Courageous, Brave, Lonely, and Survivor are only some of the traits David Pelzer possesses in A Child Called "It".
This book was about a kid, David Pelzer, who experienced one of California's worst child abuse cases ever during the 1970's.The day he started getting abused, he vowed he'd defeat his mom.And not let her get satisfied with her beatings. He would take the beatings hoping his mom would get bored and stop.
His alcoholic mother was "sick" because during the day while David was at school, she'd be at home thinking of different torturous games for David, when he arrive home. She made him eat feces from his brothers diaper, made him drink ammonia,and she starved him. She also did other frightening thing to him. All of this was done in front of his cowardly dad who did nothing! How does David, escape his mothers torturous games?
I thought this book was an inspirational story about a child's struggle, courage, and will to survive. When I started reading this book I just couln't put it down. I kept wongering what would happen next. Would he survive? Would he get seriously hurt or would he die?
Overall I thought that this book was great. The way Dave Pelzer wrote the book, you can picture his pain and also feel it. If I was to rate this book from a 1 to a 10, I'd give it a 9 because I thought the book was so well written.

WOW that's what i say. What a brillient book. I never put it down and highly recommended it to friends. I cried all the way through it, not to sound patronising but i felt Dave Pelzer's pain and heartache. What kind of mother does that to her child??? The things he was made to do where beyond belief, yet he still did them-he didn't run away. This is the sort of book that really inspires people and makes them apprieate what they have in life. Dave Pelzer suffered the worst case of child abuse seen in America, but not in vain-if anything it has taught people to be more vigilant and forth-coming. It made me smile with happiness at this innocent child's bravery but also cry in profound sadness at the way he was treated. My heart goes out to you. You've really turned things around for yourself, writing about your experiances, selling millions of books and being a best selling aurtour-THAT'S AMAZING. If anything we can learn form this and stop it happening to other innocent children. An astounding and heart-renching read. Good luck in the future all the love and happiness Mr Pelzer-a throughly inspirational man.

The book a child called it would have to be one of the best books that I have read in a long time. The way that this whole book is put togather is remarkable.This child went through so much and thank the lord above he is still alive today for his own safety and to write about his experience as a child to let others know of the child abuse that is happining in this world today. This book really touched me, it made me have so much anger and hate towards his mother and father. How could his father sit there and let all this mental and physial abuse just happen to his own child, his own flesh and blood. It's so ridiculous. Just reading this book made me think about all the children out there who are just like David, getting abused, it made me want to get up and try to do something about it. It made me so full of anger and sadness for David. All togather I belive this book is extrodanary and I would recomend it to anyone.

I'm japanese and I'll tell you that Japan is flooded with comic books also known as Manga.Threre are hundreds of weekly all comic magazines published and almost EVERYBODY is into some sort of those things. And I'm not. I can't stand reading and gazing at drawings at same time, it almost seemed like impposible to me. Until I saw this. I saw the animated film version of the same title and was blown away! I had to read the Manga version. The story is deep. There is a lot more going on here than in the movie. Way more complicated, and made me cry so many times. You won't understand in 1 read. I've read it like a thousand and one times, but every time you read it you find more to it. Another message here, different meanings there.....
Mr. Miyazaki took like 16 or so years to complete this. It's a masterpiece. only 1 thing is towards the end it feels like he rushed himself to end it, like very anxious to finish it and get it over with.It could've been 50 more pages to have it ended more dramatically. But well it might've taken him another 3 years for that so.... that was enough for him I guess. Anyway...
I think it's great and this is the only manga book I own and love.

You don't have to be a fan of comics to love Nausicaa. In fact Nausicaa is the first one I've ever read (at the age of 19). The world Mr. Miyazaki has created is one of the most complete fiction worlds ever realized by an author. Mr. Miyazaki then goes onto to create beautiful characters for his world. As if this wasn't enough the story really stops you dead in your tracks as you begin to think what all of twists and turns really mean. Our views of all the characters change with time, even Nausicaa. Perhaps the most rousing compliment I can give is I was sad when it was over. I wanted the story to go on and the characters to continue their lives. Do yourself a favor and go buy these books, and Mr. Miyazaki's work deserves to be called books.

Where do I start? I'll try this... Nausicaa of The Valley of Wind is absolutely the best manga ever created! It is the epitome of what manga, literature even, should be. For those who recognize it as the same story seen in "Warriors of The Wind", the horribly mutilated translation of the anime version of Nausicaa, all I can say is that "WOTW" is a travesty to the story displayed in this graphic novel. For those who have seen some of the works by Mr. Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Mononoke Hime), Know now that Nausicaa is his greatest achievement. This story deserves to be recognized by the public as one of the greatest works of storytelling ever created. I will not spoil the story for you, but believe me, it will not dissappoint. Enemies become friends, friends become enemies, plot twists abound and some of the most likable (and lovably despicable) characters in the literary world. I haven't even gone into the artwork. Miyazaki is an accomplished artist, with extraordinary skill and talent. It shows in this masterpiece. Wonderful character designs and the use of art and look to help tell the story can be spotted. When reading, realize that one can recognize a character in disguise by examining the way the character stands, holds him/herself, and talks. I have never seen that before in a manga. Imagine the characters not as drawings, but actors upon a magnificent and beautifully crafted stage. In ending, this manga deserves not just 5 stars, but all the stars in the heavens above.

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

Co-Author David Wingrove has done a first class job developing some fictitious people into a living, breathing civilization, complete with its own customs, government, recreation, language, and all else that can be expected of a culture. Since the best selling CD-Rom video game "MYST" was released in 1993 two novels have been published, "MYST -- The Book of Atrus," and "MYST -- The Book of Ti'ana." Each novel has penetrated deeper into the MYSTerious chronicles of the ancient D'ni culture. The latter of these books, "MYST -- The Book of Ti'ana" examines the D'ni in a more involved look through the eyes of the first outsider to visit the D'ni, Anna, and exposes what brought a once powerful nation to a rash and senseless destruction. Mr. Wingrove brings topics to light such as, friendship, connivance, betrayal, and love. "MYST -- The Book of Ti'ana" decked with rich and vivid descriptions, distinct and well-developed characters, and a plot as intricate as a well-made piece of lace, made it a challenge to set down. "The Book of Ti'ana" proves t be an important corner piece to the involved puzzle of MYST. This book goes highly recommended

Did you ever wish you could step into the world of MYST without solving puzzles that vex your brain and try your patience? Well, now you can. This book is your window into the world of the people of D'ni through the eyes of an outsider, and it is quite a compelling journey at that.

For fans of the MYST series of games, this is a treat to say the least. The descriptions of excavation work are technical but not so much so that you can't picture scenes in your head or know exactly what's going on. I love the sense of awe and wonder that is present as the heroine of the story makes her journey into this ancient culture and learns it's language, customs, traditions and so on. The descriptions of the various Ages are vivid but simple enough to be beautiful to your mind without being too wordy.

One great thing about this book too is the pacing. There are plenty of scenes of working with the rocks, caverns, and so on, but the book never drags. Throw in a very engaging plot of the dangers of change to ancient customs and the re-emergence of an old nuisance to D'ni society, and you have a sure-fire recipe for a book that is a winner. There's even elements of a very clever who-dun-it thrown in for good measure.

In short this book has it all. Vivid characters you can care for, crisp pacing, tension, awe, wonder, beauty, and a real emotional effect on the reader. Take a journy back in time to the world of Myst before the games. Step into a world of wonder that is so enticing that you may wish you never had to leave. You will definitely remember this story long after you close the book. It's only too bad that there isn't a linking panel in the book itself somewhere. Peace. :)

As a fan of Charlie's Angels since I was a kid, I would like to say that the book is a treasure to all fans of the series. I love its behind the scenes details. There were many questions that were answered after reading the book. I now know how each girl was hired. I know why Farrah & Kate quit (ouch). I know why Shelley Hack was fired (double ouch) and why the show subsequently was cancelled. I also appreciate the episode guide the book has to offer. Its better than any episode guide I have seen on the internet. I also like the input the producers like Barney Rosenzweig, Rick Husky & of course Aaron Spelling put into the book. But lastly I am grateful for the authors for finally providing a detailed book on one of my favorite series of all time. You all did an excellent job as far as I'm concerned.

As a fan of television, and especially Charlie's Angels, it was a no-brainer for me to get this book... and I must say that this is definitely in the top ten of the best written, and most informative TV-related books. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Charlie's Angels, but Mr. Condon and Mr. Hofstede have proven me wrong! Every page is loaded with little-known facts, info, trivia, tidbits, and insights, that are invaluable to any fan of the Angels. From Kate Jackson to Tanya Roberts, they're all here (And who could forget our beloved Bosley, the late David Doyle). You'll find the true stories behind, among many others, the creation of Charlie's Angels, the last minute decision that put Jaclyn Smith in the role of Kelly Garrett, Farrah's departure after the first season and the lawsuit that ensued, Kate and Cheryl Ladd's true relationship, how Shelley Hack really felt about being hired and then, ultimately, fired, and the massive search for the "final" Angel. In between you will find personal recollections from the Angels, as well as various guest stars, directors, producers and writers from the series' five season run. There is also an extensive episode guide, with commentary and additional info about each episode, as well as a guide to the massive amount of Angels merchandise produced over the years. And don't miss the full page photo of co-author Jack Condon's world-renowned Charlie's Angels collection! (As a side-note, I'd like to mention that I own several books published by Pomegranate Press, LTD., and I love all of them. Each of them contains a wealth of information and rare photgraphs of the various shows they cover, which include Dark Shadows and The Night Stalker.) Take it from a die-hard fan, you will not be disappointed!

Being a huge fan of charlie's angel's I was naturally attracted to this book as it's cover contains not only the three original angel's but the best angel's to have ever graced the series. I couldn't put it down until I'd read the entire thing - this book is full of facts, pictures, and behind the scenes antics of all the angel's and is an absolute "must" for serious Charlie's Angel's fans. There is a full insight into what the girls were like on the set, what they are doing now and all about their personal lives and what they think about the impact of the show. There is even a full episode guide outlining each episode in all five seasons - Excellent! For me the best thing about this book is that it's 100% official so what you're reading is true and not simply patched together from many unreliable sources, most of which are untrue. It's plain that Jack Condon and David Hofstede clearly have first hand facts and know what they're talking about. This book screams class - The one and only Jaclyn Smith wrote the foreword, need I say more? For any fan who doesn't own this book "You're insane, buy it now" Best book I have ever read!

I await the next one Jack!

Miss Sarah Kelly

Although I expect most readers of the Myst books have probably played the computer games, this fantasy series deserves a reading of its own right. Having played the game I was curious about the conception of the storyline, and I picked this up as a light read, not expecting to be particularly impressed. I was, however, both by the elegant writing style and by a depth of insight going beyond most books I've found of the fantasy/science fiction genre. It is not so plot-driven as to be empty of many moments of reflection.

This book is fantasy/sci-fi for the ecologist or environmentalist. Its underlying theme is the need for knowledge and balance, and the great care that must be taken when tampering with worlds and peoples. While Gehn, Atrus' father, sees his role in opening up or creating worlds from an entirely exploitative perspective, Atrus recognizes the need for care, understanding and stewardship, and these contradictory goals become the central conflict of the plot. Those with a background in science will find Atrus' search for an understanding of the D'ni characters, which are the ultimate causes of the characteristics of each world, particularly resonant, and will understand his continual surprise when their results are often not exactly what he anticipates. The connections inherent in each world cause small changes to have indirect and unexpected effects, and his struggles to understand the structure of his worlds are much like those of an ecologist, the only difference being that he can manipulate the rules through writing. However, in case I have made this novel somehow seem too cerebral, I would like to conclude by saying simply that I think this could be an enjoyable read for anyone, particulary those who like fantasy, or who enjoy being brought into strange and fascinating worlds through engaging language.

Some books you're surrounded by everything at once. In the book "Myst" you can step into the surroudings and imagine it in detail. Miller creates a setting that is astonishing. It is original and simple. You see everything clearly. You follow Atrus as his life changes drastically from life in the cleft, light, to the underground in D'ni,darkness. How he goes through radical changes. How he is taught about his culture and his unknown abilities. The first time he writes in a Book. When he sees Catherine. The many different worlds in vividness. It's as if you're going through the death of Atrus' Flame. You can see the colors of the pool in the cleft. You're Anna feeling the rain pelting her sunburned face as that rare storm washes the valley. It seems as if you're in Atrus' shoes as he runs through the tunnels. You're Ghen as he gets trapped in another world. You learn the almost forgotten culture of D'ni with Atrus. From the cleft in the burning sand, the tunnels, D'ni, to the island of Myst. This book is something you have to experience yourself. It's something that will be read over and over(better get the hardback version). Better be ready for clarity--as in 3D. It's treacherous as you stumble along a path that cannot be determined. There could be a drop off around any corner..

This one is not to be missed. MYST is a well written, intriguing, and wonderfully crafted fantasy novel, a page-turner. The entire series is amazing, and a fantasy fan should not miss this for the world. Though very explanatory for those who play the game, this book doesn't need to be read by someone who has played or in the proccess of playing the game. I thank rand miller gratefully for his wonderful books. Don't wait to read this! Atrus is a complex, interesting character, and also the hero. Then we have Gehn, the father which he has never known, and his ways as you come to realize are twisted and in a sense evil. i recommend this to everyone, of all ages. Enjoy!

This book should probably be read every two or three years. It's a wonderful, effective motivational tool. It stresses finding success, happiness and peace of mind at the level you believe that you can achieve. Although THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG has been deemed a management tool, it could also be a personal development and life skills textbook because it works on the mind, not just the business.

According to the author, the differences between the successful people and others include confidence and positive thinking and reinforcement.

You actually feel empowered and worthy after you've read this. These are powerful concepts. I highly recommend this book

David Schwartz's classic success book "The Magic of Thinking Big" is one of the top ten all time best proactive success books. After you have read it you will begin to refer to the earlier part of your life as "before I read the book." Even before you finish reading it the first time, you will be a changed person - it's that incredible. I say first time because you will want to read it again and again. My copy is well read, well read, and well marked. It has been a treasured part of my library and I've recommended it to others countless times.

I consider David Schwartz to be one of the earliest "proactive thinkers" in the world. If you haven't read this book before, get ready for profound wisdom. Schwartz makes it easy to understand that our thoughts are things and have God given powers, far beyond what is commonly taught by others. I can tell you from my own astonishing situations and experiences that, "your success really is most definitely determined by what and how you think."

Schwartz covers all of the proactive bases: smart thinking, system thinking, futuristic thinking, and positive thinking. If you are truly seeking the kind of success and abundance that makes your life 100% livable - you must read this book. Many of his ideas are found in SUCCESS BOUND, another book built on learning how to live a proactively life that is God centered and fulfilling.

You will find that this exciting book becomes a part of you. Don't hold back - let it happen. In fact, you should spend 10 to 15 minutes every morning focusing your thoughts on the truths of this book, thereby allowing them to seep deep into your subconscious mind. If you do this I guarantee this wisdom will most assuredly bring you the success and abundance you deserve.

Enjoy the book and your new proactive success life!

It is always shady when you see someone using the usual cliché "This book has changed my life!". While I usually don't
take those comments seriously (too much money wasted in 'life-changing' books, I guess) I have to admit that sometimes
a particular book hits you with more impact than usual and after a couple of years some self-examination might leave you
with the impression that perhaps the author has indeed influenced your choice of paths more than you would have expected.

This was the case with me and Dr. Schwartz's "Magic". I am not an intense fan of self-help and motivational literature,
but do read a title or two now and then. I have read many of the classics like Dale Carnegie's books (almost all), Napoleon Hill's "Think and grow rich", Covey's "The 7 habits of highly successful people" and others like "How to be a start at work",
"The power of positive thinking",Psychocybernetics" and many more that have sold millions, are mentioned everywhere and everybody seems to love.

Maltz, Hill, the list goes on. The fact it that so far no book of this kind has proven to be as effective with me as this one. I
even felt I have wasted too much money. Not the case with this particular book. This is the kind of title where you read things you already know, you are after all mostly just looking for motivation. That extra push to get you going in particular moments when things aren't flowing as easily as you'd wish. And for that use, my preference goes to books that have an honest simplicity. This title isn't verbose, it isn't very technical or full or scholarship, perhaps even some of its examples are fully fictional. The truth is that I don't care about that, because it has proven very effective.

If you are looking for something to motivate you (in any area), I suggest you try this title first. The effect with you might be quite different.
Perhaps Napoleon Hill's style suits you better (I truly disliked his books) or maybe some other author. But to many of us, Schwart'z approach is perfect. I first read this over a year ago, and can now look back and see certain aspects that were definitely made easier because if it. Overall, the only thing I regret is not having found this title much sooner in my life (I'm 27), but it will no doubt still prove useful for many years.

As a side recommendation, I suggest you combine this with the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, or the more accessible "The Art of Virtue" also based on Franklin's words, Dale Carnegie and as much wisdom and self-examination as you can come up with. The results won't be magic, but I'm pretty sure the improvement will be easy to notice.

I am a 31 yr old single foster mother to a 4 yr old boy. By chance I saw "The Lost Boy" in a grocery store & bought it immediately. The insight into the mind of an abused child was invaluable to me. Since then I have purchased and read his other 2 books. The excerpts in the back of the book from the adults involved in Dave's life were especially helpful to me. When things get tough, I go back & re-read them to remind myself that somehow I am impacting my child. I hope that no matter what happens in my little guy's life, that he will remember me in a positive light. These books are painful to read, but shows how it IS possible to beat the odds. I hope that everyone who reads the series becomes more involved in some way, politically, financially or otherwise to make a difference. God bless you Dave.

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!!!

Dave is Inspiring to All! The Lost Boy is the most beautiful book I have ever read. It tells about his life from the ages of 12 to 18 as a foster child. It is the long awaited sequal to the book A Child Called 'It.' A book so intreguing, it was literally impossible to put down.

This book is Pelzer's moving sequel. It deals with child abuse and how he survived. He takes you through his five diffrent foster families during his adolesent years. Pelzer tells about his desperate dtermination to find the love of a family and a child's dream of 'fitting-in.'

While reading The Lost Boy, you will experiance an uproar of emotions. It will make you cry and at the same time it will make you mad. Then when you least suspect it, you will be crying and cheering for Dave.

Dave is living proof that abusive cycles can be broken. He is an inspiration to us all. It would be an honor to hear this wonderful man speak.

As I read this book, the thing that kept running through my mind was how much research the author had to do. That is the difference between this book and other biographies, especially when you think that the two best sources of information - Vince and wife Marie - have long since passed away. I commend him for his efforts as not just a writer, but as a researcher. I will say this though, there are volumes and volumes of information about the Packers and Lombardi, making the writer's job not easier, but less time-consuming because of the availability of all the information out there.

As for the writing, I loved the way he blended Lombardi's day-to-day life with the football seasons. Just when you thought he was going to give you some boring play-by-play, he took you in another direction, describing Lombardi's relationship with a player, an assistant coach, a business leader, even his secretary, and he did so in a thorough and fascinating manner. He then took you back on the field for the play-by-play, and as a reader you felt like you never left.

You don't have to be a sports lover to love this book, because to me it's not really a sport book. Instead, it is a journey into the psyche of a man who was driven to succeed in everything he did. Chapters on his personal appearances, business ventures and other interests were nearly as interesting as the tales of his obsession with football. Lombardi was truly driven to be the best at everything he did.

The title of this book says volumes because to Lombardi pride did matter. Everything he did - except perhaps his relationship with his immediate family - he did with the intent of showing others that quality mattered to him.

I loved the book and despite his many shortcomings, I love Lombardi.

David Maraniss has written the story of a champion, Vince Lombardi, covering his life from birth in Brooklyn in 1913 to his untimely death in 1970. The book briefly describes his family background noting that his father with his father's brother owned their own business selling wholesale meat. Family, religion and sports shaped Lombardi's childhood. While sometimes inaccurately portrayed as a martinet, this is misleading, as he was a more complex person. The author traces Lombardi's development as he progressed from playing high school football, to college football at Fordham, to an assistant coach at Army, to finally becoming an outstanding NFL head coach.

Many influenced Lombardi's career. On page 245 the author notes "The fundamental principles that he used in coaching-repetition, discipline, clarity, faith, subsuming individual ego to a larger good-were merely extensions of the religious ethic he had learned from the Jesuits." From Army coach Red Blake he learned how to organize a team and prepare it to play its best.

Interestingly, his first head-coaching job was as a high school basketball coach. He knew little about basketball but coached his team to a regional championship. He began his football-coaching career at St. Cecilia High School in North Jersey staying eight years and developing there many of the skills that later allowed him to stand apart form the coaching multitudes. The text narrates Lombardi's coaching career from St. Cecilia, to an assistant coach under Red Blake at Army, to his first pro-football coaching job in 1954 as offensive coach for the New York Giants. The author notes that with the Giants "Lombardi began to earn the respect of the pros.. .If he had to adjust, he would find the means; it was a talent that exhibited for the rest of his coaching career, though it often went unrecognized, overshadowed by his public image as the implacable leader who demanded that the world adapt to him." The Giants offense scored 264 points in 1956, the most in the East, and the press began to recognize him.

In 1959 Lombardi went to Green Bay Packers as general manager and head coach. Here "He would have no tolerance for the halfhearted, the defeatist, the loser. The goal was to be the New York Yankees of football. World champions, every day, year round. Admired everywhere." The Packers ended their first season with Lombardi with a record of 7 and 5, the first Packer winning season in a dozen year; and Lombardi was named NFL coach of the year in an Associated Press poll of sportswriters and sportscasters. As the old saying goes "From this point on it was all history."

The text continues the Lombardi story which is the birth and history of modern NFL football as the game emerged from it one conference to today's era of two conferences and the Super Bowl. Along with the story of Lombardi's coaching career and his outstanding record with the Packers which included two Super Bowl Championships, the author relates the fascinating stories of Packer greats such as Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke, Forrest Greg, Willie Wood, etc. Interwoven with the narration, the personality and philosophy of Vince Lombardi is given. It some paragraphs, the story is almost like a motivation lecture given by Lombardi and later by his son Vincent.

A very interesting chapter is a discussion of Lombardi's signature phrase "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Contrary to popular belief Lombardi did not originate the expression. "Red " Sanders (later UCLA football coach) coined the phrase in the mid-1930s.and the line was later used in a John Wayne movie. Perhaps Lombardi's preferred expression was "Run to win" which emphasized his expectation of maximum effort from all involved.

The book notes that in 1968 having chosen to be just general manager and no longer coach, Lombardi was miserable, was faced with a team going downhill and suffered from declining health. In 1969, he accepted a part owner and head coach position with the Washington Redskins. The text recounts Lombardi ending, in 1969, the Redskins twelve year losing streak with a 7-5-2 winning record while the Packers without Lombardi went into a decline that lasted for more than a quarter-century.

The story ends with a moving account of Lombardi's terminal illness and his death on September 3, 1970. The author closes the book noting "The remnants of Lombardi's world are fading, yet his legend only grows in memory: the rugged and noble face, commanding voice, flashing teeth, primordial passion, unmatched commitment."

This is a book that both fan and non-fan alike will enjoy.

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.

The Count of Mote Cristo is a really exciting and fabulous story; I really enjoyed the book while reading it. The main character Edmond Dantes is about 21 years old, and for him, life is just full of success. He is a successful merchant and is about to be promoted to captain of a ship. At the same time, he is also about to marry a beautiful young girl whom he has loved for a very long time. But amidst all of these happy things, misfortune strikes, and Edomnd Dantes finds himself to be a prisoner in the Chateau D'If for life. He is a prisoner because he is betrayed by his so-called "friends" and rumored to be a servant of Napoleon Bonaparte. However, something miraculously happens, so read it to find out.

Although this novel is usually thought of as a story of revenge, it has an even deeper meaning than that. This story not only warns people who betray others, but it also promotes love, friendship, and most of all hope. When the Count of Monte Cristo comes back and seeks revenge, he also meets some friends on the way that move his heart. Some of his friends become poor and have a sad life because of his imprisonment long ago, but they still hope that he will return and they wait for him day by day. The count rewards them in a secret way, and shows how important it is to have hope in one's life even when there looks like no hope. So when you read this book, keep in mind that there is more to it than just vengeance.

This book is very pleasant and I finished it in a couple of sittings. It will definitely put you on the edge of your chair and you will hardly be able to put the book down. This book is for all kinds of people, but it is especially for people that think life is hopeless, because as this book will point out, nothing in life is ever hopeless.

I've reviewed this book before. I'm writing another review of it now so that it will appear on my list of reviews next to my review of the butchered 2002 screen adaptation of this epic work.

Alexandre Dumas's _The Count of Monte Cristo_ is one of the greatest novels of all time and in fact stands at the fountainhead of the entire stream of popular adventure-fiction. Dumas himself was one of the founders of the genre; every other such writer -- H. Rider Haggard, C.S. Forrester, Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour, Mickey Spillane, Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy, John Grisham -- is deeply in his debt.

The cold, brooding, vampiric Count (born Edmond Dantes; known also, among other aliases, as "Sinbad the Sailor," Lord Wilmore, and a representative of the firm of Thomson and French) is the literary forebear of every dark hero from Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Pimpernel to Zorro, Batman, the Green Hornet, and Darkman. And the intricate plot provides everything any reader could want: adventure, intrigue, romance, and (of course) the elegant machinations of the Count himself as he exacts his terrible revenge on those who have wronged him -- thereby serving, or so he believes, as an agent of divine justice and retribution. Brrrrrrrr.

The book is also a good deal _longer_ than many readers may be aware. Ever since the middle of the nineteenth century, the English translations have omitted everything in the novel that might offend the sensibilities of Victorian readers -- including, for example, all the sex and drugs.

That's why I strongly recommend that anyone interested in this novel read Robin Buss's full-text translation. Unlike, say, Ayn Rand (whose cardboard hero "John Galt" also owes his few interesting aspects to Monsieur le Comte), Dumas was entirely capable of holding a reader's undivided attention for over a thousand pages; Buss's translation finally does his work justice, restoring all the bits omitted from the Bowdlerized versions.

The heart of the plot, as most readers will already know, is that young sailor Edmond Dantes, just as his life starts to come together, is wrongfully imprisoned for fourteen years in the dungeons of the Chateau d'If as the victim of a monstrously evil plot to frame him as a Bonapartist. While in prison he makes the acquaintance of one Abbe Faria, who serves as his mentor and teaches him the ways of the world (science, philosophy, languages and literature, and so forth), and also makes him a gift of a fabulous treasure straight out of the _Thousand and One Nights_. How Dantes gets out of prison, and what he does after that -- well, that's the story, of course. So that's all I'm going to tell you.

However, I'll also tell you that the 2002 screen adaptation doesn't even begin to do it justice. The plot is so far "adapted" as to be unrecognizable, except in its broad outlines and the names of (some of) the characters. Pretty much everything that makes Dumas's novel so darkly fascinating has been sucked out of it. It's not a bad movie on its own terms, but if you're expecting an adaptation of this novel, you'll be disappointed. And if you've already seen it, don't base your judgment of the novel on it.

The Count of Monte Cristo is a hurting, vengeful, magnificently wealthy man who is bent on paying back the people from his past who took away all of life's gifts in one action - love, family, peace, and hope when he was a nineteen year old child still full of vision, love to give, tenderness, and dreams. Throughout this story I am constantly amazed at the insight into human emotion, pain, intricacy and joy that Alexander Dumas had. The story fills your head with another time and place- it takes you there. You hurt for the Count, begin to understand his thinking and are with him as he incredibly takes revenge on the men of his past and their families by becoming one of them, and later begins to see that vengence is, in fact, not his alone. As he begins to desire peace once again, he begins to feel again...and to weep for the love lost. This book is more than amazing - it is an experience that has put into me considerations and dreams that move me still - long after I have finished looking at its pages. The invitation? ...Come and ache and love and hate and hurt and grow and LIVE! Go to another time, another place that will effect and move you, and perhaps change you, here and now. It's worth your time.

McCullough's intensively researched, thorough, and moving biography of Harry S. Truman is an accessible account of a president who is almost effaced by the times in which he lived. Remembered mostly (if at all) as a little gray man who fell somewhere between Roosevelt and Kennedy, Truman's accomplishments, failures and personality often fade into the background, against the likes of FDR, Churchill, Stalin, or even Joe McCarthy.

McCullough's biography captures the man who inserted a civil rights plank to the Democratic Party platform, risking his presidency, and splitting the party; who fought in WWI, married his childhood sweetheart, failed at business, then succeeded beyond his wildest imaginings at politics; and who, yes, dropped the only two atomic weapons ever used in warfare. McCullough presents Truman in all his contradictions, and his affable, easygoing style. I went and read _Truman_ because I had profound ambivalence towards him, and his actions as president. While this bio did little to clear up my ambivalence, it was expertly and cogently crafted, and I found myself personally liking the subject, even though still troubled by him. In this world with few saints, this is the best one could ask for in a comprehensive biography.

McCullough writes from his subject's corner--one can discern a genuine affection for the man in his pages. However, the author does an excellent job of presenting the evidence; of showing the reader that McCullough is a man of his craft; of demonstrating that, while "objective" history may be a myth (yes, certain things did happen, and others did not. What that MEANS, however, is up for constant debate), responsible history is not. Readers who detect bias in the biography are undoubtedly correct. The reason this is troublesome, though, is more that the author's bias does not agree with the reader's, rather than the sheer existence of bias itself. Not that this is necessarily a problem; it simply is the way of things.

The last few years have seen an upswing in the reputations of Republican presidents--the renaming of Washington National Airport, and Oliver Stone's laudatory biopic of Nixon being two examples that come immediately to mind--, while Democratic Presidents, such has Clinton and Kennedy have, sometimes deservedly, sometimes not, come under fire. _Truman_ comes as a breath of fresh air to one who is increasingly disturbed by the tenor of our national historical dialogue.

I recommend _Truman_ to anyone with an interest in the period or the man.

This is the best biography, and one of the best books, that I have ever read! Even at nearly 1,000 pages, this book is a page-turner. Mr. McCullough makes President Truman come alive. Even though you may know the outcome of important decisions-like the firing of General MacArthur or the decision to enter the Korean War-Mr. McCullough's descriptions have such a dramatic sweep and uncanny vividness that the book reads like a great epic novel. The book pulls you into events so vividly that each scene has a movie-like realism. For example, when Truman meets Churchill and Stalin at Potsdam you can see the entire scene, clearly, in your mind's eye and feel the weight of history on Truman's shoulders. This book also illustrates the great character that Truman possessed. While certainly aware of the political consequences of his decisions, Truman always seemed to deliberate over what was right for the country-not what was expedient for him. For this reason, his popularity, prior to his miracle 1948 re-election, was at an all-time low. Yet even if you disagree with him, you respect him for following his principles. The book also shows that only in America could someone like Truman-a failure at business and farming-rise to the highest office in the land during one of the most dangerous times in U.S. history. Another enlightening aspect of this book is how the author contrasts many of Truman's public statements and seemingly bold attitude with his feelings of inadequacy or indecision as revealed in his letters to his wife and family. This book makes the case that Truman was perhaps our greatest 20th century president. If you saw the HBO special, starring Gary Sinese as Truman, don't miss this book!

David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize winning biography "Truman" is undoubtedly the best Presidential biography I've read in recent years. Written in a graceful and powerfully eloquent style, it is meticulously researched, and accurately captures the essence of the man who was the 33rd President of the United States.

McCullough challenges a commonly held view of history that Harry S Truman was nothing more than a common man of mediocre abilities who became President almost by accident, and owed his political success to his loyalty to the Democratic party and the Kansas City political bosses. By tracing the life of this self-made man - a farmer, artillery captain during World War I, haberdasher, local politician, U.S. Senator, Vice President, and ultimately President of the United States - the author acquaints the reader with a highly intelligent, competent and complex man. Here is seen the highly principled politician whose ability to judge the character of others enabled him to select outstanding men like Dean Acheson and George Marshall to serve in his administration; a Chief Executive capable of making some of the most momentous decisions of the twentieth century, such as ordering the use of the atomic bomb against Japan in 1945, integrating the Armed Forces in 1948, and firing General Douglas MacArthur in 1951. But, here also is seen a man who remained loyal to personal friends and Democratic party bosses and tolerant of their often disreputable activities; and who, in a fit of petty anger, authored a threatening letter to a music critic who wrote unfavorably about his daughter.

"Truman" is above all a fair and balanced portrait of one of the most unique and greatest of American Presidents. In my view, this extraordinarily well written book is destined to be the biography of Harry S Truman against which all others will be measured. Highly recommended!