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102 Minutes: The Unforgettable Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
7
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
7
Review Date: 11/30/2017
After reading and seeing many videos on "conspiracy theories," this book has finally put my mind to ease. This book is a factual account of the 102 minutes it took both towers to fall, and there is no mention of "strange unexplained things" happening...the towers were just uniquely vulnerable to a plane hit by their unorthodox design and construction techniques.
Review Date: 4/28/2020
Outstanding presentation of the events that occurred in the development of the American West as it relates to settlers, Indian "wars," and the role of the US Military. Lots of maps to assist in understanding various battles, and an excellent summary of all major events. One of the best books ever written on history of settling the American West!!
Review Date: 2/6/2019
Book is easy to read...presents a factual side to the space program from the wives' standpoint!
If you lived in the this era of early space program, it will give a new perspective to the events that transpired!
If you lived in the this era of early space program, it will give a new perspective to the events that transpired!
Review Date: 3/31/2024
Incredible back story and account of how Eisenhower and Nixon mistakenly saw Castro as just a "wanna-be Central America dictator [my words]," and allowed the CIA to develop a plan to overthrow him that was woefully under-scaled, and also did not take into account the underlying support of the Cuban people for Castro.
In addition to a bad plan, Eisenhower and Nixon insulted Castro when he visited the United States in 1959 by having Nixon meet Castro at the Capitol while Eisenhower played golf. Castro had anticipated a White House meeting, and even indicated he was prepared to offer his support to the US in case of Russian interference in Central America. Eisenhower never really thought Cuba would be a major player in world events, and thus just put the CIA overthrow plan on hold for President Kennedy to deal with. History shows how well the poorly planned invasion and overthrow of Castro in 1961 came to be.
In addition to a bad plan, Eisenhower and Nixon insulted Castro when he visited the United States in 1959 by having Nixon meet Castro at the Capitol while Eisenhower played golf. Castro had anticipated a White House meeting, and even indicated he was prepared to offer his support to the US in case of Russian interference in Central America. Eisenhower never really thought Cuba would be a major player in world events, and thus just put the CIA overthrow plan on hold for President Kennedy to deal with. History shows how well the poorly planned invasion and overthrow of Castro in 1961 came to be.
Review Date: 2/24/2021
Very compelling conspiracy theory...told by an insider in the Johnson camp!
To set the stage for final power play for LBJ, author presents fascinating history of 20th century Texas law, Big Oil, and the control exercised by lawyers over politicians and even the courts.
To set the stage for final power play for LBJ, author presents fascinating history of 20th century Texas law, Big Oil, and the control exercised by lawyers over politicians and even the courts.
Review Date: 2/21/2018
Not a spy thriller, but instead a story put together 50 years later about the circumstances surrounding the trial and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenburg.
The facts indicate the importance of the "atomic secrets" passed along by Julius in 1945 to the Russians was minimal compared to that of other spies. But the case got caught up the "communist scare" in the 1950's when the FBI was finally able to decode Russian telegrams 5 years later, and J. Edgar Hoover and even Presidents Truman and Eisenhower thought an example needed to be made of the seriousness of giving secrets to the Russians! The case against Ethel was very flimsy, but since neither she nor Julius would confess, they paid the ultimate price.
The facts indicate the importance of the "atomic secrets" passed along by Julius in 1945 to the Russians was minimal compared to that of other spies. But the case got caught up the "communist scare" in the 1950's when the FBI was finally able to decode Russian telegrams 5 years later, and J. Edgar Hoover and even Presidents Truman and Eisenhower thought an example needed to be made of the seriousness of giving secrets to the Russians! The case against Ethel was very flimsy, but since neither she nor Julius would confess, they paid the ultimate price.
Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 8/25/2015
Exceptional book, well thought out conclusions from known facts.
Unexpected take on JFK assassination, and the follow-on political and cultural crises of the 1960's and 1970's. All factual, written very well, and will leave you with a better understanding of why things in America went so downhill after this event.
Author starts with assumption that Oswald acted alone in his killing of JFK, and builds his case around that assumption, which has not been disproved in over 50 years. This one act, by one man, resulted in a national malaise and loss of hope in liberal ideas and the notion that things would just continue to get better. Protests against the Vietnam War, further assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy -- all can related back to the JFK killing.
To me, the author's conclusions bear a remarkable similarity to the actions of just 13 terrorists on September 11, 2001, and the resulting worldwide chaos that started that day and continues on today.
Unexpected take on JFK assassination, and the follow-on political and cultural crises of the 1960's and 1970's. All factual, written very well, and will leave you with a better understanding of why things in America went so downhill after this event.
Author starts with assumption that Oswald acted alone in his killing of JFK, and builds his case around that assumption, which has not been disproved in over 50 years. This one act, by one man, resulted in a national malaise and loss of hope in liberal ideas and the notion that things would just continue to get better. Protests against the Vietnam War, further assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy -- all can related back to the JFK killing.
To me, the author's conclusions bear a remarkable similarity to the actions of just 13 terrorists on September 11, 2001, and the resulting worldwide chaos that started that day and continues on today.
Review Date: 8/19/2015
Exceptional book that tells the real facts behind President George W Bush and his advisors' fatal flaws in thinking the US could impose democracy on any nation we so chose.
Very factual, well researched, and draws conclusions that explain what I already believed...the war on Iraq was the worse political blunder this country has ever made, and the fault lies directly at the feet of George W. He thinks history will finally see his actions as moral and correct, but this book offers a much different view.
Very factual, well researched, and draws conclusions that explain what I already believed...the war on Iraq was the worse political blunder this country has ever made, and the fault lies directly at the feet of George W. He thinks history will finally see his actions as moral and correct, but this book offers a much different view.
The Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine & the Murder of a President
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
13
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
13
Review Date: 1/30/2023
Candice Millard is an exceptional writer who puts an amazing amount of research into her books. This book presents the torturous story of the shooting of President James Garfield and his subsequent suffering and painful death, with surprising insights and revelations into medical and political factors surrounding this event.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1977
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1977
Review Date: 3/22/2015
Exceptional book...had no idea of significance of 1893 Chicago World's Fair, nor the associated good and bad things that happened at the fair. This book is factual and based on true events, which I prefer over pure fiction.
Writing is excellent, and believable...has short chapters, and made reading the book something to look forward to. DO NOT research this event on Google, or several surprises will be spoiled that are detailed in the text.
Will probably not keep the book, but am now going back and re-reading several key areas. Excellent details referring to civil engineering challenges, social changes, and a crime element.
Writing is excellent, and believable...has short chapters, and made reading the book something to look forward to. DO NOT research this event on Google, or several surprises will be spoiled that are detailed in the text.
Will probably not keep the book, but am now going back and re-reading several key areas. Excellent details referring to civil engineering challenges, social changes, and a crime element.
Review Date: 9/2/2018
Exceptional story of eight young American pilots who made their way to England in the summer of 1940 -- just in time for the Jul-Sep 1940 bombing blitz of England (specifically airfields and London)!
Their willingness to fight for a cause-- stop the Nazi's relentless drive to gain control of all of Europe...England was the last piece -- while America was taking a "hands off approach to the war (let Europe fight its own battles)!! Previous books have covered the Battle of Britain from a more documentary aspect, but this book follows the Battle from a compelling narrative perspective, and gives an up close and personal view of the young men who valiantly fought for a cause!
Their willingness to fight for a cause-- stop the Nazi's relentless drive to gain control of all of Europe...England was the last piece -- while America was taking a "hands off approach to the war (let Europe fight its own battles)!! Previous books have covered the Battle of Britain from a more documentary aspect, but this book follows the Battle from a compelling narrative perspective, and gives an up close and personal view of the young men who valiantly fought for a cause!
Review Date: 4/1/2015
I thought I was very knowledgeable of WWII information, but this book blew that notion. The first part of this book sets up the story about the fates of several US airmen captured by the Japanese on a small unknown island during WWII. But then the writer goes back to 1850 and details the cultural journey that Japan made from an isolated island dominated by Shoguns and ancient morality that degenerated to the hate-filled imperialistic war-lord dominated Japan that emerged in the first part of the 20th century and culminated with the attack on the US at Pearl Harbor in 1941. The conduct of the Japanese in the wars with China and the US are detailed and informative. Also, as almost a sideline, the author describes the role of airpower in the early 20th century, from Billy Mitchell and his foresight on the future of airpower, to the importance of airpower in WWII's War in the Pacific, and the successes and losses of those young men flying the planes -- whom he refers to as "Flyboys." From a true story and the WWII subject matter, it is one of the best books I have ever read!!
Kick Kennedy: The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of the Favorite Kennedy Daughter
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
1
Review Date: 3/19/2024
Incredible story about the charmed life of the Kennedys prior to WW2. Much detail on social life of the aristocratic families in England in the period up to WW2 and how Kick Kennedy fit right in.
Review Date: 3/16/2016
I usually read historical nonfictional books, but I enjoyed this book as a fiction/historical read!!
Story line seems pretty simple, but the interaction with the historical figures in April-Jul 1945 at Los Alamos was most interesting and intriguing.
Good character development, as well as insight into historical figures and the stress they were under in the development of the first atomic bomb.
Plot is slow and deliberate, but reaches a surprise ending that I did not see coming.
Recommend highly for anyone interested in WWII stories.
Story line seems pretty simple, but the interaction with the historical figures in April-Jul 1945 at Los Alamos was most interesting and intriguing.
Good character development, as well as insight into historical figures and the stress they were under in the development of the first atomic bomb.
Plot is slow and deliberate, but reaches a surprise ending that I did not see coming.
Recommend highly for anyone interested in WWII stories.
Mayday: The U-2 Affair : The Untold Story of the Greatest US-USSR Spy Scandal
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
2
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
2
Review Date: 2/18/2020
Most people have heard of this U-2 incident...but, in my opinion, this book shows how this incident most assuredly set the stage for the Kennedy missile crisis, and more importantly, the following 30 years of nuclear arms race. Excellent writer.
Review Date: 9/14/2015
I thought I was a WWII expert, but as the book recounts the first entry of Allied troops into N. Africa, I found myself incredibly uninformed of where the US troops became an army. Detailed, written from different perspectives, insightful...highly recommend.
The book is the first of a trilogy, and starts and ends with the N. Africa portion.
Highly recommend!!!
The book is the first of a trilogy, and starts and ends with the N. Africa portion.
Highly recommend!!!
Review Date: 10/13/2022
Exceptional book. Well-written, gripping uncertainity as to the final outcome, and well researched. Had MAPS so you could keep up with the story, and plenty of other photographs! Highly recommend.
The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the Greatest Winning Streak in College Football
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
6
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
6
Review Date: 2/3/2018
Excellent account of the journey of the Oklahoma Sooners and their incredible winning streak in football in the mid 1950's. The characters are developed nicely, and the story covers the coach and the select players as they survived being in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
The winning "Streak" was also being played in the time of civil rights activities, and thus was an important event in this timetable.
Lots of recognizable names of players and coaches who became legends in their own time.
The winning "Streak" was also being played in the time of civil rights activities, and thus was an important event in this timetable.
Lots of recognizable names of players and coaches who became legends in their own time.
When Television Was Young: The Inside Story with Memories by Legends of the Small Screen
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Review Date: 3/15/2018
Easy light reading...written by Ed McMahon who was a pioneer in the early days of television.
Very good chronological presentation of technological advances, as well as Hollywood's reluctance to allow "real movie actors" to be on television. Television was seen as "below" a real actor's skill. However, advertisers eventually settled the issue when they started realizing that television was reaching more people than movies!
Very good chronological presentation of technological advances, as well as Hollywood's reluctance to allow "real movie actors" to be on television. Television was seen as "below" a real actor's skill. However, advertisers eventually settled the issue when they started realizing that television was reaching more people than movies!
Review Date: 4/4/2016
This book surprised me...it was the first book I have read that presents a comprehensive assessment of why WW2 turned out like it did. The author presents facts in a readable prose that I found fascinating.
I have read a lot of WW2 books, but all about individual battles, or from a specific viewpoint. This book will both astound and terrify when the facts are presented to show just how close pivotal battles and campaigns succeeded and failed...on both sides.
Has limited amount of B&W photos, but it has many MAPS, which are usually sorely lacking in this type of book.
Highly recommend for the WW2 readers.
I have read a lot of WW2 books, but all about individual battles, or from a specific viewpoint. This book will both astound and terrify when the facts are presented to show just how close pivotal battles and campaigns succeeded and failed...on both sides.
Has limited amount of B&W photos, but it has many MAPS, which are usually sorely lacking in this type of book.
Highly recommend for the WW2 readers.
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