What I like about this book is that it helps to spark ideas, it covers a good range of marketing topics and it's written to be applied. My complaint is that it is too anecdotal which makes the book longer than it needs to be. That being said, the author gives a preview at the beginning of each chapter and provides action steps at the end. My suggestion to a prospective buyer is to first read the previews and action steps to determine whether the book will be useful for your needs. Some of the reviews have stated that the content in the book is not new or that it is to simple. I suspect that those with a background in marketing might find the material redundant. The book will probably be more useful for non-marketing types. As for the content being too simple, I'm from the school of thought that business is based on simple concepts and should be explained in that manner.

The best way to use the book is to read through for ideas and consult other books, the internet and/or people for specific help. For example, Chapter 6 discusses the importance of a unique selling proposition(USP). I would read the chapter, jot down ideas from the book, then look for resources that deal specifically with developing a USP.

Hope this review is helpful.

Actually, this is a two-books-in-one volume: an insightful explanation of how to increase personal as well as professional development, and, an uncommonly useful book on marketing. Rating either, I would give it Four Stars. Ranking the combination, I rate it higher. Abraham promises to provide "21 Ways You Can Out-Think, Out-Perform, and Out-Earn the Competition." He delivers on that promise. If fully understood and properly applied, the 21 "ways" (actually strategies) will help almost everyone to become a better person as well as to increase the value of what they produce; perhaps indirectly but significantly, their business associates as well as family members can also be among the beneficiaries.

Abraham organizes his material within 21 chapters. Correctly, he first addresses the need for a plan ("Where You're Headed -- an Overview of Your Journey") and then the need for the proper attitude to ensure the success of that plan ("You Can Become Unbeatable"). By the final chapter, he has prepared his reader to understand what he calls a "unique definition of success." Specifically, "something I call optimum personal, business, and career strategy. What's this mean? It means that you must refuse to get less out of an effort, less out of an opportunity, less out of a day, less out of a dollar, less out of a relationship, than the maximum that activity or action has the capacity to give. It means that you don't do things just to be doing them. That you insist on playing life to the fullest. But playing it based on your sense of value."...You [first] have to figure out who you are and what it is you want."

Obviously, Abraham cannot figure out who you are but the 21 "ways" he shares can help you to make that determination. He cannot tell you what it is you want but the same 21 "ways" can help you to make that determination, also. Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? One candidate would be the recent graduate for whom this would be an especially valuable holiday gift. Also, your less-experienced business associates who seem to lack a sense of purpose and/or direction in their lives, jobs, and careers. Finally, just about anyone else for whom most of what Abraham suggests seems "obvious" but would benefit from the human equivalent of a vehicle's 60,000-mile check-up. Abraham knows a lot. He has street smarts. Also passion, conviction, and a remarkable amount of empathy.

Years ago, Woody Allen once suggested that 80% of success is "showing up." For many people, Abraham suggests the other 20%: Knowing who you are and then being that person...knowing what you want and then pursuing it with energy and integrity. His use of the "journey" metaphor is apt. All successful journeys begin with the right "map" and resources, applied with precision and determination. If you are both willing and eager to begin your own "journey", I highly recommend Abraham as a companion.

When I started reading "Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got," I immediately recognized the material as Jay's usual "nothing held back, full value" directional advice. I had become too focused on several projects. After reading the book, I realized how poorly I was planning one project and that another didn't make sense for the "Multiply Your Maximum" strategies described in detail in the book. Talk about cutting the learning curve, this book just saved us thousands of dollars, and months of work.

The single most dramatic change in my business life came from this books recommendations. When I identified my personal and business "unique selling proposition I immediately began to focus on my value centered objectives and profits soared!" As I read the book, I realized that the fundamentals always remain the same but the positioning and strategies need to constantly change. The excitement and energy is flowing through me. I am discovering so much opportunity that I had overlooked just by revisiting the fundamentals that are shared in the book.

I could go on forever. I will say that although I have used the strategy outlined in chapter ten about host-beneficiary relationships, I had only stumbled upon the concept. After reading the chapter I can see that a few simple changes in my current strategy will pay big dividends. I expect to double my business in the next 12 months on this principle alone.

My brother is in prison and my family is still learning to deal with it. My brother read the book and felt that it was the only book that he has read that he can identify with. So I bought the book to get more of an understanding of his thoughts.It is as if he wrote it himself. This book is a must read for anyone who has a family member or friend that is incarcerated. I love my brother and I fear for his life, but Jim Bakker will help you realize that no matter what this mean and disgusting world has to offer us, that we can and shall overcome.....THANK-YOU-JIM-AND-GOD-BLESS-YOU!!!!!!!!!

This book never interested me. I stuck my little nosey up at it, not wanting to peer at someone's icky past and wade through all their dredged up pain. I read the book because a friend I respect read it. Her review startled me into reading it.

What I discovered about Jim Bakker is that we have much in common. Short synopsis: Guy makes mistakes. Guy is in the pits. Guy discovers who God REALLY is.

This story is about a man who made mistakes, not the ones we thought, but maybe the ones we are more familiar with. It's a beautiful story of redemption, of God redeeming the redeemed. This story is not only Jim's, but Billy Graham's and Billy's son, Franklin. They lined themselves up with Jim, like Jesus did with the woman who had somes stones coming to her.

I had a rock or two in my hand before I picked up this book. Got no more rocks...but I do have some Mallowcups. I'd share 'em with you, Mr. Bakker, if I ever got the chance.

What a wonderful reading of God's fullfilling His promise to us. Mr. Bakker admits to imperfections and that his growth is continual. I am so very glad that I read his book and am so thankful to Jim for writing it.

I pray for he and his family a long and happy life. I am looking forward to learning of Mr. Bakker's continued growth in God's service. Such a blessing I have received by reading this book.

God bless the Bakkers

Tommy R. Gregory

The author manages to weave the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, life in a small southern town, the struggle of a foreign doctor to succeed in America, and his marriage into one book. Perhaps this is it's only fault.

The most compelling plot line places Dr. Verghese on the front lines of a "strange," killer disease that has made it's way to a conservative small town. His dedication to the unlikely AIDS patients, and how this impacts his life, makes you wish your job held more meaning. You root for the doctor and his patients, and your heart is warmed by the acceptance he receives from town residents who you'd expect might react differently.

Since the book's publication, Dr. Verghese has been interviewed on prime-time television news shows regarding foreign doctors and their struggles in America. This story is told on the edges of the book, but you can see the beginning of his crusade in the book.

Foreign-born physicians, especially South Asian ones such as the author of this remarkable memoir, frequently are perceived as even more arrogant, distant, and smug about their high status and income in rural areas than are urban, American-born ones. Verghese, who grew up in Ethiopia and who finished medical school in his (Christian) parents' homeland of India, clearly describes the allocation of medical personnel in the US. He also understands the resentments by those of old stock, poor white patient of affluent foreign-born doctors. As the title indicates, Verghese wanted to feel at home where he chose to settle, to provide his sons a sense of belonging in one place, a sense that he had not had in his own peripatetic life. Like his patients, however, he was never certain that seeming acceptance was was more than provisional.

This insightful, lyrical, and moving book provides a vivid account of being an alien doctor in rural America dealing with a terrifying disease that was (and is) also perceived as alien, as something that, in the view of many, other kinds of people contract and probably deserve. Acute analyses of American (including Asian-American) arrangements and assumptions underlie a poignant narrative of AIDS coming to the northeastern Tennessee hills. Verghese shares Oliver Sacks's ability to engage readers in the horror and the mystery of sufferings for which physicians have no magic bullets. As Paul Farmer, another physician who made a difference, showed in _AIDS and Accusation_, how a society responds to AIDS illuminates much about the society, not only how medical services are organized and financed in it. Verghese shows strengths as well as weaknesses in rural Southeastern American backwaters. He also illuminates connections from such seemingly isolated places to the larger society and ties of blood to distant urban centers where gay men sought refuge.

This book focusses on a common humanizing theme by comparing many different kinds of discrimination. Fear of Aids, homophobia, and perpetual foreigness are the author's 3 main themes. Using his experiences as a doctor, Verghese is able to go into detail about many of his patients, most of which have AIDS. This anecdotal format serves the author well, as the reader becomes drawn into every individual story.
One note, this book does not censor any medical details. If you want to learn the hard facts about AIDS, than this is your book. The disease strikes indiscriminately, not just infecting the homosexual population. Learning the stories of his patients, understanding their motivations and hopes, and finally reading about them getting sick and dying is a moving experience for any true reader.
Most importantly, this is a true story. What one reads about here actually happened. The stereotypes, naked prejudices, and hate were all and still are in some respects a part of American culture and society. Despite this negative atmosphere, the book does offer hope for integration and understanding. Even though the disease killed people from all walks of life, it also brought them together. It let them see each other as fellow humans, not just homosexuals or minorities. Thus, it is definently an uplifting tale, bringing hope and life out of death and despair.

_Red Storm Rising_ is undoubtably Tom Clancy's finest book. It depicts an all-out war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact in the mid-'80s. While the political reasoning behind the Soviet invasion is a bit far-fetched, the description of modern-day land, sea, and air combat is riveting. In contrast to some of the one-dimensional characters in Clancy's other work, this book features two unforgettable ones: Lieutenant Mike Edwards, codenamed "Doghouse", an unlikely hero who leads a squad of Marines trapped in Soviet-occupied territory, and General "Pasha" Alekseyev, who commands the Red Army with brilliance and courage in spite of his own mixed feelings.

If you like Clancy's other books, you will love this one. And if you have found some of his more recent stuff to be tedious and overly political, give _Red Storm Rising_ a try so you can see him at his best. My mom and I have very different literary tastes, but even she really enjoyed it after I convinced her to give it a shot.

_Red Storm Rising_ has no rivals in its description of modern naval combat. And only _Red Army_, by Ralph Peters, surpasses its incredible look at World War III on the ground. I just purchased the hardcover version to replaced my overused paperback. Its a classic that will be enjoyed by readers of all tastes.

"Red Storm Rising" is the type of book when after you have read it you know the only person who could of wrote it is Tom Clancy. It is the story of what the United States has spent billions of dollars to avoid: World War III.

The story takes place when Russia was known as the U.S.S.R (United Socialist Soviet Republic). The Russian economy is in dire straits and to make matters worst, an Islamic terrorist group destroys one of the U.S.S.R.'s largest oil field and refinery compounds, In which stores almost half the nations oil. Eventually Russia's Party leaders "agree" that they must seize oil from the Persian Gulf to keep their economy from falling. As a ploy the russians unleash a huge offensive campaign to distract NATO from what its real intentions are. Russia declares war and fights on all fronts. As the Russian offensive presses forward NATO forces find themselves fighting for Germany and most of Europe. Iceland is lost from the allies as a huge soviet invasion takes the island in a decisive attack and the few marines that escape find themselves playing hide and seek with soviet forces. As the NATO front lines in europe drop further and further back a trade off of victories in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans happens as the United States find themselves winning territory from the overwhelming Soviet fleets. Now the Americans must worry about what forces the russians have on Iceland which is in striking distance of America. Slowly NATO lines are brought back to past positions right before a huge Russian Offensive takes them back again. With Casualties raising on both sides each country must take drastic measures.

Rather than focusing on one specific character, Tom Clancy tells the story through many characters eyes. giving it a unique touch and enabling the reader to see things from all points of views. Tom Clancy makes the reader feel if you were actually on the front lines, fighting on the battleships or in the cockpit of each fighter. Each word adds up to the suspense and literally leaves the reader breathless. This is a must read!

Red Storm Rising Tom Clancy

Red Storm Rising is a fast paced and exciting science fiction novel authored by Tom Clancy. Although not noted on the cover or title page, Larry Bond also contributed a great deal to the story making the story more realistic from a military perspective. About the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia's attempt to over take the Atlantic so they can launch an offensive against the United States of America and other NATO countries such as Britain and Germany. First, terrorists attack a large power plant in Russia. The Russians make it seem as if someone from the "outside" attacked them so they can "counterattack". They invade part of Germany and Iceland. Taking Iceland is an important step because this allows the Russians to reach farther into the Atlantic and possibly into North America with their aircraft. This also disrupts the anti-submarine line that the Americans have across the North Atlantic. When the Russians attack Iceland, that starts a war that the Russians start so they can obtain more territory and more materials for more war campaigns. The Russians' greed causes them a great deal throughout and after the war. This book is interesting, especially if one likes wars, battles and suspense. This book is unique because the story is told through many different eyes. Tom Clancy tells the story through the eyes of the Russians and the NATO. Under these divisions, he also goes into the lives of different people in the war i.e. he tells the story through the eyes of many naval captains in both surface and underwater boats, through the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic (American), and through the Politburo (Russian, like cabinet of the president). Some of the vocabulary is hard to understand e.g. titles of names: CINC-West, Commander in Chief-West, however; after reading on, the reader can figure out what they mean. There are some Russian words whose meanings can only be guessed. Most of the many characters are very believable. Although there are many characters and the story is told from multiple points of view, one can figure out most of the characters attitudes and descriptions throughout the book. Red Storm Rising is a science fiction book about the dangers of greediness and war. Since the Russians are greedy and want more land and materials such as oil and coal, they become desperate and end up loosing, since they are already in need of many things before the war, they are even more needy because of the war. Although the book is long, I enjoyed it because of the war scenes and suspense of not knowing 'what will happen next'.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the simplicity of language and the direct truth of human needs. Erik was physically deformed and sickly. Mostly, he was unloved and cast out from society; he was bigger than just the Opera Ghost. He was society's shame -- a shame they felt that should be hidden and not acknowledged (either out of fear or because of it... you choose). That lack of positive acknowledgement is what makes this book so sad and frustrating. He had love to give, but it was not wanted; he was deemed a creature of horror. But it was really the general attitude of society that was the horror -- not him. The book really echoes the truth that it is what is on the inside that matters, for that is what lasts the longest, and that people should be more open-minded to the mental and physical flaws that either God or Nature or both created. Erik is a symbol not of darkness and the gothic motif, but of light and life and living. If anyone liked this book, they should read Susan Kay's Phantom; it is a good precursor to Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera.

Raoul knew the was something fishy about a voice behind Christine's dressing room door, especialy when he went inside her dressing room right after she left and there was no one there, but he didn't expect that it could be a Phantom. The Phantom lives under the opera, for he fears others seeing his deformed face, but he falls in love with one Christine Daae after giving her singing lessons, which hightens her status at the opera. Yet, Raoul is in love with the prima dona as well; Christine has a choice. You will not be able to put this book, which describes everything in large detail, down one second, as you follow the gripping tale of "The Phantom of the Opera". Leroux brings out his characters' personalities in a such a way that the whole story is believeable. This book could make a GREAT movie if they stayed close to the book, so that means that you ought to read this VERY VERY good book.

Take one beautiful, mysterious and talented soprano opera singer, add two bold opera house owners, a dashing, confused, in-love young man in searh for the opera singer's heart, and one tortured, genius, masked man, and you've got one great book. This book is not merely a book, but a haunting story of horror and love. The noted opera singer, Christine, has been taking secret opera lessons from her adoring Angel of Music, who loves her enough to kill an opera and its audience. Christine also has another admirer, Raoul, who would do anything for her, including save her from the dread Opera Ghost who kills everyone who stands in his way, with the help of the Persian who is owed a favor by the Phantom. As we read on, we find that Erik, The Phantom of the Opera, the Angel of Music, and the Opera Ghost (a.k.a. O.G.) are one, and indeed a terrifying collaboration. Christine refuses to marry Erik, so she, the persian and Raoul are in fatal danger. For years upon reading the haunting story, I can't get it out of my head. I love it. The opera is one to see also. This book will enthral a captivated audience, I quite assure you.

Recently, I picked up David Herbert Donald's biography of Abraham Lincoln for the second time in 4 years. I now realize that I was too young then to appreciate this superb account of the our 16th President. Inspired by a meeting with President Kennedy in whick JFK criticizes historians for judging presidents who must make decisions without the 20/20 hindsight of historians, Donald undertook to write this biography from Lincoln's perspective -- analyzing him and his decisions based upon only what Lincoln knew, believed, and sought to accomplish at the time. We see the great struggles of the mid-1800s completely through his eyes; thus, while Donald doesn't delve into what (I'm sure) are fascinating related subjects, like the details of the great military campaigns or internal Confederate politics, we do gain an insightful look into the life and character of America's greatest president.

I agree with other reviewers that while there is not enough of Lincoln's personal life -- at times I had to remind myself that the man even had kids! -- Donald still skillfully paints a portrait of an amazingly complex man. Fueled by a desire to escape the fate of his uneducated, unambitious father, Lincoln felt driven all of his life to succeed ; he felt pushed forward to a great destiny by God, or the "Doctrine of Neccsity",that was completely out of his control and would lead him safely down life's path. He was an incredibly charming man who could light up a room with his energy, but he also regularly plunged into a deep and dark depression. He was utterly self-confident and knew he was the equal of any man. Intitially a moderate who opposed abolishing slavery in the states, he slowly realized that either slavery would be destroyed, or the Union surely would be.

He was also a master politician. He sensed early on in the 1840s that the nation was on the brink of a new era and that the Whig party had to adapt to the changing times, or die. After his beloved Whig party disintegrated, he helped establish the IL Republican party and, after an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 1858, triumphed over well-known and powerful opponents like William Seward and Salmon Chase to win the presidential nomination and election in 1860. Throughout his political career and his tenure as President he stuck to the center and walked a tightrope between the Conservatives and Radicals in his own party and the Peace Democrats in the other party. While unailingly honest, he understood the political value of ambiguity to cloud facts that he would admit only if forced. Finally, at the dawn of his second term, he had so outmaneuvered all of his opponents in the Congress, in the North, and in the South, that he stood as the unquestioned master of American politics -- not bad for a boy who had grown up in a log cabin with less than a year of formal schooling.

Doanld shows us Lincoln, the man and not merely the statue. Like the rest of us, he was a fallible human being who wasn't always sure that what he was doing was right but sure that he owed it to his country to serve it with honor and dignity in its hour of greatest peril. Donald makes it clear that we owe our country to this man, and one can't put down this book without agreeing.

Donald's book is the remarkable product of an enormous amount of research, replete with quotes and insight not only from Lincoln's personal writings, but also from countless individuals who surrounded Lincoln at any given time in his life, resulting in a balanced portait of our most beloved President. What is perhaps most surprising is the book's readability - Donald masterfully avoids getting bogged down in insignificant detail, and succeeds in keeping the book moving along the major events of Lincoln's life.

The reader (at least, this reader) is left with a sense of awe at Lincoln's humble integrity, tested in the most trying of circumstances and confronted with the most impossible of choices. The accuracy of his foresight has been amply confirmed by our hindsight, and we as a nation are left with deepest gratitude for his service.

I disagree with criticism that Donald's book lacks sufficient information about Lincoln's personal life and emotions. The biography is designed to be primarily a story of Lincoln the statesman, not Lincoln the husband or father. Those elements are introduced at relevant times, but Donald (appropriately, in my view) does not dwell extensively on those relationships. There are other books which explore those aspects of Lincoln's life in greater detail. I appreciate that Donald avoids engaging in supposition at what Lincoln "must have" been feeling at any particular time - he sticks to what is evidenced in Lincoln's writings and what others observed in him. This inspires in the reader greater confidence in the accurary of Donald's analysis.

Finally, my one criticism: at times I would have appreciated getting the full text of some of Lincoln's short, remarkable speeches, such as the Gettysburg Address or Lincoln's second inaugural address. Donald wrote about them and quoted certain phrases, but we do not get the text in full, which I thought would have been appropriate and feasible. Also (okay, maybe two criticisms), I would have liked to see a few pages or a short chapter about the immediate aftermath of Lincoln's death - the reaction of the nation, the funeral, his legacy. Donald ends the book the moment Lincoln expires.

That said, I would recommend the book to anyone interested in learning about the man who lead our nation through its greatest crisis. I am not normally a big fan of histories or biography, but this one is indispensable.

David Herbert Donald's biography of Abraham Lincoln is an outstanding work that emphasizes his most important aspect, his humanity. Lincoln came to the presidency with one of the skimpiest political resumes of any non-General in American History. Donald shows how this Washington outsider had to grope his way around at first, but then used his remarkable skills to find the political center, which was vital though he often seemed to stand alone. Donald's book focusses on Lincoln's life through Lincoln's eyes. He does not go into great detail about Civil War battles or anything else that Lincoln did not personally witness. The result is a biography that is as thorough as it is readable and that, like its subject, will stand the test of time.

Orson Scott Card, who usually writes science fiction, turns his hand here to the story of Sarah, from Genesis. He begins with a spunky ten-year old "Sarai" and her bratty sister "Qira" who will later turn out, interestingly, to be Mrs. Lot. Card takes a number of liberties with the biblical story, but he has done prodigious research, and is able to make those almost prehistoric times, customs and peoples believable. I enjoyed the book and recommend it, but it has some limitations. The characters are one-dimensional and they never seem to grow or change. I was disappointed in the portrayal of Abraham's relationship to God--it was unique and unheard of for his time, not just another religious guy. Still and all, the book was most enjoyable and easy to read!

While reading Sarah the above question kept occurring to me. Sometimes I thought Card created a female character that was convincing, appealing, and heroic. Other times I found Card's depiction of Sarah unbelievable. Many times while reading this novel, I thought to myself: "No woman I've ever known would act that way . . ."

However, I really did enjoy this novel. It is an easy read. I would highly recommend this book as a young adult book. Adults will enjoy it but it is not as engaging as I expected it to be.

Card does play with Biblical stories in order to make the novel more interesting. For example, Lot's wife is Sarah's sister, which creates several subplots including the destruction of Sodom.

I also thought Abraham was a little two-dimensional. And the treatment of the other female characters in the novel was stereotypical. Every female was "evil" or bad except for Sarah, who oftentimes lacked a certain depth and complexity.

Sarah is not a book I would reread again but I think it is worthwhile reading material.

The Bible seems to bring out hypersensitivity in people today (either they want to hear nothing from it, or it can't be touched as it is too sacred.) While the Bible is sacred scripture, the stories from the Bible are wonderful material for creating living, vivid stories.

This book reminds me of the out-of-print and rare Joseph and his Brothers by Thomas Mann, although much smaller in scope. Both books tried to put ancient life in the light of human behavior that is timeless. This is the novelistic trick that makes the characters come alive with drama and realism. Sarah is a Bible figure with many sides that are hinted at in scripture; the conflict with Hagar, her long and difficult period of infertility (a total tragedy in her society) and her marriage to the powerful Abraham. The side story of Lot is also wonderfully fleshed out.

Orson Scott Card always creates memorable characters, especially woment characters, and this book is immensely enjoyable.

For those of us who grew up on legends of Lincoln the rail-splitter, Gore Vidal's historical novel presents the reader with a man who was more complex than any folklore. The novel traces Lincoln's life from the beginnings of his presidency to his tragic end. Vidal certainly did his homework, drawing upon letters, diaries, and newspapers of the time. He portrays an Abraham Lincoln who was intelligent and sagacious in his dealings with the world, and meloncholy in his response to the world. Vidal excels in bringing his characters to life, and the novel is rich in dialogue and intrigue. Modern followers of today's political scene will no doubt recognize and appreciate the position Lincoln was in, surrounded by a cabinet of pretenders to the throne. Having to constantly deal with others whose ambitions of the Presidency must have severly tested the sagacity of the Chief Magistrate, considering the fact that he was responsible for seeing the country through the Civil War. Lincoln chose to keep his enemies closer, so that he might better keep a watch over them. How many of our modern presidents had that kind of political courage? Although Vidal chooses to strip away the folklore, he has replaced the legend with an accurate portrait of a much greater man.

People who prefer their presidents -- especially the "great" ones -- wreathed in hagiographical haloes had better look elsewhere for a view of the president who re-founded the United States. Vidal's portrait of this most interesting (and, given the sum of his achievements, our greatest) president accurately renders the Lincoln that I have come to know through a close reading of many of "Father Abraham's" own writings.

That being the case, be forewarned that this novel came under fire from the academics who, having failed in their self-appointed task of shaping American history to fit their own political agendas, sought to discredit an artist who took Lincoln as he (and the historical record) found him. (For a complete discussion of this controversy from Vidal's perspective, see his wonderfully entertaining "United States.")

From Lincoln's 1838 address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield (when he spoke of ambitious men who would eschew the path laid out by the country's founders, in order to carve for themselves an equal or higher niche in the pantheon of fame, whether it be by freeing the slaves or enslaving free men), to his farewell address to his fellow citizens of Springfield, we have historical evidence that this was a man with his eye on more than just a political office. So much so that one fair interpretation (such as Vidal's) could be that he did (and said, especially in his "House Divided" speech) more than a little of his own to bring on our nation's bloodiest war.

This kind of thinking, of course, does seem to rattle the hagiogaphers of the Ken Burns school, who would have us think that the Civil War was about slavery. Period. End of sentence. End of thought.

About slavery it certainly was; but there were other issues (labor and capitalism,for instance)that, for a variety of reasons, the hagiographers do not touch. Is it because by raising the question of "slaves without masters," to quote the pro-slavery apologi! st George Fitzhugh's critique of Northern capitalism, we remind ourselves of the very precarious economic world that we still inhabit, a world that the South fought to keep at bay as long as it could? To keep from asking such questions, modern-day mandrakes endeavor to divert our attention from the hard questions raised by the Civil War (and by Lincoln's own conduct and words) and keep our vision focused on the horrors of slavery, and the sainthood of the man responsible for ending it.

Abraham Lincoln deserves his due as a great man, a great president, and a genius to boot. He did indeed supplant Washington in our minds, and it is fitting that he did: for the Old Republic that people thought they were getting in the time of Washington is no more. Perhaps it was inevitable that it died; certainly it is true that a polity based upon human exploitation and bias towards the big money men deserves to die. But that raises the question of what we have got in return. This book is a magnificent portrait of the man who, for better or for worse, ushered in the new ages of gild, industrialism, and imperialism, the ages that, as Gideon Welles said upon his death, he now belongs.

Gore Vidal is known as a great cynic, with an acid tongue and combativeness that create such delicious ironies in his novels and essays. But in this novel, I believe that he sincerely admired Lincoln, which raised his writing to an eloquence that few of his other novels attained. In addition to his cabinet and entourage, Lincoln really comes alive in this one, as a political genius who used machiavellian means to attain his goal of keeping the US unified. THere is much humor and wonderful stories of the manuevering that went on behind the scenes, which can be read again and again at leisure.

This book was so stimulating and fascinating that it encouraged me to become a Civil War buff. That is the mark of great historical fiction, that it is a fertile starting point. But nothing else I read seemed so immediate, so real. It is so multi-sided that, soon after we met, my future wife and I argued about Vidal's Lincoln for hours.

Award winning author Ann Rinaldi has once again brought history to life in this engaging, captivating historical novel. It's 1865, the place is Washington, D.C. Emily Bransby Pigbush, a fourteen year old orphan, has come to live with her wealthy uncle. When President Lincoln is assasinated, her best friend's family is suspected of harboring the assasin. Her uncle forbids her to see her friend, drivng a rift between the two. And then Emily discovers that her uncle, a highly respected physician, is a body snatcher, robbing graves for bodies to study for medical purposes. Emily just can't accept what her uncle is doing. But as Emily begins to learns more about her uncle, she begins to realize that what her uncle is doing may be for the good of people. Her uncle's sole purpose is to learn more about the body so he can help develop cures, and he's only resorted to body snatching because he can't get corpses legally. Although the subject matter of this book may seem a bit gruesome at first, it's really an excellant, well written historical novel. Read it, or you're missing out on a great book!

If you're looking for an enjoyable book, I would recommend An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi. It's set in Washington, D.C. during the assassination of Lincoln. It covers the turmoil that happens in the city and how people reacted. The main character of this book is Emily Pigbush, a teenage girl whose mother just died. Now an orphan, Emily is planning to move in with her best friend who lives two houses down. However, once Lincoln is shot, suspicion is everywhere and Emily's friend's mother is arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the assassination of the president. Emily is forced to live with her mysterious Uncle Valentine, a well-respected surgeon, whom her mother, for no apparent reason, deeply mistrusted. Soon Emily discovers Uncle Valentine is rumored to be enveloped in unlawful doings with his medical research. At last, the truth comes out and it's beyond Emily's imagination! With mystery and imagination, Ann Rinaldi spins a magnificent tale that happened during a time history can never forget.

An Acquaintance with Darkness is a very well written novel. It's a novel of historical fiction and takes place right around Lincoln's assassination. The main character, Emily, tells the story. Emily's life is a mess, like most people during that time. Her dad just died in the Civil War. Her mother is dying, of 'failing' as they say. Her mother's death wish is for Emily's uncle, Uncle Valentine, to stay away from her once she dies. Emily's mother knows something about Uncle Valentine that she feels is not right, but Emily does not know what. After her mother passes away, Uncle Valentine, unknown to Emily, goes to court and gains full custody over her. Lincoln is assassinated and Washington is going insane. Anyone associated with Booth, Lincoln's killer, was arrested. Unfortunately Emily's best friend, Annie's, mother was of close association with Booth. Mrs. Mary, Annie's mother is arrested, in prison, and condemned to be hung. this only gives Emily more confusion, not to mention the fact that her secret crush, Annie's brother Johnny, has run away and has not been heard from, plus Emily is living with her uncle. At first this seemed a fine arrangement until Emily learns that there is more to her uncle's profession as a doctor. With the city in an uproar, Emily doesn't know what to do, where to go, who to talk to, or even who she can trust. Emily is left alone and confused. This is such a great, involved novel. Some of it is fictional, but much of the basis for the story is factual. The book is so good that you would have never known that it wasn't entirely true if you didn't read the Author's note.

If anyone needs to read an example of the difference which being a Christian makes in this world, this book is it. Lisa Beamer writes about the childhoods and upbringing of herself and her husband Todd, and how their faith in God influenced every decision they made. She describes their meeting, courtship, marriage, and parenthood and shows her husband to be a strong Christian. His biggest weakness seemed to be a tendency to work too hard and spend too little time with his family, but the Beamers worked out this problem with the help of Todd's Christian friends, who kept him accountable for a more balanced lifestyle. Lisa describes how she first learned of the terrible tragedy which claimed her husband's life, and how she survived the difficult days after September 11. She shows how Christian friends stepped in to help her, as a grateful nation showered her with notes, prayers, and gifts for her unborn baby. She tells about her meetings with President Bush and famous members of the media, such as Larry King. She also tells the intensely personal moments of having to go through family holidays and the birth of her daughter without her husband at her side. Lisa's faith was tested and strengthened by events over which she had no control, because ultimately she knew WHO was in control. This is a wonderful and inspiring book.

Everybody knows Todd Beamer's last words: Let's roll. Since the September 11th attacks, those words have become somewhat of an American slogan and he has been named a hero for fighting back against the terrorists aboard United Flight 93. Todd's brave widow, Lisa, has written a very compelling book, giving you the chance to see what the man behind "Let's roll" was like.

The first chapter opens up on the morning of 9/11 and then the rest tells about Todd and Lisa's lives, how they met, their life together, their children, etc. Lisa also shares family photos with the reader. It is so obvious that these two meant the world to each other and cared deeply about their family and their relationship with God.

Anybody who believes Lisa Beamer is trying to cash in on this tragedy is sorely wrong. It's clear by reading this book that she wants no publicity, just the opportunity to share her husband's story.

I was especially moved by the part in the book where Lisa says "that this world is only the preparation for an eternity of joy beyond compare in heaven."

"Let's Roll! Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage" is an intriguing book that will have you smiling and will bring tears to your eyes that Todd Beamer's life was cut short, along with thousands more.

Let's Roll is an incredible story about Lisa Beamer and her family. Before writing my review, I read over some others. Not only was I horrified that people could write such things about a woman with three kids in need, but I was almost brought to tears thinking that people could only write those things because they were offended by Lisa Beamer's immense amount of faith in the onr true and living God! Even if she did write the book to get money, can you blame her? She is now a single mother who is needing to support three children. If it was money she was going for...why would she add such passionate input about her faith in the Lord? All she wanted was for people to know about a true hero, for people to be able to more information on a very important event in our country, and for people to know that you can keep faith and hope in a time of need. Lisa Beamer was an inspiration to me and many others that I have shared the book with. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read such horrible things about this heroic story! Look again people! Pull your heads out of your butts and realize that there is more to life than bringing the people down that have miraculously found a reason to live another day after their tragedy. I think I've said all that needs to be said...