I couldn't put this book down, I loved it so much the first time, that i read it a second time, and it was even better the second time, because if you missed important descriptions, or anything, you definently get it the second time around!

The volumes in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series always begin in media res, with the defining moment of that particular president. In the case of Franklin Pierce it is significant that his shining moment is when he delivers his inaugural address from memory. But even that moment was shrouded in a sense of gloom and doom; between the election and the inaugural Pierce's third and last surviving child was killed in a railroad accident and his wife, Jane, believed this tragedy was a penalty for having agreed to run. Even though he was the youngest President up to that time, at age 48, it had been a decade since he had held political office. Pierce had been nominated for the White House by the Democrats after 49 ballots, as a compromise "dark horse" candidate over James Buchanan, Lewis Cass, Stephen Douglas, and William Marcy. As a northerner who accepted slavery, he was acceptable to the South and for that reason easily defeated Whig candidate General Winfield Scott, hero of the Mexican War and Pierce's superior in the Army. This alone should show young readers that in the decade before the outbreak of the Mexican War the only issue that mattered in national politics was the devisive one of slavery.

The most impressive aspect of this juvenile biography of Franklin Pierce by Charnan Simon is that the story being told remains interesting even though the subject is a weak man who accomplishes virtually nothing in the White House. The best you can say for Pierce, which is Simon's position, is that his stand in support of slavery was based on principle: since slavery was protected by the Constitution and since Pierce was a public servant whose duty was to uphold the Constitution, he was therefore required to protect slavery. However, even young readers today are going to recognize that the immorality of slavery speaks to a higher principle. The result is that Pierce is considered one of the weakest Presidents ever (on everybody's list of the bottom five) and died a miserable man, considered a traitor by many. To be fair there is nothing that any political leader could have done to avoid the coming War and there is something to be said for the fact that the wasted presidency of Pierce did postpone the armed conflict until Abraham Lincoln was in a position to win the White House (I can make a compelling argument that Lincoln was the ONLY politician in the country who could have preserved the Union).

Ultimately this book is more about the times in which Pierce lived then a biography of his personal life and political career. Pierce was a spectator for the pivotal events of that four-year period, such as "Bleeding Kansas." Even the success of the diplomatic mission to open Japan to Western trade was started by his predecessor. However, Simon does use the perspective of the Pierce presidency to cover the key events and personalities of this period. The book is illustration with black & white illustrations, mostly early photographs from that period, as well as etchings and a series of about a dozen very informative political cartoons. It is hard to have much respect for Pierce after reading any book about him, but Simon does an excellent job of providing information that makes it perfectly clear why he deserves his reputation as one of the worst American Presidents. As the antithesis of our greatest President, Lincoln, Pierce can in fact be considered our worst chief executive.

The Profiles of the Presidents series is establishing itself as the first place young readers should turn for information about the Presidents. As is usually the case with any juvenile biography about a President, the less you know about that particular President the more impressive you will find the volume to be (it is hard just to cover the basics about Abraham Lincoln or F.D.R. in this small of a book). Such is the case with Barbara Somervill's look at Franklin Pierce. Somervill begins her book with the obvious question, Franklin Who? After all, his opponent, Mexican War hero General Winfield Scott is still better known today that Pierce, who was nominated on the 49th ballot by the Democrats in 1852. More importantly, before she even begins the story of Pierce's life and political career, Somervill establishes that he was not up to the office and is one of the five worst presidents in the nation's history.

The rest of this book looks at how Pierce went from a student, lawyer, and politician in New Hampshire to his service in the Mexican War, ironically, under Scott. Pierce was chosen to run because he was a northerner who favored slavery, which certainly makes it clear how that issue was coming to a head during the final decade before the Civil War; he had been a Senator before the Mexican War, which shows how desperate the Democrats were to find a "dough faced" nominee. The story of Pierce's one term in the White House is essentially that of a series of tragic deaths in his family and administration and a complete lack of political success either at home or abroad. After leaving office Pierce began drinking heavily until the day he died.

The presidency of this man is as depressing a tale as young students are going to read in this series, from the death of his son in a train wreck between the election and the inaugural to his complete inability to do anything to prevent the coming war. This begs the question as to what anybody could have done during those years to do anything other than slow down the race to Civil War. Consequently, it is not so much that Peirce has any significant degree of responsibility for what would happen, but that he more than amply symbolizes the ineptness of the politicians of the country. Clearly Somervill does an excellent job of cataloguing his failures in office.

The final comment would be that these are very nice looking books. Apparently a set of colored portraits of the President were commissioned for this series, which are used not only to adorn the cover of each book but also work their way inside as well (e.g., Fillmore and Lincoln), and I really like them.

All of society is now aware of the Catholic Church's duplicitous nature and of its high tolerance for corruption of all kinds. What may not be as obvious, particularly to Catholics, is the pervasiveness of these characteristics throughout this church's long and often chilling history. Author Mary Ann Collins explores this using an elegant and warmly personal format. Each section of the book treats specific areas of Catholic belief or tradition. Collins includes basic information in each area to give the reader a clear picture of how the belief or tradition is presented to the lay Catholic by the magisterium. She then details the history behind each belief or tradition, including its roots in paganism, carnality, greed, and other things the average Catholic is not even aware of.

What keeps this book solidly out of the realm of Catholic-bashing are two things: the author's obvious compassion for the entire spectrum of subscribers to Christian belief, and the prayers she's included at the end of each section. Collins has chosen as her primary (though by no means exclusive) audience Catholics who are seeking a sincere connection with the Almighty, and have noticed that they're not finding a clear path to this in the maze of obfuscation and pietistic legalism that is Catholicism. At the end of each section, Collins invites the reader to pray in faith the prayers she's written, allowing the reader to articulate, among other things, his or her desire to see the way to an authentic and vibrant experience of faith in'and relationship with'Jesus Christ, as eloquently and specifically revealed in Scripture.

The introduction by C. Peter Wagner and the afterword by Chuck Pierce--both noted and noteworthy scholars in the Charismatic/New Apostolic tradition--are eye-opening and hair-curling, respectively. This book is powerful and significant reading not only for Catholics, but also for the entire body of Christians whose religious tradition came out of Catholicism (practically everyone, in other words).

I came across National Public Radio many years ago just tooling around the FM dial. I found "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" and was hooked by the interview at the time, with Clint Eastwood. The questions were ones I would want to ask him. I was intrigued by this voice I have never heard before on radio, sophisticated, smart, smooth, curious, and down to earth. No commercial radio hype, none of the exaggeration for a big news story, not a celebrity exclusive. I've since heard this audio compilation of the the comedians interviewed on "Fresh Air laughs" and loved it. This isn't just a side splitting laugh a minute tape, it also brings you a realization that these are real people. The Bill Murray interview is so unlike his performer identity we all know that you have to listen to it carefully, because Terry brings out his humanity with her interview style. We get to listen to conversation that has substance and not just style. This is a tape you can sink your teeth into, it's that thick.

This collection is funny, smart, full of grief and wit and wisdom. It also contains a smart essay by Pulitzer Prize-winning Tony Kushner and a great appendix on how to start a writing workshop in community.

Chuck Pierce is a voice crying out in the wilderness, "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord."

There is a prophetic voice emerging out of mainline Christianity today and Chuck Pierce is one of those Prophets. He captures, in one volumn, the heart of God and what Christ is doing in the hearts of this generation in preparation for His soon return.

Chuck Pierce opens a window into the Spiritual realm easily understood by anyone. He speaks of intercessory warfare and explains God's strategy in tearing down strongholds of the enemy.

He talks about and explains the coming Apostolic Church Government and the raising up of Prophets who will and are admonishing us to prepare our hearts before God.

Chuck Pierce has defined in depth what God means in His Commandment to 'Love God first with your whole heart and soul, and your NEIGHBOR as yourself.' Jesus Christ longs to share the fire of His love with us. Embrasing Him intimately is key to our growing up in Him.

Chuck Pierce shows us the way. One small paragraph sums up the whole of his prophetic message here:

"As we learn to operate in our gifts, the Body of Christ will function as it was meant to. No demonic force, including lawlessness, will be able to stand against a fully functioning Body of Christ. Operating properly in the gifts will lead us back to love (1 Cor. 13:1010), where we can work together according to the heart of God." (Page 203-204).

I didn't think they could improve on the first version of Galactic Underground, but this new version is even better then the first.

GENDER TRIALS offers secretaries, paralegals, and lawyers a new "take" on relationships in the courtroom, the office, and the break room. Pierce's use of specific examples and her having been a paralegal herself provide good context for theoretical discussions--hers and ours. This is a must-read for all new female lawyers!

My youngest son who is autistic, absolutely loves this book.

The illustrations are marvelous and the jokes keep you laughing long after the book is closed.

In this world, it's hard to find good clean jokes and entertainment for children, but this book fits that bill.

Even though it is out of print I absolutely love this book and I encourage you to purchase it.