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Recent Reviews
Nicole Eustace
Rave New York Journal of Books Much of the text format is in the present tense. The author primarily describes the initial events as they occurred, as if they are happening in the moment in a blow-by-blow account ... This makes for a more interesting read ... This book’s overall format is how a nonfiction work should be presented ... There is much here for readers to digest and history lovers, certainly, to appreciate in the way of a good and well-told story. Finally, it bears repeating that this is not just the story of a murder case, which is somewhat of an anti-climax actually, but a comparison of how differing cultures and belief systems can conflict, especially when certain religious and racial superiority attitudes should happen to rear their ugly heads.
Nicholas Guyatt
Positive The New York Journal of Books As a result of the emphasis on the prison and the prisoners, especially and, in particular, the racial aspect, critically speaking, the subtitle of this book is somewhat of a misnomer. Indeed, it is a bit puzzling that the individual parts that divide the book are all titled with respect to King Dick, no matter the material discussed in the individual chapters of each part ... Interspersed throughout the text are contemporary illustrations of the prison and its layout, personages and title pages of some prisoners’ post-prison memoirs. A map of Dartmoor’s location would have been helpful but is not included ... This is a well-written monograph on one of those largely unknown incidents of our history. The story of these Americans deserves to be told.
Noah Feldman
Mixed New York Journal of Books ... one must be forewarned that much of the text is law or legal-oriented, such that one must, at times, read carefully in order to understand the point that is being made ... not all that Lincoln did has necessarily redounded to the benefit of or progress toward a \'more perfect union,\' notwithstanding our veneration of him as virtually our greatest president. The reader should ultimately keep this in mind, whatever one’s opinion of our 16th president. Needless to say, one must read Feldman’s otherwise well written and researched account with a grain of salt and consider whether the benefits or advantages outweigh the damage done in terms of our society, and government, in the last 155 years.
Andrés Reséndez
Rave New York Journal of Books Impressive [...] is the research done by the author, although much of it is from more contemporary secondary sources and not so much from original documents in Spanish, Portuguese, or other archives. Also helpful is a short note referencing dates and measurements which compare those of modern day and the 16th century. The discovery of the vuelta influenced all subsequent voyages and has done so right down to the present. This story deserves a wider audience even if it didn’t result in a momentous discovery of lands or riches along the lines of a Columbus, Cortez, or Magellan.
J.P. Daughton
Positive The New York Journal of Books Author J. P. Daughton, an academic of European history and its colonialism, has not only provided the historical background of and told the story behind this railroad but has used it as a contextual backdrop for an overall lesson in the tragedy of France’s imperial incursion into Equatorial Africa. It was never a pretty picture no matter where French or European footsteps tread on the continent.
Wendy Lower
Positive The New York Journal of Books Unfortunately, the reproduced photograph, and smaller portions thereof, does not have the absolute resolution that is really needed, and one is sometimes hard pressed to pick out some of those details without the aid of a magnifying glass, something which is recommended here ... On the other hand, there is much to discern and observe despite the fact that the layperson may not necessarily realize or recognize exactly at what s/he is looking. At this point, this is what makes the text so invaluable as the author is able to guide the reader in many of the details otherwise hidden ... Although there is no formal bibliography, the notes contain all of the pertinent publishing information for determining data origination sources and provide additional context as well. It is apparent therefrom that the author has done extensive research in archives and government documents, in addition to having interviewed the one survivor of the killing and others still living from the time period ... Society returns again and again to the Holocaust, as well it should. Even if victims cannot be identified, it well behooves society to ensure that their stories are told, if possible, and they be remembered even if justice can no longer be enforced on those responsible.
Paul Starobin
Mixed The New York Journal of Books The author, Paul Starobin, is a journalist and not a historian. Consequently, the notes reflect a specific quote or expression on the relevant page, and there is no formal bibliography although there is a Bibliographical Note which explains the source of much of the material used to construct the text ... Helpfully, there are two maps ... Fortunately, as well, there is a \'cast of characters\' list inasmuch as one will need a scorecard to keep track of the players in this rather convoluted story ... Greed and avarice aside, this is certainly a cautionary tale, reminding us all that one must still do one\'s due diligence and not necessarily depend on someone’s word and ostensible good will when it comes to investing and financial matters.
Daniel Lee
Positive New York Journal of Books ... this is not only an investigative story but also a biography as the author has tried to piece together the life of Gestapo and S.S. lawyer, Robert Griesinger, through surviving records but also research in extant government archives and interviews ... this is a very well researched publication, employing information from the family interviews to German language archival documents and other secondary sources. Throughout the text are many family and other contemporary photographs which give a much more personal and intimate look at the subject\'s life and time.
Jia Lynn Yang
Positive The New York Journal of Books ... a timely contribution to the discussion. In effect, this book could be considered a prequel and starting point for said debate as it provides a history and prior basis for what has been effectively an ongoing argument for well over 125 years as to who is worthy of admittance to our country and inclusion in what is rapidly becoming a true and absolute melting pot and a multicultural and multipluralist society today ... The cast of characters in this fight is extensive. For those somewhat younger, they probably won\'t mean a thing, yet for the older reader, there will be many familiar names of politicians, academics, and others that will make the story seem like a trip down memory lane ... As author Yang is not a historian but a New York Times deputy national security editor, the endnotes are the type that reference a quote or expression on a specific page in the text. She has, however, done extensive research in archives, presidential libraries, newspapers, government documents, and other relevant sources that demonstrate a decided grasp of her subject, notwithstanding her own personal family immigration tale ... If there is any criticism to be made, it is that there are no photographs of any of those personages (Harry Truman, JFK, LBJ, etc.) or locations that are so important as context to providing points of reference. That would seem to be a bit of a mystery ... Nonetheless, this is an interesting as well as important narrative of a subject relevant to our society today.
Katherine Sharp Landdeck
Positive The New York Journal of Books ... a complete and comprehensive story of these women and their organization. [Landdeck\'s] format has been to focus on the stories of a relative handful of them as a means of emphasizing their \'everywoman\' origins, commonalities, and experiences as aviators ... One minor criticism is the lack of a map showing the location of Avenger Field in Texas where many of the WASPs trained but, then, one can always Google it for that information ... There is no formal bibliography, another small criticism, but the notes demonstrate how Professor Landdecker committed to the WASPs, ensuring that she told their whole story ... With the publication of many individual memoirs and other books on the WASPs in recent years, this is certainly the one that, as mentioned above, is the most comprehensive even, as the author admits, it was not possible to mention or otherwise tell the story of each of these female aviators; however, she has managed to relate the personal lives and experiences of quite a few of them as representative of all.
Kimberly A Hamlin
Positive The New York Journal of Books With numerous illustrations and traditional footnotes, this is a well-researched, interesting and enjoyable biography of someone who really should be in the pantheon of feminist heroes; it was actually quite quick and easy to read ... Considering the constant search for positive role models of the feminine variety, this could easily be required reading in upper levels of education just as much for the public in general.
David J. Silverman
Positive New York Journal of Books This publication is well researched and includes many contemporary illustrations and maps as well as a glossary of key native people and places referenced in the text. It should be required reading for how not to treat indigenous peoples. Although this has somewhat of a limited happy ending for the Wampanoags, it cannot make up for what was done to them. It certainly set the tone for what happened to other Native groups who suffered for our Manifest Destiny
Josh Levin
Positive The New York Journal of Books Even if this publication were fiction, it would be an eye-opener ... As the author is a journalist, he has done extensive research in government archives and collections as well as interviewing those who had any knowledge or contact with his subject. As he is a journalist, the notes are not traditional and are tied to expressions and other references in the text ... The photographic section shows how the subject was able to cloak herself as different people and races over her lifetime career of crime.
Dan Pederson
Positive New York Journal of Books This is a very personal memoir by Capt. Pedersen...It gives considerable insights into a number of events, incidents and programs that had such a significant impact in his life and on his career ... It is clear and well-written and includes a glossary of terms for those not so well-schooled in military acronyms and terminology. As a memoir, there are no notes or bibliography; however, the photograph section is a highlight and includes many shots in color with others of contemporary black and white ...This is a quick and easy read yet holds one’s interest over and above the actual Top Gun program development.
Jeffry D. Wert
Positive New York Journal of Books Inasmuch as these figures normally get short shrift in the history of the period, it is commendable that Wert has undertaken to describe how their inclination, proclivities, persistence, motivation, and ambition laid the foundation for our nation’s postwar industrial expansion in the Gilded Age ... Wert has properly footnoted and cited his sources and included the traditional bibliography with sources from the electronic to contemporary newspapers, journals, and other documents. A highlight is the extensive photographic section, which has portraits of many of the subjects of the book as well as period photographs, illustrations and engravings of their products and contributions to Union success. Taken in sum, it is not hard to understand why the industrial and agricultural capabilities of the North could not be overcome by the Confederacy.
Harlow Giles Unger
Positive New York Journal of Books This publication details many of the contributions made by Rush during his life in fields that range from human medicine and disease, veterinary medicine, psychiatry, and geriatrics to prison reform, temperance, and humane treatment for the mentally ill. Further, he was also a veteran of the Continental Army and a political leader in Pennsylvania with all that that entails in terms of partisanship following the establishment of political parties in the Republic’s early years ... In an age of towering literary, political and military giants such as Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Washington, and others, it is indeed surprising that Rush should be as little remembered as he is by most Americans. Perhaps this biography can right this and return him to the pantheon of our greatest Founding Fathers.
Justin Martin
Positive The New York Journal of Books Although this is not a down-in-the-trenches narrative of tactical detail, it is nevertheless one which virtually everyone can appreciate as a basic account of these two events, so pivotal in our nation’s history. It is highly readable and captures the drama of our bloodiest single day and its momentous result.
Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic
Rave The New York Journal It is always a pleasure to read and review a publication that deserves one’s endorsement...even though the subject has been previously covered through many articles and books yet largely unfamiliar to the public, it not only includes some previously unavailable material but also updates the ongoing decades-old story to exonerate the ship’s captain for the alleged hazarding of his vessel ... the Indianapolis’ most important mission during World War II was the delivery to the Mariana Islands of some of the components for the atomic weapons that were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, weapons which effectively forced the Japanese to surrender. Its unescorted return to the fleet in the Philippines, its loss to a Japanese submarine, the horror at sea endured by the surviving crew members, and their rescue are all part of the story ... Extensively based on interviews with survivors, this is a much more personal, fact-and detail-oriented telling of this tragedy. Employed as well are many primary sources in government archives, documents, reports, and memoranda along with other books, articles, personal and other sources which co-authors Vincent and Vladic have weaved into an eminently readable narrative, as much from the American point of view as that of the Japanese.
John Sedgwick
Positive The New York Journal of Books As author John Sedgwick is not a historian, there are no traditional footnotes. The notes reference specific pages and list the source(s) consulted. Also, the sources used are virtually all secondary ones from the 20th century. Seemingly, there are no archives, memoirs, journals or documents from the Cherokee themselves or others prior to 1900. Fortunately, there are two excellent sections of illustrations, photographs, and engravings of relevant personages, places, and other significant items that provide context and further information to enhance the text. The four maps provided are also important as they delineate the traditional Cherokee homeland over several states in the early days of white contact, the shrinkage experienced as white settlement expanded by hook or by crook, the routes taken to the west as removal was enforced and, lastly, sites associated with fighting in the Indian Territory in the 1860s. Characterized as the Cherokee Holocaust, ultimate removal and the Trail of Tears, in spite of their efforts to become \'civilized,\' serve to spotlight their long suffering history and what could be described as an early nadir in our relations with native peoples which culminated at the end of the 19th century. They, at the very least, deserved better than they got.
Elaine Weiss
Rave New York Journal of Books \"It was hoped that the publication of this volume would coincide with the election of the country’s first female president. Although that did not happen, this is still an extremely relevant, interesting, and important contribution to the historical literature in light of the cultural upheaval extant in contemporary American society.\
Bettany Hughes
Positive The New York Journal of Books Not surprisingly, this volume is written chronologically. Each chapter covers an ostensibly significant period from prehistory to the 20th century and each includes virtually all of the important and influential personages and events therein. However, there is some tendency at times to jump around somewhat and provide relevant side information outside the designated period ... Be prepared to learn as this book is chock full of such data ... This is a large tome of 800 pages, including index. Do not expect to read it in one sitting. Spend considerable time and thought ruminating on the influence that such a venue has had on world and human history in particular.
Steven Stoll
Positive The New York Journal of Books This is a well-researched and written analysis to be added to the historiographical shelf on Appalachia, its people, and their dispossession of the land and family home place. And dispossession is what it's really all about. The mountaineers certainly deserved better.