PositiveLibrary JournalCarlson’s study will be welcomed by anyone angered, conflicted about, or interested in gun control and devotion to the right to bear arms in the U.S.
Phil Klay
RaveLibrary JournalWith care, Klay addresses questions of faith, guilt, and collective trauma, offering insights into military culture and the meaning of masculinity ... Klay has written an important and eye-opening essay collection that should be a must-read.
Desmond Shum
PositiveLibrary JournalStudents of Chinese politics and business will appreciate Shum’s personal narrative of China’s turbulent economic rise; this book deserves a wide audience.
Paul Sabin
PositiveLibrary JournalThis important book will be useful for students of late 20th-century politics and society, and of the legacy of public interest movements.
Kai Bird
PositiveLibrary JournalCarter was consumed by his inability to free the hostages, and Bird has written a compelling account of the administration’s planning for its failed rescue mission. Carter’s re-election campaign against Ronald Reagan makes for painful reading, but his visit with the Iran hostages upon their release is an emotional highlight of the book. Bird concludes with an overview of Carter’s post-presidential years. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, has been a strong influence, and their close relationship resonates throughout the book ... This engaging political biography introduce Carter to a new generation, and will remind other readers of a truly transitional time in U.S. politics.
Robert Elder
RaveLibrary Journal... expertly recounts the life and times of John C. Calhoun ... In addition to detailing Calhoun’s substantial career, Elder delves into his subject’s political philosophy and influences. Elder gives ample space to Calhoun’s personal life, including his marriage, children, illnesses, and constant financial struggles. He also assesses the politician’s controversial legacy and the dismantling of his reputation ... This well-researched book offers a definitive account of Calhoun, and will appeal to anyone interested in early American history.
Maurice Chammah
PositiveLibrary Journal[Chammah] weaves personal stories in with deft legal and political analysis of criminal trials and state court and Supreme Court rulings. In addition to riveting profiles of death-row inmates, the book focuses on the lives of lawyers, such as Anthony Amsterdam, Craig Washington, and Steven Reis, who devote their careers to fighting against the death penalty ... A readable, well-documented legal history that will appeal to a broad audience.
Neal Gabler
PositiveLibrary Journal... meticulously researched yet readable ... While this is primarily a political biography, the book contains plenty of personal material about the Kennedy family to satisfy all levels of readers. An important contribution on this family dynasty.
Michael Posner
MixedLibrary JournalWith so many stories, however, the book is often repetitive as countless interviewees attest to his charm, sexual magnetism, kindness, humility, and moodiness ... This book offers a seductive blend of sometimes contradictory insights into Cohen but will be sought after only by his most devoted fans.
Peter Baker
PositiveLibrary JournalIndispensable reading for anyone interested in late 20th-century U.S. politics.
Jill Lepore
PositiveLibrary JournalScholars of American history and technology will appreciate the extensive research that went into this book, while general readers will be swept up by the novelistic scope of the story.
Harold Holzer
PositiveLibrary JournalThis is a lively and informative work that will appeal to anyone interested in American history, politics, and journalism.
Mara Hvistendahl
PositiveLibrary Journal... [a] compelling tale of industrial espionage. A Midwest native, Hvistendahl spent several years working in China, and her knowledge of that country’s politics and economics adds depth to the narrative ... Hvistendahl writes about broader issues with force and clarity: an overview of China’s intelligence agencies, the use and misuse of the FISA law, and anti-Chinese persecution by the FBI. She brings the story up to the present day with a brief discussion of the U.S.-China trade war and the impact of tariffs. An informative afterword explains her sources ... This engaging book has something for everyone; it can be read as a spy thriller, an examination of U.S.-China relations, or a case study of agricultural espionage.
John Savage
PositiveLibrary Journal... riveting ... a revealing portrait of four young musicians and the dynamic music scene in Manchester ... Joy Division recorded only two albums but deserve to be better known. This title will appeal to anyone interested in punk, post-punk, and 1970s rock music.
Dorian Lynskey
PositiveLibrary JournalWhile similar in approach to William Steinhoff\'s George Orwell and the Origins of 1984, this is an important contribution to Orwell studies and a timely introduction to the man and his most famous achievement.
Daryl Sanders
PositiveLibrary JournalIn this absorbing account, journalist Sanders provides fascinating details about the songs...but the young yet experienced Nashville musicians who backed Dylan, along with Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson, and producer Bob Johnston, receive almost equal attention ... For anyone interested in Dylan or the music of the 1960s. This title deserves the kind of attention received by Greil Marcus\'s Like a Rolling Stone.
