show. I can actually remember watching the individual shows by reading the episode guide, and the critical commentary for each episode is right on the money. It's apparent the authors (especially Jack Condon) have a tremendous amount of affection for the show and its stars, but they don't keep that from acknowledging problems behind the scenes of the show's history. This is the kind of entertainment book I love; one that loves its subject and unearths every interesting bit of info they can find. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!

Being a huge fan of charlie's angel's I was naturally attracted to this book as it's cover contains not only the three original angel's but the best angel's to have ever graced the series. I couldn't put it down until I'd read the entire thing - this book is full of facts, pictures, and behind the scenes antics of all the angel's and is an absolute "must" for serious Charlie's Angel's fans. There is a full insight into what the girls were like on the set, what they are doing now and all about their personal lives and what they think about the impact of the show. There is even a full episode guide outlining each episode in all five seasons - Excellent! For me the best thing about this book is that it's 100% official so what you're reading is true and not simply patched together from many unreliable sources, most of which are untrue. It's plain that Jack Condon and David Hofstede clearly have first hand facts and know what they're talking about. This book screams class - The one and only Jaclyn Smith wrote the foreword, need I say more? For any fan who doesn't own this book "You're insane, buy it now" Best book I have ever read!

I await the next one Jack!

Miss Sarah Kelly

This is such a fun book! Lots of rare photos of all cast members. I really enjoyed the stories and anecdotes from all the personal interviews with the different cast members. This book obviously took lots of time and effort to compile.
I was won over in the first few pages where proper hommage is paid to the Angels' predecessors in female crime-fighting : Anne Francis as Honey West and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel. Charlie's Angels was perhaps ground-breaking but these 2 women broke the ground for the Angels in the previous decade. After this bit of history, it was evident that the author really knows his subject matter.
Just tons of fun facts in this book! Nice filmographies of each cast member and a very cool reference section on all the merchandise created for the show.
There is also a review of each episode of the show. This may be my favorite part as the author points out various bloopers or script inconsistencies that make the show all the more endearing. I didn't know that Rossano Brazzi was an Olympic athelete! The only drawback about his book is that it's so much fun to read that it leaves you wanting more! Thanks for a job well-done Jack!

I'm 15 years old, I've been reading Ann Rinaldi's books for at least five years, and I have to say that this has been my favorite. I got it yesterday and finished it within three hours - it was that good. Time Enough For Drums is one of those books that just grabs ahold of you and never lets go.

Most of Ann Rinaldi's main characters are strong-willed, outspoken young women, but I am constantly surprised at Ms. Rinaldi's ability to add new facets to the girls' personalities. Jem Emerson is no exception. She is sassy and willful to a fault, but is usually saved from getting herself into real trouble by the fact that the people around her genuinely love her for her good heart. I'm a fan of a good romance too, and the love story in the book is very satisfying. Anyone who has read a lot of Ann Rinaldi knows that the endings of her books don't always turn out exactly the way we want them to, but I was happy with this one, even though it was a little sad. Ms. Rinaldi is very realistic in her approach on the American Revolution and although the book is not graphic it makes no attempt to portray war as something better than it really is. Jem and the people close do suffer as a result of the war, but they are better people because of it.

This book would be a great gift for someone interested in American History or someone just looking for a good read.

September 1, 2002
Time Enough for Drums

Why do I think Ann Rinaldi wrote Time Enough for Drums? I think Ann wrote this book because she really enjoys history. Maybe she felt that children aren't getting enough education about the Revolutionary War, so she based the book on a real fifteen year girl growing up with plenty of struggles for her and her family.
The ideas the author is trying to share with the reader are how the main character, Jemima, felt, what was going on in her life, sharing her grief, her sorrow, her happiness, and her growth.
The supporting characters are important in helping Jemima develop. I think Dan, John Reid, and Lucy had the most influence on Jemima. Dan helped Jemima by sending her letters of what was going on and showing that he was still alive. John Reid helped Jemima by tutoring her and admitting that he loves her. Lucy helped Jemima by getting through the time that no one was there, especially when the Hessians invaded their house.
As I read the book, I went through a variety of thoughts and feelings. The feelings that I experienced were happy, sad, angry, upset, confused, and frustrated. The ideas that I witnessed were: what could happen next, why did this happen, and for what cause.
I have learned a little bit of what went on during the Revolutionary War. The tragedies that happened to Jemima growing up and out of her adolescent years were both interesting and informative. Daniel and Raymond both gave their lives for what they thought was right which was freedom for future generations. Sarah wrote to the Gazette not knowing they would take her husband's life for it. John would marry Jemima after being her tutor for so many years.
In summary, Ann Rinaldi makes history more interesting by writing stories that are fun and informative to read. I also read Rinaldi's, Girl in Blue. I would recommend both of these books. She bases her stories on information she has gathered from books and original papers and then she adds her own little twist.

Ann rinaldi is an amazingly talented writer, but this book has got to be one of her best! An historical fiction book, she mixes in just enough history and just enough of her own creative twist to make it easy to relate to and to understand. I definetly recommend this book to anyone that loves some adventure, humor, mystery, AND romance all tied into one perfect package.

This book is the ultimate Egypt book. It is about a fictional girl named Mara who helps overthrow the Queen of Egypt, Hatshepsut. Along the way you are thrown into a world of secrecy and danger, where anything can happen at any moment. You'll be transfixed with an unsual love story, and amazed with Mara's cunning when she plays a double spy. I promise you . . . you will NOT want to put this book down!!!!!!! And your life is not complete if you don't read it! When I picked up this book in my school library, I was really interested, because I think McGraw is an awesome author. I had read her book, The Golden Goblet, in class, and loved it. So when I read this book, it was as though I knew Mara herself. McGraw paints a picture so life like, so real, that you too, like I was, will be a witness to Mara's extrordinary adventure. If your a coward, well then . . . don't read this book. If you're not, then sit back, and dare to dream.

Once upon a time, my sixth-grade best friend was so smart that she had already read the book report novel we were to read during the Egyptian section of our history class. She was given another book with a much cooler plot to read, and I wanted to ditch the required reading and grab the book Morgan was reading. Ever thinking in terms of "Anything you can do . . .", I hunted down a dog-eared copy of Mara, Daughter of the Nile, and read it in one sitting (only half of the time it had taken child genius Morgan to read it!), and immediately fell in love with the characters and plot.

Now that dog-eared copy at the library is even more dog eared, since I never seemed to have enough money to purchase the book when I wanted to, so I borrowed the library's copy, and on the return date card, have had my name written by the vast majority of times checked out.

As I get ready to leave for college, I find myself buying all the old books I had loved in junior high to take with me, as a sentimental remembrance of my younger days. Trust me, the copy of Mara, Daughter of the Nile I buy will be even more dog-eared than the library's copy.

As far as plot summary goes: A multi-talented Egyptian slave is recruited as a spy for both sides of a political battle between Queen Hatapsut and her brother, both sides wanting to have their respective monarch as pharoah. She doesn't count on half of the problems she faces, and falling in love is one of them. With gripping intrigue an rising suspense leading to the climactic last battle, the book is a page-turner, and should be recommended to anyone with a taste for history, romance, suspense, action, an a plain old good read!

Unlike most reviewers, while I remembered the story ( it has been with me since I first read it), I couldn't remember the title so I didn't know how to find the book. But I searched online under young adult fiction, romance, and Egypt and there was MARA. I am so glad I found it again. I read the book in 1961 when I was in the 7th grade and took it out from the library repeatedly. I was delighted to find that it is still in print so that I can enjoy it all over again. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good read - action, suspense, romance, and ancient Egypt in one book. Who could ask for anything more?

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is a wonderful short book coauthored by Pastor Jim Cymbala and Dean Merrill. Pastor Cymbala describes how God has blessed him and his wife Carol in their ministries with the famous Brooklyn Tabernacle in the last thirty years. The title "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" draws parallel of this church to the first century church in Acts 2:1-4. This book is a remarkable testimony of the awesome work of the Holy Spirit in how He could do great and mighty things through His people when they humble themselves in prayers. The increase in number for the Brooklyn Tabernacle is spectacular, but it turns pale when comparing to the increase in Pastor Cymbala's faith and dependency in God. God simply turned him from an amateur into warrior. It is a short book, but it is an important book for every serious Christian.

This book is divided into three sections, namely (1) Waking Up to a Powerful Promise, (2) Diversions from God's Best, and (3) The Road Ahead. Section 1 centers on the promise God revealed to Pastor Cymbala in Florida, that if he and his wife will lead his people to pray and call upon His name, He will provide everything they need: sermon, money, church building, and people (p. 25). Once he realized that prayer meeting is the engine of the church, and serious about it, Lord never stopped blessing them. Section 2 underscores that our lukewarm churches nowadays are in trouble by the lure of novelty, marketing, pleasing people, and dead doctrine without passions and actions for the Lord. Section 3 warns us not to be proud of ourselves and take credits from God. He challenges us to "look at the scoreboard" and be brave for God. At the end, he encourages us that the never changing power of the Holy Spirit is all-sufficient as He has never changed since the day of Pentecost.

This book is full of powerful true stories with drug addict, male prostitute, demon-processed person, homeless, all for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom. Besides touching stories, this book refers to scriptures in the Bible just as well - an important attribute for any Christian writing. Pastor Cymbala quotes Acts a lot, and is a doer of God's words when he follows the model of first century church in Acts.

This book emphasizes the sufficiency of the power of Holy Spirit. As a church to proclaim God's message in this evil generation, nothing will work better than the Holy Spirit Himself working through his humble and broken people. This is nicely summarized in his comments after the biblical example of Asa, that "such [whatever works is the way to go] thinking is due for a rude awakening when we stand before the Lord." (p. 164).

This inspiring book has made me think a lot. As a choir member, I was touched that even the Tabernacle choir would devoted at least half an hour to pray before the practice. Why can their music be so touching? The answer is in prayer. Life in the music comes from prayer (p. 49). I was so moved when I read the determination of that prayer band member to pray for her pastor before the Jewish man disturbed the worship service with a gun. I was equally touched by Pastor Cymbala's story on his rebellious daughter after the prayer meeting. Why can they do those great and mighty things through prayers but we can't? Why is our prayer meeting so poorly attended? The book provides an answer: prayer has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need. We cannot just say "we ought to pray", but " we have to be driven to pray" (p. 49). I am a firm believer in prayer and the promise in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." How encouraging it is to see prayer and faith in full action in The Brooklyn Tabernacle! This book rekindled my faith in the Lord. Nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Brethren, I encourage you to read this book, and get serious on the prayer ministry. When we work, we work. When we pray, God works! Amen.

We in America, have forgotten the art of prayer. We live in a land that is rich and everything is at our fingertips, and we have failed to remember where our blessings come from. Pastor Jim Cymbala reminds us that prayer has power, that prayer is the way we communicate with God, and that God is worthy of all praise. God is bigger than all of our problems or conditions. He is the answer to every situation. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire breathes new life into the sometimes stagnant walk of faith. Pastor Cymbala uses his own life as an example for those who read this book. Fresh Wind, Fresh Faith will move you and inspire you to worship, praise, and thank the Lord as well as deepen your personal relationship with Him. This book will capture your heart and mind, all for His glory. Reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Faith was time well spent for me so I read it again. I thank God for using Pastor Cymbala in such a mighty way. So will you.

Twenty-five years ago, the Brooklyn Tabernacle was a church that could barely draw 20 people to a Sunday service. It was a church that lacks of spirit and love. But after Jim Cymbala, the pastor of the Brooklyn, and his wife Carol Cymbala brought Christian faith into the church, everything changed. Although Jim wasn¡¦t a pastor when he first arrived to Brooklyn, but his faith in God led him through the difficulties that he faced during the lives in Brooklyn. The church population went from 10-15 to more than 6,000 people! And among these people includes converted prostitutes, pimps, drug addicts, and homeless people, as well as yuppies and wholesome families¡Ketc. Helping these kinds of people takes a lot of encouragement and faith. It was a big success.
As a Christian, I really really like this book. Not only that this book gives great stories about the Brooklyn church, but also taught me a lot and let me understand the meaning of God. Not a God who¡¦s carved out of a wood, but a God who really exist. God can solve any problems that no one else can. For example, in the book, God changed the population of the people attending the Brooklyn church from almost no one to a church over flowed with more than 6,000 people!! Nothing¡¦s impossible in the hands of God, as long as you ask for it, he¡¦ll give. Carol Cymbala encouraged me by not giving up on my dream. Maybe I don¡¦t have enough skills to be a designer, but as long as I work hard, I believe I can do it just like Carol being so successful in music. Not talented on something doesn¡¦t mean anything, it only means you have to work harder to be successful. Not by yourself, but in Gods hands.

As I read this book, I literatly felt sick to my stomach. Alicia Appleman-Jurman was, and is a very courageous woman. Reading about the things she, her family, and all the other people that were tormented, went through was very upsetting to me. At times I had to put the book down and take a deep breath. I am not ignorant to the things that happened in WW2, but I learned alot. Alicia wrote of things that I had never heard before. Her book makes me want to learn more about WW2. We have to learn then, educate the people around us about the Holocaust, and hope that through knowledge, history will not repeat itself. Reading this book is a good start. Alicia: My Story is a good book and I would recomend it to anyone who wants to learn more about WW2.

Alicia Appleman Jurman tells us a truly captivating story that makes us to see her grife throug tearful eyes. Alicia very quickly grew into a resourceful and brave human being. A young survivor has so much courage to live through the holocaust as well as loss her family one by one. Alicia passed through extremely dangerous situations when she was younger than 14 years of age. For a child to survive and fight back is truly awe-inspiring. The world depends on people like Alicia who still are today heroes and survivors from the march and telling the exhilarating story of an epic life and hardships. It helps all of us to know what was done and what happened. This is a truly powerful book, I would recommend to anyone who has never read or know about holocaust.

I have always been interested in the Halocaust, and have read tons of books on it, and this is one of the best. It is a great, true story that really gives you a close up look at how life was to be a Jew during the Holocaust in Poland. Alicia is about a 13-year-old girl whose family is eventually all killed. Her emotions come out through her reading, and she describes tis so well. It gives lots of detail, and is truly a heart-warming story about Alicia. It is a very inspirational book, written by Alicia herself. I would definetely recommend this book to almost everyone. Sad, yes, but it does have some happy parts. A must-read!!!

This has got to be the best book I have ever read. I would highly recomend it to anyone. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading. "The Last Silk Dress" is a wonderful story about a 14 year old girl named Susan who is living in the capital of the confederacy during the Civil War. She is so head strong. Susan feels she is a true confederate, and thinks she knows what the war is about. During the course of the book she unfolds many secrets. She learns about the war, and about herself in the process. Ann Rinaldi wrote a winner, an I hope she writes a sequal.

This book is about a girl named Susan Dobson Chilmark, and her mother is abusive. Her dad can't win an argument with her mom and she has a long lost brother that is then discovered later in the book. She and her best friend weren't allowed to be friends anymore. Her family had a reputation of being troubled and very crazy.
To win back a good reputation, she volunteers to collect silk dresses for the making of a balloon.With the help of her brother she was able to collect dresses. It was very interesting how and where she gets her dresses. That is for you to read.
The better thing is that this is also a love story. How did Ann manage to throw in a love story in the middle of the chaos of the life of Susan Dobson Chilmark? It is remarkable, and the ending to it is the most triumphant, sweetest ending I could ever read. This is a very exciting story, and I could never put it down until I finished!

This book is an awesome book! It is a great way to display the souths point of view in the Civil War. The coolest person I think is her brother. He shows her how the souths idea of slavery is wrong. Also,she meets this really tough dicision between her brother and her admirer. You definatly should read this bok!!!!!!!!!!!

-I need to thank him profusely!

I haven't read much Historical Fiction so far, but I've been wanting to for quite a while. I was interested in medieval England primarily, and someone told me to, "Give Sharon Kay Penman a go- She's amazing!" I found the first book really cheap and dove in.

Taking place in the 13th century, we are given the tale of the ruthless King John of England, and his greatest rival, Prince Llewelyn of Wales. To gain a hold over Wales, John marries his favorite daughter, Joanna, to the influential Welsh Prince. Joanna wants nothing less, but as she slowly begins to love her father's greatest enemy, she finds herself torn between the two powerful men. The romantic tale is merely a tiny aspect of this engrossing novel. You will also witness the warfare, politics and what life was like during this brutal period of English and Welsh history. I can think of nothing to compare it too except Braveheart, which is high praise from me. This book has everything in it. It's amazing how some of the best stories in the world actually happened.

From what I've heard, and from the little I've witnessed, historical fiction usually means there will be a compromise in writing and story. Well, from page one, Penman grabbed me and wouldn't let go. After just this one book, she easily earns her place among my favorite authors. Here Be Dragons was simply captivating from beginning to end.

-Lysander

Sharon Kay Penman is a remarkably gifted writer. Her impeccable historical research, attention to detail and superb storytelling ability make her novels consistently excellent. "Here Be Dragons" is one of her best efforts. It is the second book in her Plantagenet series, which include "The Sunne In Splendour," "Falls The Shadow," and "The Reckoning." Each of these wonderful historical novels stands on its own, however, and while it is an extraordinary experience to read each book in order, one does not have to do so to appreciate the history, the characters or the period.

Ruthless, power hungry King John Platagenet ruled 13th century England with an iron fist. He was determined to bring Wales, a country divided, under his thumb and into his power. Charismatic Llewelyn Farr, Prince of Northern Wales fought to unite his country's nobility and provide a strong front against the English. He finally succeeded in securing a tentative truce with England by marrying King John's beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna. Initially wary of her new husband, her father's enemy, Joanna grew to love Llewelyn passionately over the years, but she was constantly torn between the politics of Wales and England, and her love for her husband and her father.

This is a complex saga of historic characters, politics, intrigues, betrayals, bloody battles and wars, romance, lust, power struggles, princesses held captive, revenge and forgiveness. Yet once begun, this extraordinary epic is almost impossible to put down. Ms. Penman portrays Wales, its people, culture and landscape vividly with glorious detail. It is fascinating to become involved with the characters and realize how linked they are by common ancestry. Not only is Welsh history tied to that of England's, but the royal families, Kings John's and Prince Llewelyn's, are linked by blood as are their descendants. Ms. Penman joins the histories and characters of these two countries to give the reader, not just a superb tale but a look at the bigger historical picture also.

This is truly one of the best historical novels I have ever read, and the four book series by Ms. Penman is absolutely outstanding. She paints an unforgettable picture of medieval England and Wales and the characters who made history. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.
JANA

This was the first "historical" novel that I have ever read. Due to the size of the book (over 700 pages), I figured it would take me weeks to read it. I didn't count on how involved I would get with the story. It has been quite a while since a book grabbed me enough to read until dawn. But this one did. So did the two other books in the series, "Falls the Shadow" and "The Reckoning". All three are highly recommended.

I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson retraces the steps of a girl, Elli, and her family during the Holocaust. The family is forced to endure extreme humiliation. They are then herded into the cramped Ghetto's. Living conditions are unbearable and there food is unsanitary. The next hurdle is concentration camps were families and friends are separated. You are now no longer an individual only a number with no possessions. Elli learns to go on even if you have no reason. Through all this Elli has been able to shed some light on a bad situation and make it worth living. She, along with her mom and brother, are able to make it against all odds.
I Have Lived a Thousand Years is a good book to read or buy. You are really taken into the time and you feel as though you are there with her. Although you may stumble on some of the words it is worth the trouble. The story is one a tragedy and of hope.

I Have Lived a Thousand Years
By: Livia Bitton-Jackson

I Have Lived a Thousand Years was the tragic, sad, and well-written book about a thirteen year old girl and her family that gets taken away by the Nazi's to go to a ghetto and then to a concentration camp.
In this story, the main character Elli Friedmann, goes from having everything to family, food, and clothes to nothing but a gray prison dress and shoes two sizes too small. Elli's family is broken up and separated from her and is later found out that some of her family was gassed in a gas chamber. Her dad was one of the family members.
Elli and her mother are forced to be left by themselves in a cold barrack. They are starving and the only thing to eat is a bowl of soup with worms in it. They are alone because everyone else in their barrack has families of their own to take care of. Each day in their concentration camp, Elli and her mother struggle to survive and take care of each other.
In this story, Elli's mother becomes very ill and almost dies but Elli saves her from being sent to the gas chambers. She was being sent to the gas chambers because, after a terrible accident she was hospitalized, and then she didn't recover so the Nazi's were going to kill her.
The way each individual was treated in the book was cruel and they were tortured beyond belief. The horrors of living perfectly and safe to terrible in the matter of a day was the idea mentioned in this book. It gave me sense of what must not happen in the future of the world.
I really liked this book because of its specific detail and emotions that Elli mentioned in this tragic story. I couldn't believe the horrible things Elli and her family were put through and also the people that were alive when this time in history occurred. The worst part was that no one spoke up for the Jewish people. Out of so many people, no one spoke up. At times, this book made me sad and other times, it made me want to be happy because something good happened to Elli's family.
This is a great read so check this book out!

This book is very inspirational because it talks about the life of a thirteen year old girl and her inspirational story about how she survived the Holocaust. I recommend this book to anyone who ever wanted to know the truth about the Holocaust and hear about a brave little girl who survived and also helped other to never give up hope. This story will bring a tear to your eye. I learned a lot about the Holocaust by reading this story. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. I just started reading this book for a report for school, but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I got a new outlook on life once reading this.

This book made me feel like I really could understand the intricacies of atomic power. Rhodes manages to throw into his well-written narrative the history of the Hungarian scientists who fled Nazi Germany, the personal stories of men like Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi, and the genesis and eventual success of the Manhattan Project. The atomic bomb was truly a massive, detailed undertaking, and this book brings that story to life clearly and entertainingly. For instance, one fascinating aspect of this story is that the keys to releasing nuclear energy were discovered through chemists, not physicists, despite Einstein's relativity. If you really want to know what the government was and is up to in Rocky Flats, read this book.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this story was the way Rhodes captures the excitement of the scientists--from Ernest Rutherford to Leo Szilard to Niehls Bohr--as they learned, piece by piece, how to release nuclear energy. Then, once the Trinity test occurs, and then the bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, the entire tone of the book changes. It's almost as if the wind goes out of the scientists' (and the writer's) sails. Having built up this excitement, the men of the Manhattan Project take a look at what they have done and are suddenly horrified. I found this reaction simultaneously understandable and ridiculous. They were, after all, making a WEAPON, why were they so surprised when it worked so well?

This might serve as a cautionary tale. After all, as we know, nuclear weapons did not go away after World War II. The tremendous momentum built up at Los Alamos did not cease. Indeed, once fission power had been proven, Edward Teller and his team got approval to go ahead with development of fusion power, more specifically, hydrogen bombs.

The good part of this book is, you can read it without needing a degree in chemistry or physics, just a genuine interest in the subject. "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" rightly won the Pulitzer Prize. It tells a remarkable tale about a neglected chapter of our world's (so far) worst war. Unfortunately, you can also see the seeds for the next war within it.

I recommend this work to you for two reasons: first, I believe it important for a citizen of the world to understand the development and initial employment of this "gadget" (as its creating physicists designated the bomb), and second, this is a fine read: significant history with minimal political taint. This is a story more fascinating than Clancy's best, due simply to its veracity.

No wonder this won the Pulitzer! This is well-written and captivating history.

Rhodes includes dialog and writings to allow his reader to meet the physicists, soldiers, and politicians. His technical descriptions of the involved science satiate me, a chemist, yet he supplies the definitions and background to permit ready comprehension by readers not versed in nuclear theory. Finally, his account of the events in the two decades prior to and during the Manhattan Project educates without boredom.

Much of this work concerns the men and women discovering the constituents of the atom and of its potential to be affected for some utility. The science is not overwhelming, but well-written and clear.

This is written as a historical text book, with documentation galore. I concur with my fellow reader who remarked on their amazement that one man could compile this. What a tome of research!

I shall limit my complaints to two. I found the account to be heavy on the early days and developers of nuclear theory. I also tired of reading Bohr's philosophy on the need to share science with the world.

Anyone interested in the history of the 20th Century or in atomic weapons would not regret reading The Making of the Atomic Bomb.

What struck me most?

How quickly the industrial capability of the United States put this into motion, once committed. Trinity, the first test shot, was July 16, 1945. Less than one month later, Little Boy dropped. Los Alamos was established for only two years prior to the first bombing.

These men and women were not evil: they were giants and pioneers in science. Many of the key players were European, serving their adopted nation to beat the enemy to discovering a bigger stick. Several were forced to leave their home lands due to some Jewish blood in a spouse. They were chilled to observe the power they had made when they watched Trinity through their welders glass, several miles distant. Hitler, the Japanese, and the Russians were working on atomic weapons of their own. Would the world be a better place if they had beaten the US in this race? Some seem to forget that the conventional fire bombings, poison gases, flame throwers, and concentration camps were also unspeakably horrible.

Remarkable prescience: as these scientists were assembling their first bombs, they realized that a policy of mutual deterrance via escalation in the US and USSR would ensue.

I was humbled to read of the brilliance of so many involved. I do not consider myself to be a pessimist, but I think there remain few men and women like these men and women.

Imagine a place

Where it all began

They gathered from across the land

To work in the secrecy of the desert sand

All of the brightest boys to play with the biggest toys--

More than they bargained for. . .

"Manhattan Project," Neal Peart, 1985 (Rush, Power Windows)

When I was an undergraduate in physics at Harvard, a professor once told us that this book should be required reading for all budding physicists. Having read the book now, I agree absolutely. The individuals involved in the distinguished beginnings of 20th century physics and their stories are as engrossing as the consequences mortifying. I am a reader who believes in the counterfactual argument that the bomb prevented a horrific invasion of Japan. However, the idea of one smallish weapon killing tens of thousands (millions, if you count later bombs) must continue to terrify us and all of humanity forever. During the war, events were as terrifying as the bombmakers could imagine. At Los Alamos, the physicists were working for one purpose -- to get the bomb before Germany. That they were mostly Jews makes the quest that much more sobering. This is an account of events with a complicated reality, a very troubling legacy and a cast of truly fascinating individuals. Rhodes has done a service by telling us this story so elegantly.

Cheaper by the Dozen is a well written biography on the Gilbreth family and all the craziness they go through every day with such a big family. This large family consists of 12 children and a set of parents. All 12 kids-Fred, Dan, Anne, Bob, Bill, Frank, Martha, Lil, Ernestine, Jack, Jane and Mary-all have red or blonde hair and lots of freckles. My favorite character was Mr. Gilbreth. This story took place in Mont Clair, New Jersey and i think that was a very appropriate setting. My favorite part in the book was when Mr. Gilbreth would not let Anne and Ernestine wear make-up, high heels or short skirts. I also liked when the Gilbreths went to California to visit Mrs. Gilbreth's family. There are many more good parts, but you will need to read the book or listen to it on tape to find out about them. What i liked best about the story is that it was pretty funny. I would reccomend it to any one who likes books written with a sense of humor. There isn't any real plot or climax to this story, but that may be one of the reasons I liked it so much. It flows very well and the only confusing part is all of the characters. Overall, it was a pretty good book.

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Format: Paperback,1st ed., 180 pages ISBN: 0553272500 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Younger Readers Pub. Date: February 1981 Other Formats: Hardback Recommended Age:Third grade and up

Wonderful...Once you start to read the first page you wont be able to put the book down. This perfect way to spend a rainy day. You will be very amused when you read about the hilarious events of the Gilbreth family. The family of twelve children have many adventures you will enjoy reading. The father is almost crazy and a very successful business man. He is very strict and overprotective. He won't let his daughters wear make up or dress the way they like to. They slowly change his mind and begin to dress their way. He thinks his children can do anything and is also believed he could do anything. He loved jokes and laughing and you will love the practical jokes they play on each other. The rich family loves to go to movies then out for ice cream. They also spend their summers at the beach, where their Dad forces them to learn to swim. He wants them to learn as much as possible about everything so he always finds a way to teach them new things. As an efficiency expert he made sure that everything was done in a time efficient way. It was a sin to waste time in the Gilbreth house and he was constantly coming up with new ways to save time. The Dad in the story liked to parade around and show off his kids. Although this was embarassing to some of the kids as they got older Dad found it hilarious. The mother also was sometimes embarrassed or insulted by the attention they got or the comments other people made. This book will keep you laughing right up to the last chapter when Dad dies. The book is a mixture of humor and then sadness at the ending. This is an excellent book that everybody should read. I recommend this book for anyone that knows how to read no matter how old or young!

Dina Bastianini, Pine-Richland High School

First of all, this book--the true, original story--has nothing to do with the recent Steve Martin movie.

This book is set in the 1920s in Montclair, NJ mainly and the father of the 12 children (11 lived, but the death of one is not mentioned in this book) is a big, jolly, eccentric and a fascinating possible-genius who works as a consultant making businesses more efficient through his motion studies.

The book is a series of reminiscences as told by two of the older Gilbreth children. They recreate many episodes with full dialogue (which of course couldn't possibly be completely accurate historically) making for easy and humorous reading.

I read this book for the first time when I was a young teenager. I loved it then, and it was perfectly appropriate. I re-read it 20 years later and was surprized at how many of the scenes I'd remembered from my first reading. (If only I could recall much of my schooling as well!) As an adult and now a parent (of a scant 3 offspring), I had a new appreciation for the story this time around. The Gilbreth children are tutored constantly in all manner of subjects by their talented parents, using many novel approaches. This is fascinating to me, as a parent: the teaching meathods, the team-spirit instillation, the overall vibe in a household as complex and successful as this one (the family is rich and all the children seem to have gone on to further success).

This book has been translated into something like 50+ languages and its obvious why if you read it. It is everything an enjoyable book should be. The warmth, intelligence, pro-family team attitude, and wonderful humor would cheer anyone's spirit.