This book was written as a companion to an exhibition that opened at the Huntington Library in Los Angeles in October 1998. The illustrations are disappointing, because they are mostly photographs of documents. The text is decent, but provides a very superficial account of Washington's life. A much better general book about Washington's life is James Thomas Flexner's Washington: The Indispensable Man.

Washington's achievements were primarily in three areas: commanding the continental army, being president of the Constitutional Convention, and serving as the country's first President. He practically single-handedly fostered a sense of our being one united country and held it together through the war, the draftig of the Constitution, and the national's early history.

It is difficult to overestimate Washington's contributions. Everything he did set a precedent for the nation. And everything was being done for the first time. There had been no democratic country in the history of the world. No country had had a democratically elected leader; they had all been kings.

Washington was a fascinating man. Unfortunately, this book is not. Still, it is worthwhile as a superficial overview of Washington's life.

This book has been informative in that I have learned a great deal about the political and militaristic problems Washington endured during America's push for independence. I have a feeling that, without Washington's sacrifice, America as we know it probably wouldn't occur. However, I also think of the famous quote attributed to Napoleon that "History is the myth men choose to believe." While Thomas Paine wrote about independence for the colonies, he also tore into the concept of slavery as immoral, so it wasn't as if no one was talking about this issue. If Washington would have "stepped up" and abolished slavery then and there, so that all men (and women) were truly created equal, as I said before, America might not be here. It was a politically divided and bankrupt country. I don't consider those reasons justification for sacrificing another person's human rights. The racial problems we face today stem from a lack of identity stolen from a stolen people

who did much of the work to build this country in its early days and, while the opprtunity was there, given nothing in return. "Patriot Sage" is an excellent insight into many aspects of Washington's life of which I was ignorant (like his influence on the Constitutional Convention) Sadly, some of its essays are too right-wing, to the point of Clinton bashing. What modern era president could really live up to the accomplishments of the one who defined the job's parameters ? One essay focuses on the moral symbolism of Washington now devoid in today's presidents, while another openly admits he gambled and sought prostitutes. To be read overall with some perspective.

Have you ever wondered if George Washington ever had children? If those children might be walking around amongst us? If those same children might be victims of a diabolical plot to deprive them of their rightful inheritance?

Neither had I until I stumbled onto a gratis copy of Benjamin E. Dean's classic tome "A Virginian in Yankeeland." This is THE indispensable work for those of us who have wondered about the issue of our greatest Founding Father's issue.

Benjamin Dean is apparently a man wealthy enough to self-publish his own account of being "George Washington VI". Bully for him, I say. The world needs more of this sort of thing. In any event, Benjamin Dean stumbled upon this revelation sometime in the 1940s while he was in Kentucky. A bunch of GIs, off to fight the Nazis, observed that he had a stunning resemblance to George Washington (Just like the grocery clerk I saw the other day who thought I resembled James K. Polk).

By far the best section of this immense book is the introduction. The rest of the books, as far as I can tell, is full of rich yarns about the author's childhood in upstate New York. But the introduction lays bare the heart of the matter, including the author's (or, as he likes to write, "your George Washington VI" or "your Virginian") fight to reveal the truth.

He first made his point sometime during the 60s when he called a live radio show to declare his ancestry. After that, in his words, "seven years of media silence" followed. His next big break was an appearance on a "closed-circuit" TV show sometime in the 1970s. Finally he got the attention of the powerful interests who connive to deprive the heirs of Washington of what is rightfully theirs. A very catty article was written about him. Nothing if not determined, Benjamin Dean has chosen to take the high road in answering this scurrilous attack, writing and publishing a multivolume epic.

And you have to hand it to him. I can't say I fully read this book, but anyone interested in the history of upstate New York in the early 20th century, or the progeny of George Washington will undoubtedly find this books and its sequels riveting. May Benjamin Dean write and publish many more books on these themes!

"Senseless Secrets," while presenting an outstanding review of the history of the U.S. Armed Forces, is written from a point of view that is difficult to accept. The author cites many examples where he believes the American intelligence services to be responsible for needless deaths of U.S. servicemembers. Many of these "failures," according to LTC Lanning's own analysis, are those of non-M.I. military and even civilian leaders disregarding or undermining the work of the intelligence community and even dismantling the service altogether. However, all are blanketed with the label of "failures of intelligence." Aside from that, of course, the book is extremely well-written and valuable to anyone with an interest in military history of the United States.

We must all remember that nearly every military succes or failure is easly explainable in retrospect. Inteligence is among the most vulnerable department when it comes to analysis such as this. It is always possible to critisize the quality and quantity of information available when , after the fact, many more things come to light. This is not a strike against the author, it is a reminder to us all to be rational and to delicatly determine the circumstances surrounding us.

failures considered fatal actions of the cia through civil war and the last two world wars; very interesting book for the new generations of army officers.

If you're going to Washington, D.C. with kids, this is not the book to buy. Everything we looked up in the book before and during our D.C. trip was accurate or misleading. We made reservations at a hotel listed as "economical" only to find the real price was $40 more than listed. When we entered the restaurant listed as one that welcomed children, our brood of three was scowled at , mutterings ensued and we were then led to a back table. There was no room to put down food (obviously cocktails were what the establishment had in mind) and the closest thing to food children would like was a plate of fish and chips for an exorbitant price. Every other time we consulted the book, it turned out badly, one way or another. So don't spend $16 on this book because it not only isn't helpful, but it's actually a hindrance. You end up in unsuitable places with unsuitable prices because you think they'll be good for kids.Wrong! So, after our trip, here's what I recommend for 3 days in D.C. with kids: The Smithsonian--as many as you can stand in a day The White House Tour A tour of the Capitol--write to your congressperson beforehand and get a private tour--an aide of Tammy Baldwin's gave us a crackerjack tour and we got to watch Tammy and others vote on the flag ammendment. Buy food and souvenirs from the street vendors--every age can find something cheap to take home that would cost twice, or three times, as much in a store. And it's fun to sit in parks or benches and eat and watch all the different people.

We bring this book every time we go to Washington! It really lays out all that's available to do and gives the information you need about each place or activity. The Smithsonian section is especially helpful.

I was looking forward to reading this book before I opened the cover. Then I kept falling asleep as I tried to read the book. Does the author who is Assistant Professor of History at Indiana University of Pennsylvania serve coffee to his class to keep his students awake. True it is a fresh approach to the events of the winter camp at Valley Forge. But one I find hard to believe, due the the past scholarly writing and facts about the winter camp at Valley Forge. The author believes that the suffering of the American army was not as bad as we have be led to believe and that Washington overstated it to congress...

To tell you the truth, yes this book is tedious. If you are interested in History, especially on the American Revolution I think that Dr. Bodle discusses a very well presented arguement between the "Real Struggle" in the Revolution between Morristown and Valley Forge. The Author has a specialized knowledge about the Campaign in Pennsylvania. I have had him for 2 classes being Colonial America and American Revolution. He shows his in depth knowledge of the ideology of social, economical and political aspects of the struggle known as the American Revolution in this book. In short...If you want to learn a wider vision of the Revolution...you would like the ideas from this book. If you can not take the pressure then watch the history channel!

Zane Grey wrote a large number of classic westerns and other novels, but this, a fictionalized narrative of George Washington's early years, and one of the last books Grey wrote, is not one of them. Beware of books that are not published until 55 years after the author's death. (There must have been a reason!)

Zane Grey's "George Washington, Frontiersman" was, sadly, a large disappointment for me. As a avid reader of all things to do with the French and Indian War and the Eastern Frontier, I was excited to come across this "lost" Grey novel about George Washington's early years as a surveyor and later a soldier with the Virginia Militia fighting against the French and Indians in the Ohio Country.

The book tells the story of a young Washington and his early life as a surveyor on the western Virginia frontier and his relationships with his neighbors the Fairfaxes and his love affair with Sally Carey, later the wife of his friend George Fairfax. In 1753 Washington is called upon by the Crown to take a message to the French forces moving into the Ohio lands demanding their immediate evacuation from the King's lands. Following the failure of this mission, Washington is sent as the leader of an expedition to force the French from the Ohio Country, leading to the disasterous debacle of Fort Necessity and, later as aide de camp to General Braddock, to the horrible and bloody defeat of that campaign at Fort Dusquene. The history here alone is more than adequate for a exciting and engaging tale.

Unfortunately, Grey, who has written some great material, fails here to convey any sense of interest or excitement. It was a struggle just to get through the first few chapters. Historical accuracy has been sacrificed for melodrama and poor dialogue. Washington comes across as a brave and hardy frontiersman, able to fight Indians, track game, and carve civilization from the wilderness almost single-handedly. Nothing could be further from the truth. Washington, while possessing many admirable traits, not the least of which was his leadership qualities, was really just an ambitious syncophant, eager for a commission as a royal officer and really nothing more than an untried greenhorn in the ways of the woods as can be seen by his horrible failure at Green Meadows and in his dealings with the Indians.

Ultimately, this book failed to live up to many of its expectations, and that was a great disappointment. I would greatly recommend Allan Eckerts "Wilderness Empire" for a far more enjoyable telling of the same events.

My favorite Zane Grey books are his "easterns" -- the adventures of the Zane family and Lewis Wetzel in the Ohio Country. I was hoping this would be a welcome addition to that sub-genre. But the prose is just plodding. I could barely work my way through it.

THANKS FOR TELLING LIES ABOUT ME IN COURT AND MAKING ME REALIZE THAT LAWYERS AND JUDGES ARE NOT HONEST PEOPLE. INTEGRITY CAN'T BE BOUGHT SHARMAN, NO MATTER HOW MANY OF YOUR BOOKS SELL, OR HOW MANY WROTTEN CLIENTS YOU REPRESENT.

I read this book to my seven-year-old because I wanted him to gain some appreciation for engineering and history while enjoying a good adventure story. This book could not have been more disappointing, or irritating. In unimaginative, stilted prose that lacks appeal even for the very young, this book manages to vitiate everything about the Panama Canal tale that is worth telling. Astonishingly, the author says nothing about the malaria and yellow fever and accidents that took a devastating toll (5,600) on a 70,000 man workforce. Instead we are treated to the happy spectacle of workers cheering and clapping for Goethals. The story also stresses Goethals regret at never having had a chance to fight in battle. A great message for seven years olds! (It left me musing that if he had joined his men in the trenches he could have at least "died for his country, or commercial shipping").

Most unaccountably, the book has dialogue like this: "I know now what wives are for! They are to help husbands feel important" And if that wasn't good enough, the author sees fit to repeat it again toward the end. The Discovery Biography series makes a big fuss about its editor, Dr. Mary C Austin, touted as an "outstanding reading educational specialist". Unless she proposes to turn elementary school children into ultra-right wing dullards, I can only imagine that she never actually laid eyes on this text.

I certainly wish I hadn't.

For a really exciting read, try A World Explorer:Henry Morton Stanley, written back in 1965 by Charles Graves

This book is for teenagers, it is presented in a very younguish context with illustration and large print. Amazon should actually classified as a children, teenagers reading material. Actually teenagers do not read this type of books anymore, I used to read them in the 70's. Very dissapointing considering I am a serious reader looking for info on a more detailed and technical manner.

This is a very disappointing book. Essentially, it is a regurgitation of the IRS regulations on a number of estate planning issues. There is no interpretation, no attempt to simplify or clarify for the reader, and worst of all no advice on tax planning strategy given particular issues or circumstances. What do these regs mean? How should they be interpreted? What do they allow the estate planner to do and not to do? What is the most advantageous interpretation of the jprovisions? This book gives not a clue. For me, it was a waste of $145.