Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Authors: Judith G. Coffin Robert C. Stacey Robert E. Lerner
List Price: $82.40
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Western Civilizations: Vol. 2, Fifteenth Edition
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company |
| ISBN: 0393925374 List Price: $82.40 Amazon Price: $82.40 Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks |
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Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle That Made England
Publisher: Little, Brown |
| ISBN: 0316015032 List Price: $27.95 Amazon Price: $17.61 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: Great History and Great Writing A beautiful narrative overview of Henry V and Agincourt. Highly readable and very informative. Enough detail to bring this era to life for those with little background in it, yet not overwhelming in terms of detail. The author does a wonderful job bringing many of the important personalities to life. Summary: Compelling book! On October 25, 1415, English King Henry V stood facing a French army that outnumbered his six thousand men by as much as five to one. The campaign that would culminate on the field in northern France in proximity to a castle known as Agincourt had started with an English invasion of France and the capture six weeks earlier of Harfleur, the highly valued strategic port in Normandy. Henry was exercising what he deemed his god-given right to recapture the lands of northern France that were lawfully his by hereditary claim. In Agincourt, author Juliet Baker has done yeoman's work in researching the historical record of French and English archives, and previous texts written by eyewitnesses and contemporaries of the time. The book is divided into three main parts detailing what circumstances lead the young English King to his expedition; what took place once the fleet had landed, including the siege of Harlfleur; and the confrontation at Agincourt. Lastly Barker details the battle's aftermath and the serious impact the loss of an entire class of French nobility had on the French people and the English dominance of the region. The account of the battle has been told many times, but with recent forensic studies and technologies available, the true impact of this disastrous loss by the French finally becomes known. Chivalry was at its height. This dictated that the initial waves of the French attack were composed primarily of nearly every noble Prince, Duke, Baron and Knights from northern France. As is well known, the use of the deadliest of medieval weapons--the English longbow--has been given as the main deciding factor for the wholesale slaughter which the French suffered in a few hours time on the battlefield.. Those that were not slain or mortally wounded were captured and taken to England until their ransoms could be raised. Many were eventually released, but in fact many never returned home. Juliet Barker's compilation of the facts of the English victory at Agincourt will stand as one of the truly great resources for generations to come. Armchair Interviews says: Any military historian worth his salt should feel compelled to read Agincourt. Summary: |
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One Special Summer
Publisher: Rizzoli |
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| ISBN: 0847827879 List Price: $24.95 Amazon Price: $16.47 Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: Send Your Daughters to Europe, by Boat!!!! I bought this book when I was in high school, and after studying the darling illustrations, and reading the story, I soooo longed to travel abroad, particularly by boat; and to mix with all the European dignitaries, socialites, and "Lah De Dahs" from across the pond. Now it's 30 years later, and having traveled quite extensively with my husband I still have that same longing, yet this time for my own daughters! This book and its charming illustrations make you want to send your daughter(s) or sons to Europe and travel amongst the noblesse. However impossible as that may seem to be, the good news is that today, anyone can take the Queen Mary or any number of magnificent ships (QEII available no longer) across the pond and waltz around Europe. This is a nostalgic peek back into a time long ago; how the well-to-do traveled, socialized, lolly-gagged about, and spent their time, misbehaving and just having an all around good time. It is based on the true summer travel experience of the Bouvier sisters: Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and her younger sister Lee Bouvier Radziwill. One became a First Lady of the United States, and the other, a Princess by marriage residing in Europe. I recommend this darling picture book for anyone with a sense of fantacy and longing for high society adventure and travel. Summary: A Charming Snapshot in History This was such a delightful discovery, I can almost picture what it would have been like to have discovered the actual scrapbook and travel journal on which this book is based. It is a delightful glimpse into the pre-celebrity lives of the young Bouvier sisters. Not only is this a treat for fans of either Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, or her sister Lee Bouvier Radziwill, but it is also a wonderful book for people who are fans of vacation memoirs. No matter what your background is, there are laughs to be found in the trials and tribulations of a voyage--for instance, of sharing a ship cabin with a woman in her 90's, who has a penchant for walking around in the buff late at night. The drawings, done by Jackie Bouvier, are charming and funny. One hopes that people still take such sweet records of their vacations. Summary: I am no Kennedy-phile... but I enjoyed this book. It is a snapshot of the life of Jackie before the overwhelming fame. Here we see her on vacation with her sister, alternately enjoying shipboard life and dealing with the eccentrics along for the ride. My favorite image? That of Jackie trying to fish an elderly woman's dentures out of the toilet. Summary: |
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Night
Publisher: Bantam |
| ISBN: 0553272535 List Price: $5.99 Amazon Price: This item is currently not available. |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: A book which raises many questions....... What more can be said which already hasn't of this extraordinary book written by an extraordinary man of courage? With 900+ reviews, I will not make this an overly elaborate review, as the book simply does not require it. Elie Wiesel's story is one of one man's courage, will and fortitude to push on when all around him was lost; friends, family, belongings, even basic human dignity. What struck me more than anything else from his personal story was the retelling of the hanging of the three men (well, two men and one boy) while he was in one of the concentration camps. Millions perished, but the way the boy who suffered during the hanging stayed with me. His story is the story of millions who perished and who never got to tell their tale, and one of the few books I would call a must read. Different instances in the book I am quite sure will strike readers differently. One of the things which struck me and stayed with me was how he kept on looking for God, even amidst the enormity man sometimes will carry out on his fellow man. What also struck me was the woman on the train who was saw the flames at the camps even before they arrived. And the times he scolded and questioned himself and his ethics for even thinking selfish thoughts even though he was dying. I still think would I (could I?) do the same if I was in his terrible position? This book shows the worst of mankind, and sadly this terrible event known as the holocaust is not entirely unique in man's history since the freeing of Elie Wiesel. We have witnessed Rwanda firsthand in the 1990's, and have been told by world authorities that "this will never happen again." Yet in modern day Sudan(and North Korea, and Tibet.....), we see much of the same.....the world turning its back on millions of people. There may not be furnaces involved, but the crime of complicity through inaction is little different than a world which allowed human beings to be fed into furnaces. I guess the final question I come away asking from his book is "Will mankind ever learn?" Summary: Night Night is Wiesel's personal memoir, which relates his personal story before and during World War II, as he and his father are separated from his mother and sister and interned in a series of concentration camps. "Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never." I read Night in high school, and always think of it as being a particularly long book, which it is not. Wiesel manages to pack more than I would think possible into a little over a hundred pages, which relates the story of himself and his family during the Holocaust. It is a beautifully written work that relates a terrible story. I found the story of Wiesel's loss of faith and the relationship he had with his father particularly memorable. If you somehow missed this in high school, pick it up, if you didn't, find it again. It's worth it. Summary: sign of a great writer I always wonder what makes a book a good story to nominate for a Pulitzer prize? Even though I knew NIGHT was about the holocaust I still wondered what would make this book a winner. My son had a copy of the book and loaned it to me. I read it in one sitting and not because it is only about 100 pages long, but because I was able to get under the skin of a man who endured unspeakable experiences and survived and found some humanity in all the horror. I love the last line of the book...priceless. Summary: |
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Rick Steves' Italy 2006 (Rick Steves' Italy)
Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing, Rick Steves |
| ISBN: 1566917271 List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $12.97 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: Fantastic resource! Very good book and gives one a look at what to do for the traveler versus a regular or typical tourist--covers the out-of-the-way places very well. Summary: Rick Steves' Italy 2006 I've read it twice in the past couple weeks as I am travelling to Italy soon. One concern I have, he tends to toss in Italian words that I don't understand & can't find their meaning. On the whole, it should prove to be very helpful in my travels. Summary: If you have a question about Italy, ask Rick... I am so glad my friend bought me this book as a gift in preparation for our trip to Italy. His restaurant recommendations were mostly good, hotel recommendations were great, his suggestions for places to visit/sightseeing were good, and the details regarding address, visiting hours and ticket information were very helpful. The train schedule and information was detailed and clearly written. We referred to this book countless times during our two week stay over there. Summary: |
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Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude
Publisher: Three Rivers Press |
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| ISBN: 1400052688 List Price: $13.95 Amazon Price: $10.74 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: crash course on the Middle East Deals beneficial to the U.S. and to individual politicians and businessmen are presented in detail with names and dates. Because of the money and kickbacks, Washington refuses to spy on the Saudis and is essentially blind to most of what goes on in the Middle East. At the same time, Washington believes that "Democracy will cure everything." (p. 201) The author believes that the Saudi royal family is in serious trouble. "the House of Sa'ud stood at thirty thousand members." (p. 164) "The royal family kept growing by leaps and bounds--a prince will have multiples wives and sire forty to seventy children during a lifetime." (p. 163) Meanwhile, the people are desperately poor and fanatically religious. Bin Laden, for one, has sworn the destruction of the Saudi family. Saudi Arabia's religion is Islamic fundamentalism, Mahhabis by name, and the royal family have tried to buy off the religious leaders. "Before long, Egyptian Brothers were occupying many of the important chairs in the religious faculties of Saudi Arabia's universities and madrasahs." (p. 126) Saudis have funded mosques and training schools in Europe, America, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia and every other country that will have them. "Islamic fundamentalism was waging a war without fronts or faces." (p. 136) The author believes that the situation is desperate and that we have no option but to seize the oil fields. (p. 210). (Since this book appeared, the Saudis have leaked the information that the oil fields are wired with bombs which can be blown from a central point. To make the point stick, they claim the bombs are laced with radioactive material which would render the oil fields permanently unusable. Some doubt whether the Saudis would do this, since Medina, the second holiest city, would be blown away in the process. Since the royal family have palaces all around the Mediterranean and money in Swiss banks, blowing everything away would not be a personal problem for them.) As to the immorality of seizing the oil, British and American oil companies signed contracts with the rulers of the various Middle Eastern countries in the 1930s and 1940s. The companies pay all the costs of exploration, digging, construction, etc. and the countries get a big slice of the pie. However, sometime after the wells were operational, one after another Middle Eastern country simply grabbed the whole thing. So, how immoral would it be to take the wells back? The PR disaster is also a mirage. These countries hate the U.S. and the West anyway, and they couldn't hate us more. If the oil were administered on behalf of the whole world, that might make a difference, especially if we gave lower prices to Third-world countries than they are getting now. They would still hate us, but maybe not as much. Robert Baer is like Billy Mitchell in 1926 trying to persuade the government to create an air force. But Billy Mitchell lost, and it took Pearl Harbor to wake us up. On 9/11, more people were killed than were killed at Pearl Harbor and still the government is unwilling to make tough choices. So, what is it going to take? A Saudi Arabia in the hands of Islamic militants? A radiation attack or a successful biological attack? Or all three? (War is not a pretty option, but if WWII had been avoided or had been fought with today's "no civilians killed" policy, Europe will still be ruled by the Nazis.) Summary: The love of money is the root of all evil Following on from his book "See no evil" Robert Baer shows how the love of money leads to moral compromise. elint + sigint + selective humint = Unintelligence. The message that I took from this book is that selective intelligence gathering compromises American security. Or put another way. The love of money leads to moral compromise, which leads to selective intelligence gathering, which leads to inadequate security, and ultimately terrorist attacks upon America. Summary: A book anyone interested in the middle east needs to read While Baer's style can be grating at times and often he goes for the easy targets he has spent the time to really explore what the radical islamic mind is all about. Why should we care? Well Baer would say because the radicals like the wahabis in Saudi Arabia are rapping themselves around our economy's jugguler. Is he right? Who knows? But if he is half-right we have an awful lot to be worried about. The saddest part is that the big oil companies have the economic power to protect our country for us, to wean our greedy politicians off of Saudi money but don't seem interested in doing it. Summary: |
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Top 10 Athens (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)
Publisher: DK ADULT |
| ISBN: 0756600308 List Price: $10.00 Amazon Price: This item is currently not available. |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: Just enough information This guidebook is easy to follow with a good mix of photographs and texts. The maps are very good, and as a seasoned traveller visiting Athens almost annually, I found most of the restaurant and site recommendations accurate. The information on areas that are a day trip from Athens, such as the Peloponnese and Delphi, was also very helpful. Summary: outdated and just published We were just in Athens....the new Athens Acropolis museum which was listed as a top 10 attraction is not open and will not be open for perhaps a couple of more years - this we found out while trying to find it - it's a huge construction site! A number of places listed in the book that we tried to find were out-of-business...we felt that the listings reflected the author's personal preferences rather than a good overall review of what there is to offer in Athens...the book is a great concept but was greatly lacking Summary: |
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Western Civilizations: Renaissance to the Present
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages |
| ISBN: 0072819642 List Price: $50.93 Amazon Price: $50.93 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: Thorough, Generous, Beautifully Illustrated This book is unique in its balance of primary sources and their interpretations. All the figures you'd expect are present: Macchiavelli, Luther, Locke, Paine, Engles, Freud, etc. And with secondary sources coming from Fromm, Ulam, et. al, the data is clearly and comprehensively analyzed. What readers will appreciate are the generous illustrations throughout the text which give you some idea how the philosophies/theories/values of the times are reflected in visual media. What some readers won't appreaciate is the single-spaced type that changes font and styles so often that one might get motion sickness. It's a minor point that has nothing to do with the value of the texts presented, but it does interfere with the pleasure of reading. Still, this is a great history book to teach from or just as a casual read/refresher for the history fan. Summary: |
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