This is one of the best books about the Northwest. Corr does a great job blending the story of an activist family with the rise of Seattle after World War II. Next to "Skid Road," my favorite on Seattle. Should be a movie. A great female lead character in Dorothy Bullitt.

Corr's book is more valuable than the narrow title suggests. More than a history of a powerful Seattle family and its TV-Radio empire, Corr's larger theme is the post-war growth of Seattle, the price of its progress and the universal tension between idealism and commerce. This story is interesting because Dorothy Bullitt did not set out to make money in the new medium of TV. Rather, she and her son, Stimson, created a new media force that shook up the sleepy newspaper-dominated local media. Well into the 70's KING-TV scooped many big stories. Corr does a masterful job of tracing the early deviations from the "King ideal"--Dorothy's dumping of her son in favor of Ancil Payne, the shift from hard news to TV celebrities, and the ultimate cash out by Payne and Dorothy's daughters. Along the way Corr paints many colorful portraits--the Machiavellian Payne, Dorothy's hopelessly dysfunctional grandchildren, the bright and attractive Jean Enersen--the lone remaining link to the glory days, the irasicble Don McGaffin--a throwback to the hard drinking, hard working, macho muckrakers of the turn of the century, and the glib, shallow Jim Foreman--the self-described "ratings machine" and low water mark for KING's television journalism. There is much to savor in this well written and colorful book. One hopes that Corr will soon devote his considerable talent to a subject with broader appeal.

Corr has done lovers of radio, and television, specifically those of us in the Pacific Northwest a tremendous favor, capturing the drama of the Bullitt family. His writing is lively and the story is compelling in its narritive detail. You'll learn of the struggles, gambles and tremendous paybacks the Bulletts made as they began and grew their broadcasting kingdom. If I had any criticism, it would be that the book is a little short of details concerning KING-AM and KGW-AM's heydays as Top 40 Rock N Roll outlets. The author completely fails to include, KINK-FM, one of the most interesting and hybrid FM radio stations in the country. If you are at all interested in radio, television or Northwest business history, this is definately a book worthy of purchasing.

I highly recommend "To Be a Politician." The book not only gives understanding of the politician's life, but also is written with a sense of humor. Every sentence is packed with meaning. If I were abandoned on an island, "To Be a Politician" is one of the books I'd like to have with me. Candy Burns

To Be A Politician is simply one of the finest books on politics I have ever read. It is such a deeply insightful and enjoyable read, and so difficult to put down, that I devoured it entirely in several mesmerized sittings. Mr. Bullitt is as erudite as he is modest, compassionate and amusing, with an urbane style and polished wit reminiscent of the late Bertrand Russell. I cannot recommend his book highly enough to the student, the teacher, the amateur politician or the political historian - to anyone with an interest in the enterprize of public service.

A true pleasure of a book. I would recomend this to anyone. Fine work.

This book is like a long drink of cool water, an amazing series of meditations on one of the most difficult traditions in Christianity, those last words from Jesus while on the cross. Margaret Bullitt Jonas manages to take those words and forge them into meaningful meditations for our modern lives. She reflects on forgiveness, the solace of the natural world and its terrible vulnerability, as well as power and "sin." This is not just for Christians, but for anyone who wants to reflect on the moral and ethical issues that bind us, in the company of a fine mind and soul.

"Filling the Void" by Dorthy Bullitt:
Buried inconspicuously in the recesses of a seemingly unending succession of vignettes of those suffering grievous losses, Bullitt exposes the underlying dynamic which produces that terrible 'void' which eats away at our soul. "In the midst of your troubles, you may feel alone. You may feel that no one has ever suffered as much as you have." It is this aloneness, this separation from our fellow man, that creates the intolerable void which drags us, each in our own way, through a living hell. And Bullitt offers a prescription for this malady. A prescription not limited to a single source of relief, but one covering virtually all sources of healing. It is this ecumenical spirit which makes this book a valuable guide to those seeking a way out from the desperate isolation which loss and the acompanying grief evokes.
Reading the countless stories of tragedy and loss, one can hardly feel that he/she is alone. We are reminded again and again that indeed, suffering is a part of life, and it is our responsibility to pull ourself out of the "downward spiral", which will lead to the annihilation of the spirit, and a life of unhappiness and unfulfillment. Bullitt offers any number of ways to fill this void in our very being, through her six step approach toward "filling the void". Each step is replete with a liberal variety of examples and suggestions which should reach the widest diversity of readers. Practical reminders of the key points of each chapter helps the reader whose mind is often clouded with emotional confusion, to gain a sense of focus.
The primary message, aside from halting the progression of pain, is reattachment to the human race. The divisive element of self absorption and self pity, is constantly countered with suggestions to move outward from self, and begin to share our special gifts with other unfortunates who likewise feel alone and separate. It is this sharing which once again brings us back into the mainstream of humanity, and it is through our humanness that we will gain fulfillment.
The author writes with a sense of knowing, and it is obvious that her experiences are derived from participation in the losses of the real world. The many vignettes of those facing the tragedies which life offers, instills in the reader the sense of courage which is engendered by those who succeed in life. This is truly a 'take charge' book, and will offer the reader an opportunity to retreat from the ravages which are encountered on life's journey, and discover a way to fulfillment.

This book talks about the french "Commune de Paris" and how Louise Michel took part in it fighting for the poor and the abandonned people , and how she was sent to Noumea in French Caledonia after being arrested for her implication in the Commune

What a terrific story! A young (?) southern belle, and a General 22 years her senior, get married after knowing eachother for three days, and he whisks her off to the western frontier, so he can try to keep order in the Indian lands.

The injustices that were done to the indians are just one aspect of the things you learn, along with some history of the west; but it's the characters and their story that keep you turning the pages.

Mary, the "heroine" is a woman you can relate to. How she comes to really love her husband, how she adjusts to her new surroundings; her jealousies, her heartbreak, her overall character. The indian characters are wonderful, and really draw you in, you will want to know their story, and even though you already know the outcome, you are still routing for them to win their war. Especially Bright Sun, what she goes through being a translator for the white man and the Sauk, being a woman indian in the time of war, trying to hold what she loves together, and what she believes...well some of it is truly heartbreaking. You will admire her strength and courage. The General, himself, is an unforgettable character, I only wish there was more info on his life.

The story keeps you turning the pages to find out what is happening, it keeps the characters firmly planted in your head, and even your heart because you really "feel" for them, and the ending is wonderful, as well as satisfying, it ties up all the loose ends that you are waiting for throughout the book.

Go west, young man,(woman), and take the journey.

Enjoy, Debbi

This is one of those books that rarely comes along. Micaela takes your hand from the first page and with every word there after, you both want to devour this book and savor each word all at the same time. The story of Mary, a rather spoiled southern belle who is rapidly in danger of becoming a spinster, and Henry, a general who at 40 has decided he wants her for his bride becomes a truly breathtaking tale. Mary weds Henry and he takes her to the western frontier. The book tells the story of Mary becoming a woman and learning to love this stranger who is her husband. It is also the story of the beginning of the end of the indians who are also a mystery to Mary, especially her husbands relationship with Black Hawk and a female indian translator. For Mary to truly understand herself, her husband and his relationship with these two indians is the making of a truly great novel. One that after even 400 pages seems to end too quickly. I really loved this book!

From the moment you begin reading this historical novel, you'll be pulled into the lives of Mary Bulliett and General Henry Atkinson. The story between this husband and wife is beautifully written and described with such great detail, you actually feel like you are there witnessing the daily struggles and lifetime tragedies these two extraordinary characters experience. The book is based on real people and events, which occurred in the early 1800's - a time when Indians and white man battled over the land. Ms. Gilcrest has done an excellent job telling their story while at the same time developing their very authentic personalities. A truly well written, great book!

Holy Hunger struck a deep chord in me, not because I share Bullitt-Jonas' family history or her obsession with food but because in it Bullitt-Jonas insightfully reflects on her primordial family relationships. The book is about the early life of a woman with an eating disorder, but it is also about the pain of growing up and discovering the inadequacies and absences of parents, even loving and smart ones. Bullitt-Jonas' story is one of sadness and loss. At the same time, her quest leads her to redemption, joy, and victory.

I found the book utterly captivating and I highly recommend it.

Through her memoir Margaret Bullitt-Jonas invites us to delve into our own stories and discover parts of life previously hidden, covered over, or locked away. It is a gift for those wanting to enter into life more deeply, but not one to be chosen by readers who refuse to be propelled into their own self-examination and self-discovery.

"Sometimes we have no access to our feelings, we can't get hold of our lives; we can only find ourselves as we read our way through the stories of another writer, another teller of a family tale" (p. 198) For Bullitt-Jones,the Russian revolutionary writer Alexander Herzen was the writer that propelled her further in her own self-discovery. For myself and other's like me who choose this self-discovery process for ourselves, Holy Hunger is a precious and grace-filled family tale that opens doors to create a space "Within which to discover and sort out my feelings, so that my own authentic self might arise at last and find a language in which to speak" (p.159).

I am thankful for the author's courageous choice to tell her own story of spiritual recovery. Her grace filled truth telling is refreshing. Her ability to tell the truth about her family without blaming is the product of twenty years of hard work in recovery from addiction. It is good news for all who've chosen the pain of truly living rather than succumb to the anesthization of addiction.

I have just finished using this Spring Rev. Margaret Bullitt Jonas' book for two courses at Boston College, one for pastoral ministry and counseling psychology graduate students on "Spirituality and Psychotherapy" , the second for advanced undergraduates on "Sexuality and the Spiritual Life". In my experience such students are tough- minded reviewers who easily pick up on cant, self-promotion and any note of emotional falsity. Uniformly they found this book an honest, intricate and nuanced presentation of life in one family - no more or less "dysfunctional" than many of them found their own. Ideological reactions to the text that grumpily and simplistically assign it to a genre of "victimology" simply have not read it as closely as these students who were awake to the genuine if complicated appreciation the author has for both of her parents - fully drawn individuals who the author sees with a completeness and complexity we all could learn from. It is a text I will continue to use professionally, and value personally.

Holy Hunger (a wonderful title) is helping me with my own compulsive eating disorder. It definitely gave me a lot of good ideas for coping with my disease. I, too, have been in a food recovery group for several years, and yet this book had fresh new revelations that will make life even better for me, so I thank the writer for that.

However, I haven't heard whether there was any controversy about the fact that one of the major traditions of any 12-step program is that we are not supposed to reveal our full names publicly in conjunction with the fact that we belong to a specific 12-step group, especially in any way that reaps personal reward. I assume Ms. Bullitt-Jonas is being paid for her writing, and if so, is this not using the 12-step program name for personal profit? I mean, she literally names the group throughout, again and again, and as much as I loved the subject matter, I felt a little uneasy, a little exposed, and a little betrayed by it. It's funny, because I have never encountered this before, so I was surprised at my own reaction. It's just that it is drummed into us so often and it is written so clearly on every program pamphlet. Anybody else got a clue about why she did this or if there are any other objections?

An extraordinary account of a journey into the hell of addiction and the faith and courage it took to heal and restore a body and a soul. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas tells her story with great honesty and detail and makes the connection between a hunger for food and a hunger for God without sentimentality or compromise. Holy Hunger is also a strong memoir of a family in pain, like so many of our families, and it makes room for all of us to be more honest and therefore more hopeful.

"Holy Hunger" is quite simply one of the most moving and insightful first hand accounts of the journey through addiction to recovery and a fullness of life that I have had the good fortune to find. My appreciation for it is not just personal, but also professional.

For twenty years I have taught courses at Boston College on the integration of religion and psychology, or for mental health professionals and persons in ministry, courses on the interface of spirituality and the practice of counseling. I am always on the look out for texts that demonstrate the bringing together of psychological insight with an authentic spiritual sensibility. Margaret Bullitt Jonas text delivers that integration in a way that my graduate students find compelling and convincing. Any of us who have lived up close and personal with addiction of any kind will find Margaret's unsparingly honest and probing account recognizable - but more than that, illuminating. At the end of the day - and this is the heart of the matter - she invites the reader to see that beneath addiction is a universal human desiring for a More, a desiring that is given with the human condition. It is this recognition that gives the book a relevance for more than just the recovery community - as my students response consistently confirms.

I'm climber, and I live in Seattle. Being a climber in the northwest means you spend a lot more time thinking about climbing and waiting for good weather to climb, than actually up in the mountains. So, you read a lot of climbing books. Some, like Galan Rowell's "In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods" or Jon Krakauer's "Eiger Dreams" and everyone's favorite "Into Thin Air" are vivid, transporting writing. Others, like Reinhold Messner's books, remind you that the skills and drive that make you a world-class climber don't necessarily make you a good author. Eric Shipton, a great climber in his own right, wrote a completely dry, bloodless book about the history of Everest expeditions.

So it isn't all that surprising that Wickwire's book doesn't have a lot of insights. There isn't much of what literature professors like to call an interior life. It was to me a strangely emotionless and slightly troubling book. And I have to agree, it's a poor choice for a title

All the basic facts of his climbing life are laid out. You certainly learn a good deal about the first and second K2 expeditions, and his triumphs of Mt. Rainier (first winter ascent of the Willis Wall) and near-death experiences. Years ago I saw a movie made about a climb to an unclimbed peak in the Fairweather range in Alaska; it was interesting to read here more fully what happened. It's chilling to learn how thoroughly a body can disintegrate on a fall down a rock face (after the fall, where two of the climbers died, they recovered bits of scalp, bone fragments, pieces of camera, and so on.)

But it's all facts, straightforwardly laid out, without much apparent interest in interpretation. Perhaps this comes from Wickwire's professional life as a corporate attorney, writing legal documents. It's interesting that the description of Wickwire's famous bivouac below the summit of K2 is related much more vividly in John Roskelley's book, than in Wickwire's own book. Perhaps that's because Wickwire wrote twenty years after the events. At the REI "flagship store" in Seattle, you can see the bivouac sack in which Wickwire spent that night., and REALLY get a feel for how cold and alone he really was.

The troubling bit: from reading the book, one comes to the conclusion that the great love of Wickwire's life isn't Mary Lou, his wife, but Marty Hoey, the woman he climbed with on Acancagua and Everest. There are excerpts of what can only be described as love notes between him and Marty. For Mary Lou he expresses respect and appreciation, and there are numerous passages where he expresses regret at the time spent apart from his children, but the expressions of passion are all directed towards Marty. I suppose the honesty is laudable, but this must be a very hard book for his wife to read.

I am not a mountaineer. Yet I loved the book for many different reasons, any one of which would have made it immensely satisfying. I have given or recommended the book to many friends, male and female, young and old, mountain-climbers and normal folks. All are independent thinkers who speak their mind, and all gave the book superlative reviews.

Dorothy Bullitt and Jim Wickwire artfully employ mountain-climbing in the most exteme conditions as a vehicle for provocatively probing human motivations, aspirations and limitations.

The stories of Wickwire's adventures are gripping action thrillers, well worth the price of admission. They are set in an environment as alien and hostile as outer space, an ultimate test of human perseverence and endurance. However, there are even more compelling stories within the stories. The high altitude dramas provide the context for singularly honest inquiries and revelations about human motivations to risk everything in pursuit of ! passion.

A closely-related recurrent theme is the struggle to reconcile conflict between pasion and duty. The reader is implicitly invited to compare the relative virtue of wife Mary Lou, consistently committed to family and community, and husband Jim, continually torn between what he yearns to do and what he should do. Mary Lou is among the fortunate few whose passions perfectly coincide with societal norms of duty.

The authors insightfully portray the complex human relationships in a community based on a shared passion with no obvious practical utility and decimated by sudden random deaths. Passages from a Marty Hoey letter and a Stimson Bullitt eulogy were elegant and profound.

The authors' crisp, spare, clear, and direct prose punctuated by superb photographs are icing on the cake.

Addicted to Danger:A memory about affirming life in the face of death. Author:Jim Wickwire & Dorothy Bullitt Jim Wickwire dedicated his life to climbing in spite of a wife and children, along with being an attorney. Loving nature and the thrill of climbing, he always made an effort to reach the summit of every mountain. Wickwire is a man of courage. He climbed his first mountain in 1960 and never stopped until his age took him over. He traveled the entire world to attempt different and more thrilling expeditions and the dangerous encounters of each mountain he attempted. He suffered through bitter cold, blinding storms, many avalanches, and all of the friend that have died on these expeditions. In 1978 Wickwire was th first American mountain climber to reach the 28,250 foot summit of K2, which is the second highest peak in the world.

Addicted to Danger is for those who enjoy thrilling tales. This book is great to read. If you would like more information please feel free to email my above address.