The book A Picture of Freedom is about a twelve year old slave girl who lives on the Belmont Plantation in Virgingia. I like the way the book is written. It is not divided into chapters but in days. The twelve year old girl, Clottee, writes in her diary almost everyday and you read what she writes in her diary. This book gave me mixed feelings. It was sad at one time and exciting at another. At one point of the book one of the very nice slaves was brutally beaten by the master of the plantation. Soon after he was beaten he died. This was very hard for the other slaves to deal with. As you can tell that part of the book was very sad. There were so many interesting parts in the book. There were parts when I just could not put the book down! For instance when William, the masters child escaped. A few days later a still energetic, horse came trotting up the drive of the big house (the house where the masters live on the plantation) with William dragging along behind. You will defiantly have to read this book and find out if William lives. I would recommend this book to all teen/middle school aged girls. I think that it is a wonderful book. I think even older women might like this book also. I would also recommend this book to those girls who are not motivated readers. I think the way the book is set up it does not seem like you are reading that much.

This book was very entertaining! It is about a young slave girl named Clotee who makes a new friend. Clotee is seceretly learnig to read and write against her masters will by paying attention to his son's school lessons. She makes her self a diary to write in and share her thoughts and feelings with. She must hide it though, or it could leak to the master. One day she learns a new word Freedom. She didn't know what it meant. Will she ever understand the true meaning of the word? Will she ever pursue freedom for herself? Read the book and find out!
I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in books about slavery in America and to people who can really appreciate family bonds and good friends.

I thought that A PICTURE OF FREEDOM was the best book in the Dear America series. The way that Clotee tried her best to learn to read and write was really neat. Clotee had a really hard life as a slave and the diary was very enjoyable to read because it wasn't too predictable. If you haven't read this book already, I highly recommend it along with the other books in the series.

I was learned of James "Nick" Rowe's book "FIVE YEARS TO FREEDOM" on the old Robert K. Dornan TV show in Los Angeles way back in the early 1970's. I bought it and read it back then. In Five Years to Freedom, James Rowe exemplefies all that is good in the American Soldier. All that is good in the Vietnam Vet. Courage, Honor, Duty, so absent today by our political leaders. I never knew or met Col. Rowe, but I felt after reading his book, that I was family. And I cried. When he was assinated in the P.I., I re-read it, and cried again. As a vet, I will miss Nick. GOD BLESS JAMES. This book is A MUST read for all student's of the Vietnam War, and should be read at the HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. WELCOME HOME NICK.

Nick Rowe was already a giant among special operations soldiers when I had him as an instructor in Special Forces in 1982. Every page of his book only serves to demonstrate that which he would never claim - Nick Rowe is an American hero of the model few can match. Read the book to understand what character, courage and a will to live really mean. Years later, in the late 1980s, Nick Rowe autographed my copy of his book. I recall telling him how remarkable I found his story. His response, without batting an eye - "sure hate to have to research it again." There, in a nutshell is Nick Rowe, and the kind of wit that kept him alive. Get a copy of this book and read it. Then remember him every time you see the American Flag. Remember this man, James N. (Nick)Rowe died three weeks before Memorial Day, 1989, at a time this country enjoyed peace, and tell me tears do not come to your eyes.

James N (Nick) Rowe was the quintiessential Green Beret. His story is about how he survived for 5 years as a prisoner of war of the Viet Cong. His story is about the pressures of survival of day to day torture and interrogation. He tells of seeing his friends die. His experience was the basis for the US Army starting the school to teach military personnel how to survive in captivity. He escaped on his way to be executed after Jane Fonda brought a copy of POW personnel files during her visit to North Vietnam. COL Rowe is credited for many saves with the quality of his teachings. The book is a fast read and shows how articulate Nick Rowe was. SIDE NOTE: COL Jame "Nick" Rowe was assasinated in the Phillipines on 21 April 1986. The US State Department called it a "Random Terrorist Act". But he was killed 21 years after his escape on the 2100 block and shot 21 times. Only the Embassy knew his route that day and he was ordered NOT to be armed, though his name was on a "hit" List. Aquino granted freedom to all of his killers several years ago. You can visit Nick's grave. It's on the hill next to the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary.

As summer season is approaching in the northern hemisphere; many mountaineers are getting ready to climb again.
Whether you are just starting out with hillwalking or you sharpen your icetools weekly, this is the one book that rightly is known as 'the bible of mountaineering'.

You will never know too much about the versatility of mountaineering and I recommend this book for every climber, hiker or armchair mountaineer.
Over 500 pages filled with clear drawings of techniques and knowledge.

Everything from building a snowcave to using a 'Texan prusik' and rockclimbing technique is covered.
Mountaineering is not just one of these disciplines, it's always a mixture of everything and therefore it is good to have knowledge on all aspects before you head out into the wild, whether it's Denali or that big boulder in the park.

This is the only book around truly covering 'Mountaineering'; it's a classic and if all great mountaineers own a copy and still read it, why shouldn't you?

This is the book to have once you're ready to depart from the established trail.

I've been reading "Freedom" since its early editions; in addition to being an excellent and entertaining course in general mountaineering, it's also a fabulous ready-reference. I've lost track of how many times I've looked up a particular knot, rappel technique, belay menthod, etc.etc.etc. Excellent sections on rock, ice, snow, and just about everything else. I can't imagine any mountaineering library being without it.

You might want to pick up two copies; one is bound to be covered with dirt and water from use in the field!

If you love the outdoors and like to camp, climb, snow travel, etc... then this is a must have.

This book has served me well for over a decade now and the importance it stresses on SAFETY and good common sense when going out into nature is a much needed resource in todays world. Many people today have this romantic portrait of nature and forget that it is perhaps the most fickle of all 'lovers'.

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced outdoorsman this book has and will always have something of relevance to almost any situation one may encounter. From camping, bouldering, big-wall climbing, or winter mountaineering this book has it all. Including references to equipment, posture, simple to advanced first-aid and rescue techniques this single-volume resource has it all. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in the outdoors.

But Congressman Lewis does not reveal it in his autobiography about participation in the civil rights movement. What we get instead is a brave highly motivated young man who put his belief into a free and equal society into action.;

Lewis, who is currently one of the few southern democrats in congress has a record of defending the civil rights of all groups. Although I had always admired his voting record, reading about the seeds of activisim was very moving and touching.

Braving arrests, poliice brutality, political apathy and confusion, Lewis and his friends were early disciples of Martin Luther King. Also interesting is the uncanny habit of rubbing shoulders with John and Robert Kennedy. Although revisionist history has cast some doubt on the actual motives of the civil rights position, Lewis fondly remembers both as American heroes.

According to Lewis, both men were genuinely anti-racist, but were unpreppared to deal with dixiecrat resistance to intergration or the actual sight of segregation. Indeed,many readers such as myself still find the conditions under which Affrican Americans were expected to exist horifying.

Although many books and memoirs have been written about the civil rights movement, Lewis attaches unparralleled grace. One can almost hear the representative personally narrating the epic journey himself.

John Lewis captured the Spirit of America and the true motivation behind the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in "Walking With The Wind." This book allows the reader to not only experience the movement, but to gain a better understanding of the issues and events that have shaped American history in the last half of the twentienth century. Brilliantly crafted, this book epitomizes the "American Dream." Highly recommended to anyone interested in American history or modern day hereos.

John Lewis tells the story of a time when America was at its crossroads. He was Destined to become a leader in the Civil Rights Movement from his humble beginings in Troy, Alabama. Congressman Lewis tells his story of 35 years standing steadfast with determination and never wavering efforts to bring about "The Beloved Family". "This book is a legacy to us all and should be required reading in all educational settings."

The story of the Dalai Lama and his people as told by His Holiness is charmingly written. (He uses words like 'whilst and amongst'.)

We follow the very young playful boy from his very modest home in the Tibetian province of Amdo to the capital of Lhasa where his education as a Buddhist monk begins. He relates much detail about the rich culture and beauty of Tibet; however he is honest about it's isolation and failure to keep up with a more modern world.

As he tells of the miliary and political struggle with China, one can almost feel the tension mount. The account of his escape into exile is exciting, yet sad. The destruction of Tibet, the atrocities upon its people, and the genocide still being committed there is more than sad. Yet, the Dalai Lama does not hate. He has compassion even for those who have caused the suffering of the Tibetian people.

Great book. I recommend it.

This incredible story of the Dalai Lama is a must read for any person. He guides us through his life up to recent years to help us understand what the Tibetan people, his people, have been through. Any religious person, of any religion, should read this book to get a perspective on a different, beautiful religion. The average person should read this book to understand about human suffering, and how one person overcame.

At a time when so much attention is directed toward China and her brutalities, this book is a breath of fresh air.

From a playful, joke playing youngster to a determined, hopeful spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama is truly the most transcendental leader in the world today. At a time when most anyone would've given up, his perserverence and hope is a true inspiratioin for us all. The reader is not merely reading an account by account of the events in the Lama's life, but actually reliving and absorbing them. At times you are laughing at the Lama's sense of humor, other times you feel the Lama's pain when driven out of his homeland.

The Dalai Lama's hope for the future is one we all need to understand, and inspire ourselves to better not only our conditions, but of those millions around the world whose conditions are worse than our own.

I was deeply touched by this book. I was amazed to see what exactly a determined 23 year old teacher can accomplish. Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers are true hero's. Their stories will shock and inspire you. It will make you ask, "Does this type of stuff really happen in a place like Long Beach."

Its sad, but very true, that these kids are the victims of the war in America. The war of violence and destruction that is becoming increasingly apparent all over the United States, yet this book gives us hope.

It is truly touching how these kids, with the encouragement from a teacher could turn their lives around. This book should serve as an inspiration for every individual. The fact that one strong and courageous teacher could inspire 150 students to go onto college should prove what each and everyone of us can do if we are willing to help. This book is what life is all about: Courage, commitment, strength, acceptance, love, hope, faith and the willingness to help. Buy this book.

As a prospective high school teacher who will most likely work in a school demographically similar to Wilson High, I am deeply inspired by the story of Erin Gruwell and her amazing students. Branded their entire lives as underacheivers and losers, Gruwell's students, with the help of an extremely determined and passionate teacher, were able to use writing as a means of fighting back against the labels they were given and succeed despite the odds. I really liked the way Gruwell got her students interested in learning about events like the Holocaust and the war in Bosnia by relating those events to the daily gang warfare that had become so much a part of her students' lives. Not only did this lesson make learning meaningful, but Gruwell managed to get a bunch of students who "hated to read" to get excited about meeting the woman who hid Anne Frank from the Nazis, as well as spending several days with a young girl who had fled the war in Bosnia. This book is a must-read particularly for young and inexperienced teachers because it shows how Gruwell, who started the Freedom Writers as an inexperienced 23-year-old teacher, was able to make such a positive change in her students' lives. Gruwell has managed to engage her students in a way that many teachers with 30 years or more of teaching experience have yet to accomplish. The Freedom Writers Diary has taught me that even I, an inexperienced teacher only slightly older than Gruwell when she started, can potentially have the same effect on my students through determination and a strong belief in what my students can accomplish.

The Freedom Writer's Diary is a truly amazing project that teacher, Erin Gruwell and her students created. The diary is insighful and offers much meaning to the reader. This book is the product of what young people can achieve.

The book is divided into a variety of topics where the students reflect on the assigned readings and make connections to their current realities. The parallels are often heart-wrenching and painful. These are their stories...

The Freedom Writers were students who were labelled as at-risk and unteachable until one remarkable person, Erin Gruwell entered their lives. Gruwell rejected the labels and saw the pontential that all young people possess, a lesson for us all.

The back cover of the book says it the best, through the use of literature and Erin Gruwell as the guide, the Freedom Writers, "undertook a life-changing, eye-opening, spirit-raising odyssey against intolerance and misunderstanding."

Highly recommended, read this and you will surely expand your awareness.

Life Magazine, for as long as it has been in existence, has been known for its vivid portrayal in words and photographs of life's events, both joyous and tragic. This book is no exception. How could anyone read about the devastating events of September 11, 2001 and not be moved. Throughout "One Nation" the reader will recapture the events as they unfolded, meet both survivors and courageous rescuers, and still be left with that plaguing question, "in this century, in a time of peace and prosperity, how could this horrific event possibly have happened?"

One need not be an American to appreciate this book, for the tragic events pictured here could happen anywhere. Where, is only a matter of geography. It is not appropriate to say it is an enjoyable book to read, for it is not. The events revealed here defy description and are so horrific they will stay with you forever. However, the book is a compelling one to read. For those who do not live near New York, it puts the reader in touch with the reality of the events. Life Magazine has produced a moving and impressive account, both in words and photographs, of what will become an unforgettable time in history. "One Nation" shows through the eyes of endless rescue workers, from all walks of life, that the world with all its tragedy, unpredictability and despair is also still a world filled with tremendous compassion and love for one's fellow man.

I picked this book up to read now, 9 months after the attacks of September 11th and found myself becoming choked up all over again. The photos are of course of the highest quality of composition and emotion, as you would expect from Life Magazine. The illustrated timeline brings the day back into focus, and now that time has given some distance, allows us to look anew at how the day unfolded. But of course, in any kind of tragedy, it is the human elements that have the most impact - and this book presents that excellently. Stories of heroism, tragedy, chance, determination and sadness brought tears to my eyes. The overwhelming shock of the events have worn off for the most part, but these stories remind us of what the day meant to people. The section of photographs of individuals against a stark white background drives home the smallest human element of an overwhelming tableau. The people focused upon are there for a reason, and even though just being there and taking part in the aftermath should be reason enough, most of the subjects have additional connections that ties them all together in a web of tragedy and redemption. This is a book to treasure and to use to show those that come after us what this day meant to America.

The editors of LIFE magazine have put together a splendid testimonial to all of the victims of September 11th. This is a volume that should be on the coffee table of every American household and in every school library.

In great detail, LIFE recreates that day with pictures, eyewitness reports, and graphics, that will further enhance your knowledge of exactly what happened. The pictures are stunning and at times they bring the action rushing back into your mind.

This is not the kind of book that you can just pick up and read. This is a book that you thumb through on a periodic basis to remind yourself that we are a target. It is the kind of book that you have to buy so your kids and grandkids will be able to understand what happened.

We are the only nation that could have come through this attack with renewed patriotism. This book does everything it can to remind the reader that we are truly the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I give this book five stars because I think Riding Freedom is a good book. It was an encouraging book. It is about a girl named Charlotte Parkhurst who loves horses. This book is a historical fiction story; it is a wonderful book. My favorite part was when she saw a pitchfork aiming at her face. I recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selslick did a great job.

This book is about an orphan named Charlotte who loves horses. One day, her favorite horse named Freedom died. She was very sad. Then, shortly after, her friend Hayward was adopted. She was banned from the stables too. So she ran away, pretending to be a boy. She worked for a man named Ebeneezer Belch and then left to Rhode Island to work there. Then she moved to California, bought a ranch, and was the first woman to vote for president. The people in California called her One-eyed Charley because she had lost the sight in one eye. She lost her sight when a horse kicked her in the eye.

I give this book 5 stars because the illustrations were very creative and Charlotte Parkhurst really looked like a boy when she cut her hair. It looked so real. I think Pam Munoz Ryan did a great job on this fantastic book! So did Brian Selznick! I think third, fourth and fifth graders should read this book. I learned that Charlotte had to change into a boy named Charlie and she lost an eye. I liked the parts when the man was aiming a pitchfork at her face and when one of the horses had a foal and named her Freedom, in remembrance of Riding Freedom! I love this book!

Borjesson's "Buzzsaw" is a collection of well-researched insider stories from journalists who sometimes had to fight insurmountable odds to tell the truth. Because these are heroic tales from survivors, the book is a real page-turner from beginning to end.

These heroes fought (and most are still fighting) deep behind the newspaper banner pages and out of sight of the cameras - fought to give you the facts on various stories. Most of these people have paid a very high price for their dedication to the truth. These are the stories about the stories - and information that powerful vested interests preferred that we not hear about. Reason enough to read this book.

If you are at all interested in how the news gets "processed" on its way to your eyes and ears you have to read these stories. That process is currently impaired. In the land of the free press our media got sold to commercial interests and that is the story that we now urgently need to understand. Like the air we breathe, the media is somewhat tranparent. But even if it gets polluted slowly and imperceptibly we will still suffocate.

Borjesson brings tales of the possibility of fresh air.

A democracy depends on a well-informed citizenry and therefore an unbiased watchdog in the media. Universally, survival depends on clear minimally distorted perceptions of the world.

As a design engineer myself, I can assure you that no system is perfect. But after you better understand the news process problems scrupulously detailed in this collection, you may realize like I did that you must do something about it yourself. Thankfully we still live in a nation where we can effect improvements.

Continued ignorance may be bliss, but it is not safety.

If you're like me, perennially skeptical about conspiracy theories and "unsubstantiated" claims, you're in for a shock. I used to blame the dumbed-down American media on a "dumb public" - I said, "we're getting what we asked for." Now I see that this idea was not just arrogant and supercillious (I knew that already!) - it's also dumb, and dangerously misinformed.

This is an exceptionally brave and candid book in which over a dozen award-winning journalists detail a shocking, and rapidly growing, pattern of media censorship in America. It's an excellent introduction to the state of information - and misinformation - in America today, and helps explain why, in the midst of an information flood, the American public is unaware of the deeper picture of government and corporate corruption.

You get the stories straight from the journalists who wrote them, how reporters had to fight for years to get some of the biggest investigative reports of the 1990's into the press - and how many of them lost their jobs in the process.

Into The Buzzsaw shows how corporations and the federal government use the legal system to blackmail the media into silence, and how the consolidation of media ownership and the quest for profits has nearly obliterated the media's service of the public's need to know. The book explains, with detailed examples, how mainstream, respected journalists and editors go out of their way to discredit colleagues for daring to expose taboo information.

For instance, one author is Gary Webb, who wrote the San Jose Mercury News story about the CIA's sale of pure cocaine in LA, which preciptated the national crack cocaine epidemic. You've heard that the story didn't "hold up under scrutiny", right? A BIG lie, perpetrated by the "respectable media".

We're being taken a for a ride folks, and not toward where we want to go. Read this book, and begin to wake up. But, fair warning; it will make you very angry.

I highly recommend this book to both those who read the news and to those who report it.

As an already extreme skeptic of American news sources, I thought this book would be more entertaining and not so much informative for me. It is actually more informative and shocking than I ever expected.

This book not only provides information you may never have heard before about some high profile news stories, it tells how this information was obtained and the price journalists paid to report it, or try to report it. It has varied views from varied journalists regarding their take on the American media today.

Its an easy book to read, as you can't stop turning the pages, but the stories it tells are not pleasant. As you read this book, you discover that too many media companies use news as a tool to earn higher advertising revenues and manipulate the public, not inform. Our right to a free press is in jeopardy, except for a few courageous, die-hard journalists. After reading it, you wonder how this book ever got published.

As a police officer for the last 24 years, I can tell you that Bernard Kerik is truly, an amazing individual. Whether you are in the field of law enforcement or not, you will enjoy reading this inspirational book, about a young boy who came from a broken home, and followed his own path, to become the Police Commissioner of the largest and greatest Police Department in the world.
From experience, I can tell you, that in this day and age, individuals like Bernard Kerik do not usually make it to such a high level in law enforcement. It is normally those individuals who spend more time studying for the promotional exam, than doing police work. Bernard Kerik went to the school of "hard knocks" and graduated with honors! At a young age, he was smart enough to realize the physical and mental benefits of martial arts. Bernard Kerik enrolled himself into a program, and ultimately obtained his black belt. But the true prize was the confidence and sense of discipline that he obtained.

From the military to private security in Saudi Arabia to a warden in New Jersey, Bernard Kerik was a leader and a warrior. One of the most fascinating and inspiring moments in Bernard Keriks life was when he gave up a $52,000 a year job as a warden, to start as a rookie cop in New York, at half the pay! No matter where he has worked, Bernard Kerik has been an inspiration and a true leader. He cares about the people who work for him and he cares about the victims of the crimes they investigate. He truly is someone, you would gladly follow into battle. In these difficult times, we need more leaders like Bernard Kerik.

Caution: This book contains a lot of coarse and vulgar language and subjects. The purpose seems to be to provide honest texture about Mr. Kerik's life, rather than to provide shock value. Unless such things are very offensive to you, you will probably be able to look past them to the underlying story.

I delayed reading this book because the publicity about it was somewhat misleading to me. I thought that the book would simply capture the story of another outstanding police leader. Fine, but I don't normally think of police leaders as ranking among the great leaders. Was I ever wrong! I wish I had read this book when it first came out. I intend to read it again . . . and again!

I found this book to be one of the most inspiring and moving autobiographies that I have ever read. Mr. Kerik is the real life version of the sort of dedicated crime fighter that the movies love to create out of their imaginations. His story makes even The French Connection pale for me.

"You will read about true everyday heroes." That statement is profoundly true about this book. First, Mr. Kerik is clearly such a hero. Second, he has also worked with a lot of heroes and describes a lot of them. Third, as a leader, Mr. Kerik also takes great pleasure in finding and honoring heroes. Those three perspectives permeate every page.

The book has three primary story lines. The main one is how a tough kid who dropped out of high school found his way to become the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City. A secondary one is his search for his roots, which reveal some pretty daunting facts that he handles very well. The third one is added at the end, which is to describe the events of September 11th from the perspective of trying to direct the police response from the scene near the World Trade Center. Any one of these story lines would have made this an outstanding book.

Mr. Kerik's character has many unusual qualities. Although he is a person with little formal education, he is very interested in learning and applying new and better ways of doing things. With his talent, he could have made a lot of money doing things other than being a New York City police officer. But he wanted the challenge the job brings. Some of the roles he has taken on (such as running Rikers Island) would have been too much for almost anyone else. Yet he could look past the problems to focus on the important values of treating those who work and are imprisoned there with dignity, safety, humanity and fairness. In addition, he has lots of courage. He played undercover roles in the drug trade that could have cost him his life on almost any day. Perhaps the most appealing of his qualities is that he doesn't see any of this as being very special, and goes out of his way to point out others who did more.

Although it would be a joy to share with you all of the things I found remarkable about Mr. Kerik in this book, you'll enjoy discovering them for yourself by reading his words more than if I interpret them for you.

Where do you have a passion to do the right thing? Are you pursuing that passion? If not, how could you?

Turn loose all of your creativity and energy to accomplish something important . . . for all of us . . . and for yourself!

I enjoyed reading about Bernard Kerik's life and accomplishments. He had a rough start being abandoned by his alcoholic prostitute mother at age 4. It was really touching to read about how Bernard Kerik learned about his mother who died at age 34.

Bernard Kerik dropped out of high school at 16 when it was predicted by his principal that he would be nothing but a vegetable. Kerik began his law enforcement career as a military policeman in Korea in the Army. He studied and excelled in the martial art of Tai Kwon Do. His martial arts traning paid off as he later trained a Delta Force fighting group of soldiers. Kerik later became a New York City police officer where he seized tons of cocaine off the streets in the late 80s. Overall crime in New York reduced by 63 percent in 10 years There were 2,245 cases of murder in 1990 and 671 cases in 2000 mostly under the leadership of Mayor Giuliani and the efforts of cops like Bernard Kerik. He later became head of corrections of notorious Rikers jail where he reduced the number of assaults by inmates from 1,200 to 12 in just 1 year.

The events of September 11th are talked about in this book. Kerik talks the courage, compassion, and dedication of the people who risked and lost their lives that day. These are qualities that Bernard Kerik has shown all his life. This is a wonderful book.