Customer Reviews:
i cried so many times..........2007-01-23
this is such an amazing book that really flips the perceived norms of race. so many things happened to this boy as he was growing up that it is a miracle that he was sane enough to write a coherent memoir. there were so many times that literally moved me to tears. i emphatically recommend this book, you won't regret it.
One of the best books I have ever read.......2006-12-27
Life on the Color Line should be required reading for every American, especially anyone who wants to put their life's problems in perspective.
This is the most moving book I have read in a long time and I read a lot! William's account of his childhood truly woke me up to how fortunate I am to have the life I have, despite losing my mother at age 20. No one should have to endure the painful struggles of racism, poverty, rejection, parental neglect and abandonment that Williams did, as well as a dysfunctional family to top it off. Whether Williams dated black girls or white ones, he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.
Life on the Color Line contains many harrowing scenes. One that stood out for me was when William's white maternal grandmother refuses to pass along her daughter's messages to her children after she has left the family. She calls her own grandchildren "niggers" and refuses to let them live with her in a nice section of Muncie only a few minutes away from the black ghetto where they reside with a family friend Miss Dora.
One question that remains unanswered after reading this book is why William's mother only took her younger children with her when she left her husband. Why did she leave Gregory and Mike with their alcoholic father? It doesn't make sense that she would take some of her children to safety with her, but not all of them. The only explanation I can come up with is that Greg's mother figured her older boys were mature enough to fend for themselves. Towards the end of the book, their mother's inability to understand what kind of life she left her boys to leave left me wanting to throw rocks at her and give that woman a good beating.
I am in awe of the author's maturity, courage, and sheer will power that enabled him to overcome all these obstacles. His experiences put my own life in perspective.
I borrowed this book from the library, and now that I've reached the last page, I will definitely be buying it on Amazon!
To Read and Talk About.......2006-11-01
I learned about this book in an article in the Baton Rouge newspaper. LSU has assigned it as summer reading for many of their students and a group is working to get others in Baton Rouge to read it as well. At our church's partnership group with a local African-American church we decided to read it as a group project, and I'm glad we did. Williams' memoir tells the fascinating story of a young man who is born into the lower-middle class white world of suburban Virginia only to learn when he is about six years old that his father is the son of a mixed-race couple from Muncie, Indiana. Circumstances resulting from this news takes the boy, his father and his brother to Muncie where they live among their African-American (or colored as they were called in the 1950s) family. Billy's (or Greg) father Tony (or Buster) is an alcoholic, which makes life no less difficult as he's scorned by his white classmates and, with his white skin and Caucasian features, standing on shaky ground in his own colored community. A good-hearted woman named Dora raises the two boys as her own, as their birth mother spurns her now-black children. Dora's kindness and Greg's determination to do more than survive are inspiring.
In the flesh, the man is a wonder........2006-10-02
I had the unusual pleasure of hearing him speak at a public function when this book first came out. In fact, that's how I got my free copy. The story of this man's life is simply amazing. That came through in his honest and heart-felt reflection of the hardships he's had to overcome growing up. I've lived in San Francisco most of my life, attending public school with the normal cross section of the city's diverse ethnic crowd. I can say with a degree of certainty that I'm culturally aware of the African American experience. So it is with a bit of sadness that I regret not having met more people with Williams' ambition and determination when I was younger. To be fair, the circumstances in which his life unfolded would probably be hard to duplicate in this day and age, especially in San Francisco. But regardless, I truly believe young blacks of today, regardless of where they may live can draw inspiration from his story. We all still face a huge amount of inequality and injustice in our society today. With such polarization along political and religious lines in our national conscience as I'm writing this, it is critical to remember that race still matters. The other day, the biology department chair at my school presented a slide show of New Orleans where here Alma Mater was severely damaged by Katrina a year ago. She's a parasitologist with a Ph.D from Tulane University. The contrast between the French quarter/downtown and the poorer residential areas are striking. Those who've read Williams book would immediately draw parallels with the stark geographic division along racial lines of Muncie, Indiana - where Williams grew up. How many other cities in America are New Orleans waiting to happen? If something unthinkable should happen in Muncie today, how will the citizens of that city fare today? Will the impoverished blacks of Hunter's point/Bayview in my own city suffer the same fate as those of the lower 9th ward when the "Big One" strikes California? If more of my fellow black San Franciscans can aspire to be like Williams and strive to lift themselves and their community out of poverty and strife, we just might have a chance at doing better. One can hope.
GREAT READING FOR MANKIND.......2006-07-28
GOT TO MAKE THIS A SHORT REVIEW. STILL READING. CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!! ALSO READ "COLOR OF WATER" AND IT WAS GREAT READING!!! BACK TO WORK. CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO "LIFE ON THE COLOR LINE".
I DON'T READ A BOOK MORE THAN ONCE BUT THESE ARE WORTH READING OVER AGAIN. I THINK THEY WOULD MAKE GREAT MOVIES!!!
Book Description
David Gibbs took a leap of faith in 2003 when Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo's parents, asked him to represent them in their desperate battle to save their daughter's life. Taking the case, Gibbs embarked on a compelling journey that would forever change his life. He watched Terri fade away in her final days and was with Mary Schindler the last time she saw Terri alive. He witnessed what the media did not see or report: that Terri was not a vegetable; that she laughed, cried, and responded to verbal commands; and that yes, her life was very much worth saving. David Gibbs says, ''After Terri died, Bob and Mary asked me to tell what really happened, so that many others would be spared from a similar fate. I make no apology that, from my perspective, what happened to Terri was wrong. Very wrong. Maybe you agree. Then again, maybe you disagree, or the jury is still out in your mind. I believe if you will join me as I present my case, you will come to understand: Why I fought for Terri. Why I'd do it again. And why I'd fight for you, too.'' Now, read the story for yourself and learn how you can protect yourself and your family against a similar tragedy. David Gibbs, attorney for Mary and Bob Schindler, Terri's parents, gives his insider's account of the story that tore the heart out of a nation.
Customer Reviews:
A great and important read.......2007-07-06
Every single one of us has a terminal body. Some of just have healthier terminal bodies. And some of us--like my newborn son--need substantial assistance to do something as simple as eating.
I don't expect my home state to order the withholding of nutrition to my son. But that is what the state of Florida--or, rather, one unchecked judge in Florida--ordered for someone else who could not feed herself: Terri Schiavo.
David Gibbs represented Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, in the later stages of that tragic event in our nation's history. His account of that event, Fighting for Dear Life, brings to heart and mind again the maddening outcome, which has already seemingly faded so quickly from our nation's conscience. As Gibbs tells it, it is his story of:
"Why I fought for Terri.
Why I'd do it again.
And why I'd fight for you too."
Gibbs can't tell us why Terri Schiavo had to die. No human can. But Gibbs does tell us that Ms. Schiavo had minimal cognition; that her parents loved her and wanted nothing more than to care for her; that her husband had broken his marriage vows; that he refused to allow her to see the outside world or to allow the outside world see her; that he did not spend a dime of the medical malpractice judgment on her rehabilitation, despite telling the jury he would do so; that the only evidence of her supposed wish to die was her husband's and his family's hearsay statements, that the judicial system failed her, and that she died a painful, unnecessary death.
Few real life stories have such distinct Good Guys (Gibbs, the Schindlers, Ms. Schiavo herself, Governor Jeb Bush, President Bush, the Florida legislature, and the U.S. Congress) and Bad Guys (Michael Schiavo, George Felos, Judges George Greer and James Whittemore) as this one. If you care about life issues, and on the pro-life side, you will clinch your fists all over again.
Especially appreciated is the final five chapters, which are essentially a written sermon explaining the global importance of what we allowed to happen to Terri Schiavo. One can hope that Ms. Schiavo's story as told in Fighting for Dear Life will revive all of us again to a culture of life.
Demands a choice - doesn't allow for fence-riding.......2007-06-25
I have read comments and reviews elsewhere that say "Fighting for Dear Life" unfairly demonizes Michael Schiavo. I have to wonder if these people actually read this book, as the book shows no more demonization of him than what he clearly brought upon himself.
The justification for Michael's "right to die" case was that Terri wasn't really "there" anymore. Recall, however, that it was Michael who barred press coverage from Terri's room. It was Michael who kept visitors to an absolute minimum, right up to the end. It was Michael who exercised the strictest control over what the American public would see - and not see - of Terri. Why? If Terri was so self-evidently "not there anymore," why would he demand such restrictive coverage of her? Privacy? Dignity? I don't think so...if she was no longer "there," there was neither dignity nor sense of privacy left to violate.
If the accounts in this book are true, the reason for Michael's actions are obvious: Terri actually WAS "there" right up to the end, and Michael fully knew it. If the lawyer's accounts of Terri's capacities are true, letting the press in for unrestricted coverage would have blown Michael's entire case out of the water, and for all I know may have opened him up to all kinds of trouble. Best case scenario, he would have come out as the villain many people have long suspected he is.
So if you've read this book you have a choice to make: disregard this book as a pack of lies written by an ambulance chaser carrying on a vendetta for a bitter, grieving, vengeful family...or decide that Terri Schiavo really was "there" but was forced to die anyway.
Had the accounts contained in this book been made public two years ago, I believe this case would have ended differently.
Wow...excellent book!.......2007-02-20
This book was fantasically written and a true eye opener of the real facts! I was very saddened of the outcome, but it really makes you wonder...are all of your affairs are in order???
What Was Terri Schiavo Doing in a Hospice?.......2007-01-07
The heinous death of the most famous resident of Florida 's Woodside Hospice certainly leaves me baffled - to say the least. My understanding is that the hospice movement has grown incredibly over the past two decades - largely due to Medicare reimbursement. Eligibility for Medicare hospice services requires certification by two physicians that a patient's terminal illness limits life expectancy to six months - at tops. How on earth was Terri Schiavo ever accepted into a hospice?
From attorney David Gibbs, I have learned that Terri Schiavo was far, far more responsive and interactive than America was led to believe. Yet, her cognitive level should not have determined whether she received food and water! Mr. Gibbs refers to a 2004 statement by Pope John Paul II, which seemed directly related to the immorality of how Terri was treated: "the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act."
Now I need to hear Michael's side of the story........2006-12-22
First of the entire book is extremely well written and riveting. I enjoyed every page. Congratulations to the author! I appreciate Mr. Gibb's point of view, however, it is just that. Although he doesn't flat out call Michael a monster he implies it multiple times. A personal situation forced me to contemplate my wife in a vegetative state many times as she battled a debilitating brain tumor. The thought of the light of your life living any other way but as she once was as a vibrant woman is unbearable. It is clear that Terri wasn't in a permanent vegetative state, however, she would never, not in a million years of therapy, be as she once was. That thought haunted Michael every day since the accident and every night now that she has passed. The Shindlers did not respect his decisions surrounding her care and future despite his legal right to manage those things. They violated a trust bestowed to him on their wedding day. I know exactly what he feels as I experienced a very similar thing in my life. I know it sounds harsh that he forbade her parents from being with Terri when she died, but it was his last opportunity to say to the Swindler, "What you did by prolonging this atrocity and dragging me through a mile of broken glass is unforgivable." Some things are just that. Unforgivable.
Average customer rating:
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African Americans: Voices of Triumph : Creative Fire (African Americans: Voices of Triumph)
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
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ASIN: 0783522584 |
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- Salted Reviews?
- More uses than one
- Don't Be Discouraged
- A kickass book for dealing with people
- Save Your Money
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Winning Every Time: How to Use the Skills of a Lawyer in the Trials of Your Life
Lis Wiehl
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0345469194
Release Date: 2004-04-27 |
Book Description
Whether you’re hoping to obtain a raise from your boss, convince an insurance claim representative to reimburse your medical treatment, or persuade your spouse into spending less time watching TV and more time with you, Winning Every Time will be your guide for truly practical and helpful advice about how to make that case effectively—and win it hands down. Too often we argue conclusions without the benefit of a premise, react from anger instead of presenting hard facts, feel defensive when sensing resistance, or fail to make calm, irrefutable counterarguments. In this dynamic, groundbreaking book, Lis Wiehl shows how to apply the skills, smarts, and strategies of a lawyer and stay in command whenever life makes you feel as though you are on trial.
Writing in an engaging, accessible style, Wiehl teaches you how to become your own best advocate, so you can plead your case with precision—and win the hearts (and change the minds) of even the most recalcitrant “juror.” You’ll learn the eight easy-to-follow rules of persuasion to winning a case:
Know What You Want: The Theory of the Case—outline your premise clearly and establish your objective accordingly
Choose and Cultivate Your Audience: Voir Dire— bring your case to the person who “calls the shots” and know the perfect time and place to do so
Marshal Your Evidence: Discovery—assemble all the facts that support your cause, even information that may challenge your objective
Advocate with Confidence: Making the Case—present your opening argument and offer your evidence calmly and methodically
Counter the Claims: Cross-examination—challenge your opponent’s allegations consistently, but gently, through a series of “yes or no” questions
Stay True to Your Case: Avoid the Seven Deadly Spins—keep your argument authentic by avoiding false inferences, hearsay, and subjectivity
Advocate with Heart: Let Me Tell You a Story—make your case personal with a special story that will convey your message in a memorable way
Sum It Up: The Closing Argument—deliver a fervent and succinct summation of your theory and evidence . . . and close the deal
Along with practical advice on how to state your case effectively and come out on top, this remarkable book features incisive stories from real people who have transformed their lives through advocacy. With amazing, result-oriented strategies, Winning Every Times will help you stay in command whenever life makes you feel as though you are on trial.
Customer Reviews:
Salted Reviews?.......2007-03-20
Why are there so many 5-star reviews and yet several 1-star reviews? Legitimate difference of opinion in some cases. But when you click on a large sample of the 5-star reviewers' "See all my reviews," you mostly see all 5-star glowing book and/or CD reviews. My guess is that the real ranking would be about 3 stars, once you remove the more than half of the reviews that are fake.
More uses than one.......2007-03-13
The author has written a book to help others work through the different "trials" in their lives by using basic court procedure. The book is well edited and easy to follow. However, I found the book more useful than just seeing how I can use legal practice to help me deal with the trials of my life.
As I am working my way through law school, I continue to try and get the patterns and procedures down for the courtroom. I picked up this book for a class on negotiation, but see that it was more helpful in prepping for trial advocacy. Rather than looking at the process as merely a formality, I can see the common sense approach to it. With the examples from this book, I can better internalize what I am learning in school.
Although we can all say that logic will work better for emotion, but that is a bit too basic a read. This book has a bit more to it than that. I would highly recommend giving this a read.
Don't Be Discouraged .......2007-02-11
Lis Wiehl shouldn't be shorted of any praise for her original and excellently written landmark book. A prospectus reader who might be skeptical of reading another legal book to begin with will be astounded to learn the subject of the book is not one of a legal nature at all. Lis hit it dead on in introducing a lawyering book intended for those among us without a JD but teaches the advocacy skills attorneys utilize everyday. With the appropriate premise for the book, as she puts it: "This is not a book to make a litigious society more litigious. The eight steps should be your way to solve problems without the drama and without the need for a courtroom fight", she vigorously illustrates how her Eight Simple Steps can be used by anyone to resolute conflicts in their lives.
Where else can you find an attorney persuading readers to not take their conflicts to the courts but instead settle by your own means? Not to say it isn't always that simple. Wiehl lays down Eight Steps for a reader to follow from convincing your boss you deserve a pay raise to advocating a spouse you deserve more "intimate" time together, which she attests to can be potently used in many situations . Eight Steps you can learn to achieve small victories in your life which have been tried and tested in small personal disagreements to publicized Supreme Court legal battles . These amazingly simple & effective steps will help you make a big impact on the trials of your life.
A kickass book for dealing with people.......2007-02-11
I'm almost done with the case presentation part of the book, after which comes the application part. I've recently developed a strong fascination with the legal system and it's really changed the way I approach life and social situations. In fact it's made me a better employee at my customer support job. I make a real practice of active listening and using the principles of this book and I don't let people's impatience phaze me. Awesome kickass book.
When I was in a meeting with my fellow interns, I made it a point to have the boss clarify what she was saying, not stopping 10 steps before the finish line just because I didn't wanna look stupid. This has worked well with my sister too. I've also been helped immensely by the idea of not just gathering evidence beneficial to your case, but also harmful to your case because if you don't and the opposition brings it up, bamn your blindsided.
This book goes along rather well with "No More Mr Nice Guy" by Robert Glover. Contrary to the name, it has nothing to do with being an authoritarian self-gratifying viscous jerk (some reviewers assert this position but these are people who just read the title and maybe part of the book. I've read the ENTIRE book). Instead it's about running the middle ground: you stand for your position, never put up with crap from other people, look after your own needs first before others, etc & yet at the same time being kind, giving help when needed (never to your own expense), protecting those you care about, being assertive (not aggressive), asking for what you need (instead of expecting people to read you), etc.
Wiehl's book is good at picking up where Glover left off. He puts a major premium on facing conflict and talking to the person(s) that you have a problem with but he doesn't really teach you how to backup what you say. Wiehl's book is a godsend here.
Save Your Money.......2006-12-10
I couldn't agree more with JoAnne Goldberg's comment. I have never posted a review on a book before, but this book was such a waste of time, I felt it was criminal not to... I have to be honest, I couldn't finish it (only made it about 33% of the way through). The information is thin (the "theory of your case" point that trails on forever, could have been summed up in one sentence), and the analogies are weak. "How-To" books like this always seem to state a lot that seems obvious, but I honestly believe the average person will take nothing away from this book.
Customer Reviews:
thehobophilosopher.......2007-08-12
Over the years I have read all about Clarence Darrow but this is the first time that I have ever actually "talked" with the man. This is a very personal encounter with a very great man. I am so glad that I ordered this book.
The book reviews a bit of his childhood and a good part of his legal career. But even with sufficent knowledge of Mr. Darrow's career, it is interesting to hear about it all from him and in his own words. From a writer's point of view he is an instruction in clear and straight forward prose style. He removes a lot of streotypes and rumors.
He is writing the book at age 75. He is very melancoly and the text is somewhat poetic at times - the ending especially.
I wish that I could have know Clarence Darrow but this intimate conversation will have to do, I guess.
Fighting the good fight........2005-01-09
Darrow takes the reader through some of his most famous cases and explains the philosophy with which he approached his career and the law in general. Any reader interested in the history of the period should find his accounts fascinating: Eugene Debs, John P. Altgeld, the MacNamara Case, the Loeb-Leopold murders, and the famous Scopes "monkey trial" case are just some of the points touched upon in the Darrow autobiography.
Darrow is a clean and competent writer, if not an artistic one. The prose is easy to read and understand. In places, the book can get frustrating because he leaves a topic well before the reader has lost interest. Future publishers would do well to publish this book together with some pointers for further reading.
The Da Capo Press edition is published with a very strange little introductory essay by Alan Dershowitz. In it, he seems more interested in rehabilitating the memory of Bryan than he does in introducing the book. The reader may want to skip it until after finishing the main book itself.
Beyond the obvious lawyer/law student audience, I would also recommend this book to readers interested in labor politics, the early history of the 20th century in the US, and social justice.
Pessimist by Profession.......2001-12-12
Interesting for style as well as insight into courtroom tactics, psychology of jurors, crime and muckraking. His basic premise about jurors: If he can get them to imagine, he can get them to doubt. So his approach, always personal, was perpetually appealing to imagination. It worked, mostly, even when clients were guilty. It's his reliance on reason that makes him a skeptic. Causation is the basis of his world and personal views. Seeing the effect of the law, he argues that judging is worse than judgement, and he would dispense with both. He is at some pain to describe what he gave up to plead, rather than the life he gained by it. His seriousness can be attributed to the injustices he saw, effects he attributes more to chance than choice. He espouses the theory of continental drift, in 1939! A sharp mind interested in everything. As he says himself, if he had to do it over, . . . he'd have been a scientist.
A Must Read Book for Lawyers-Want-to-Be.......2001-08-01
This book successfully captured the life of Clarence Darrow, who is no doubt one of the greatest attorneys of the early 20th century. His abilities to defend the indefensible are most extrordinary. I will certainly recommend this book to anyone espeically pre-law or law school students.
written in the comfortable style that is darrow's hallmark.......1998-12-11
definitely an excellent read. for those who have read "clarence darrow for the defence" and enjoyed it, this book may very well make you feel like you are visiting an old friend.
Book Description
The moving, inspiring memoir of one of the great women of our times, Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and advocate for the oppressed, whose spirit has remained strong in the face of political persecution and despite the challenges she has faced raising a family while pursuing her work.
Best known in this country as the lawyer working tirelessly on behalf of Canadian photojournalist, Zara Kazemi – raped, tortured and murdered in Iran – Dr. Ebadi offers us a vivid picture of the struggles of one woman against the system. The book movingly chronicles her childhood in a loving, untraditional family, her upbringing before the Revolution in 1979 that toppled the Shah, her marriage and her religious faith, as well as her life as a mother and lawyer battling an oppressive regime in the courts while bringing up her girls at home.
Outspoken, controversial, Shirin Ebadi is one of the most fascinating women today. She rose quickly to become the first female judge in the country; but when the religious authorities declared women unfit to serve as judges she was demoted to clerk in the courtroom she had once presided over. She eventually fought her way back as a human rights lawyer, defending women and children in politically charged cases that most lawyers were afraid to represent. She has been arrested and been the target of assassination, but through it all has spoken out with quiet bravery on behalf of the victims of injustice and discrimination and become a powerful voice for change, almost universally embraced as a hero.
Her memoir is a gripping story – a must-read for anyone interested in Zara Kazemi’s case, in the life of a remarkable woman, or in understanding the political and religious upheaval in our world.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Best book you might ever read.......2007-09-23
This is the best and the most honest version of the modern history of my country from the eyes of a brave educated woman who is not afraid to fight for what every one else is afraid to whisper. In her memoir, she does not leave out any detail of the atmosphere governing Iran. Living in the circumstances she describes in the book, I genuinely respect her for who she is. She is an icon every woman can look up to and That is why she is a Nobel prize winner. She has a story telling gift, making the book absolutely attractive and easy to follow. This book is a must read; she risked her life writing it and it needs audience: Iranian women and children need Shirin Ebadi and people who think like her. This is an outstanding book, unforgettable.
Inspirational Story.......2007-09-19
This is probably the best book that I have read this year. Shirin Ebadi tells of her brave defense of human rights in post-revoluationary Iran. Although she is a widely respected, famous Noble Peace Prize winner, she shows humility throughout. I also enjoyed reading her opinions on Iranian leaders, past and present. Highly recommended!
a great read.......2007-08-30
Ms. Ebadi crafts a compelling autobiography that draws the reader in like a novel. She brings us into the center of her experiences without crowing or being sanctimonious. In telling her own story, she also manages, in a fairly short book to present what I think is an objective history of Iran starting just prior to the 1953 coup and ending at the present.
Customer Reviews:
The author must be an extremely annoying snob........2006-04-11
For a history book, the research and footnotes were not very substantial. Historians have been getting a lot of negative publicity lately for less that exemplary scholarhip. Since this is not a very important book it will not be scrutinized the way Doris Kerns Goodwin or Joseph J.Ellis would be if they were to write about Florida. I felt like someone was snearing at me throughout the book. It seemed more like a big long blog. I'd love to read more about Florida history since so many friends live there now, but I truly hated this book.
On The Other-hand I Don't Always Love How You Translate Yourself........2005-12-14
Up front let me disclose that I get a heapin' helpin' of Diane via our local paper, where she contributes noisy tirades and rants about Western Civilization in general. So my opinion is biased...against her. Like Diane, my people are from Tallahassee going back to the very beginning, and before that to the Spanish Period at Amelia Island and St.Augustine. And like Diane I descend from the Roberts' Line; so we're probably cousins....as are most people with Tallahassee roots.
Diane's writing reminds me of my father's Aunt Jimmie. Like Diane, she and her heirs protest their association with the Old South (especially slavery) but you couldnt loosen their grip on the inherited silver service and china and crystal that slavery paid for (with dynamite!). Both are proud as hell for descending from aristocrats and money, and both are deluded in believing that anyone takes their protests seriously. I mean, this is what her book is about. On the one hand she asserts her equality & fraternity with the unwashed masses then discloses how she wipes her ass with monogrammed linen. To paraphrase my great-grandmother, herself a Tallahassee belle: Diane, we always love you, but we dont always love how you translate yourself.
Like her newspaper articles, her book is a noisy jumble of loose associations and tangential thoughts.
A fun (sometimes biased) look at Florida history.......2005-08-02
This book is actually three books in one: A personal family history, a general Florida history, and current Florida event editorials. Overall, it was an enjoyable trip through the anecdotal history of America's most um...culturally diverse state.
Diane Robert's family history is one that most people wish they could write. Going back some 10 generations (she is lucky to be able to trace back that far) for stories. You might as well give up keeping track of all the relations in you mind. As she described it, a written version of her family tree would cover the floor of a small apartment.
When her ancestors were not available during a particularly important point in Florida's history, she provides a description of events that is a stew of fact, anecdote, illustration, and rumor to make it colorful for the reader.
On the downside, when describing current events in business and politics it is clear that her political leaning is Democrat. Even though I may agree with her, this point of view may turn off some more conservative readers. My advice is, get over it, you'll still enjoy the rest of the book.
This was an entertainment read, however, Diane does make one key point at the very end that most of us can learn from, and that is history is written by those it serves. An event may have occurred one way or another or not at all, but the way it is relayed to others will serve the purpose of it's author.
The Real Florida.......2005-05-30
Great book, esecially if you want to learn about the real Florida. I was born and raised here, several generations, and learned many things I never knew, was enlightened about many things I knew a little about, and recieved answers to things I had wondered about for years. I was also disabused of a few misconceptions. It is a very witty and entertaining book. I was sorry when it ended. She gives no slack to anyone, even her relatives, perhaps especially her relatives. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Florida. Carl Hiassen Fans should enjoy it, as a non-fiction tie-in.
Diane Roberts - An excellent example of Florida-bred writers.......2005-04-30
This book is simply a must read -- historical and very humourous to boot -- for anyone interested in Florida history from pre-White-People to White-People invading and essentially exterminating the Native Americans to Election 2000 and Election 2002.
Diane is an excellent writer, having regularly -- over the years -- written for the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times and the Florida Flambeau (the now semi-defunct independent newspaper based on the FSU campus, but served the community as a whole). And a commentator on National Public Radio.
Her writing style, content and humour have always been superb. I don't know how better to put it: Read this book!!!!!!! You'll be glad you did!
Martin Dyckman (now retired from the St. Petersburg Times), Rick Flagg, Michael Moline, Michael McClelland and many other journalists worked at the "Flam" at one time or another.
Book Description
United States senator, under secretary of state, federal appellate judge. James L. Buckley tells the story of his improbable transformation from a highly private businessman/lawyer into his "unplanned life" as probably the only American now alive who has served in a high office in each branch of the federal government. This thoughtful conservative provides an insider's insights into many of the critical problems that continue to face our country. His interesting, poignant, and wryly amusing memoir recalls the unusual life of this member of one of America's most remarkable families.
Customer Reviews:
An Unplanned Life Maybe the Best.......2007-05-22
An interesting book, it is based on the transcript of a series of interviews Judge Buckley did in the mid 1990s in connection with a legal oral history project. The book takes the form of a question and answer session, "annotated" by Judge Buckley to clarify and expand upon some of his answers. The book follows Buckley's life from his youth through college, his service in World War II and beyond.
Buckley is the brother of William F. Buckley and as such got caught up in the burgeoning conservative movement in the 1950s and 60s. In 1970, he found himself elected to the Senate as the candidate of the New York Conservative Party, winning a three way race. After being defeated for reelection in 1976, in the early 1980s he joined the Reagan administration, most prominently as president of Radio Free Europe. One of his former campaign volunteers was responsible for finding potential judicial nominees, so Buckley found himself on the DC Circuit, hearing appeals mostly from administrative law issues. Through it all, he found time to raise a large family, help run his family oil business and indulge his love of nature.
What is most fascinating about the book is that all of it was unplanned. While serving in the Pacific during World War II, Buckley decided he really wanted the quiet life of a country lawyer in rural Connecticut. He never got his wish, but seems to have had no regrets. The book is an interesting memoir on one of an obscure, but important, figure in American post-WWII history.
Yale Goes to War.......2006-11-25
Besides a very good read of his varied life as a US Senator, US Circuit Judge, US Under Secretary of State, Judge Buckley's memoir is best when he discusses his life after Pearl Harbor. He was all over the South Pacific on an LST (Landing Ship Tank)and his memory of the action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf is amazingly vivid these 60 years later. In more than 2 years at sea, he slept only 5 nights ashore. His fondness and expertise in birds is amazing as well as touching. He comes across as a very humble person. His service to his country is an inspiration. One might ask: how many Yalies go to war now...or in Viet Nam ??????
Product Description
For more than 35 years, Oscar Goodman was the country's pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters. His endless client list included Meyer Lansky, Nick Civella, Anthony Spilotro, Frank Rosenthal, Jimmy Chagra, Natale Richichi, Nicky Scarfo, and Vinny Ferrara, along with many others. Though no further connection between Goodman and the Mafia has ever been proved, the famous litigator has often been accused of being more than just a mouthpiece for organized crime. Was Oscar Goodman only what he claims, an attorney who defended his clients based on the simple principle that they, too, have constitutional rights? And if so, how did he manage to mingle with the mob for decades without becoming part of it? After scores of unlikely courtroom victories, Goodman pulled off an even more unlikely career change. Twice elected mayor of Las Vegas, he went from legal spokesman for the most notorious crime figures of our era to political spokesman for the most notorious city in the country.
Customer Reviews:
An inherently fascinating biography.......2003-12-12
Of Rats And Men: Oscar Goodman's Life From Mob Mouthpiece To Mayor Of Las Vegas is the inherently fascinating biography of Oscar Goodman, a man who deliberately became a pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters for 35 years. Accused but never proven of being more than a mouthpiece and defense attorney for organized crime, Oscar Goodman somehow managed to successfully defend his clients without becoming part of organized crime itself -- at least according to the voters of Las Vegas who eventually elected him as their mayor twice. Of Rats And Men is very highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the history of organized crime in America or who wish to avail themselves of a unique insight into the life and philosophy of an accomplished trial lawyer who specialized in defending members of established crime families.
More Insight from Smith ý an eminent authority on the mob.......2003-11-05
The copious notes and eight pages of bibliography supporting John L. Smith's meticulously researched biographical look at Oscar Goodman, former mob attorney - presently the two-term mayor of Las Vegas, impressed me.
Talk about "insider" information! Smith has long been quoted as a preeminent authority on mob history and "wise guy" relationships. In his book, "Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas," Smith names a Who's Who of notorious clients, alleged criminal activities, and egregious political innuendoes surrounding the controversial bonds between Goodman and friends. Scared me! While it is obvious the attention-seeking mayor was generous in his interviews with the author, Smith kept me up nights as he interpreted what Goodman would have us believe with his [author's] own extensive background knowledge and investigative prowess. John L. has balls of brass to write as honestly as he does.
Don't let an easy read fool you. This book is a gem for all who follow gaming history, or the Las Vegas / mob connection - to say nothing of government ineptitude (now, that was a hoot!).
Book Description
Clarence Thomas, the youngest and most controversial member of the Supreme Court, could become the longest-serving justice in history, influencing American law for decades to come. Who is this enigmatic man? And what does he believe in?
Judging Thomas tells the remarkable story of Clarence Thomas's improbable journey from hardscrabble beginnings in the segregated South to the loftiest court in the land. With objectivity and balance, author Ken Foskett chronicles Thomas's contempt for upper-crust blacks who snubbed his uneducated, working-class roots; his flirtation with the priesthood and, later, Black Power; the resentment that fueled his opposition to affirmative action; the conservative beliefs that ultimately led him to the Supreme Court steps; and the inner resilience that propelled him through the doors.
Based on interviews with Thomas himself, fellow justices, family members, and hundreds of friends and associates, Judging Thomas skillfully unravels perhaps the most complex, controversial, and powerful public figure in America today.
Customer Reviews:
Inside the world of a controversial Justice.......2005-12-14
No Supreme Court Nominee's hearings have been more controversial than Clarence Thomas's were. And, we see from this biography, no life has been more interesting on the Supreme Court than Clarence Thomas. From his poor upbringing by his grandfather in rural Georgia, to Yale Law School, to his difficulty in finding a job after graduation to his contentious Supreme Court battle, Thomas's story almost seems ready made for a drama. This book is fascinating, and will make you feel for Justice Thomas. All the pain he has gone through in his life is reflected in Foskett's words. One of the most interesting biographies I have ever read.
Pay no attention to the left-wing wacko reviews...................2005-03-31
such as "For a different view than the first four I see here, November 16, 2004 Reviewer: Felix (Silicon Valley).....see the review by Randall Kennedy for the Washington Post"
Why, Felix? The WP is one of the three worst newspapers in the USA, along with the L.A. Times and the N.Y Times. These "newspapers" are no more than left wing propaganda machines. They proved themselves to be far left during the election. Every day the WP prints whatever they can think up against the President and anyone in the administration, and almost never anything good that is going on in the country, or the good that has been done in Afghanistan, and Iraq. You don't know about the good because the "People's Propaganda" machines will not print it.
Of course, the WP will find, or dream up, or twist, or misinterpret, or tell half-truths and lies about Clarence Thomas. That's what they live for; to tell all the worst things they can dream up about every conservative. Did you see these major newspapers support Clinton's accusers like they supported the lying Anita Hill? Anyone could watch Anita and tell she was a liar; it was all over her face, and was apparent in her demeanor. That woman had one objective, and every left-wing wacko, radical feminist, socialist, communist,and liar on the planet tried to support her false claims that she twisted into ugly lies about innocent events.
These "reviews" are a waste of time. The left-wingers will write bad reviews and say the good ones don't help them. The conservatives will support Thomas, but at least they aren't lying.
Watch what the man does, and how he lives, then judge from what's true, not what's jaded opinion.
I still done know Judge Thomas.......2005-01-08
I was left wanting more. I felt the book was written to achieve a certain number of pages instead of providing me information about Judge Thomas. The book often provides far to much information about the people passing through his life. I was not interested in reading so much informatin about the people who employ him or the people he met on his life journey.
The book did address some of Judge Thomas early social ideas, but the book seem to be written without much input from Judge Thomas. I did not get the sense that I knew Judge Thomas after I completed the book.
For a different view than the first four I see here.......2004-11-17
Under the link above "product details" to "see all editorial reviews," see the review by Randall Kennedy for the Washington Post
A balanced biography of an intriguing man.......2004-09-22
Several years ago, The Weekly Standard ran a cover story calling Clarence Thomas the most powerful conservative in America. He truly was at that time.
Foskett does a fair job stripping away the controversy and polemic to examine the man, his background, and his life. There is obviously the story of Thomas' confirmation to the Supreme Court, and a fair amount of time is devoted to those few weeks in the Justice's life. Far more interesting than that is his life before Washington, and before the political appointments, while he was still growing up under the stern eye of his grandfather, Myers Anderson.
Without understanding the world that incubated Thomas it is impossible to understand why he could view the world and the American judicial system as he does. To understand Clarence Thomas more fully one must understand Myers Anderson, the dominant force in his early years. Foskett accounts for the apartheid caste system of the Jim Crow south that trapped and warped so many people.
Passionate reactions about Thomas will exist for a long, long time. His ideas stand on their own merit. This book truly gives the reader a glimpse at the humanity of a man who thinks for himself and will set the judicial tenor of the court for years to come.
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DEAR SENATOR: A MEMOIR BY THE DAUGHTER OF STROM THURMOND.
