What a wonderful honest account of the struggles of a man, Hugh Gregory Gallagher who at his peak suffered a tremendous loss as a result of polio. Yet in spite of it, and in part because Mr. Gallagher was blessed with a smart mind and strong spirit, overcame the obstacles, making a statement to society about his worth as a human being, as he pursued his dreams, then ultimately made the world a better place for thosewith disabilities. As a polio survivor and one who is facing the challenges of the late effects of post polio, I applaud Mr. Gallagher for his courage and have read and re-read his book to help me gain my strength and courage to face the challenges before me.

From Jack Trombadore Book Reviews New Jersey Polio Network
NEWSLETTER, Fall, 1998.

In this collection of essays, journals, writings and personal recollections spanning almost half a century, Hugh Gallagher courageously reveals himself in a compelling autobiography as both protagonist and antagonist in a drama with countless scenes in three acts. Throughout the first two acts he forces himself to overcome the role of emotional anti-hero until he achieves final freedom from the talons of clinical depression at the beginning of a long, ongoing and productive third act.

Stricken with severe paralytic polio at nineteen, Gallagher never walked again. A freshman at Haverford in the spring of 1952, he was young, beautiful and free; he was in love with a beautiful girl, the novels of Thomas Mann, Italian opera, politics, and with life. He was young, strong and invincible.

Polio, My Account, was written twenty years "after the event" and never previously published. Here, he tells us what it "felt" like to have had a life sentence of disability imposed without hope of pardon or parole. The physiological aspects of his polio were just representative of the inward tragedy of the collapse of a young life. He saw himself watching his own deterioration from outside his body. He saw the horrific progression of the disease the first days: legs, trunk, breathing, arms, hands, neck, double and quadruple vision, the tracheotomy on a body too weak for anesthetics, the rush down corridors in the arms of non-medical personnel to the iron lung, the108 degree fever, last rites.

His body was the battlefield for the doctors and his presence was "accidental." No one disclosed what his ravaged body would be like if they succeeded in keeping him alive. The overwhelming question became: stop or go, yes or no, live or die. He decided to live.

After a year in hospitals, he was admitted to the Warm Springs Foundation in Georgia. He spent nine months there, learning the "functional" tricks of the trade that would enable him again to live in the outside world. He was physically independent, healthy and in a wheelchair. He still is.

He obtained his American B.A. in 1956 from Claremont McKenna College in California. It was the only college of the forty to which he had written that was fully accessible. His first application for a Rhodes Fellowship to Oxford was returned unprocessed; Gallagher was not "fit in mind and body" as required by the will of Cecil Rhodes. His was the first application Oxford had ever received from a disabled person. However, he did attend Oxford with a Marshall Fellow scholarship and studied there for three years at Trinity College, the only one of Oxford's thirty-five individual colleges that was "wheelchair accessible." He was the only person at Oxford in a wheelchair. There he endured unbelievable hardships.

The water closet was a block away, down a ramp and up a ramp, nearly always slippery from the constant rain. The bath facilities were inaccessible and he did not bathe or wash his hair for a year at a time. His legs turned blue from the cold and stayed blue until the late spring. Despite having acquired an outstanding education and lifelong friends, Gallagher now looks with awe and disbelief at the hardships he willingly endured in those three years.

In 1959, as a member of a senatorial staff on Capitol Hill he was once again the only person there in a wheelchair. There was no handicap parking, there were steps everywhere, and the bathrooms were not accessible.

In 1962 Gallagher began his life's work, the search for equal access and equal rights for disabled persons, when he joined the staff of Alaska's powerful, popular and supportive Senator Bob Bartlett (D. Alaska), a member of the Appropriations Committee. The Senator authorized him to work on disability issues and agreed to support this work. Gallagher drafted the Federal Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, the first legislation anywhere to treat equal access of disabled people as a civil right, and the precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

One is thrilled by the account of the political maneuvering, and the political blackmail engineered by Gallagher and the ever-willing Bartlett in the Johnson years to achieve accessibility to the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, federally funded hospitals across America, and many more sites.

On Bartlett's death in 1968 Gallagher went to work for British Petroleum, Ltd., where he acted for five years as that Company's chief political officer in London and Washington. The discovery of vast oil reserves by BP on its Alaska holdings made it the holder of the largest crude reserves in America. Gallagher tells us he was playing with the "Big Boys."

On the 4th of July weekend, 1974, Gallagher left his office and never returned. He was in total mental and physical collapse and spent the rest of the decade recovering from his clinical depression. It had begun two years earlier at his 40th birthday party when he realized that "youth was past." He had been frozen with fear as he felt a giant black buzzard flapping its wings high above him. The experience was repeated in a few months. He continued working until he could no longer do so, filled with dread and unable to go out.

"The great black buzzard sat heavy on my shoulder. It would not go away." " ...the pain of acute paralytic polio in no degree equaled the agony and despair, the abject helplessness of depression." This period of Gallagher's life ended after a long and successful course of psychiatry and psychoanalysis.

Gallagher has long since assumed center stage in the Third Act of this heroic human drama, writing (FDR's Splendid Deception), traveling, speaking, and advocating nationally for the rights of the disabled. A must read.

This is one of the few books that gives you some sort of detailed information about the British paratroopers in WWII. Like some other books the book explaines how the units were raised and which operations they were involved in. But this book goes a little bit further. It explains in detail also the weapons they are using, the uniforms and badges worn and the order of batlle during the several operations. Each subject is supported by numerous photographs maps and drawings. In the range of small compact books on the subject of the British Airborne Troops during WWII, this book is the absolute best.

This is one of the few books that gives you some sort of detailed information about the British paratroopers in WWII. Like some other books the book explaines how the units were raised and which operations they were involved in. But this book goes a little bit further. It explains in detail also the weapons they are using, the uniforms and badges worn and the order of batlle during the several operations. Each subject is supported by numerous photographs maps and drawings. In the range of small compact books on the subject of the British Airborne Troops during WWII, this book is the absolute best.

THE book to start with if you are looking for something that will cover the important facts, and key personalities in the history of American film censorship. Black writes authoritatively, as he has accomplished extensive research, has had access to actual historical documents, and is a Professor on the subject. But don't let THAT scare you away...this is by far NOT a textbook. It is an easy read. I especially liked the plot summaries of key controversial films.

A Catholic anti-semite, Joseph Breen, and a Catholic extorionist, Martin Quigley, combined forces with a racist St. Louis Jesuit, Rev. Daniel Lord,SJ, to control the entire United States Movie Industry from 1934 until 1954, via boycotts, ignorant prelate pronouncements, and studio cowardice. Gregory Black details the whole sordid story with archival evidence. Curiously, Black does not highlight the startling evidence that Lord had used the racial theories of the 1920s as a weapon against the Jewish producers of motion pictures. He also downplays the antitrust suits which abolished the vertical integration -- ownership of exhibitors by the studios-- and block booking --requiring the captive exhibitors to take all of the films that a studio produced -- that enabled the movie producers to become victims of a Catholic pressure group, the Legion of Decency. Fr. Lord created a code of conduct for the studios which would protect the "moral ideals of the race." The word "race" which was code for white supremacy in 1930, was used over and over in the Lord-Quigley Proposal for a Motion Picture Code. The code as adopted, reflected American Catholic marriage practices which prohibited miscegnation. The Legion of Decency labeled the mixing of races as part of the Communist conspiracy, in accord with the personal views of Cardinals McIntyre and Spellman; Spellman, like Sen. McCarthy, a closet homosexual. Quite simply the Catholic orgranization agreed to boycott any picture that did not have a Motion Picture Seal and any theatre that dared to show a picture that was "Condemned". The Production Administration agreed to not issue a seal if the Legion objected. Both entities condemned and prohibited foreign and independent productions which threatened the economic dominance of the six major Hollywood studios. Most grotesque was the banning by the Legion of a biography of Martin Luther because Luther's theology was morally unacceptable. Black does not emphasize the American Chruch's misleading pastoral parish level teaching during this period that civil divorce was forbidden. The correct teaching is that remarriage after a civil divorce was and is forbidden. Any picture which "condoned" divorce or miscegnation was malum prohibitum. One enjoys accurate non-polemic social history, and this volume is definitely a must for movie buffs, American Catholic History buffs, and for those political scientists interested in unchecked power. One also notes that during this period, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Soviet Russia, all employed massive censorship to protect the masses from degenerate entertainment. The Legion of Decency was not a unique phenomenon in forbidding any depiction of homosexuality and other "depravities." "[T]he history of filmmaking in Hollywood during the era of censorship []is not a matter of how a few filmmakers got away with something, but that thousands upon thousands of films were refashioned to fit into the [lay Catholic] worldview of the censors. . .What the [censors] did not want, and successfully squelched, was the overt visualization and discussion of controversial issues. . .For more than three decades the Hollywood film industry allowed religious clerics to determine what was moral and immoral, what was socially acceptable political comment and what was not." This was achieved through the "Production Code Administration [Breen]and its alter ego, the Catholic Legion of Decency [Quigley]. This reviewer horrified his fiance in 1955, when he sat when the "voluntary" pledge was offered in her parish church. "Was this man going to be the father of [her] children?" (The reviewer was responsible for 12 pregnancies and seven chilren and 23 years of Catholic sacramental marriage, despite being corrupted by viewing "The Moon is Blue.")

Books that take you from undergraduate physics to a nontrivial understanding of nonlinear dynamics, chaos and fractals are rare. Chaotic Dynamics does the job ellegantly. The familiar pendulum is used to illustrate the basic techniques and concepts in nonlinear dynamics. The reader is gently introduced to phase diagrams, Poincare sections, basins of attraction and bifurcation diagrams. Computer code is included in the Appendix. The interested reader can use this code to further illustrate the lessons of the text or to embark on his/her own exploration of the pendulum and other dynamical systems. Having used the pendulum to establish a firm conceptual platform, Baker and Gollub progress gracefully into the logistic map to illustrate concepts such as period doubling, Lyapunov exponent, entropy, stretching and folding, and various measures of fractal dimension. The presentation is nicely rounded off with studies of other maps and nonlinear dynamical systems from a range of fields in physics, chemistry and fluid dynamics.

The gateway to experimental chaos research comes through here! The mathematics, the examples and code that illustrates the book is here. It is somewhat narrow in it's beginning approach, but delivers after careful study a beginning of understanding with some real industry. Not for the mathemaically shy or Professors like Ruelle, but for real people wanting real answers! Your unique Associates ID is: thefractaltransl.

This lovely little volume is a gift that keeps on giving. Its essays are simple, elegant, soulful, inspiring. And thought-provoking. You may well find yourself searching your own Christmas memories, and finding gems you had long forgotten. Which is what this book is all about -- seeing, hearing, remembering those things we take for granted, and cherishing them anew. This is a book to feed the heart, and the soul. And it's just the right size for stocking stuffing!

The kind of collection that is a great gift during the holidays for anyone - it reminds us of the spirit of the season and connects us to our past, our hopes, and the more important meaning of our lives! Great gift for family members, co-workers, neighbors and for anyone on your list!!

As a die hard member of the dawg pound, this book will always have a special place in my heart. It describes in rich detail the influence and impact Cleveland Stadium had on the city. I'd highly recommend it - Go Browns!

This book is amazing, truly an inspiration! The author pours his heart and soul to depict the legacy that was Cleveland Stadium. A must read for any Indians or Browns fan!

I love this book! Cognac is my favorite drink and this little book packs so much info. I love reading about the popular AND obscure cognac houses. The pictures are great and I would like to use it as my tour guide for France one day!

If you wonder what XO or Fine Champagne stands for this book is for you. The Cognac Companion provides helpful information on how to read Cognac labels, what glassware to use, and if your favorite Cognac house accepts visitors. The Cognac house listing is a great way to expand your knowledge beyond what you might find in your local retailer. I would recommend this book to the casual consumer as well as the connoisseur.

We've been to Colorado a number of times but had no idea most of the sites described ever existed. I guess that's because most guidebooks don't include things accessable only by dirt roads. If you have or can rent a four wheel drive, this is a must.

Gregory knows Colorado and has written the best travel companion for Southern Colorado. Like Scenic Colorado - Northern Region, this volume is tighly constructed to offer the traveler the best, in-depth information for enjoying the region. Included are very detailed directions to breathtaking sights that most would miss without Gregory's assistance. Also included are very accurate suggestion on how long you'll want to plan to visit a site, best times of day to take photos at the site and many other helpful tips. Knowing Colorado as he does, Gregory shares both his knowledge, and passion, for the region with his readers in a well prepared text that allows the traveler to discover and enjoy the state in a way usually reserved for the natives.

I found this book very interesting in terms of what the realities of premed realy are. I learned a lot of things that I was currently unaware of, and it gave me a stronger basis on what to expect in the next four years of my education, as a highschool student, it provided me with a lot of insight on how to prepare for premed classes, and how to balance my studying/working with my free time. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a career in medicine, as it will explain to you what to expect and how to handle it.

Finally. A well written, practical book for pre- med students. The author is both a doctor and a lawyer. This fact alone gives him fabulous credibility. Extremely informative book. Also an excellent source for relatives of pre-med students, as that it explains what to expect.

I just want to share summaries with other costomers

Published six months after Custer's death, Frederick Whittaker's "A Complete Life of General George A. Custer" traces the American icon's life from his boyhood in Ohio through his cadet years at West Point, his Civil War exploits, his impressive rise to the rank of Major General of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac and his transition to the peacetime army. All the foundation elements of the Custer story are stated in Vol. I of Whittaker's book. They are supported by the first person accounts of Custer and other of his peers, and in my opinion, clearly define the reasons for Custer being rightfully considered a genuine, homegrown American hero based on his Civil War exploits alone! [See also: "Custer Victorious"/Urwin; "Custer and His Wolverines"/Longacre; "Touched by Fire"/Barnett] My reading of this book was enriched by the fact that, as a Custer contemporary, Whittaker was not only in touch with the the 19th century ambience, but that he had the added advantages of active service as a trooper in the 6th New York Cavalry and access to Custer's papers, Civil War memoirs and personal anecdotes through his collaboration with Custer's widow, Elizabeth. As a result, the book is replete with knowledgeable commentaries on the customs, mores and military standards of the times. Of special interest to me were the final three chapters devoted to Custer's transition from the wartime to the peacetime army [Book Six, Chapters 1-3]. In these chapters Whittaker gives a clear and perceptive overview of the postwar military structure; the social psychology of the men Custer would come to command; the negative public perception of the postwar enlistee; the deficiencies in the formation of the 7th Cavalry; and the intense political intrigues which seem to surround and infect the military, particularly in peacetime. [For a contemporary example, see "Patton: A Genius for War"/D'Este]. In a clear and interesting fashion Whittaker enunciates the undercurrents which produced the "four D's" (demoralization; disobedience; dipsomania; desertion) which Custer had no part in creating but over which he was expected to exert appropriate control. Whittaker makes it clear that it was Custer's efforts in this direction, coupled with his own naivete, that set the stage for many of his future difficulties with the command structure. Whittaker's "A Complete Life of General George A. Custer" is the spiritual and intellectual great granddaddy of most subsequent writings on the subject. I found that, in spite of its venerability, the book is still productive of provocative thought pieces. As an example, it contains perhaps the first published mention of Custer having been offered a full colonelcy in the 9th Cavalry, a black regiment, which he allegedly refused , ". . .preferring a lower step to a lower grade of service. . ." One may speculate as to how the acceptance of that command might have influenced Custer's subsequent career. In this regard, it is interesting to note that the acceptance of command of a black regiment (the 94th Massachusetts) provided an upward step for Col. Robert Gould Shaw, and Gen. John J. Pershing's early command experience with the all-black 10th Cavalry Regiment (and the resulting sobriquet "Black Jack") may well have called attention to this officer and advanced his career. In spite of Whittaker's lapses into florid prose and blatant hero-worship, I found Volume I of his complete biography of Custer to be emminently readable and informative. I would highly recommend this as a "must-read" for both Custerophile and casual history reader alike.