Presidents

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Brilliance of Hindsight Does Not Hide Bias
Needs a Greater Focus on the Last Chapter
Unbiased, Brilliant, Insightful and Timely
Second Chance by Secretary of State Brzezinski
Excellent

Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0465002528

Book Description

From the most highly respected analyst of foreign policy writing today, a story of wasted opportunity and squandered prestige: a critique of the last three U.S. presidents' foreign policy.

America's most distinguished commentator on foreign policy, former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, offers a reasoned but unsparing assessment of the last three presidential administrations' foreign policy. Though spanning less than two decades, these administrations cover a vitally important turning point in world history: the period in which the United States, having emerged from the Cold War with unprecedented power and prestige, managed to squander both in a remarkably short time. This is a tale of decline: from the competent but conventional thinking of the first Bush administration, to the well-intentioned self-indulgence of the Clinton administration, to the mortgaging of America's future by the "suicidal statecraft" of the second Bush administration. Brzezinski concludes with a chapter on how America can regain its lost prestige. This scholarly yet highly opinionated book is sure to be both controversial and influential.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliance of Hindsight Does Not Hide Bias.......2007-06-22

Brzezinski examines the current state of affairs by retro examining and judging the last three presidents. He gives Bush 1 a solid "B" primarily for handling the breakup of the Soviet Empire very well, and for effectively removing Saddam from Kuwait with the building of a coalition that included Arab states. Bush 1 is criticized for not leveraging that victory by neutralizing Saddam and taking a bigger leadership role in the Israel Palestinian conflict.

He gives Clinton a "C" for succumbing to an Israel lobby and thus failing to lead in the Middle East. Clinton focused more on his domestic agenda which he saw during his campaign as Bush 1's weakness. Clinton failed in Somalia (Black Hawk Down), but had some success in Albania.

Not surprisingly Zbigniew gives Bush 2 an "F", primarily for the Iraq quagmire, but also for his unilateral "you are with us or against us" simplistic attitude. While his first two subjects were criticized for not taking advantage of America's default leadership in the world after the Soviet demise; he blasts Bush 2 for squandering all of our advantages and sacrificing all of our foreign respect and ability to influence global outcomes.

Brzezinski is obviously intelligent and knowledgeable and writes like a brilliant and tenured college political science professor. Covering the complicated Mideast convulsions, the rise of China and India, the dissolution of the Soviet Empire, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, the nuclear empowerment of India, Pakistan, North Korea and soon Iran, with some consideration of developments in Latin America, not to mention the response to attacks on our soil; is not only a lot of subject material to cover in 200 pages but it is a stifling challenge for any leader. I picture the college students in this metaphorical lecture nodding off and looking confused.

The author has the brilliance of hindsight, but the difficulty of making these decisions under the real time pressures of the job and the complicated uncertainty makes such retro analysis cheap and easy. While he criticizes Bush 2 for fear mongering, the national paranoia after 911 was very real. Combined with the hubris of success in Kuwait in the first Gulf War and in Afghanistan it is not difficult to understand our willingness to take unilateral action at that time.

Brzezinski asks for a different approach and repeats "the strength of a great power is diminished if ceases to serve an idea". Clearly Bush 2 took a different approach and treated terrorism as an act of war rather than a crime. He clearly had an idea to stop the rise of terrorism by changing regimes and instilling a democratic form of government hoping it would change the culture that spawns terrorism. For a while it even seemed as if it was working.

Bush 2, unlike his predecessors had to address a major attack on our soil. While the loss of life may have been small compared to other conflicts, the emotional impact was far greater. Bush's deliberate response that this war would not be fought here took the battle to the source. Brzezinski does not really differentiate the difference in climate the third president faced. In fact the failings of Carter, the retreats of Reagan, and the missed opportunities of Bush 1 and Clinton fell at Bush 2's doorstep in a way that precluded him from not acting strongly.

Zbibniew was Carter's National Security Advisor and shares his former boss' proclivity to blame Israel disproportionately for the conflict. He finds it too easy to excuse Arafat's intransigence even for his refusal of the Clinton/ Barak offer which many considered generous to a point of suicide. Like Carter he seems to blame all of the violent escalation in the Middle East on American failures to exploit opportunities and on Israel's and America's lack of willingness or ability to negotiate smarter.

Brzezinski makes some valid points, especially about the Americans' general ignorance on the world outside our borders, but given the horrible legacy of Carter's foreign policy (he praised the Ayatollah as a man of God and a man of peace), criticism from his National Security Advisor rings hollow.

Needs a Greater Focus on the Last Chapter.......2007-06-16

When I picked up a copy of Brzezinski's new book, I was hoping for a thoughtful analysis of the country's future from one of America's greatest statesmen.

What I found instead, in the first part of the book at least, was a very brief history of the foreign policies of the past three administrations. Brzezinski presents a compelling analysis of their successes and failures, but I was not all that impressed with this section of the book. A reader with the topic will find little new information here.

The last chapter, which focuses on America's future in the world, was just what I had hoped for. Here, Brezezinski's brilliance shines through, and he puts forward a series of ideas that are both insightful and thought-provoking.

Unfortunately, "Beyond 2008" is only 37 pages and most of these ideas are not fully explained. Nor does he elaborate on them with examples and evidence. There is enough to write an entire book on here, and I wish he had done so. The brevity is the reason that I am not giving this book all five stars.

Still, with its solid (albeit basic) summaries, and (much more importantly) its examination of the future of our foreign policy, Second Chance is worth taking a look at.

Unbiased, Brilliant, Insightful and Timely.......2007-06-15

This is a must read book for anyone who is in the voting age!

The book may not be well written in some parts, but it's unique and superb in essence and in the way it illuminates and offers insight to our most pressing issues.

This book is not written by yet another pundit or Sunday-News armchair general or politician.

Brzezinski, who in my opinion is as brilliant as Kissinger (if not more) sheds light to major challenges and opportunities facing America.

The cogent and frank style of writing makes this book accessible and a easy read and its non-partisan objective criticism gives it the kind of credibility that is rarely seen these days.

In all a must read!

Second Chance by Secretary of State Brzezinski.......2007-05-27

Essentially, the work begins by presenting the United States as the first
global leader after the end of the Cold War. This is followed by at least
3 or more strategic missions of the United States in the role of superpower:
o management of central power relations
o to contain conflicts where there is a critical strategic interest
o to address intolerable inequities and ecological threats

Some important global historical turning points are presented. i.e.:
o the collapse of the Soviet Union
o the Gulf War victory and subsequent Iraqi involvement
o the increase of the Atlantic sphere of influence
o the World Trade Organization
o the Asian Monetary Systems/ Stabilization
o the Chechen Wars

The book cites an historic search for certitude with regard to the
strategic interests of humankind. In this regard, it is critical
that foreign policy needs and implementation strategies be outlined
thoroughly with a minimum of costly errors. The author critiques
recent presidencies and finds strengths and deficiences in each
administration. The Middle East, Proliferation and the Environment are
the areas of greatest difficulty. The Middle East has see-sawed from
the Camp David Accords to the Oslo Accords to a generous land for peace
proposal to the current regression since the rise of the Hamas as a
governmental majority. Nuclear Proliferation has been managed with
some success between and amongst the superpowers; however, the current
challenges involve smaller nations and their refusal to cooperate with
historic nuclear verification requirements. The environment is interdependent on cooperation between nations, the vagaries of nature,
the development of new energy technologies, global population increases,
the seasonal CO 2 balance on the planet, the cooperation of the global
public and many other factors too numerous to list here.

This book provides an excellent reference point to begin discussing these
issues dispassionately.

Excellent.......2007-05-15

If you're interested in an apolitical analysis of post cold war policy, read this book..If you are a partisan looking for someone to praise one President's policy and bash another, don't bother("Dubya" does get it pretty bad though). Small book, jam packed with info, and, unlike a number of similar works, an incredibly interesting and absorbing read...Could easily be completed on a weekend. Brezezinski has both real world policy and academic experience...highly recommend!

The Clinton Crack-Up: The Boy President's Life After the White House

Average customer rating:

Irresponsible Writing
There's no news like "old news"!
The Joke's On Us.
Entertaining and Disturbing
Hard to put down

The Clinton Crack-Up: The Boy President's Life After the White House
R. Emmett Tyrrell
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy's Dossier on Hillary Clinton
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ASIN: 1595550941

Book Description

With his characteristic investigative eye and Menckenesque prose, R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. sheds new light on Bill Clinton's post-presidential emotional depression, globe trotting and international deal-making, financial ties to China and the United Arab Emirates, ongoing womanizing, vital support role in Hillary Clinton's anticipated run for the White House, and possible role as America's first "First Man."

Customer Reviews:

Irresponsible Writing .......2007-06-23

I read the book because I thought it might provide insight to the dark side of Bill Clinton. Consider the content:
- Clinton is a womanizer - dah (if this is what you get off on its your kind of book)
- The various candidates Clinton supported and/or stumped for, post his presidency, did poorly in 2002-2005 elections. (never once was Iraq mentioned).
- The author states Hillary is physically unattractive and repeatedly creates petty nick names for her.
- The author feels that Clinton's reelection was inexplicable- his only explanation is referring to the American voters as a "mob".
- The author suggests that BIll supported Kerry in the name of a Clinton strategic plot to assure that Hillary could run in the next election because Kerry was un-electable. Yet Bill went out and stumped for him within months of his heart surgery.??
- The author criticizes Clinton for earning market rate for speaking engagements (after 40 years of public service and lots of debt)- saying it was non-presidential of him (yet Thatcher, Bush Sr, Reagan, Powell all collect $100m plus per speech)
It amazes me how this trash gets published. If your looking for Rush or Fox with no facts, this book is for you. Otherwise spend your valuable reading time elsewhere.

There's no news like "old news"!.......2007-06-20

Inasmuch as it seems that the Clintons, like the poor, shall always be with us, it's some consolation to know that R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., is still with us too. He has had the Clintons' number from the beginning, and remains unsurpassed in his ability to shine the spotlight on their lies, failings, pomposity, and turpitude. "The Clinton Crack-Up," the latest addition to his five-foot shelf of books, is perhaps his best, if not his most important ("Madame Hillary" gets that honor) yet.

Three things stand out about Bob Tyrrell's writing, and "The Clinton Crack-Up" is evidence of all three. First is the thorough research he does. The distinctiveness of his prose hangs on a solid structure of documentation and cataloging. The second is precisely that prose. It's idiosyncratic ... flamboyant, even ... and can take some getting used to. But personally, I think it's wonderful to read something that was written for educated adults. The obvious, even clichéd, comparison is to Mencken, but it's clichéd because it's appropriate. If Mencken were alive today, I don't think he would mind.

And the third thing that stands out about Tyrrell's writing is that he is funny. He recognizes that fundamentally, the Clintons "have always been amusing" (p. 19). While so many "Clinton-haters" seethe in anger or call down the curses of the Lord upon Pudge and Ruffles, "insensate to the full comic dimensions of the Clintons' burlesque" (p. 43), Tyrrell laughs. It's one thing to be hated or feared. It's something very different to be thought ridiculous -- which is why Tyrrell seems to occupy a place of unique vilification among the Clintonistas.

One of the important things Tyrrell did in "Madame Hillary" was reveal the Clinton's standard four-point plan for responding to criticism: (1) Vigorously deny it; (2) Launch ad hominem attacks on the critic; (3) Act personally victimized by the criticism ("Why do they hate me?"); and (4) Say the critic is obsessing over "old news."

Reaction to "The Clinton Crack-Up" proves yet again the accuracy of his assessment -- particularly the inevitable "old news" charge. But not only is the news Tyrrell is reporting particularly current, much of it has also been largely unreported. With the other half of this tag-team match now making her own bid for power, the information in this book is not only an important reminder of the facts about Mr. President Clinton, they are also an important harbinger of what we'll get should we burden ourselves with a Mrs. President Clinton.

We won't be able to say we haven't been warned.

The Joke's On Us. .......2007-06-09

I was going to put off reading this one until the used book price dropped but found that I simply could not wait any longer. I had to hear all about Bill's antics over the last eight years, particularly with his wife in the news everyday. The big creep's personal life has largely been flying under the radar since he left office so there's no question that there's a lot of material to go over, but salacious details are not to be found in The Clinton Crack-up. It's unfortunate that the 42nd President's tenure turned us all into voyeurs, but the fact is that there are not too many juicy stories in these pages. Oh, he's still getting it whenever possible but it appears that he's sleeping with seasoned and hardened Democratic Party fundraiser types who are not the sort to be narcissistically sharing tidbits with the general public. Alas, I guess there'll never be another Monica. I do give Tyrrell a lot of credit for the stunt he pulled off in Toronto which you can read about in the Prologue. As we know from his excellent columns at The American Spectator, Bob is not lacking in spirit or courage. Yet, the central question is, what's become of the Boy President? He continues to be a perfect case study of extroversion as he is completely energized by crowds and other people, but now, for the first time since his being Governor of Arkansas, when he is alone he is truly alone. He got habituated to massive does of publicity and attention and appears to miss the fanfare badly. This book is particularly strong in regards to its discussion of the Clinton political legacy--or lack-there-of that is. The majority of the politicians he campaigns for do not succeed, and the man is clearly not the political genius that the press has made him out to be. Clintonism seems to be synonymous with politicism and there really isn't much more to his career or reputation than that. What he will do should Hillary become President is unknown as it does not appear that they spend much time together at present. These are interesting times indeed.

Entertaining and Disturbing.......2007-06-07

R. Emmett Tyrrell provides us with another witty look into Bill Clinton's sordid life. It's utterly astounding that there are still supporters of the Clintons out there.

The book is extremely well researched. Tyrrell's chronicles of extramarital affairs, illicit dealings with the Chinese and 11th hour pardoning of drug dealers, tax evaders, and general thugs is the most complete compilation of the Clintons' many crimes I have come across.

This is an important text that I hope gets the visibility it deserves. Tyrrell's work is particularly relevant as the possibility grows that these mafiosi could be moving back into the White House with the next elections.

The book is both entertaining and disturbing. You can't help but laugh out loud at Clinton's absurdities. Tyrrell does a great job of creating a vivid picture of the man. All the while you can't help but worry about the hazards that Bill and "his lovely wife Bruno" have potentially subjected Americans to. It is highly disturbing that someone with such a lack of character could achieve the highest office in the nation, and in doing so tie up our most vital resources and ultimately put our national security at risk.

Hard to put down.......2007-06-03

One of the best books on Clinton I have read. A lot of new information. It is so good that it almost reads like a novel. If you are intrigued by Clinton at all you will love this book.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Average customer rating:

Add Me to the List of the Many Who Salute this Masterpiece!
Impressive effort
Lincoln, A Political Giant
A chronicle about Lincoln's genius
Read, Laugh and Learn

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743270754

Amazon.com

The life and times of Abraham Lincoln have been analyzed and dissected in countless books. Do we need another Lincoln biography? In Team of Rivals, esteemed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin proves that we do. Though she can't help but cover some familiar territory, her perspective is focused enough to offer fresh insights into Lincoln's leadership style and his deep understanding of human behavior and motivation. Goodwin makes the case for Lincoln's political genius by examining his relationships with three men he selected for his cabinet, all of whom were opponents for the Republican nomination in 1860: William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates. These men, all accomplished, nationally known, and presidential, originally disdained Lincoln for his backwoods upbringing and lack of experience, and were shocked and humiliated at losing to this relatively obscure Illinois lawyer. Yet Lincoln not only convinced them to join his administration--Seward as secretary of state, Chase as secretary of the treasury, and Bates as attorney general--he ultimately gained their admiration and respect as well. How he soothed egos, turned rivals into allies, and dealt with many challenges to his leadership, all for the sake of the greater good, is largely what Goodwin's fine book is about. Had he not possessed the wisdom and confidence to select and work with the best people, she argues, he could not have led the nation through one of its darkest periods.

Ten years in the making, this engaging work reveals why "Lincoln's road to success was longer, more tortuous, and far less likely" than the other men, and why, when opportunity beckoned, Lincoln was "the best prepared to answer the call." This multiple biography further provides valuable background and insights into the contributions and talents of Seward, Chase, and Bates. Lincoln may have been "the indispensable ingredient of the Civil War," but these three men were invaluable to Lincoln and they played key roles in keeping the nation intact. --Shawn Carkonen The Team of Rivals <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align=left> Team of Rivals doesn't just tell the story of Abraham Lincoln. It is a multiple biography of the entire team of personal and political competitors that he put together to lead the country through its greatest crisis. Here, Doris Kearns Goodwin profiles five of the key players in her book, four of whom contended for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination and all of whom later worked together in Lincoln's cabinet. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/00/10/00/14/03/70/100014037053.gif" border=0 align=top></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%">1. Edwin M. Stanton
Stanton treated Lincoln with utter contempt at their initial acquaintance when the two men were involved in a celebrated law case in the summer of 1855. Unimaginable as it might seem after Stanton's demeaning behavior, Lincoln offered him "the most powerful civilian post within his gift"--the post of secretary of war--at their next encounter six years later. On his first day in office as Simon Cameron's replacement, the energetic, hardworking Stanton instituted "an entirely new regime" in the War Department. After nearly a year of disappointment with Cameron, Lincoln had found in Stanton the leader the War Department desperately needed. Lincoln's choice of Stanton revealed his singular ability to transcend personal vendetta, humiliation, or bitterness. As for Stanton, despite his initial contempt for the man he once described as a "long armed Ape," he not only accepted the offer but came to respect and love Lincoln more than any person outside of his immediate family. He was beside himself with grief for weeks after the president's death.

2. Salmon P. Chase
Chase, an Ohioan, had been both senator and governor, had played a central role in the formation of the national Republican Party, and had shown an unflagging commitment to the cause of the black man. No individual felt he deserved the presidency as a natural result of his past contributions more than Chase himself, but he refused to engage in the practical methods by which nominations are won. He had virtually no campaign and he failed to conciliate his many enemies in Ohio itself. As a result, he alone among the candidates came to the convention without the united support of his own state. Chase never ceased to underestimate Lincoln, nor to resent the fact that he had lost the presidency to a man he considered his inferior. His frustration with his position as secretary of the treasury was alleviated only by his his dogged hope that he, rather than Lincoln, would be the Republican nominee in 1864, and he steadfastly worked to that end. The president put up with Chase's machinations and haughty yet fundamentally insecure nature because he recognized his superlative accomplishments at treasury. Eventually, however, Chase threatened to split the Republican Party by continuing to fill key positions with partisans who supported his presidential hopes. When Lincoln stepped in, Chase tendered his resignation as he had three times before, but this time Lincoln stunned Chase by calling his bluff and accepting the offer.

3. Abraham Lincoln
When Lincoln won the Republican presidential nomination in 1860 he seemed to have come from nowhere--a backwoods lawyer who had served one undistinguished term in the House of Representatives and lost two consecutive contests for the U.S. Senate. Contemporaries attributed his surprising nomination to chance, to his moderate position on slavery, and to the fact that he hailed from the battleground state of Illinois. But Lincoln's triumph, particularly when viewed against the efforts of his rivals, owed much to a remarkable, unsuspected political acuity and an emotional strength forged in the crucible of hardship and defeat. That Lincoln, after winning the presidency, made the unprecedented decision to incorporate his eminent rivals into his political family, the cabinet, was evidence of an uncanny self-confidence and an indication of what would prove to others a most unexpected greatness.

4. William H. Seward
A celebrated senator from New York for more than a decade and governor of his state for two terms before going to Washington, Seward was certain he was going to receive his party's nomination for president in 1860. The weekend before the convention in Chicago opened he had already composed a first draft of the valedictory speech he expected to make to the Senate, assuming that he would resign his position as soon as the decision in Chicago was made. His mortification at not having received the nomination never fully abated, and when he was offered his cabinet post as secretary of state he intended to have a major role in choosing the remaining cabinet members, conferring upon himself a position in the new government more commanding than that of Lincoln himself. He quickly realized the futility of his plan to relegate the president to a figurehead role. Though the feisty New Yorker would continue to debate numerous issues with Lincoln in the years ahead, exactly as Lincoln had hoped and needed him to do, Seward would become his closest friend, advisor, and ally in the administration. More than any other cabinet member Seward appreciated Lincoln's peerless skill in balancing factions both within his administration and in the country at large.

5. Edward Bates
A widely respected elder statesman, a delegate to the convention that framed the Missouri Constitution, and a former Missouri congressman whose opinions on national matters were still widely sought, Bates's ambitions for political success were gradually displaced by love for his wife and large family, and he withdrew from public life in the late 1840s. For the next 20 years he was asked repeatedly to run or once again accept high government posts but he consistently declined. However in early 1860, with letters and newspaper editorials advocating his candidacy crowding in upon him, he decided to try for the highest office in the land. After losing to Lincoln he vowed, in his diary, to decline a cabinet position if one were to be offered, but with the country "in trouble and danger" he felt it was his duty to accept when Lincoln asked him to be attorney general. Though Bates initially viewed Lincoln as a well-meaning but incompetent administrator, he eventually concluded that the president was an unmatched leader, "very near being a 'perfect man.'" </td> </tr> </table> The Essential Doris Kearns Goodwin <table cellpadding="4" border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="4"> <tr class="tiny" valign="top" align="center"> <td width="33%"> <img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0684847957.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg">
Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0684804484.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0">
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II</td> <td width="33%"> <img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0312060270.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg">
Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream</td> </tr> </table> More New Reading on the Civil War <table cellpadding="4" border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="4"> <tr class="tiny" valign="top" align="center"> <td width="33%"> <img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0618551166.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg">
Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0374166005.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0">
Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War by Charles Bracelen Flood</td> <td width="33%"> <img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0375506713.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg">
The March: A Novel by E.L. Doctorow</td> </tr> </table>

Book Description

This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history.

Customer Reviews:

Add Me to the List of the Many Who Salute this Masterpiece!.......2007-06-22

Every parent should encourage his or her child to read at least one biography of Lincoln and this would be an outstanding choice. Goodwin's masterpiece portrays Lincoln's unarguable greatness. No other American life is so inspirational, in my estimation. Lincoln's commitment to the ideal of saving the nation and emancipating the slaves, often in the face of withering personal criticism, is staggering in its nobility. Although I am politically poles apart from Goodwin, I heartily salute her scholarship in this instance and her ability to tell such an epic story in a manner that touches the reader's heart as well as his brain. Her book is truly a tour de force and should be read by all Americans.

Impressive effort.......2007-06-16

Goodwin's much-praised, massive "multiple quasi-biography" of Abraham Lincoln and the contentious men who composed his Civil War-time Cabinet proved to be worth my wait - though not without its share of flaws. Lincoln is the clear hero of the tale, the oft-"mis-underestimated" man whose rivals for the 1860 Republican Presidential nomination - William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates - regarded him with a mixture of condescension and exasperation. The "Illinois country lawyer" proved to have an unsurpassed ability to take such individuals into his administration and keep their disagreements from erupting into internecine warfare that might have seriously damaged the cause of the Union during the war. Goodwin may slightly overstate the "Lincoln magic" at times in her desire to portray the man's "political genius", but Lincoln's ability to pour oil on troubled waters truly was remarkable and is a model of Presidential leadership.
Goodwin paints on such a broad canvas and includes so many different events and individuals that it should probably not be surprising that her narrative contains a few loose threads and gaps. Remarkably, her discussion of the Lincoln-Douglas debates says nothing about the Freeport Doctrine and its role as a point of contention between the candidates. Characters such as General Winfield Scott and Count Adam Gurowski are mentioned numerous times but are never "formally" introduced to the reader. The opening 200 or so pages also drag a bit, as Goodwin meticulously traces the lives of the "rivals" from the beginning. Those searching for the "red meat" of political infighting and Cabinet squabbles will have a long wait in store for them if they begin at the beginning. Overall, though, this is a fine read and a good contribution to the vast literature on the Civil War era.

Lincoln, A Political Giant.......2007-06-13

This book is a great "read", showing that being on the morally right side of history is insufficient, but depends for its eventual victory on understanding politics and wielding power to bring it about. Maintaing the union and ending slavery were political acts with a moral repercussion, but they were political acts. This history is fascinating pedagogy in showing that what should be (the moral question) is not independant of what is (the political question).

A chronicle about Lincoln's genius.......2007-06-11

This has to be the best book ever written about Abraham Lincoln. Doris Kearns-Goodwin portrays the man for what he was--a humorous, yet depressed, political maverick and enigmatic personality who will live on through the ages. Not only will the reader come out with a new appreciation of Lincoln, but he/she will receive great insight into what makes a good president. Lincoln's ability to handle people is what really shines through in this heavily researched biography. Though an agnostic, Lincoln held great faith in the potential and goodness of people. He was a man that thought long term and could rise above partisanship, both being themes that are reiterated troughout this book. This book is a must have for anyone interested in politics and history. I am now of the opinion that not only is Lincoln one of the greatest people in American history; but, in a secular sense, he may be the greatest man to ever live.

Read, Laugh and Learn.......2007-06-10

A Team of Rivals was totally praised by my entire book club during a time when I was not able to attend. It sounded like a good suggestion for my husband, so I ordered it for him. He stared at the thickness of the paperback, and promptly counted the pages and looked dismayed. But he began to read. I will read it when he is finished. The trick now is to keep him from telling me various parts he finds fascinating, humorous, or of special interest. I keep saying, "Don't TELL me about it I want to read it, too!" He has always been a Lincoln fan, but exclaims often about things he didn't know about the man and new ways in which he finds respect for him. He takes it with him whenever he knows he will be in a waiting room someplace. Total strangers approach to telll him they read this book and it was "the best book I ever read." When I have a chance to read it for myself I may write another review, but for now I think this says plenty about it.

Average customer rating:

Newsflash: Nixon was flawed and paranoid
Innuendo and guesses in the midst of history
THE RN AND HEINZ CHRONICLES
Dallek's Take on Nixon and Kissinger
Great choice

Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power
Robert Dallek
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060722304
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

With the publication of his magisterial biography of John F. Kennedy, An Unfinished Life, Robert Dallek cemented his reputation as one of the greatest historians of our time. Now, in this epic joint biography, he offers a provocative, groundbreaking portrait of a pair of outsize leaders whose unlikely partnership dominated the world stage and changed the course of history.

More than thirty years after working side-by-side in the White House, Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger remain two of the most compelling, contradictory, and powerful men in America in the second half of the twentieth century. While their personalities could hardly have seemed more different, they were drawn together by the same magnetic force. Both were largely self-made men, brimming with ambition, driven by their own inner demons, and often ruthless in pursuit of their goals. At the height of their power, the collaboration and rivalry between them led to a sweeping series of policies that would leave a defining mark on the Nixon presidency.

Tapping into a wealth of recently declassified archives, Robert Dallek uncovers fascinating details about Nixon and Kissinger's tumultuous personal relationship and the extent to which they struggled to outdo each other in the reach for achievements in foreign affairs. Dallek also brilliantly analyzes their dealings with power brokers at home and abroad—including the nightmare of Vietnam, the unprecedented opening to China, détente with the Soviet Union, the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East, the disastrous overthrow of Allende in Chile, and growing tensions between India and Pakistan—while recognizing how both men were continually plotting to distract the American public's attention from the growing scandal of Watergate. With unprecedented detail, Dallek reveals Nixon's erratic behavior during Watergate and the extent to which Kissinger was complicit in trying to help Nixon use national security to prevent his impeachment or resignation.

Illuminating, authoritative, revelatory, and utterly engrossing, Nixon and Kissinger provides a startling new picture of the immense power and sway these two men held in changing world history.

Customer Reviews:

Newsflash: Nixon was flawed and paranoid.......2007-06-24

I'll defer to other reviewers who find this material too derivative. I never liked either of these two and haven't read much about them. (I got the book as a gift.) And I lived outside the country for some of this time period. So I found most of the information itself to be useful. I was, however, annoyed by several tics Dallek displays:

1. He "writes his notes." They're good notes, but the prose bumps along like a chain of 3 x 5 cards. There are many very short quotes--I guess to give a sense of immediacy or truth to the tale. But I thought the effect instead was to impede the flow and compound the impression of a very long strand of snippets. I'd have used (maybe paraphrased) this material without the quotation marks; it's all credited in the endnotes anyway. I don't object to a "just-the-facts" approach, but he happens to pepper his account with occasional drive-by forays into interpretation that don't quite work for me either (see #4).

2. As another reviewer noted, he refers to Kissinger as "Henry" a lot--a whole lot, as if "Henry" were a pronoun. Sometimes this lends a sort of weird intimacy, as if you're part of the Nixon White House or something, but the more dominant impression is one of disrespect or just plain goofiness.

3. He often writes dialogue very confusingly (ditto dueling diary entries)--all within one paragraph.

4. Dallek doesn't give these two credit for **anything**. A few examples:

(a) He approvingly quotes Kissinger on the "monomaniacal obsession of the Nixon White House with public relations" (p. 329). But one might equally well look at this feature as precedent-setting, and possibly a sensible (or at least inevitable) development in light of the growth of the mass media.

(b) He often makes smug criticisms that depend largely on later history. ("The idea that [the collapse of Vietnam] would inflict a decisive defeat on the United States in the Cold War was a gross exaggeration" [pp. 372-373].)

(c) On page 382 he says, "Surely, presidents need to mean what they say in private." Surely, if this were true vast stretches of his book would be meaningless. He posts his own rejoinder two pages later: "Haig accurately read Nixon's pronouncements as `not conviction but rather a "Devil's Advocate" position.'"

(d) One of the book's highlights is the cameo appearance of that 78-year old mass-murdering charmer Mao Tse-Tung (pp. 363-365). His parting words are "Appearances are deceiving." Dallek thinks it may suggest "that the Americans would have to give substance to their friendly words." Without this prompting I suspect that 100 out of 100 readers might have thought that Mao was referring to his own sweet talk.

Well, it's an okay book, because these were very interesting times. There might be better books covering the same terrain.

Innuendo and guesses in the midst of history.......2007-06-21

In his book Mr. Dallek recounts the already well-known, and his publisher claims it provides new insight. I pored over the detailed accounts, recalling the background and events as I went through the book, but I didn't find anything there that one who reads wouldn't already know. What I did find was an apparent determination on Mr. Dallek's part to cast a heavy, wet tarp of darkness over Nixon, Kissinger and all they achieved during those parlous, momentous years.

We all know that the two men were burdened by wounded personalities, and for Nixon that ended in tragedy--for him and our nation, but why incessantly try to take their great achievements away from them? In the midst of war, domestic and international crises, and the imminent threat of nuclear holocaust, Nixon and Kissinger picked their way through a nightmarish political-military minefield to engineer the beginnings of détente between East and West, bringing the time when US leadership first started actually talking to the Soviets and the Chinese, instead of rattling sabers and repeating incantations, finally putting into motion the process that would back the world away from the brink of nuclear war. Those things were accomplished by Nixon and Kissinger as a team, the two of them almost alone in their clear-headed view toward the future in the midst of the swirling, muddled stream of American politics and power of that era.

For those who seek always to find darkness in the accomplishments of Nixon and Kissinger, I give the following quote from Mr. Dallek's book as he quotes the toast proposed by Nixon to Kissinger after they received the news that the Chinese leadership had agreed to Kissinger's first visit to Beijing and to a meeting with Nixon as soon as it could be arranged (Taiwan was off the table, and the Chinese really wanted to talk): "An elated Nixon brought out a bottle of very old Corvoisier brandy (sic). He proposed 'a toast not to ourselves personally or to our success or to our administration's policies which have made this message and made tonight possible'" but "suggested they 'drink to generations to come who may have a better chance to live in peace...'" So much for deep, dark motives and underhandedness in achieving something that cantankerous Democrat from Missouri, then a two-term Republican who understood the dangers of the "military-industrial complex" and finally two successive Democrats in the White House had all failed to do.

In the end, the Nixon-Kissinger team even dragged the reluctant North Vietnamese into serious negotiations that ended American participation in the Vietnam War, while getting the North to give up our POW's, their last bargaining chip for reparations and negotiations for who knows what else, no doubt issues that could have drug on for decades while Americans rotted in Vietnamese prisons. Then there was SALT and the beginning of détente with the Soviets, brilliantly carried off by Nixon-Kissinger while simultaneously bringing the Chinese out of the cold and into the UN. They even tried to rein in the Israelis and maneuver and cajole them and the the Arabs around them to make a lasting peace in the ugly aftermath of the 1967 War, a move that might have prevented the havoc that has made the Middle East the hotspot and sword in the side of America that it is today, but they were defeated by American domestic politics.

Mr. Dallek throughout the book condemns the Nixon-Kissinger team's brilliant accomplishments by faint praise while lacing his text with innuendo and personal speculation about what Nixon or Kissinger "might" or "probably" or "possibly" was "thinking" when he did or said this or that, always assigning dark motive to bright accomplishment. Often it is such a reach that it rankles. One might laugh if Dallek's using such a device were not so unseemly.

Just like the personalities and power of Nixon and Kissinger, this book has dark flaws, but I give it three stars for its value in recounting the days of the greatest political achievements of the latter half of the twentieth century. Take out the contrivances to belittle, the innuendo and Mr. Dallek's improper speculations and you have a good summary of those fateful days. Unfortunately Mr. Dallek followed a troubling trend by not placing reference numbers, footnote style, in his text linking terms and statements to the notes and bibliography that are provided at the back of his book, thus further muddling the issue of conjecture and innuendo versus the record. One wonders whether doing so comes of convenience or ulterior motive, both inappropriate in any attempt at scholarly achievement.

Read Mr. Dallek's book, by all means, but beware the prejudice. There have been many other flawed personalities who accomplished brilliant things in statesmanship, the arts and the sciences. It's time we all got over that regarding both Nixon and Kissinger. One even begins to wonder whether it is simple jealousy that causes the American Left to be so anxious to blacken the achievements of both men.

THE RN AND HEINZ CHRONICLES.......2007-06-19

As with many other reviewers I suspect, we lived through each and every day these two were calling the shots at the national level. They were on the TV screen and in the newsmagazines, neither could filter all the truth from getting through, but they tried.

This book brings back many memories, and as one who remembers RN as Vice President, the book also helps to make sense of some of the idiotic things he got himself into then, to such extent that Eisenhower was thinking of dropping RN from his second term ticket.

Nixon is of course dead, but Kissinger is very much alive: would be interesting to know what Henry really thinks of this book. Has it indeed caused another kicking and ranting tantrum from him. Or does it mirror fact so accurately that he smiles and says, 'yes, that was exactly the way it was'. Only Henry knows about that, but for certain this book rings true for me, who lived each and every day these two were in office, joined at the waist, locked in a personal power struggle. The real tragedy for HK was due to his birth in Germany he could never be elected president, and you know that that was what he desired more than almost anything.

One interesting aspect from real life was that in many ways Henry Kissinger eclipsed RN on a routine basis as far as media coverage, expecially in magazines such as Harpers, and where the weekly newsmagazines were concerned. As Dallek points out Nixon had been around politics for 40 years by time he reached the presidency yet no one really knew him. While Henry had been fairly unknown, waiting in the wings all those years, but once he entered the Nixon White House his star rose rapidly, and seemed much of the time to overshadow RN. Little wonder Nixon had paranoia when HK was concerned. Conversely, second place held little appeal to HK.

Again, as one who lived through these years as a Vietnam era veteran (1961-1967, USN/USMC), I recommend the book, especially concerning these two men tampering with Viet Nam and many lives for their own gain, and hope it holds wide appeal.

One needs books such as this to have any understanding of the 1960's and early 70's. Maybe, just maybe, it will help to keep men such as these two from ever happening again. OK, so I am always an idealist.

Semper Fi.

Dallek's Take on Nixon and Kissinger.......2007-06-18

As many reviewers have noted, there is little new information in Dallek's study, and for the most part he rehashes what others have already written about Nixon, Kissinger, and their partnership. One major problem with "Nixon and Kissinger" is that there is little context for the two men's foreign policy choices. Dallek dwells on the details of their decisions without putting it in the larger picture of U.S. foreign policy in the decades precedng the Nixon administration. There should have been more background on Vietnam, U.S. relations with the Soviet Union, etc. I kept finding myself having to pull away from Dallek's account of the minutiae of Nixon's and Kissinger's decisions and consider the larger picture.

Nixon and Kissinger made plenty of mistakes, sure, but Dallek rarely compares their foreign policy errors to those of other administrations, and the two men thus come across as much worse than they would if their actions were placed in context. This brings me to perhaps the gravest problem with Dallek's study: his obvious bias against his subjects, although he seems to dislike Nixon more than Kissinger.

The bias will be clear to anyone who reads the book - I don't think Dallek has one good thing to say about Nixon, who basically comes across in this book the same as he does in many other anti-Nixon books - he was a man who was mad for power and would do anything to keep it. I don't think this is necessarily incorrect, but was Nixon's ambition worse that that of other presidents and politicians? Who can say?

Dallek also focuses too much on Watergate, which undoubtedly put a strain on Nixon, but I think Dallek overdoes the analysis of Nixon's psychology. He even analyzes one of Nixon's dreams! Dallek seems intent on proving that Nixon was unfit, but the evidence does not exist - it is all specualtion and rumor. Dallek primarily draws from Summers' "Arrogance of Power," a notoriously unreliable gossipmonger's account of Nixon's inner life. All Dallek can do is hint that Nixon's sealed medical records will prove that he was unfit, a completely baseless accusation. From all this it is clear that Dallek intensely dislikes NIxon and seems intent on putting him in the worst possible light.

Dallek spends much of the book criticizing Nixon and Kissinger and their choices in foreign policy. I think he spends a little too much time evaluating, and he should have left more to the reader insted of making his own opinion so prominent. I personally don't think that the historian should interpret as much as Dallek does. Of course, every historian interprets even in choosing what to write, but Dallek is constantly breaking in with his thoughts, and they are generally negative. I think it clouds the book, since hindsight after all is 20/20.

Dallek's study is not without its insights: his observation that the conflict between Rogers and Kissinger symbolized the two poles of Nixon's attitude towards foreign policy is intirguing though highly speculative. Dallek offers several such insights in this book, but he too often dwells on evaluating rather than reporting Nixon's and Kissinger's foreign policy.

Like most historians, but unlike the best of them, Dallek is not a great writer. His sentences are plagued by awkward constructions, he uses stock phrases, and he is repetitive. For example, one sentence in the book reads "No one saw him [Kissinger] as anything but helpful" - a prime example of unclear writing, and there are many such sentences in Dallek's book. The U.S. is always losing "blood and treasure" in Vietnam, a phrase Dallek uses over and over. He often restates points in similar language, and there is little variety in his diction.

Of course, much of this is the fault of the editorial staff. I found this a very poorly edited book: Dallek's sentences (like the one above) should have been rewritten for the sake of clarity, they should have cut down on the passages where Dallek belabors the point through repetition, and they should have more carefully proofread the manuscrpt (Ehrlichman's name is spelled 3 ways throughout the text, sometimes on the same page). Maybe this is nitpicky, but I find it annoying when I read a book that has been carelessly edited.

So, in the end, Dallek's "Nixon and Kissinger" is a readable but injudicious account of the two men's foreign policy decisions. I would not recommend it as an introduction to the Nixon administration's foreign policy becasue of the clear bias against Nixon and, to a lesser degree, against Kissinger. Dallek's notes do point the way towards the essential reading for any student of the Nixon administration, and in this sense it is a helpful introduction. But, overall, I would not recommend it for the novice, who should probably begin elsewhere, with Ambrose's biography of Nixon and Isaacson's of Kissinger and the two men's memoirs. The reader can then construct his own analysis of the relationship between the two men.

Perhaps the problem is that we are still too close to the events of Nixon's administration to produce an objective account of the man. Dallek lived through Watergate, and perhaps that explains his bias. Maybe in 100 years, an objective account of Nixon's and Kissinger's actions will be possible, but I think we are still too near in time to the events to pretend to view them with any objectivity.

Great choice.......2007-06-18

This cd was a great choice for lovers of international relations. It is very informative, and the author emphasizes the importance of the writer's presentation of the facts and issues. Nixon and Kissinger come off as unique characters of history, both favorable and not depending on your own personal bias. I recommend this veyr much to those qho love history, politics, or just want to be entertained by a great story.

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

Average customer rating:

excellent adventure story
boring slog thru the jungle
An Excellent Adventure
Rather disappointing
History comes alives in a riveting adventure

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
Candice Millard
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0767913736
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth.

The River of Doubt—it is a black, uncharted tributary of the Amazon that snakes through one of the most treacherous jungles in the world. Indians armed with poison-tipped arrows haunt its shadows; piranhas glide through its waters; boulder-strewn rapids turn the river into a roiling cauldron.

After his humiliating election defeat in 1912, Roosevelt set his sights on the most punishing physical challenge he could find, the first descent of an unmapped, rapids-choked tributary of the Amazon. Together with his son Kermit and Brazil’s most famous explorer, Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, Roosevelt accomplished a feat so great that many at the time refused to believe it. In the process, he changed the map of the western hemisphere forever.

Along the way, Roosevelt and his men faced an unbelievable series of hardships, losing their canoes and supplies to punishing whitewater rapids, and enduring starvation, Indian attack, disease, drowning, and a murder within their own ranks. Three men died, and Roosevelt was brought to the brink of suicide. The River of Doubt brings alive these extraordinary events in a powerful nonfiction narrative thriller that happens to feature one of the most famous Americans who ever lived.

From the soaring beauty of the Amazon rain forest to the darkest night of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, here is Candice Millard’s dazzling debut.

Customer Reviews:

excellent adventure story.......2007-06-22

I have read extensively about Theodore Roosevelt and this is now one of my favorite books featuring TR. The book is equal parts adventure story, natural history lesson and biography. I truly enjoyed all three parts and the author kept the story interesting while also keeping it moving and not dwelling on any one aspect for too long. This book would have been excellent even if it had not featured TR, but having the great man as the central character made it all the more fascinating. I highly recommend this book.

boring slog thru the jungle.......2007-05-31

I thought this would be a fascinating adventure strory with some cool history and natural science thrown in. Instead it was a boring, repetitive slog through the jungle that had me wishing the whole group would be slaughtered by the indians so the book would end! How many times do I need to be told mosquitoes cause malaria, T.R. was disappointed by his election loss, etc.? Where was the editing?

An Excellent Adventure.......2007-05-21

River of Doubt gets off to a bit of a slow start, but that is mostly due to the background necessary to provide context for an expedition that is incomprehensible to modern readers. Imagine a former U.S. president of recent vintage doing anything remotely as adventurous as charting an unexplored river. It quite simply would not happen - or if it did, it would be covered wire-to-wire by CNN and under Secret Service protection. This would be a wonderful story even if Roosevelt were a run-of-the-mill explorer. Of course, he was not - and that is what makes the novel work.

Roosevelt was a brash man who took incredible chances and miraculously survived - but you can't say, after reading this book, that he was a good explorer. In fact, other than the fact that he and some of the members of his expedition survived and (more or less) accomplished what they set out to do, the expedition was a disaster.

I came away reminded that people - even great ones - have to know their limits. A great career in one walk of life can be eliminated or overshadowed by an ill-advised adventure in another. On the other hand, I think Teddy would have been perfectly happy to have died in the course of his endeavor - it seems as though he even may have been planning on it all along. And of course, this type of adventure was exactly the sort which contributed to the legend that Roosevelt must have known he was building.

There is probably something in this book for just about anyone. If you simply like adventure, the second half of the book is very hard to put down. If you are looking for something deeper - maybe an understanding of what drives some people to push the limits of human endurance - this book will give you some further food for thought, but not a lot in the way of answers. But then again, who really cares about those types of answers and what fun would it be to actually have them?

Rather disappointing.......2007-05-13

I found this book to be a disappopintment. This isn't because it is poorly written or researched. However the story is very limited in scope and there isn't much in the way of background to fill up the space. When the journey down the river ends the book likewise ends, and rather abruptly at that. The book does have some interesting information about Teddy's son Kermit and the Brazilian leader of the expedition. Not enough though to recommend this book. There are many many great books about Teddy Roosevelt that should be read before this one. There are also many many nonfiction books about explorations or "adventure" tales which are likewise superior to this book.

History comes alives in a riveting adventure.......2007-04-26

I loved this book. This book was great in so many ways. It is a great portrait of Teddy Roosevelt in his quest to explore an uncharted tributary of the Amazon after his presidency. It is a fascinating look at life in the unexplored rain forest - featuring the people, plants, animals and general ecology. It's a riveting life-or-death adventure. The author does a great job moving between the people in the present drama, their backgrounds, and the "life of the forest." It's a beautifully written page-turner. It leaves one with a profound sense of the place, people and time. I can't recommend this book more highly. Years ago, I read Undaunted Courage, the story of Lewis and Clark's expedition. I liked it, but that never grabbed me like River of Doubt did. This sets a new standard for "exploration history" literature. Read it!

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times

Average customer rating:

Leadership During ALL Times
Great viewpoint on focusing on people
Lessons on Leadership
Excellent and well-worth reading.
History can be the best teacher.

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times
Donald T. Phillips
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0446394599

Customer Reviews:

Leadership During ALL Times.......2007-04-28

Donald T. Phillips used our sixteenth president's wisdom under fire to provide an excellent primer for leadership focused on tough times, but it is as important during good times. When sales are at record levels, employees are happily working long hours, and new prospects are pounding on the doors because of customers' recommendations, is when one needs to be preparing for potential tough times.

Few will go through the meat-grinder which faced President Lincoln, but able leadership during good times will give an organization a firm footing for the mishaps and misfortunes which will affect us all at some point. Focusing on the 'Endeavor' section of the book, Phillips illustrates examples of Lincoln's will, ability, and lack of hesitation in making tough, necessary decisions. Losing a war, being sniped at by those who should be supporters, and struggling with difficult family matters can be paralyzing, but ignoring a personnel issue so as to not rock the boat during a smooth voyage can also be destructive. Phillips points out how "Lincoln often accepted the aggravation and exasperation caused by subordinates if they did their jobs competently", but he also shows how Lincoln could be decisive and tough when his hand was forced. This includes disciplining and firing upper level staff such as cabinet secretaries and commanding generals.

Any review of Lincoln's life would be incomplete without mentioning his use of humor and a unique storytelling ability to make his point. Phillips recounts Lincoln's reason for doing so, which includes these lines: "I often avoid a long and useless discussion by others or a laborious explanation on my own part by a short story that illustrates my point of view." "No, I am not simply a story-teller, but story-telling as an emollient saves me much friction and distress." Oh, if only more of our business and government leaders would use short stories, saving us all some "friction and distress".

The chapter titled "Persuade Rather Than Coerce" explains that Lincoln was smart enough to know that he couldn't do it all by himself, but needed capable leaders who were authorized to make decisions and act on them. His largest problem with military leadership was a gauntlet of generals who were not willing to assume that responsibility. Understanding that influence is a more effective tool of leadership than coercion or orders, he "...preferred to let his generals make their own decisions and hoped that, through his suggestions, they would do the right thing."

That chapter begins with a quote from the first Lincoln Douglas debate: With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed. Consequently he who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. Looking back at the presidents of my lifetime, it is easy to see which have taken this advice to heart, and have shown success because of it. Likewise, those who have ignored it, and a recent president comes to mind, have had their leadership suffer.

Paraphrasing John C. Maxwell, there is no such thing as `leadership during tough times'; there is only `leadership'. Those fond of history and anyone interested in leadership should read this book.

Great viewpoint on focusing on people.......2007-04-23

This book is one of the best management/leadership books I have ever read. It was giving to me by one of my business school professors who I respect and admire greatly. The book will not disappoint you if you decide to buy it. Worth the time and money!

Lessons on Leadership.......2007-03-31

This is a great book for individuals entering the business world to read how leadership and ethics can and should lead to excellent decision-making skills.

Excellent and well-worth reading........2007-03-31

This book is well written and will appeal to a very wide range of readers, including but not limited to Lincoln scholars and those interested in leadership. Readers who are interested in history, business, politics and those who just like well-written prose should enjoy this book. As the title states, this book is about Lincoln's leadership style. He is portrayed as a paradigm of an effective leader. The book covers topics such as: his interactions with people, his character, his decisiveness, and his immense skills as a communicator. Each chapter covers a different facet of leadership and how Lincoln typified this feature. At the end of each chapter there is brief discussion of how this applies to current day business and politics. There is also a brief summary list of Lincoln's principles discussed in that chapter. The book itself is brief and you can learn a lot from the way that Lincoln interacted with and led people during the most trying time in America's history.

While the focus of the book is on Lincoln's leadership, I learned quite a bit about the man and the challenges that he faced and how he shaped the subsequent government of the US. This was done in a very interesting manner, which was devoid of the dense details of a history book. I got more from this brief book than from some much more detailed books on the Civil War. The book is replete with Lincoln anecdotes, jokes and parables, all of which enrich the text and get the points across in much the same way Lincoln initially used them to get his points across. The best accolade that I can give this book as that it is making me read more about Lincoln and about leadership.

History can be the best teacher........2007-03-19

Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips was an easy to read book. Teaching basics of leadership through 4 parts of the book; People, Character, Endeavor, and Communications. Then each part is broken into chapters with a trait of the 4 previous mentioned parts like: Get out of the office and circulate among the troops, build strong alliances, Honesty and Integrity are the best policy, lead by being led and master the art of public speaking to name some. All of these lessons are taught with President Lincoln as the vehicle and shows how he applied the lessons during the Civil War as President. Each chapter is summed up with a nice list of key points. A well organized book, with a message for everyone. Abraham Lincoln is an icon of American history and a great teacher and example of leadership to people today. All the lessons can be applied at work, home, family, or in our personal life. This is a great book for new leaders and even the experienced can use it as a reminder and reference. It will always have a place on my bookshelf. I encourage everyone to read it.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela Tag: The International Bestseller

Average customer rating:

The story behind legends
Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Very inspiring
Polit thriller
great

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela Tag: The International Bestseller
Nelson Mandela
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316548189

Amazon.com

The famously taciturn South African president reveals much of himself in Long Walk to Freedom. A good deal of this autobiography was written secretly while Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island by South Africa's apartheid regime. Among the book's interesting revelations is Mandela's ambivalence toward his lifetime of devotion to public works. It cost him two marriages and kept him distant from a family life he might otherwise have cherished. Long Walk to Freedom also discloses a strong and generous spirit that refused to be broken under the most trying circumstances--a spirit in which just about everybody can find something to admire.

Customer Reviews:

The story behind legends.......2007-06-15

I had always heard that Nelson Mandela was a living legend, yet I knew so little about him. This book confirmed the legend.

The book takes you through the journey of his life. From his upbringing, to his entering the political life, his 27 years in prison and finally his return from prison to lead the nation. It is very interesting to read his rationale and thought process behind every decision, personal or political. He was a strong-willed man with an exceptionally strong sense of what is right and wrong. He spent 27 years in jail without ever applying for an appeal and rejecting every offer of release. He never lost his resolve even in the most trying of times. He believed that equality and freedom are every human's birthright and he was willing to die for the freedom of his people. The book has countless lessons not only for political leaders who lead nations but for common people for their day to day lives.

A must read for everybody. I would highly recommend it.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela.......2007-05-07

An excellent autobio by one of the few truly great men of the 20th century. Details his boyhood, early adulthood, and 27 (?) years in prison as a political prisoner of the apartheid government of South
Africa, followed by release and eventual President of the country. The amazing part is how, as President, he avoided revenge and eventually brought re conciliation to the races.

Very inspiring.......2007-04-10

There are all kinds of inspiring biographies and autobiographies. This one is unique. Most biographies lean toward the spiritual and base their inspiration on some divine energy or God. This is the most grounded in life biography that you can read. Not much about God, just about his own passion for equal rights. Even mindedness, even in the face of incredible pain.

Polit thriller.......2007-01-17

Despite due respect for a great leader, I did not really expect to like this autobiography very much. Mandela is no great speaker, his TV presence is rather flat, his English apparently not masterful. The life story in summary does not seem to have that much interest either, considering the long jail time and the fact that most of the "hot action" of the anti-apartheid movement happened while he was on Robben Island.
All wrong. The writing is surprisingly fluent, the story telling surprisingly efficient and free of waste as well as redundancies. Also free of sentimentality and exaggerated pathos.
If there is anything that I wished to be more detailed it is the period of his childhood and youth. This period is described in a rather remote way and with a sometimes irritating lack of explanation or reflection. I realized that may have happened due to the conditions under which the book was written: in jail. Also I could imagine that editors suggested some shortening: after all the book is still quite hefty.
If there is one negative comment that I have to make, it refers to NM's insistence that all trouble between black groups, such as the Inkatha violence problems, or tribal conflicts, have been caused by the perfidy of the whites. As much as I can understand the psychology behind this wishful thinking, I do not think it is a realistic approach.
Despite this comment and despite the book's size, it is never boring. Highly recommendable.

great.......2006-12-18

The book was very infromative and it has a good historic background. I higly recommend it.

Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words

Average customer rating:

First-rate work
A Scholarly Analysis readable by Anyone
insightful
A wonderful read, and contains important material on what Lincoln actually wrote and said and why.
Lincoln as Orator and Author

Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words
Douglas L. Wilson
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1400040396
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Book Description

Abraham Lincoln now occupies an unparalleled place in American history, but when he was first elected president, a skeptical writer asked, “Who will write this ignorant man’s state papers?” Literary ability was, indeed, the last thing the public expected from the folksy, self-educated “rail-splitter,” but the forceful qualities of Lincoln’s writing eventually surprised his supporters and confounded his many critics. Since his assassination in 1865, no American’s words have become more familiar or more admired, and their enduring power has established him as one of our greatest writers. Now, in a groundbreaking study, the distinguished Lincoln scholar Douglas L. Wilson demonstrates that exploring Lincoln’s presidential writing provides a window onto his presidency and a key to his accomplishments.

Lincoln’s Sword tells the story of how Lincoln developed his writing skills, how they served him for a time as a hidden presidential asset, how it gradually became clear that he possessed a formidable literary talent, and it reveals how writing came to play an increasingly important role in his presidency. “By the time he came to write the Gettysburg Address,” Wilson says, “Lincoln was attempting to help put the horrific carnage of the Civil War in a positive light, and at the same time to do it in a way that would have constructive implications for the future. By the time he came to write the Second Inaugural Address, fifteen months later, he was quite consciously in the business of interpreting the war and its deeper meaning, not just for his contemporaries but for what he elsewhere called the ‘vast future.’ ”

Illustrated with reproductions of Lincoln’s original manuscripts, Lincoln’s Sword affords an unprecedented look at a distinctively American writer.

Customer Reviews:

First-rate work.......2007-06-02

Bold in concept and careful in execution, this work is a gem. Lincoln's constant revising, his sense of what was appropriate in given situations, and his surging command of the language over decades impress the reader. Wilson's understanding of the context of Lincoln's deployment of language is impressive. Cautiously revisionist.

A Scholarly Analysis readable by Anyone.......2007-05-30

Lincoln's Sword illuminates the power and clarity of Lincoln's words. Even if the reader is not a Lincoln devotee or scholar, this book's treatment of Lincoln's speeches are clear, concise and pleasureable. This is a book that anyone would enjoy reading.

insightful.......2007-05-07

well worth the read to gain insight into an often little understood man. the depth of the writing gives testimony to the depth of the man. read it and learn - not just about lincoln - but also how to use communications to move people towards your goals.

A wonderful read, and contains important material on what Lincoln actually wrote and said and why........2007-02-09

Lincoln has become one of those tests where someone can tell you their thoughts about him and you can often tell where they are on any number of issues. The problem is that much of what people think they know about Lincoln is only a bumper sticker or sound byte version of what went on. We try to judge Lincoln (and most of our great historical figures) by our lights rather than seeing him in the context of his own time. Of course, it takes some work to learn what happened and why rather than wringing our hands over, say, the suspension of habeas corpus.

This excellent book can be a great contribution to your education about the real Abraham Lincoln and how he conducted himself as President. He came into office with the elite dismissing him as crude and hopelessly unsophisticated. This book shows us how carefully he worked on his public speeches and the letters and articles that were published during his time in office.

Sometimes we forget that by the time Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861 that the movement for secession was well underway and the firing on Fort Sumter was on April 12, 1861, just a few weeks later. His second inaugural address was given on March 4, 1865, Lee's Surrender at Appomattox was on April 9th, and Lincoln was shot by Booth on April 14th. He died the next day. So, his entire service as President was bounded by that terrible war.

Douglas Wilson takes several of the addresses and letters central to Lincoln's Presidency and shows us what the extant drafts reveal to us about Lincoln's purposes, approach, and the political realities he faced. He also brings in testimony by those who were involved with those documents, worked with Lincoln, and contemporaries who wrote about them. It is all quite fascinating, especially because it is focused on what was happening and what was thought at the time rather than imposing anachronistic views from our day on those events. However, Wilson does spend some time examining what some contemporary critics have said about these documents and events. For example, he uses a few apt quotes from Garry Wills' wonderful book (one you may want to read) on the Gettysburg address because they are among the best things said about it in our time.

While other documents are considered in passing, the central documents examined in this book are: Lincoln's farewell from Springfield for Washington, his First Inaugural, the July 4, 1861 address, the Emancipation Proclamation (and its antecedents), a letter to Greeley, the Corning letter, the Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural.

I would suggest that you get a copy of Lincoln's addresses or get them from the Web and read the documents along with the book (most are not provided in the book because of their length and their wide availability). I recommend the two volume set of Lincoln's "Speeches and Writings" from the Library of America (only the second volume is needed for this book). Reading what Lincoln actually wrote and said is quite edifying because one learns first hand what he said and did rather than being the prisoner of what others selectively provide you to promote their own agenda.

This is a great read, is very informative, and I strongly recommend it to you as part of your self education on what American History really is.

Lincoln as Orator and Author.......2007-01-03

Lincoln was a great writer but his handwriting was awful. With meticulous attention to Lincoln's handwritten drafts and his corrections on printers' proofsheets, Douglas Wilson reassesses just how great a writer Lincoln was.

As a documentary scholar, Wilson cannot be surpassed: he properly acknowledges prior scholars who celebrated the high quality of Lincoln's prose--Jacques Barzun and Don Fehrenbacher, among others. Wilson examines not only Lincoln's own papers, but also relevant correspondence, news reports, and testimony. Lincoln sometimes showed drafts to colleagues, friends, and secretaries, then revised to respond to their criticisms.

Wilson takes care to distinguish Lincoln's public oratory from the printed records of it, and shows how--in case after case--Lincoln was sensitive to and took advantage of differences in media. Lincoln knew when his writing should be formal or folksy, terse or expansive, tacit or explicit, congenial or hortatory. No less important, he knew how to seize an opportunity and when to create one. Modern presidents rely on television to reach the citizenry; Lincoln wrote highly influential editorials and public letters. He wrote his own speeches. Then he rewrote them.

Wilson shows that Lincoln was a relentless reviser. No matter how well he spoke and how well a speech was received, he would guide it into print with alterations to make it work as well on the page as possible. Wilson probes whether the Gettysburg Address that millions have memorized is what Lincoln actually said.

Wilson does not ask us to take him on faith: he includes facsimile reproductions of many key documents as evidence of Lincoln's attentive labor. Readers can see the cross-outs, scribbles, and additions for themselves.

Finally, Wilson reminds us of the immense literary work--reading, writing, and revising--that Lincoln did in the course of his presidency. Getting the general sense across was not enough for Lincoln: he sought precision. For any parent or educator who wishes proof of the importance of good writing for good judgment and good effect, there are few better examples than the Lincoln shown here.

The Intelligent Asset Allocator: How to Build Your Portfolio to Maximize Returns and Minimize Risk

Average customer rating:

Jewel for long term contrarian investing from a US perspective
Fianance.
Clearly explains the theory, its background, and use.
Efficient Frontier - Now I understand
LEARN from this book

The Intelligent Asset Allocator: How to Build Your Portfolio to Maximize Returns and Minimize Risk
William Bernstein
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0071362363

Book Description

“Bernstein has become a guru to a peculiarly ’90s group: well-educated, Internet-powered people intent on investing well—and with minimal ‘help’ from professional Wall Street.”--Robert Barker, BusinessWeek

William Bernstein is one of today’s most unlikely financial heroes. A practicing neurologist, he used his self-taught investment knowledge and research to build a popular investor’s website. Now, in the plain-spoken The Intelligent Asset Allocator, he shows independent investors how to build a diversified portfolio—without the help of a financial advisor. A breath of fresh air for investors tired of overly technical investment tomes, this book will help investors:
• Learn the risk/reward characteristics of various investment types
• Understand and apply portfolio theory for an improved risk/reward ratio
• Sharpen their focus, and take control of their investment programs William Bernstein (North Bend, OR) runs a website—www.efficientfrontier.com—known for its quarterly journal of asset allocation and portfolio theory, Efficient Frontier.

Customer Reviews:

Jewel for long term contrarian investing from a US perspective.......2007-04-19

This book is for investors with a time scale of decades. So think about saving for a comfortable retirement. It argues from a point of view of an US American investor (types of asset classes and their behavior in time, all in US dollars, US tax laws, US investing instruments) but the described principles are general and also well suited for residents of other countries.
Bernstein has the ability of a very clear and down to the earth way of thinking. Even more important his prose is as clear as his thoughts. He takes you by the hand and leads you through quite difficult terrain. But as long as you hold his hand everything is clear and makes a simple impression.
His advice is solid and can be employed easily in practical investing. He even has advice for somebody with only thirty minutes of time for investments a year (Put it into the four asset types: domestic small caps, domestic large caps, foreign stocks and bonds of up to five years of duration. Split your assets in equal proportion to those types. Try to aggressively save fees maybe with Vanguard funds. Adjust the portions of those four asset types once a year to their original proportions.) Clearly this is good advice. If you read this book you also learn a lot of why this is effective. But if you do not know more than this advice: Will you follow it through thick and thin? Just imagine one asset type gets out of favor and loses a lot of value for a few years in a row. Then you have to pour yearly a lot of fresh and good money in exactly that asset type (Bernstein is a moderate contrarian). It is hard to believe that anyone has that strength without a well developed own opinion on that matter. Yes it is exactly the opposite of a stop loss. It is buy more of the losing types and sell the winning ones. The hope is to buy low and sell high.
So enjoy the ease of reading and Bernstein's brilliant simplicity, but don't be fooled by it. You will have to work hard to gain your own standpoint. And you have to invest actual money for a few years to get to know yourself.
For further reading this book has an excellent bibliography and the author runs a great website. I highly do recommend this book.

Fianance........2007-04-01

This is a great book. Don't make it your 1st finance book, but a great follow up to a "Random walk down Wall Street"

Clearly explains the theory, its background, and use........2007-03-26

This is one of 3 books that I have on the subject .... and it complements those books each of which has its own particular bias.

The book is well worth buying, reading (with a few different color highlighters), and keeping it on the shelf for reference (.. in other words to keep one going back onto "track").

There is a bias towards using index funds; and this bias does use all the conventional wisdom -- wisdom that everyone else will be trying to employ. Therefore, there is a lack of ways to "jump-start" a portfolio -- ways that must be obtained from other books and newsletters.

Efficient Frontier - Now I understand.......2007-01-31

This book can "turn on the lightbulb" for all types about what the Efficient Frontier really means! This is the best investment book I have read that attempts to focus the individual on risk - the most important facet of investing.

LEARN from this book.......2006-11-13

Concise guide on asset allocation. Other similar complementary books - Investing Without Losing (ISBN: 0978834607 NOT on amazn, on other stores)

The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World

Average customer rating:

Ron, Maggie and the Pope
History as it should be written: fact-filled, detached and light on the bias
Historical Background
A must for young adults/teens
snore...

The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World
John O'Sullivan
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Reagan Diaries

ASIN: 1596980168

Book Description

The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister is a sweeping, dramatic account of how three great figures changed the course of history, as told by John O'Sullivan, former editor of National Review and the Times of London, who knew all three and has conducted exclusive interviews that shed extraordinary new light on these giants of the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews:

Ron, Maggie and the Pope.......2007-06-03

I read one review that said that they weren't on the same planet as these three leaders were doing their work. I was also on a different planet. I got so disilusioned with the Carter years that I completely turned politics off, and only took care of me and my family. As the years accumilated and GHW Bush became president, I had to return to reality. I have learned a lot about Reagan and JPII over the last few years especially after Mr. Reagan's death. Maggie is still an enigma to me. I want to really like her, but I understand that she was a real bugger to work for while Reagan was wonderful and of course JPII was a saint. Not to be outdone, Mikail was a horrible leader and was the primary reason, along with the decline of the Russian economy, crop disasters and an inempt military, Russia would have self destructed, I think, without much trouble. But the pressure that these THREE placed on the communist system from within is what crumpled the horrible experiment.

Along with Peggy Noonan's two books, one on Reagan and the other on