I was raised in Georgia and attended public school in Athens in the 60s and 70s. Even in a university town some 100 years after the Civil War there were people with embittered attitudes toward the North who saw themselves as citizens of a conquered country. This was surely due in part to Civil Rights legislation enforcing integration; and in part to that fable of Southern life, GONE WITH THE WIND. Most white Southerners know and many revile the name of William Tecumseh Sherman; not because they are ardent historians but because Margaret Mitchell and director Victor Fleming immortalized Sherman's burning of Atlanta on celluloid. In fact, although I hardly studied anything about the Civil War in public school, our class did take a 60-mile bus ride to watch GONE WITH THE WIND at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Although many years have passed, I have no reason to believe that today's young Georgians are any more informed about the actual history of their state; whether this is through official ignorance, shame, fear, or willful deceit I cannot say.

Lee Kennett's book, MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA goes a long way toward addressing this ignorance, and should be required reading for every Georgian. The book focuses on Sherman's North Georgia Campaign, the Battle of Atlanta and the March to the Sea as it affected the soldiers and civilians of both sides. His discussion of strategy is general and primarily about Sherman's decision to have his army forage off the land. Even this is included because of the consequence such forage had for the people involved--Kennett lays the blame of the Union atrocities at the feet of this decision, but takes care to point out the nature of such "atrocities", and that truly severe crimes other than the destruction of property was rather rare. Indeed, what makes Kennett's book so valuable is its evenness of tone regarding the issues and personalities. A Sherman biographer, he neither idolizes nor demonizes the General. Sherman, though not the main subject of this book, emerges as a recognizable and very human figure. Sherman's devotion to duty was horrifyingly single-minded--Kennett relates an incident in which 28 Union soldiers are too ill to travel, and Sherman left them in the care of a Confederate hospital in Milledgeville while he moved on with his troops: "'If they die, give them a decent burial,' Sherman said, 'if they live, send them to Andersonville [the prison in south Georgia where Union soldiers were held in appalling conditions to die in the thousands], if course,' Dr. Massey may have looked a bit nonplussed at this, for Sherman added: 'They are prisoners of war, what else can you do? If I had your men I would send them to prison.'" In another incident, Sherman refused to accept Union prisoners from Andersonville in a prisoner exchange because they were too ill or wounded to fight.

Kennett's descriptions of Sherman's progress were very meaningful to me as a native of the state. Non-Georgians might get bogged down a bit in the geography, and this is one of the book's weaknesses, but a minor one. There are two maps included, but as neither shows a complete map of the state some readers might well be bewildered. The Andersonville prison played an important role as at least a potential target but appears on neither map. It was not liberated during Sherman's Georgia campaign, and had it been shown on the map its distance from Sherman's path would have been immediately clear. The only other flaw is the paucity of information on black Georgians and how the campaign affected them. Kennett addresses this, relating that most information on their situation is related by whites and is mostly stereotypical. He provides one touching conversation passed along from Joel Chandler Harris (author of the Uncle Remus/Brer Rabbit tales): "...an old black couple he found in a corner of fence, not far from the road Sherman's army had just passed: 'Who is that lying there?' asked Joe. 'It my old man, suh.' 'What is the matter with him?' 'He dead, suh, But bless God he died free.'"

Also extraordinary is the comradeship that grew between members of the opposing sides whenever contact was allowed. Animosity between combatants is expected, but over and over Kennett relates encounters between the two armies, or between Union soldiers and Southern civilians that are remarkable in that so many concerned seemed able to view their opposite number as a fellow human rather than an evil enemy. Southerners now know only the destruction Sherman's forces brought, emptying and burning Atlanta and many other towns; but at the time Sherman's actions were seen at least by some as a reasonable response to the Confederates' burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA is full of fascinating information: North Georgia, mostly populated by poor white farmers who didn't own slaves, was largely loyalist and opposed succession; Governor Joe Brown (after the war a US Senator!) supported States' Rights to the extent that he clashed repeatedly with Confederate President Jefferson Davis; Sherman's forces faced the most opposition and most difficult fighting in primarily loyalist North Georgia; after the burning of Atlanta Sherman was able to move through Georgia with very little fighting at all; and rather than "bushwacking" Sherman's forces and provoking a fight with vastly superior forces, most Georgians preferred to let him move quickly through their land.

The Civil War buff, fans of War Histories and Southern History and Georgians in general will all find much of interest in Marching Through Georgia. My knowledge of my home state has been immeasurably improved, and I am looking forward to reading Kennett's biography, SHERMAN.

Lee Kennett is an excellent historian who combines exhaustive research with a splendid narrative pace in his "Marching Through Georgia."

This is not a book about Sherman's military campaign through the Peach State. The battles and maneuvers provide only the backdrop. The story is of the common soldiers who fought with and against Sherman and the citizens of Georgia who endured both armies during 1864.

The author makes heavy use of diaries and first person accounts. He focuses on several perspectives across the book: life in the trenches, on the battlefield, camp life, foraging, life on the March to the Sea, life in besieged and occupied Atlanta, and the life of Georgia's black and white citizens.

What is rendered is an exciting account of what these people experienced during these seminal months in their lives and the life of their country'. Kennett brings it all together as a story -- never falling into the trap of some authors of this genre of over repeating diary entries and accounts in a redundant attempt to be thorough. He achieves just the right mix of memoir and story to keep his book moving along at a good clip.

This book will fascinate and educate.

Lee Kennett is an excellent historian who combines exhaustive research with a splendid narrative pace in his "Marching Through Georgia."

This is not a book about Sherman's military campaign through the Peach State. The battles and maneuvers provide only the backdrop. The story is of the common soldiers who fought with and against Sherman and the citizens of Georgia who endured both armies during 1864.

The author makes heavy use of diaries and first person accounts. He focuses on several perspectives across the book: life in the trenches, on the battlefield, camp life, foraging, life on the March to the Sea, life in besieged and occupied Atlanta, and the life of Georgia's black and white citizens.

What is rendered is an exciting account of what these people experienced during these seminal months in their lives and the life of their country. Kennett brings it all together as a story -- never falling into the trap of some authors of this genre of over repeating diary entries and accounts in a redundant attempt to be thorough. He achieves just the right mix of memoir and story to keep his book moving along at a good clip.

This book will fascinate and educate.

As an attorney, I've read many books on estate planning and asset protection. Protecting Your Financial Future is the best treatment of the subject I've seen. It's got powerful info that even financial and legal professionals will learn from, but it's easily understood by the layperson too.

One of the best aspects of the book is its writing style. It was actually enjoyable to read; intermingling strategies with anecdotes that illustrate principles.

Living trusts and other asset protection tools are often used incorrectly. The authors of Protecting Your Financial Future help readers avoid common pitfalls and build wealth with strategies all my clients should use. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a trust or thinks they will benefit from a trust. This book will give you the answers you need for the best possible plan.

"The Silent Stars Go By" is a Christmas story we all wish we could tell, but don't have a childhood like Williams' to reflect on. Throughout the work, Williams is able to recall the era of the late 1950s and how the fall and early winter of 1959 in particular impacted he and his family. Madison, Georgia at that time was a northeast Georgia village in love with its football team (the local high school won 3-of-4 state championship and many regional titles in and around the late 50s and early 60s)and Williams masterfully gives readers a clear depiction of what the town was like. In a style similar to his "Heart of the Distant Forest," Williams also creates a sense of his love for all things natural and devotion to family. The fact that the story is true, and based on his family's own struggle, is something many should treasure. An additional pleasant aspect of the story is that there is no "angry child syndrome." This is a joyous tale, I love the book and have read it twice.

"I was always afraid," he said "but I never let fear stop me from doing what I needed to do." Face fear and do what you believe in is the gist of 'Long Time Gone'. This excellent read will engage you, regardless of what side of the tracks you were born.

I met Bill Brent in Havana, Cuba and saw in his 70-year-old eyes a man with an unique story to tell. I recognized that age had not robbed him of his forceful character, a character that had been sculpted like a rock buffeted by external forces. That day in March 2001, we talked, reminiscenced and slowly sipped our Cuba Libres in his apartment. Though I had not known Bill Lee Brent before this moment, there was a kindred spirit. A common "yes," that comes from struggling against external forces in life, and if not prevailing, at least surviving against odds. We consciously wasted away our afternoon, sharing stories about the lives we both have lived, confirming often the overlapping experiences we both went through during the sixties.

From his dirt-poor childhood in the South during the thirties and early forties, to his street days and hard jail time through the fifties, Brent's engaging writing never slacks or whines. He struggles to rise above the sludge that he was born into; but he was never released by the downward pull of destiny. Finally, in the sixties, he joined the radical Black Panthers. He rose to the rank of captain and was the bodyguard of Eldride Cleaver.

His honest, but critical, look inside the Black Panthers: what they stood for, how they changed, and, when Bill Brent needed them, how they turn their backs on him; is a story that for history's sake needs to be told. Bill Brent was radical, yes; revolutionary, sure; and deliberate without a doubt. So, it should have come to no one's surprise that while awaiting trial for shooting three Oakland policemen, when he saw an out, he would take it. In July, 1969 William Lee Brent hijacked TWA Flight 151 from Oakland to Havana, Cuba and has never left Cuba since. As we were parting company, he looked at me and said, ""You always keep what you need handy and you always dream." This is his fascinating memoir. Recommended

This is real life on pages. A vivid look into the life of a Black Man in the dark ages of American History. This book Takes you through life in the south, on the west coast, in and out of prison and finally getting involved with the Black Panthers during a period of turmoil. He feels finally something positive to dedicate his life to. Something worth fighting and dying for. Out on bail after being in a shootout with San Francisco police, knowing there was no JUSTICE in American courts for Blacks, He weights his options,to face a prejudice judge & jury, or escape while he could. intense!!!!!

This was an inspiring read to me. Glen Bell like Wendy's founder Dave Thomas did not have an easy childhood. Both developed and appreciated the values of hard work at an early age and this book shows that nice guys do finish first. While it is a very light fast read unlike a book about someone like Dr. Linus Pauling. This book teaches one that if you have an idea you should pursue it relentlessly and deal with everyone fairly as Glen did. Glen Bell never started out to be the richest or most famous person in the fast food business but he made major contributions to the industy with his ideas and simple honest values. While I continue to eat at upscale mexican restaurants frequently I do confess to eating at Taco Bell on a weekly basis. Thank you Glen Bell!

In the '60s, America was on the go like never before, and wherever people went, fast food followed. But in a growing world of hot dog stands and copycat burger joints, one name stood out from the rest: Taco Bell. Yet Taco Bell strained the patience and pocketbook of its founder, year after year. A menu with no buns or mustard was challenge enough. Add the fact that lenders and investors called Mexican fast food a fad.

And few people outside the Hispanic community knew what a taco was. "I'll have two TAKE-OHS, please." Clearly, this was a concept ahead of its time. Most men would have quit, but Taco Bell's founder refused to abandon his dream. With grit and determination, he made himself and those who shared his vision millionaires, and turned his little walk-up restaurant concept into one of the most popular brand names in America.

This is the story of Glen W. Bell, Jr.

As a young man, Glen had no money. During the '30s, he rode the rails and went door to door in search of honest work and a hard-earned dollar.

From these hardscrabble root grew the passion and desire of a tireless entrepreneur. A man who understood the customer and worked day and night to build a business backed by little more than the proceeds from the sale of a used refrigerator. A man who poured his own concrete and fried his own tortillas. The business grew, in part because the food was good and different and priced right. But in largest part because Glen--in his quiet, confident manner--had a way of attracting a breed of people who understood his vision. As a result, he helped employees, managers and franchisees carve out their own pieces of the American dream. Today, Taco Bell has some 7,000 restaurants, more than 175,000 employees, and serves millions of customers weekly.

Savory, crunchy "TAKE-OHS" have become mainstream American food. Yet Taco Bell remains a rebellious, hard-working, entrepreneurial company that loves to battle the burger, just like its founder taught it to. This compelling portrait by award-winning writer Debra Lee Baldwin includes insights from a self-professed "unremarkable man" who overcame the odds to achieve a remarkable thing. His story and his "60 Recipes for Success" are not reserved for a select few. Rather, a treasure awaits anyone with the passion and determination to pursue his or her dream.

As a literary agent, I feel privileged to have worked closely with Mr. Bell and Ms. Baldwin to get this book published.

When I was developing my business plan for my brokerage firm, I looked up various autobigraphies of others in the financial industry to get inside their head. One day I stumbled across this book. I was not convinced by the cover to read it, but I grabbed it anyway. Boy was I NOT disappointed!

From reading Glen Bell's story I discovered a lot of trivia about the taco business, like Glen Bell's invention of the taco ;)

But more importantly I took away five guiding points for my life and more importantly for my business.

1. Stay ultimately focused on your vision.
2. Keep expanding on your vision, as you grow so should it.
3. Don't be afraid to scream from the rooftops by promoting your business big.
4. Never let a little thing like money get in your way.
5. Those that can't see your vision, needn't be in your vision.

Great book for entrepreneurs who think they have it bad and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, its there, Glen Bell proves it.

After Nirvana is Lee Williams' odyssey of five runaway teens living off the hard streets of Portland and Seattle. With a forcefully graphic style, Williams effectively and minutely details Portland's city streets, the hustling, the drugs, and the faceless sex. It is a staid, emotionless novel fully consistent with the emotional insulation of the teens. However, it also is a story where suppressed emotions occasionally break out showing the teens to be nothing more than cold, frightened, lonely kids. It is an interesting read, even though the ending is somewhat predictable. Overall, After Nirvana is an exceptional depiction modern hustlers and an excellent portrayal of street kids in the nineties.

I picked up After Nirvana by accident at the bookstore, thinking it a history of post-grunge music. I was suprised to find a novel whose action takes place in and around my own neighborhood in downtown Portland, Oregon. I purchased the book and found it to be an easy read. The story is about a teen-age "gutter-punk" who turns to male prostitution to survive and his friends. The story is told in an informal manner like it's being told to us by the author anecdotally. There are also several narrative jumps back and forth through time, a technique that is confusing at first. The first thing a reader notices about the book and Mr. William's writing style is that it is detailed. Every bit of minutae surrounding the characters is told in geographic detail. Being a resident of downtown Portland, I found the references to real-life locations exciting. Seeing what, to myself, are everyday locations told in such detail became the main pleasure in reading the book. Unfortunately, it's the same detail that may put off non-Portlander readers. It's as if the author knows the reader is from Portland and throws in the references so that there is no confusion as to what or where he is describing, but to a non-resident without such knowledge, the detail is lost and can even be confusing. The story itself seems to be a rather cliche'd re-telling of My Own Private Idaho and Basketball Diaries. No remarkably new territory is covered. After Nirvana, by Lee Williams, is a great in-joke for Portland residents, but the joke is unfortunately lost on everyone else.

This is not the kind of book I would normally read, and thus I enjyoyed it all the more for bringing me into a world I would not have otherwise known. This account of young people in what is apparently recorded as a "post-grunge period" reveals to us the chaotic life of four youngsters who find themselves misplaced and out of touch. (I don't say out of touch with "reality" because they have their own reality with which they are very much in touch.) We're basically in the mind of the narrator, but at the same time we're not because he's actually addressing us, almost as if he's telling us his story. What startled or rather impacted me most is that these youngsters have no plan, few rules, and much life. They live the moment, worrying little about tomorrow although in their own way they're always thinking about their next step and concerned about the future. Williams seems to have captured well the existentialist nature of these post-grungists, if that term may be used. In the end, the characters may be trapped in a world that has forgotten them, but they are freer than the others who surround them.

Philip Lee Williams is a fine author who specialises in introspective characters who find themselves somewhat unexpectedly at points of closure in their lives. His novels are flavored with nostalgia and regret, hopes and expectations unattained.

Slow Dance in Autumn is Williams' shot at a detective story--although displayed rather prominently on the cover are the words "A Hank Prince Mystery Novel" as though it were one in a series, it should more accurately say "The Hank Prince Mystery Novel", given that after some 13 years another has not appeared. Prince is a wise-guy almost-was baseball player turned hard-drinking, hard-smoking PI facing hard times; he's intelligent but not overly competent in the dectecting trade. For me, the character was rather too familiar--true, we haven't had many fictional PI's in Atlanta, but that is scarcely unusual. And that in the author's note before the novel begins Williams inadvertently gives an enormous clue to the puzzle Prince faces ruined quite a bit of the suspense.

With these caveats, Slow Dance in Autumn is a perfectly good detective story, but it didn't quite capture my imagination the way Williams' extraordinary other novels have, like All The Western Stars, Crossing Wildcat Ridge, or The Heart of a Distant Forest, all of which I most highly recommend. But Slow Dance in Autumn is not to be written off entirely--Williams has some very good lines, including perhaps the most intriguing line in detective fiction ever written: "The stretch of I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham is like being stranded somewhere between Murmansk and Vladivostok with a phonetic alphabet book, no rubles and an empty bottle of vodka." Raymond Chandler must be rolling in his grave wishing he'd written that!