I am an adult distance runner with a high school son (15) who runs cross country. I ordered this book for myself and he grabbed it the minute it arrived. He read it in a week, which is an amazing thing for my computer-oriented son who generally avoids reading for pleasure. I just finished the book and believe it is an outstanding account of the rewards and heartbreaks of top-level collegiate running. I could not put this down. I cried at the tragedy this team endured and rejoiced at the successes. I believe this book is a true gift to my son and any young runner who aspires to greatness. I now know why a poster of Adam Goucher is on my son's wall. Chris Lear conveys the patience that is required by runners who, after being high school stars, might have to train through long periods (even years) of no improvement, injuries and crushing disappointments. He also conveys the impact a coach such as Mark Wetmore can have on a young runner's growth as a person and an athlete. You probably have to have more than a casual interest in running to really appreciate this book, but I believe it will touch and motivate both competitive and recreational runners. If I were a high school or college coach, every one of my runners would read this book!

If you have ever run competitively at any level or have had a son or daughter who has run, and you enjoy learning more about this much-neglected sport, this book is a must read. The author takes the reader along, almost day-by-day, through a whole season with the Colorado cross-country team, a Division I powerhouse.

The book does keep the reader in suspense about how the Colorado cross country team will do at the National meet and whether Adam Goucher will finally finish first, after coming so close several times, at the National meet, but the main story line nearly takes a back seat to the fascinating details as to what it takes to be a top flight Division I cross country runner. Seeing how these athletes push the envelope in training and performance, and how they constantly dance with injury is eye-opening.

If you like times, paces, and mileage, this book will satisfy you. Newspaper reporting on track and cross-country tends to be scarce and certainly with few details. This book will not leave you wondering about the runners performance at meets or at practices.

People generally read books about running because they truly love running itself. But only a few such books provide even a fraction of the enjoyment of a simple run. The classic, Once A Runner by John L. Parker, comes to mind, but there aren't many others.

You can add Running With the Buffaloes to the short list. Lear was shrewd, talented and lucky in writing this book: shrewd because his main subject is Olympian Adam Goucher, the strongest and boldest American distance runner since Bob Kennedy; talented because he has a clear, interesting, energized writing style; and lucky because his nonfiction, real life drama has a happy ending after an all-out struggle.

The core of the book is a daily description of cross country practice at the University of Colorado in the fall of 1998. For most people, reading about cross country practice would seem to fall somewhere between drudgery and torture, but Running With the Buffaloes is actually thrilling. Goucher's intensity, his coach's counsel and depth, his opponents' strengths and abilities and his teammates' successes and failures all weave together in a completely gripping tale. Lear keeps his chapters short, resulting in a pace that moves urgently. He assumes a level of awareness about running that is refreshing. For once, reading about running is like talking to someone who cares as much as you do, someone who is excited and knowledgeable.

When the Colorado team returned to campus for fall classes in 1998, they had two goals: win the NCAA championship and have Goucher win the individual title. Championships are built deliberately, with passion and anxiety. Goucher faces this with more than a little Prefontaine running through his veins. Describing him and his teammates, the Colorado coach observes:

"In football, you might get your bell rung, but you go in with the expectation that you might get hurt, and you hope to win and come out unscathed. As a distance runner, you know you're going to get your bell rung. Distance runners are experts at pain, discomfort, and fear. You're not coming away feeling good. It's a matter of how much pain you can deal with on those days. It's not a strategy. It's just a callusing of the mind and body to deal with discomfort. Any serious runner bounces back. That's the nature of their game. Taking pain."

In Running With the Buffaloes, Lear makes this wonderful, alive and memorable. Reading it, you are actually a part of every step, every run, every test and every triumph.

For my ninth grade English class, we were assigned to read the play Romeo and Juliet. That's why, when at the library, I spotted this book and decided to read it. Compared to the original play, this book was wonderfully sweet and romantic. African-American Romiette Cappelle (called Romi) and Hispanic Julio Montague are the two heros this time. Both sixteen and juniors in high school, they meet over the internet and develop a strong relationship, that even objections from a local gang cannot deter. This book chronicles thier journey to an open relationship that overcomes racial boundaries. I recommend this book for approximately ages 9-14.

Romiette and Julio is a really good book. I decided to read this book because I really like love stories with suspense in them, and this story was a perfect match.
This novel is about a hispanic teenager, Julio Montague, who moves from Texas. At his new school he meets Romiette Cappelle, an African girl who he has a growing liking for. Because Romiette is hanging out with a hispanic, the two lovers are hassled by a purple wearing, black gang,but hassle quickly turns into violence.
I liked this book because it has great suspense that keeps you at the end of your chair. It is also neatly written and easy to understand. Since the characters in this book are teens, it is easy for me to see from their point of view and to understand them.
Something that I didn't enjoy about this book is that it continuosly switches point of view. I think though, that you get use to it by the end of the book.
One of the things that I liked best about this book is that its plot is so different. It's unique from every other book I've read, which makes it even more enjoyable.

Romiette and Julio, a novel relating to the children of todays world. A story filled with violence, danger, but best of all love and a little bit of comedy. Romiette a young black female fell in love with a hispanic brother named Julio, who in return lovd her back. Now a days you would think that it would always be the parents to prevent young love, but now things are changing. A gang that ride by the name of Devildogs refuse to acknoledge the fact that one of their skin tones is dating another. If you've already read the novel Romeo and Juliet I suggest you read the remix: Romiette and Julio. In this book you'll be able to relate so many problems of today with the ones in this one book.This novel has the power to make you laugh, cry, and so angry all at the same time, so my advice to ya'll youngin's jump out this world for a while, and read yourself through another, because there is no other place better to run away to then in a book, exspecially one made just for you...

A blessing over ashes is about the history of Cambodia, and many people's lifestyles being interrupted by the warring of the Angka soldiers, and, more specifically, about the life of one Cambodian, and his journey out of Cambodia, to America, and eventually, back to his native homeland. Now hearing that general statement about some content of the book, here are some feelings about the story I had when I read it. . . . .......

I was sickened and almost horrified when reading some of the senseless things that went on in Cambodia when Seouth was there. However, with this serious sense of relation came a serious sense of compation. Seouth was very brave and never gave up. I felt sad for him and his family, as well as every other Cambodian who was tortured, killed or pillaged at all. The fact that this could happen was mind boggling. His survival, he knows, depends souly on himself, as a refugee, an outsider, now in America. He works harder than most "natives" of America could ever think of, and spends his measly earnings on his family and relatives. This fact alone made me feel that Seouth had a lot of love in his heart, and a lot of support for his family and people's culture.

Billl " RALPHY " Clinton

I really enjoyed the book A Blessing Over Ashes because it was a different kind of book that I normally would not read. The book was very informative and I learned a lot about Cambodia that I never knew before. People should read this book if they like to read about other countries, or if they like to read true stories. A Blessing Over Ashes is the story of a Cambodian boy trying to escape his war torn country. He eventually finds his way to America to live with a family that treats him like their own son. I was fasinated reading about the journey that Soeuth the main charactor had to endure ub order to finally get to America. How the Fifield family accepts Soeuth into their family is inspirational. To me, this book represented a mix of a series of journey and a survival. Soeuth has to survive in a country engulfed in hatred and war. His escape took immense courage and I admired Soeuth for his determination. I hope others will consider reading A Blessing Over Ashes so that they, too, may experience the sheer determation and courage of a young Cambodian boy who will inspire them as he did me.

This book gives new meaning to the words tough, strong and determined. The book is about a boy who goes through many different stops to try and get to America after he leaves the work camp that his family sent him to and has now escaped and is unamare of where his parents are and has no choice but to leave. The detail that this book goes into will have you hanging on every word, it's absolutely amazing. After arriving in America a whole new journey begins for this young boy. A new culture, a new language and a new world. The book explains all about Soeuth (the little boy) and how he gets to know people and understand them and some personal experiences he has while he is in America and how different it is from Cambodia. This is a book that everyone should read, it is absolutely heart warming and even brought tears to my eyes while I was reading it. I guarantee you'll love it. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes a true story of survival.

This book is amazing! Written by Adam Robinson, a nationally renowned expert on student testing issues, this thoughtful and entertaining volume is loaded with insights into how the best students achieve their A's, and friendly advice designed to help other students translate those insights into higher grades for themselves.
Mr.Robinson's fresh approach to homework and and other school performance issues is must reading for high school students and parents looking for concrete ways to help their offspring better cope with school demands and improve their grades and scores.

I'm a profoundly deaf student mainstreaming at a California State University. Was frustrated in the last three semesters...no matter how hard I studied, my grades were not as good as in high school and I KNOW I can do better. Didn't expect this book to help me...I mean...I TRIED all ways I could think of to improve my grade (grumble).

Turned out to help me so well that I am already having too much free time in the past three months. Even if I have to go the extra mile as a deaf student. It's true that old habits are hard to break, I still have some tiresome old studying habits. But, it's slowly changing... Mind me, habits can't be changed overnight.

No matter who you are, one getting straight A's or struggling for C's, I STRONGLY suggest you to sniff out a copy of this book.

All through high school and college nobody ever teaches you how to learn. Some students may have older siblings or parents who have excelled in school and can let them in on the secrets, but I, unfortunately, wasn't one of them. I couldn't figure out why I had to study so much and didn't do well on tests when others seemed to be doing much better than I was. I rarely aced a test. Then this book was recommended to me by another student and it has totally changed the way think about my classes and mostly how to take notes and actually learn and do well on tests. It also increases your self-esteem because you don't feel like beating yourself up or dropping a class when you do poorly on a test. This is the best money you will spend in school.

I remember singing "There was an Old Lady..." all the time in preschool, so when I found out that there was a book of this song, I had to buy it for my baby daughter. Not only is the song fun to sing, but the book is fun to read as well with its vibrant colors and cartoony illustrations. This is an excellent sing along book!

This is a wonderfully fun book. My husband had some reservations about the content ('perhaps she'll die'), but my three year old daughter is not at all disturbed and loves the silliness of the story. Whenever its time for a story, she always requests "There was an old lady..."

The illustrations are colorful, expressive and silly. The cut out that grows to accomodate each creature the woman consumes and the clever commnents of the about to be eaten animals really add something special to this book. The repetition is also a wonderful way to help kids read along.

I remember this folk tale from when I was young. I often "sing" the book as we read. My daughter loves that. Buy this book - you won't be dissappointed. It sure to become a family favorite.

There was an old Lady who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback is an excellent book. It expands the imagination of children so they can enhance their learning skills. Given the ability to see directly into the old lady's stomach will attract their small little eyes. Vibrant colors stand out against the black back round to allow each and every swallowed animal to appear more important. Reading There was an old Lady who Swallowed a Fly would create a wonderful memory and a child who loves to read because of the rhyming and well-written vocabulary. Although children will love to read it, age six is a reasonable age for them to handle the book in their own tiny hands. However, there is no child too you to read and enjoy this book.

Yes, addiction of a world leader should be the concern of everybody in America. But a reader who doesn't see the masses and masses of abundant evidence pointing out our president's obvious addictions misses the thrust of this book. Addiction in the White House isn't spin, it's commentary based on hard, cold facts. Mr. Adam's book is a must read. It's more than a must read. He doesn't miss the boat. He creates the boat, and the world should jump aboard and sail the sea of truth.

Absolutely Excellent! Your book was the most logical and no-nonsense piece of writing I have read on the President Clinton scandal yet. To borrow your quote, the president's problem cannot be spun into cotton candy. You do not give us cotton candy, you give us a naked president, a naked first lady, and a white house bunch of yahoos that should be ashamed of themselves one and all. Shame on them. I will be watching these upcoming impeachment hearings like a fan at a football game, sitting at my tv with my popcorn and pizza, your book waving back and forth like a pon pom. Bravo, Mr. Adams. You hit the nerve of the issue for us all.

I read Addiction in the White House and found it interesting that Canyon Adams talked about Jane Doe Number 5--Juanita, the Clinton Rape Victim-- many many months before she became a news item. Mr. Adams certainly did his research with this project and delivered it with such honest and straight forward ummpf! A good book which I recommend for all voters. And I am interested to read his next two, which I see are coming out in June of 1999.

James Huston's second effort, 'The Price of Power' is a direct sequel to his 'Balance of Power'. Both novels put together can easily be read as one novel and I will hazard a guess that the original draft was just that - a work that was split into two parts.
The terrorist from the first book, "George Washington', survives and kidnaps an American mining executive and his wife. He is quickly killed and his wife is held hostage with the demand for the release of the captured terrorist band from the previous novel. It is unclear in the novel if the reader is supposed to believe that the executive's wife is dead or alive.
The second thread of the novel are two courtroom procedures: the impeachment of the President on the grounds that he is a pacifist and cannot fulfill his duties as President of the United States and the court martial of Admiral Billings who led the original assault on the terrorist island. Still another plot thread is the use of another clause in the Constitution to justify further military action without the authority of the executive to rescue the hostage.
'The Price of Power" is better written than the previous novel because there are fewer dangling plot threads and the main characters behave with greater consistency than in the first book. The author also does a good job with his simple but effective courtroom dialogue sequences which are the true heart of the novel.
However, as in his first novel, the author uses his characters and storyline to present a right-wing interpretation to the Constitution and the roles of the President and Congress. The author misreads the Constitution and expects up to believe in some unlikely scenarios. For example, can you imagine a true pacifist getting through the President primary process? How about a President's mother testifying at an impeachment hearing? Or how about a court martial that judges on the constitutionally of an act and not the UCMJ?
As with his first novel, you need to put your brain on hold for this one, but if you do, you will enjoy this well paced fantasy novel for right-wingers. I intend to read his next novel, "Flash Point' which I hope is more military action than right-wing political fantasy.

James W. Huston does a terrific job handling the fallout from "The Balance of Power." While the first chapter with the kidnapping of an American corporate exec and his wife is written in a rather choppy style, it improves by leaps and bounds after that. The scenes involving Admiral Billings' court-martial are flat out excellent. Huston presents great arguments on both sides. One moment you think Billings will come out OK, the next it appears he has no chance to win. I do wish the impeachment trial of the President was done better. Those scenes were just not as compelling as the Billings court-martial. Again Congressional aide Jim Dillon is a first rate hero. At times he seems over his head, but that first class mind of his is always working to get out of what appear to be no-win situations. The return of the terrorist who calls himself George Washington is a great monkey in the wrench. He's more ruthless in this book than in "Balance." Even with the two problem areas I mentioned, the book overall is a winner.

An outstanding follow up to Huston's superior work, The Balance of Power, we return to events in the days after his first novel. Though readable on its own, to me the book is better if you have read Balance of Power.

Admiral Billings, having obeyed the Letter of Marque and Reprisal issued by Congress, largely thanks to Speaker of the House Standbrige and over the strenuos objections of President Manchester, and hand delivered by Speaker's aide Jim Dillon, successfully defeated the terrorists who attacked the Pacific Flyer killing all of the crew except for the captain, whom they kidnapped. These events closing out the Balance of Power, the beginning of Price of Power finds him under arrest upon his return to Pearl Harbor. The court marital, convened at the authority of the President, charges the Admiral for disobeying a direct order from the commander-in-chief and guilty of murder for those Americans who died in the attack.

Meanwhile, some of the terrorists, including their leader who calls himself George Washington, we find had escaped and kidnapped the American head of a mining company in Indonesia and his wife. Also, those terrorists who were captured on the US Navy raid, returned with the USS Constitution back to Hawaii, may be released as there may be insufficient evidence to hold them for trial (this partially at the insistence of President Manchester).

Will Admiral Billings be court martaled and convicted, a pawn in the continuning struggle between President Manchester and Congress, particulary the Speaker of the House? Who will defend him? Will the terrorists be defeated? Will the hostages be rescued and the terrorists defeated once and for all, and who will give them the order to do so, Congress or the President?

A gripping thriller, though both a work of military fiction and great courtroom drama, to me the legal aspects of this novel somewhat outshine the military aspects. The court martial and brilliant defense of Admiral Billings was riveting, keeping me up late at night, and it was fascinating to see the continuing struggles between President and the Congress, as impeachment proceedings under Standbridge's direction of Manchester occur.

The real hero of the book though, fascinating given all the high powered lawyers, politicans, and military leaders, is Jim Dillon, the aide to Standbridge and the originator of the idea for a Letter of Marque and Reprisal (see Balance of Power). A very likeable character, quick of wit and great at thinking on his feet, but not possessing all the answers and becoming sick of the political fighting, is the core character of the novel.

A fastastic novel, one of the best explorations of the "fallout" from a previous novel I have ever seen, in some ways is better than Balance of Power. I never thought I would be a fan of courtroom drama, but the trials scenes were so extraordinary that I just may give Grisham and others a try. An excellent work of miliary fiction, lots to keep Tom Clancy and technothriller fans happy, even Marchinko fans happy with the US Navy Seals, key players in this work! Highly recommended.

I found out about The Power of 10 from an article in GQ Magazine. I work 60-80 hours per week so I don't have a lot of time to exercise. I was over weight and out of shape. I just finished my eightth week on the program. I've lost 25 pounds of fat and have put on 4 pounds of lean, hard muscle. My cholesterol, blood sugar and triglyceride levels have all been dramatically reduced. I'm seeing a lot of muscle definiton and have a lot more energy.
The workout itself is better than the Slow Burn method. The reason is this workout stresses the negative resistance (bringing the weight back to you) as much as the positive (pushing the weight away). You gain more muscle and strength buy doing the negatives. (That's what I learned in a weight lifting class in college).
The food plan isn't difficult to follow if you do a little planning and preparation the day before (I make my meals for the next day before I go to bed).
I have found that cardio helps the weight come off quicker. I hit a plateau at 20 pounds. So I started working with a boxing heavy bag in the mornings. The weight began to drop again.
As with everything, you have to want to lose weight for this to work. You do have to get in the gym and you do have to watch what you eat. With this plan you don't go hungry. So, If you want a stronger body and you don't want to be a "gym rat" then this is the plan for you.

I've read virtually every major fitness book in the past 20 years and "Power of 10" makes the most sense for me. It combines all the concepts and strategies that work best to give you the body you want in the least amount of time. You really can achieve success at the gym or in your home in as little as 20 minutes a week, an intense 20 minutes, but it absolutely works. The book also lays out a nutrition plan you can manage for life, and it doesn't require food scales, calorie counting, or algebra. "Body for Life" and a few other plans will work, but only if you can workout daily and for nearly an hour at a time. This book allows you to give your life back to the things that really matter while still looking and feeling your best. I cannot say enough about "Power of 10"; It is a "10".

Not only is this an excellent fitness program, but it's also a great read! It's easy to follow and I found myself amused by the authors' sense of humor. I have tried different workouts and weight loss programs over the years, but I haven't been able to follow them because they required too much time! I can find the time for The Power of Ten workout. Not only that, I am following the nutrition guidelines and am shedding pounds. You don't have to starve or suffer to follow this program. I wish this book had come along sooner.

This is a good - bad book. The good is the first part, set in Bimini in 1940, and the third part, which describes the hunt for a U-Boat crew off the coast of Cuba. The middle section can be skipped, but admirers of Hemingway will want to read it simply because he wrote it. The work as a whole is an artistic failure but it is moving and (to use a much overused word) unforgettable. One feels that Thomas Hudson is the older Hemingway and that the book is a key to his life, rather like The Garden of Eden, another posthumous work. A skilled editor would have improved this book, but it is still well worth reading, if only for the action scenes and the descriptions of the sea.

This book was beautifully bitersweet to me. Thomas Hudson's life (the main character) is a story of tradgedy we've all experienced to one degree or another -- and the flicker of hope that remains when bitterness or despair sets in. As usual, the backdrop for the plot is classic Hemingway: romantic locales, adventure, insight and excellent observations on human character. I'd also like to point out that this is one of the most moving descriptions of fathers and sons (Hudson and his boys) that I've ever read in a novel. In addition there is an incredible sport fishing scene on the Gulf Stream that is the most vivid and exciting fishing account I've read. It will engross the reader totally. Without giving the story away, my only complaint was the second act of the book -- the bitter and nearly defeated Hudson living in Cuba during World War Two. Not to take away from the skill of the storytelling, but Hudson's bitterness during this part of the story is hard to ! ! witness. It left me feeling depressed at times myself. On the other hand it can be argued though that if a story has that sort of emotional effect, then it is successful. And who says stories must always be uplifiting anyways. As Hemingway experienced, as well as the rest of us -- life can be a downer at times. The dark mood of the second half is refreshed though by a dramatic, emotional and introspective ending that left a tear in my eye. I highly recommend this to the fans of Hemingway as well as anyone else -- a well done emotional journey.

Of the Hemingway books I've read or tried to read, Islands in the Stream is my favorite thus far. All the great and not-so-great elements of his legendary style are here, from the deadpan prose to the men who try too hard to be men, but they all fit together very well in this case. The exotic island setting is perfect for Hemingway's trademark everyday-life-is-an-adventure motif, which for once is wholly convincing.

Thomas Hudson, a hard drinking, twice divorced, expatriate American artist, is an all too obvious self-portrait. But his low-key reactions to most of life's ups and downs, the inner demons he mostly keeps a lid on, and his begrudging love of life in spite of it all can surely appeal to the romantic adventurer in all of us. The three sections of the novel, bound only loosely together, follow Thomas from an average day in paradise to a tragicomic reunion with the lost love of his life to a Nazi-hunting adventure off the coast of Cuba. Along the way, there are tragic twists delivered without any sappiness whatsoever, as only Hemingway could do, not to mention a life-or-death fishing scene that rivals "The Old Man and the Sea."

I can't imagine why this is being marketed as a love story, as that aspect of the novel is probably its weakest point, although his (very few) women characters are at least marginally more developed and convincing than usual. It's really more a story of escape and coping with the lack of love, and it's one of the best I've ever read of that subgenre. Yes, as others have pointed out, it's a bit uneven and the first section holds up better than the other two; and yes, the editing is imperfect and surely not exactly the way Hemingway would have wanted it. But the whole book is worth reading all the same. Given Hemingway's condition toward the end of his life, we're lucky to have it.

John Quincy Adams has long endured the reputation of an aloof, pugnacious elitist totally out of touch with his constituency and his times. In this recent biography, Paul Nagel seeks to go beyond the historical negative image of our sixth president to uncover the man behind the mask.

Given the author's stated intention, this book is as much character analysis as historical biography. Other reviewers of this book listed below have criticized Nagel for neglecting an in-depth accounting of JQA's public accomplishments. Clearly, they didn't read the preface (in which the author clearly lays out the focus of the book) and would have been much better off reading a different volume on Adams' life, such as Samuel Flagg Bemis' masterwork, "John Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy," which won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and provides a comprehensive analysis of JQA's many public achievements.

Using JQA's private diary as the primary source, Nagel describes a talented but conflicted man tormented by a life of extreme self-doubt and merciless self-criticism. From an early age JQA was groomed for greatness by his parents. But that preparation - which included a stint as secretary to the US Minister to Russia while only 14 years old, the best classical education a young American of his time could dream of, and close contact with many heads of state and intellectuals - proved to be more curse than blessing in a nation rapidly shifting toward the popular democracy of Jacksonianism. The intense pressure to succeed and a public increasingly hostile to his aristocratic upbringing and bearing caused JQA a lifetime of great personal anguish and ultimately national rejection.

For those interested in learning more about Adams' role as chief negotiator at Ghent during the War of 1812, his storied tenure as Monroe's secretary of state, his disastrous presidential administration, or his controversial career in the House in later life, there are much better volumes to read than Nagel's. However, few biographies exceed Nagel's insight into Adams' personal life - his pettiness, self-pity, disappointment, and grief.

It's a matter of debate who was our most intelligent President: Lincoln, Madison and Jefferson would certainly garner their share of votes. But John Quincy Adams warrants serious consideration: he was an intellectual titan with an astounding breadth of intellect. He was impossibly well-read, sober, amazingly articulate with a rapier-like ability to demolish opponents or defend his position. It's debatable whether he was, in fact, America's most brilliant President, but this book goes a long way in making that case.

Nagel wisely delves into Adams' private side and quotes extensively from his own words. If you are looking for a glum recitation of Adams' political life, look elsewhere, this is a more human biography. There was a refreshing amount of material focusing on Adams' boyhood, and the chapters covering his Congressional years are especially interesting. His story reads like something from a novel: failed President transformed into one of the most influential Congressmen who ever serve in the House.

My only minor criticism is that Nagel does not sufficiently explore or explain Adams' brilliant son, Henry, who grew up to be a caustic and clever chronicler of the late 10th century. Otherwise, this is a solid book, well-written, thoroughly researched and illuminating.

This book was a wonderful book to read which is surprising because of the detail that was presented. The author was also surprisingly objective. I find that the typical biographer is biased towards his subject but Nagel really strove to provide a well balanced presentation of the man and his accomplishments and his shortcomings.

One criticism is that at times he didn't provide enough background for events that were happenning in JQA's life. I was able to fill in some of the blanks myself because I had just read David McCullough's John Adams. He also could have put a little more detail in how JQA became to be regarded as the foremost American diplomat while he was stationed in Great Britain the first time.

He also came down hard on Abigail Adams. McCullough's book was a little gentler on her than Nagel's was. I'm not sure whose is more accurate.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable and very informative book.