Before Holden Caulfield went AWOL from Pencey, Clint Trowbridge, age 12, then known as "Clintie", was sent off to fend for himself at Groton. This is an excellent remembrance of the 40's at one of the quintessential Northeastern prep schools. You can't help but think of A Separate Peace while reading this.
The book is fascinating because of it's detail and the picture it paints of the spartan yet priviliged life the boys at Groton led. It has hysterically funny scenes juuxtaposed with insights into terrible things that were happening in the world.
The author and his best friend's support of F.D.R. in opposition to the majority of the students is really fun to read today.
I went to an all girls school in the late 50's to early 60's and much of the school ambience and recollections resonated strongly despite the gender and age difference.

Yes, I must confess that I have read this book. It contains excellent information for those who practice the art of heat treatment. I found the topics on quenchant analysis techniques valuable for testing our quench media

This play was first performed in New York by Edgar Landsbury, Anglea Landsbury brother, and was a smash hit.

Herbert Hoover has the reputation of being the most unpopular President of the Twentieth Century, if not in the entire history of the United States. Susan Clinton might not be able to do anything about our opinion as Hoover as president, but she does a fantastic job of convincing her readers that Hoover was one of the best men ever to go into the White House. The habit in these Encyclopedia of Presidents volumes is to devote the first chapter to some key episode in the subject's life, rather than beginning with their birth, which is reserved for the second chapter. Clinton establishes Hoover as "The Great Humanitarian," focusing on how headed the Commission for Relief in Belgium during the first World War. A millionaire who refused a salary because he believe he had to be willing to make sacrifices just like the people he was asking to contribute to the CRB, Hoover did such a marvelous job in Belgium that once the United States entered the war President Woodrow Wilson made him Food Administrator. At that time "Hooverize" meant saving for a worthy goal; ironic that within a couple of decades Hoover's name would become one of derision.

Although he was Food Administrator in the administration of a Democratic president, Hoover served as Secretary of Commerce in the Republican administrations of Harding and Coolidge. It these times of partisan politics, Hoover certainly looks like an idealized American politician. In fact, the most memorable line in the entire book might be when Clinton points out that in 1920 Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote about Hoover, "He is certainly a wonder and I wish we could make him President. There couldn't be a better one." Of course, ironies abound regarding what would happen when the political careers of Hoover and Roosevelt crossed, but the comment only serves to underscore what Harry Truman once said, that the Great Depression was created FOR Herbert Hoover, not BY him. Clinton details some of the great things Hoover did early in his presidency (e.g., establish farm co-ops) that have been blotted out by the tragedy of the Great Depression. She also tries to make a case that Hoover did try to make some sound moves against what was happening, but was thwarted by circumstances.

I have been working through the volumes in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series in alphabetical order (just to be different), and of all those I have read to date this is the best one. Susan Clinton is not just writing a juvenile biography of Herbert Hoover, she is a passionate advocate for re-establishing the strength of Hoover's character and putting his legacy in accurate historical perspective. Hoover is presented as a tragic figure, who did not deserve the cruel fate he met in the White House and certainly did not deserve the petty rebuke of having the Hoover Dam renamed by FDR's administration (Truman changed it back). When young readers finish Clinton's book I cannot help but feel that they will believe Hoover was one of the finest men ever to serve as President.

Excellent examination of the way America raises its children. A must read for anyone concerned about the welfare of our children and, in turn, the future of our society. If you're considering buying this, I say go ahead -- whether you agree or disagree with its conclusions, this will give you something to think about.

it is hard to imagine a more useful Clinton impeachment resource than this stellar volume.

I have read that there is a second series of the Encyclopedia of Presidents, and I certainly look forward to seeing these informative juvenile biographies redone with better production values. These volumes always look to me like they were printed in the Fifties, which is actually three decades off of the reality. The cover paintings are rather cartoonish and all of the illustrations inside are in black & white so there is able room for improvement in how the book looks. However, if you are looking for information about a particular president, this is a very solid series from start to finish.

All of the books in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series begin in media res, in the epic tradition of Homer, with a highpoint from the President's career. In the case of James Madison we are talking about his role in American history as the Father of the Constitution. This means that Madison's greatest achievement in life was accomplished long before he was elected President, a truth usually reserved for war hero generals (e.g., Zachary Taylor and James Garfield) and Herbert Hoover (best Secretary of Commerce we have ever had). This is also reflected by the fact that Clinton devotes only two of the book's ten chapters to Madison's two terms in the White House, one for the First Term and the other for the defining event of his Presidency, The War of 1812.

The illustrations are mostly etchings and paintings contemporary to the life of Madison, including a couple of political cartoons, which are always a treat. But the chief strength here is the biographical detail. Clinton does a good job of contextualizing the Constitutional Convention and emphasizing the pivotal role played by Madison in the writing and adoption of the nation's most important political document. As far as juvenile biographies go this is not the first book I would recommend to a student, particularly a younger one, but once they have picked up a basic understanding of Madison's life and times from a smaller book, then this one is great for providing additional details and a more advanced understanding of Madison's importance as a Founding Father.

I have read that there is a second series of the Encyclopedia of Presidents, which I look forward to seeing these informative juvenile biographies redone with better production values. These volumes always look to me like they were printed in the Fifties, which is actually three decades off of the reality. The cover paintings are rather cartoonish and all of the illustrations inside are in black & white so there is able room for improvement in how the book looks. However, if you are looking for information about a particular president, this is a very solid series.

All of the books in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series begin in media res, with a highpoint from the President's career. In the case of James Madison we are talking about his role in American history as the Father of the Constitution. This means that Madison's greatest achievement in life was accomplished long before he was elected President, a truth usually reserved for war hero generals (e.g., Zachary Taylor and James Garfield) and Herbert Hoover (best Secretary of Commerce we have ever had). This is also reflected by the fact that Clinton devotes only two of the book's ten chapters to Madison's two terms in the White House, one for the First Term and the other for the defining event of his Presidency, The War of 1812.

The illustrations are mostly etchings and paintings contemporary to the life of Madison, including a couple of political cartoons, which are always a treat. But the chief strength here is the biographical detail. Clinton does a good job of contextualizing the Constitutional Convention and emphasizing the pivotal role played by Madison in the writing and adoption of the nation's most important political document. As far as juvenile biographies go this is not the first book I would recommend to a student, particularly a younger one, but once they have picked up a basic understanding of Madison's life and times from a smaller book, then this one is great for providing additional details and a more advanced understanding of Madison's importance as a Founding Father.

This is a really great book that provides very detailed information on many different planes, from the well known to obscure. It's filled with great pictures of all kinds of different aircraft. Must-have for the airline enthusiast.

Walt Brasch has something in common with Bill Clinton. They both play sax. That same Walt Brasch has something in common with me. We've both been columnists. What better excuse, then, for him to put together a book of his columns called "The Joy of Sax" and for me to write about it?

The "Joy of Sax" is subtitled "America During the Bill Clinton Era." It couldn't have been assembled better by anyone. For one thing, Walt knows his stuff. He covered part of the Clinton-Gore bus tour during their first campaign. For another thing, he has good reporter skills. He also wrote a lot of columns and that makes for a nice, fat book. But mostly it's because Walt Brasch has a sense of humor. If more people had a sense of humor during the Clinton years, we'd all have had a jollier time. After all, we were all rich compared to the last couple of years. For that matter, if we all had a better sense of humor now....

But I digress. Back to Walt's book. Sometimes his humor is blatant. Other times he lets you figure out what he's getting at but it's still funny as heck. My favorite column is called "Singing Off-Key in the Starr Chamber" and it's my favorite for the first nine paragraphs that go like this:

"When President John Adams imposed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798...and violated the First Amendment, no one required him to testify before a special inquisitor.

"When President Abraahm Lincoln suspended several Constitutional rights, no one required him to testify before a special inquisitor.

When President U.S. Grant pleaded ignorance that his own cabinet was one of the most corrupt in history...."

The next paragraphs include heinous "violations" by Warren G. Harding, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and the first George Bush. I was rolling in the aisle and Brasch was only being droll. His "hilarious" hadn't even begun!

If you don't see that Brasch is at least entertaining, then maybe you don't really need to read this book. Mmmmm. On the other hand, if you don't see that, then maybe you are the one who does need to read his book.

Walter Brasch is opinionated, logical, and broad-minded. None of these qualities is a crime. The do all help to make this book a kick for anyone with a political hair in his head.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"