This book was given to me by a friend. She read it on the plane returning home from a trip to the Amazon. This is a non-fiction book about Holly and FThis book was given to me by a friend. She read it on the plane returning home from a trip to the Amazon. This is a non-fiction book about Holly and Fitz FitzGerald about their trip in 1973 on the Madre de Dios River in Bolivia. The story was interesting and kept me engaged wondering what next could go wrong. But I was also frustrated with their impatience and stupid decisions. They should probably require city people to take a simple survival course before going on a trip like this.
The book was published by Vintage Press on May 30 2017. It is 336 pages. ...more
Fiona Hill’s memoir shows how she rose out of poverty in Northeastern England coal country to end up working as top advisor to three presidents on RusFiona Hill’s memoir shows how she rose out of poverty in Northeastern England coal country to end up working as top advisor to three presidents on Russia and Europe
Hill tells the story of her education and obtaining here Ph.D.. Education was her way out of poverty. In this story, she tells how Putin took over Russia and how our recent track is following in Russia’s path. Overall, I enjoyed the book and her insights from both a U.K. and American viewpoint. She also tells the usual story of a working women dealing with pay disparity and sexism. I highly recommend this book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fifteen hours and thirty-five minutes. Fiona Hill does a good job narrating the book. I always enjoy it more when the author of a memoir tells their own story. ...more
I found this to be a most fascinating memoir. The Vindman family reveals several generations fleeing wars and persecution. The family is Russian/UkraiI found this to be a most fascinating memoir. The Vindman family reveals several generations fleeing wars and persecution. The family is Russian/Ukrainian Jews. The story of his grandmother, fleeing Ukraine with her children from the Nazi invasion, showed the great strength of character of the family.
I find it shameful that this dedicated Army officer ends up losing a promising career just for doing his duty. He was obviously on track to the general ranks. Unfortunately, the country lost a talented, honest and dedicated officer with knowledge and expertise in an area that is turning out to be critical to the world now and in the future. The Army should have rewarded him instead of having him resign. From all the threats and harassments, he and his family have suffered, one must question just how different are we from the Russians who cannot speak truth to power. For all he has lost, I do hope he makes lots of money from this book.
I highly recommend this book and hope that people will examine their own values and honesty while reading it. I hope that Vindman will inspire others to join in holding unethical leaders, no matter the party or country, accountable for breaking their oaths to their people.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book narration by Vindman and Jacques Ray was excellent.
I would like to thank Celadon Books for providing me with a copy of this most interesting book in exchange for an honest review. This is a story of anI would like to thank Celadon Books for providing me with a copy of this most interesting book in exchange for an honest review. This is a story of an Irish Catholic family as told by the only girl in a family of boys. The book is heartwarming with some humor tossed in. The book is not a political book but a behind the scenes look at a politician’s family. I had never heard of Valerie Biden Owens before reading this book. I was surprised to learn she was the first female presidential campaign manager. It is always amazing at what unexpected information one can learn just by reading a book. If you enjoy heartwarming family stories with loads of interesting information, give this book a try.
I read this in hardback book format. It is 177 pages published in 2022 by Celadon Books ...more
I came away from this book impressed with the dignity and courage of the McCain family. Cindy reveals such grace and dignity that is almost old fashioI came away from this book impressed with the dignity and courage of the McCain family. Cindy reveals such grace and dignity that is almost old fashion. The book starts with the death of John McCain and then proceeds to tell the story of Cindy and her marriage to John McCain. If you enjoy memoirs, you will find this one a must read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and twenty-one minutes. Cindy McCain does a good job narrating the book. ...more
I found this to be a moving memoir. Duckworth tells of surviving discrimination, poverty and war.
The book is well written and easy to read. Duckworth I found this to be a moving memoir. Duckworth tells of surviving discrimination, poverty and war.
The book is well written and easy to read. Duckworth tells of her love of the Army and identity as a soldier and helicopter pilot. Her struggle with a loss of identity when she could no longer fly after losing both her legs and severely injuring her right arm when shot down in Iraq. The book primarily covers her life from birth in Thailand to her election as senator. I am impressed with her ability and determination to obtain her Ph.D. in spite of all the obstacles. She appears to be highly motivated to help veterans and her fellow citizens. I hope she writes a book about her life as a senator. We need more people like her in government.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and thirty-six minutes. Tammy Duckworth does a good job narrating her own book....more
Not sure what I think about Boehner’s memoir. I found his remarks about Nancy Pelosi interesting. I learned about his life of which I knew very littleNot sure what I think about Boehner’s memoir. I found his remarks about Nancy Pelosi interesting. I learned about his life of which I knew very little. When he was Speaker of the House, I felt he did not have the guts to stand- up for his convictions. If he had, maybe things would have been a bit different. I did not care for his foul language, but I did like the folksy way he told his story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and forty-six minutes. John Boehner did a good job narrating his own book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mitch Albom’s book “Tuesday with Morrie.” So, when I saw Albom’s book “Find Chika”, I decided to give it a try.
The book I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mitch Albom’s book “Tuesday with Morrie.” So, when I saw Albom’s book “Find Chika”, I decided to give it a try.
The book is well written and is a heartbreaking story of a young Haitian girl that ended up in a Haitian orphanage run by Albom after the earthquake. Albom does provided some information about the earthquake and about life in Haiti as background information to the story. The story did not leave me feeling sad as the ending had an upbeat quality to it.
I read this an audiobook downloaded from Overdrive as part of my local library service. This service has been very helpful during the pandemic as the library has been closed. The book is short at four hours and fifty-four minutes. Mitch Albom does a good job narrating the book. ...more
This is an excellent presidential memoir. Obama’s mastery of the English language was a joy to read.
The book is well written. Obama candidly pointed oThis is an excellent presidential memoir. Obama’s mastery of the English language was a joy to read.
The book is well written. Obama candidly pointed out his mistakes and accomplishments. The book primarily covers the political campaign and his first term as president. He barely touches on his childhood and the years prior to running for president. He also covers very little personal and family information. It was interesting to read about his reactions and insights to various events. I am looking forward to volume two.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twenty-nine hours and ten minutes. Obama does an excellent job narrating the book. ...more
This is a story of friendship between two women. The book is written in a conversational style that made me feel that I was sitting having tea with LoThis is a story of friendship between two women. The book is written in a conversational style that made me feel that I was sitting having tea with Loretta Lynn talking about her past. The book provides a view into what life was like for women singers in the 1950s. These two women helped women brake through the male dominated barrier in country music. The book is short and an easy read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is four hours and fifty-eight minutes. Patsy Lynn Russell does a good job narrating the book. Patsy is one of Loretta Lynn’s twin daughters. She is also a singer as is her twin. Patsy was named for Patsy Cline. Patsy helped her mother write the book. ...more
This is a beautifully written memoir by John O. Brennan. Brennan’s conversational style of writing made me feel as if we were sitting down over a cup This is a beautifully written memoir by John O. Brennan. Brennan’s conversational style of writing made me feel as if we were sitting down over a cup of tea talking about his life. The book covers his life from a boy in New Jersey to retirement as Director of the CIA. The small section at the end about his treatment by Trump after his retirement is most interesting. I felt that Brennan attempted to just present the facts. He admitted his mistakes and he also followed the rule: If you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing. I was most interested in the section about his interaction with Diane Feinstein, Joe Biden and Leon Panetta. I highly recommend this memoir.
I read this as a hardback book. It contains 446 pages including photographs and was published in November of 2020. Disclaimer: I received this book from Celadon Books for an honest review. ...more
I am a big Jeopardy fan. I have been watching since it started in the late 1960s. At that time, I also watched College Bowl hosted by Alan Ludden (BetI am a big Jeopardy fan. I have been watching since it started in the late 1960s. At that time, I also watched College Bowl hosted by Alan Ludden (Betty White’s husband). I wish they would bring back College Bowl. I would rather watch college teams compete academically as well as in sports.
The book is well written. I chose to purchase the Kindle version because of the photographs instead of the audiobook. Trebek provides a brief overview of his life growing up in Canada. Most of the book is about Jeopardy. He also talks about a few key contestants that over the years brought about changes in the format of the program. I enjoyed the book particularly knowing that Trebek is near the end of his life.
I downloaded the book from Amazon to my Kindle app on my iPad. The book is 304 pages and was published on July 21, 2020 by Simon & Schuster. ...more
I was not sure what to expect from this book. But I was pleasantly surprised at how it managed to quickly intrigue me. The book is well written. GatesI was not sure what to expect from this book. But I was pleasantly surprised at how it managed to quickly intrigue me. The book is well written. Gates provides little information about her own life. As she was growing up, her father was an engineer working for NASA. She was lucky that her father thought STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education was important for his daughter.
The book is primarily about the Gates Foundation and how they and the Foundation have evolved over the years. They started with funding medical programs around the world attempting to eradicate infectious diseases. To help reduce poverty and child/maternal death, they discovered they needed to educate women and help them with farming, business and so on; otherwise, whatever they tried failed. Gates provides interested stories of various women to illustrate her point. It is amazing that women are still nonentities in much of the world and even in the USA women still do not have equal rights in every state. Overall, I am impressed with the book. I hope that Gates writes a follow-up of the book in ten years or so.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and fifty-six minutes. Melinda Gates narrated the book which made it as if she was sitting here talking to me. ...more
I did not have high expectation for this book, but it managed to be much better than I would have thought. The book is about the dysfunctional Trump fI did not have high expectation for this book, but it managed to be much better than I would have thought. The book is about the dysfunctional Trump family and Mary Trump took a great personal risk in writing the book and also turning over all her legal/financial papers to the New York Times and the Justice Department in New York. From these papers the Justice Department just had the Supreme Court okay their obtaining Trump’s Tax returns in the tax fraud cases against the family. Between this and the family tell- it-all book it is not likely Trump will ignore her.
Part of the book reads like a clinical “case report” and I enjoyed that section; the remainder is Mary’s memoir. She covers her father even more than Donald and their problems with Trump senior. The family member I began to admire was Maryanne Trump, Donald’s sister. She managed to get an education and a law career in spite of the obstacles placed by her father. The father did not believe women should have an education or career. After reading this book I understand Trump a bit better, but what I do not understand is why we elected him president. He did not attempt to hide his behavior or beliefs. The book is worth the read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and the five minutes. Mary Trump does a good job narrating her own book. ...more
Over the years I have read a number of memoirs of women who were in the pioneer class at one of the military colleges. This memoir is about the first Over the years I have read a number of memoirs of women who were in the pioneer class at one of the military colleges. This memoir is about the first group of women to enter Canada’s Royal Military College.
The book is well written but is dependent on the author’s memory. I noted the book is a finalist for the Kobo Emerging Writers Prize in Nonfiction. All the books have the same theme about the anger of some men when women enter what they perceive as their exclusive domain. The author points out at the end of the book the attitude of many men has changed over the years, but the problem of rape in the military needs to be solved. I saw in the news that the first women graduated from the special combat commando school had obtained her Green Beret.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and forty-six minutes. The author does a good job narrated her own book. ...more
I did not enjoy this book. In many ways, I wished I had not read it. I guess I am tired of reading about an out of control two-year-old playing in theI did not enjoy this book. In many ways, I wished I had not read it. I guess I am tired of reading about an out of control two-year-old playing in the White House and disgracing the country. Prior to this it never bothered me who was in control of the government. I just figured the rotation back and forth between conservatives and liberals kept the country more or less in balance, until now.
I did not learn anything new in this book, but it reinforced what other books have said. It did provide more inside information on what was happening at any given time in the White House. Bolton comes off as an arrogant know-it-all obsessed with Iran. Bolton’s information only confirms my opinion that Trump will see a second term as a welcome mat to become a dictator and dissolve our democracy. Sorry this is not my usual neutral review. I guess I am tired and fed up.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twenty hours and fifty-two minutes. Robert Petkoff does a good job narrating the book. Petkoff is an actor and audiobook narrator. He has won the Audie Award and multiple Earphone Awards.
This book was well written and meticulously researched. The book is long: 476 pages or nineteen and a half hours for an audiobook. Pryor wrote a scholThis book was well written and meticulously researched. The book is long: 476 pages or nineteen and a half hours for an audiobook. Pryor wrote a scholarly account of Barton’s life.
Clara Barton is another example of a person who suffers from chronic anxiety-depression and used excessive work to control the systems of the depression. In doing this she achieved great things including the founding of the Red Cross. Barton was obviously an intelligent woman who found the constraints on the role of women confining. She became an activist to help expand the rights and roles of women. At times the book was a bit repetitive, otherwise, it was an informative read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Sheri Leigh Horn does a good job narrating the book. ...more
This is a memoir of Will Chesney and Cairo. Chesney tells about joining the Navy right out of high school. He goes into depth about his SEALs’ traininThis is a memoir of Will Chesney and Cairo. Chesney tells about joining the Navy right out of high school. He goes into depth about his SEALs’ training and deployments. The author provides a brief history of the dogs in the SEALs. I had no idea the training for the dogs to be in the SEALs is as difficult as it is for the men and also had a high wash-out rate.
The book is well written and was difficult to put down. The story is mostly about the relationship between Chesney and Cairo. There is very little violence and no foul language. I found the book quite interesting. If you are interested in military dogs read this book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and forty-four minutes. Will Chesney does a good job narrating his own book. ...more
I have read a number of Madeleine Albright’s books in 2012 I read “Prague Winter: Personal Story of Remembrance and War 1937-1948”, and in 2018 I readI have read a number of Madeleine Albright’s books in 2012 I read “Prague Winter: Personal Story of Remembrance and War 1937-1948”, and in 2018 I read “Fascism: A Warning”. I realize I somehow missed reading her 2003 memoir “Madam Secretary” about her time as Secretary of State (1997-2001) and before that the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1995-1997). I will quickly remedy that oversight. The book I just read “Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st Century Memoir” covers her life after being Secretary of State to the present time.
The book is well written and researched. I am amazed at Albright’s energy. She has managed to do so many different things in her later life from writing books, lecturing and book tours, Professor at Georgetown University, chair of the Albright-Stonebridge Group, serving on many boards in the United States and for the United Nations. She states she enjoys most the postgame diplomatic analysis. The book contains humor, and I found that Albright was as hard on her own performance as she was on critiquing others. In 2012 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and twenty-four minutes. Madeleine Albright does a good job narrating her own book. Listening to her tell about her life was like I was having tea and a chat with her. ...more
I enjoyed this memoir. I have seen the Star Wars movies in bits and pieces. One of these days I will sit down and watch them in order and all the way I enjoyed this memoir. I have seen the Star Wars movies in bits and pieces. One of these days I will sit down and watch them in order and all the way through. I was surprised to learn there was a man inside the costume of C-3PO. I guess I thought it was an animated robot with a man doing the voice.
The book is well written. Daniels provides information and in-sight into his role as C-3PO; but, not a lot of information about the movie or other actors, which worked out fine for me. If you are a C-3PO fan, you will enjoy this memoir.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and twenty-seven minutes. Anthony Daniels does a good job narrating his own book. ...more
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