I should preface this review by telling you I have four brothers (and a sister) of my own. Whether that had an impact on how well I related to the work, I do not know. However, don't let the thickness and small print get to you. Anyone with a family (meaning the vast majority of people) should find Duncan's anecdotal style strangely easy to relate to and very funny at the same time. The novel traces the lives of the members of the appropriately named Chance family. The brothers, though very different from one another, share a love for baseball and for one another. Duncan lends a specific voice, body and depth of character to each individual in the novel. Each person is a vivid, breathing archetype. There is Everett, the rebel; Peter, the seeker of Truth; Irwin, the oaf with the personality of a Teddy Bear and many more whom we see in various lights and perspectives as the plot progresses. Should you read "The Brother's K," prepare to laugh out loud, shed a tear or two, get a little silly and a little nostalgic. For Duncan, nothing is trite; no sentament is wasted and no emotion untrue. He made me miss my brothers, kiss my mother and shake my father's hand. It was the best therapy a human can buy...and it was only 700 pages.

I found this book about five years ago, one copy on the bookstore shelf. I pulled it down, read the back flap, and took it home with me. I was fifteen at the time. The Brothers K became a part of me. It followed me everywhere--to school(to be read right up until the bell), to the orthodontist(to take my mind off more painful issues), in the car, in the bath. I could not put this book down. My paperback copy of this book is water-stained and dog-eared from repeated readings. I couldn't bear to stop reading even when the electricity was out--the top back corner of my book is singed from the flame of the candle I read by. As I grew older, I found the book asking to be read again and again. And each time I found new and more meaningful ideas. New levels emerged and I grew to love the book even more. I've read this book a total of five times now, and I recommend it to every lover of good fiction. But this story is more than fiction. It's real. Irwin Chance is my brother; I am Kinkaid.

I am writing this review solely because I want people to hear about this book. It is absolutely amazing and I want everyone I know to read it. Whenever someone asks me what it's about, I falter because it covers so much of American ideals and history. It is an amazing character novel that makes you want to meet everyone in it from the protagonist down to the Sunday school teacher. Duncan depicts everyone with such detail. The first time I read this book I couldn't put it down and I've had the same experience after reading it three more times. There is so much to it that you'll never be satisfied.

When my friend recommended this book to me he said these words, "This guy (Duncan) writes with so much passion. there are characters in here that say everything you ever wish you could have said." He's right. This book is perfect and I dare anyone to find flaws with it.

If you've ever wanted to know exactly what to say and when to say it, you should read this book. Not only will it increase your desire, but it will satiate it. READ THIS BOOK!!! it's so good

The story of a girl with a gift. Set in a bleak future where a toxic jungle is slowly engulfing whole countries, Nausicaa tries to prevent her kingdom from being destroyed in the war ensuing between the largest remaining empires. I cannot say enough to praise Hayao Miyazaki. I first saw his work in the animated film "Warriors of the Wind" back in the 80's. It turns out this is a badly edited version from Topcraft who bought the rights. I was still hooked, though. After searching for quite a while I found the comics. Hayao had continued the story of Nausicaa well beyond the scope of the movie. I found in enthralling. I still read it every so often and suggest it to anyone who loves epic stories of fantasy and adventure. Disney recently bought the rights to the movie, and apparently plans to re-release it sometime in the future. See also: Kiki's Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke.

From the best known animator outside the US. Miyazaki is never a comic artist, in fact, Nausicaa is his only work in graphic novel format. While the backdrop of the story, a post-appocolyptic portrayal of a world very much like our own but not quite exactly earth, is hardly original, Miyazaki has a lot of surprises in store for his readers. I don't want to spoil the fun for any potential readers. Nevertheless, this is something I can say. Nausicaa is a serious science fiction work, with very rich and engrossing details. The characters are well developed and very likable in ways you won't find in many post-appocolyptic stories. Despite a rather moody background, the story is not as dark as you might expect from a book of this type. Finally, true to his origin, Miyazaki delivers top quality art in his books.

Master of Japanese animation Hayao Miyazaki found himself without any film prospects on the horizon in 1982 and so agreed to begin work on a manga (comic) story to be serialized in the popular Japanese animation magazine, "Animage." After going on for thirteen years, in 1995 the beautiful and moving epic "Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind" finally came to an end. Now collected into four compact trade paperback volumes, at 1,060 pages long, in terms of scope, grandeur and emotional impact, this science fiction/fantasy saga it is to comics what "Lord of the Rings" is to books and what "Star Wars" is to movies. I have not been this enraptured by a work of graphic literature in a long time, if ever, and the experience was one of the most engaging and moving I have ever had in any form of fiction.

Nausicaä is a Princess in the Valley of Winds, located near the borders of the Sea of Corruption, a dense jungle of fungus that constantly releases a miasma of poisonous spores deadly to anyone but the giant insects who live there. The environment has been devastated by a global war, the Seven Days of Fire, that took place in the distant past, and now the few remaining human settlements vie for what little inhabitable land is left.

Nausicaä is a remarkable character in a story filled with remarkable characters. She is a pacifist in the truest sense of the word, not only rejecting violence and war as a means of solving problems, but having a calming effect on both the animals and people she encounters. She possesses an uncanny psychic ability to communicate with animals from her faithful fox-squirrel companion, Teto, to the whale-sized armored caterpillars known as the Ohmu. Her powerful charisma gains her the unwavering devotion of friends and the admiration of her enemies. Despite her commitment to peace, she is also an accomplished fighter, which is evident on the rare occasions when her rage overpowers her compassion. Lastly, she is an expert wind rider, sailing through the clouds in her jet-powered glider and performing aerial acrobatics no other pilot would dare to attempt.

When her beloved Valley faces invasion by the imperial forces of Torumekia, lead by Princess Kushana (sort of the "shadow" Nausicaä, although not without many redeeming qualities), Nausicaä and Teto embark on a journey to save not only her people, but also the world. The adventures that follow form an eco-feminist fantasy about courage, honor, compassion, the folly of tampering with nature, and the power of love and friendship. Storytelling does not get any better than this.

I just finsished my first reading of Myst: The Book of Ti'Ana, and found it a VERY enjoyable book. First of all, I think it tells a better story than Myst: The Book of Atrus. It was a much more gripping and suspensful tale, and didn't seem to have as many annoying "jump" discontinuities as did "Atrus." And just the PHYSICAL experience of reading from a book whose cover is so beautiful, and whose actual pages are so rich and well-designed made the reading experience truly, truly pleasurable. Getting to the story, however, there was one thing specifically that I felt like mentioning. There were definite shades of "The Return of the Jedi" in this story, especially that passage where Lord Veovis is dying . The similarity to Darth Vader's death scene is uncanny, even down to the detail of Veovis mimicking Vader's acknowledgement that there was still some good left in him, after all. Now, some people that I know might cite this similarity as an inherent weakness of the story, but I would disagree with that. I cant' remember who wrote this (maybe Flannery O'Connor??) and I know that I'm not quoting this verbatim, but someone wrote, "There are only three or four really IMPORTANT stories in the world. What fiction writers do is to tell and retell these stories in different disguises"---well, something to that effect. It's because of this that I don't fault "The Book of Ti'Ana" for so closely resembling "The Return of the Jedi" in certain places: because the story of betrayal and redemption IS one of those important stories that we need to hear again and again in all of its various forms. To wrap this up, I'll jsut say that there ARE a few things about the story that I thought could be impoved upon, but these are just minor quibbles that I don't wish to get into now. It is most likely that I will do this book the honor of re-reading it (and "The Book of Atrus") when the third book in the sequence is published. I guess that's just about the highest praise you can give book, isn't it

I must say that, even tho I didn't enjoy this as much as The Book of Atrus, I found it mighty cool. For anyone who is interested in the Myst story then this book is essential. It took quite a bit of time to get going at the start (about 100 pages are devoted to drilling holes) and Rand Miller uses the word 'great' to describe almost everything. It gets a bit annoying.

But soon enough the story picks up in pace and builds interesting and sympathetic characters, even making one of the bad guys seem justified in his actions. Some of it is superfluous but not so much that it's boring.

I found the end to be a bit fast and confusing. Not enough is described and one the last page is finished you might feel like things aren't tied up so well. Though there is another book after this one. I hope that the character of Saavedro from Myst III is mentioned somewhere, tho it is cool to have a young Gehn as a character is this one. If Saavedro doesn't show up then I know I am not alone in wishing for a fourth Myst novel.

I am very much looking forward to reading 'The Book of D'Ni' and I hope it lives up to this and the first. For anyone who is interested The Sci-Fi channel are making a 240 minute mini-series of Myst set for airing sometime this year. I don't know what the story is yet but I believe that either Rand or Robin Miller are executive producing.

The book has only six chapters averaging about 100 pages each and has random black and white drawings sporadically scattered through-out.

I played Myst. I played Riven. Myst was great. Riven was even better. Way better. I joined a mailing list on Riven, where I was pretty confused about things when they talked about the D'ni. I put in my theories, but I had no backing behind them. Everyone kept telling me to READ THE BOOKS! So I did. This one is definetely my favorite. I explains everything you would need to know about the D'ni, and more, in a format that is fun to read. Fun to read doesn't begin to describe it. I got sucked in (no, for all you Myst/Riven fans, it isn't a linking book) and I couldn't put it down. The characters are very realistic. I almost changed my mind about Gehn after I had my doubts aboiut him after playing Riven. I think they did Veois and A'Gaeris best, as characters, but the others were cool also. Definetely buy this book, is you are a Myst/Riven fan. If you aren't, buy it, and you will become one. I am still on the Riven mailing list. I am more obsessed than that, now also.

I can still picture in my mind the memories of Wednesday nights spent in front of my tv, as a little girl, watching the ladies whom I most wished I could be! The Charlies Angels Casebook is mandatory reading for in depth episode guides, personal looks behind the scenes, and a true slice of American 70's pop culture from Farrah's hair to bellbottom jeans! Read the inside scoop from the Angels themselves as they share annecdotes from the series and find out what goes on behind the scenes as the lineup changed throughout the shows' run. A very comprehensive and complete book, I couldn't put it down! Most impressive to me were the many episode guides which, in detail, gave a little biographical info on the many guest stars who were staples of 70's and 80's television programming. In addition, there are Angel bio's, credit lists, a swimsuit guide (!), and an exhaustive list of Charlies Angels merchandise. Author Jack Condon has even taken it a step further by including a picture of his private collection of Angel items which must be seen to be believed! This book is simply one of the best out there of any individual television show. Buy it, you won't be dissapointed!;o)

Yes, the title of this review is a takeoff on the episode titles for this wonderful TV series, and it also applies to this fantastic book. The authors have really done their homework; this book has all the behind-the-scenes details on the series on its stars. I was a huge fan of the show since the beginning and hung on to the end, and this book is a trip back in time for me. Whichever lady was your favorite Angel (I'm a definite Jill fan), you'll find fascinating info about everyone associated with the hit show. I can actually remember watching the individual shows by reading the episode guide, and the critical commentary for each episode is right on the money. It's apparent the authors (especially Jack Condon) have a tremendous amount of affection for the show and its stars, but they don't keep that from acknowledging problems behind the scenes of the show's history. This is the kind of entertainment book I love; one that loves its subject and unearths every interesting bit of info they can find. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!

Charlie's Angels Casebook is a fantastic book for the die-hard C.A. fan! The book is jamed packed with everything you would ever want to know about the series on and off camera. Condon's enthusiasm for his years of collecting and admiring this show comes to a poignant fruition. Admist the pages are various photographs of the actresses/characters as well as stills from the series' episodes. My personal favorite section is the author's commentary for every single episode. Various trivia facts are revealed and critqued about the plot and numerous guest stars that appeared. After viewing TV Land's recent marathon of the series, it is odvious the producers of the show used the book as a reference for all the trivia facts between commercials. If you've ever watched the show and loved it, or are starting to watch the repeats on TV land, buy this book now. The wonderful chapters will entertain and delight you as you read all the intimate details of the hype, criticism, and 8 careers that this incredible show produced. It's my only hope that each of the angels/actresses reads and enjoys the book as much as this fan did! So buy the book and enjoy a walk down memory lane with the angels before you then go see the new angels 2000 movie!

If you've played Myst and are feeling a little clueless, this book is a must read. This book is about the life of Atrus, one of the last members of the ancient race of D'ni. His father, Gehn, teaches him the Art of writing worlds into existence using special paper and ink. But all is not as it seems, and the last two D'ni turn to violence to solve their differences. But who will come out on top? The book has a shocking ending that will leave you wanting to read more about the D'ni and their ancient civilization. Other must reads are Myst: The Book of Ti'anna, and Myst: The Book of D'ni. You will find that you won't regret reading these books!

The Book of Atrus is the fascinating prequel to the exciting CD-ROM game called MYST. The book begins in the desert on earth with Atrus being raised by his grandmother Anna, after being abandoned by his father, Gehn, the last of the race of D'ni. Anna spends many years teaching Atrus the Art, the D'ni craft of linking to other worlds through the descriptive art of writing in special books. For the most part, Atrus thought these stories and teachings were only ancient legends of the D'ni. Then his time came to explore the magnificent underground realm of D'ni. When Atrus is fourteen years old, Gehn takes him from Anna to D'ni where Gehn teaches him more properly the Art, and even gives him books in which he may begin his own Ages. In time, however, Atrus realizes that his father does not understand the power of the Art. His fathers Ages are unstable and weak. He also sees the obsession of power in his father, wanting thousands of Ages to be "lord" over, regardless of how he does it. In this book, beauty and intrigue, mystery and betrayal, good and evil meet. The Book of Atrus is a tale of son against father; of truth versus evil, and of love and redemption. One will travel to wonderful new Ages and experience many awesome things. This story ends where the surrealistic world of MYST begins.

This book is truly a masterpiece. If I could rate it ten stars, I would. I first learned of this book when I saw it sitting in the local library, beckoning me to read it. I was excited to find it there after completing the game MYST. You get to know how Atrus was brought up by his grandmother, Anna (Ti'ana), and how he was taken by his father Gehn. You watch him grow into a fine young man. He must find out on his own how "the Art" really works and must choose between his own father or going with the values his grandmother teaches him. He meets Catherine and she helps him fight his father. Though the book starts out slow, you will be pulled into it's tense climax and ending. This book is for anyone, whether you've played MYST or not, I highly recommend it for it's morals.

If Eddings ran his main characters into any more opposition, they might break a fingernail. I have not read a more cliche and montonous series as eddings wrote and rehashes the plot. I need to get his address so I can send him a dollar to get creative enough to think up a new plot next time. Every book in this series is the same damn book the last. There is no beginning, there is only a long, long, long, long, extended, drawn out ending. If you don't like my review, compare Edding's works of the Belgariad with original works like Glen Cook's "The Black Company" and Steven Brust's "Jhereg" series. Eddings' characters are far too infallable to be believeable. Run them into something that they can struggle against for a change. "OH NO! THE BAD GUYS ARE COMING." "No problem," Yed replies. "We'll do the same damn thing that we did in the last 4 books, they always fall for it." The lead character travels with kings and gods as his escorts. What opposition is there to throw at him? At least Eddings learned with the sparhawk series to make an enjoyable personality for his lead character, rather than a dry, pompous, bloated little snot-nosed punk that was smothered by the companions that rode with him in order to wipe his nose when he couldn't. (Most of the damn series.)

David Eddings' Belgariad series is one of the masterpieces of modern fantasy literature. I fell in love with his books many years ago, and re-read them to this day. His characters are lifelike and amusing, and written in a very human manner. Every time I read, I feel like I am visiting with old friends. Although Eddings writes conflicts into his story, he writes with an assurance that success will come which parallels the great epics of history. His novels, though not thrilling, are relaxing and enthralling in a more stoic fashion-- you will care about the characters and want to see them succeed.

I would recommend this book to the starting fantasy reader, or the reader of modern fiction who hasn't yet delved into the genre. Eddings' personal style and lovable characters have turned me into a dedicated fantasy reader, and I have not yet found his equal among the other authors I've read.

My elementary school librarian first gave me "pawn of the prophecy" to review when I was in Grade 7. I can never thank her enough. Although it was a bit slow to begin with his books just kept getting better and better. I even mamnaged to get my little brother, an avowed readerr of Asterix and "Calvin and Hobbes"(had to have pictures) to read them. His first real books were the Elenium and then the Belgariad which he enjoyed because of the detail and sword fights. We now own alll 4 series between the two of us and probably soon be fighting over who owns which copy when I move out. THe spanish copies are definitely mine. From Tolkien and the lord of the rings David Eddings is a great author to start out with in fantasy and sci/fi. He'll also keep you coming back for more.

"The Lost Boy" was an interesting and well written book. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I have also read "A Child Called IT" and I recomend you read that first. I know there is now a third book in this trilogy but I am not interested in reading it. I think I was hooked on this story because it was continued from the first that I liked so much. I enjoyed reading and learning about Dave Pelzer's childhood and feeling for him during his hard times. It kept me reading because I was always wanting to see where David was going. This story is very sad and touching and I just feel so bad for David, I just wanted to go save him! I think you will enjoy this book, especially if you have a heart, I just hope it's not too emotional for you, it wasn't for me.

I have had the experience of reading both "A Child Called It", and "The Lost Boy". These two books take you down the journey of David Pelzer as he experiences his childhood and teen years while learning to overcome the most outrageous and cruel abuse from first his mother, then his father and siblings, school community and at times the bureaucratic system of foster care. However, thw true joy of the books is that they show us how one young boy through courage, strength,his daydreams, and the use of prayer overcame great odds to becomne a shining example of a success. Although it is true that both books leave you with many questions, the foremost one being, what happened to his mother? How was she made to atone for her atrocities? This is to be expected for several reasons. First, the words were those of a child, later an uncertain young adult searching for answers. Second, the entire issue of child abuse, foster care, and society's nonchalant, or often cruel reaction to F-children is a sad but real Truth, and filled with unanswered questions. This book is an inspirational testamonial to the courage that foster children show each and every day. The author's success in the Airforce, in life, and his own family are living examples that he and the foster system beat the odds, if only this one time. Although the books are graphic and at times depressing or evoke tears, the sheer joy felt when David succeeds uplifts your soul. If all they accomplish is to bring awareness to several hundred persons regarding the atrocities of child abuse and the need for involvement with the system, then Pelzer has surpassed any expectations one could have regarding his novels impact. Thank you David, and God Bless you.

Dave Pelzer has opened my eyes to the resiliance to the human spirit. From the moment I began A Child called "It", I felt the pain and tourment, both physically and emotionally, that he experienced throughout his young years. I read the book in one sitting, and went to the store and bought the sequal, The Lost Boy, the next day. As a college student studying education, I find this book an asset to my profession. I plan to one day become a foster parent, and feel that this book has given me to edge on how a child thinks and feels in this difficult situation. Thank you Dave Pelzer for being a survivor for us all. You are a true hero!!!

As he did in First In His Class, his wonderful biography of Bill Clinton, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss has packed so many details and so many colorful stories into When Pride Still Mattered that the book reads more like a novel than a biography. Football fans probably think they already know everything about Vince Lombardi; serious readers may think they have no use for a biography of a football coach. Both don't know what they're missing. There's plenty of football here: great chapters on Fordham's Seven Blocks of Granite, the New York Giants team with assistant coaches named Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry, the immortal Ice Bowl, Lombardi's final season in Washington. But Maraniss sets it all in its proper context, and the reader knows what it's like to live in the New York of the 1930s (even which subway routes to take from here to there), knows Lombardi's weekly routine in Green Bay (clean closets, watch Tom and Jerry cartoons), feels how cold it was at Lambeau Field or how difficult it could be for his family to live with "St. Vince." This is not merely a sports book or only a biography; like Lombardi himself, it's everything -- more than -- and yet nothing, like you'd expect it to be.

I too started the book as a football fan, and ended the book as a fan of the man and his principles. From childhood, through minimal success on the field, then to enormous success as a leader in America in the 1960s. You get a sense of the true values and character of not just Vince Lombardi, but America during a time of national change. I was only 10 years old when he died, but the stories of the Lombardi Packers are still cherished in the midwest today. But that misses the point. How a man can lead every team he touched to the top is studied and presented and you can almost see into his mind. It was sad to see the family suffer through years of anguish, mixed with with pride, love, and loyalty. The author's style and storytelling were excellent.

"When Pride Still Mattered" is an absolute must read for any Green Bay Packer fan, and any student of the sport of football. Mr. Maraniss provides the reader with a unique perspective of the history of college and professional football, the birth of the NFL, and the American culture through the life of Vince Lombardi. Through the life of Lombardi the reader gains insight into the early careers of Bart Starr, Frank Gifford, Tom Landry, as well as Packer greats Jerry Kramer, Max McGee, Paul Hornung, Willie Davis, and many others. "When Pride Still Mattered" provides the reader an unfiltered view of the life and career of Vince Lombardi, and how this complex man was able to bring out the best in his teams, even at his worst, and how he has become an enduring American icon.

This book, The Count of Monte Cristo, is an engrossing tale of loyalty, revenge, and obsession that can still teach lessons today. Edmond Dantes seems set for life: the young man is now the captain of a ship, his best friends are his father and his boss, Morrel, and he is set to be married to a beautiful girl named Mercedes. But two men, Danglars and Fernand, are jealous of him for different reasons (Danglars for his job, Fernand for his fiancee). This jealousy comes in the form of a conspiracy so that both will be benefited: a letter is written saying that Dantes is a Napoleonic agent (he is not). He is further crossed by the ambitious magistrate de Villefort, who destroys the only piece of evidence because it implicates his father and sends him to prison, using the Napoleonic phobia of the time. While there, he meets the brilliant yet enigmatic Abbe Faria, who teaches him several languages and they collaborate on how to escape. The Abbe has an attack, he tells Dantes to leave without him, so he does. But before the Abbe dies, he tells Dantes about the magnificent treasure of Monte Cristo, and then the adventure begins as Dantes gets the treasure and lives extravagantly for a while, then he comes to pay vengeance to his enemies and rewards to his friends. This book is quite long, but I could not imagine it being shorter: it is the perfect size for the story. This is one of the best books of all time for a reason, and I would highly recommend it to anybody interested in adventure.

The Count of Monte Cristo is the best book I've read in quite a long while. I wasn't expecting it to be. Frankly, I tend to have low expectations for 19th-century European novels in regard to sheer readability. Like vegetables and trips to the dentist, they tend to be more good for you than simply good. Add in the fact that the unabridged version is over 1000 pages, and I felt sure that the Count would be a somewhat difficult companion.

Nothing could be farther from the truth! Edmond Dantes' adventures kept me fully engrossed from beginning to end. I was disappointed to turn the final page, left longing for more.

If you've seen a movie version of Count of Monte Cristo, expect surprises. I had seen both the Richard Chamberlain and Jim Caviezel versions before reading the book (mmmm . . . Jim Caviezel), but neither were entirely true to the storyline or the mood of the original.

Edmond himself is a thoroughly satisfying and seductive hero. (The reader must take with a grain of salt the numerous references to his drug habit; at the time, opium was unfortunatly de rigeur for a Romantic hero.) The secondary characters are equally engrossing, from the admirable Maximilian Morrel to the villainous Danglars; and the ingenious machinations by which Edmond contrives to reward the deserving and doom the guilty make the chapters fly by.

I would encourage everyone to be sure and get the unabridged version of this masterpiece. It is by no means slow or ponderous, and the thought of what must be left on the cutting room floor to reduce this book to half its size makes me wince.

If you enjoy literature, then you must read The Count of Monte Cristo. In this book, a young sailor named Edmond Dantès is arrested on false charges of treason. He spends the next fourteen years in prison trying to figure out how to exact complete revenge on his enemies. Once he gets out of prison he begins his quest for vengeance. The author, Alexandre Dumas, portrays this struggle for vengeance by mixing action and serenity together. By using both, Dumas makes the character seem like a real person. Throughout the entire book I felt like I knew Edmond Dantès feelings. Dumas' writing style made Edmond Dantès come alive. Instead of being on the outside watching in, I felt like I was in the middle of all the action. By making the reader feel like a part of the book, Dumas gets the reader involved in the plot; this makes the reader not want to stop reading. The Count of Monte Cristo continually makes you think about the characters and the plot. As the reader, I observed a great battle of intellect between the main characters, and this strife makes the book enjoyable to read. You constantly wonder who will get the upper hand. This book, with its many levels, will make a reader lose him or her self in the book. I read the abridged edition, which sometimes made me feel like I had missed an important detail or event. Other than this small drawback, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. I recommend The Count of Monte Cristo to anyone who enjoys reading books with an entertaining story and believable plot.

After reading the author's brilliant biography of John Adams, I decided to tackle his work on Harry Truman. I was not disappointed. This book is every bit the page turner as John Adams. Yet, as good a writer as McCollough may be, it was his subject that shone through the pages. Our accidental President, following in the footsteps of "The President," showed all of us what can be achieved by moral courage, hard work, determination, bedrock values, honesty, and integrity. He faced some of the toughest issues (and opposition) ever faced by a President, he called them like he saw them, and never looked back. As he said, the President's job is to make decisions, and he did. I am sure he would cringe at today's world of spin politics, parsing the meaning of the word "is," and the total lack of civility that seems to permate public life. Truman was a man of whom this country can and should be proud to have called its President. Sadly, we cannot say that about others who have followed him to the White House.

Do you have an image of Harry Truman as an ordinary man, a common man who became the accidental president, as a man overwhelmed by the crises of the twentieth century? Do you have the impression that Harry Truman was a dull man and that his life would be too boring to read about? If so, how wrong you would be. David McCullough's biography "Truman" is as detailed and beautifully written a biography as you will find. Here Truman comes alive and steps out of history to reveal the admirably decent, hugely courageous, and impressively competent man that he was. While his early years are interesting, particularly his role in WW I, and while his formative years in politics as part of the Pendergast machine are enlightening in their revelation of how politics in America work, it is in the long discourse on the presidential years that the book becomes totally spell-binding.

The Truman presidency took place at a time in history when the world as we know it, the world of the Cold War and the age of possible nuclear holocaust, was becoming a reality. It is utterly fascinating to witness Truman and the men around him struggle with the issues that arose for those who were "present at the creation." Here is the story of an America intent on bringing home its sons after victory in WW II, only to find itself forced to deal with the birth pangs of a new age and new conflicts. The country that Truman now led was suddenly made aware of its responsibility for the survival of democratic freedom in the world. Faced with this enormous responsibility, Harry Truman stood tall and made the right decisions. As Winston Churchill made clear to President Truman, "you more than any other man have saved Western civilization."

Herein, read about the decision to drop the atomic bomb as well as Truman's determination that it should never be used again. Herein, read about the American concern over the growing domination of eastern Europe by the Soviet Union, the founding of the United Nations, Truman's aid to Greece and Turkey, the creation of the C.I.A, Truman's insistence on civilian control of nuclear weapons, the Marshall plan, the Berlin Airlift, the creation of NATO, the founding of the state of Israel, the creation of the People's Republic of China, the Korean War and the sacking of MacArthur. Read about Truman taking the head of the United Mine Workers Union to court, seizing the steel mills, and the staunch defense of his associates from the attacks of McCarthy. Read about his amazing whistlestop campaign and thrilling victory in the 1948 campaign. And don't forget the almost total rebuilding of the White House that so few people are aware of. It is all here. Never in the twentieth century did a president have to wrestle with so many critical issues, and never did a president serve humanity so wisely.

Along with this study of Truman the president we find emerging a vivid portrait of Truman the man. His personal qualities and his role as husband, father, and friend reveal him as a loving, kind, caring, and honest man who valued loyalty and decency. While under attack and low in the opinion polls when he left office, we can only stand amazed at the extent to which his critics and the political right would go for their own partisan purposes. Fortunately, with time, history has a way of correcting the picture of men who are often vilified in their own time by partisan politics. This has certainly been the case with Harry Truman who must be rated near the top, if not at the very top, of a list of the most outstanding presidents of the twentieth century. We speak of Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill, and Mao as among the giants of the century, but certainly Harry Truman belongs with them. McCullough's book will explain why.

In sum, McCullough's book is a must for anyone interested in American history and politics in the twentieth century. It is also rewarding as a study of how a humane and decent man can enter the rough and tumble world of politics and retain his integrity, sense of humor, and honesty. Read it, enjoy it, and contemplate it.

This book is without a doubt the best book I have ever read. McCullough covers everything from his life on the farm to his position in the Pendergast organiztion, to WW1, the Senate, Vice Presidency, and finally Presidency. There were five aspects about the book that I found most interesting:
1. The segments of the book concerning the Pendergast political machine. It was interesting to read about the power they held in Missouri and the relationship with Truman after he became President.
2. The whistle stop campaign of 1948, the election that nobody thought HT could win.
3. The relationship between Truman and his top advisors and cabinet members such as George Marshall and especially Dean Acheson.
4. The process of nominating a President and more specifically a Vice-President. This book tells you what takes place behind the scenes at the democratic national conventions of 44 and 48.
5. The Potsdam meeting between Churchill, Stalin, and HT.
If you want to read a book about American Politics, this is a good one. If you want to read a book about WWII after FDR this is a good one. And if you want to read a book about Harry Truman this is the one.