This book is a fascinating read about one of the world's most colorful characters and showman, i.e. Phineas Taylor Barnum. It's replete with interesting facts and details about his life as a circus showman, museum owner and Bridgeport politician. Fleming writes of how Barnum deceived the public with his mermaid exhibition, the world's oldest woman and Colonel Fremont's wooly horse from the Rockies. Some interesting circus characters are described such as Jumbo the elephant, General Tom Thumb and lavinia Warren. If you have any interest in learning about the paragon of all showmen then you must read this book.

Having been stationed in Vietnam during the TET Offensive of 1968, and serving as a medic. I found the book very informative. Many of us were not "up to speed" on the views of those discussed in the book. The military, vietnamese civilian, and the American public's views were well stated in the book and will help anyone who is still confused on the issues. Well done.

This short story collection is a worthwhile read, and I will be looking up some of the authors featured. In particular, Andrew Sean Greer's story is heartbreaking; William J. Cyr's story has an interesting conversational, matter-of-fact tone; and the curiously named author "wormser" has a short but sweet entry. The best part of this collection, for me, is the interview with author Richard Bausch. I found it thoroughly inspiring, as it touches upon such problems as writer's block and having the confidence and determination to live a writer's life. The best part about Glimmer Train collections as a whole is that they give unpublished writers their first break, in addition to publishing established writers. More literary magazines of this caliber and spirit of inclusiveness are sorely needed!

This is an enjoyable collection of short stories; although, as with other collections, there are a couple of weak links in the chain. Nevertheless, it's worth buying for Andrew Greer's story alone. Others are also quite good, such as Karen Outen's fictional debate on whether to have a baby, Wormser's story about a childhood friend, and William Cyr's original and witty (and, at the same time, chilling) story of a bad stepfather. I also enjoyed the whole presentation--with baby photos of the authors (as well as current shots) and their personal comments. Established author Richard Bausch talks about writing, racism, and life in general in an engaging interview. Definitely worth a read!

this book tells a Story of a battalion formed following the bloody and illegal expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri, and how they fought in the New war with Mexico in hopes of finding a new Land of Zion. Interesting in its Mormon saga in our American heritage. True to history and true to life

This books starts out with lots of excellent information on Islam and various problems that Muslims in this country go through. An excellent easy reading for a new Mulsim convert such as myself.

However the second half of the book gets into topics such as racism, black history, ideals of Malcom X and Louis Farrakhan and the idea of white people being the devil. The author does't present these topics as something members of the Nation of Islam would have to put up with since these ideas are all not of the Quran. Rather the author provides way too much history and various ideals of Malcom X and Louis Farrakhan and in my opinion went way too far on this topic and it made the book an overall negative for me.

The book is really good when it came to discussing the Muslims and their views. There are a lot of interviews with Muslims on where they stand with parts of there religion. It is really intresting and enlightening. Except for when it comes to the Nation of Islam group, a little less then half the book then focuses on this African-American-Muslim religion. But doesn't give facts as the book did when it came to your ordinary Muslims. It then becomes more of a biografy of Malcome x and a few other gentle men. Excluding that part, because it really did not answer any of my questions, it just went on to explain this Nation of Islam group, the book was informative and an easy reading with intering facts and first hand stories!!!

Richard Wormser's American Islam does an excellent job in explaining just what this important world religion is all about. He does it in an easy to understand manner without boring the reader with unimportant details. Wormser explains the early history of Islam in the Arabian peninsula and the USA, how Americans Muslims have adjusted in Post-9-11 America, and presents Islam from a Muslim teenager's perspective, bringing Islam into a today's context-something that his contemporaries have failed to pull off.

In the second part of American Islam, Wormser discusses issues and problems concerning African-American Muslims, who make up the largest number of converts in America, and in an unprecedented heroic step, in Chapter 5 he narrates an issue that no Imam in America will tackle-discrimination against African-American Muslim males in love & marriage by other Muslims.

For that alone, Wormser and American Islam deserves a Pulitzer. Five stars Richard Wormser on a job well done!