Title:
1421
Author:
Gavin Menzies
Publisher: William Morrow
Copyright: January 2003
Reviewer:
Marilyn
Book Rating: 
Reviewer Comments: Rewrite the history books! According to this
author, fleets from China sailed and charted the entire globe decades
before Columbus, De Gama, Magellan and all the rest. Very convincingly
written. See what you think.
Title:
1776 (Review #1)
Author:
David McCullough
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 2005
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating: 
Reviewer Comments: The account of events surrounding the writing
of the U.S. Constitution and the colonial break from England is well written
and easily understood. There are lots of footnotes and references at the
end for the true history buff.
Title:
1776 (Review
#2)
Author:
David McCullough
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: May 2005
Reviewer:
Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Another book on our founding fathers by a master
in the genre. It's amazing that we evenutally won the war with all of
the disasters suffered during that first year. I knew it had been difficult
but had no idea just how bad it really was. I think you'll be surprised.
Title: American Gospel
Author: Jon Meacham
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Marillyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a remarkable and important book, but
one which is hard to describe. According to the author, "The point
of the book is to explore the role faith has played in the Republic"
and "The founding Fathers understood the dangers of mixing religious
passions with the ambitions of politics." No, this is not a treatise
for or against a particular interpretation of the First Amendment's separation
of Church and state. Rather, it travels from the first colonies to the
present day revealing through the words and actions of leaders both religious
and political, the essential ideas of what it means to be an American.
Benjamin Franklin wrote of public versus private religion, private being
that of the individual, the home and the church (or other place of
worship). Public religion referred to the innate sense justice, fairness
and respect for all human beings. In other words, our public and private
faith. These ideas were included in both the Declaration and the Constitution
because the Founders believed fervently in the ability of men to govern
themselves rather than by others. This was a new concept and one which
required that men have the freedoms given to them by providence, regardless
of their individual interpretation of that term. The Founders believed
that freedom of thought and deed would promote reason and therefore to
appropriate choices and decisions in both public government and in private
life. Thus our deeply held belief in human rights. The danger of political
corruption due to fanaticism of one sort or another was expected to be
held in check by the common sense of the more reasonable and larger majority.
Through the ages this has proven to be true. Mistakes and omissions can
be changed when people have the rights to think, express and act freely.
This is a must read book. Its power from extensive research and clearly
written examples of the faith of the people of this country and what makes
Americans so different from other countries--and we are.
Title: Ancient
Egypt: An Illustrated Reference
Author: Lorna Oakes
Publisher: Barnes & Noble Books
Copyright: September 2003
Reviewer: Beth
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This non-fiction illustrated guide to Ancient
Egypt is nothing short of fascinating. Even for those who don't like to
read every detail, the photographs and illustrations are beautiful.
Title: The
Devil in White City: Murder, Magic, & Madness at the Fair That Changed
America (Rev #1)
Author: Erik Larson
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: The 1893 Chicago World Fair (Exposition) is
the setting with parallel plots of America's first known serial killer
juxtaposed with the fair. Striking examples of how brilliant minds can
choose to use their talents for good or for evil. Horrible acts of depravation
occur, but you'll mostly remember all the examples of inventions created
for the fair which are now a part of our everyday lives. You'll be amazed.
Title: Devil
in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed
America (Review #2)
Author: Erik Larson
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2002
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Who would have thought that one event; the Chicago
World’s Fair of 1893, could change the cultural, social and economic
landscape of America. Oh yeah, the event also allowed America’s
first serial killer, H. H. Holmes to lure young women to their deaths.
This well-researched historical account reads like a novel. There is the
development of the skyscraper; the first Ferris wheel; the modern gardens
of Olmstead; the beginning of the labor laws; the beginning of modern
police investigation; a social climate where women travel for the first
time without chaperones; the development of modern electricity and so
much more filling every page. The way Larson alternates between events
involving the White City (the location of the Fair) and changes occurring
in the surrounding chaotic city of Chicago, keeps the book interesting
and hard to put down. Every year there is one book I give at the holidays
and this book has been my pick since its publication.
Title: The Devil's Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force in History
Author: Stewart Lee Allen
Publisher: Soho Press, Inc.
Copyright: October 1999
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Allen has taken it upon himself to travel the world in search of the perfect cup of coffee and along way has begun to examine the role coffee has had in history. He travels from Yemen, to Calcutta, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Paris, and finally, the good ol' USA. Whether his speculations on coffee's influence on history are truly fact or not remains to be determined, but he does present lots of facts and lore from his various visits that will leave you speculating. For anyone who is a coffee lover, I would recommend this book. It will make you want to truly seek that perfect cup and appreciate what coffee has to offer.
Title: From
Sea to Shining Sea
Author: James Alexander Thom
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Chronicles the Lewis and Clark expedition in
addition to the Clark family itself. A great epic of John and Ann Rogers
Clark and their influence on the ten sons and daughters they raised.
Title: Holy
Blood Holy Grail
Author: Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday
Copyright: 1982
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Historical interpretation. An oldie but currently
topical, especially since the authors are currently suing Dan Brown over
his Da Vinci Code. A controversial book about Christianity which could
shatter our traditional beliefs. One of Dan Brown's main resources and,
as such, an important read. Very thought provoking.
Title: Isaac’s Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
Author: Erik Larson
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
Copyright: 2000
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: I had no interest in hurricanes nor desire to read about a storm that occurred in 1900. That said, this is one of my favorite books. It’s the story of the 1900 hurricane that wiped out Galveston , TX and killed almost 10,000 people. Meteorology was in its infancy and two weather-watchers, Isaac and Joseph Cline viewed themselves as having scientific proof to forecast the weather-one recommends evacuation and one insists the residents should stay. Lawson makes history come alive by recounting the events before and after the storm through the journals of those involved in the early science and from the accounts of the storm’s survivors. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys reading history from an investigatory point of view.
Title: The
Last Full Measure
Author: Jeff Shaara
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Last in the trio of Civil War books by Jeff
Shaara and his father, Michael. This covers the latter part of the war
to its conclusion. Characters and action are vividly portrayed. But do
read the other two first.
Title: The
Templar Revelation
Author: Lynne Picket and Clive Prince
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Copyright: 1998
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: The Da Vinci Code inspired me to read many of
the books concerning people and places included in it (DVC). This is another
good one which goes a long way toward understanding this shadowy group.
Well worth your time.
Title: Thunderstruck
Author: Erik Larson
Publisher: Crown
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating: 
Reviewer Comments: The technique of parallel plots is once again employed by this author (see The Devil in White City in archives). Guglielmo Marconi spent all of his energy and all of his time trying to perfect his invention of the wireless. He, of course, succeeds while alienating his wife and colleagues until his obsession is all that remains. But wait - he's the good guy, isn't he. The other main character is a doctor, described as mild and pleasant who, nevertheless, murders his wife, eviscerates her, buries what's left in the basement then escapes with his secretary. The ensuing search for the fugitives becomes a case of such notoriety that it is surpassed only by the Jack the Ripper murders. The two stories merge toward the end and, of course, Marconi's invention plays a part in the satisfactory conclusions. Dr. Crippen is caught, tried and convicted. Marconi is highly successful and receives all the accolades and place in history that he deserves.