Amazon.com
King Leopold of Belgium, writes historian Adam Hochschild in this grim history, did not much care for his native land or his subjects, all of which he dismissed as "small country, small people." Even so, he searched the globe to find a colony for Belgium, frantic that the scramble of other European powers for overseas dominions in Africa and Asia would leave nothing for himself or his people. When he eventually found a suitable location in what would become the Belgian Congo, later known as Zaire and now simply as Congo, Leopold set about establishing a rule of terror that would culminate in the deaths of 4 to 8 million indigenous people, "a death toll," Hochschild writes, "of Holocaust dimensions." Those who survived went to work mining ore or harvesting rubber, yielding a fortune for the Belgian king, who salted away billions of dollars in hidden bank accounts throughout the world. Hochschild's fine book of historical inquiry, which draws heavily on eyewitness accounts of the colonialists' savagery, brings this little-studied episode in European and African history into new light. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
In the 1880s, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized for himself the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the Congo River. Carrying out a genocidal plundering of the Congo, he looted its rubber, brutalized its people, and ultimately slashed its population by ten million--all the while shrewdly cultivating his reputation as a great humanitarian. Heroic efforts to expose these crimes eventually led to the first great human rights movement of the twentieth century, in which everyone from Mark Twain to the Archbishop of Canterbury participated. King Leopold's Ghost is the haunting account of a megalomaniac of monstrous proportions, a man as cunning, charming, and cruel as any of the great Shakespearean villains. It is also the deeply moving portrait of those who fought Leopold: a brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and young idealists who went to Africa for work or adventure and unexpectedly found themselves witnesses to a holocaust. Adam Hochschild brings this largely untold story alive with the wit and skill of a Barbara Tuchman. Like her, he knows that history often provides a far richer cast of characters than any novelist could invent. Chief among them is Edmund Morel, a young British shipping agent who went on to lead the international crusade against Leopold. Another hero of this tale, the Irish patriot Roger Casement, ended his life on a London gallows. Two courageous black Americans, George Washington Williams and William Sheppard, risked much to bring evidence of the Congo atrocities to the outside world. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young Congo River steamboat officer named Joseph Conrad. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire King Leopold II. With great power and compassion, King Leopold's Ghost will brand the tragedy of the Congo--too long forgotten--onto the conscience of the West.
Customer Reviews:
the heart of man is desperately wicked.......2007-09-25
If you have somehow achieved sufficient literacy to read user reviews on Amazon, and still believe that people are basically good, now's your chance to read a book that will relieve you of this misconception. King Leopold's Ghost gives historical proof that there is no problem in recruiting enough people to torture, humiliate, and kill perfectly innocent Africans by the millions.
All I can say is thank God for the press and for Christian missionaries. If it hadn't been for those two institutions, the horror in Africa perpetrated by the Belgian king would have continued unabated until all of the land drained by the Congo river was stripped of all human inhabitants.
Ashes from the White Sepulcher .......2007-08-16
A masterful work. Hochschild outlines an entire world duped by charms and charming sentiments. Millions perished while Leopold gains wealth untold. Maiming, murder, mayhem and the crooked world of Presidents, Kings and Congresses. Leopold mastery of the world stage lasted decades. Long term lessons on how governments manage what is perceived to be the gospel truth. Hochschild deserves high recognition for this introduction into the world of tycoons and titans plundering a nation in the name of Christianity. Hochschild's assessment of current Zaire affairs are disturbing. Cobalt, uranium and a host of lesser necessities available to the of best armed encampments from the native riches of this African country. The plunder continues
The True Story Behind Heart of Darkness.......2007-07-14
In the annals of atrocities committed by human beings against ourselves, the historic and ongoing mistreatment of Africa by the Industrialized World takes the (highly dubious) prize. While an extremely generous revision of history might forgive the arrogance and naivety of the colonial powers for believing that clothing, Christianity, modern weapons and free markets would be enough to make Africa like Europe, King Leopold II of Belgium seems to stand out ahead of the pack. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild, in one respect, is a depressing narrative about how MILLIONS of Africans were "civilized" by trading their lives and liberty to grow Leopold's personal fortune. But it is also an inspiring story about how a few people, through their passion for the inalienable rights endowed to all people, shook Europe and America awake and their efforts to bring about real change in the Congo.
Hochschild, as he explains in his preface, first became aware of the crimes against humanity instigated by King Leopold by accident. A quote from Mark Twain (active in the Congo Movement during the decades around the turn of the 20th century) about the 8-10 million people that were helped to their graves by Leopold's regime in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Such a tragically huge tally is striking, and it inspired Hochschild to find out as much as he could. King Leopold's Ghost begins with a whirlwind synopsis of the first 400 years of European imposition upon Central Africa -- the Portuguese, Afoso, Prester John, the Colonial Era. The pace slows once Henry M. Stanley and Leopold enter the picture.
The lives of Stanley and Leopold, the two major do-ers in the tale of the subjugation of the Congo, are discussed in detail. Stanley, the explorer, ended up on Leopold's payroll because he really didn't have much else to do. His explorations down the Congo, though courageous and admired, did not raise the kind of interest he though it should in the Foreign Office of his native Britain. Stanley became available for employment just as Leopold's machinations and Machiavellian dealings were justifying (among his fellow monarchs) his desire to take over control of the Congo. Of course, according to Leopold, this was all just so that he could lift up the poor Africans and encourage free trade. Leopold, who never actually visited his kingdom in Africa, needed a surrogate in-country to clear the bush and establish trading stations. Stanley was his man.
Once trading stations were established in the Congo, Europeans came to trade. At first, the primary object of plunder was ivory, but then, with the advent of bicycles (and later automobiles) with inflatable tires, wild rubber became the main export. And so began the "Rubber Terror," where the people of the Congo were forced upon pain and death to harvest the latex. The result, as described by Hochschild, was unbelievable savagery on the part of the civilized world.
Fortunately for the world, the tale of the subjugation of the congo has some undo-ers as well, foremost among them E.D. Morel. The Congo Reform Movement had a worldwide following that made Leopold miserable. Unfortunately for the cause of justice, Leopold died and the Congo Free State (as it was then known) was merely transferred to Belgium -- Leopold was never punished for his crimes against humanity. In 1960, with the rising tide of anti-colonialism beginning to wax all over Africa, Belgium handed power over to the Congolese to rule themselves and try to pull a reasonable government of the people from the humid air. That has not faired particularly well either.
Adam Hochschild's book is well written and engaging. He made a valiant effort to find the words of actual Africans describing their plight during their struggle -- rather than just the victors, or, at best, some sympathetic compatriots of the victors. The paperback edition comes with an extended afterward where the author describes some of the consequences of bringing this too long forgotten take to the forefront again.
Detailed Readable History.......2007-07-05
Positives:
Detailed, readable history about Belgium's Scramble for Africa in the Congo. Hochschild does an excellent job of introducing key figures who aid King Leopold in getting 'his colony' in Africa as well as those who fought against the Belgian King's enslavement of the Congolese people. In addition, Hochschild intersperses the general experience of the colonizers and the Congolese with personal stories from sadistic colonizers, missionaries, the King's lobbyists, and most critically, some of the 10 million people devastated by King Leopold II's obsession.
Negatives:
Hochschild often distracts from the history he is so effectively telling through tangential introductions of more contemporary history and through personal analysis of historical events being presented. His personal analysis interrupts the pace of the history being told, and causes suspiscion about how the author chose to use the facts he researched.
THE ANATOMY OF TRAGEDIES.......2007-05-13
BEYOND THE FINE PRINTS OF COLONIAL EXPANSION IN AFRICA LIES THE TERMINAL SCARS OF CONQUEST TO WHICH AFRICA NOW PAYS HANSOMELY.
Average customer rating:
- i dont like what they say about my friend myron piggie
- Interesting delve into amateur athletics ...
- A Classic Hoops Book!!!
- It explores the seamier side of sports.
- Outrage, a complete lack of ethics...
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Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the Corruption of America's Youth
Dan Wetzel , and
Don Yaeger
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Book Description
A private war is being waged on city playgrounds and in high school gyms in the never-ending search for the next big player, and the potential millions in sales that player could bring to the major athletic shoe companies by endorsing their products. For every legitimate spokesman like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (the respective endorsers for Nike and Adidas) there are dozens of teenage kids all over North America who are lavished with brand new sneakers, expensive clothes, new athletic gear, or free trips in an attempt to gain their athletic shoe brand loyalty. And that's just where this sordid story begins.
Download Description
A private war is being waged on city playgrounds and in high school gyms in the never-ending search for the next big player--and the potential millions in sales that player could bring to the major athletic shoe companies by endorsing their products. Far from the glamour of the NBA or the NCAA Final Four, the sport has changed into a high-stakes war of greed and includes such tactics as expensive gifts, pampered perks, grade fixing, standardized-test fraud, and kickback recruitments. For every legitimate spokesman like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (the respective endorsers for Nike and adidas) there are dozens of teenage kids all over America who are lavished with brand new sneakers, expensive clothes, new athletic gear, or free trips (parents included) in an attempt to gain their athletic shoe brand loyalty. And that's just where this sordid story begins.
Customer Reviews:
i dont like what they say about my friend myron piggie.......2003-11-13
Hi my name is quin and I live in Missouri. I dont like what they say about myron piggie. he is a good man. otherwise the book was pretty good. i recommend it for college basketball fans.
Interesting delve into amateur athletics ..........2003-04-27
However not always balanced, SOLE is a page turner for sports fans that enjoy the stories off the playing arena.
Wetzel and Yaeger provide interesting cases and a great work of journalism, however the line between reporting and storytelling is often blurred.
The best way to enjoy this book is to come away entertained, informed, but not disillusioned.
A Classic Hoops Book!!!.......2001-06-02
Buy this book. Love it.
A great look at how the big corporate money of the shoe industry has tainted high school level and college basketball, not to mention all of those who are involved in it.
A surprising aspect of the book is the names of villians who you would not believe; Billy Packer, Dickie V, George Raveling, and Roy Williams are a few who are found "guilty" of killing the game that I love.
This book will expose you to the negative underworkings of the great game of college basketball.
It explores the seamier side of sports........2001-02-24
I knew that high school and in some cases elementary school athletes in sports like basketball and football that are extremely gifted can get free perks, but I didn't think it would go as far as it did. The fact is there is a lot of fingerpointing at the athletes, but very little at the others involved in the game. Let's face it, no one would care about these sports if there wasn't a relatively high standard of quality players available. Everyone involved in the game makes money off the players, from the coaches,universities,athletic apparel companies,broadcasters, etcetera, you name it. It's about time that college athletes and high school athletes receive fair market value for the money they generate. The point is many schools would be probably be in a lot worse financial shape if it weren't for basketball and football. Yes, it exposes the greed behind the players, but it's human nature at work. I don't agree with the tactics employed by the agents and companies involved to get players, but I do understand the motivation for doing so. If they don't get these players, some other competing agent or company likely will get their services. It's no different than when univerisities engage in recruiting practices, and some of these universities can get put on probation for recruiting violations. All in all, this was a realistic look at what goes on in youth basketball. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the dark side of amateur basketball. An excellent companion book to this would be the book Money Players, which looks at things from the NBA perspective.
Outrage, a complete lack of ethics..........2000-06-19
I've suspected for decades that the college recruiting process was (is), to a certain extent, corrupt.
To even the casual observer of college basketball, at the upper echelon of Division I, there is (has been) an uneven playing field. It's as if some colleges have had the top five picks in the annual draft for several years in a row.
On the surface the uneven playing field seems impossible to explain, but books like "Sole Influence" begin to shed light of the corruption that mars college basketball -- the search for the next Michael Jordan.
In a series of anecdotes, the authors provide case studies of how, especially, Nike and Addidas have made a mess of AAU basketball, especially in large urban centers.
It's difficult, almost impossible, to get first hand information, especially from big-name college coaches -- few go on the record. What "Sole Influence" reveals, seems to me, is the tip of the iceberg.
The most shocking revelations surround the role played by George Raveling, the former head coach at Washington State, Iowa and USC. Thankfully, Raveling made himself available to the authors and provides candid comments which, while attempting to rationalize his role in this sorry mess, tend to indict him as one of the prime offenders.
The book, although poorly edited, contains much food for thought and is worthy of reading and reflection by serious college basketball fans.
The authors include a good index, but omit footnotes and a bibliography of sources. Also, a complete list of names of persons interviewed for the book would have been appreciated. To the layman, many of these "characters" are complete strangers.
The authors have included capsule introductions to the book's key "characters," which are especially helpful for those of us unfamiliar with the shoe company corruption of AAU basketball.
I agree with those who've commented about the book's excessive repetition, as the authors do a thorough job of indicting the shoe companies.
The authors do provide some implied remedies for the problems they've documented. Whether these recommendations are feasible, given the hunger for dollars, is questionable and discouraging.
Again, this title is recommended for college basketball fans who care about the integrity of the game. The book makes me wonder to what extent college basketball has integrity.
Amazon.com
Psychology rules the stock market, according to Hersh Shefrin. In Beyond Greed and Fear, Shefrin shows how bias, perception, and other aspects of psychology often rattle investors and move stocks. From the individual who keeps losers too long to overconfident money managers who mistakenly think they can predict financial trends, human nature foils investment returns. "Behavioral finance is everywhere that people make financial decisions. Psychology is hard to escape; it touches every corner of the financial landscape, and it's important. Financial practitioners need to understand the impact that psychology has on them and those around them. Practitioners ignore psychology at their peril," writes Shefrin, a finance professor at Santa Clara University. An academic volume geared toward financial professionals, the book details an emerging field known as behavioral finance, in which psychology is believed to be at least as important as market fundamentals, such as earnings and balance sheets. Shefrin describes how investors are motivated by fear, hope, overconfidence, and the need for short-term gratification. The book gives plenty of examples of investment mistakes, and analyzes them from a behavioral-finance perspective. While Beyond Greed and Fear targets professionals, individual investors will benefit from this look at an important mover of markets. --Dan Ring
Book Description
Even the best Wall Street investors make mistakes. No matter how savvy or experienced, all financial practitioners eventually let bias, overconfidence, and emotion cloud their judgement and misguide their actions. Yet most financial decision-making models fail to factor in these fundamentals of human nature. In Beyond Greed and Fear, the most authoritative guide to what really influences the decision-making process, Hersh Shefrin uses the latest psychological research to help us understand the human behavior that guides stock selection, financial services, and corporate financial strategy. Shefrin argues that financial practitioners must acknowledge and understand behavioral finance--the application of psychology to financial behavior--in order to avoid many of the investment pitfalls caused by human error. Through colorful, often humorous real-world examples, Shefrin points out the common but costly mistakes that money managers, security analysts, financial planners, investment bankers, and corporate leaders make, so that readers gain valuable insights into their own financial decisions and those of their employees, asset managers, and advisors. According to Shefrin, the financial community ignores the psychology of investing at its own peril. Beyond Greed and Fear illuminates behavioral finance for today's investor. It will help practitioners to recognize--and avoid--bias and errors in their decisions, and to modify and improve their overall investment strategies.
Customer Reviews:
Look to market experts for success.......2005-12-21
So long as market investors are human beings rather than machines, market participants will be governed by emotion. The efficient market theory, as Warren Buffett states, works most of the time. But when unusual or exceptional news comes into play, a stock (and/or markets) nearly always overreacts.
The best book I have found on investing is "The Intelligent Investor". There is a clear picture of what works and does not work in investing, and why. There is a fair amount of analysis of the behavior of market participants.
Warren Buffett asserts that he doesn't have much use for what is taught in a typical college business class. As he points out, if professors understand stocks and markets so well, why are so few of them wealthy? People like Ben Graham, Buffett and Peter Lynch are not 'lucky'. They read a great deal, they have keen insight into what makes a stock go up and they are unafraid to buy when prices are low if prospects look good. I would prefer to emulate those who are truly successful rather than those who postulate about what may work.
Selective Presentation of the Evidence.......2005-06-26
I am a behavioral economist with a deep belief in the notion that human decision-makers deviate in important ways from the scientific principles laid down in modern rational choice theory. There is no doubt but that very many investors hold erroneous notions of the dynamics of price movements, and having a correct understanding will, on average lead to better returns on one's portfolio. Sheffrin presents the evidence for this position in an interesting and accessible manner.
Shefrin's main advice for investors is absolutely correct, and would improve the asset positions of many poor souls with idiotic notions of stock dynamics. His advice is that if you are not a gifted and dedicated stock expert, you should invest in a low-maintenance cost array of mutual funds, and above all, do not churn your stocks. It doesn't help to be smart, lucky, a stud with the girls, or blessed by God. Moreover, if you think you have one of the "gifted analysts" for a broker, you are to be counted as among the suckers who are never given an even break.
Shefrin has another thesis which he presents with great verve, but which is on very shakey grounds. This is that "gifted stock analysts" can on average, significantly out-perform the market. He believes this MUST be the case if a significant fraction of investors are behaving irrationality. However, there is another possibility, which is that stock brokers as a group gain from the excessive churning that irrational investors permit or ask them to do, but that it is impossible to "beat the market" except by pure luck or by personally studying firm fundamentals and future prospects.
Shefrin's data in favor of the "gifted analyst" is episodic and anecdotal, and there is plenty of data on the other side. For instance, in Malkiel's classic "Random Walk Down Wall Street", he relates the evidence that chimps throwing darts do as well as major brokerage houses. Sheffrin presents contrary evidence for a more recent period in which "gifted experts" outperform the random darts. New evidence, collected by Money magazine, shows that a group of experts did far worse than the darts in 2003. All of this evidence is spotty and anecdotal. The plural of anecdote is not data.
I am not convinced by this book that the efficient markets hypothesis, applied to final returns to investors (after payments to stock brokers and other transactions costs), is not correct. I think the author makes a mistake taking so strong a position when the evidence is so weak on this account. I am certainly not convinced that Malkiel's analysis is in any way overturned by new evidence.
However, if Shefrin convinces a few investors to act more sanely, he will have fulfilled an important social function.
Packed with Knowledge ! .......2005-02-23
If only you could bring yourself to ditch those losers from your portfolio, and hang onto your winners. If you can, you are unusual. Unprofitable habits afflict nearly all investors, beginners and pros alike, writes Hersh Shefrin in this intriguing study of the role of emotions in investing. Shefrin balances the jargon with plenty of real-world examples and wisely cautions you not to delude yourself into thinking that his tips will make you rich. Viewing investing through the prism of behavior finance, he analyzes emotionally-laden decisions made by private investors, money managers, bankers and other professionals handling stocks and various other forms of investments including options, foreign currency and futures. Shefrin offers juicy case histories, so his tour of behavioral finance is mostly enjoyable and useful. At times, though, the book bogs down in the author's attempts to legitimize behavior finance, a relatively new school of thought. For instance, he charges failed investors with committing "heuristic bias" or falling prey to "representativeness." That quibble aside, we recommend this intriguing tome to investment decision makers on any level. Whether you are running billions or managing a retirement account (which, as Shefrin notes, most people do badly), maybe this book will buffer you against emotional investing and pocketbook pain.
Comprehensive, Entertaining Overview of Fascinating Field .......2004-12-25
Wondering what Brealy & Myers or Sharpe left out? Don't expect your broker (or fund manager, excepting Richard Thaler) to fill you in. This book is a must read for any active (or passive) participant in the markets, or any other citizen who is affected by said markets. Meaning all of us.
Shefrin provides a masterful exposition of the application of cutting-edge cognitive psychology to the behavior of retail and institutional investors, analysts, mutual fund managers, CEO's and even heavily-advised university investment committees. The result is the theoretical demolition of the efficient markets hypothesis in even its weakest form, and the related CAPM(s), catching up to their long-noted empirical failings. As it turns out the market does have a memory, and that's not just an anomaly any more. Not every trade is zero-NPV: trust the market price at your own peril. Think dividends are irrelevant? Think again.
What we're left with is a fascinating account of how market participants actually behave: holding on to losers too long, trading too much and trading on "noise," and most alarmingly, undersaving for retirement. What is significant is that these phenomena are so prevalent that they can no longer be dismissed as irrational with the hope that "more sophisticated" money will magically correct the market. To the contrary, what Shefrin describes is proved to be the psychological norm; if you believe you're different, you're either very lucky or overconfident about your lack of overconfidence.
One quibble, in an area that I have looked at before, is in Shefrin's discussion of takeovers. First, I found a bit of confusion between the question of whether the takeover premium should be tested by reference to the post-announcement combined value of both firms, or just the buyer. Since the buyer's CEO is initially fiduciary for just his shareholders, I see only the latter as relevant.
More significantly, Shefrin does not provide any means to rigorously discriminate among his hubris hypothesis and other, more rationalistic theories, such as agency costs and private benefits. And his brief treatment omits many puzzling follow-up questions: if CEO psychology has the potential to systematically destroy shareholder wealth, what should we then conclude about the investors and analysts who allow them to get away with it? Just a governance problem, or is there yet another psychological story to be told?
But the desire to delve further into the subject is just indicative of Shefrin's compelling and readable narrative. For bottom line types, I'm afraid the answer to your question is no, he doesn't explain how to get rich. But you'll surely do alot better with a single yellowing copy of Graham & Dodd than all the reams of abstruse, dogmatic journal articles ever spewed by the Chicago School.
A very good book, but quite academic.......2003-04-29
I had mixed feeling about this book. Content wise, it's incredible. It's full of real life stories, data, analyses, propositions of many so called market anomalies. However, I really find some of the chapters too long, especially those after chapter 5. The author had copied his style of thesis writing and actually many of his own theses (he's a renowed professor after all) into a book which has a big audience group of investors or traders who want quick fix or certain level of entertainment and personal improvement. In these respects, the "Psychology of Finance by Lars Tvede" and the "Devil take the hindmost by Edward Chancellor" are "easier" but not definitely better alternatives.
Anway, this is one of the very few "serious" books about behavioural finance that is relatively practical. If you are abound of time, go for it. Otherwise, you may try the two books I mentioned above.
p.s. I like the following the most: In April 1997 Financial Times ran a contest suggested by economist Richard Thaler. Readers were told to choose a whole number between 0 and 100. The winning entry would be the one closest to two thirds of the average entry. The winning choice is 13. The real point of this game is that playing sensibly requires you to have a sense of the magnitude of the other players' errors. Hope you got it right.
Book Description
A lively portrait of a tumultuous period replete with conflict and strife, political intrigue and shifting alliances, assassinations and coronations.
Emma, one of England's most remarkable queens, made her mark on a nation beset by Viking raiders at the end of the Dark Ages, a period often neglected by conventional history. At the center of a triangle of Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans all jostling for control of England, Emma was a political pawn who became a power broker and an unscrupulous manipulator. By birth a Norman, Emma spent the majority of her life on English soil. She was married to two kings of England and outlived both; she was twice driven into exile; while mourning the untimely loss of one son, she was devastated by the murder of another; she saw two of her sons crowned; she was stripped of her powers when her eldest son became king; and she eventually retired from public life as a dowager queen whose land and wealth had been restored. Regarded by her contemporaries as a generous Christian patron, a regent admired by her subjects, and a Machiavellian mother, Emma was, above all, a survivor: hers was a life marked by dramatic reversals of fortune.
Customer Reviews:
VERY INTERESTING. IT MEET MY NEEDS. .......2007-06-05
There are a couple of facts we need to remember when reading this particular book. First, and this is important, it, the book, is not a Doctorial Thesis and it is not written as such. This is a popular historical work, meant to inform, but at the same time, to entertain. Secondly, I too, like a couple of other reviewers, was a bit disappointed that more was not written about the main character, Emma, her personal life, etc. This leads to the second fact we must remember. Source documents from this era, in particular personal histories, are very, very hard to come by. Most documents from this time have simply disappeared, have been destroyed, or are lost in some historical black hole. This being said and this being remembered, as the book is being read, might help.
The author has given us a fascinating look into the life and politics during the latter part of the first century. A very troubled time for England, and indeed, most of Europe. True, she, the author, does not go into the depth of her subject as many of us would like, but as I have stated, the author had very few source documents of refer to. This work is done in the "popular mode," and is quite readable. The author has taken great pains to let us know when she is stating documented facts and when she drifts into the realm of speculation. This is important to understand what the author is trying to do. I found the author's style far from dry, considering the subject matter. Queen Emma was indeed a complex and fascinating woman and the author has gone to great lengths to bring this across.
This is one of those book I like to call a "tickler," or "seed book." It gives information to those who are interested in a subject, but not fanatical about it. My primary interest is in New World History, but I do like to know where we came from. Works such as this give me as much information as I need for my purposes. Granted, if I were doing a research paper, or was extremely interested in the subject, I would indeed want more. As it stands though, this work gave me a wonder glance into those days and times. Now that I have this information, I find I do have an interest and this work has "tickled" me into checking other works out. This is a good thing. Perhaps one day I could land a nice juicy government grant, travel to England, and check out some of the source documents myself. Would not that be fun!
All in all, I found the work to be very well done, enjoyable to read and quite helpful. I do recommend this one for any individual interested in those days and times and the Queen Emma.
High quality popular history-biography.......2007-06-04
Emma of Normandy was the daughter of Richard I and his Danish "handfast" wife, Gunnor, whose origins are obscure. She married Aethelred II of England, was widowed, and married the Danish invader, Canute the Great the next year. One of her sons by each husband subsequently ruled England. She also became the mother-in-law of Henry III of Germany and was the great-aunt of William the Conqueror. But Emma wasn't the typical royal spouse. She learned how to wield power, played an expert political game, and suffered the failings of greed and scandal. Because of her wide and deep connections between the conquering Danes and Normans and the conquered English, this lively, well-written volume is more than a biography. Though the author is a journalist rather than an academic, she has produced a popular history with thorough source citations that is well worth the reading.
The Title Contains the Name EMMA, But Where's EMMA??.......2007-06-02
If you like Medieval history and the history of continuous Viking raids on England, maybe you'll find this book enjoyable. For me, it was a huge disappointment. The author appears to have no concrete evidence about Queen Emma's public or private life, reign, whereabouts during specific periods in British history, children, marriages, or anything else surrounding the book's main topic. Although a short read, it is dry and without enthusiasm. The book's main subject, Emma, is incidental throughout the entire "biography." Emma happened to be the English queen during Viking raids and that's about it. There is plenty of guess-work on the part of the author about what Emma might have done, might have seen, might have said or read, but there's nothing solid or concrete. There are, however, some interesting insights into Medieval life at the time of Emma's reign but that's about it.
Very enjoyable -- could have been deeper.......2006-12-23
The century or two leading up to the Norman Conquest is a favorite historical period for me, and I've read a number of books balanced roughly on the fulcrum of the year 1000, give or take. And Ms. O'Brien's was a very worthwhile addition to them. Like another reviewer, though, I wished for more on Emma -- or Aelfgifu as the Anglo-Saxons called her. Still, the book was quite a worthwhile and well-written portrait of the times and the characters involved in those fateful years.
And I still say Harold got a raw deal. Arrow in the eye (at least, according to the Bayeux Tapestry) -- that's gotta hurt! ;)
Twice Crowned Queen; Twice a Queen Mother.......2006-12-11
It's clear that Emma didn't passively attain this distinction. How did she do it? The records for the era are hardly extensive, so the biographer has a lot of work to do.
O'Brien did the work and has produced a solid bio. I particularly liked the parts on how Emma commissioned her book and how the assigned monk may have constructed her spin on history. I also liked the chronological chart at the end which sets Emma and her time within not just a European timeline, but also a worldwide framework.
The amount of research that goes into a volume like this is to be respected, but I held back a star because the question of how Queen Emma made her comebacks is only technically answered. You do not get the feeling you understand Emma the way you come to understand the central characters in a Fraser or Weir biography.
Average customer rating:
- LOVE IT!
- My kids teacher suggested this one!
- Fun to read
- The Great Fuzz Frenzy
- a wonderful gift for any age "kid"
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The Great Fuzz Frenzy
Janet Stevens , and
Susan Stevens Crummel
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
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ASIN: 0152046267 |
Book Description
Deep, deep down in their underground town, the prairie dogs live in harmony--until a mysterious, fluorescent, very fuzzy thing (otherwise known as a tennis ball) rolls down their hole. When the prairie dogs discover that they can pluck and pull the fuzz into fabulous fashions, their fear quickly turns to curiosity, then delight, then pure greed.
The frenzy that erupts threatens to tear apart the prairie-dog town forever. But when mean ol' Big Bark is kidnapped after taking all the fuzz for himself, the prairie dogs come to the rescue and remember the true meaning of community.
Customer Reviews:
LOVE IT!.......2007-09-16
I first read this book at a teacher workshop and fell in love with the story and the varied page formats. (Some pages unfold vertically to show the underground tunnels!) This is not only a fun book to look at, the kids giggled all the way through it as the plot unfolded. This could be used in reader's workshop to teach point of view, predicting, inferring, sound effects, or it could also be used to spur a discussion on friendship and cooperation. We did an author study on this sister authir/illustrator pair and the students love how they have a sense of humor and are a bit silly in their stories. I LOVE IT TOO! :O)
My kids teacher suggested this one!.......2007-05-02
This was a fun book! A dog drops a tennis ball down a hole which turns out to be the entrance to a prairie dog community. It surprises and scares them. They gather around chattering about to do; that is until Big Bark appears. He is a rather large prairie dog who has a bottle cap for a hat. Before he can do anything little pip squeak jumps forward and picks off some fuzz and starts playing with it. Pretty soon the whole colony starts playing with the fuzz and things get crazy. Soon more and more prairie dogs show up wanting fuzz and it runs out. Then they start fighting over it!
We liked this book and it's been a bedtime book every night since we bought it. The artwork is good and I think the author gave a funny presentation to the personalities of Prairie dogs. I particularly liked Big Bart's run in with an Eagle. "No more Big Bark! The crowd cheered "Yaaaaay!" "Don't yaaaaaay! He's one of us!" yelled Pip.
Again a great story and I can see the book will be well loved by my girl.
Fun to read.......2007-03-14
This is such a cute and clever story. It's great to see how all of the prairie dogs come together at the end. We have had this for awhile and both of my girls (4 and 7) still consider it a favorite.
The Great Fuzz Frenzy.......2006-11-06
This book was a joy to read. The illustrations were priceless. I never knew that prairie dogs were so much like humans!
a wonderful gift for any age "kid".......2006-10-12
This is a perfectly wonderful concept with super illustrations just waiting for a touch from the reader. It is impossible to read this book without laughing. Underlying lessons are as easy to take as a spoonful of sugar making the medicine go down!
Book Description
Our trade deficit increases by $2 billion a day. Pharmaceutical companies and their lobbyists have such influence in Washington that Medicare, by current law, is not allowed to negotiate lower drug prices. We import oil on an ever-increasing scale, putting ourselves into dept with the Saudis, the Kuwaitis, and other Middle Eastern nations. With their windfall profits, they continue to buy American assets. China’s booming economy and abundance of cheap labor are threatening our economic survival. We have mortgaged our fortunes, our principles, and our way of life.
In this comprehensive look at the real, human toll of America’s unsound trade policy, Senator Byron Dorgan exposes the myth of “free trade.” Indeed, free trade is not free; it is something that is slowly but surely draining away American prosperity. Sure, Chinese labor can drive down prices at Wal-Mart; at the same time, however, those saved wages—dollars that would have gone to buy these cheaper goods—are gone. Too soon, it will all come crashing down.
Major U.S. corporations continue to ship jobs overseas by the millions and, because of their influence in Washington, avoid paying a king’s ransom in taxes. Many billions of dollars that these companies fleece from the government and the American people go overwhelmingly to investments in expanding production capabilities overseas. In short, our government is in the grip of corporate and foreign interests, and the American worker has born the brunt of this culture of corruption. How can we stem the tide of outsourcing? Why has the White House done nothing? Will the middle class survive?
From describing corporate profiteering to calling to action a lethargic, inactive government, Byron Dorgan exposes the truth about the destructive relationship between corporations and Congress and proposes strategies for what can really be done to preserve America’s preeminence in the world.
“Written with poignant stories, persuasive logic and superb factual support, this book is a wake up call for every American who cares about U.S. policy on trade and jobs. One doesn’t have to agree with all that Senator Dorgan writes in this book to find it remarkably compelling.” --Senator Tom Daschle
“If you’re tired of seeing good American jobs shipped overseas in search of cheap labor, you’re going to appreciate this book. Senator Dorgan and I have joined forces in the Senate to fight the trade policies of a weakening America. His book offers real solutions that can strengthen our country.” --Senator Lindsay Graham
:If you think that no one in Washington gives a damn about about corporate greed and the decimation of America’s middle class, you haven’t met Senator Byron Dorgan. In TAKE THIS JOB AND SHIP IT,” this modern day Prairie Populist pops the greedhead right in their snouts, using both facts and a stinging sense of humor. Byron’s book is both a rallying cry and a blueprint for action. If you believe America is headed in the wrong direction and you want to do something about it read this book, then help us elect more Byron Dorgans.” --Jim Hightower
“Senator Byron Dorgan is one of the few elected official of either party who ahs consistently and unwaveringly defended the interests of American working men and women and their families. His commitment to our country and the truth is inspiring. His book is a trenchant and timely examination of America’s so-called free trade policies and the exorbitant cost to our middle class and our nation.” --Lou Dobbs
“I watched Senator Dorgan take on the powerful interests in the U.S. Senate, and this book shows that he is still at it. Our country’s trade policies are a scandal, and Dorgan has the guts to expose it and name names. He also tells us how to put our country back on track. This is an important book that might finally call our country to action to protect good jobs and our way of life.” –Senator Fritz Hollings
Customer Reviews:
Take this job and ship it.......2007-07-17
Senator Byron Dorgan articulates very astutely many of the fundamental problems in our society. It is reassuring to know we have such a clear and uncorrupted voice in our senate. Perhaps there is hope.
A Must Read.......2007-06-30
An excellent and timely book that I would recommend to all Americans that care for and love our country. It's a shame that we're out sourching so many jobs to other country and all in the name of greed. Soon there will not be anyone left with good jobs to pay taxes and pay for schools, fire and police protection and to maintain our infrastructure. I wish that Dorgan were more successful in getting the message across.
Val Jonsson
Take This Book and Buy It.......2007-06-19
From the very beginning, Senator Dorgan, the author, speaks from his heart and soul about what is wrong with America, and what can be done about it. You can sense his strong sense of duty and the obligation he feels toward his fellow Americans, and the frustration he feels in being thwarted by a republican-dominated congress. (This book was finished before the recent congressional election that gave congress back to democrats.)
Senator Dorgan laments the exodus of jobs to countries that have broken their trade agreements with us, and have made our trade deficit soar. This exodus has not only caused three million Americans to lose their jobs, but it has also compromised our national security. Parts for our bombs and planes are made in foreign countries. It has allowed countries to flood ours with their imports while keeping ours out by tariffs. Mexico is exporting contaminated and decayed meat that is lining our meat counters. And Dorgan attacks the now familiar Walmart because they pay their workers so poorly and a health care plan that costs so much, they must use public assistance.
He is concerned about a congress that represents corporations rather than their constituents. He is concerned about a congress that allows them to export jobs and commodities and then charge them a low tax rate of only 5.4 percent to bring the money back into the country. He is angry that pharmaceuticals are allowed to export their products where they are sold at less than half the price charged to Americans. He is also angry that they claim the cost is for research when they are spending so much on marketing. (Anyone ever see a commercial with two people in separate bathtubs--when the moment is right?)
This book is well-written. The author's tone shows a sense of urgency and frustration without being strident. Nowhere in his writing did I detect that he was attempting to promote a socialist state, or a "cradle-to-grave" government as one reviewer suggests. Senator Dorgan is all for leveling the playing field so that our products and jobs can compete fairly in the world. His theme is similar to what the ancient Greeks said: Everything in moderation and nothing to excess. For the senator this includes trade and capitalism.
I am very stingy with five stars. Out of 124 reviews to date, I have given less than ten, about half of that for books. This is not Leon Uris' Armageddon or Herman Wouk's "Caine Mutiny." It is five stars because I learned a great deal, and because it is an important book.
I think it is important enough for you to read it. Please.
Take this book and buy it.
About Time.......2007-05-21
This is a book which gets to the heart of the problem by someone in the best position to see what is happing and is not affraid to speek out
Take this Job and Ship It.......2007-05-06
Avery good read and incitefull. Really anaysis the problems facing our economy.
Amazon.com
If you've ever gone out to lunch with a coworker and suddenly found yourself witness to a savage stream of unflattering assessments of bosses, wicked gossip, and the-emperor-has-no-clothes analysis of your industry, you'll know what it's like to read High Stakes, No Prisoners. Ferguson, an MIT Ph.D., started up a company called Vermeer Technologies in 1994, a rough time for startups in Silicon Valley. The country was coming out of a recession, the stock market was stagnant, and the Internet wasn't yet taken seriously by those with money to invest. Vermeer had a software program called FrontPage that only someone who understood the coming power of the Net could appreciate. Even in Silicon Valley, few were so prescient.
Most of High Stakes is the story of Vermeer, from its startup to its sale to Microsoft. (Now bundled with Microsoft Office, FrontPage is used by more than 3 million people worldwide.) Along the way, Ferguson met the players in the Valley and formed strong opinions of them. He describes Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale as an egomaniac and technological dolt in way, way over his head. Oracle founder Larry Ellison is "severely warped." One of his best lines sums up Silicon Valley as a place where "one finds little evidence that the meek shall inherit the earth."
But this isn't just the technological equivalent of WWF trash-talking. Ferguson is very tough on himself, too, and details his own shortcomings as a person and a businessman. Mostly, it's a gloves-off account of how things really get done in high technology today, as refreshingly honest and acerbic an account as you'll ever read. --Lou Schuler
Book Description
High Stakes, No Prisoners is a sharp, brilliant insider's account of the way Silicon Valley really works: the sharks, powerful incumbents, and old-boy networks who play hardball all the time and the geniuses who make the products that have changed the world.
Charles Ferguson started Vermeer Technologies and turned his very cool, very big idea into FrontPage, the first software product for creating and managing a website. A mere twenty months after starting the company, he sold it to Microsoft for $133 million, making a fortune for himself and his associates. FrontPage now has millions of users and is bundled with Microsoft Office. But getting there wasn't always fun.
High Stakes, No Prisoners is the book about the Valley and reflects Ferguson's unique experience not only as a successful entrepreneur but also as a policy analyst, computer industry consultant, and academic.
Reveals A Great Internet Success Story
High Stakes, No Prisoners is a highly personal account of what it really takes to win as a high-technology startup, especially in the Internet industry, where any speed below warp nine doesn't get you to takeoff. From securing venture capital to getting both the strategy and the technology right, from dealing with Microsoft's power to working with some of the quirkiest, smartest people on the planet, it's all here. The Valley story has never been told with this much depth and honesty.
Reports from the Trenches of the Internet Wars Vermeer was right in the middle of the battle between Microsoft and Netscape. Both companies wanted to either acquire Vermeer or kill it.
Skewers the Sacred Cows of the Valley
Yes, Microsoft declared war on Netscape, but the latter's demise was caused as much by itself as by Microsoft. Ferguson, for example, sees Jim Barksdale, the former CEO of Netscape, as arrogant, ignorant about technology, distracted by politics and glamour, and running a company in partnership with a twenty-three-year-old who'd never held a serious job before." Here's Netscape as it has never before been revealed.
Explains the Real Problem with Microsoft Microsoft's business model is unquestionably one of the great creations of American business. But its power has become so great, its behavior so unrestrained, and its abuses so dangerous that intelligent action has to be taken. Ferguson's analysis of what must be done is a major contribution to one of the most important public-policy questions of our time.
Silicon Valley is the crown jewel of the American economy and a critical driver of American technology. It's electric, addictive, vulgar, full of brilliance, brutally fair and brutally unfair, fiercely competitive, often dishonest, tremendously exciting, and utterly unique.
With High Stakes, No Prisoners, the real story has finally been told--with frankness, insight, and great wit.
Customer Reviews:
Very informative.......2005-01-11
OK, If I could I'd give it 4.5 stars or so -- there are flaws. But basically, the book has a lot of great info, especially for geeks who work in the software business. There are very few books on the business side of things.
The author is incredibly blunt. Perhaps a bit nasty. But it is clear that he had to do it so that he didn't get fleeced. Also, it is great to see someone with a backbone.
The step-by-step evolution of stuff is great. You really get a feel for what happened, when it happened.
I'd say it is required reading for geeks.
This guy has *issues*.......2004-12-14
Yes, Charles is brilliant, arrogant and is lightening-fast in seeing the failings of others and himself and is willing to take ownership of them (rectifying the situation and doing something about it is another story completely...). However, he also has a massive inferiority-complex when up against anyone with more brains, more money, more privilege or more power than himself hence his complete disdain for anything Microsoft-related (never mind that it was the hand that fed him and he continues to bite it). He also fails to see that you can attract a lot more bees with honey instead of vinegar. It's not a coincidence that everyone from Vermeer, except Charles eventually landed a job at Microsoft, I suspect Gates was smart enough to see just how insanely jealous Charles must be of him. As for his acidic portrayal of many of the players in the book, I'm fairly sure Charles really reserves his most toxic rage and disdain for those persons who display A)either negative qualities he has and sees a lot of himself in and wished he did not have (i.e career opportunism, uppity-ness) or B)positive qualities he wished he had but is too nasty to ever take time out to acquire and attract (i.e Gates with his greater reserves of intelligence, power and wealth). Gates also has a quality and understanding that Charles doesn't: that life isn't just about accumulating stuff, but about the quality and integrity of the relationships around you. Gates is no innocent either but at least I've never heard any stories about him running around on his wife and kids and the people he surrounds himself with have been with him for years. Charles, on the other hand goes through people like toilet paper, he even admits that he's so impossible that people either dislike him right away or shortly thereafter - as exemplified in this book.
I've actually dated him and yes, his character does come out in his writing very strongly. So yes, he is a real jerk, and can be an even larger jerk especially when you've outsmarted him in any slight way. That being said, he also has a very warm, human, giving and honest side which for some unknown reason he hoards jealously (and glimpses of it come out here and there in the book), which is why in the book he skewers just about everyone and their dog. It's really too bad - with a talent and intelligence like that, he could have gotten a lot more for Vermeer, a lot more for himself and he'd be a happier human being instead of a 50-ish, balding, lonely, bitter software millionaire in a Mazda Miata.
A+ = for writing, use of wit and humour as well as quality
A = for relevancy of content
B = for character portrayal
C = for overall importance in the grand scheme of things
Straight shooter who did it right.......2002-11-16
Charles Ferguson, an MIT PhD, was the founding CEO of Vermeer Technologies, a company that developed one of the first web design tools. Vermeer sold the company to Microsoft for a boatload of money and lived to tell the tale. It's a fasinating story of what its really like on the inside of a high-tech startup replete with politics, hard-ball negotiations and strange bedfellows. Ferguson may be arrogant, but he's smart and tells it like it is. Anyone thinking of building a startup should read this book.
Sometimes interesting narrative, but flawed analysis.......2001-09-24
Charles Ferguson is smart. Charles Ferguson knows he's smart. But Charles Ferguson thinks he's smarter and more important than he really is, and this makes this otherwise interesting book sometimes painful to read.
The chapters covering the formation through eventual acquisition of Vermeer Technologies are an interesting education in the ways of VCs and hi-tech startups in the mid 90's. However, the last three chapters of the book are pretty worthless. These contain Ferguson's analysis of the industry and predictions for the future, and suffer because of Ferguson's worldview that he and Vermeer were far more important to the industry than they actually were. Ferguson lacks an understanding of large IT operations, and it's unfortunately evident in these chapters.
Ferguson's pronounced hostility towards certain actors in his book - including former subordinates - also makes for uncomfortable reading. Some things should simply be kept private.
Buy the book if you want to learn about VCs and hi-tech startups early in the Internet era, and don't mind wading through Ferguson's ego eruptions. Otherwise, skip it.
An Authentic Silicon Valley Story.......2001-07-25
Mr. Ferguson's book is the only narration I have so far encountered (including Mr. Michael Lewis' THE NEW NEW THING, Mr. Po Bronson's THE NUDIST ON THE LATE SHIFT, and Mr. Randall E. Stross' EBOYS) that may actually represent what goes on in the entrepreneur world, and it does so in a straightforward tone with a whole lot of humor- and some cynicism- thrown in, making the book an enjoyable read.
What's amazing about this book is its age: although the book is from 1999, much of what Mr. Ferguson concludes about where the industry is headed has come true or is slowly being recognized by the mainstream line of thought (this is quite an accomplishment in case you do not understand the rarity of such occurrences). Mr. Ferguson actually understands the technology and business underlining his startup as well, and he isn't afraid to admit when his comprehension falls short. Ask any engineer- this personality attribute in leaders of the entrepreneur world is becoming increasingly uncommon, unfortunately.
If you're looking for a book that is written by someone who has been there and has also stood the test of time in terms of holding its conclusions intact, this is it for the late 90s era. If you're looking for a book by an outsider who doesn't seem to understand what's really going on and that romanticizes Silicon Valley or Route 128, look for something else. I especially recommend this book to anyone who is frustrated with the herd mentality in the tech world and would like to read something that has a refreshing independence to its views.
(Actually, on second thought, if you're looking for a book that humorously shoots itself in the foot with its free-wheeling conjectures and hasty exclamations prior to the stock market correction, check out those books I listed above).
Average customer rating:
- All I can say is WOW. I had no idea fresh meat was so filthy.
- Great info in meat (if you eat it), disease, and the pain of the process.
- Unbelievable
- A must read for vegans/vegetarians
- It made me go vegetarian.
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Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry
Gail A. Eisnitz
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
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ASIN: 1573921661 |
Book Description
With a New Afterword by the Author
Slaughterhouse is the first book of its kind to explore the impact that unprecedented changes in the meatpacking industry over the last twenty-five years—particularly industry consolidation, increased line speeds, and deregulation—have had on workers, animals, and consumers. It is also the first time ever that workers have spoken publicly about what's really taking place behind the closed doors of America's slaughterhouses.
In this new paperback edition, author Gail A. Eisnitz brings the story up to date since the book's original publication. She describes the ongoing efforts by the Humane Farming Association to improve conditions in the meatpacking industry, media exposés that have prompted reforms resulting in multimillion dollar appropriations by Congress to try to enforce federal inspection laws, and a favorable decision by the Supreme Court to block construction of what was slated to be one of the largest hog factory farms in the country. Nonetheless, Eisnitz makes it clear that abuses continue and much work still needs to be done.
Customer Reviews:
All I can say is WOW. I had no idea fresh meat was so filthy........2007-09-29
As others have already stated....I stopped eating meat completely after reading this book. The inhumane treatment of the animals was bad enough. To discover that rotten meat was ground up with fresh meat for baby food was just too much. The unsanitary conditions in these factories is shocking. It makes me wonder when the last time any of the equipment was even hosed off...much less throughly cleaned. Probably never since that would cause the line to stop and they might lose a buck in profit. I first read a book called "Skinny Bitch" and the writer's of that book recommended "Slaughterhouse". I had already toyed with the idea of cutting meat out of my diet. The information in this Slaughterhouse book just confirmed that it was a sound decision. This book shows that the USDA stamp means nothing. I now don't trust anything stamped USDA inspected. It seems that every slaughterhouse has had their own stamp made and has the capacity to stamp thier own meat and the USDA looks the other way. That is truely disturbing. Yep...I'm a non meat eater now. Organic foods are my friends.
Great info in meat (if you eat it), disease, and the pain of the process........2007-06-13
This book is pretty informative. The writer risked her life by exposing daily occurences in slaughterhouses across the country. If you're unaware of how huge the meat and dairy industry is, you will surely become informed after reading this book. It's a very important book to read if you still eat meat and feed it to your children, as e. coli and it's affects on people are described also. Very informative. Some of the book is repetitive, but so are the painful processes in a slaughterhouse as TIME really IS money and "humanity" is a word you check at the door if your working there.
Unbelievable.......2007-05-25
A truely great book everyone must read. Whether your a vegetarian, vegan, or meat eater. This book is very well written. It changed my life, thank you Gail for letting us the public know about what is really going on in our slaughterhouses.
A must read for vegans/vegetarians.......2007-04-28
In my mind, much better (and much more shocking) than Fast Food Nation. This book is a must read, and belongs in every animal lover's library.
It made me go vegetarian........2007-03-29
This well researched and documented book is absolutely shocking. Some parts are so graphic I had to skim through them. Even then the result of reading the book is that I will never eat meat again. Eisnitz tells her story presenting the facts as she moves along her narrative. A quick read that will change your life.
Average customer rating:
- This Book Deserves 7 Stars!
- If you thought Monday was bad.....
- A Grim Outing ...
- Exciting part two!
- the drive behind the story too similar to Mister Monday
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Grim Tuesday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 2)
Garth Nix
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
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ASIN: 0439436559 |
Book Description
Arthur doesn't think he will ever have to return to the strange house that nearly killed him on Monday -- the house that contains an entire world. But Tuesday brings new challenges -- in the form of an enemy named Grim Tuesday, who threatens the well-being of both Arthur's family and his world. Arthur must retrieve the Second Key from Grim Tuesday in order to save everything -- an adventure that will include stealing a Sunship, surviving a very weird work camp, befriending a bearlike spirit, fighting the voidlike Nithlings, and traveling to the scary Far Reaches for the ultimate showdown.
Customer Reviews:
This Book Deserves 7 Stars!.......2007-07-19
Possibly my favorite book of the Keys to the Kingdom series Grim Tuesday has a lot of twists and suspense. My heart raced from page 2 (not saying page 1 wasn't interesting, it just reminds you of Mister Monday and introduces Grim Tuesday. I couldn't even guess what was going to happen by the end of the story but once I got there I was still in shock. It seemed short to me but nevertheless still a great read
If you thought Monday was bad............2007-07-16
This is the second book in Garth Nix's engaging fantasy series Keys to the Kingdom, although it is billed as children's literature, it contains many sophistocated allusions that most kids probably wouldn't get (and some adults might not get either), and is extremely well written and highly recommended for anybody who likes fantasy, be warned however that it is not typical fantasy, it is sometimes very dark (this book is particularly dark and dreary).
After Arthur defeated Mister Monday and cured the Sleepy Plague which threatened to ravage his town and possibly his whole world, he thought he'd get 6 years off to grow up and relax before having to deal with the fantastical realm of the House again, unfortunately the greedy and corrupt Trustee of the Architect, Grim Tuesday has other ideas, he has sent two of his twisted warped Grotestques to Arthur's world where they have proceeded to commence the ruining of Arthur's family's finances and the finances of a good portion of the rest of the world, in order to stop them, Arthur must find a way back into the House, and once there survive Grim Tuesday's horrible Pit, which he has dug in his greed to mine Nothing, which can be made into everything. Along the way he teams up with various characters, new and old, including the irrepressible and irreverent Suzy Blue, and one of Grim Tuesday's many indentured Denizens, a former Theasureus named Japeth, who has a bad habit of talking, well like a theasureus which provides a certain amount of comic relief in the despair of the Pit. He also must convince the sullen stubborn Second Part of the Will to co-operate with him and beat Grim Tuesday in a contest of artistry in order to obtain the Second Key to the Kingdom of Reality and, most importantly as far as Arthur is concerned, save his family and his world from a new Great Depression and get back home.
All and all this is a great book, although not quite as interesting as the first one, perhaps because the first one had more mystery in it, in this one Arthur knows what is going on.
A Grim Outing ..........2007-06-17
Garth Nix continues his Keys to the Kingdom fantasy series in "Grim Tuesday", Arthur Penhaligon's second foray into the mysterious House. This time, the universe is threatened by the greedy Grim Tuesday, who commands the lower house and the dangerous Nothing mine. While this book is defenitely not as rich or compelling as "Mister Monday", tweens wil still be entertained by Nix's creative universe and enjoyable characters.
Grim Tuesday wants his money. And he also wants to rule the whole of the lower House. But to do this, he will need the second key from Arthur Penhaligon. Arthur, who has just returned from the House to find his town still in disaray, just wants to relax. But when Grim Tuesday sends two of his servants to warn Arthur to pay Monday's old debts by handing over the first key, Arthur must decide on whether to oblige to Grim Tuesday's wishes or venture into the House and Grim Tuesday's Nothing mine to retrieve the second key and save the world. Does it sound cliched yet?
The plot definitely lags a bit and resembles the first too much. While the characters are entertaining and there are some original inventions here and there, I really felt like I was on the sidelines watching insteading of actually being part of the story and adventure as I was in "Mister Monday". Throughout the book, I actually felt like Garth Nix was "down-smarting" the plot in order to make it readable for a younger audience. Nix mostly writes for teens, and I would like to let him know that you can still write compelling, rich fantasy for a younger audience and still make it fun without becoming paper-thin and a little silly. Becuase that's what "Grim Tuesday" felt like; a silly, repetive fantasy. This is however only the second outing in the series, and I can only wonder if Nix made the improvements.
"Grim Tuesday" defenitely is not as good as its predecesor. But, despite its thin plotting, the overall story is still entertaining enough to attract the attention of readers and keep them interested in the series. The second book in a popular series usually always lags a bit, so let's hope "Drowned Wednesday" improves over "Grim Tuesday"'s faults and returns to the techniques that made "Mister Monday" so original and enjoyable.
Exciting part two!.......2006-11-05
In this second part of the Keys to the Kingdom series, the protagonist, Arthur, faces a much darker enemy than in part one. It forces him to descend into the lowest part of The House, where there is no light and the continuous rain contains all-dissolving Nothing. Arthur needs all of his resources, his courage and his friends to make his way out of this hell hole. You'll be begging your Mother for a sic-day off school to finish it!!
the drive behind the story too similar to Mister Monday.......2006-10-08
After _Mister Monday_, I was hoping the author would take _Grim Tuesday_ a step further and really draw the readers into the story. I wanted to know more about the House and the Will, and see Arthur and Suzy really grow as characters. Unfortunately, none of those things happened. Arthur and Suzy seem exactly the same as before, the drive behind the story is exactly the same (Arthur needs to get the Keys in order to save his family), and that made the story very predictable and boring. Disappointing.
Granted, the drive behind every story in this series will have to be similar, because Arthur is the heir apparent and must eventually inherit all the keys to the kingdom. But it's the author's job to keep his readers interested, so he must give us new and exciting aspects to the House, the Will, and the characters in each book. Unfortunately, he didn't do that here.
This also had a rushed-out-the-door feel to it. The writing was clumsy in places, with a lot of telling instead of showing. It felt as if the author were laying the groundwork for further stories. If so, then the best thing to do would be to keep the important pieces, cut the rest, and add it to the real story.
The most intriguing part was the end, where we see how Arthur will meet Wednesday. Wednesday sounds like an intriguing and dangerous character, much more so than Tuesday. It's too bad Tuesday couldn't have been as well.
Book Description
A saga about one of the oldest and most romantic enterprises 
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