Biographies & Memoirs Books - Page 17

Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters

Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 110 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

"It Is Far Easier To Find Quiet Than To Find Peace." 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

"Beyond Band of Brothers" is the combat memoir of Major Dick Winters, a man immortalized in "Band of Brothers" first by in print by Stephen Ambrose, and later by Tom Hanks on HBO. In the "Band of Brothers" book and miniseries Winters comes across as trustworthy but enigmatic, brave but modest, and above all a leader of men. This book allows Winters, a deeply private man, to express his individual point of view like never before, and as a result allows the reader the ability to better understand him and the keys to his leadership style.

Though not a professional writer by trade, Winters, while plain spoken, conveys the personal trials and triumphs of his life, the war, and especially his love for the men of E Company better than any outside historian, no matter how well-intentioned, ever could. While I had seen most of the material covered here in the miniseries, I understood the actions and grasped the decisions made far better after reading this book. I now plan of re-watching the miniseries again with my newfound understanding. The essence of the book is the remarkable transformation of a young man from an off the street college graduate to a thoroughly vetted combat commander in a very short time. I was especially interested in Major Winters' recollections about Carentan, Brecourt Manor, and awful Bastogne, and I was not disappointed. The book gives far greater insight into ground maneuvering and weapons employment than I had ever had before.

Throughout the book the theme of brotherhood is never far from the surface. Major Winters is not cut from the same cloth as many hard-charging military officers: he didn't (and still doesn't) drink, rarely swore, and always strove to be the best man he could be. Throughout it all, while no doubt proud of his accomplishments and achievements, he remains fundamentally modest, a trait he discusses in the closing pages of this book in some detail, always emphasizing the importance of crediting the entire team for a success, while taking personal responsibility for a failure. That's the kind of man who I would want follow in combat, and that's the reason Major Winters was such a revered leader.

The book culminates in a ten-point summation of Major Winters' philosophy of leadership, "Leadership at the Point of a Bayonet," and should be memorized by leaders of all stripes everywhere. While most of us will never be fortunate enough to meet Major Dick Winters in person, we can all benefit from the lessons he learned in the hardest proving ground in the world. I recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you Major Winters for your devotion to your country and your men. I salute you.

Editorial Review:

Now in paperback! The New York Times bestseller and war memoir from the commander of the legendary Band of Brothers––now with a new preface from Dick Winters.

They were called Easy Company—but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered 150% casualties while liberating Europe—an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Winner of the Distinguished Service Cross, Dick Winters was their legendary commander. This is his story—told in his own words for the first time.

On D-Day, Winters assumed leadership of the Band of Brothers when its commander was killed and led them through the Battle of the Bulge and into Germany—by which time each member had been wounded. Based on Winters’s wartime diary, Beyond Band of Brothers also includes his comrades’ untold stories. This is a moving memoir by the man who earned the love and respect of Easy Company—and who is a hero to new generations worldwide.

Alexander Hamilton

Ron Chernow

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 250 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A forgotten Founding Father! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ron Chernow has written another well detailed and well researched biography of a man who is indeed not as well known in the formation of the government of the United States.
It seems Chernow's writings lean toward people who are often misunderstood. Such is the case on his biography of John D. Rockefeller.
Although Mr. Chernow is not an academic historian, he does the due diligence of an historian. As stated in Janet Mislin's New York Times Book Review, Mr. Chernow actually visited the jail cell in St. Croix where Hamilton's mother was imprisoned for adultery.
Also in Chernow's prologue of this book, we find out that Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, the widow of Alexander Hamilton was still alive into the 1850's. The last of a generation who was at the birth of the United States.
The author goes into the remarkable career of a bastard child who later became a man so crucial in the formation of our government. His exploits as a young officer during the Revolutionary War serving George Washington are well detailed by Chernow. His prominence as a key figure in the writings of the Federalist Papers which help to debate and form the Constitution of the United States is indeed apparent in Chernow's prose. Later Hamilton was responsible for the lasting effects of the formation of the U.S. Treasury. His plan of Assumption of the States debts and the formation of the Bank of the United States are the result of Hamilton's work.
Hamilton was opinionated and very aggressive in all his dealings. He indeed was a thorn in the side of Thomas Jefferson and also fellow Federalist John Adams. He was brilliant and verbose. He was indeed an agitator.
His hubris and beliefs led him to the plains of Weehawken where he was shot by Aaron Burr, the Vice President of the United States, and subsequently died.
That ended that! At the age of 49 Alexander Hamilton died of wounds suffered in a duel with Mr. Burr on July 12, 1804. Thirty-one hours later Mr. Hamilton passed away in New York City.
Chernow's book is excellent. Bully for him. Five Stars!!! If I could give six stars I would!!!!

Editorial Review:

Ron Chernow, the renowned author of Titan whom the New York Times has called “as elegant an architect of monumental histories as we’ve seen in decades,” vividly re-creates the whole sweep of Alexander Hamilton’s turbulent life—his exotic, brutal upbringing; his titanic feuds with celebrated rivals; his pivotal role in defining the shape of the federal government and the American economy; his shocking illicit romances; his enlightened abolitionism; and his famous death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July 1804. Drawing upon extensive, unparalleled research— including nearly fifty previously undiscovered essays highlighting Hamilton’s fiery journalism as well as his revealing missives to colleagues and friends—this biography of the extraordinarily gifted founding father who galvanized, inspired, and scandalized the newborn nation is the work by which all others will be measured.

Born Country: How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home

Randy Owen, Allen Rucker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Terrific Book....Even better than I expected !!! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I want to say first off I have been a big fan of Alabama ever since 1979 when I first heard 'My Home's In Alabama' so I had extremely high hopes for this book and I wasn't disappointed at all...as a matter a fact it's even better than I could have imagined.

The book starts out with Randy going for his morning drive around Lookout Mountain to start his day.....His and his daughter's dogs all go on this drive through the country with Randy describing the area and how beauiful it is and how much he loves it....From that first chapter you feel like you are going along for a ride with Randy and he is talking to you telling you his story...The book is written in such an easy fun style to read...It makes it very enjoyable...I read it in less than 2 days (for me that is pretty remarkable---never read a book of almost 300 pages that fast before )...I just couldn't put it down !

You will read so many things you never knew..... Like when you hear them sing about a place in one of their songs...you find it's a REAL place that they went to and wrote it into their songs....There is a line in one of their songs called 'Vacation'...Where he talks about going swimming in the Blue Hole...Come to find out in this book....there really is such a place...but you probably wouldn't know that if you didn't live up there....Another cool one is the song 'Ole Baugh Road' on the Southern Star album.....He really did grow up on Baugh Rd !

Liking Alabama as long as I have I feel like I was right there with them all these years and knew the guys (Randy, Teddy, Jeff and Mark) pretty well....but there are so many things that you don't know since they are all private people and don't want to be all over the news (that's a good thing !)....Anyway...some of the things you will remember right along with Randy and some will be brand new ! (For example---In the video 'Tar Top'....That is his son Heath riding the bicycle)...Growing up reading everything I could back then about Alabama...I didn't know that.

He also mentions Dale Earnhardt in here a couple of times (Dale is a big hero of mine) and I didn't know they had known each other since 1981...I knew they were good friends..but had no idea it was for such a long time.


Randy talks alot about his wife (Kelly) and his 3 kids (Alison, Heath and Randa)....His parents also play a huge role in the book.....St Jude's Childrens Hospital is also metioned obviously since it's such an important part of his life....I just can't see how the book could be any better...He intertwined his personal life with his life with the group Alabama so perfectly.....you really get to learn about the whole person...not just the singer.

Honestly I would recommend this book for anyone to read it's just a terrific book, period....but for fans of Alabama this is a must read !....All my friends are wanting copies after seeing mine and hearing me talk about it....Oh yeah I almost forgot...there are some wonderful pictures in it I had never seen before too !

Editorial Review:

Randy Owen, the front man and lead vocalist for one of the biggest music groups of all time, was raised in rural Alabama, grew up working on a small sharecropper farm, and today lives on this same land that his family worked for generations. Born Country weaves together never-before-shared stories about life on the road with the legendary band Alabama, Randy's family, his experiences with temptation in the face of superstardom, and how he held on to his traditional Christian values through it all. Born Country is an inspiring story about how a poor country boy came to touch the lives of millions of fans.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster

Jon Krakauer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1493 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Who's got more credibility? 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's interesting to read all of the articles criticizing Jon Krakauer, saying he painted himself in a heroic light, that his book is a giant ego trip, and that Anatoli Boukreev's book is so much more accurate. Many of these so called experts seem to assume that the only way to believe Krakauer, is to NOT read "The Climb". How do any of these reviewers know which account is what really happened? They weren't there. Both books are well-researched. Although, "The Climb" is co-authored by someone other than an eyewitness. G. Weston DeWalt takes Boukreev's word as if it was gospel. He does interview others, but nowhere near as many people as Krakauer. Why is Boukreev more credible than Krakauer? As a matter of fact, in most recent printings of "Into Thin Air" Krakauer rebuts the claims that DeWalt/Boukreev make. There seems to be no response from DeWalt that I can find. And if you carefully read Krakauer's book, while sometimes critical of Boukreev, Krakauer also points out how heroic Boukreev was going back out in the storm. Armchair climbers need to stop and think before they jump to conclusions. Want an accurate account of who might be to blame for what happened that day? Ask someone who was on the mountain: Ed Viesturs. I did.

Editorial Review:

This is the true story of a 24-hour period on Everest, when members of three separate expeditions were caught in a storm and faced a battle against hurricane-force winds, exposure, and the effects of altitude, which ended the worst single-season death toll in the peak's history.

Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir

John McCain, Mark Salter

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 233 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

High recommendation 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is an inspiring read that is both honest and open as well as compelling. I highly recommend it as a reminder of the sacrifice made by so many who serve our nation in the military, as well as a door by which to better understand what make Sen. John McCain who he is. It is one of those books that you don't want to put down.

Poor start, but hooks you later 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is a great review of McCain's life up to the point where he gets over the huge conflict of being a POW. The beginning of the book was very slow and uninteresting, but as you move further on he really gets his voice. Actually, only a few of the stories about his grandfather and father were really worth reading. When the story got down to McCain's life then it really got interesting. He definitely was a hellion throughout his childhood: A true leader of the rebellious crowd. Don't get me wrong, he also demonstrates that he has a knack for leadership and skilled in many aspects of the military lifestyle. The story truly begins when he gets shot down over Hanoi. His descriptions of the events that follow him landing in the lake are enthralling. It is an amazing story that I am sure affects a lot of his actions to date. I only wished it gave a little more detail about his life after the affects of being a POW.

Editorial Review:

Senator John McCain learned about life and honor from his grandfather and father, both four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy. Faith of My Fathers is about how their lessons enabled McCain to survive the greatest challenge of his life—when, as a naval aviator, he was shot down over Hanoi in 1967, seriously wounded, and imprisoned for more than five years.

Told with humility, grace, and humor, it is a story of three imperfect men who faced adversity—and emerged with their honor intact.

Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist

Roger Lowenstein

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 107 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Since its hardcover publication in August of 1995, Buffett has appeared on the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Newsday and Business Week bestseller lists. The incredible landmark portrait of Warren Buffett's uniquely American life is now available in paperback, revised and updated by the author.

Starting from scratch, simply by picking stocks and companies for investment, Warren Buffett amassed one of the epochal fortunes of the twentieth century--an astounding net worth of $10 billion, and counting. His awesome investment record has made him a cult figure popularly known for his seeming contradictions: a billionaire who has a modest lifestyle, a phenomenally successful investor who eschews the revolving-door trading of modern Wall Street, a brilliant dealmaker who cultivates a homespun aura.

Journalist Roger Lowenstein draws on three years of unprecedented access to Buffett's family, friends, and colleagues to provide the first definitive, inside account of the life and career of this American original. Buffett  explains Buffett's' investment strategy--a long-term philosophy grounded in buying stock in companies that are undervalued on the market and hanging on until their worth invariably surfaces--and shows how it is a reflection of his inner self.

The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America

Thurston Clarke

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The definitive account of Robert Kennedy’s exhilarating and tragic 1968 campaign for president—a revelatory history that is especially resonant now

After John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Robert Kennedy—formerly Jack’s no-holds-barred political warrior—almost lost hope. He was haunted by his brother’s murder, and by the nation’s seeming inabilities to solve its problems of race, poverty, and the war in Vietnam. Bobby sensed the country’s pain, and when he announced that he was running for president, the country united behind his hopes. Over the action-packed eighty-two days of his campaign, Americans were inspired by Kennedy’s promise to lead them toward a better time. And after an assassin’s bullet stopped this last great stirring public figure of the 1960s, crowds lined up along the country’s railroad tracks to say goodbye to Bobby.

With new research, interviews, and an intimate sense of Kennedy, Thurston Clarke provides an absorbing historical narrative that goes right to the heart of America’s deepest despairs—and most fiercely held dreams—and tells us more than we had understood before about this complicated man and the heightened personal, racial, political, and national dramas of his times.

21 Nights

Prince

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

21 Nights--a first book by Prince and celebrated photographer Randee St. Nicholas is a stunning multimedia volume offering a rare glimpse into the life, lyrics and mystique of one of the most notable and prolific musicians of our time. This beautifully designed photographic essay flows from Prince's sensational, unprecedented, record-breaking, sold-out 21 concerts in 21 Nights at London's 02 Arena in 2007. Giving insight into his dueling worlds of performance and solitude, 21 Nights incorporates Prince's evocative poetry and lyrics to new songs and other selections, and 124 full-color, sumptuous never-before-published images by Randee St. Nicholas. As part of the multi-dimensional experience, it will also include "Indigo Night," a CD--available only with the book--capturing Prince's after-hours, live after-show sessions--rare and profound moments of musical genius.

21 Nights takes the reader from the passenger seat of a limousine zipping through the streets of London to his sleeping quarters in a luxury hotel. In between we see him and his phenomenal band of musicians, singers and dancers backstage in the make up room to onstage, bathed in purple lights and a fog of gray smoke. Like a movie-in-a-book, readers are taken on his journey from London to Prague, in a style that takes glam rock to a new level.

Then there is poetry and lyrics that reveal the heart and soul of Prince--in addition to his incomparable talent. Going beyond the catchy hook, he expresses himself on everything from the destructive forces of war, greed and superficiality the life giving energy of love, beauty, and--of course--music.

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl - Student Packet by Novel Units, Inc

Novel Units, Inc.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 633 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Anne Frank Diary 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

As a young adult I had read articles on the book. I knew the story. I saw the movie made from the book. However, I had never read the book itself.
The experience of reading the words of Anne as she lived for two year in hiding with her family, and others in hiding, was entirely different than just knowing the story. Reading another persons personal words as they were living the life that inspired them to write is a most intimate experience.
In my adult life I am glad to have had the experience of actually reading Anne Frank's words. I recommend the reading of this book to young and mature persons who wish to understand what transpired in our world history on an intimate level.

Amazing, This is the best book I have ever read... 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is truly one of the greatest books ever written. As a reader reads this book, he will see a young girl blossoming into a phenomenal young woman. All in the confines of her family's "Secret Annexe", while in hiding from the Gestapo, and to keep from being captured, and sent to a concentration camp.

As I read this book, I felt Anne Frank was speaking to me. I felt her anger, her rebellion, and laughed when she would tell a joke, or say something harsh about another member of the "Secret Annexe". Her words, so eloquently written, will touch anybody who reads them, and this book will become one that they will never forget, as it has with me. As I read her diary, and connected with Anne, I felt a depressing feeling, because I knew that at one point her diary entries would suddenly stop, and there would be no fitting ending for this masterpiece.

With that said, what Anne Frank has left for us is a memorable diary, which encompasses what she went through. The hunger, and horrible conditions that she, and many Jews were put through is a testament to how cruel, intolerant, and unjustifiably evil humanity can be.

I recommend this book to anybody who likes to read, and even to those who don't.

Editorial Review:

The student packet features multiple-level reproducibles for direct student use, including activity sheets, quizzes, and a final exam.

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

Edwin Lefevre

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 202 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Oldy but a great Goody 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Never before had I so much fun reading and learning about the psychology of buying and shorting stocks. This is an extraordinarily written piece of work that eases into explanations of the power of the subconscious as well as the power of emotions on the conscious decisions made during those uncertain moments of trading. Great book!

Best Book for traders and non traders 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

over 85 years old and still going strong, read it and find out why

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Many reviews have been written about this book. All that I have seen are accurate. It is a superb book and a riveting read. The author gives you a good look at the thinking of a momentum operator as well as a view of financial history.

The view of the bucket shops of old provides and insight that could be loosely applied to todays currency brokers and the pools to those of the hedge funds.

Tradiing Philosophy 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great philosophical read on trading in the market. Very interesting stories on mistakes made and corrections applied. Not a stock trading tutorial.

Enlightening book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book has a lot to offer a trader. It is about the greatest trader that ever lived. While not written that well there are yet gems of data that make it worth the time and effort. It can apply to any market - not just stocks.