Biographies Memoirs Books Reviews

From Baghdad With Love A Marine the War and a Dog Named Lava Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series on shop

2010-10-23T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Jay Kopelman
Total Page : 269
Publisher : Thorndike Press
Publication Date : 2007 05 16

From Baghdad With Love A Marine the War and a Dog Named Lava Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series
>> Lava s Story
This is the BEST book I have ever read Even though the story of Lava was so touching it gave a frank insight into the war This story is one that I d love to see on the big screen
>> A Great Easy To Read Story
Being an ex Army soldier of the OIF/OEF time I have a tendency to be drawn towards Iraq stories You could say that my draw becomes almost magnetic when it involves dogs With that being said the second I discovered From Baghdad With Love it skyrocketed to the top of my must read pile

Even with my biases this book was absolutely phenomenal It is extremely easy to read and has the feel of talking to a war buddy in this case LTC Jay Kopelman as he illustrates the journey of his 4 pawed buddy Lava s journey home to America The book may not be absolutely correct when it comes to writing and journalism There are a lot of right and like s in it but I think instead of hindering the story it brings you closer to it There s a bluntness to a soldier things aren t sugar coated or dazzled up and there s an understanding of war that many people can t understand LTC Kopelman doesn t bother to make sure what he s saying is politically correct he just calls it like it is which I also enjoyed

Soldiers are an interesting lot From a vet side of view I often read these types of books because we re not exactly normal in the head anymore and it gives me a long lost feeling of belonging So I immediately was brought to the familiar comfort of soldier to soldier war stories But I don t think you have to be a soldier or even a dog lover for that matter to feel the profound impact that this story will have on you deep inside

Whether you are looking for something that s easy to read or you just want an incredible story about a heroic journey this book hits it right on the head

>> A difficult book to read but overall a heartwarming story of rescue for both animal and man
I honestly felt that this book was one of the most memorable and true to life books that I have read in many years I would recommend however that the book not be given or read to children or young teenagers because of the graphic descriptions of war injuries and how clearly descriptions of those injuries from bombs and other devices had left soldiers dismembered and near death so many times over during this war The one prevailing theme of a heroic soldier and his rescued canine angel absolutely made this book and its story one I will never forget or cease to be amazed at

Cheap price for My Own Country

2010-10-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Abraham Verghese
Total Page : 352
Publisher : Vintage Books
Publication Date : 1995 01 01

My Own Country
>> Given as a gift many times
I read this book years ago and re read it every so often because of the way the story hits home about the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and the struggle of a doctor trying to cope with a difficult situation I think Dr Verghese does a marvelous job of capturing and conveying his feelings at the time and how it was to deal with this new disease Although at times a difficult book to read it has been my choice as a gift on several occasions for both friends and family especially where someone has been considering medicine as it demonstrates what lengths a physician can go to care for their patients

One of my all time favorites I also enjoyed his book The Tennis Partner though this one is I feel the stronger of the two
>> Review for My Own Country
It was delivered very quickly which I was pleased about However there was a small blood like stain on the book which I wish I knew about before purchasing
>> Applicable in Many Different Ways
Dr Verghese s book is a heartfelt tale of two stories his own foreign born family s inclusion and exclusion in a rural Tennessee community and the inclusion and exclusion of his patients within their own community Dr Verghese is an infectious disease doctor who predominantly treats HIV positive patients He did his residency in Johnson City TN and found himself to be much like his patients outcasts The book flips between the stories of his patients and those of his own family both the sad anger producing stories and those that make you cry

Verghese is a talented writer and captures a pull in me I highly recommend this story The lessons learned can be applied to anyone finding themselves excluded or in the minority

Circle of Greed The Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Lawyer Who Brought Corporate America to Its Knees most popular

2010-10-22T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Patrick Dillon
Total Page : 544
Publisher : Broadway
Publication Date : 2010 03 02

Circle of Greed The Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Lawyer Who Brought Corporate America to Its Knees
>> Good Intentions Confounded or Cut From the Same Cloth
The gloss starts on the cover of the book with the subtitle the story of the lawyer who brought corporate America to its knees Never even close to the truth while Bill Lerach certainly attracted the enmity of corporate America this hyperbole does nothing to answer the most interesting question why did this happen and how did he get away with it for so long

There is a great deal of debate over the efficacy of class action litigation as a means to keep corporations honest Given the state of the world it seems a good case can be made that they fail as a tool to curb wrongdoing It s also the case that for every Enron WorldCom and HealthSouth case there were a significant number of cases that were groundless but were settled to avoid the cost and distraction of protracted litigation At the end of the day in view of the enormous wealth acquired by Bill Lerach Mel Weiss and other members of the plaintiffs bar much of the benefit of the litigation seems to have accrued to the lawyers rather than the investors

I was interested to see that another reviewer concluded the authors disliked Lerach I reached quite the opposite conclusion They seem to put him on a pedestal lending credence to the position that his good works outweigh his unjustifiable conduct The truth of the matter is that greed is not confined to the executive suite or law firms for that matter It s difficult for humans whatever their station in life to not succumb and take the easy way out

The story did jump around and the sequence of events was occassionally hard to follow And there were some technical issues as other reviews have pointed out It is certainly an interesting story and a cautionary tale but one at the end of the day gives far too much credit to Bill Lerach He is a thief plain and simple
>> Bill I Hardly Knew You
This book is interesting journalism about a character who is bigger than life Bill Lerach is a brilliant individual whose creative theories and ruthless execution made his an enemy of many companies The authors decided to tell a story and they told a fascinating one with unbelievable characters The story really is similar to others in 1990 who started out with an effective business plan and then overdid and destroyed themselves In many ways Lerach was not different than the Enron folks who he clearly hated He was so caught up in the need to make money or to be powerful that he felt the normal rules of law did not apply to him He cheated to get cases It is unclear from the book whether he thought he could do a better job or that he was manic

Like so many people like him he either never had a moral compass or he lost it In any event he became a disgrace to the bar through his tactics

My issue with this book is that there is no effort to consider the real issues seriously I was hoping there would have been an more in depth consideration of Lerach s contribution to general welfare Also I missed any analysis by the authors of why they felt he acted as he did i do not believe that the authors made the case that people like Lerach reduce corporate fraud I think because they destroy respect for the system they give the abusers the ability to say the law is not fair so I am not doing anything wrong by abusing it Like Lerach explaining why he bought plaintiffs The lack of such an effort did not reduce the pleasure of reading this book I just felt cheated that I did not get to understand Bill better
>> Compelling fascinating fair and insightful
A tremendous book A gripping page turner that every reader will enjoy even people without a background or specific interest in politics or law Objectively and thoroughly reported the authors make complex subjects understandable and present the tale of a larger than life character in a tale that someone will certainly turn into a blockbuster movie

Cheapest price on Jesus A Biography from a Believer is the best

2010-10-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Paul Johnson
Total Page : 256
Publisher : Viking Adult
Publication Date : 2010 03 04

Jesus A Biography from a Believer
>> Great job personifying Jesus

Overall I really liked this book It was an easy read and did a great job personifying Jesus I was brought up Christian and am practicing today The first half of the book I d say was nice most of the stories recounted were those that you were taught in Sunday School It was a pleasant read but I didn t really learn anything However I found the last two Chapters of Jesus life very interesting and is the reason I gave the book four stars The last two chapters are about the Cruxification and the Resurrection What I found most interesting wasn t exactly how Jesus was crucified as we ve all learned about that before but the politics that were going on to allow for such an event and tragedy to happen I always wondered why a crowd that was so excited to see Jesus on Palm Sunday could turn on him so in one week s time and this book helped answer that The last two chapters also help you understand the relationships Jesus had with his disciples and the women in his life This book would also be great for non Christians who want a basic understanding about a man who has a whole religion based on his teachings

>> Score One for the Believers
Mr Johnson has brought his formidable talents to bear in this supremely satisfying life of Christ a timely response to the latest publishing fad being book length diatribes by the supposedly learned and wise who denigrate religion and by not so subtle insinuation the Savior Jesus Christ As religious education wanes Jesus Christ has become to many not an object of veneration or daily study but a caricature or figurehead it is an unfortunate reality that too many believers fail to study their own beliefs and in this lack of appreciation they fall prey to those who mock religion The triumph of Mr Johnson s achievement is that he portrays the Christ of the Scriptures and is not interested in theological arguments so much as building faith and belief In speaking of the Savior believers of all types need more of this kind of approach the Christ was worthy of emulation in every respect

Mr Johnson argues that Christ lived a comfortable and educated life as a God with men and loved it His was a real life Jesus loved people loved a good meal He was supremely observant and compassionate He missed nothing and saw everything My favorite part of the book was Mr Johnson s telling of the miracle at Cana his portrayal of the relationship between Jesus and Jesus mother was illuminating The genius of the book is that it is not an explanation of why and how Jesus at once the most intelligent and powerful being to ever walk the earth allowed Himself to be made a sacrifice for mankind rather it is a biography a description of what kind of Man He was according to the historical record A deceptively difficult task that only a seasoned expert at the height of his powers could pull off as effortlessly as does Mr Johnson In summary Jesus was and is the perfect friend the epitome of unselfishness the example of everything good the author of the golden rule

The work is short and by no means exhaustive It makes conclusions that may be controversial to some but throughout the work you sense that Mr Johnson loves this man Jesus Christ and is in absolute awe and wonder of the divine intelligence exhibited in everything that Jesus said or did This reviewer will admit to the same bias I love the Christ and strive to live according to His example While it is the earnest hope of every believer to someday know more of He whom we seek to emulate Mr Johnson s little volume should be a welcome gift for anyone who seeks to follow the Master

Highest Recommendation

Best price for Ultramarathon Man Confessions of an All Night Runner is the best

2010-10-21T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Dean Karnazes
Total Page : 304
Publisher : Tarcher
Publication Date : 2006 03 02

Ultramarathon Man Confessions of an All Night Runner
>> Great Exposure to the Sport for Non Runners
My sister gave me this book as a quick read and I will admit it managed to keep my attention for the better part of the day

I think without going into too much detail it would be best to divide the book into two sections Pt 1 the Author s Background and First Exposure to the sport of Ultramarathons Pt 2 Subsequent life for the Author since then

Part I is what basically hooked me Often as a runner it is quite hard to explain to others why I do what I do sometimes running in the rain ultra races trudging through snow to complete my 5miles for the day etc And I believe in this book the author does a great job at capturing his personal reasons for picking up the sport As he states off hand several times everyone has their own reasons for running and perhaps that is what captivated me reading one person s story and experiences all the ups and downs What I best loved about this section was the attention to details somewhat in what it is like to run extreme distances The pain the discomfort the bodily functions the joy the walls and the myriad of emotions in between As much as I would like to say it is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other the author here does a great job at showing it is that but also soo much more The time required the early and late night runs to maintain levels the diets the cramps and the strong desire at time to just say screw this and walk away His description up through his first 100mile race is worth checking this book out

Pt II however this is where I agree with other reviews it becomes apparent he is trying to market himself and promote this how I would describe it sense of superficial humility He is not the first to do all of what he has done nor is he the last The dialogues he has with friends and family often come across as completely fabricated in his defense it keeps the story flowing and I would have done without them It is here that I had to force myself to finish the book He blazes through the rest of his races without much detail other than self promotion for his belief of following his heart What he does not describe is the reality of the situations as he captured so well in the first half The author must be financially secure and then some for very few of the ultra runners I know can even afford to do what he does Trips across the country in a RV entry fees transpo all the while keeping his family in tow are costly and he makes it sound as though us mere normal runners do not do the runs he does because we are lazy WHen in fact the simple truth is one can not afford it Everything has its price and he glosses over this fact while rubbing in the readers faces that not only does he have a Mercedes a lucrative job with liberal leave but also an RV to bring his team along I am not trying to discredit the man he IS very good at what he does and he IS inspirational I was just disappointed because I thought the first half did an OUTSTANDING job at encouraging people and non active folks to get up and at least try

All in all I gave this a 4 star review It is a pretty quick read and if you re not tempted to run at the end you read it too fast I would recommend this book for the first half alone and say if you want to read the rest great but the first half is what I believe will capture and inspire the mundane person into challenging themselves for something great a pursuit of pleasure through a course of pain

Shoot inspired me to do my 50mile race in June 2010
>> Great Inspiration
I purchased this book for my husband who has been running for several years and is looking to go to the next level and compete He read it in ONE DAY It is written in a comprehensive and entertaining dialogue that makes you feel like you know this guy Our 14 year old son who is also a runner is reading it now Great book
>> Exceptionally Motivating
I m one of those guys who tends to fluctuate in weight as well as fitness level and inherently my level of motivation determines both of those A former college athlete I was always in very good physical shape and could basically eat anything and be alright As the years have gone on heck I m only 28 I find myself having one poor eating day and gaining five pounds and finding it incredibly difficult to maintain my exercising motivation I have a 2 year old daughter a 7 month pregnant wife work all day play the role of husband and daddy all evening and in the winter months yes even in Arizona it s just so cold and difficult to become motivated at 4am

Enter Ultramarathon Man A good friend of mine plays the part of my motivator He s in excellent shape is incredibly disciplined in every aspect of his life Before heading out to Mexico last summer he dropped this book off at my door and said read it and enjoy Two days later I had read the book front cover to back and I did thoroughly enjoy reading the book I read it again and now 6 months later coming out of a rut I ll be reading it yet again

Why It s an enjoyable read that is incredibly uplifting and inspirational on several levels this superhuman that is Dean Karnazes is so humbled and down to earth about his accomplishments that you feel as though you re reading a book by your best pal or by your biggest fan He wants you to read his story and then create your own off of that I m not saying that he advocates someone 50lbs overweight to go out and run Badwater I m saying that he makes you want to challenge yourself to reach beyond what you believe you are capable of doing That s why I love the book As each chapter progresses I want to set it down lace up my shoes and head to the mountains for a run no matter what hour of day it is At the same time the book is so fast paced and enjoyable it s difficult to set down so you just keep reading

Will it go down in history as a literary masterpiece No But it s about as motivating as it gets

To the people who say Dean s not even the best ultrarunner out there but the book makes people think he is get over it The guy wrote the book and did a damn good job at that

Cheapest price for How To Say It How to Say It is the best

2010-10-21T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Rosalie Maggio
Total Page : 512
Publisher : Prentice Hall Press
Publication Date : 2001 09 01

How To Say It How to Say It
>> Boss s Day Gift
I gave this book to my manager and director for those moments when you are searching for just the right word or phrase
>> How to Say it Book Review
I found this book to be very helpful It covers a lot of different senarios Words are sometimes hard to find this helps me to get started
>> Excellent Book
Good book for improving Writing skills For those who would like to learn the guidelines for writing letters for personal and business purposes this book provides clear instructions and a variety of examples

Save price for Escape order it now

2010-10-20T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Carolyn Jessop
Total Page : 448
Publisher : Broadway
Publication Date : 2008 12 30

Escape
>> Cheers for Carolyn

By far this is the best memoir I ve read in awhile and I m an avid reader Jessop s tale of freedom from tyranny will stay with you Her story of the FLDS cult and polygamist lifestyle is so shocking it s almost hard to believe but the fall of the FLDS and its members including her former husband Merril Jessop and the cult leader Warren Jeffs is well documented I was turned onto this story when I saw the Fall 2009 edition of the National Geographic which showed Merril Jessop his wives and his many many children on the cover The photos looked so staged and unnatural almost uncomfortable that I wanted to know more about the FLDS especially about the women in their long pioneer dresses and ridiculous hairstyles and found the answers I was seeking in Carolyn Jessop s Escape The memoir is well written definitely a page turner and surprisingly relatable Cheers to Carolyn for her outstanding work for her bravery

>> Escape
This was an extremely well written story of this remarkable woman s life I never knew much about the Mormons or this more extreme branch The author brought me into her world and let me experience a culture and religion very different from my own

She starts out describing when she was a young child living with her parents While some of what she described seemed extreme to me it was nothing like what was to come From her unbelievable marriage to the things her husband put her through I kept expecting to get to the end of the book and discover it was fiction It was so foreign to everything I ve experienced its hard to believe its true

Her triumph through adversity is very inspiring and hopefully made some change in those states who choose to ignore the abuse without full investigation I hope it also inspired those who wished to leave as well

This book also offered some background into Warren Jeffs as well who became very well known through the news It showed yet another side of a man I can barely understand

Before you read this book please prepare yourself to cry cheer and experience an entire range of emotions You can go from one page to the next feeling angry and joyful all at the same time
>> Excellent Book You will LOVE it
I started reading this book on a Friday night at 7pm and had it finished by 10pm on Saturday I could not put it down The book is excellent I passed it on to my mother right away and she loves it also I kept forgetting that I was reading a true story it jsut doesn t seem possible that this is going on today in the USA You will love this book

Best price on Godless How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America s Leading Atheists order it now

2010-10-20T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Dan Barker
Total Page : 392
Publisher : Ulysses Press
Publication Date : 2008 09 01

Godless How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America s Leading Atheists
>> Exceptional
This book really hit the spot I am a former bible college student and I can think of no better mind to help mine than someone who has been there too This book supported my efforts to do what I had struggled to do for years get honest instead of continuing to play games with observable facts
>> The verdict still out
Sometimes the reviews are as entertaining as the books This is written on my kindle apologies for typos I have an interest in human nature psychology and philosophy as well as metaphysics and basic instinct I never cease to be amazed at the human condition or thought processes My lack of certain belief would lead some reviews to say i was forced into religion as a child NOT had trama as a child that caused doubt who hasnt chose to doubt because its popular funny i hadnt noticed with the flood of christian recruiters everywhere or that i must have a lack of interest in religion also false as i am very curious and try to learn as much as possible about varied religions Im not motivated by money as others suggested not one person has dropped by to drop off a load of cash for my research efforts I still havent read of the adult trama the author suffered that drove him away as one reviewer suggests Nor am i callous tu suffering and for the reviewer who suggests atheists are reticent to debate highly emotionally charged debates on morals be thankful we havent met Most interesting was while one questions what would impel man to be moral under atheism another touts that they wouldnt live their life differently if they were atheist so they arent missing anything Hmmmmmm very interesting indeed can i get an amen here Lol hilarious What has always troubled me is how many self professed christians have never fully read the bible Whats more frightening is the ones who have that dont question some of the insanity Ive only scraped the surface myself and will continue to study but starting at the start why arent more people troubled by some of these stories Genesis 19 30 38 the tale of Lots daughters who got their father drunk so they could become impregnated by him Really Justifiably of course they did this because there was no man to lay with them as is the custom all over earth This should not be shocking because just prior to that Genesis 19 1 8 Lot offers his virginal daughters up for sex to disuade the angry townsfolk from raping the visiting angels who have sheltered in his home Oh then that crazy Judah sleeps with his sons wife whom he mistook as a street prostitute Before he realizes it was his daughter in law that he patronized he learns that Tamar is a prostitute who is now pregnant from her escapades he cries out for her to be burned to death That is until he realizes he himself is the father or Tamars child Oops well nevermind that Genesis 38 6 25 I could go on and on and with determination I will get thru this trollop beginning to end and woe be the jaunty fundamentalist who seeks to debate my moral substance based on religion Bring it Furthermore plenty of the story just doesnt make sense How could we be created in Gods likeness and be so inherently evil Why do we believe we had to be created yet the almighty just IS How is it ok to cruelly mistreat the animals we eat Oh right I forgot because god said they are ours to be ruled over How silly of me Of course animals are nothing more than property at our disposal They dont have feelings Only unenlightened human arogance would believe that we are so special that we are above all the laws of nature and balance Only human ego would believe that it is our godly duty to fill the earth with our progeny destroying everything in our paths In a modern world where it is clear that we have reigned ourselves pun intended into a corner completely depleting the earth of everything we need to survive many still believe this is the path we are meant to take We have to eat two apples today to get the nutrition of one apple just 20 years ago A clear sign that we are in real trouble as a species But dont worry folks God has a plan to get us out of this mess As we approach the certainty that we have overpopulated the planet to the point of certain disaster take comfort that the rapture is near at hand Keep faith that our rescue must be just around the corner Yes lets hope so because the alternative in another 500 years is looking pretty grim Never in history has one species ruled so supremely that it has elimiated itself Natural predators in the wild destroy their young to prevent just such suffering in the long run The planet itself has a peculiar way of keeping the checks and balances But of course we must be special somehow above the obvious laws of nature We are so smart right Ticket to mars anyone I would encourage everyone to devour as much knowledge as possible research every possible theory or angle and use your head This book is interesting as well as many other view points It doesnt take god to know what is wrong here PS For a reaonable fee I will be happy to rescue your beloved pets after the rapture
>> Overcoming childhood training
Godless is one of the best descriptions of how a person steeped in religion finally recognized it for what it was and changed to atheism The task was exceedingly difficult and unfortunately few are able to make this change The hope of this book is to show others with deep religious training that they also can cast off the bondage of religion and open the door to rational thinking

Save price on Titan The Life of John D Rockefeller Sr is the best

2010-10-19T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Ron Chernow
Total Page : 832
Publisher : Vintage
Publication Date : 2004 03 30

Titan The Life of John D Rockefeller Sr
>> book
My husband really enjoyed reading this biography He could hardly put the book down Well written and very interesting
>> Titan
An amazing book to read not only was the book so enthralling I wanted to read more after I finished reading it as a result I bought the dvd to learn more about this great man and understand his life and business better I also got some education from the business practices he implemented as well as learned how much of an impact his business had on society and how we are still impacted by his businesses today some 140 years later If your in business or what to be in business this is a must read book surely to have a positive affect on you
>> Amazing
I don t usually read books like this however I found Titan to be exceptional It is well written and tells a fascinating story Moreover it provides many insights into the times during which Rockefeller lived

Cheapest price for Drinking A Love Story

2010-10-19T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Caroline Knapp
Total Page : 258
Publisher : The Dial Press
Publication Date : 1996 05 02

Drinking A Love Story
>> so boring I couldnt even finish it
This book was all over the map None of her stories made any type of timeline She jumped back and forth and gave looooong descriptions of too many incidents The book made no sense Just some half asses self analysis with a few stories thrown in for variety I would like my money back for this one
>> Jarring but eye opening account on the life of an alcoholic
A sad story that offers and heart wrenching truthful account on the life of an alcoholic This book will dispell many stereotypes and give you an new persepective on the disease of alcoholism A good read
>> From one alcoholic to another
There are certainly better books to inspire or encourage a person with the disease A Drinking Man s Life etc This book was laborious With due respect to the author this seemed to be therapy for her vs education or help for others As a recovering drunk I feel there are SO MANY ways to explain the problem and the solutions w/AA Very little offered in this book

Gifted Hands reviews

2010-10-18T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Ben Carson
Total Page : 232
Publisher : Review Herald Pub Assn
Publication Date : 1990 06

Gifted Hands
>> Great reading
After seeing the movie it is good to read the book and get the REAL story This doctor is amazing not because of his medical prowess necessarily but as a human being and brother in Christ What a loving man And his mother I wish my mother would have been more proactive in my life She is a great human being but a little push would have gone a long way Dr Carson and his brother have reaped the harvest of a loving caring and spiritual home Thank you for writing about your feelings in this book Hope Cross
>> gifted hands book
This book is a inspiration to all involved in the health care field and having faith in oneself to fulfilling your dreams You can do anything you set your mind to conquer Great book
>> Inspiring book must reed
I red this book many years ago and it was inspiring for me then through my university education and is still today at my work I ordered this book for a friend of mine who does not understand Croatian but I m glad that this book is available in Croatian launguage as well This book is a great gift to both children and adults

Cheapest price for Letter to My Daughter order it now

2010-10-18T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Maya Angelou
Total Page : 192
Publisher : Random House Trade Paperbacks
Publication Date : 2009 10 27

Letter to My Daughter
>> Not as heavy in the lecturing as some of her books
I was disappointed there was not a daughter but premise is okay
Interesting background of author pretty horrible a couple times
I admire her tenacity maybe got some of that from her mother Still
she was odd It would have probably have answered questions that arouse
during the reading if the author explained her mothers behavior more
A lack of responsibility bothered me a little The poetry section was
good Angelou s preachy tendencies were less apparent than in other books
All in all it was okay
>> ok
Ok I wanted more from this book it could have been so much better seller was good
>> another good one by a living legend
Letters to my daughter was a great read and i enjoyed reading with my youn daughter and we both got a lot from it i am a big fan of hers and she never lets me down She is a living Legend I also love why do caged birds sing

Where to buy Benjamin Franklin An American Life order it now

2010-10-17T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Walter Isaacson
Publisher : Simon Schuster Audio
Publication Date : 2003 07 01

Benjamin Franklin An American Life
>> Great overview of Benjamin Franklin and his times
I felt this book was a very helpful and interesting introduction to Ben Franklin I liked it even more than I had expected to and I would certainly recommend it to others It provides a great sense of both the man and his times One of my favorite parts was the end when Isaacson provides an overview of how people have responded to Franklin s views over time including our time Ben Franklin is such a central figure in American history and this book is an engaging way to learn about him

>> Another poorly done biography by Isaacson
Anyone who wants to understand Benjamin Franklin would be well served by reading Steven Johnson s book The Invention of Air which is mostly about Joseph Priestley but often mentions Franklin The Johnson book does a fine job of showing that aspect of Franklin to which the disappointing Isaacson book gives short shrift Franklin the scientist

The Isaacson biography is also sorely disappointing because it is so what So pedestrian so conventional so obviously a poor rehashing of much better Franklin biographies that preceded this one One wonders why Isaacson even bothered to write the book Money perhaps Whatever his motivation the result is poor

I felt much the same about Isaacson s biography of another intriguing personage Albert Enstein In that book Isaacson manages to fog up the science because the physics in question obviously overwhelms his ability to comprehend it much less write about it although he tries anyway to the dismay and confusion of the unfortunate reader

But Isaacson as any layperson could understand the science that Franklin explored and was so important to in his era Indeed Franklin was primarily known during his time as a scientist not a politician/statesman And Isaacson fails to capture that in his book Instead we just get another humdrum biography apparently churned out for a buck Too bad

I do wish Isaacson would stop writing biographies at least about those people I admire
>> Placing Franklin in Context
Well written readable and balanced Presents the unappreciated breadth and depth of Franklin s contributions while not glossing over his lack of emotional commitment The chapter tracing the wax and wane of American appreciation of Franklin with the passage of time alone is nearly worth the price of the book

Save price for SEE NO EVIL

2010-10-17T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Robert Baer
Total Page : 284
Publisher : Crown
Publication Date : 2002

SEE NO EVIL
>> America s Favorite CIA Case Officer Goes Direct to the People
See No Evil is many books in one It s a biography telling a very interesting story about how life s twists and turns shaped a young man such that he was identified by the CIA as good agent material Baer s unusual upbringing had the advantage of giving him the ability to operate in any country independently and keep his wits about himself This is also a history book weaving a tale of many events with which Baer played a role as an intelligence gatherer The events have to do mainly with violence in the Middle East and the constant power struggle there Last See No Evil is a general book about intelligence and the CIA complete with information that should be helpful to reform the Agency

The most important aspect of this book is the picture it shows of the Central Intelligence Agency and its role in government We all know from the newspapers that human intelligence was underutilized and not trusted compared to high tech signal and satellite intelligence and the U S government now recognizes this and plans to correct the problem Beyond that however are the underlying problems that make human intelligence a chronic problem for government There will continue to be a lack of human intelligence which takes many years to build up and because the political system does not readily allow human intelligence to thrive

Baer shows how many of the important people at the CIA the remaining and flourishing old boy network enhance careers by avoiding risk Some create paperwork making it appear as if they re busy while cooperatively censoring intelligence politicians would find inconvenient Others are true professionals and risk their lives doing what they were hired to do The true professionals in doing their job jeopardize their careers by definition For example a case officer operating in a foreign and hostile environment would naturally have to associate with foreign nationals In doing so the case officer is exposed to investigations related to any number of charges such as providing secret information to a foreign intelligence agent The mere act of a case officer doing his or her job is professionally risky Human intelligence work when done properly is not necessarily good for one s career

Baer reaches out through his books to get public support for the stated mission of the CIA Politicians of either party probably will never voluntarily allow the Agency to do its job appropriately due to inherent conflicts of interests Namely top politicians need intelligence that suits their political purposes whether to award contracts to donor corporations or conduct a political career enhancing foreign policy But facts are supposed to be neutral and intelligence personnel are charged with getting to the truth whatever it is Therefore the CIA probably benefits by having advocates such as Baer to inform the public about the need for non politicized intelligence

After listening to the audio version of See No Evil twice ably read by the author I feel a bit pessimistic about quick reform of the intelligence community I don t know how the intelligence community can avoid being politicized Career rewards for shaping intelligence to fit policy are too great a temptation for the all the CIA s upper echelon to avoid I think However this may be a common problem for all governments The matter then becomes one of relativity How politicized is our intelligence community compared to others See No Evil does not address that question but hopefully Baer will produce another good book that does

>> Telling account of the Middle East
Baer is a skilled historian having actually been a part of the recent history of the CIA His account of the American politics with the Middle East is enlightening to say the least

Politics and intelligence is all too often politicized for unnecessary agendas but Baer seems to be able to disassociate from the potential for pointing fingers and accusing a political group for the failure of CIA operations Instead the failure is one of bureaucratic leaders afraid to take a risk for intelligence

The author takes the reader through a journey from his days of uncertainty as a grad student the highly secretive spy training and his own journey in finding Iran at the root of all evil While the book focuses on his entirety in the CIA and takes the reader through the timeline of events Baer is quick to reference how each event built upon the previous and the evidence continued to lead back to Iran

No doubt this book s popularity and poignant nature spawned his following book The Devil We Know
>> let down
I m surprised at the large number of favorable reviews I was very excited to read this book from the description but ended up disappointed It started out great describing what it was like to join the CIA and the training etc Then it begins to get dense with names and details and the bigger picture gets obscured

There is a whole lot of complaining in the book and when I read a book like this I must always remember that hindsight is 20/20 It is very easy to criticize decisions in the past when the outcomes have already been determined Nonetheless the author does present some valid overarching criticisms of the CIA and I m sure the CIA would do well to heed them

The author does not give a lot of historical context to his situations and I think that hurts the quality of this work
Unless you are a die hard CIA enthusiast you may want to pass on this one There are other better books that expose the CIA

Second Chances/Broken Wings SC FCS order it now

2010-10-16T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Zondervan
Total Page : 288
Publisher : Zondervan
Publication Date : 2006 02 01

Second Chances/Broken Wings SC FCS
>> Found the writing rather child like in word and content
I suppose being a Christian requires a child like belief in the beginning at least but this book was a bit too simple in it s content and writing style to be believable or enjoyable for me I am not saying that I do not believe that the experience happened to the author but for me it definitely loses depth and credibility in the writing
>> Loved It
This book is another sincere testimony of the reality of life after death There are so many good lessons that can be learned and applied to our lives
>> Return from tomorrow
Great Book Forces you to have a strong reflection on your life and your future

Best price for Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is the best

2010-10-16T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Harriet Ann Jacobs
Total Page : 134
Publisher : General Books LLC
Publication Date : 2010 03 07

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
>> Great purchase
Purchasing this textbook thru this company saved me about 50 00 It came to me in perfect condition and I am very thrilled with the amount of information the book has It s really easy to read and gives lots of examples
>> Incredible and well told
Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl is the incredible life journey of Harriet Jacobs a k a Linda Brent from oppression to freedom One could scarcely believe the lengths a human soul would suffer to attain it

I was engulfed in Harriet s story There were things I never put much thought to like the lives of the slaves of kind masters were held so delicately in balance for when they die life can change so quickly and even the granting of freedom upon death can be no guarantee of freedom Harriet makes a passionate argument for why slaves even under kind masters should be set free

Harriet describes things so hard to believe I did find myself doubting like hiding in quarters so cramped she could not stand up for seven years It s not that a person wouldn t want to do that given the alternative of slavery and she didn t know initially how long she would be there It s implausible because this storage shed was on her grandmother s property and that property was under suspicion so that it was searched inside and out and no one thought to search the shed just because no one ever went in there The attic of that shed would have been the first place I d have looked even if it didn t look like it had a door Her children weren t supposed to know she was there but her son figured it out because he heard her cough Well he was just a little boy and he figured it out Surely others heard noises as well

Secondly her master sought her as he would try to woo a girlfriend When she ran away he searched for her and offered rewards as would be expected of slave owners However after seven years neigh even more he continued to travel north in search of her Even if he were smitten with her I wouldn t have expected it to last that long Considering she was his slave I would think he would have thought her forever lost property and she d been replaced except for maybe outstanding reward money Harriet said slaves were treated like dogs and people don t usually travel the states for seven years looking for lost dogs

Overlooking those details I was able to enjoy the book Harriet Jacobs was a talented writer I lived her life through her words Though it sometimes read like fiction it could not have been better told

>> Excellent Novel
Wow Where do I start This novel is the epitome of a well rounded slavery novel The details were nothing short of amazing At any given moment I can find myself vividly imagining the scenery and ambience that the novel speaks of This is one of my favorite pieces of literature and I believe everyone should experience this vivid account of Harriet s difficult ascent from slavery to freedom I only wish there was something to tell of how Harriet s life progressed where the novel leaves off

Save price on The Yankee Years order it now

2010-10-15T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Joe Torre
Total Page : 528
Publisher : Anchor
Publication Date : 2010 03 09

The Yankee Years
>> Not Just About The Yankees
While Mr Torre s first book was told from his perspective this book is told second hand via Tom Verducci Verducci weaves a great narrative of the all the drama and action behind the scenes with the Yankees The stories about A Rod and Clemens make for good reading but the problem with this book is that it seems to leave a bad taste with his former employer Not only are some players called out but management is painted in an unfavorable light

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the Red Sox comeback games and how sabermetrics changed the game for a while I m interested after dealing with the Steinbrenner family and now the McCourt family what sort of stories will come out working for the Dodgers

If you are a baseball fan a Joe Torre fan and or a Yankee fan this is an entertaining and insightful read If you are none of the above get a cookbook
>> Not just for Yankee fans
Joe Torre and Tom Verducci have joined together for a real winning combination Joe s calm style shows through in every line as does his enthusiasm for his team and his players and his absolute love for the game The book doesn t just cover the good times and the highlights either There are sections on the heart wrenching losses the games booted player and manager errors and just plain getting beat by a better team Oh yes there are also beautiful full color photo inserts that are worth more than their thousand words I highly recommend it for any real baseball fan out there
>> Scored with this one
My husband requested this book for Christmas he is a big baseball fan and loves the Yankees so this gift was definitely a home run He is currently reading it and it enjoys it very much Thank you

It s Not Me It s You Subjective Recollections from a Terminally Optimistic Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman reviews

2010-10-15T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Stefanie Wilder Taylor
Total Page : 240
Publisher : Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Publication Date : 2009 07 07

It s Not Me It s You Subjective Recollections from a Terminally Optimistic Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman
>> Success from unlikely origins
While I truly enjoyed the optimism of Stefanie her irresponsible youth annoyed me Some like to live vicariously through others and that was really why I give the book 4 stars She said and did things I would never do and I enjoyed seeing the results but I may have been a bit too much of a prude for the first few stories Her recklessness and laziness got to me but then again she clearly had a difficult upbringing It sounds as if she raised herself and really you have to admire who she became as a result And as I said her optimism won me over It s in turns touching and funny disturbing or maybe I m more of a prude than I realized and entertaining It ends suddenly but upon reflection I recognized how far Stefanie had come from the first short story and that was a satisfying ending
>> Really really liked it
Great read full of humor and hilarity I thought the author really gave us something to laugh about as well as something to chew on I will be recommending this one to friends
>> huh
Maybe I have read some truly witty books and columns but I didn t see it with this book I read it earnestly hoping that the recollections would become sarcastic and smart Well I finished the book and I m still waiting This book was a disappointment and I would not suggest it to others

Where to buy A Big Little Life A Memoir of a Joyful Dog order it now

2010-10-14T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Dean Koontz
Total Page : 288
Publisher : Hyperion
Publication Date : 2009 08 25

A Big Little Life A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
>> Is he the only person
with the cutest smartest bestest dog in the whole world Of course not because all of our dogs are like that I know he supports Canine Companions for Independence and the like I do too But his style is so wide eyed Gee whiz that I couldn t read it Didn t plan to read the ending anyhow We have a handful of dogs waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge All of you do too as does Mr Koontz
>> Bonding
Dean Koontz gives us a biography of Trixie as well as a glimpse into his own life and thought processes I was predisposed to like this book because i like how Mr Koontz uses the english language There is grace and humor in his writing no matter the subject Being animal lover helped too When he talks of time and memory Ch 16 dogs and death Ch 17 he is preaching to the choir i have no doubt that animals have a consciousness and dare i say it Souls
But if you prefer txtspk and are convinced of mankind s superiority in all aspects of life this is not for you
>> Dean Koontz never fails
As a dog lover and Dean Koontz fan I was doubly pleased with this offering Koontz is clearly a man of heart or he wouldn t have his beloved goldens in nearly everything he writes and I m happy that his popularity permitted him to write this tribute to a wonderful dog He understands them as only a true dog lover can

Fast Shipping No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt The Home Front in World War II order it now

2010-10-14T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Doris Kearns Goodwin
Total Page : 768
Publisher : Simon Schuster
Publication Date : 1995 10 01

No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt The Home Front in World War II
>> Great sublimation
This rather dense book was a pleasure to read and great education for me The author is so good at weaving historical events both dry subjects and personal accounts and keeps you engaged and curious Even their flaws in personalities and relationships seem to have produced significant accomplishments a great case of sublimation
>> No ordinary read
My early memories of the Depression and WWII were dim I was just a small child during that time What are vivid are the feelings of love and adoration for FDR by my mother and her family One of my fondest experiences was taking my Mom to Warm Springs GA to visit his home and place of his death

I have learned through the years that the mere mention of Franklin Roosevelt evokes extreme emotions he was either loved and admired or hated and condemned There seemed to be no middle ground

I learned so much about this man his politics our country the Great Depression and WWII in this remarkable Doris Kearns Goodwin biography She has the ability to put you there as an observer during so many pivotal times in American history Her seamless segues from past to present allow the reader to understand this man s past as it is woven into his life s story You can almost visualize Winston Churchill running about the White House in a velvet robe

So importantly it also let s one understand his loving yet poignant and painful marriage to Eleanor

Regardless of your politics reading this book is truly an uncommon experience

>> No Ordinary Time
The best book on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Ms Goodwin won wide aclaim for this book and deserving so Full of facts that you never knew and historical background on the family and their views Very Interesting and a fast read

The Liars Club buy online

2010-10-13T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Mary Karr
Total Page : 336
Publisher : Picador
Publication Date : 1996 11 08

The Liars Club
>> Fine storytelling in an emotional black hole
A childhood spent in an ugly Texas oil town blighted by an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother sure does give Mary Karr a good story to tell And she tells her story with a sure hand and a finely honed black humor This is the reason to read Mary Karr s book

Eventually though the narrative began to feel hollow to me Mary Karr is telling her story from a great distance not so much of time but of therapy and creative writing coursework She talks of her physical reactions to the craziness around her for example watching her mentally ill mother burn her toys and belongings in a bonfire or recoiling from the demands of nursing her father but her emotional self is remote or even absent

I felt this lack only because I recently read two misery lit memoirs whose emotional tone seemed more honest to me The Glass Castle and Hungry Hill In each of these books the child s hurt is more keenly felt Mary Karr seems intent on pushing away the hurt in favor of the story And yes it s a great story
>> a tattered tale
The writing and story were great but i d say the seller oversetimated the book s condition a bit Still it arrived quickly and all s well that reads well
>> Liar s Club Pulls No Punches
Mary Karr s book Liar s Club should be required reading for all memoirists

Karr lays bare her horrendous childhood and sexual abuse with a painfully truthful yet poignant and laugh out loud funny story of her love hate relationship with an extraordinary and extraordinarily frustrated mother a candidate for a good shrink if there ever was one Fortunately she has a father who is her rock at least when he s not drinking

As is the case in many such situations Karr and her older sister learn to cope by relying on each other for support I can see why it has endured and is recommended by so many therapists

From Karr s recounting of her early panic to her final absolution I loved this book

Mary Lynn Archibald author of the memoir Accidental Cowgirl Six Cows No Horse and No Clue

Shop for Meditations Dodo Press

2010-10-13T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Marcus Aurelius
Total Page : 180
Publisher : Dodo Press
Publication Date : 2006 08 12

Meditations Dodo Press
>> Philosophy its best
I will keep it short

Amazon shipped the order rather quickly the book came nice and new the reading itself is irreplaceable Would definitely recommend for others
>> Not so common sense
Everywhere at each moment you have the option
to accept this event with humility
to treat this person as he should be treated
to approach this thought with care so that nothing irrational creeps in

With these words Marcus Aurelius succinctly captures the philosophy he shaped his worldview around Practical philosophy such as this often gets tagged with the phrase common sense but to me this does a great injustice to both the underlying philosophy and to the clearly intense struggle to live life by such a code The ideals that Marcus articulates are perhaps commonly understood but rarely translated into practice because human nature tends toward the opposite response to act selfishly to taint our judgment with thoughts of what if and why me and to rail against that or those we believe have caused us insult or harm To live as a Stoic to accept external events as outside of our control to treat others with justice and fairness and work toward the common good and to be able to separate objective fact from subjective evaluation is incredibly difficult The fact that Marcus felt the need to write these notes down and often repeat the same themes over and over again to himself gives proof to their difficulty

Marcus can seem a bit cold and a bit pessimistic at times but I don t think this need be the case It is actually a rather liberating message both specific and demanding of its adherents Want true happiness Be unselfish in your actions Don t deny your emotions or speculations but do keep them distinct from objective fact The things that are done and said to you are only bad if you let them be Improve what you can control accept what you can t If you need help putting things in perspective Marcus reminds us that all is transient this too shall pass More sobering than uplifting the message is different than your typical modern self help book Yet it is these differences and the insights they produce that make it a stimulating and rewarding read especially in these turbulent days at the beginning of the 21st century Due to its excellent introduction and general ease of reading I particularly enjoyed this Hays translation but encourage potential readers to compare several versions to see which fits their needs best
>> Hardly ground breaking but essential nonetheless
If you expect this book to be anything but common sense and practical idioms you are mistaken The genius is this common sense and practical knowledge is tested and elaborated on by the most powerful man on earth at that time and one of the most respected of his empire a good judge of ethics and morals Marcus Aurelius neither intended this to be a radical new treatise or even published for that matter instead these are the reiterations of a student of Stoicism reinforcing his willpower in face of his self acknowledged weaknesses and in that regard an intriguing intimate look into one of the few philospher kings of Plato s dreaming

His philosophy sometimes rambling often redundant and idiosyncratic repetition of the theme of afterlife is nothing new to anyone who has studied Stoicism For those unfamiliar it reads easily and has a non academic feel without sinking to a dear diary sappiness These are real life politics and wars he is describing and he s the one responsible for pulling the empire through it The brief maxims and longer diatribes are not profession in nature or necessarily inspiring but are timeless all the same and like the Ecclesiastes and the Upanishads a practical code to follow A book I will likely come back to again and again

Cheap price for Pretty in Plaid A Life A Witch and a Wardrobe or the Wonder Years Before the Condescending Egomaniacal Self Centered Smart Ass Phase order it now

2010-10-12T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Jen Lancaster
Total Page : 384
Publisher : NAL Trade
Publication Date : 2010 05 04

Pretty in Plaid A Life A Witch and a Wardrobe or the Wonder Years Before the Condescending Egomaniacal Self Centered Smart Ass Phase
>> You wont stop laughing
If you can imagine Jen Lancaster only gets better with each book You will find yourself laughing out loud and nodding along with the stories Jen tells about her life in the 80 s and 90 s in this book I can t recommend it highly enough
>> Not as Pretty as Others
Jen Lancaster keeps her humorous bit alive with her third novel Pretty In Plaid Lancaster takes readers on the ultimate flashback in time traveling back through the 80s and 90s and revealing her journey to show just how she got to where she is now I enjoyed reading about the disastrous birthday dinner when Lancaster was eight and realized how to eat a lobster her Greek years in college and how she struggled to fit in and how she came to meet her future husband Fletch
Pretty in Plaid was a fun read mainly because I was learning even more about one of my favorite authors I like how Lancaster lets readers into her life and her humor and honesty through each saga keeps me laughing throughout the novel I do have to be honest and say this wasn t my favorite novel from Jen Lancaster it just didn t give me the same pull as the others I have read I think maybe because there was not really a true plot it was just basically story telling and I wasn t sure where the story would stop Still an entertaining read and I would recommend to all chick lit fans just not a personal favorite of mine

>> Feels Forced
I had read all four of Jen Lancaster s books and occasionally read her blog I think she s funny and I m amused by her sense of humor however I did not love this It felt forced like she was reaching to think of funny things to talk about I still chuckled at some points but its definitely not her best book Bitter is I will probably continue to read her books but I certainly won t be paying 25 for a brand new hardcover Next time I ll buy it used or wait for it to come out in paperback

Save price for Killing Willis From Diff rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted

2010-10-12T06:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Todd Bridges
Total Page : 288
Publisher : Touchstone
Publication Date : 2010 03 16

Killing Willis From Diff rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted
>> An incredible story of Todd Bridges
In promoting this book Todd Bridges in his interview with Today show co host Meredith Vieira on NBC on March 15 2010 and later with Joy Behar on her show on CNN spoke openly and honestly about his ordeal of physical sexual and emotional abuse he faced from the very people who were responsible for his best interest and safety He has lived through the most difficult days of abuse the harassment from police intense racism in Los Angeles Police Department LAPD in 1980s and 1990s addiction to controlled substances life on the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles repeated criminal charges including a murder charge and bad publicity surrounding Diff rent Strokes other actors Gary Coleman and Dana Plato Incidentally Dana died tragically at a very young age due to drug addiction and drug overdose on May 8 1999 It is absolutely overwhelming for any man let alone a kid to face this trauma yet Todd proves that you need to fight your way out never relent to momentary setbacks and you can still emerge as a reformed positive role model for kids who face similar challenges He has turned his life around by becoming an author a family man a responsible father working actor director and a producer This is absolutely incredible saga of an individual who had everything to the very lowest point in life This is especially hard for fans who watched Diff rent Strokes on TV regularly during 1970s and 80s

The middle pages are especially hard to read as Todd Bridges describes in great detail his unfortunate addiction to various controlled substances and then becoming a drug trafficker himself living on the most dangerous streets of South Central LA and dealing with worst offenders Constant harassment of LAPD racism he experienced from them at a very young age when he could not understand what it meant Todd describes a very happy childhood growing in San Francisco where he faces very little racism but moving to Los Angeles would change everything it is not only fame money girls drugs and sex but also the law going incessantly after him

From this book we also get to know the working relationship between three young actors of the show Gary Coleman guided by his father was mean and unfriendly The friendship between Dana Plato and Todd Bridges is not so sweet after all Dana had addition to drugs since the age of 13 and everyone on the set knew her problem because she was using them on the set and was a highly unreliable cast member Both of them had several years of sexual relationship and drug use but Todd Bridges still regards her as his best friend whom he wanted to help in her final days by persuading her to check into a rehab clinic This story is deeply saddening and hard to read especially for fans who adored the show

1 Diff rent Strokes Seasons 1 2 DVD Set First Two Seasons
2 On the Set of Diff rent Strokes
>> Raw but not in a good way
If you re looking for a raw no holds barred depiction of drugs sex and violence then this may be the biography for you However if you re looking for anything heavier than that introspection self awareness and maturation this may not be the place to look I couldn t bear to keep reading after around 200 pages not because of Todd s raw depiction of the street life but rather because his chronicle feels thoroughly deficient in other more important respects

First of all Todd demonstrates little understanding of himself and seems to have a tremendous ego He goes on and on about what a big deal he was as a child/teen star often seems like he s bragging when he discusses his exploits and promotions in the drug world and constantly paints himself as an innocent victim even going as far as to say that none of what he did was his fault other than taking drugs in the first place How about his running two crack houses and intentionally getting several women hooked How about all the crime and death he indirectly promoted through his drug dealing activities At one particularly important point in the book he finds himself wrongfully accused of murder and never connects the dots to realize that the murder was committed by his people in his crack house against his arch rival No Todd claims he never fired a gun but many guns fired because of him Todd sees himself here as an innocent victim of racial profiling and personal grudges in much the same way as he was when the police repeatedly pulled him over earlier in life and hassled him for being black The two situations are far from the same It s not that Todd needs to show more remorse over the things he did it s that he doesn t show any because he doesn t see himself as deserving blame Though he often talks about how far he fell and how ashamed of himself he d become it was never for anything other than being a drug user who no longer cared about his career He ll spend entire pages talking about pioneering a way to make crack in the microwave or rising to become a small time drug lord in such a short amount of time but these read like bragging rights not confessions

Secondly there are several times in the book where Todd s accounts seem highly unreliable Though there are times where he knows that what he s saying sounds hard to believe and says as much there are other accounts that simply don t add up At one point in the book Todd is cheated out of his entire fortune and is left with nothing Yet in the next few chapters he mentions his nice five bedroom home his Ethan Allen dining room table and his BMW and he has another car too Sure he may have lost most of his fortune but he s clearly still affluent and goes on to survive comfortably and support a heavy drug addiction without working or stealing for many years after At another point in the book Todd s drug lord mentor has four crack houses but when Todd takes over his business a few pages later there are two crack houses In a third memorable instance Todd s old rival gets revenge on Todd by knocking him down running into his crack house and locking him out This makes absolutely no sense Drug lords seeking revenge outside of a crack house at night fire guns and kill They do not run into houses and lock people out The fact that this is all part of Todd s alibi for how he had nothing to do with this man ending up in his crack house and being brutally murdered makes this account even more suspicious There s also a time when Todd is on death row for killing Henry and the cops add an armed robbery charge to the mix Todd tells them that Henry is the one who did it and to go look for him Why would he have said that if Henry s death is the whole reason Todd was on death row in the first place

Finally the general writing style is exceptionally poor and non engaging Todd often sounds like he s just rambling and heading toward a general direction in his narrative There s also an excessive usage of commas in the middle of sentences and before the word because any time that it is used I m not sure what co writer Sarah Tomlinson actually did for this book but it feels completely unedited

Please don t get me wrong Todd Bridges has led a fascinating and incredibly painful life he has been the victim of many unfortunate circumstances including abuse sexual abuse and blatant racism he has pulled himself out of the abyss and in at least one instance he has performed a heroic feat that saved someone s life I have nothing against Todd Bridges as a person but I could certainly do without Killing Willis
>> Todd Bridges is such a whiner
I really didn t want to deal with this book because I was ALIVE during the 90s and 2000s so I already know Todd Bridges life story but the Vine program offerred it and there was nothing else I wanted so I got it The reviews made it seem like this book was soooo good All Todd does is whine in the book When Todd was harrassed by the police for driving his own Porshe he stated it was racism by the LA Cops we got it When he was arrested for the killing of the people at the crack house he stated it was racism by the LA Cops we got it Now in his book he rehashes the same claims Todd we get that your life got off track because of racism give it a rest Sarcasm

Todd whines and I use the word whines because Todd s life was pretty okay and has turned out fine yet he still feels he has been wronged The trials and tribulations of Todd Bridges would have been good in book form but the writing is dry He describes the abuse at the hands of his father over and over again but the way he describes it is like he was an observer I felt no emotion to any of the things Todd said in his book and the racism thing just got old

To top it off Todd was on the Joy Behar show a week ago and they were talking about actors being able to bounce back Robert Downey Jr etc When Todd was asked why he couldn t bounce back of course he replied RACISM Todd just be quiet

You have not become a huge star again because your acting range is limited Other than Willis and your child characters your acting has been blah You bring nothing to a dramatic role You are no Denzel Morgan Freeman Don Cheatle Tyler Perry etc You just don t have the acting chops to bounce back Your son is now an actor focus on his success and stop whining

Would I recommend this book Yes if you were not ALIVE in the 90s and 2000s and don t know Todd s story already the racism the arrests the drug use the former child star syndrome the sex with Dana Plato etc

Cheap price on Autobiography of a Yogi Includes Bonus CD

2010-10-11T22:00:00.001-07:00

Author : Paramahansa Yogananda
Total Page : 520
Publisher : Self Realization Fellowship
Publication Date : 2006 06 01

Autobiography of a Yogi Includes Bonus CD
>> Autobiography of a Yogi should only be taken for entertainment
I bought the audio book on Audible and it is well read and somewhat interesting But it s total pseudoscience and supernatural fiction If you are looking for scholarly insights into spirituality this is not it At times I felt like I was being outright lied to examples include a man who can t show up in pictures and a teleporting silver talisman to name a few Sometimes it borders on being outright charlatan Read it for entertainment or not at all There are better things to spend your time with
>> Amazing book
This book if you can believe what is in its pages contains the secrets for the attainment of nirvana Paramahansa Yogananda was a saint and his life was touched my many powerful yogis swamis and Christ like individuals This book explains the limitations of the old and new testaments and what they were trying to explain Words can not begin to describe my love for this book and what it has done for me
>> spiritual journey
any person on the journey of life will truely benefit by reading this book the words on these pages flow like poetry and will resonate with all