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by Linda Spence
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Swallow Press (1997-11-01)
ISBN: 080401003X
EAN: 9780804010030
Dewy Decimal #: 808.06609
Paperback: 178 pages
SKU: 102908029
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...light shelf wear on cover
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
In this practical guide to capturing those memories that have been stored away, Linda Spence provides the questions that are the keys to unlocking the memories that make up a life. Beyond the vital statistics are the personal stories that tell what it was like, what we did, and why we did it, how we feel about our choices, and what our circumstances were. Through encouraging coaching, shared memories, and open-ended questions, the process of producing a personal history becomes intriguing and engaging. With Legacy the possibilities expand: a personal record is preserved—with its myths, traditions, joys, pains, gains, and losses; a family opens a potential dialogue that will last for generations; the writer has an opportunity for insight and resolution; the culture of a time and place is noted; the tradition of personal story is revitalized, and our present and future find nourishment and knowledge in the past. Either as a gift that can act as a shared experience as the memories are recounted or as a personal way to take account of one’s experiences, often long since forgotten, Legacy is indeed a way to get one’s story down. Linda Spence writes and collects Legacy stories in Mill Valley, California, where she lives and works as a consultant.
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Amazon.com Review
Linda Spence's Legacy proves to be just that: the creation of a family heirloom that money couldn't buy. Through a series of thought-provoking questions about each phase in human life, Spence helps readers record their personal history, think back to feelings that any number of snapshots could never capture, and reflect upon their lives. What events occurred during your childhood? What did you like most about school? What do you wish your parents had done for you? The text includes sample essays by the author and quotations by other writers to encourage your muse.
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Customer Reviews
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Making Memoir Writing Easy
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-01-25
Spence has provided a tool for eliciting and recording family history with relative ease. Her book can become a catalyst for coaxing memories even from people who protest about recording their experiences or who lack confidence about their ability to remember. However many of the numerous helpful prompts you use, you will create a worthwhile legacy.
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A GIFT ONLY YOU CAN GIVE YOUR DESCENDANTS
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-07-21
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
What were you like as a child? What did you think? What did you do?
Not many of us escape these questions from our children and grandchildren.
This wonderful book enables us to leave a legacy of memories and history for our descendants. It gives step by step instructions on how to write
a personal history. The process also brings back many memories and gives the writer a clearer picture of his/her life experiences. At 78 I hope I have enough time to finish my gift to my family. Wish I'd had this book 20 years ago.
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Gets You Started
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-02-27
20 out of 20 customers found this reveiw helpful
This book is a step-by-step guide to writing your life's stories as a legacy for other family members. The author has worked with seniors for many years, gathering their stories and helping them document their life histories. In this book, she presents a simple methodology that anyone can follow to help them get over the hardest step in the process-getting started. In the introduction, she urges the reader to set aside some time and space for writing, in a notebook, on an audio cassette, on a typewriter, or on a computer, whichever is most comfortable and convenient. Then she provides lists of reflective questions to get the juices flowing. The questions are organized by topic, including earliest memories, school life, young adulthood, marriage, children, grandchildren, and later adult years. Interspersed with these questions are quotations from unknown as well as famous published memoirists whose writing illustrates the topic at hand.
Everybody has had life experiences which are fascinating, amazing, or potentially edifying for others. The trouble is, so few of these stories ever get passed on because it's so hard to actually sit down and write them. With this book, Spence makes the task seem easy. Writers can sit down with the book, open to a page at random, and begin writing responses to her prompts. Or they can begin with the first question and work methodically through the book. Each question can easily require an entire essay to answer in full. Once the individual essays start collecting, the raw material is ready to edit into a book. Or, the answers can simply be left as drafts in the writer's notebook to be passed on to others as a legacy. It should be noted that Spence's goal is to help readers to document their life histories in a positive way so as to create a product that can be passed on to other family members, rather than to explore negative memories as a means of self-growth. The book is not about style, grammar, or esthetic qualities of writing. Spence finds it more important for writers to use their own voices naturally rather than to adopt formal stylistic attributes. The book would make an excellent gift for older family members who have stories to tell but just haven't gotten around to writing them down yet.
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Enough questions to last a lifetime
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-09-05
11 out of 12 customers found this reveiw helpful
I am teaching a life history class for the first time and am using Linda Spence's book as part of my curriculum. She literally has hundreds and hundreds of questions to ask which can be a little daunting, but just remember to take only a few at a time and know that not all questions will pertain to you. In the end, the answers will give a lot of good information to your children or grandchildren that you can leave as is or refine in "book" form. This book is also good for audio or video testimonials as you can just answer the questions for a more informal feeling.
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Excellent guide
Rating (5)
Date: 2004-07-27
18 out of 18 customers found this reveiw helpful
I taped 16 hours of memories using Spence's book to interview my 87 year old father. It was a wonderful way of connecting as he lived more in the past as he aged. He was delighted to have my full attention and I enjoyed hearing his life story. The book helped me to organize material for the interviews. Last year I transcribed, edited and published the memoir as a gift for his children and grandchildren. He had seen a draft of it before his death and was thrilled that his life was recorded for posterity.
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by Nicolaus Mills
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher (1993-06-25)
ISBN: 1566630266
EAN: 9781566630269
Dewy Decimal #: 305.8960730762
Paperback: 228 pages
SKU: 090408018
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: exlibrary copy in good condition with the usual markings and stickers
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
A stirring and saddening account of the Mississippi Summer Project of 1964 and the turning of the civil rights movement in America. Mills recalls the triumphs of the episode but also shows how the quest for racial solidarity turned divisive and laid the foundations for the black power movement. A very moving book, a chronicle of a remarkable moment. --Studs Terkel. Extremely readable and fair-minded....Mills lets participants speak for themselves, which many of them do with a touching eloquence. --New York Times Book Review
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Customer Reviews
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A good book about the civil rights movement in Mississippi
Rating (4)
Date: 1999-08-16
This book gives one a good idea about what the SNCC had to endure during the 1960's. Specifically the Summer Project in 1964 is addressed. I enjoyed reading the book. Finished it in one day. What I miss, however, is what impact the changes in the civil rights status for blacks in Mississippi had on the psychy of the white community. What happened to the racist ideology? How did those people deal with the changes that were finally implemented in the state of Mississippi?
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by Nicolaus Mills
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher (1993-06-25)
ISBN: 1566630266
EAN: 9781566630269
Dewy Decimal #: 305.8960730762
Paperback: 228 pages
SKU: 090408018
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: exlibrary copy in good condition with the usual markings and stickers
More Product Infomation
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
A stirring and saddening account of the Mississippi Summer Project of 1964 and the turning of the civil rights movement in America. Mills recalls the triumphs of the episode but also shows how the quest for racial solidarity turned divisive and laid the foundations for the black power movement. A very moving book, a chronicle of a remarkable moment. --Studs Terkel. Extremely readable and fair-minded....Mills lets participants speak for themselves, which many of them do with a touching eloquence. --New York Times Book Review
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Customer Reviews
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A good book about the civil rights movement in Mississippi
Rating (4)
Date: 1999-08-16
This book gives one a good idea about what the SNCC had to endure during the 1960's. Specifically the Summer Project in 1964 is addressed. I enjoyed reading the book. Finished it in one day. What I miss, however, is what impact the changes in the civil rights status for blacks in Mississippi had on the psychy of the white community. What happened to the racist ideology? How did those people deal with the changes that were finally implemented in the state of Mississippi?
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by Donald T. Phillips
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Warner Books, Inc. (1993-02-01)
ISBN: 0446394599
EAN: 9780446394598
Dewy Decimal #: 973.7092
Paperback: 188 pages
SKU: 092708002
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...minor wear on cover
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
The American Civil War was arguably one of the most chaotic periods in history. Yet through it all, Abraham Lincoln managed to keep the Union together and victorious. Here in this fascinating and invaluable book, Donald T. Phillips reveals the strategies and tactics Lincoln employed, and offers ways that the executives of the 90s can use those same strategies to make their businesses successful in these tough economic times. "As we face challenging times of our own, Lincoln's astonishing achievements in crisis deserve our careful study. This expert, detailed record of his leadership qualities not only illuminates the past, it might also help light the way to the future". -- Mario Cuomo, former Governor of New York and coauthor of Lincoln on Democracy "Given the urgent leadership crisis we are facing now, "Lincoln on Leadership" has arrived just in time. This book is as powerful and visionary as Lincoln himself". -- James Patterson, chairman, J. Walter Thompson/North America and bestselling author of Jack & Jill and Hide & Seek A unique guide merging history and business, showing how the time-tested strategies that Abraham Lincoln used in keeping the Union intact can be used today by executives who need to keep their organizations on the path to success.
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Customer Reviews
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Read this book first!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-09-10
This book is a must read for anyone having a position that includes leadership responsibilities. Regardless how long you've been in that position this book is absolutely indispensable! You will have tips and insights for improving your leadership skills right from the start. This is the best investment I've made in improving my leadership skills by far.
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Lincoln on Leadership: A Fantastic and Helpful Read
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-04-15
Donald T. Phillips did a terrific job with this book and provided valuable insight into the excellent executive leadership of President Lincoln. Virtually every American learns about Abraham Lincoln throughout his/her childhood, but specific situations and conversations are rarely provided as examples. Fortunately, Phillips provides these examples and proves that Lincoln was definitely one of the best presidents in United States history.
As a student in college who is majoring in communications, I believe that the book is also very applicable to situations in people's lives today. Although most people do not become president, they do encounter various situations in which they are asked to lead other people or follow the direction of another person. After reading this book, a person can easily understand the traits and qualities necessary for quality leadership and can therefore implement them into everyday situations in the real world. In addition to this possibility, people may also be able to evaluate the prospective leadership qualities of a superior authority and determine the legitimacy of their direction.
I especially enjoyed the chapter regarding President Lincoln's integrity that never allowed him to act out of spite or vengeance. Many people in charge of companies, organizations, or any other types of groups are often vindictive or downright nasty. Consequently, the followers in these groups do not respond positively and commonly perform at a lower level. Lincoln understood this reality completely and made sure to treat virtually all people sincerely and respectfully. Moreover, Lincoln also comprehended that partaking in spiteful encounters with people only hindered achievement of positive goals. As Phillips stated at the outset of the chapter, "Lincoln understood that to actively engage in slander and malicious dealings would simply eat up far too much of his time, which he used in securing positive end results than negative ones." Similar insights are present throughout this chapter, and readers should definitely take this useful information and apply it to their lives.
An additional chapter that proved to be very helpful in improving my leadership abilities was the ninth chapter, entitled "Lead by Being Led." Too many authority figures in the world today believe that they are all-knowing and more intelligent than everyone else, no matter what the particular issue proves to be. President Lincoln, however, recognized that many of his cabinet members and employees were very intelligent people who often knew more about particular issues than he did. In fact, Phillips described several situations in which Lincoln trusted in some of his employees so much so that he signed various documents without ever reading them because he trusted their judgment so much. By shedding light on this common leadership flaw, Phillips made me realize that President Bush should read this book and learn to trust the judgment of others, rather than to dismiss advice that he does not agree with.
Ultimately, Lincoln on Leadership was a very educational and entertaining read. Phillips' specific details and examples proved Abraham Lincoln's exceptional leadership qualities. My expectations heading into the book were not very high because I do not even enjoy historical books, but this work turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. I will definitely take several pages out of Lincoln's proverbial leadership book in future situations and my life, and I'm positive that it will be to my benefit.
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What all leaders should read
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-04-07
This book has everything a leader needs to know and use. It is that foundation every leader should have and constantly strive for.
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Lincoln is still a leader.
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-10-01
I selected "Lincoln on Leadership" as a biography to use in a graduate educational administration course and I couldn't have chosen a better book. The organization of the book highlighted leadership qualities that Lincoln exemplified and each chapter had a succinct summary of those leadership skills. Lincoln's leadership is applicable to all types of leadership including education.
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Leadership During ALL Times
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-04-27
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
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.
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by Ronald C. White Jr.
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2002-02-12)
ISBN: 0743212983
EAN: 9780743212984
Dewy Decimal #: 973.7092
Hardcover: 256 pages
SKU: 102208009
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...No noticeable Underlining or Highlighting...light shelf wear on dustjacket
More Product Infomation
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
After four years of unspeakable horror and sacrifice on both sides, the Civil War was about to end. On March 4, 1865, at his Second Inaugural, President Lincoln did not offer the North the victory speech it yearned for, nor did he blame the South solely for the sin of slavery. Calling the whole nation to account, Lincoln offered a moral framework for peace and reconciliation. The speech was greeted with indifference, misunderstanding, and hostility by many in the Union. But it was a great work, the victorious culmination of Lincoln's own lifelong struggle with the issue of slavery, and he well understood it to be his most profound speech. Eventually this "with malice toward none" address would be accepted and revered as one of the greatest in the nation's history. In 703 words, delivered slowly, Lincoln transformed the meaning of the suffering brought about by the Civil War. He offered reunification, not revenge. Among those present were black soldiers and confederate deserters, ordinary citizens from all over, the black leader Frederick Douglass, the Cabinet, and other notables. John Wilkes Booth is visible in the crowd behind the president as he addresses posterity. Ronald C. White's compelling description of Lincoln's articulation of the nation's struggle and of the suffering of all -- North, South, soldier, slave -- offers new insight into Lincoln's own hard-won victory over doubt, and his promise of redemption and hope. White demonstrates with authority and passion how these words, delivered only weeks before his assassination, were the culmination of Lincoln's moral and rhetorical genius.
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Amazon.com Review
In the tradition of Garry Wills's modern classic Lincoln at Gettysburg, Ronald C. White Jr. offers a close reading of the speech Abraham Lincoln gave in 1865 at his second inauguration and declares it the man's finest and most important effort. It contains one of Lincoln's best-known lines ("With malice toward none; with charity for all"), which White admires as "a timeless promise of reconciliation." At the same time, White reminds readers that rather than yanking such brilliant rhetorical nuggets from their context, "We need to understand Lincoln's strategy for the complete speech." He provides this in some detail, describing the political environment in which Lincoln found himself, having recently won a presidential election that he nearly lost and also seeing the Confederacy begin to collapse for good. It was not a long speech, containing only 701 words of mostly one syllable each and requiring merely six or seven minutes to deliver, compared to about 35 minutes for the inaugural address he had given four years earlier. White calls these words Lincoln's "last will and testament to America." John Wilkes Booth, who attended the inaugural ceremony, would murder him the next month. Lincoln buffs in particular will appreciate this book, as will fans of Jay Winik's April 1865. --John Miller
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Customer Reviews
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Very Educational
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-01-22
This entire book is a thorough analysis of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Speech given towards the closing of the Civil War. In a time of great turmoil, Lincoln's words offered peace and reconciliation to a nation who had faced nearly four years of bloodshed. White's analysis of the speech is very insightful, as he covers everything from his word choice to people who may have inspired Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln is one of the most revered presidents today and White portrays him as the eloquent speaker he was.
I found the beginning of the book to be quite boring as White goes on to explain the historical context of the speech. Although this is important, I felt he dragged it out too much to a point where it resembled a U.S. history textbook. However, the real analysis comes shortly after in which White analyzes the opening paragraph of Lincoln's speech. I assumed it was just an introduction to get the audience pumped up, however, Lincoln failed to meet America's expectations as he blatantly admitted he would not punish the South for seceding. While disappointing many Americans at the time, I look back on this and realize that it was the appropriate thing to do given the harsh circumstances. White continues to break down the speech into small excerpts, going over each sentence in extensive detail. I found it quite interesting to learn that Lincoln used alliteration, parallel structure, words that were not inclusive, and allusions to God as methods of arousing hope among the American people. The speech was very simple, yet complex at the same time and I developed even more admiration for this humble president. It is evident that White did a lot of research to compile this book and I feel that I did indeed learn a great deal. This book convinced me that the Second Inaugural Address was truly Lincoln's greatest speech.
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Informative but not satisfying
Rating  (3)
Date: 2008-01-22
A book on analyzing Licoln's Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural by Ronald C. White focuses on the rhetorical strategies Lincoln employs in his speech. Although the book is very informative, this book is hardly deemed to be read for pleasure.
White does a good job of providing enough context to let readers know what the nation was going through at the time. It allowed me to understand what White was trying to say when he was analyzing Lincoln's speech. It becomes much clearer why Lincoln chooses certain words to say when one is fully informed of the situation.
For me personally, I learned a lot about history through this book alone, but I also learned more about rhetorical strategies and why certain words work and certain words do not in particular situations. The book made it clear what rhetorical devices were used and why. Although the book fully analyzed Lincoln's speech, I do feel White does go a little overboard with his analysis.
A good book to read, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural is good for teaching people rhetorical strategies, but it is one book I would not read for the pleasure of reading.
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Yawn. BORING!
Rating  (2)
Date: 2008-01-21
Speeches are boring. Not much to say there. But what White has done is just plain horrible. 256 pages of horrible actually. Though White's essay/book is informational and effective, it is extensive and overfilled with pointless history.
Breaking down Lincoln's speech, White provides powerful information about the rhetorical devices Lincoln uses to unify the nation. However, this `powerful' information is often drowned out by the incessant historical lessons. In reality, this story is more of a biography than an analysis on Lincoln' Second Inaugural address. Although this may excite some people, for most, myself included, this is more of a turn off.
So if you want to read some history, go ahead, pick up this book. But if your looking for information on Lincoln's Second Inaugural, I strongly suggest that you go on the internet to get your information.
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Excellent Analysis but in an Excessively Long and Tedious Package
Rating (2)
Date: 2008-01-21
Ronald White does an outstanding job analyzing Lincoln's second inaugural speech, supporting his work with both historical context and social context. However, this book is presented in a way that has little to offer for the casual reader.
Understanding the power within Lincoln's words, White breaks down this speech to reveal the methods Lincoln used to persuade his audience. He traces, from Lincoln's early history as an orator to his final years, the growth and development of our sixth president and the affect it had on his speech. White analyzes the strategies Lincoln employed to convey his message of reconciliation; instead of merely focusing on the speech, he also includes the responses it produced upon the listeners. He sheds light to many elements of the speech that are unseen by the average reader. With an overall solid argument, this book will leave the reader amazed at the power of Lincoln's subtle language, if only the reader could finish the book. And that is the trouble.
Turing an analysis of a 701-word speech into a 265 page book means boredom. White's analysis is substantial and perceptive but by analyzing almost word by word, he has turned this book into a tiresome read. The unnecessary details that White sometimes includes are overwhelming at best. His arguments are sound but the extreme amount of support he provides reduces their impact. The reader gets carried away and lost within the paragraphs of history that White uses to support his claims. While there is much to be gleaned from his pages, the unnecessary length of this book is extremely unappealing. If White were to reduce his book to a summary of his claims with minimal but concise support, this book would be much more effective.
This book is a worthwhile read as there is much to be learned from White's careful analysis but because of its length it is extremely unappealing and almost impossible to reader with interest.
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Good Analysis, Better as an Brief Essay than as a Book
Rating (3)
Date: 2008-01-11
A proof should be as simple and as elegant as possible, yet at the same time it should be full and rigorous. Ronald C. White provides an insightful essay on Lincoln's Second Inaugural address. Unfortunately, his proof is in the form of a 256 page book. Though effective and thoughtful, White's work is bogged down by its excessive history.
If White's work were in the form of a shorter paper, each paragraph would be meaningful and interesting. As it is, it is tempting to skim through White's work, as so much of it seems to serve only as filler and history to extend the length of the work and make it publishable in the form of a book. In a condensed form, White's arguments would simply be more potent.
White's analysis and the content of his work are, however, effective and insightful. Though some bits are sketchy, most of his analysis makes evident the method behind Lincoln's Second Inaugural. Paragraph by paragraph, sentence by sentence, and word by word, White breaks down the rhetorical devices which Lincoln used in his hope of reunifying the nation.
White's analysis is rich, ranging from explaining the effect of Lincoln's diction to the appeal to religion made when Lincoln's speaks of slavery. White goes through parallelism and imagery--he thoroughly covers all of Lincoln's methods. For readers who love history and all that is Lincoln and the Civil War, I recommend this book. But for everyone else who believes nonfiction in this era should yield maximum knowledge and understanding with minimum time, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural is simply tedious.
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by Ronald C. White Jr.
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2002-02-12)
ISBN: 0743212983
EAN: 9780743212984
Dewy Decimal #: 973.7092
Hardcover: 256 pages
SKU: 102208009
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...No noticeable Underlining or Highlighting...light shelf wear on dustjacket
More Product Infomation
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
After four years of unspeakable horror and sacrifice on both sides, the Civil War was about to end. On March 4, 1865, at his Second Inaugural, President Lincoln did not offer the North the victory speech it yearned for, nor did he blame the South solely for the sin of slavery. Calling the whole nation to account, Lincoln offered a moral framework for peace and reconciliation. The speech was greeted with indifference, misunderstanding, and hostility by many in the Union. But it was a great work, the victorious culmination of Lincoln's own lifelong struggle with the issue of slavery, and he well understood it to be his most profound speech. Eventually this "with malice toward none" address would be accepted and revered as one of the greatest in the nation's history. In 703 words, delivered slowly, Lincoln transformed the meaning of the suffering brought about by the Civil War. He offered reunification, not revenge. Among those present were black soldiers and confederate deserters, ordinary citizens from all over, the black leader Frederick Douglass, the Cabinet, and other notables. John Wilkes Booth is visible in the crowd behind the president as he addresses posterity. Ronald C. White's compelling description of Lincoln's articulation of the nation's struggle and of the suffering of all -- North, South, soldier, slave -- offers new insight into Lincoln's own hard-won victory over doubt, and his promise of redemption and hope. White demonstrates with authority and passion how these words, delivered only weeks before his assassination, were the culmination of Lincoln's moral and rhetorical genius.
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Amazon.com Review
In the tradition of Garry Wills's modern classic Lincoln at Gettysburg, Ronald C. White Jr. offers a close reading of the speech Abraham Lincoln gave in 1865 at his second inauguration and declares it the man's finest and most important effort. It contains one of Lincoln's best-known lines ("With malice toward none; with charity for all"), which White admires as "a timeless promise of reconciliation." At the same time, White reminds readers that rather than yanking such brilliant rhetorical nuggets from their context, "We need to understand Lincoln's strategy for the complete speech." He provides this in some detail, describing the political environment in which Lincoln found himself, having recently won a presidential election that he nearly lost and also seeing the Confederacy begin to collapse for good. It was not a long speech, containing only 701 words of mostly one syllable each and requiring merely six or seven minutes to deliver, compared to about 35 minutes for the inaugural address he had given four years earlier. White calls these words Lincoln's "last will and testament to America." John Wilkes Booth, who attended the inaugural ceremony, would murder him the next month. Lincoln buffs in particular will appreciate this book, as will fans of Jay Winik's April 1865. --John Miller
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Customer Reviews
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Very Educational
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-01-22
This entire book is a thorough analysis of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Speech given towards the closing of the Civil War. In a time of great turmoil, Lincoln's words offered peace and reconciliation to a nation who had faced nearly four years of bloodshed. White's analysis of the speech is very insightful, as he covers everything from his word choice to people who may have inspired Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln is one of the most revered presidents today and White portrays him as the eloquent speaker he was.
I found the beginning of the book to be quite boring as White goes on to explain the historical context of the speech. Although this is important, I felt he dragged it out too much to a point where it resembled a U.S. history textbook. However, the real analysis comes shortly after in which White analyzes the opening paragraph of Lincoln's speech. I assumed it was just an introduction to get the audience pumped up, however, Lincoln failed to meet America's expectations as he blatantly admitted he would not punish the South for seceding. While disappointing many Americans at the time, I look back on this and realize that it was the appropriate thing to do given the harsh circumstances. White continues to break down the speech into small excerpts, going over each sentence in extensive detail. I found it quite interesting to learn that Lincoln used alliteration, parallel structure, words that were not inclusive, and allusions to God as methods of arousing hope among the American people. The speech was very simple, yet complex at the same time and I developed even more admiration for this humble president. It is evident that White did a lot of research to compile this book and I feel that I did indeed learn a great deal. This book convinced me that the Second Inaugural Address was truly Lincoln's greatest speech.
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Informative but not satisfying
Rating (3)
Date: 2008-01-22
A book on analyzing Licoln's Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural by Ronald C. White focuses on the rhetorical strategies Lincoln employs in his speech. Although the book is very informative, this book is hardly deemed to be read for pleasure.
White does a good job of providing enough context to let readers know what the nation was going through at the time. It allowed me to understand what White was trying to say when he was analyzing Lincoln's speech. It becomes much clearer why Lincoln chooses certain words to say when one is fully informed of the situation.
For me personally, I learned a lot about history through this book alone, but I also learned more about rhetorical strategies and why certain words work and certain words do not in particular situations. The book made it clear what rhetorical devices were used and why. Although the book fully analyzed Lincoln's speech, I do feel White does go a little overboard with his analysis.
A good book to read, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural is good for teaching people rhetorical strategies, but it is one book I would not read for the pleasure of reading.
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Yawn. BORING!
Rating (2)
Date: 2008-01-21
Speeches are boring. Not much to say there. But what White has done is just plain horrible. 256 pages of horrible actually. Though White's essay/book is informational and effective, it is extensive and overfilled with pointless history.
Breaking down Lincoln's speech, White provides powerful information about the rhetorical devices Lincoln uses to unify the nation. However, this `powerful' information is often drowned out by the incessant historical lessons. In reality, this story is more of a biography than an analysis on Lincoln' Second Inaugural address. Although this may excite some people, for most, myself included, this is more of a turn off.
So if you want to read some history, go ahead, pick up this book. But if your looking for information on Lincoln's Second Inaugural, I strongly suggest that you go on the internet to get your information.
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Excellent Analysis but in an Excessively Long and Tedious Package
Rating (2)
Date: 2008-01-21
Ronald White does an outstanding job analyzing Lincoln's second inaugural speech, supporting his work with both historical context and social context. However, this book is presented in a way that has little to offer for the casual reader.
Understanding the power within Lincoln's words, White breaks down this speech to reveal the methods Lincoln used to persuade his audience. He traces, from Lincoln's early history as an orator to his final years, the growth and development of our sixth president and the affect it had on his speech. White analyzes the strategies Lincoln employed to convey his message of reconciliation; instead of merely focusing on the speech, he also includes the responses it produced upon the listeners. He sheds light to many elements of the speech that are unseen by the average reader. With an overall solid argument, this book will leave the reader amazed at the power of Lincoln's subtle language, if only the reader could finish the book. And that is the trouble.
Turing an analysis of a 701-word speech into a 265 page book means boredom. White's analysis is substantial and perceptive but by analyzing almost word by word, he has turned this book into a tiresome read. The unnecessary details that White sometimes includes are overwhelming at best. His arguments are sound but the extreme amount of support he provides reduces their impact. The reader gets carried away and lost within the paragraphs of history that White uses to support his claims. While there is much to be gleaned from his pages, the unnecessary length of this book is extremely unappealing. If White were to reduce his book to a summary of his claims with minimal but concise support, this book would be much more effective.
This book is a worthwhile read as there is much to be learned from White's careful analysis but because of its length it is extremely unappealing and almost impossible to reader with interest.
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Good Analysis, Better as an Brief Essay than as a Book
Rating (3)
Date: 2008-01-11
A proof should be as simple and as elegant as possible, yet at the same time it should be full and rigorous. Ronald C. White provides an insightful essay on Lincoln's Second Inaugural address. Unfortunately, his proof is in the form of a 256 page book. Though effective and thoughtful, White's work is bogged down by its excessive history.
If White's work were in the form of a shorter paper, each paragraph would be meaningful and interesting. As it is, it is tempting to skim through White's work, as so much of it seems to serve only as filler and history to extend the length of the work and make it publishable in the form of a book. In a condensed form, White's arguments would simply be more potent.
White's analysis and the content of his work are, however, effective and insightful. Though some bits are sketchy, most of his analysis makes evident the method behind Lincoln's Second Inaugural. Paragraph by paragraph, sentence by sentence, and word by word, White breaks down the rhetorical devices which Lincoln used in his hope of reunifying the nation.
White's analysis is rich, ranging from explaining the effect of Lincoln's diction to the appeal to religion made when Lincoln's speaks of slavery. White goes through parallelism and imagery--he thoroughly covers all of Lincoln's methods. For readers who love history and all that is Lincoln and the Civil War, I recommend this book. But for everyone else who believes nonfiction in this era should yield maximum knowledge and understanding with minimum time, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural is simply tedious.
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by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2003-06)
ISBN: 0743222245
EAN: 9780743222242
Dewy Decimal #: 973.929092
Hardcover: 562 pages
Release Date: 2003-06-09
SKU: 100308012
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...light shelf wear on cover
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Hillary Rodham Clinton is known to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Yet few beyond her close friends and family have ever heard her account of her extraordinary journey. She writes with candor, humor and passion about her upbringing in suburban, middle-class America in the 1950s and her transformation from Goldwater Girl to student activist to controversial First Lady. Living History is her revealing memoir of life through the White House years. It is also her chronicle of living history with Bill Clinton, a thirty-year adventure in love and politics that survives personal betrayal, relentless partisan investigations and constant public scrutiny. Hillary Rodham Clinton came of age during a time of tumultuous social and political change in America. Like many women of her generation, she grew up with choices and opportunities unknown to her mother or grandmother. She charted her own course through unexplored terrain -- responding to the changing times and her own internal compass -- and became an emblem for some and a lightning rod for others. Wife, mother, lawyer, advocate and international icon, she has lived through America's great political wars, from Watergate to Whitewater. The only First Lady to play a major role in shaping domestic legislation, Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled tirelessly around the country to champion health care, expand economic and educational opportunity and promote the needs of children and families, and she crisscrossed the globe on behalf of women's rights, human rights and democracy. She redefined the position of First Lady and helped save the presidency from an unconstitutional, politically motivated impeachment. Intimate, powerful and inspiring, Living History captures the essence of one of the most remarkable women of our time and the challenging process by which she came to define herself and find her own voice -- as a woman and as a formidable figure in American politics.
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Amazon.com Review
As with most books written by politicians while in office (or at least aiming for one), Living History is, first and foremost, safe. There are interesting observations and anecdotes, the writing is engaging, and there is enough inside scoop to appeal to those looking for a bit of gossip, but there are no bombshells here and it is doubtful the book will change many minds about this polarizing figure. This does not mean the work is without merit, however, for Hillary Clinton has much to say about her experience as first lady, which is the primary focus of the book. Those interested in these experiences and her commentary on them will find the book worth reading; those looking for revelations will be disappointed. Beginning with a brief outline of her childhood, college years, introduction to politics, and her courtship with Bill Clinton, Clinton covers a wide variety of topics: life on the campaign trail, her troubled tenure as leader of the President's Task Force on National Health Care Reform, meeting with foreign leaders, and her work on human rights, to name a few. By necessity, she also addresses the various scandals that plagued the administration, from Travelgate to Whitewater to impeachment, though she does not go into great detail about each one; rather, she seems content to simply state her case and move on without trying to settle too many old scores. Along the way, she offers many apologies, though perhaps not the kind some would expect. She does not shy away from her "vast right-wing conspiracy" comment, for instance, though she does wish that she had expressed herself differently. Regarding the Monica Lewinsky scandal, she maintains that her husband initially lied to her, as he did the rest of the country, and did not come clean until two days prior to his grand jury testimony. Calling his betrayal "the most devastating, shocking and hurtful experience of my life," she explains what the aftermath was like personally and why she has elected to stand by her man. In all, Living History is an informative book that goes a long way toward humanizing one of the most recognizable, and controversial, women of our age. Shawn Carkonen
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Customer Reviews
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perfect
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-11-17
it was in perfect condition and was delivered fast
thanks so much.
stina langstrup
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Absent Of Any Distinguishing Personality
Rating (2)
Date: 2008-11-12
The skies were clear and blue on the morning of September 11th, 2001 and yet there was something in the air. Hillary Clinton's descriptions of important events are akin to looking at a painting that has been edited by photoshop. Her bloodless image of America and her life experiences in it over the last fifty years will leave you yawning. There is no emotion in her prose, only clean typeface absent of any distinguishing personality. If you wonder why she lost the 2008 Primary to Barack Obama, this work of carefully chosen memories is a good indication. If there is a real Hillary Clinton, she is so hard to find that even her editor struggled to craft the semblence of a real person. It's a shame really. For a woman who has done so much for the country, she really should find the courage to admit her flaws without faking it.
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What would her life have been like if she hadn't met Bill Clinton?
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-10-27
Hillary Clinton is a fascinating person in contemporary American politics. In a way, she is all of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s and rode into our personal power on the coat tails of the women's movement and the self-help movement.
This book seems a very thorough account of her life up until her run for the U.S. Senate. I found myself wanting to know more about her childhood, because this section, at least for me, seemed the most dynamic.
My only hesitation in recommending this book whole-heartedly, is that at times it seems a vehicle to "set the record straight" on the Clinton years in the White House. There are lots of details, probably a bit too many, on the unrelenting Ken Starr investigation and her health care program. And not enough details on the Monica Lewinsky fiasco. Other sections read like a travelogue at times, but I actually enjoyed these parts.
All in all, I found this book a fascinating read. I walk away from it wondering: What would her life have been like if she had never met and fell in love with Bill Clinton?
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Influential woman of US politics
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-08-01
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
Reading Hillary's book has given me a sense of the determination, courage, strengths AND faults of this strong woman.
From her early days growing up in the Midwest, to her quest for leadership roles in Wellesley college and Yale law school, and her role in the Watergate impeachment investigation, as well as her days as first lady of Arkansas and the country, up until her role as senator in New York... this woman has been through a lot and has a lot of insight into this world.
The only problem I had with reading this book is that you see that she did live (somewhat) in the shadow of her husband. I mean, he was the President; she was just the first lady. But you see that she tried to get involved in the issues she cared about, namely healthcare, which she continues to talk about in the 2008 election season.
Hillary is an amazing woman. And her book is a great read too.
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Very good book!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-07-22
2 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
A very real, open look into the life of Hillary Rodham Clinton. She dares to be vulnerable in many areas of the book, while maintaining the class and dignity she is known for by her fans. A great read...I couldn't put it down.
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by Dava Sobel
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Walker & Company (1995-11-01)
ISBN: 0802713122
EAN: 9780802713124
Dewy Decimal #: 526.6209
Paperback: 224 pages
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
SKU: 101608020
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...light shelf wear on dustjacket
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that “the longitude problem” was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day—and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives, and the increasing fortunes of nations, hung on a resolution.
The scientific establishment of Europe—from Galileo to Sir Isaac Newton—had mapped the heavens in both hemispheres in its certain pursuit of a celestial answer. In stark contrast, one man, John Harrison, dared to imagine a mechanical solution—a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens a new window on our world.
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Amazon.com Review
The thorniest scientific problem of the eighteenth century was how to determine longitude. Many thousands of lives had been lost at sea over the centuries due to the inability to determine an east-west position. This is the engrossing story of the clockmaker, John "Longitude" Harrison, who solved the problem that Newton and Galileo had failed to conquer, yet claimed only half the promised rich reward.
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Customer Reviews
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Longitude - Great for science-minded kids over 10
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-11-16
I bought this for my visiting grandson. We had a fine time reading it together and discussing what a great invention longitude was, how many sailors' lives it saved, and the way the inventor had to fight to get the prize offered by the government for finding a way for sailors to know their exact location. I finally know why Greenwich is the "center" of time measurement. Easy to understand and yet very comprehensive on this fundamental subject.
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Longitude is terrific
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-10-13
This book is a well-written story about how scientists and engineers figured out how to navigate the globe. It is a story that was well known in its day and forgotten within 50 years.
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Surprisingly fantastic!
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-10-05
My husband (a scientist) loves books on exploration and discovery. When he finished this book - surprisingly quickly - he said "you'll love this." Sure, I'll read anything once so I gave it a try. The author has such a knack with prose that this book basically read itself! Time flew when I picked it up and I was done in no time. What a fantastic surprise! When I finished it, I mailed it to my brother who read it & sent it to a friend; it;s that good....
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Very Interesting
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-07-03
A short but well written book that sheds light on an almost forgotten man who changed the world. Interesting and fun to read, worth checking out.
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Genuinely great story, but BEWARE of some inaccuracies in this book.
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-06-28
1 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
John Harrison completes his first pendulum clock in 1713 before the age of 20. He made the gears for this out of wood which was radical for such a use, but as a carpenter, perhaps not to him---which is a mark of genius, I'd say; to reach beyond accepted norms in this manner. This he did after borrowing a book on math and the laws of motion; which he copied word for word, making his own copy. He incorporated different varieties of wood into his clock for strength and later invented a bi-metal pendulum to counteract the expansion and compression of various individual metals. He also employed friction-free movements so as to do away with problematic lubricants. When intrigued by the puzzle of time at sea and the issue of longitude he contemplated substituting something not prone to gravity, as a pendulum of course is, to track times passing. In 1737 he creates a cantilevered clock 4 foot square. This the longitude board (which had offered a cash bonus to anyone who could devise a method in which time at sea could be kept) admired. Four years later he returns with an improved model; then starts on a 3rd model, like the previous two, also a fairly large sized clock.But there exists a problem within this book: An artisan freemason by the name of John Jefferys at the Worshipful Company of clockmakers befriends Harrison and then later presents to him a pocket watch in 1753. Then in 1755, while still working on his 3rd model, Harrison says this to the Longitude board: I have..."good reason to think" on the basis of a watch "already executed that such small machines[he's referring to pocket watches] may be of great service with respect to longitude." He then completes version 3 in 1759. His fourth version appears just a year later, however, and is a 5 inch wide pocket watch! The obvious inference made by the author is that after he received the pocket watch from Jeffreys he seemingly put his version #3 on the back burner and soon started on the pocket watch 4th version. The author does not claim Harrison copied anything from the Jeffreys model, but she certainly phrases this section so as to lend one to believe that this may have been the case; that Jefferys had a hand in the masterstroke invention Harrison eventually produced in version #4. This is not true. Harrison commissioned the watch he received from Jeffreys and was based on Harrison's specifications. It seems that Harrison simply asked Jeffreys to test an idea which he himself hadn't the time to attack just then; as he was still working on his 3rd version of a table-top prototype clock. Hence Harrison's above statement to the board in 1755 whence his ideas were validated by Jeffreys. In addition, the author plays up the part of the Astronomer Royal's part in attempting to impede Harrison from convincing the longitude board of the efficacy of a time-piece solution to this problem over a celestial answer to this conundrum. The author also jazzes up the issue of whether Harrison received the prize the board promised to pay for a successful solution herein; even though the board supported him for upwards of 20 years as he pursued this quest. It's as if the author intentionally omitted some facts (that the Jefferys was a Harrison commission), and pumped up others (of a rival/foil on the board trying to impede Harrison and the compensation issue; implying that Harrison was jipped) just to make the story more compelling. John Harrison's story, however, is extremely compelling as it is and didn't need this extra spice served up by the author.Do read this (very short) book on how this Mr. Harrison solved the problem of knowing where one is when at sea; and if you're in London, visit the Old Royal Observatory and the Clockmakers museum (in the Guildhall) where you can see Harrison's wonderful creations in person. Enjoy!
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by Richard Branson
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Crown Business (1998-10-06)
ISBN: 0812931017
EAN: 9780812931013
UPC: 029617027507
Dewy Decimal #: 338.04092
Hardcover: 370 pages
Release Date: 1998-10-06
SKU: 093008062
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...light shelf wear on dustjacket
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Product Description
"Oh, screw it, let's do it."
That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal wear, Branson has a track record second to none.
Losing My Virginity is the unusual, frequently outrageous autobiography of one of the great business geniuses of our time. When Richard Branson started his first business, he and his friends decided that "since we're complete virgins at business, let's call it just that: Virgin." Since then, Branson has written his own "rules" for success, creating a group of companies with a global presence, but no central headquarters, no management hierarchy, and minimal bureaucracy.
Many of Richard Branson's companies--airlines, retailing, and cola are good examples--were started in the face of entrenched competition. The experts said, "Don't do it." But Branson found golden opportunities in markets in which customers have been ripped off or underserved, where confusion reigns, and the competition is complacent.
And in this stressed-out, overworked age, Richard Branson gives us a new model: a dynamic, hardworking, successful entrepreneur who lives life to the fullest. Family, friends, fun, and adventure are equally important as business in Branson's life. Losing My Virginity is a portrait of a productive, sane, balanced life, filled with rich and colorful stories:
Crash-landing his hot-air balloon in the Algerian desert, yet remaining determined to have another go at being the first to circle the globe
Signing the Sex Pistols, Janet Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Boy George, and Phil Collins
Fighting back when British Airways took on Virgin Atlantic and successfully suing this pillar of the British business establishment
Swimming two miles to safety during a violent storm off the coast of Mexico
Selling Virgin Records to save Virgin Atlantic
Staging a rescue flight into Baghdad before the start of the Gulf War . . .
And much more. Losing My Virginity is the ultimate tale of personal and business survival from a man who combines the business prowess of Bill Gates and the promotional instincts of P. T. Barnum.
Also available in the UK from Virgin Publishing, and in Canada from General Publishing,
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Amazon.com Review
In this autobiography, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson says one of his prime business criteria is "fun." Fun made Branson a billionaire, and few business memoirs are one-billionth as fun as Branson's, nor as niftily written. Not only does it relate his side of near-death corporate experiences, it tells how the chairman literally cheated death by gun, shipwreck, and balloon crash. Branson's empire--now encompassing interests in an airline, pop music, soda pop, e-commerce, and financial services--began when the dyslexic 16-year-old dropped out of school in 1968 to found the British magazine Student. His headmaster said, "I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire." Briefly imprisoned for dodging customs selling records, Branson got his first million by releasing Tubular Bells, a maverick recording all the stuffy executives rejected. (1998's Tubular Bells III puts the series' sales over 20 million.) Despite wild tales of Branson's wife-swapping and Keith Richards fleeing naked from Branson's studio at gunpoint with another man's woman, the most shocking parts of the memoir concern British Airways' James Bond-like "dirty tricks" campaign against Virgin Atlantic, resulting in the biggest award for damages in English history. Though it's filled with famous names, witty quotes, and pulse-pounding accounts of lunatic balloon adventures, it is as a business thriller that the book really scores. His instinctive bet-the-ranch tactics could cost him all, or earn another billion. Either way, Branson will likely remain the most entertaining entrepreneur in Europe. --Tim Appelo
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Customer Reviews
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One of the best books ever!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-10-25
This is one of the most fascinating, inspiring, and funny books I have ever read. Branson's style is easy to understand (although there are a few British words), and the tale he spins is absolutely spellbinding. I was up until 3AM reading it because I literally could not put it down.
In this book, Branson shares quite a bit of very personal information about his intimate relationships, as well as business details. I felt like he was confiding in me as though we are close friends.
In addition, his sense of humor is wonderful. I found myself laughing hysterically more than a few times. It was entertaining that I went to the computer and ordered his other two books as well.
The real value of the book is that he shows you that anyone can be as rich and happy and successful as he is. He explains his motivations, and shares his feelings with surprising candor. Through revealing the deepest feelings in his heart, and how he cares about people, you can see that even a billionaire is really no different from you or me.
All I can say is this book is really great. You have to read it! Thank you Mr. Branson!
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Outstanding life, outstanding book
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-10-07
Nicely written entertaining book giving an inside perspective about Richard Barnsons life. The descriptions of his early twenties are dominated by explanations about various sexual escapades. Further one, he provides other details about his life which are truly inspiring.
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Very Interesting. Must For Entrepreneurs!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-09-09
The book is really captivating. It was interesting to observe that Mr. Branson always looked at the business side of things from an early age.He never relied on elaborate numbers that consulting firms project in feasibility studies nowadays. Business calculations were surely done but there weren't any obscure or abstract business theories that consulting companies dress normal business decision-making with.
The role of banking relationship came to light in this book. One would observe that Mr.Branson had close relationship with banks and they played a major role in all of the business expansion, no matter how risky. Any enrepreneur should take note that close connections with the lending agency (whether it is a bank or venture capital or PE firm) is most important. It is the lifeline for the business, as the book would show.
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Exciting, unpredictable, and revealing
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-05-31
2 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
Few autobiographies have the luxury of encompassing such a fascinating topic as Richard Branson who has led a life filled with unremitting vivacious action. Filled with modesty and a nerve that has him taking near unheard of risks (both personal and in business), Losing My Virginity reads like a roller coaster through all the ups and downs of Branson's life.
Richard Branson has created an empire, but few would be aware of just how close he teetered on the edge of bankruptcy for much of his career due to his unwillingness to accept the status quo. His battles with British Airways are epic, but Branson also fills the book with countless highlights of his illustrious life, most notably his near death experiences attempting hot air balloon records.
Where this book really won me over was regarding Branson's interaction with the Jordan royalty and his insight into the first gulf war. As a result of Branson's charitable efforts, he was privy to a point of view that most would not expect. I will leave it to any reader to discover this on their own, but this typifies the interest one should expect to obtain reading this book.
I highly recommend Branson's book to any enthusiast of adventure or business.
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The most inspirational autobiography I have ever read!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-04-08
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Sir Richard Branson. He is extremely talented, hard working and incredibly successful. I defy anyone reading this book not to be inspired by it. He is living proof that if you really want to be successful at something and you are prepared to put in the work to overcome your obstacles and improve your skills you can do it. He also appears to be very down to earth despite his success which is a very attractive and rare trait these days amongst well known successful entrepreneurs.
Angela Coldwell - author of 100 Essential Steps to Career Success
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by Laura E. Skandera-Trombley
Product Group: Book
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (1997-02)
ISBN: 0812216199
EAN: 9780812216196
Dewy Decimal #: 810
Paperback: 248 pages
SKU: 042708008
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...No Underlining or Highlighting...edge wear on cover
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Product Description
The field of Mark Twain biography has been dominated by men, and Samuel Clemens himself - riverboat pilot, Western correspondent, silver prospector, world traveler - has been traditionally portrayed as a man's man. The publication of Laura E. Skandera-Trombley's Mark Twain in the Company of Women, however, marks a significant departure from conventional scholarship. Skandera-Trombley, the first woman to write a scholarly biography of Mark Twain, contends that Clemens intentionally surrounded himself with women, and that his capacity to produce extended fictions had almost as much to do with the environment shaped by his female family as with the talent and genius of the writer himself. Women helped Clemens to define his boundaries, both personal and literary. Women shaped his life, edited his books, and provided models for his fictional characters. Clemens read and corresponded with female authors, and often actively promoted their careers. Skandera-Trombley seeks to combine a biographical study of Clemens's life with his beloved wife, Olivia (Livy) Langdon, and their three daughters, Susy, Clara, and Jean, with new readings of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. Several crucial areas are investigated: the nature of Clemens's family participation in his writing process, the degree to which their experiences as women during the mid- and late nineteenth century affected his writing, and the extent to which the loss of his family may have impeded and ultimately ended his ability to write lengthy narratives. Skandera-Trombley points out that in marrying Livy, Clemens not only joined a family of substantial means, but also entered one active in thesuffragist, abolitionist, and other reformist movements, which had deep roots in the progressive community of Elmira, New York. Mark Twain in the Company of Women will be of interest to Twain scholars and readers as well as students in American studies, women's studies, nineteenth-century history, and political and cultural studies.
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