history

This is a wonderful revisionary view of a bunch of authors who put me to sleep in high school. Peyser pulls the pants down on the "old grey ladies" of American literature. Someone had to do it (I guess) and I'm glad it was him and not me, but I'm also glad to have this rather strange and wondrous book.

Up until now, Peyser has been known mostly for his uproarious commentaries on NPR, and for his notorious flipping off of Cokie Roberts on the old David Brinkley show. (He has never been invited back.) I have to admit that when I first saw this book I just assumed it was another of his spoofs, but it turns out that Peyser is a bona fide literary critic. There is some very funny stuff about the vastly overrated Charlotte Perkins Gilman--Peyser cuts the old trog down to size--but mostly this is very smart and very down-to-earth cultural criticism. We have to be grateful for this book, but I for one cannot help but feel a little sad, too, since it would seem that with its publication P. has shed his youthful guise of hilarity, and that he has now stepped into full manhood, revealing what most of us have always suspected underlay the shimmering surface of his speech: knowledge of what Matt Arnold named "the eternal note of sadness."

You know, this is not the sort of book I would normally read. But there it was, suddenly, on the coffee table one night. How it got there I have no idea. Just curious, I began to leaf through the pages, and the words began to resonate with me. Unable to sleep, I read it through in one sitting by candlelight. The next morning, I began to look at things around me differently. First, I removed several unessential appliances from the house in an effort to simplify my existence. Then it became time to de-clutter and I threw out several items I realized I had no more use for. Then, and this all seemed so logical in light of the things I'd read, I divorced the wife and sent her on her why. Sure, she cried a bit, but I knew I was doing the right thing. And I've never regretted it. This is, indeed, one of the best books I've read all year.

All I need to know in Life I learned from Romance Novels by Victoria Johnson was a pleasure and a thought provoking experience. The things that the author talks about are the things that interest me. I can not wait for her next Book!

I recently read All I need to know in life I learned from romance novels was incredible and fun to read. It is a wonderful reference. Relationships can be fun and exciting. The quotes from the top authors in the romance field are great. The websites for even more information are great. The author seems like a wonderful and fun down to earth woman that has a beautiful romantic relationship.

I loved every word printed in the book. I am a big fan of Victoria Johnson's and I can not wait for her next book, I will buy that based on her love and appreciation of the romance field.

I have a had the privilege of not only reading Mr. Faber's book, "Because of Romek", I also had the great privilege of meeting him in person and discussing his heart wrenching experiences. Once you start reading his book you won't want to put in down! On several occasions, I had to stop and remind myself THIS IS A TRUE story! To read what it was like first hand from Mr. Faber, a Holocaust survivor, was to say at the very least, enlightning! It is so very hard to believe that another human being could treat another human in such a horrible way.

As a police officer, I have experienced some terrible things in my 20+ years, but I don't believe any of them could come close to comparison with Mr. Faber's experiences. My deepest respect and admiration go to you, Mr. Faber!

I thank you for sharing these very personal thoughts and experiences with us! You have definately given me a new perspective on life and how fragile life can be!

My girlfriend and I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Faber at a recent book signing. Seconds after introducing himself, he is ready to pull up his shirt sleeve to show you a grim reminder of his past. His arm still bears the numbers, forcibly tattooed on him by the Nazi regime. He then pulls open his book, lovingly pointing to his mother and sisters. With a soft break in his voice, he then describes the moment he found them lifeless, piled on top of one another. We bought several copies... and have come back to purchase more.

The book does not disappoint, written in a narrative format that is easy to follow and gripping to read. His work leads you down the path of brutal history, following his family as they are forced into slave labor, rounded up into Ghettos, and then ritualistically hunted by the Nazis. He makes a pact with his mother to survive the horrors, and through it all, he somehow does. Reading the book, you realize that he had a higher purpose in life, educating future generations about the atrocities that no man or woman should have to endure.

After meeting the man and understanding his past, one can only thank God Mr. Faber lived to tell his story. It will change you forever.

At school last year, David Faber came to our school and talked to us about his book and his experience. I have not actually READ the book, but hearing his story first hand definitely had a huge impact on me.

We had the good fortune to have Ms. Zia come speak in our community as part of her tour for this book. I was particularly struck at this event by her realistic assessment of where Asian America comes from, has been, and is going. This vision is reflected in this wonderful book. "Asian American Dreams" looks at both the diversity within Asian America, and at the problematic place of Asians and Asian Americans in our bipolar (typically Black/White) racial dialogue. Ms. Zia begins each chapter with an anecdotal essay which allows us to glimpse her good humor, and for those of us raised outside of traditional Asian America, to see similarities with our own experiences that we hadn't thought to look for in the past. I highly recommend this book for everyone with an interest in "American" culture, society and racial/ethnic dialogue.

This book is a must read for those who are interested in any of the following: Asian American history, Asian American contributions to the civil rights movement, relationships b/w various Asian American groups and African Americans, Asian American experiences of discrimination and or prejudice, the model minority paradigm. Ms. Zia has written a winner, full of facts and commentary balancing the perfect combination of history and anecdote. One of my favorite recent reads.

I would give it more then 5 stars if I could. It should be a part of our school curriculum.

For anyone interested in or ignorant of "The Troubles" this book is a must read. Written in a clear, concise and straight forward manner this book gives a brief background of the conflict in Northern Ireland, then provides a "snapshot" of life in the war torn city of Belfast from the a first person point of view/reference. Mr. Conroy must be applauded for having the courage and determination to immerse himself in a part of the world and into a subject, which it seems most (American and British, especially) journalists are unaware...by choice. One can only hope that the concept of "equal justice under law" will be the next permanent "fad" to invade Northern Ireland.

This book was recommended to me as excellent reading about the Troubles, particularly for Americans. I whole-heartedly agree; it is all that and more. Conroy does describe the daily workings of life in Northern Ireland but he also tackles the prejudices and ignorance of Americans (and the U.S. government) when it comes to the political climate in Northern Ireland. He pulls no punches and sugar-coats no issues. He explicates the situation as he sees it and is not afraid to indict those who turn blind eyes. The version I read was older so I have not yet seen the updated book that includes information on semi-recent IRA ceasefires. But I do think many of Conroy's observations are still applicable, changes in administration notwithstanding. He describes the intolerant view towards Sinn Fein taken by the American government in the 80s and the biased, oversimplified treatment of the Troubles by the American media. Indeed as Conroy notes it has not been hard to sell the British point-of-view to American audiences but what of the counterpoint? When do proponents of the other side get a chance? Conroy also concludes that for as long as Northern Ireland remains a British enclave, continued violence is guaranteed. For that reason alone, Americans owe it to themselves to read _Belfast Diary_.

of what it is like to live, work and experience the turmoil of "The Troubles." Conroy covered the Troubles the right way...he went in and lived among the people in Belfast instead of swooping in for drive-by interviews like too many journalists have done in the past. He also manages to convey what he experienced while maintaining objectivity...this skill when dealing with terrorist and paramilitary violence is something writers covering the "War on Terror" these days could learn from. Required reading for anybody interested in Northern Ireland, its history and how to possibly make a better future in that wartorn nation...

Brief summary and Review:

Four Perfect Pebbles: A Holocaust Story is a wonderful book of how a family stays together through thick and thin. The story is about one Jewish family's struggle for survival during the Nazi occupation of Europe. The family includes Ruth Blumenthal, the mother, Walter Blumenthal, the father, Marion Blumenthal, the daughter, and Albert Blumenthal, the son. The Blumenthals lived in concentration camps for six years which included Westerbork in Holland and the notorious concentration camp of Bergen-Belson in Germany. Conditions in these camps were so terrible that nearly half the camps population died of disease, starvation, exposure, exhaustion, or brutal beatings. The book received its name from young Marion's search to find four perfect pebbles of almost the same size. If Marion could manage to find these four pebbles, she felt that it meant her family would remain whole and be strong enough to survive the Nazi reign. This game kept young Marion's mind on things other than dead bodies lying around, the rumbles of her starving tummy, and the want for her family and life to go back to normal. This is a great story about the importance of family and diversity. I would encourage everyone to take this book home with them today and experience the true account of one family's struggle through the Holocaust.

As a junior high reading teacher and being extremely interested in survivors of the Holocaust, I was thrilled to read this book. Students will readily relate to this book. The author was 5 year younger than Anne Frank, her family moved to Amsterdam from Germany when she was a small child, she went to Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen. The similarities are remarkable. Marion Lazan is an exceptional writer and speaker. After reading her book, we were fortunate enough to have her as a speaker. She is marvelous. This book is a must. Pamela Blevins

FOUR PERFECT PEBBLES is just one of thousands of such stories that mandate telling and retelling. Simply and beautifully, Perl relates one little girl's mode of survival through one of history's most heinous periods. As the author of another Holocaust book, FAR ABOVE RUBIES by Cynthia Polansky, I read everything I can get my hands on pertaining to the Holocaust. This one is a gem that must not be overlooked.

I cannot recommend it highly enough. A rich read about a great American hero for all times. Mayer obviously loves and admires Garrison, but this did not keep him from portraying this hero with his blemishes as well as strengths. The most startling thing about this great read is just how important Garrison was to America's most tumultuous time --- the abolitionist of all abolitionists, a leader who appreciated how deep religious beliefs and moral politics go together, who believed in the power of the written and spoken word, who helped perhaps as much as anyone in our history to move our nation and free it of slavery. Truly a companion biography to go with the best biographies of Lincoln --- no understanding of the Civil War can be complete without knowing about Garrison, and this is definitely the way to know about Garrison. To say it simply: no one can claim to be a Civil War buff without knowing about Garrison, and no one can know about Garrison any better way than by reading this book. Highest kudoes to Mayer!

I thought I knew my American history reasonably well until Henry Mayer taught me how much I had missed. Garrison certainly was far more than the hot-headed crusader on the nut fringe I read about in one text after another. But this book also is more than a correction of an historial footnote; Mayer breathes life into the moral arguments about slavery before the Civil War and weaves America's history from the signing of the Constitution to the passage of the 14th Amendment into a colorful, lively tapestry. This is biography raised to its finest form.

Rare is the book that well captures the temper and tone of the times as well as distilling the great arguments that have shaped our world. This book does exactly that and far more. This biography delves deeply into a man who has been reviled and scorned in both his era and ours. Admittedly, I too approached the book with the presumption of guilt for Garrison's complicity in setting the course of the nation toward our tragic civil war. My respect for the man, and the cause he championed, has grown immeasureably from reading this elegantly crafted work. Rich in detail and awesome in it's prose this is one of those books that one can truthfully say is hard to put down. Garrison the zealot, and Garrison the firebrand are well known stereotypes but they do little credit to a man who steadfastly and courageously fought for the equality of all races and the end of slavery. Equally appealing is Garrison the Christian who applied the tenants of his faith to the most confounding and perplexing issue that faced the new nation. Defiant in the face of death threats, and eager to confront all comers in debate, Garrison displayed a moral courage rare in the annals of history. This is the story not only of one man's struggle but also of social change and the abolition of a great evil. Much can be learned, and much enjoyment obtained, from this wonderful volume.

I read this book some days ago, and I am deeply impressed on both the life of Crazy Horse and the way Ms. Sandoz told it to the reader. Since long I have been reading books about Plains Indians and their wars and had a special interest in the person of Crazy Horse. But I had not expected that this strange man, hardly to be understood by his own people, would have become so vivid to me. Ms. Sandoz book is by far better than that of Stephen E. Ambrose who often quoted her, because unlike him she was able to tell it from the Indian point of view and did not always evaluate what she wrote about. Crazy Horse was an Indian hero as out of a Greek tragedy alway doing the best for his people but condemned to be beaten by unmeasureably stronger forces than those of his people. I think he will keep in my heart and brain.

Immerse yourself in the life and mind of the Oglala Lakota with Sandoz's biography of Crazy Horse. In his preface, Steven Oates perhaps best summarized the book in writing "by incorporating the Indian oral tradition into her narrative...Sandoz got closer to the truth of Crazy Horse and his world, and thus to the truth of history, than she could ever have done had she adhered strictly to "facts" taken from the written records of the white people." Although she had been accused by some of putting words in Crazy Horse's mouth with her style and use of oral history, Sandoz was no slouch as a historian. The book was a dozen years in the making and meticulously researched. As I read the story of Crazy Horse, I found myself so captivated by his story, and by Sandoz's retelling of it, that I was somehow hoping to be saved from the inevitable, tragic conclusion to the life of this truly heroic American. Anyone with an interest in American history must read this book.

This is one of the first books I have read in a while where I wasn't able to put it down. The story of Crazy Horse's life is so compelling, and inspiring. His commitment to fighting for the rights of his people even in the face of defeat is a quality contemporary America could learn a lesson from. I highly recommend this book.

This book is a detailed story of the life of Christ while on this earth. Skeptics have read it and many have had to admit that He was more than just a man, he was God.

The very best account of the life of Christ that I have ever read, aside from the Bible. This author brings a seemingly eye-witness perspective to this work. The characters come to life in amazing detail. It makes reading the Bible itsself more understandable. This book give the reader a feeling of "personal contact" with the Man whose birth divided time into BC and AD. Who was / is Jesus? I am so glad that I read this book. Like a magnifying glass to The Gospels.

The dramatic description in this book of the life of Christ has been lifechanging for me. I would encourage you to read this book if you really wnat to understand what His life was all about.

My reaction to this book was extremely mixed. I ordered it by mistake, after confusing it with another book that had "Everyday Life" in the title. The section about the involvement of the various states in the war was generally excellent--and provided a good reminder that the Civil War didn't affect only the eastern seaboard states that tend to get the most attention. Details about country and city life, military organization and insignia, the war's timeline, shortages in the south, and events leading up to the war were extremely helpful. This information is concise, well organized, and well illustrated.

What concerns me in books that are supposed to serve as a factual resource for others is when I find obvious errors. The women's fashion section perpetuates Hollywood myths about Civil War-era fashions. Mr. Varhola would have done well to consult Juanita Leitch's well-researched "Who Wore What," considered the Bible for those involved in living history depicting the 1850s and 1860s. Instead, he leaves the reader with the impression that most women dressed like Scarlett O'Hara. The two pictures he selected to portray women's fashions are a ruffled ballgown, reminiscent of Scarlett's white dress in GWTW, and a Zoave jacket/Garibaldi shirt combination favored by less-authentic Civil War reenactors. Experts on 1860s fashion consider the latter a high-fashion item that most average women would not have worn. Terminology and descriptions about underpinnings also do not ring true.

I would give the overall book four stars, but the fashion section and some disappointing information about my home state two stars, thus my rating is an average. Someone just learning about the period would find the book quite useful--as long as they ignored the fashion section. Those more familiar with the period likely would regard it as a less useful rehash of information they have already read.

For educators looking for a core source book to use in conjunction with an integrated Civil War era unit, Everyday Life During the Civil War is a must.

Each chapter deals with a particular aspect of the Civil War time period, which could easily be assigned to a group to explore, create a display, and present to the class.

Such topic areas include the people of the North and South; currency, clothing, dry goods; life in cities and rural areas; food and diets; fun and games; the different armed services; technology; and arms, equipment and uniforms. Some areas could be subdivided, and in many cases, comparisons could be made between civilian and military conditions. Also, included in each chapter are important terms and definitions, drawings, and sometimes the cost of items.

Language Arts teachers will find the chapter on slang and idiom particularly useful. Not only are interesting and unique words and phrases presented, but how the language of the North and the South differed. The influence that immigrant groups had on our usage and vocabulary is also explored.

The book concludes with a Civil War time-line, recommended books and internet sites, as well as a short section of Civil War songs and poems.

As noted in the Introduction, "Everyday Life During the Civil War is intended to be a broad-based introduction to the day-to-day conditions, attitudes, and events of the period. For some, this book may be the only tool they need to research the Civil War, or one of just a few." I couldn't agree more.

David B. McCoy, middle school history

SKIRMISHER has long recommended books from Writer's Digest's "Everyday Life" series as extremely useful guides for all sorts of games, from table-top wargames to roleplaying games (RPGs). "Everyday Life During the Civil War," the most recent release in this series, is undoubtedly also the most useful in this regard. Wargamers will find detailed information about small arms, melee weapons, and heavy weaponry alike, while RPGers will find everything they need to create a Civil War milieu, from a comprehensive overview of conditions in each state during the Civil War to sections on clothes and uniforms, food and diet, games and entertainment, and language (indeed, a detailed chapter on slang and idiom is likely to be especially appreciated by "live action" gamers). For historic wargamers, this book is a must.