While David McCullough's more recent biography of Harry Truman has received widespread recent attention, Robert J. Donovan's earlier biography published in 1977 has much to recommend it. Whereas McCullough's extensive volume covers Truman's entire life, Donovan zeroes in on the pivotal period of a pivotal presidency. Donovan begins as Truman takes over the awesome responsibility of the presidency after Franklin D. Roosevelt's death. Donovan covers in perceptive detail Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan as a means of ending World War Two. Donovan follows the war to its conclusion, and also focuses carefully on the exciting 1948 presidential campaign, when Truman scored one of the greatest upsets in American political history by defeating heavily favored Republican nominee Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York.

Donovan turns an astute eye as well on Truman's great foreign policy accomplishments of the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, and the creation of NATO. As a Middle East historian, I was benefitted by his thorough presentation of the controversy leading up to the granting of recognition to the new nation of Israel, and how Truman's decision was crafted.

I would urge that any dedicated Truman scholar should read both the McCullough and Donovan volumes. McCullough covers a wider perspective, while Donovan, on the other hand, gives broader coverage to the pivotal foreign policy events from 1945 to 1948, as well as Truman's sensational upset victory over Dewey.

Back in the early 1900's, Robert Lowie lived with the Crow, listening to the elders, men & women, speak of the old times. Even though forced to stay on a tiny portion of the original Crow territory and no longer having any buffalo to hunt, the people still practiced their language, religion, beliefs & customs as always.
This is an excellent, book sized "glimpse" at the Crow or Absalooka worldview; clan relationships, marriage customs, religious ceremonies, warrior societies, coyote stories and more.

I taught a course to MBA students using a previous edition of this book. The students loved it, since it gave them practical skills they could use.

Another much different book which I have used is "Statistics" by Freedman et. al. This is an elementary book and does not emphasize practical skills so much, but gives very good understanding of statistical principles and pitfalls. Even though elementary, some of our Ph.D. students could have benefited from a few of the insights.

For all of us who know a little about American Christianity, pretend to know a lot, but wish to know much more, this book is a wise addition to any personal library and an invaluable resource in general. The articles are rich and informative, the cross-references helpful (and addicting!), and the topics comprehensive. As was once said, we are not a people without a history, nor should we become so. Historical books such as this ensure that our history as American Christians will not be forgotton, for although America was created for the purpose of liberty (including religion), I am afraid we have forgotten God in the process of growing up--to our shame. I recommend this book to Christians everywhere, from laypersons to scholars--all will find it useful.

At four pages, eleven paragraphs (not incuding the introductory quote), thirty five sentences, and (sorry Georges) more words than I really wanted to count despite how cool it would have looked here, Ellis Island is a tome. It made me more intensely examine my own identity than all three hundred pages of What Color is Your Parachute even came close to doing. (Actually, I only read about four pages of that one too, but I could tell where it was going.) Ellis Island, however, was a complete surprise. The bit about what it means to be a Jew and the fact that that aspect of his identity is more concretely definied by its abscence than its presence, is profound. I mean, other people have said it, certainly, but this is, without a doubt, the clearest presentation I have encountered. I think it's particularly telling that he should set these musings in America, at Ellis Island. We, as Americans, particularly as white Americans, have a watered down and dissapated culture defined not by who we are, what we love, how we live etc., but what, ultimately, we are not. This small work was a four-page invitation to examine my relation to my roots, my country, and my culture. Ugh. I loved it.

The authors, Harry Selker and Robert J. Zalenski wrote a very good and informative book. A "must read" for doctors and cardioloigsts.

It is easy to follow and full of useful information. Well written and organized, too.

We wrote this book to let people know about a place we know well, a vast and beautiful landscape that lies hidden behind the clanging slot machines and roulette wheels that people associate with Nevada. This is a dynamic landscape created by glaciers, vast lakes, desert winds, and explosive volcanism. We lead you to active faults that have produced violent earthquakes, hot springs where steam escapes from far below, ghost towns where men once toiled for gold, and 10,000-year-old petroglyphs left behind by ancient inhabitants. We'd like to invite you on a trip that may change your mind about Nevada; we'll be your guides, but the land itself is the storyteller.

Revisionist history upsets me very much. I especially dislike revisionist history dealing with the ending of the Second World War and the Cold War. Somehow, despite all common sense, reality, and historical evidence there are people who believe, write and teach that Harry S. Truman had alternative motives when he ended WWII by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

I am a big fan of Japanese history and culture. I love it. I have been to Japan two times. However, it can not be denied that Japan was not ready to surrender in August of 1945.

The Bottom line is this, Harry Truman bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the Second World War. He did it to end the war quickly. He did it to save American lives. He did it to save Japanese civilians.

Truman did not use the atomic bombs for nuclear diplomacy with the Russians. He did not use it because of racial biases. Fortunately this book, which is really a collection of documents sets the record straight.

Harry Truman was a great president. He was honest and he was not afraid to make tough decisions. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was one of those tough but neccessary decisions that Truman fortunately had the moral courage to make.

Historians and fans of history should look at this book and the documents discussed. Revisionists will unfortunately ignore the evidence and spread bad information. But in reality, this book helps set the record straight.

This is a very well written mystery with lots of twists. The story involves small town characters with big city backgrounds. The life history of some of the characters is essential to the plot and adds considerable texture and interest. The progtagonists are very human and very vulnerable. There are several humorous moments which really add to the human scale of the story. It is a fun and suspenseful read. A very good work from a new author.