Millions of immigrants traveled by sea to America in search of a better life than the one they left behind in their old country. They were escaping from poverty, famine, persecution, and conscription. They sought jobs, freedom, and adventure. In Island of Hope, Island of Tears by David M. Brownstone, Irene M. Franck, and Douglass Brownstone, the history of Ellis Island comes to life through stories told by immigrants and the workers in their own words. This book explores the reasons why people left their home countries and the special role that Ellis Island played in their journey. The authors attempt to answer many questions that surround the peak years of immigration. They approach the subject with facts and personal anecdotes from interviews with people who passed through Ellis Island. The results present a surprising variation in the recounting of tales. No two immigrants recollect an identical experience, even in the same family. Why did they leave? Stella Jedryka left Poland in fear of the Russian soldiers. "We couldn't stand the Russian people-soldiers. We were running away from them" (28). What countries did they come from? "I was born in what is now Czechoslovakia-it was Bohemia in those days" (34) stated Charles Bartunek about the area near Prague in 1913. What did they expect to find? Esther Almgren from Sweden said, "I figured you're going to be picking gold out of the mountains, everybody thought America had no work..." (102). Was America what they had hoped for? "Between 1908 and 1923, fifty or more people returned for every one hundred immigrants that arrived for many nationalities..." (57/58). Some people left in search of adventure and some out of fear. Most were in third-class steerage accommodations and were seasick after they left they port. Still others loved the trip and the food, mostly pickled herring. Some hauled prized possessions with them, like feather beds, while others wore only the clothes on their backs. Many came bearing gifts for relatives in the United States, anything from sausage to whiskey. There were immigrants who stole across guarded borders at night and a few who went in better accommodations on first or second class. Travelers were often promised a short comfortable trip by shipping lines but often found themselves for "two to four weeks in an unseaworthy bucket" (117). Teenagers fared the best, having an optimistic outlook and fewer family responsibilities to harden them, but the newcomers represented all ages. If you are one of the four out of ten Americans who can trace their family back to Ellis Island, you will enjoy this book and perhaps find a story that sounds like your own heritage. Brownstone and Franck illustrate the rough beginning for these important Americans who took risks and paved the way for many of us who enjoy our lives today.

Those who remember John and Yoko Lennon chanting this implausible nostrum, about the prospects for peace, will see the absurdity of the notion when they read this book. As long as man has existed there have been those among us who ascribe to power and dominion over all. The only way to staunch their ardor is to be ready to fight them. This is the cost of sustaining individual liberty, the touchstone of western civilization. Think of it as facing the bully down so he doesn't take your lunch money. Any other prospects for a solution other than this readiness to do combat fly in the face of all human history and common sense. This book will disabuse those who harbor these fantasies of the peacenik.

It's amazing to think there aren't other books devoted to this subject - a subject that's at such a primary level of the history of mankind on this planet. The subject, of course, is the world-historical trade and travel routes that are - for the most part - as ancient as formations etched into the earth or the ocean currents. To someone who is confident he or she has a grasp on world history this book will probably come as a surprising revelation. We've all heard of these trade routes here and there, but until you read of them all at once and are hit with their fundamental importance (history can be broken down into routes and cities) you are missing a large piece of the picture. (For one thing - seeing the earth in terms of these natural trade and travel routes gives you a much clearer and poetic picture and understanding of history than picturing the earth with the boundaries of empires and nations [not that this book makes a political statement about man-made 'boundaries'] which volumes of world history will put in your mind.) The book is well-structured with excellent maps and it is well-written. This book gives you the impression that alot of effort went into it, despite the fact that it was published, seemingly, as a coffee-table book. This book should be re-printed and given its long-overdue recognition.

Being a new author entering into the tenebrous realms of self-publishing can be scary & overwhelming. There is so much information that one has to learn before publishing a book. David M. Brownstone & Irene M. Franck do a horrible job at clearing the opaque skies.... Not only is Brownstone & Franck's book confusing it is also unorganized. I found myself jumping from one section to another trying to figure out what was going on. Please do not waste your money buying Brownstone & Franck's [useless] book....

This book is packed with inforamation. If you get this book coupled with Dan Poynter's books you will be in good shape. The marketing section is a bit weak- so check out Bill Parkhurst's How To Get Publicity or of course Guerrilla Marketing for Writers.
Rick Frishman President Planned TV Arts (NYC) ... Co author GUERRILLA PUBLICITY (Adams Media) and GUERRILLA MARKETING FOR WRITERS (Writers Digest Books)

I've purchased several books on self publishing and they vary greatly in terms of quality. This is one of the better ones. The information is current and presented in a logical, interesting style. It focuses mostly on the pre-production and fullfillment aspects of self-publishing which is the information that most beginners need to get started. Marketing is covered in less detail so most people would be better off by purchasing one of the several books that have been written on book marketing, in addition to this book.

I haven't found one self-publishing book that really covers everything that you need to know. If you're trying to self publish I'd recommend that you purchase a couple of books on the subject. I'd also suggest that look for ones that have been published within the last several years.