Every year right before Opening Day I watch the Ken Burns documentary "Baseball," which is why it is clear to me that "Shadow Ball: The History of the Negro Leagues" is not simply a watered down version on what appears in the documentary series or its companion volume. This book, authored by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns with Jim O'Connor, has as much new information about its subject as it has borrowed from the PBS television documentary on which it is based. This means you will find everything you remember from "Baseball," such as the stories about Moses Fleetwood Walker and Josh Gibson, along with much more. "Shadow Ball" has seven chapters: (1) A Gentleman's Agreement looks at how blacks were kept out of the major and minor leagues; (2) Barnstorming tells how black baseball teams that traveled around the country looking for games; (3) Two Innings Ahead of Everyone Else covers how Rube Foster created the Negro Leagues; (4) The Guy People Wanted to See tells about Satchel Paige and the other big draws of the Negro Leagues, such as Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard; (5) The Great Experiment, of course, is the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers; (6) The Oldest Rookie in the Game returns the focus to Satchel Paige, as well as other early black stars in the Major Leagues; and (7) The Death Knell for Out Baseball contrasts the success of black players like Hank Aaron in the Majors with the quick demise of the Negro Leagues once the racial barrier was gone.

Illustrated with dozens of photographs, several of which are captioned with memorable quotations, "Shadow Ball" is a nice addition to your collection of baseball books, whether as an introduction to the history of black baseball in America or as a chance to learn more about the topic. This is one of a series of three volumes based on the "Baseball Documentary," the others being "25 Great Moments" and "Who Invented the Game?" (the latter is grossly misnamed since it is essentially a history of baseball and pretty much a condensed version of the documentary).

Finally! A "coffee table" book that has top-quality photos and an excellent text.

MARK TWAIN: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY is a companion to a two-part, four-hour documentary film, directed by Ken Burns, on the life and work of Samuel Langhorne Clemens and his "famously, irrepressibly rambunctious alter ego Mark Twain."

Ernest Hemingway once said that Twain is "the headwater of American fiction" and called THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN "the best book we've ever had. There was nothing before. There's been nothing as good since."

George Bernard Shaw referred to Twain as "America's Voltaire."

William Dean Howells described Twain as "incomparable, the Lincoln of our literature."

Susy Clemens once wrote of her father: "He is known to the public as a humorist, but he has much more in him that is earnest than that is humorous. He is as much of a Philosopher as anything, I think."

In this reviewer's considered judgment, Twain is the greatest literary genius America has produced, a thinker of remarkable depth and substance.

Twain's life was filled with many travels, adventures ... and tragedies. Born in 1835, when Halley's comet made its appearance, he lived for 75 years, until 1910, when Halley's comet returned. He survived, and suffered, the death of his beloved wife "Livy" (Olivia Louise Langdon), and three of their children: Langdon, who died in infancy; Susy, who died of spinal meningitis at age 24; and Jean, who died of a heart attack evidently brought on by an epileptic seizure.

"The secret source of humor itself," wrote Twain, "is not joy, but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven. ... [Our] race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon--laughter. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."

Laughter and sorrow: Twain was well acquainted with both. Known superficially to many admirers as merely a humorist or funny man, Twain was essentially, as he described himself, "a moralist in disguise" who preached sermons to "the damned human race."

Twain's literary corpus abounds with excoriating criticisms of racism, anti-Semitism, religious hypocrisy, governmental arrogance and imperialism, petty tyrants, and Philistine culture. His often deadpan humor bristles with barbed satire and withering sarcasm.

In addition to its narrative text, this volume includes five bonus essays: "Hannibal's Sam Clemens," by Ron Powers; "Hartford's Mark Twain," by John Boyer; "The Six-Letter Word," by Jocelyn Chadwick; "Out at the Edges," by Russell Banks; and an interview with Hal Holbrook, "Aren't We Funny Animals?"

MARK TWAIN: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY is a rich and rewarding book.

This illustrated biography of one of America's most memorable and beloved authors holds quite a few surprises for the unsuspecting reader. Anticipating anecdotes from Mark Twain's life that would portray him as a kind, altruistic, and loving man, I was shocked to learn he was also an irrascible, guilt-ridden, tight-fisted lover of alcohol and cigars who was often looking for ways to get rich.

He was born in 19th century Missouri and raised during a time when major political, economic, social, and cultural issues were forging America's identity. The rugged 19th century also molded Twain into an outspoken critic of those forces, providing him with an unending stream of material for his cogent and waggish observations.

Amid a collection of excerpts from his novels and speeches, articles and essays, as well as numerous pictures and illustrations, the authors present an insightful analysis of the man best known for writing TOM SAWYER and HUCKLEBERRY FINN. What becomes obvious is the relevance, creativity and importance of all his work, not just the books we were assigned in high school.

This book is a treasure; the kind of book that can be referred to often. It can give food for thought for hours of reflection. It is Highly Recommended.

I wonder how many people could have led the life that Samuel Clemens did and kept their sanity. He went from riches to rags (even though it was his own fault...he spent money like it was going out of style and made some horrendous investments), which forced him, at the age of 60, into making a 10 month long physically and mentally draining around-the-world lecture tour. The tour enabled him to pay off his debts and regain his financial footing. Unfortunately, money was the least of his problems. The authors do not specifically state it, but it is clear (to me anyway) that Clemens suffered from manic-depression. At various times, and not coinciding with anything bad going on his life, he considered suicide. He had lifelong moodswings, as well as a volatile temper. (His daughters were afraid to be alone with him, as his behavior was so unpredictable. They made sure to visit him as a group.) The authors recount one incident where Clemens, angry over a missing button, opened an upstairs window and tossed all of his shirts out into the street. Saddest of all, Clemens outlived almost all of his loved ones. His beloved wife, Livy, who was almost 10 years younger than him, predeceased him, as did 3 of his 4 children. His one surviving child, his daughter Clara, suffered a nervous breakdown when Clemens was almost 70. A heavy load to bear, indeed, but somehow Clemens bore it and carried on. One thing that helped was his worldwide fame. Clemens was hungry for fame, even as a young man. He became well-known early in life, and remained famous and popular right up until he died. (He was a bit of a "ham." He would purposely time his walks for when people were emerging from church, and would then saunter past in his trademark- pun intended- white suits.) This book is an absolutely perfect blend of narrative by the authors, liberal excerpts from Clemens's many writings, "guest essays," and page after page of terrific period photographs. (The research done for the photographs, alone, must have been backbreaking.) The narrative and essays made this a good book. The addition of the excerpts and the photos turned it into a great book. The excerpts are not just from Clemens's well-known works, either. He was once asked to address an organization which consisted of descendants of the Puritans. The written text is reproduced in the book. Twain skewered the original Puritans for killing Native Americans and for kicking everyone who wasn't a Puritan out of Massachusetts, even though, as Clemens makes sure to emphasize, they left England under the banner of religious freedom. (You have to think that when the organization invited Clemens to speak, this wasn't quite what they had in mind.) One of the many interesting items included in the book is a list of the famous sayings "Mark Twain" supposedly uttered....but didn't. (He was so famous that it was assumed that anything clever originated with him.) Unfortunately, one of my all-time favorites was included in this list: "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." On the bright side, he DID say "The rumor of my death has been greatly exaggerated." One caution: the excerpts will make you want to read or re-read all of Twain. I've already ordered a copy of "The Innocents Abroad" as somehow, in my youth, I missed that one. Hats off to Geoffrey Ward, Dayton Duncan, and Ken Burns for this wonderful book!

Geoffrey Ward shares the ability of David McCullough, and that is to take a scholarly topic and write about it intelligently and coherently. He also makes the journey fun for the reader and he showcases this ability in this excellent book. FDR as a youth was a very different man from the President he was to become. Polio was the defining moment that both changed FDR and deepended his compassion and understanding for the downtrodden.

In this first volume of Ward's Roosevelt trilogy, he illuminates FDR's dominating mother and the problems she caused between Franklin and Eleanor. One almost cringes when the obtrusive Sarah Roosevelt plans her son's honeymoon, buys homes for him (with connecting doors for her to intrude upon)and basically usurps FDR's own decision-making processes.

Franklin Roosevelt was not a great man, or a particularly engrossing man when young. He achieved greatness only after tragedy befell him, but Ward sets the stage here for Roosevelt's later greatness. If you're interested in Roosevelt or the flighty, banal rich New York set of the turn of the century, then this is your cup of tea. It is also a fine book.

"Mornings on Horseback" is a good companion to "Before the Trumpet," but only because it gives you a bigger sense of New York high society in the late 1800's. FDR's father and TR's father were contemporaries and even mistaken for each other. It feels like Mr. Ward writes from a greater emotional distance about FDR than Mr. McCullough does about TR, which seems right to me. The beginning which is about FDR's grandparents is a bit detailed, but it does set the stage. Mr. Ward discusses FDR's father's schoolmaster, for example, which fills out the picture when you read about FDR's own school days. The real jaw dropper concerns FDR's maternal grandfather Warren Delano, who knew the stamp collecting went that deep? But more the wonder is Franklin himself. This portrait is "Before the Trumpet," worts and all, he marries his cousin for chrissakes, he can't/won't get away from his mother, and yet the trumpet does sound for Franklin, he pursues it, and he is there waiting, with and because of Sara and Eleanore. It's amazing to consider their development.

Most of this book is about FDR's family and it is fascinating. It reminded me some of David McCullough's Mornings on Horseback, although FDR had a very different youth from TR's. I had forgotten how rich FDR's family was, and the opulence with which they lived. And what dramatic lives they had--the Delanos and their time in China make a fantastic story. And when you read this great book you will want to read the sequel, A Fist Class Temperament

This is no "going home again" novel. While Brian McCorley may be back in his home town, it is clearly no longer "home." Filled with characters from childhood, nothing and no one is quite what they were before, and McCorley's struggle to leave articulates the tension between what once was and what now is and isn't. Peppered with very real people (some of whom swear with amazing familiarity), The Wards of St. Dymphna is a wonderful new work by a gifted author.

For someone who rarely reads fictional works, I finished this book in record time. It is simply impossible to put down. Cain's creativity and brilliance are evident from the first paragraph to the last. The well-developed characters and plot devices illustrate that Mr. Cain is a genius who defies classification!

A comic nightmare of black-magical realism, Geoffrey Cain's The Wards Of St. Dymphna chronicles the exploits of Brian McCorley through the Dantean labyrinths of the unconscious as it spills out onto the streets and into the donut shops of small town California. Seeing the world through a mad third eye, the reader sees Brian's soul laid bare through his hilarious interactions with the inner, outer and underworld. A seemingly linear spiritual quest turns into a mobius strip mining of the soul, peeling the skin off a moment in time amidst a search for redemption into the comically unredeemable. The Wards Of St. Dymphna is a debut novel showcasing an original talent that will leave its readers looking eagerly forward to Geoffrey Cain's next literary project.

The audiobook version of "The West" is a fast paced excursion through the history of the west from the arrival of European immigrants to the early 20th century. Over 80% of the material, however, concentrates on the 19th century (where the bulk of the action is found). I found this to be a very exciting trip through the history of the region and do recommend it to anyone with an interest in history or the region.

The only flaws in the presentation are relatively minor. The first is the usual flaw found in most writers of western history of the latter part of the 20th century and that is an over-romanticization of the Native American cultures which tends to reduce the conflicts of the settlement of the west to "all Native Americans saintly; all white settlers act like Satan". While they do a good job of covering white atrocities inflicted on the Native Americans (i.e. the Sand Creek Massacre, the war against the Nez Perce, the routine violation of treaties by the government, etc.)the authors do gloss over the often violent history the Native American tribes had with each other as well as totally ignoring the barbaric aspects of some tribal cultures of the west. Still, on balance, they are far more objective in this area than the majority of western writers. Their is also an almost complete silence on the roll of religion in the settlement of the west. Also it is dissapointing that Alaska and Hawaii were completely excluded from coverage in the audiobook. It is also dissapointing that the book ends in the very early 20th century leaving out great 20th century events in the west such as the oil booms, the dust bowl, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the rise of tourism in the west.

Still, "The West" is an enjoyable listen, and is probably best listened to while driving in your car through the west.

I have read this title in Hardback and it was wonderful. The personal stories of fate, tradegy and triumph as the European immigrants settle on Native American lands are excellently written.

The story actually starts earlier than most would think - in the 1600s as the Spanish explore what is now New Mexico and Texas, and there are some misunderstandings between them and the Native Americans. Throughout the book, there are narratives following a person or a group of people and their journeys to the West.

My favorite narratives are the expansion of U. S. citizens to Texas, and the journey of the Mormons to Utah. I knew some the of the facts, however, they were vividly and poignantly written in this book.

When I was a boy, my father had a two vol. set put out by American Heritage called "The Civil War." Its words, pictures, sidebars, and maps helped instill in me a fascination with the war and history.

Burns and Ward have done the same service for a new generation. This is a fine one volume treatment of the Civil War done in a most accessible fashion. The words provide a good overview and summary of the subject. What brings it alive are the many pictures, maps, focus subjects and commentaries in this coffee table book. The media and elements come together to fascinate and captivate the reader. This book is a companion to Burn's monumental ten part PBS television series by the same title. The book captures it's style well, and even uses some of the most memorable documents -- like the romantic and haunting Sullivan Ballou (sp?) letter written prior to the first Bull Run that foretold the passing of its author and a simpler America.

Althought the material is strictly introductory, even the serious Civil War student will find fascination at haveing a story they know so well, so well illustrated and illuminated.

Introduce your children to this book and watch them become interested in our country's greatest story.

An outstanding book...you get all the emotion and history of the war without even watching the movie. Most accounts of the war that I've read do not approach this level of personal touch (Bruce Catton being a notable exception) and this weaving of everyday life with the battle details makes for an exceptional perspective. I especially enjoyed the integration of photos with Ward's outstanding writing style and the digressions into cultural issues (slavery, politics...)which really gives the reader an intimate "feel" of what the times and the war were all about. The war in the West is given equal billing to the more celebrated Virginia account and Ward proves that the Union momentum sprang largly from these battles. Lastly, I've never seen better maps of all the battles...these really made each confrontation stand out and gave me a better "picture" of "who went where". I bought this book thinking I'd get a summary of the movie and a brief overview of the war...I now think that this belongs on any Civil War library shelf. Highly recommended!

In 1989, one of the finest, documentary films ever shown on TV appeared on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). That film was the groundbreaking, multi-part documentary "The Civil War," by Ken Burns, Ric Burns, and Geoffrey C. Ward. A few months after "The Civil War" was broadcast, I found "The Civil War: An Illustrated History," the companion book to the film, in our local bookstore. It is authored by the same trio responsible for the film. (Geoffrey Ward is the principal author, ably assisted by the Burns brothers.)

"The Civil War: An Illustrated History"is an outstanding book - like its film counterpart, an excellent work of history, powerfully written by gifted writers with a genuine passion for their subject. Ward and Burns have written a graceful and eloquent basic survey of the Civil War that even the most battle-hardened Civil War buffs will find a wonderful reading experience.

The authors provide a straightforward narrative of events without much historical interpretation of events. That doesn't mean there isn't any analysis of historical events, however. In what I consider an act of literary genius, Ward and Burns enlisted the help of some of America's greatest Civil War historians - writers like James McPherson , Shelby Foote, Barbara J. Fields, and the late C. Vann Woodward. These outstanding historians, and others, wrote a series of essays that provided outstanding analyses of the causes, effects, and events of the Civil War.

"The Civil War: An Illustrated History"is far more than a few hundred pages of stuffy historical text. It's as visually appealing as it is wonderful to read. Nearly every page is crammed with Civil War era paintings, photographs and maps. The paintings add tremendous color to each page, but the photographs that pack the REAL emotional wallop! Many of them were taken by famed Civil War photographer Matthew Brady. In this book you'll see famous photographs, like Brady's renowned portraits of Lincoln, Grand and Lee; and other, starker, but less famous pictures, like the Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Petersburg battlefields as they appeared in the days following their respective battles.

"The Civil War: An Illustrated History"is one of those rare "companion" books that not only complements the PBS film series from which it originates; it towers alongside it. Readers should have no hesitation in reading this book without having first seen the film series.

This is an astonishingly generous book that gives a different look at the real life of a larger-than-life woman. Mrs. Gurewitsch was (apparantly) completely unthreatened by the strong, deep, and intimate (in the non-sexual sense of the word)relationship between her husband and the redoubtable Mrs. Roosevelt. She limns the outlines of the relationship gently, with great compassion for Mrs. Roosevelt and frank admiration for her many accomplishments. Still, this is not hagiography- Mrs. Gurewitsch tells her story with simplicity and affection, but is still clear eyed about her subjects human foibles.

Through her portrait, and through the extracts of letters to David, it becomes clear that the infamous Lorena Hickok letters must be read in the context of an era (and a woman), in which language was rather more effusive.

Like so many things about Eleanor Roosevelt, the book is a bit bittersweet, but she clearly had made her peace with life, and in the end Mrs. Gurewitsch has repaid Mrs. Roosevelt's trust and friendship. The book is not a comprehensive biography, but you may inspired enough by what you read that you go read one!

I enjoyed this book. After reading so much "trash" about Mrs. Roosevelt and her friendships, this book is revealing without delving into smutty, unproveable theories. It provided a lot of personal information about Eleanor Roosevelt's last years, public and private, as well as valuable insights about her complex personality. On occasion, the author's somewhat proprietary feelings toward her connection with Mrs. Roosevelt were in evidence, but on the whole, it is a memoir that no one with an interest in Eleanor Roosevelt should miss.

The title of this book based on the PBS documentary "Baseball" is "25 Great Moments," which is of some importance because the claim here is not that these are the GREATEST moments in baseball history. So do not expect to find everything you might think to find on this list. You will find some of the games most memorable home runs, from Babe Ruth's called shot and Bobby Thompson's shot heard 'round the world, to record breakers by Roger Maris and Hank Aaron, World Series game winners by Carlton Fisk and Joe Carter, and back-to-back jacks by the Griffeys. But then there are also several moments that do not happen in a baseball game as with Lou Gehrig Day and Sandy Koufax's retirement and the formation of the Negro League and first professional women's league. Sometimes the great moment lasts an entire season, as when Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams had historic seasons in 1941. Unlike the "Shadow Ball" book in this series, this one does not get beyond what we saw in the documentary, so you will get a bit more than what we saw, but not much. Note: The key photographs for each moment usually have a quote imprinted on them, often in silver ink, which sometimes is very hard to read.

The title of this book is way out of the strike zone. You see "Who Invented the Game?" and you think this volume is going to be about the origins of baseball, a scholarly little attempt to separate the true history of the sport from the myth of Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown (certainly one of the greatest public relations stunts in history with regards to promoting a small town in the middle of nowhere). However, this book, based on the PBS documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns, is really a condensed version of what I watch every year just before opening day. Not that there is anything wrong with that; the companion volume to the "Baseball" documentary is a weighty tome and an abbreviated version written for younger readers is certainly a good idea. But then the title of the book should be something else (this has struck a raw nerve with me; as a teacher I require students to have a thesis statement that they prove in the body of their essay, which sort of requires them to be about the same thing, and I have the exactly same feelings when it comes to title). "Who Invented the Game?" will answer such burning questions as "Who played the first real game?", "Who invented the curve ball?", and "Why is the pitcher's mound exactly 60 feet 6 inches from home plate?" But the book is not organized according to such topics, instead following the same structure as the documentary series. Illustrated with dozens of photographs this book by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns with Paul Robert Walker might serve well to get youngsters who have not seen the entire documentary interested in checking it out. But for those who have watched all nine innings or read the companion volume, this is ground already well covered.

I may not know the history of the game as well as some people I know (and do not). But this documentary gives me a satisfied feeling of competency about the game's past.

I usually watch one of the tapes every time I feel I want to brush up on a team or player. Speaking with one of my colleages about the series, she pointed out a few questionable facts (ie - last game at Ebbets Field, Dodgers lost in the film. Her extensive research has the Dodgers winning 2-0 with a Gil Hodges RBI.)

Anyway, it is deep with Yankees/Giants/Dodgers/Red Sox lore. Being a Mets fan, I was satisfied with what was entered (especially 1986). Too bad the 1994 strike, A-Rod, Randy, Bonds, Atlanta Braves and the late Yankees run wasn't a part of it. That part of the game's history should be added later should Burns update the series.

Disgruntled fans/reviewers who point out the 'lackluster' representation of their team shouldn't do so here. Sorry if you feel excluded, but looks like the majority of the game's history comes from the cradle of its existence - New York. Of course its mostly about those teams - THREE teams were there. Philadelphia, Boston, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis - all contributed to the depth and history. Why isn't it the same with other sports? Because basketball, hockey or football doesn't have the same influence that New York has on baseball. 'Nuff said.

Fans should be like moviegoers; if you love it, pay for a ticket and watch it until the end. If you want to complain because you're not getting what you paid for, walk out and never see it again. Save the joy of the game (and this documentary) for the rest of us.

Despite its obsession with civil rights and rascism (its a documentary about BASEBALL) and an absurd preoccupation with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1 World Series victory in 50 years...The Oakland A's have won 4 in 30 yrs and apparently deserve only 2 five minute segments) this documentary is a spectacular accomplishment. The account of Jackie Robinson's integration ordeal is touching, brillant and inspiring. The 1st disk is about the very early history of baseball in America and is truly captivating. Ty Cobb, The Babe, The Gashouse Gang, the Negro Leagues, the 1919 Blacksox scandal, Mickey Mantle and Joe Dimaggio and their dominating Yankee teams of the 40's and 50's, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Christy Mathewson, John McGraw, the Red Sox agonizing failures, Lou Gehrig, Curt Flood, Sandy Koufax, Pete Rose, Bo Jackson and much much more are exhaustively (and sometimes exhaustingly) covered. Many former players and executives and a few dozen fans are repeatedly interviewed. Their love for the sport, nostalgia and insights are invaluable to undertanding America's sport. Tremendously enjoyable and worth repeated viewings. I watch it straight through every Spring at the start of the season.

I was so impressed with this collection. When it first aired on PBS, I was glued to the set. Anyone who wants to know in depth history of baseball, this is a great source. I have rented the videos a ton of times.

One of my favorite episodes is "Shadowball" which focuses on the Negro Leagues and the admission of minorities into Major League Baseball. Buck O'Neil, the charismatic player, coach, and historian has some great insight to the old game. By the way, if you are ever in Kansas City, stop by the Negro League Hall of Fame. Chances are Buck will greet you personally and spend time discussing baseball with you for as long as you like. It was one of my most cherished baseball moments.

Burns triumphs with a granular look at the various eras in baseball. For the die-hard fan, this is a must for your collection. I tear up every time I hear Gehrig's "luckiest man alive" speech, sing along with the "Say Hey" song, etc. Burns puts you right in the moment.

You'll love it. I just wish Burns would add one more volume to update until the end of the century. But we would always be going back for more as long as the game is played.