Flags of Our Fathers

Amazon.com

The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought in the winter of 1945 on a rocky island south of Japan, brought a ferocious slice of hell to earth: in a month's time, more than 22,000 Japanese soldiers would die defending a patch of ground a third the size of Manhattan, while nearly 26,000 Americans fell taking it from them. The battle was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, and it produced one of World War II's enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.

One of those young Americans was John Bradley, a Navy corpsman who a few days before had braved enemy mortar and machine-gun fire to administer first aid to a wounded Marine and then drag him to safety. For this act of heroism Bradley would receive the Navy Cross, an award second only to the Medal of Honor.

Bradley, who died in 1994, never mentioned his feat to his family. Only after his death did Bradley's son James begin to piece together the facts of his father's heroism, which was but one of countless acts of sacrifice made by the young men who fought at Iwo Jima. Flags of Our Fathers recounts the sometimes tragic life stories of the six men who raised the flag that February day--one an Arizona Indian who would die following an alcohol-soaked brawl, another a Kentucky hillbilly, still another a Pennsylvania steel-mill worker--and who became reluctant heroes in the bargain. A strongly felt and well-written entry in a spate of recent books on World War II, Flags gives a you-are-there depiction of that conflict's horrible arenas--and a moving homage to the men whom fate brought there. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

In this unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history, James Bradley has captured the glory, the triumph, the heartbreak, and the legacy of the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America.

In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima—and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island's highest peak. And after climbing through a landscape of hell itself, they raised a flag.

Now the son of one of the flagraisers has written a powerful account of six very different young men who came together in a moment that will live forever.

To his family, John Bradley never spoke of the photograph or the war. But after his death at age seventy, his family discovered closed boxes of letters and photos. In Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley draws on those documents to retrace the lives of his father and the men of Easy Company. Following these men's paths to Iwo Jima, James Bradley has written a classic story of the heroic battle for the Pacific's most crucial island—an island riddled with Japanese tunnels and 22,000 fanatic defenders who would fight to the last man.

But perhaps the most interesting part of the story is what happened after the victory. The men in the photo—three were killed during the battle—were proclaimed heroes and flown home, to become reluctant symbols. For two of them, the adulation was shattering. Only James Bradley's father truly survived, displaying no copy of the famous photograph in his home, telling his son only: "The real heroes of Iwo Jima were the guys who didn't come back."

Few books ever have captured the complexity and furor of war and its aftermath as well as Flags of Our Fathers. A penetrating, epic look at a generation at war, this is history told with keen insight, enormous honesty, and the passion of a son paying homage to his father. It is the story of the difference between truth and myth, the meaning of being a hero, and the essence of the human experience of war.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

The story of Mt. Suribachi.......2007-10-09

It is one of the most iconic photographs ever taken. It has become the symbol for the valor and the attitude of the Marine Corps. IT is the photograph of six Marines raising a flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. All of us have probably seen this photograph and I know that I was always struck by it - it is a classic pattern in art and it also captures a moment in wartime. There are six soldiers raising a flag. you see the taut bodies, the focus and concentration. And, you see the debris all around them. The detritus of war.

This book tells the story of that photograph but also - and more importantly - the story of the men who were captured in the image and the photographer both before, during, and after the war. The story is pieced together and told by a son of one of the men in the photograph - "Doc" Bradley, the only Navy guy in the tale. The book follows the lives of all six men who are pictured from their hardscrabble beginnings, their decision to join the Marine Corps, and then their role in the Iwo Jima battle and beyond. Three of the men died on Iwo Jima; three survived. Of the three that survived, only two had children. One of those is "Doc" Bradley, and his son tells the tale of them all.

This book is not really about how glorious war is and what kinds of heroes these six men were. No, it portrays war in the ugly, brutal, tormenting fashion that it has without skimping on the details of how many ways men can be killed. Nor does it skimp on descriptions of the atrocities that the Japanese committed both before, during, and after this campaign. There is a lot of apologia given by the author for the Japanese behavior during the war. He describes it as a non-typical Japanese time period repeatedly. Towards the end of the book we find out that he spent several years in Japan and at one point in his life believed that the Japanese were forced to start the war by what Roosevelt supposedly did.

By focusing almost exclusively on the life of these six men, the author manages to paint a picture of World War II America and how "the whole country was one" which is an interesting contrast to today's situation.

The yearlong preparations for the battle are described. The battle itself is described in detail with every one of the six men's participation chronicled in exhaustive detail including the way three of them died. Many other stories are interwoven but only briefly touched upon. One of them, that could have been better served by being described more fully was the story of Bradley's "special buddy" Iggy who is also killed on Iwo Jima. Only in the latter parts of the book do we discover how he died.

Doc Bradley himself wins the Navy Cross on Iwo Jima. However, he never displays it and his eight children are astonished to find out about it after his death in the early 1990's. This launches his son to research the group, the photograph, and the lives of all six men.

The story covers the way they were treated after the photograph was published; how they became the main draw in a bond raising tour; how they behaved during the tour; and how they handled the rest of their lives. There is a strong pathos there and a lot of tragic awareness of how these shell-shocked young men were basically told to grin and bear it and how some of them did, and some of them did not. The story of Ira Hayes and his rapid deterioration into drink is a sad one while the story of Rene Gagnon is no better. Only Bradley lives out a normal middle class life but the author is careful to portray even his own father as suffering from the horrors of what he experienced.

This is a good book to read to find out how war affected young Americans during WW2. It is a good introduction to the horrors, atrocities, and pain of war. It is a good book to help you in understanding how America handled and survived WW2. And, it is also a good book to understand why people called it "the good war" and why we can probably never have that kind of feeling again. When I closed the book, I wiped a tear from my eye, laid it down beside me, and thought like Doc Bradley: the only heroes on Iwo Jima were those who did not come back.

A Masterpiece of History!.......2007-09-28

My grandfather fought on Bougainville and Guadalcanal which are both mentioned often in this book. To this day grandpa does not speak of the war. After reading this book, I understand why. This book embodies the human spirit and the fight to uproot evil at its core. It is interesting that such a brutal fight took place on an island that had no real life... just a desolate island of ash and embers that emulated a place of death. Deep within the bowels of the island held a garrison of approximately 22,000 Japanese that were determined to fight to extinction and that is what they did.

Bradley and Powers do a wonderful job describing the Marines training as well as the actions on Iwo Jima. The fact that I came away from reading this book more knowledgeable about the self-sacrifices all Marines made on Iwo Jima, makes my own service in the Marines (1993-1997) a worth while endeavor that I hold near and dear to my heart.

Semper Fi to those that served and especially to Ron Powers and James Bradley for taking the time to research and write an unforgettable and accurate masterpiece of history!

6 people. 1 flag, 1 photo........2007-08-21

James Bradley writes an amazing tribute to his father in this book about the "photo."
The book follows the lives of 6 men from birth until death. Each one of them is unique and has their own story. They all have something in common, and that is that they were all in the photo.
This is NOT a war book, it is a biography of 6 men. A great book!

WOW!.......2007-08-01

This book was AMAZING!!! I knew next to nothing about the Battle of Iwo Jima before reading this book and I learned SO much about the fight for Japan and about what it was like to be a U.S. Marine during WWII.

It is an INCREDIBLE read and a great education, too.

Disappointed.......2007-07-29

I am not sure if it is the fact that the Audiobook is an abridged version but I just didn't find the story that compelling. Somewhat repetitive and too concerned about details which I found boring and uninteresting.
I was looking for a historical account (like the much better "1776" or "Team of Rivals") but this is more like an afterschool special.

Real Boys : Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood

Average customer rating:

Not Just About Boys
Author wants boys to be "nurtured" to be wimps and sissies !
this book is boring
Great balanced account with concrete and practical suggestions
find another book

Real Boys : Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood
William Pollack
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

Listening to the author William Pollack read Real Boys, it doesn't take long to find out that being a boy these days isn't all fun and games. As codirector of the Center for Men at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical Center, Pollack has seen behind the stoic masks of troubled, modern boys as they struggle to cope with the mixed messages, conflicting expectations, and increasingly complex demands they receive from our evolving society. "New research shows that boys are faring less well ... that many boys have remarkably fragile self-esteem, and that the rates of both depression and suicide in boys are frighteningly on the rise."

What are parents to do? They could start by listening to the author's thoughts on contemporary child-rearing techniques, analysis of the root causes of many male behavior problems, and recommendations for avoiding all-too-common pitfalls. In Real Boys, Pollack draws upon nearly two decades of research to support his theories and makes an impressive assault on the popular myths surrounding the conventional definition of masculinity.

While listening to Real Boys, it is important to remember that Pollack is a psychologist, not a professional narrator. His enunciation is less than perfect and his reading sometimes strikes a clinical tone, but his intelligent writing and the obvious concern he holds for this important subject help carry a passionate message and compensate for any vocal shortcomings. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

Featuring a new preface by the author on how parents can make a difference.With author appearances on Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20 /20 and NPR's Fresh Air, and featuring articles in Newsweek, Time, and The New York Times, Real Boys is one of the most talked-about and influential books published this year.Based on William Pollack's groundbreaking research at Harvard Medical School over two decades, Real Boys explores why many boys are sad, lonely, and confused although they may appear tough, cheerful, and confident. Pollack challenges conventional expectations about manhood and masculinity that encourage parents to treat boys as little men, raising them through a toughening process that drives their true emotions underground. Only when we understand what boys are really like, says Pollack, can we help them develop more self-confidence and the emotional savvy they need to deal with issues such as depression, love and sexuality, drugs and alcohol, divorce, and violence.

Customer Reviews:

Not Just About Boys.......2007-08-20

As the sister of six brothers and the mother of two boys, I found myself agreeing with the author on many fronts.

What the author calls "The Boy Code" is what Steven Covey would probably call using efficiency rather than effectiveness as a goal in raising males. The problem is that efficiency leaves the boy with a limited arsenal when it comes to understanding and taking responsibility for his own emotional life. It certainly leaves the boy with limited resources when it comes to understanding or helping others who are wrestling with problems in their own inner life. The lie of "The Boy Code" is that recognizing one's own "negative" emotions is a self-indulgence that simply makes a person weak, a weakness that is permissible in famales, but not in males. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We don't do our boys any favors by teaching them to ignore their own emotions. We also do them a disservice if we let the expectations learned from females dictate what kind of emotional life we expect of males. I know men who live by what this book is espousing. They aren't "wimps", as some reviewers have implied that boys raised in this way will be. They are adults who understand their own emotions well enough to not be unknowingly ruled by them. They know when they are angry, they can admit when they feel fear, and they know how to choose to act under those circumstances, rather than simply reacting, which is what people who refuse to acknowledge their own inner life tend to do. They are certainly not men who expect themselves to experience emotion in the same way as their wives or other women in their lives do, nor do they feel some authority to dictate emotional taboos to other men. They process their emotions in their own ways, they let others do the same, and they don't apologize for it.

I wouldn't, however, limit the observations in this book to boys. There are women and girls who, for whatever reason, have learned to live by what the author calls "The Boy Code." There are men who don't process their emotions as this book implies that men raised in earlier decades will. For that reason, I would caution that the reader not presume after reading this book that he or she now "understands men." The book gives tools for understanding others and helping them to understand themselves, and points out some ineffective but "efficient" ways that people often use in dealing with strong emotion. Knowing these common human patterns isn't a substitute for paying attention to the actions and emotional style of the person you're actually dealing with.

The reviewers who complain that the book takes a great many pages to repeat the same story over and over have a point. A reader who does not want or need so many examples to get the author's point won't lose much by simply skimming the book after the first 100-200 pages or so.

Author wants boys to be "nurtured" to be wimps and sissies !.......2007-08-12

In a nutshell,(which is where this book belongs), the "author" wants boys to be wimps and sissies. The fact that a major New York publisher would print such nonsense pretty well proves that Communism is not dead, but like a snake has simply changed it's skin; AKA Social Marxism. Had William S. Pollack been around in 1776, his advise to Patrick Henry would no doubt have been to "let it all out" and cry about it, and counselling for the depression.
The fact that you can buy this book for a mear penny pretty much says it all.
Few people who have actually owned and read the book feel any need to keep it on their bookshelves. Mine is now going in the trash. As an antdote to this nonsense, I recomend "THE WAR AGAINST BOYS" by Christina Sommers, also sold bt Amazon.

this book is boring.......2007-06-20

It took so much effort to get through this book, and I'm not even sure why I read the whole thing--I must have been really bored. If you want to read a book full of stories about wealthy teenage boys who can't decide which ivy league school to attend written by a man who clearly thinks academic achievement is the single most important thing in life, this is the book for you. And most of the stories sound fictional; maybe that's just because Pollack isn't a talented writer.

I gained nothing from this book and I want my money back.

Great balanced account with concrete and practical suggestions.......2006-12-08

William Pollack certainly has impressive credentials with respect to writing on this topic. This is apparent from the editorial reviews above. More importantly, he is a good writer who brings the inner life of boys and the challenges they face in our society to life. He provides both an inside view and a worthwhile outside perspective.

One of the repeating themes in the books is that we have contradictory expectations of men (boys) in our contemporary society. For example, on one level we expect men to be strong, tough, etc. At the same time, there is also a tacit expectation that contemporary men embrace the "New Age" ideal of being tender and vulnerable. Dr. Pollack points out that this causes many men to feel conflicted and often reduces them to painful silence and often isolation.

While Dr. Pollack covers the inside life of boys, he also does an admirable job of citing relevant statistics on how boys performance is slipping academically and other useful objective sociological data. He covers this issue from every angle and goes beyond diagnosing the problems to making concrete suggestions for parents, schools and society at large.

This book is a valuable addition to the literature on boys and the challenges they face. It is definitely a must own book for anyone who is raising a boy along with "Parenting from the Inside Out" by Daniel Siegel which is great for any parent.

find another book .......2006-08-05

Makes many accurate observations about boy behavior and its origins,however,the book leans a little too much toward "feminization" of boys in preventing behavioral problems.This may be the politically-correct way to help boys,but not the productive way or the ethical way.

Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons

Average customer rating:

Widsom for Older Sons who are baseball lovers
Tim Russert--Wisdom of Our Fathers
Have to Buy
Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons
This book puts everything into perspective

Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons
Tim Russert
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1400064805
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Book Description

What does it really mean to be a good father? What did your father tell you, that has stayed with you throughout your life? Was there a lesson from him, a story, or a moment that helped to make you who you are? Is there a special memory that makes you smile when you least expect it?

After the publication of Tim Russert’s number one New York Times bestseller about his father, Big Russ & Me, he received an avalanche of letters from daughters and sons who wanted to tell him about their own fathers, most of whom were not superdads or heroes but ordinary men who were remembered and cherished for some of their best moments–of advice, tenderness, strength, honor, discipline, and occasional eccentricity.

Most of these daughters and sons were eager to express the gratitude they had carried with them through the years. Others wanted to share lessons and memories and, most important, pass them down to their own children.

This book is for all fathers, young or old, who can learn from the men in these pages how to get it right, and to understand that sometimes it is the little gestures that can make the big difference for your child. For some in this book, the appreciation came later than they would have liked. But as Wisdom of Our Fathers reminds us, it is never too late to embrace it.

From the father who coached his daughter in sports (and life), attending every meet, game, performance, and tournament, to the daughter who, after a fifteen-year estrangement, learned to make peace with her difficult father just before he died, to the son who came, at last, to appreciate the silent way his father could show affection, Wisdom of Our Fathers shares rewarding lessons, immeasurable gifts, and lasting values.

Heartfelt, humorous, engaging, irresistibly readable, and bound to bring back memories of unforgettable moments with our own fathers, Tim Russert’s new book is not only a fitting companion to his own marvelous memoir, but also a celebration of the positive qualities passed down from generation to generation.

Customer Reviews:

Widsom for Older Sons who are baseball lovers.......2007-09-30

After my 77th birthday I remembered to pick-up my older daughter's birthday gift for my 76th birthday! It is a sure-fire winner! When I had gotten past the middle of Tim Russert's stories from a wide variety of sons and daughters, I chose five top favorite Chapters: "Daddy's Girl, "The Character, "Hands and Feet, "Being There, and "Baseball."

Tim's love for the Cleveland's Indians and the NY Yankees came shining through! His personal relationships with the stories of Truman & MacArthur, Rudy Giulani, Al Gore, and Russ Limbaugh provide profound wisdom from a huge variety of Fathers. As I noted foreign names like Bill DeSisto, John Smyntek, Vince Guerriori, Arnold Annunziata, I came across a lovely story of "Hermie's Hands" from Knoxville, Tenn. His name was Jon Hernmanson.

(Too bad that my Father who was employed as one Knoxville Water Worker never came to know Hermie with eight fingers on his hands!)

The Titles of "The Lawyer, "The Lock, "The Lesson, "The Tickets, "The Diagnosis & "From-a U-Fadder" bring tears or laughs from my repeated reading!

After finishing I shall buy copies for my Grandsons to keep for Christmas! Over-Joyed yet Under-whelmed from the older still wiser retired Chaplain, Fred W Hood.

Tim Russert--Wisdom of Our Fathers.......2007-09-26

My new book was received in Great shape and very fast! Thank You very much! ONH

Have to Buy.......2007-08-22

How this gets below 5 stars is beyond me. This book is what it is and is long overdue. There is no genius behind it because it's just a collection of peoples' stories. Russert didn't write it, but he wrote Big Russ and Me. I haven't read that, but it must be pretty good to garner this kind of response.

When I was last home, my dad gave me the copy because I'm working on a project pertaining to the same subject matter. He hadn't read it yet, so he just told me to read it and send it back. It is so good that I sent him a copy with this note, "Dad, this book is way too good. This copy isn't coming back to you, so here is one for you. Love, Christien."

Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons.......2007-08-03

Definitely as touching as Big Russ,Russert's first book. It's a page turner. You'll laugh and cry..

This book puts everything into perspective.......2007-08-02

One of the best books on parenting. Not a scientific approach but rather a by-the-seat-of-your-pants look at what it means to be a good parent. You get a peak into the minds of so many children, today's adults, something that is impossible to do with your own kids. A must read for any parent.

Thanks Tim for having the foresight to put this collection together.

Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith

Average customer rating:

Not for the weak of faith....
Jewish Roots
Excellent!
Necessary read
Indespensable for Christians and Jews

Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith
Marvin R. Wilson
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802804233

Customer Reviews:

Not for the weak of faith...........2007-08-30

After a recent trip to Israel, I started to wonder why, if the beginnings of Christianity was in fact Jewish, does the church look nothing like Judaism? Why does Judaism celebrate Biblical holidays, while the Christians make up their own and claim they are of God? I did not get it. Who are we fooling....December 25 was not the birthday and we all know it. Yet, the Jews celebrate holidays that they KNOW were given by God Himself.
I tried asking many pastors and theologians and found that most are not too thrilled to get questions like this. They squirm and try to get me out of their offices as fast as they can. I get the glossed over fake smile and now most avoid me like the plague =)
I just wanted answers and truth! I firmly believe, by faith, that if you ask, you will receive. If you truly seek, the answers will come to you.
I believe that this book is of great value in that quest for answers and truth, if you really want that. I came to see things differently than I have been taught for years. I think if you are at the starting point of trying to understand these things, this is the book for you. By the time I read the book, I think I was further on the path so a lot of it was review for me. It is a great book for me to give to others as they look at me like I am crazy with my Hebraic roots interest. Who knows, maybe I have lost it. I do know, though, that my faith makes MUCH more sense looking at it through this Jewish lens.

Jewish Roots.......2007-08-16

Excellent book - Dr. Wilson is a marvelous author who takes you through the history of the Church thru Hebraic eyes. I have never learned so much from one author. Churches need to get this book in the hands of their pastors who could use it for sermons and/or bible studies. Haven't you ever wondered how the church came to be what it is today??? Why so many different religions?? Why the anti semetic atmosphere even today?? Read this book!!

Excellent!.......2007-08-07

Dr. Wilson's book is the best single volume work on the Jewish roots of Christianity I've ever read. It may be a tough read for some and not academic enough for others, but I prefer to think it splits the middle! The review questions at the end of each chapter help nail down the most important points in the book. Necessary reading for all Christians.

Necessary read.......2007-08-01

Although this book is a bit difficult to read (due to all the information contained within) it is a must read for those of the Jewish faith or those looking to understand the basis for Christianity! Wonderful book full of heavy reference material. Provides a detailed path from early Judaism to the Christian church (and all that transpired in between).

Indespensable for Christians and Jews.......2007-02-05

Having studied under Dr. Wilson at Gordon College I can recommend this book without any reservations. No teacher has had a more positive effect on my life and personal development. If you want to know about the roots of Christianity, this book is for you.

Average customer rating:

The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers
Leroy Edwin Froom
Manufacturer: Review & Herald
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IO8ZY6

Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem

Average customer rating:

Convincing
Wish My Father Would Read This
Fatherless Children and the Social Choas
The truth about fathers
Excellent Book

Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem
David Blankenhorn
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006092683X

Book Description

A compelling and controversial exploration of absentee fathers and their impact on the nation.

Customer Reviews:

Convincing .......2007-07-09

For those people who believe in America as the heart and hope of the free world, and the major bastion of Mankind against totalitarian terror and tyranny this book will be a difficult read. For what it says , and I think it says something which has been no secret for some time now, is that American society is in trouble- and this because the American family is in trouble. The major source of that trouble is according to David Blankenhorm the increased absence of the 'good family man' father. He presents a wide - variety of data showing that children raised in fatherless homes suffer from a wide variety of social pathologies in rates well- beyond those who come from stable two- parent homes. He examines in detail different kinds of fathers who fall short of fulfilling the traditional family building and supporting role. He indicates that a whole ideology has been wrongly built up in recent years around the idea that a single- mother alone can do for her children a mother and father taken together can do. He faults Radical Feminism for promoting an idea which above all has hurt younger generations of Americans.
This work is not simply a plea for the restoration of stable two- parent homes in which a responsible father plays a central part it is in essence a call for a society which is fairer and more supportive of its children.

Wish My Father Would Read This.......2007-01-25

Wouldn't do any good. He didn't have a father either. Cycle ends with me.

Fatherless Children and the Social Choas.......2006-11-16

The divorce and adultery culture of North America has spawned social chaos that is reflected in numerous statistical research. While the women's movement has been tremendous it has also been used to support the annihilation of the importance of a father. This argument is not just a platform for conservative politics, it is about a real social condition that had reached epic proportions. The rise in fatherless children has probably added to an increase in delinquent behavior, social manners going out the window, women being preyed upon for exploitation, fatherless boys with heightened aggression, this is not good for all of us. A must read on why the family IS important no matter who you vote for.

The truth about fathers.......2005-02-05

The breakdown of families, especially in terms of the disappearance of marriage and the collapse of fatherhood, has been carefully studied by a number of authors. One of the most incisive examinations of the problem of fatherless families is Fatherless America.

The book is based on a wealth of statistical information, highlighting the dangerous trend of family disintegration in America. Perhaps most disturbing of the information he uncovers is the fact that "tonight, about 40 per cent of American children will go to sleep in homes in which their fathers do not live". "Fatherlessness," argues Blankenhorn, "is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation". The primary results of this trend are "a decline in children's well-being and a rise in male violence, especially against women."

The problem is not just that of the absence of fathers, but "the absence of our belief in fathers." Recalling the findings of Margaret Mead and others that the supreme test of any civilisation is whether it can socialise men by teaching them to be fathers, Blankenhorn traces the disappearance of the idea of fatherhood in contemporary culture, and the effects this has on our children and our society

While he acknowledges that the so-called traditional family was not without problems, he sees the move to a fatherless society as a far greater dilemma. As fatherhood becomes devalued, decultured and deinstitutionalised, the problems associated with inner city America will only compound themselves. We now know without question that the overwhelming generator of violence among young men is the fatherless family. There are now a multitude of studies available which make it perfectly clear that fatherlessness is the major factor in crime, more than race, poverty or any other social variable.

Paternal absenteeism and the erosion of marriage effect every aspect of life. For example, we now know, contrary to feminist doctrine, that domestic violence is much more likely to occur in homes where the partners are not married. A woman is much more likely to abused by a boyfriend, a de facto or a live in than by a husband. The same is true of child sexual abuse. "What magnifies the risk of sexual abuse in children is not the presence of a married father but his absence." Again, a host of studies have clearly established this point.

With all these studies confirming the importance of marriage and the presence of fathers, one would hope that our political leaders would be reaffirming our national commitment to marriage. The opposite is the case unfortunately. American society is not intent on making sure marriage works, nor is it intent on making divorce less easy to obtain. Instead, it is in the process of deinstitutionalising marriage and fatherhood. It has become a culture of divorce. Instead of trying to reduce divorce, it seeks to make the process more cooperative and amicable. Divorce reform means simply trying to involve fewer lawyers and more mediators. This may be better than conflict and litigation, but it does not deal with the real problem.

When anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski said that "the father is indispensable for the full sociological status of the child as well as of its mother," he was stating a truth that is both simple and profound. Yet we live in a day where simplicity is spurned and profundity is not grasped. As C.S. Lewis once said, "The process of living seems to consist in coming to realise truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes."

That children need mother and father, and that healthy families are a prerequisite for healthy societies, have been historical givens. Such claims now however are regarded with disbelief. The case for fatherhood and marriage needs to be remade for a sceptical age. Blankenhorn's book is a valuable component in that argument.

Excellent Book.......2004-07-03

I believe this book is a compehesive approach to the fatherlessness of this generation of American life. I have seen some of the reviews of the book and some of the criticism. David Blankenhorn, as touched the pulse of the fatherless problem. When he suggest that even having a troubled or bad father at home is better than no father at all. He is not even suggesting that this is the idea but is suggesting that the presence of a father is of extreme importance in the pysche of a growing child and there is no substitute for it. There is all ways room for review, renewal and improvment in fathering, but if a father is not present in a families life there can not be any chance of correction. I have benifited greatly from the content of this book as a father, and suggest that other fathers read this book.

Moral Minority: Our Skeptical Founding Fathers

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A Tidy Little Dynamo of a Book
Good, could have been Excellent with a few changes
Personal beliefs of Founding Fathers are irrelevant
The Emperor Has No Clothes On
Excellent Textual Disproof of "Christian" Amerika

Moral Minority: Our Skeptical Founding Fathers
Brooke Allen
Manufacturer: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1566636752

Book Description

In her lively refutation of modern claims about America's religious origins, Brooke Allen looks back at the late eighteenth century and shows decisively that the United States was founded not on Christian principles at all but on Enlightenment ideas. Enlivened by generous portions of the founders' own incomparable prose, Moral Minority makes an impassioned and scintillating contribution to the ongoing debate more heated now than ever before over the separation of church and state and the role (or lack thereof) of religion in government.

Customer Reviews:

A Tidy Little Dynamo of a Book .......2007-08-25

Brooke Allen's 'Moral Minority: Our Skeptical Founding Fathers' could hardly be more necessary coming as it does during the reign of a President who uses federal funds to directly promote religion and a Supreme Court that refuses to allow review of same (Hein v. FFRF).

As Allen demonstrates in this tidy little dynamo of a book our primary founders were men of the Enlightenment, skeptical of faith and devoted to reason. Allen's subjects are Washington, Franklin, John Adams, Madison, Jefferson, and Hamilton. Allen presents six biographical essays focusing as her preface states on their "attitudes toward religion in general, and Christianity in particular".

A final chapter that takes up nearly a quarter of the book's 183 pages gives the reader a concise summary of the Enlightenment background as well the 16th-17th century religious turmoil in England from which these leaders ultimately sprang. We read of David Hume refuting intelligent design in 1757 and of retaining a `deliberate doubt' due to lack of evidence. Hume concluded that "the whole is a riddle, an aenigma, an inexplicable mystery. Doubt, uncertainty, suspense of judgment appear the only result of our most accurate scrutiny." One only wishes that Hume had lived to see Darwin blast away these doubts a century later.

Allen does not uncover much new, but she brings it together in an imminently interesting and admirably concise way. George Washington does not give up any secrets, but the evidence suggests at least by strong negative inference that Washington was not a Christian or at most a very half-hearted one. He generally declined to take the sacrament and when a preacher called him on this behavior as setting a bad example for others Washington agreed and never attended church on sacramental Sunday again! (Perhaps more interesting, Allen discloses that most worshippers at least in Washington's church typically departed before taking the sacrament).

An excellent antidote to the nonsense passed around as 'common knowledge' these days. This reader appreciates more and more a writer who can make her point without drowning the reader in needless repetition. Allen succeeds. Very highly recommended.

Good, could have been Excellent with a few changes.......2007-07-28

Many are unaware of that our Founding Fathers refused to establish a "Christian" nation and fought vehemently the idea of a religious test or national religion. The consequence of a secular goverment is the paradoxical flowering of religious expression. America remains one of the most religious nations on Earth despite the attitudes of the "ruling classes" reflected in the Northeast. With the loss of political, financial and social power those views have diminished and the civil ecumencalism that once characterized our nation is no more. The American experiment was unique in the quality and quantity of enlightened intellectuals at this time in history. One could almost infer the hand of Privdence (lol). As sons of the Enlightenment and witnesses to Europe's religious persecution, they came up with a truly revolutionary idea - religious freedom (as opposed to tolerance). One could worship where one wished OR not worship at all. What mattered was civil duty and obedience to civil law that guaranteed rights for the minority in every situation. The Constitution was the summation of the Enlightenment with its emphasis on checks and balances, moeration, natural law and individual freedom.

Ms Allen gives us a brief biographty of six revolutionary "greats" - Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton and Madison. From their own words she infers that all were, at best, deists though for political reasons most were affiliated with a church. Their heroes were men like Locke, Adam Smith, Aristotle (NOT Plato), Joseph Priestly...all men of moderation and rationality. One cannot help but smile at Franklin who, in his popularity with friend and foe alike, reminds one of the great 19th century atheist, Robert Ingersoll, who was chosen to nominate James Blaine for President at the 1876 Republican convention. Washington remains a towering model of silent virtue. Jefferson, a vindictive hypocrite, believed his secular university was his most important accomplishment. Adams, my hero, was willing to change his core beliefs as he matured. Madison's zeal for religious freedom was unsurpassed and Hamilton buttressed Washington with intellectual vigor.

So why not five stars? First was the repitition -lots and lots of it. Second was the brevity - it was more a bookette than a book. Third and the worst was snide remarks against current politicians that was funny the first time but by the fifth it grows weary. She describes historical events in current political terms..."political right", "Fundamentalists", etc. The remarks diminish the book and its message as it appears partisan. Following the biographies was a description of the social and intellectual world of the time. This is important since no one derives their beliefs in a vaccuum.

Politicians have long used religion for political purposes. One recalls Clinton speaking in churches, invoking God, "preaching to the saved", publicly turning to preachers & prayer when caught in adultry. Bush's faith based initiaves cross the line no matter how well intended and the use of ideology over science is disturbing. Ashcroft's Bible studies are unacceptable. Even freethinkers like Howard Dean feel the need to prove their faith. In his case it was the hilarious comment that Job was his favorite book of the NEW Testament (lol). Men and women who never spoke of faith suddenly "get religion" on the campaign trail, "sharing" their most personal beliefs to the audience at hand. This will only stop when we recognize the secular nature of our republic and its founders.

Personal beliefs of Founding Fathers are irrelevant.......2007-06-27

That the Founding Fathers were skeptical about Christianity is something that's supposed to shock us. But skepticism has always been the counterpart to religion. The thieves who plundered the tombs of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt were certainly skeptical of their society's beliefs, and Job thought his tragedies made him fit to judge God. If Jefferson is to be applauded for his skepticism about Christianity then his ownership of slaves only proves that his "enlightened" morality failed him - and the entire country as well. Brooke Allen cannot have it both ways. If we are to consider their private religious beliefs, which do not form part of our written laws, then their moral failings with regards to slavery must be part of the record as well. The political expediency they exhibited in not dealing with slavery would cost about 600,000 lives in the Civil War. Whatever personal grievances the Founding Fathers had about Christianity is simply irrelevant. It's the equivalent of asking whether Madison or Hamilton would legalize internet gambling.

The Emperor Has No Clothes On.......2007-06-10

This book is for the reader who wants the facts, uncomfortable as they may be. There is a reason for the separation of Churh and State and the book well states it. Required reading for anybody who interested in American History

Excellent Textual Disproof of "Christian" Amerika.......2007-04-29

Brooke Allen is most known for her stellar literary criticism in journals like New Criterion and the Hudson Review, but here, she leaves her "conservative journal" credentials to the side and examines six of the Founders' religious views and their impact on our formation of government. Religious conservatives will be disabused of their "Christian Nation" and "Reconstructionist" views.

While 6 of 51 Constitutional Conventioneers does not establish the whole Convention's point of view, certainly Washington, Franklin, Madison, Jefferson, Adams, and Hamilton were the central architects of our Founding Documents. What Allen aims to show is that these six individuals in particular were not normative Christians, and whatever religious views they held (mainly Deism or unorthodox Theism), the Enlightenment Ideals, not Christianity, prevailed. But, of course, it did.

One finds not a single Judeo-Christian notion, belief, concept, or ideal in any of our founding documents. NO mention of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the Decalogue, Charity, Faith, Hope, Forgiveness, Non-Judgmentalism, Self-denial, Spiritual Rebirth, etc. is found in any of the founding documents. Not even American "exceptionalism," based on Calvin's Divine Election of the Chosen, is found (however much it continues to surface in practical politics). If America's founding was "Christian," no evidence exists for a single Christian idea.

The Liberal Ideals of the Enlightenment, of course, opposed much of historical Christianity: Notions of self-rule, democracy, autonomy, freedom/liberty, anti-authoritarianism, equality, pluralism, freedom of thought and belief and practice, fairness/justice, impartiality, one-person-one-vote, human rights, diffusion of power, etc., all hail from the Enlightenment. Not one, not one, can be found in the Bible.

The Age of Enlightenment (16-18th centuries) was grounded in Reason, not Religion. Indeed, the Authority of King and Church was opposed by all the Founders. Even those with a decidedly Calvinist cast recognized (largely through self-interest) that privileging any particular form of Christianity would disadvantage theirs. The dominant Enlightenment thinkers, from Hobbes, Locke, Voltaire, Hume, Smith, Kant, etc. were either nominal Christians or atheists.

"Obedience" to a book, church, monarch, deity -- some of which had to become manifest, if America was founded on Christianity -- is repudiated. The idea of "religious obedience" was disagreeable, except to the Puritans came to these shores to avoid religious persecution, only to do to others what they sought to avoid in Europe. Thus, the freedom to exercise religion was granted, but no particular religion could be established. It was in the Calvinists, Anabaptists, Anglicans, and Free-Thinkers' interest, all.

One assumes one learned this stuff in high school civics courses. But, it's not ignorance, it's the preposterous Christian Nationists, the Evangelicals, and Biblical Reconstructions who Allen intends to discredit, and she does so with her typical aplomb, elegant and incisive prose, and textual analysis. Anyone who harbors a Religionist Amerika has lost focus of the truth, the facts, and the Age of Enlightenment. Allen sets the record straight, largely in the Founders' own words.

Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima (Youth Edition)

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Down to earth truth behind the Second World war> Sacrifice,and enduring American spirit
World War II
Captivating and Honest Truths About Leadership and Devotion To Brothers Lost in War
A great book to read by Trevor Williams
Wrong book

Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima (Youth Edition)
James Bradley , and Ron Powers
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385729324
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

In the winter of 1945, on the tiny island of Iwo Jima, a ferocious, epic battle was fought, resulting in the loss of more than 48,000 lives and producing what was to become one of the most recognizable symbols of World War II: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the peak of Mount Suribachi. One of the six, Navy corpsman John Bradley, came away from this historical moment with a deep and mysterious silence about his role in the flag raising. Even his wife heard him speak of it only once in their 47-year marriage. After Bradley's death, his son James began to piece together the facts of his father's heroism, as well as that of the other five men, all of whom became reluctant heroes because of their presence during that fateful instant when the shutter clicked and created a wartime icon.

Based on James Bradley's Flags of Our Fathers for adults, this abridged version for younger readers retains the somewhat terse drama, intense heartbreak, and bittersweet triumph of the original narrative. Through his research on the event and the soldiers (three of the men were killed in combat within days of the flag raising), Bradley explores the dubious nature of heroism and the devastating effects of war. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Now abridged for young people, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U. S. flag at Iwo Jima. Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America.

In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima–and into history. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle for the Pacific’s most crucial island.

Customer Reviews:

Down to earth truth behind the Second World war> Sacrifice,and enduring American spirit.......2007-06-28

Who were these brave young men that fought for their country, nation, and civil liberty? Freedom, fought and paid for by the lives of American youth, veterans of our country's legacy. We didn't back down when the odds were to great; we had fear it would decimate of what we loved, our liveliehood, ideals, and what we stood for. Heroes that proved essential to the wellbeing and life of America. Find out who were the six that raised the steel pole to enstill hope for marines upon that desolate island of Iwo Jima.

World War II.......2007-04-25

A great story about a horrific, but successful battle. Written by the son of one of the flag raisers, it gives a realistic view of the horrors endured, and the magnificent bravery of our boys who went forth in droves to give of themselves, that the rest of us might live in freedom.

Captivating and Honest Truths About Leadership and Devotion To Brothers Lost in War.......2007-04-04

I was given this book by one of my patients and I simply could not put it down. I read it cover to cover in about a day and half. The descpriptions of the War and the men who fought in the battle raged on Iwo Jima were brought alive in this story. It is incredible to think so many people were deceived by the efforts and the spin tallied by the United States during World War 2. Yes, the spin was in the name of a good cause, but it is unfortunate it took so long to tell the real truths about the men who lost their lives and the bloody sacrifices made in the name of freedom in this country. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read and better understand what really happened on Iwo Jima and the aftershocks that rippled through our Country for years following this war.

Dr. Warren Bruhl

A great book to read by Trevor Williams.......2007-04-02

This book is a salute to all the men of WWII and especially to those that served in Iwo Jima. It is an awesome book, one of the best books that I have ever read. I couldn't put it down.
James Bradley, the "Author", started to investigate his father Jack's service record, after his death. He never spoke of his time in service and especially what happened on the peak of Mount Suribachi. His father was one of the original 6 people in the famous photo from WWII taken during the flag raising in one of the bloodiest battles in history. The book was very descriptive and graphic, I could picture the battle in my mind.

Wrong book.......2007-03-09

It was not the book I thought was ordered. It was a student version which I didn't want. It is a good book otherwise, was delivered on time with no issues

Average customer rating:

Our Father
Sabrina Bus
Manufacturer: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0802853137

Book Description

With clear, simple language and sweet illustrations, this board book explains the meaning of one of the best-loved Christian prayers, the Lord's Prayer. Brief explanatory text relates the words of the prayer to young children's everyday lives and teaches them how to talk to God like a father.

Book Description

Scott Hahn's newest book, Understanding "Our Father", blends Hahn's own scriptural insights on the Lord's Prayer wirh the thoughts of four great Church Fathers.

Customer Reviews:

A Book for Body and Head.......2006-04-06

Depending on who you talk to Scott Hahn is either a hero or a turncoat. He was raised Presbyterian, and was even on the fast track to be a president at a Presbyterian seminary when he began to doubt two protestant main stays: `by scripture alone' and `by faith alone'. So he did what any academically trained person would do, he decided to research and went back to school to do a masters in Roman Catholic thought, eventually converting to Catholicism. Since then he has been a prolific writer and speaker on things Catholic, and why the catholic faith is the one true valid faith.

This book is part academic treatise and part faith discovery. The book will lead you through each of the different petitions in the Lord's Prayer, both in historical perspective and in reflection for what it should mean for us today. The sections are:

Part 1 Contemporary Reflections by Scott Hahn

0. Introduction
1. Our Father
2. Our Father ... In Heaven
3. Hallowed Be Thy Name
4. Thy Kingdom Come
5. Thy Will Be Done
6. On Earth As It Is In Heaven
7. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
8. Forgive Us ... As We Forgive
9. Lead Us Not Into Temptation
10. Temptation Part II
11. Deliver Us from Evil
12. The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory
13. Last Words

Part 2 Wisdom From The Fathers Of The Church

14. Saint Cyprian: Treatise on the Lord's Prayer
15. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: Mystagogic Cathechesis
16. Saint John Chrysostom: Homily XIX o the Gospel of Matthew
17. Saint Augustine: Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount

Hahn open's up this prayer in ways you could never imagine. I have been serious about being a Christian for nearly 20 years and this little book helped me to see this prayer in a whole new light.

"Why Bother?
Still, it's fair to ask, Why Bother to pray, `Thy will be done'? Isn't it presumptuous, or even redundant? Isn't God's will what happens anyway? Why pray for God's will? It Seems like praying for gravity to continue.
The answer is simple. When we pray. `Thy will be done,' we do not change or strengthen the will of God, but we do change and strengthen ourselves. Such prayer disposes our hearts to de the will of the Father." p31,32

Hahn goes on to say later: "Often, it seems that people pray in order to change God's mind. But God is eternal, perfect, unchanging, and unchangeable. We pray so that God can change our minds." p74 what would our lives be like is we truly prayed for the fathers will to be done. Later Hahn states: "First in importance is the centrality of divine fatherhood and our share - our real participation - in Christ's divine sonship.
Next, notice how the Fathers insist that our goal is virtue, and not mere learning." p75 That is why the second part of the book goes into the writings of the church fathers. To show us that intellectual understanding is not enough, it must impact our hearts and move us to action and a deeper relationship with God. This book will help you move from your head to your heart, but it will feed both mind and spirit.

I did not post my review on this site.......2006-02-15

I did not post my "review" of this book on this Amazon site. I did not post a star rating on this first "review." Someone -- I have never been able to find out who, despite contacting the publisher several times -- took a book review that I had published in the National Catholic Review and without consulting me, edited it (editing out anything less than enthusiastic) and, again without consulting me, posted it on this page.

Here are some portions of my original book review what were cut out: "It's worth noting here that only the first half of the 146-page book is written by Hahn. The rest of the pages offer commentaries on the Lord's Prayer by four Church Fathers: St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. Cyprian. These selections, 19th-century translations now in the public domain, can make for tough going at times, especially for those unfamiliar with reading ancient or doctrinally dense writing. Unfortunately, Hahn provides only three paragraphs of guidance on how to read these commentaries. I suspect some readers will, upon reaching this point, feel as if they're being sent off on an exploration without a map. Also, the Church Fathers can be downloaded from the Internet for free -- which makes the book's $15.95 price tag seem a bit steep. Despite these not-insubstantial reservations, Understanding "Our Father" provides some startling and worthwhile insights that can serve as powerful aids to prayer."

I am a journalist and I object to my work being edited and used without my permission for marketing purposes.

Powerful aid to prayer with startling & worthwhile insights.......2003-10-21

"Understanding 'Our Father'" provides some startling and worthwhile insights that can serve as powerful aids to prayers. This is a book to rouse you from the drone of repetition and guide you into the depths of Christ's own prayer. Scott Hahn has helped to acquaint many a Catholic with the finer points of Bible study. A gifted teacher, he has a knack for making the dull vivid and the complex simple. Here he unpacks the theological and biblical meaning of each phrase of the Lord's Prayer -- and reveals what he terms the "inner logic" of this most fundamental of prayers.

Throughout, Hahn, professor of Theology and Scripture at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio develops and draws from his trademark brand of covenant theology, according to which the Trinity creates a family bond with us, the members of Christ's Body. Hahn also points to healthy human father-children bonds but doesn't forget those who've had bad experiences with their earthly fathers and now have difficulty accepting the authority of any "father figure" -- including God the Father. Catholic Tradition, he points out, "tells us we must go beyond our earthly experiences and memories of fatherhood. God is more unlike than like any human father, patriarch or paternal figure."

The book is written in Hahn's usual energetic, conversational style. The chapters are peppered with playful subheads -- "Send in the Crowns," "From Heir to Eternity" among them. Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't laugh; it only encourages him. Then again the professor's peculiar penchant for puns does serve a useful purpose: it provides a steady stream of mnemonic doctrine-remembrance devices. It's worth noting here than only the first half of the book is written by Hahn. The rest of the pages offer commentaries on the Lord's Prayer by four Church Fathers: Sts. Augustine, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, and Cyprian.

Not that great..........2003-08-03

I'm sure that when Steve Wood, Benedict Groeschel and the rest of the gang got together on May 10, 2003, to submit reviews of this Scott Hahn book (see the reviews below this one), they meant well. Of course they did.

The problem is, this book just ain't that great.

The first problem is that only half of it is by Scott Hahn. The book's second half consists of excerpts from an antique translation of four Church Fathers. Although Augustine and Chrysostom have some great things to say, the other two have less value. Moreover, you can find these writings on the web at no charge -- they're in the public domain. That means you're paying $... for 76 pages of new material by Scott Hahn.

Another problem is that Hahn's writings in this book don't seem to have anything to do with the patristic writings. Although both the Church Fathers and Scott Hahn have recognizably Catholic points of view, they are very *different* points of view. That means that Scott Hahn has basically done nothing to show what his family-covenant theology has to do with patristic theology, as represented by the excerpts in this book.

A third problem is Hahn's puns. They are quite irritating.

A fourth problem is with Hahn's commentary on "On Earth as it is in heaven." He writes from the same perspective he used in his book on Revelation and the Mass . . . but he makes no effort to show that that's what this verse of the Lord's Prayer is actually referring to. Hahn seems to be free-associating here.

Those are the problems. That still leaves a lot of good stuff. The rest of Hahn's commentary on the Lord's Prayer is easy to read, inspirational and insightful. If you can borrow a copy, I recommend reading it.

If you want to read what the Church Fathers say about the Lord's Prayer, however, I recommend tracking down (probably in a good Catholic library) more recent translations. If you want the 19th century public domain translations, you can find them quite easily with a good search engine.

A book that deepens your faith & transforms your family life.......2003-05-11

This is a great book for all Catholics, but it is an essential book for Catholic fathers, like me. At the center of the modern crisis in family life is a crisis of genuine fatherhood. The essence of restoring fatherhood is turning the hearts of fathers back to God the Father. The renewal of family life will proceed from the renewal of our life with the Father. Read this important slowly and prayerfully. It will deepen your faith and transform your family life

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