Lew Wallace grew up to be a governor, foreign minister, Civil War general, inventor, and artist. But he is best known today as the author of the novel Ben-Hur. Lew Wallace: Boy Writer is the latest entry in the Patria Press "Young Patriots" series and the fascinating story of Wallace as a Midwest American youth who grew up like other boys of his era -- including the occasional playing of hooky from school! Martha Schaaf has definitively researched and superbly presented the life of Wallace from the age of 5 through 19. Also very highly recommended in this outstanding series are: Amelia Earhart: Young Air Pioneer (1882859022, [price]) and William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe (1882859030, [price]. All three titles would make a popular and much appreciated addition to any personal, school or community library biography collection for young readers.

Before he grew up to become the author of the best-selling novel, "Ben-Hur," inventor and Civil War general, Lew Wallace was a young boy playing in the midwestern fields and streams who would rather draw than spell, and would rather read than do math. Kids will cheer for Lew's dramatic rescue of his baby brother from beneath the wheels of the family carriage, share his joy at discovering the world of books, and feel his pain at the punishment he suffered in the schoolroom.

The book features the adventures of Lew Wallace as a child, and is an introduction to biography written for ages 8-12. Kids will love the story, parents and teachers will appreciate the historic context in which the book is written. Detailed illustrations enhance the text and give a real flavor of the times. "Lew Wallace" is Volume 3 in the Young Patriots Series--don't miss Volume 1, "Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer," and Volume 2, "William Henry Harrison, Young Tippecanoe." You can get all titles in the series in paperback and hardback.

Morrision's book should be required reading for all medical students. Here she was - first a straight A student, then voted resident of the year, and finally a well-thought of psychiatrist,when she was in the midst of a horrendous alcohol and drug addiction that had been going on for years. I work with physicians who are addicts, and she paints a dark portrait of them: they, unlike the rest of us, can just write themselves all the prescriptions they want, until they are stopped. And then it is like a runaway mack truck hitting a massive brick wall. She also is great at laying out all the reasons (excuses) for her drinking/drugging: people don't understand individuals like her, she is so far above the rest of us, so creative, so brilliant, so . . . fill in the blank. And, finally, when she is confronted, she does undergo treatment successfully, and describes what that is like, the difficulties and the triumphs. A marvelous book; it is the only one I know written from the perspective of a formerly drug-addicted physician.