RaveLibrary JournalReferencing both historical resources and popular culture, the authors show how the lies we tell are often societal niceties. The chapter on the founding myths of the United States, and what it means to be a nation, make for urgent reading. It is essential not to miss the authors’ more significant proposition: to compassionately consider others’ perspectives even if they do not seem rational or true ... This excellent narrative nonfiction work will engage a variety of readers, and is a solid choice for book clubs who like to discuss current events.
Larry Loftis
PositiveLibrary Journal... an accessible, richly-detailed narrative full of twists and turns ... The book reads like both a thriller and a romance, with personal details offered throughout, but Loftis sticks to the facts and addresses and clarifies myths surrounding Aline. A comprehensive notes section provides more details on other spies who are introduced throughout ... A valuable addition to public library collections, the latest from Loftis will especially engage those interested in World War II history and espionage.
Elizabeth Berg
PositiveLibrary JournalFrom taking her dad to a doctor’s appointment to helping her parents downsize to a new place, Berg writes with care and sensitively. Her writing shines when describing not only caring for someone during difficult times, but also the love that remains after someone is gone ... With these reflections, Bergs sheds insight into the experience of caring for a parent. This eloquent book will especially appeal to those in an eldercare role.
Wendy Moore
RaveLibrary JournalMoore’s story of the Women’s Hospital Corps will inspire women with medical careers and anyone who appreciates stories of hardworking heroes.
Peter Fritzsche
PositiveLibrary JournalFritzsche successfully weaves in excerpts from letters and interviews, providing firsthand accounts of German people grappling with a new world order. Fritzsche argues that the coup of the Third Reich was getting Germans to see themselves as the Nazis did: as an imperiled people creating national community ... Everyone concerned about the rise of nationalism, the impact of extreme partisanship, and preserving democracy should read this insightful book.
Sinclair McKay
RaveLibrary JournalMacKay’s engrossing account of Dresden’s citizens, in the moments before, during, and after the bombings, describe a community trying to manage everyday life in Nazi Germany until a cataclysm interrupted its routine ... Well researched, powerfully written, and balanced, this book will let the reader decide whether the bombing of Dresden was a war crime or a calculated step to bring a long and bloody war to an end. For all interested in military history and World War II.
J.W, Mohnhaupt trans. By Shelley Frisch
PositiveLibrary JournalThis work by Munich-based Mohnhaupt, translated smoothly by Frisch, provides detail on both the diplomatic and the competitive nature of the \'animal arms race,\' the effort to best the other side of the Cold War by having the most exotic and appealing animals. Zoos are one of Germany’s most popular recreational facilities, and Mohnhaupt makes a compelling case that, in divided Berlin, zoos reflected the feeling of being enclosed and the geopolitical realities of Cold War Germany ... Well researched and executed, this book will appeal to zoologists, zoo lovers, and readers interested in the history of postwar Germany.
Iain MacGregor
RaveLibrary JournalMacGregor brilliantly captures the events that led to the creation of the wall and the people who successfully escaped East Germany. Fans of intrigue will delight in his accounts of the military personnel and journalists who regularly crossed Checkpoint Charlie ... MacGregor captures how other countries reacted, and the care taken to ensure that this volatile situation proceeded peacefully ... A fascinating take on the importance of level-headed people and international agreements working together to manage tense geopolitical situations.
Robert Wilson
PositiveLibrary JournalHere, American Scholar editor Wilson leans toward the positive and relates the acts for which his subject is most remembered ... In addressing Barnum\'s darker side, Wilson discusses exhibits and shows that exploited racist beliefs or blurred the line between real and fake, stating \'Barnum embodied some of America\'s worst impulses, but also many of its best.\' Wilson further leaves out some of the current research that belies the upright image Barnum cultivated in his later years ... One of the themes in this work is our country\'s complex relationship with the truth. Overall, Wilson\'s skillful portrayal of the multifarious Barnum is affectionate, lucid, and lively, offering a new portrait of Victorian-era America, particularly its curious and playful side. Highly recommended.
