The first two or three chapters of this book were tough-going. The writing was choppy because the author kept jumping from his own narrative to lengthy quotes from Madison. But persistence paid off. It may not be the definitive biography of James Madison, but it's a good read.

The book is short and focuses on Madison's presidency, with some background on his accomplishments before becoming president. The story that Garry Wills tells is that James Madison enjoyed a moderately successful presidency in spite of himself. While he was a brilliant and effective member of the legislature, he really didn't have what it takes to be a good president. He was too much of an ideologue and not enough of a pragmatic. One of his big mistakes was the embargo. Both before and during his presidency he believed England was more reliant on trade with the U.S. that the the other way around.

The passages about early naval battles in the War of 1812 were fun: the fledgling United States whipping the most powerful navy in the world. Of course, Madison thought the war could easily be won on land and didn't even think we should have a navy. Nor did he think we should have a federal bank, until he ran out of money to carry on the war. The idea that he was ruining the U.S. economy with his embargo probably never occurred to him.

But the book has a happy ending. The War of 1812 ended without destroying the U.S. Additionally, during Madison's presidency the extreme polarization between the Federalists and the Republicans was tempered quite a bit-more people recognized the need for a stronger federal government. All in all, the United States of America was in a better place at the end of Madison's 8 years as president.

This is a very good study of Madison as president. Wills is, as always, a source of insight and the quality of writing is up to his usual high standard. Wills is primarily concerned with explaining why Madison's presidency was not very successful. Wills begins by reminding us that Madison's presidency was perhaps more successful than commonly perceived. He did serve 2 terms and did hand over the office to his chosen successor. The War of 1812, which he blundered into, was brought to a reasonably successful conclusion. Still, this is not a performance that matches his other remarkable achievements. Wills points out that Madison was constitutionally unsuited to being a President, particularly a wartime President. Madison was a modest, actually shy man, who excelled in the committee room but was certainly not the dynamic leader demanded by wartime events. Madison was not, however, merely swept along by events. Wills is careful to show that the War of 1812 was brought on in large part by Madison's unrealistic policies when in Jefferson's administration. Madison's doctrinaire Republicanism and own political choices also hampered his ability to conduct the war well. For example, he allowed the charter of the Bank of the United States to lapse, and the absence of a central bank became a major obstacle to adequate wartime financing. Following a point made originally by Henry Adams in his great series of books on the Jefferson and Madison administrations, what really saved the American republic were the institutions developed by the Federalists, notably the small but highly competent professional military and navy. Madison's administration would conclude with the de facto adoption of many Federalist policies. Wills provides also nice overviews of Madison's pre- and post-presidential careers. He is particularly good on Madison's attachment to the separation of Church and State. Wills is careful to give Madison his due for positive achievements as a President. For example, he was careful to stay within the bounds of the Constitution and his record on Civil Liberties as a wartime president is better than that of Lincoln or FDR. A good book that whets your interest for more information on Madison and this period of American history.

The author, Garry Wills, writes, "Madison's very presidency is semi-forgotten.", and addresses the question "How could James Madison be so outstanding in certain aspects of his life and be overshadowed in others." The text states that an explanation "...could take one of three approaches based on circumstances, on temperament or on specific errors." However, none of these fully explain the dichotomy Madison presents.

Wills notes that Madison had weak points which he carried over to the presidency: "...a certain provincialism with regard to the rest of the world and a certain naiveté with regard to the rest of his human beings." The book's first three chapters cover the "Pre-Presidential Years" noting "Madison is called the father of the Constitution. It is a title deeply deserved on many accounts." He had an intimate connection with all three administrations preceding his presidency being responsible for the framing and passage of the Bill of Rights.

The balance of the book, ten chapters, covers his presidency. He became president under very difficult circumstances. Jefferson literally had given up governing the nation for four crucial months passing on a stalled executive to Madison who had no real executive experience before becoming president. Lacking leadership experience the author relates the many cabinet and personnel problems he experienced while his provincialism often allowed him to get suckered punched in foreign affairs. Contrary to common belief, the Congressional "War Hawks" of the West did not thrust the War of 1812 on him. Madison wanted the war.

The author gives a succinct account of Madison and the conduct of the war from the aborted attempt to conquer Canada to the bright performance of the American Navy. In 1814 when the war was shifting in America's favor, Washington was burned in what the author calls "a perfect study of what was wrong with Madison' conduct of the war..." Political basis for military appointments (a practice continued into the Civil War) and reliance on state militia rather than army professionals contributed significantly to the Washington debacle.

The text gives a brief account of the work of the American peace commission and the treaty ending the war, which the Senate approved on February 16, 1815. The author notes, "Not a single one of its announced war goals had been reached....", but notes that "During his last year in office, Madison rode the swell of popular nationalism...." During the war Madison was truer to the strictures of the Constitution than any subsequent war president "as if to prove that the Constitution did not have to be jettisoned in a crisis."

Garry Wills answers the question of how could James Madison be so outstanding in certain aspects of his life and be overshadowed in others. He concludes this book writing "No man could do everything for the country-not even Washington. Madison did more than most, and did some things better than any. That is quite enough."

The reader will find parallels in today's national politics with the political shenanigans of the Madison era.

I came accross this little gem right before I got pregnant with my son. Bored with traditional baby naming books, the title to this one caught my eye, and boy am I glad I found it. I already owned the first edition which is also great, but this one contains new sections such as president's surnames as first names, and regular words as names. I agree that some of the suggestions were silly at best, but some were intriguing as well. Are you a writer? How about Story for a girl?

I think that every first time parent should take a look at this book before making that final decision on what to name their baby. I used to work at a daycare where we had three girls named Jordan in the same class. I'm sure that their parents thought that it was a creative name and had never met another little girl with that name before, but a quick look at this book will let you know that it's one of the trendiest names around. A first time parent who's not around children very much most likely doesn't know what's hot and what's not and this book is invaluable. We had been considering Taylor for a girl before we read this because we thought it sounded unique. How wrong we were! Now, I still think it's a beautiful name, but if I ever do decide to use it at least I'll be prepared for the possiblity that she'll have a couple of other girls with the same name in her class.

This is THE book to look at if you want to make sure that you pick out a name you'll love. We decided to name our son William Noel (Will) after much deliberation. William, while popular, is a classic name that will never go out of style, and my grandfather's name was William, so it has special meaning to me. Noel, we just thought sounded good with the first name. Before we read this book, we thought that William was just too common, but the book helped us see that there is a difference between trendy and classic, something that you would never get with a traditional naming book. I am forever grateful to Rosenkrantz and Satran for this GREAT book.

This book was great! The way it divides the names up into seperate lists is great.... I was however a little disappoined to find my 2 year old daughters name on the "so far in they are out" list of names. But the book also gives great advice on how to choose names, such as the section on naming a sibling.... things that make a lot of sense, but I may not have thought of before. This book is a must have for anyone who is having a baby and needs some suggestions. I highly recommend it!

I have a weird name, Jinx... My husband has a weirder name, Croyus.... So you can see the dilema we were posed with in naming our first child... This book was so complete, right down to the meanings of names, names that movie stars have, old 86'ed names, unusual names and much more. I can not tell you how pleased I was with this book.. Even though we have our baby's name chosen now, we still like to pick up this book and read more about names.. This book is more than just lists, its explanations..

Amazon.com have informed me that my review of Nashville 1865 has been swollowed into the land of computer nothingness. So impressed was I with the book that I'm posting the review a second time.

One sitters - they don't come around too often but when they do it's worth the wait. I read Nashville 1864 in one evening and wished I hadn't! This little novel - some 129 pages in length - contains so much in it's pages that it left me moved, sad, a little repulsed at the nature of war and death, but thankful I'd stumbled accross it while browsing Amazon.

I'd just finished Cloudsplitter by Russel Banks which at 758 pages is an intense and powerful read. Nashville was the ideal follow on - it's short, to the point, refreshing in it's simplicity and more importantly an entertaining, quality novel.

Jones is a wonderful storyteller, not a word out of place, not a wasted sentiment or action, this book involves you as a reader on a range of levels.

Often the Civil War is portrayed in a romantic light, thus reflecting how it was commonly percieved in the immediate aftermath of the shelling of Fort Sumter on April 12th 1861. Nashville is harrowing and disturbing rather than romantic, and here lies it's strength. The novel is honest and if that means leaving me as a reader slightly uneasy then it's done exactly what good writing attempts to do - to have an effect.

Some books after their reading will sit on my shelf gathering dust, I don't think that Nashville will be given enough time to gather dust at all.

One sitters - they don't come around too often but when they do it's worth the wait. I read Nashville 1864 in one evening and wished I hadn't! This little novel - some 129 pages in length - contains so much in it's pages that it left me moved, sad, a little repulsed at the nature of war and death, but thankful I'd stumbled accross it while browsing Amazon.

I'd just finished Cloudsplitter by Russel Banks which at 758 pages is an intense and powerful read. Nashville was the ideal follow on - it's short, to the point, refreshing in it's simplicity and more importantly an entertaining, quality novel.

Jones is a wonderful storyteller, not a word out of place, not a wasted sentiment or action, this book involves you as a reader on a range of levels.

Often the Civil War is portrayed in a romantic light, thus reflecting how it was commonly percieved in the immediate aftermath of the shelling of Fort Sumter on April 12th 1861. Nashville is harrowing and disturbing rather than romantic, and here lies it's strength. The novel is honest and if that means leaving me as a reader slightly uneasy then it's done exactly what good writing attempts to do - to have an effect.

Some books after their reading will sit on my shelf gathering dust, I don't think that Nashville will be given enough time to gather dust at all.

My interest in Civil War fiction started after reading Cold Mountain. When I saw Madison Jones' book reviewed in Chronicles Magazine I thought I must give it a try as well. And I am so glad I did! Jones has reached into the depths of the human instinct for survival in the face of doom and fashioned a masterpiece that will chill you to the bone. It is no wonder that it has garnered two literary awards so far. The most significant charm of the book for me was his avoidance of politically correct modern-day notions of antebellum racial relations (white man as oppressor; black man as victim), instead portraying a white family and their black servants in a situation of harmony, love, and mutual respect. This was quite a shock to me, having been brainwashed by public school propaganda and the media-fed hoax casting all white Southerners as brutal demons. (Northerners are always too enlightened and thus could never be racist right?). What a delight to see the table turned toward a scenario that was probably much closer to the truth in the majority of cases. It is this image of the war that I will forever carry with me, and I am indebted to Mr. Jones for bestowing it upon me.

Henry Morris has never been one to shy away from controversial issues, and that is reflected in the footnotes he penned in this study Bible. He has comments on passages that others often totally ignore in their editions. He frequently challenges the conventional interpretation of difficult passages (for example, his identification of the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2 as Jesus Christ, rather than Anti-Christ.)

Morris' notes are clearly based on the literal hermeneutic: that is, dispensationalism. In addition, he is unabashedly baptistic when it comes to church polity. And of course, he is definitely a young-earth creationist. If you are unwilling to accept this sort of perspective on the Scripture, you should probably look at a different study Bible.

Morris gives a clear and concise defense of his choice of the Authorized Version as the text. His defense indicates that he is in the mainstream of the Majority Text/Textus Receptus camp. He is *not* KJV-only.

The text provided Word does have certain shortcomings. The italics for words which are implied but not stated in the original languages are missing from this text. In addition, the concordance is essentially worthless. If you are away from home and don't have access to your Strong's or Cruden's concordances, trying to use the concordance is very frustrating.

This Bible is now my primary study Bible. It doesn't replace my Scofields (original and new editions) nor my Thompson Chain Reference Bible, but I do find it refreshing to read and study from.

This Bible is an amazing source of information about the Bible, science, and the creation that God made and said was good. I use this as a reference tool for almost all the books in the Bible. The commentary on Genesis and Revelation are worth the cost of the book alone. The rest of the New Testament commentary is truly edifying for the hungry believer. Buy it, use it, treasure it as a faithful commentary and presentation of God's Word to his church in these last days.

Henry M. Morris, a foremost Bible scholar, scientist, and scholar, has produced yet another great volume filled with Biblical truths that all Christians should read.

Dr. Morris's views on the validity of literal Bible interpretation and the infallibility of the Bible are represented eloquently throughout the more than 6000 annotations in the Defender's Study Bible. He strives to explain difficult passages in a clear and concise manner. He refuses to compromise in order to maintain the authority of true Biblical Christianity and doctrine. He applies what the Bible says to modern life, constantly comparing numerous things in the Bible to their contemporary equivalents.

One of the greatest aspects of this study Bible is its clear views on controversial matters. Where other study Bibles and other commentators will take a neutral stance, Morris presents what he believes to be the truth--what he feels the authors meant by what they said--and compassionately, lovingly, tactfully, and thoroughly defends his belief while presenting and disproving those of others.

Morris himself wrote in his introduction that the Defender's Study Bible follows a literal approach to the Bible. He says, "Based on this literal and contextual approach, the notes become what one might call Baptistic in ecclesiology, pre-millennial in eschatology, non-charismatic in pneumatology and moderately Calvinistic in soteriology." While no attempt is made in his notes to formulate formal doctrines, they do support the above-mentioned ones.

Also of interest is the eighteen appendices at the back of this Bible covering the scientific evidences proving the Bible and evolution vs. creation.

If you are interested in what the Word of God truly says, the Defender's Study Bible is for you. I highly recommend it.

the book kept a good pace, and I thought it was an interesting story. some of Purdie's scenes were really well written, and the characters were very realistic. I liked this because the little girl in the novel reminded me of my daughter when she was that age

I couldn't put this book down. This was the first book I had read by this author. His characters are so interesting. It's amazing how people sometimes don't notice the most obvious things...

My roommate had this book on her desk, so I borrowed it. I was a little surprised that it was wriitten by a guy because of the material, but I had to keep reading. It was a page turner.

These series of books is about a girl called madison finn and it basically tells you how she copes with school life. In this book, while her best friends are on vacation, she meets a new girl who had just moved in her neighbourhood & is in the same school. Who knows, maybe madison had just found a new friend......

When her best friends go away to camp for the summer,Maddie meets the new girl in town named Fiona.Fiona and Madison become good friends over the summer.When Aimee comes home she wonders about Fiona and isn't sure if she wants 2 b friends with her.
This is the best book and so r the whole series.Their Awsome-wicked books!

I think every girl should have this book! If you're looking for a book you can relate, this is it! Constantly, I would find myself thinking, "Whoa, I'm just like her!" Madison Finn, that is. She's a computer whiz, who leads a life just like ours. I think it's easy to relate to her because she doesn't have big adventures, she leads a normal, but you can't help but get caught up in the fun of it all.

Jackie Collins has never written a bad book and she continues her streak with 'Deadly Embrace'. This book reminds me of my favorite Jackie Collins book, 'Chances'. It starts in the present and then goes back many years and keeps flipping from past to present until the story merges into a suspense filled page turning climax. The story is the third book with Madison Castelli, but instead of her being the star of the book it deals with her father Michael and his long time lover Dani. The book is filled wth sex, violence, drugs and many shocking twists and turns. This is certainly a book that is hard to put down has a satisfying ending. I hope there are more books with Madison and Michael Castelli in the future. Aren't we also due for another Lucky Santangelo book?

It wouldn't be summer, without a Jackie Collins' book to read. Although I'm still hoping she will write another book about the Santangelos, Deadly Embrace did not disappoint me. Once again, her colorful characters come to life in this fast paced story. I enjoyed it very much. If you are a fan of Jackie Collins, you will not be disappointed......

This is another hit for Ms. Collins. Madison Castelli is the heroine in this story as she is involved in a hostage situation. Being a reporter, she is able to help the others and herself in this situation. As the gunman told her, "You have balls". Being the daughter of Michael Castelli, of course she does! Her handsome father, is accused of two killings, Madison's mother, Beth, and Stella, the woman who left him for a younger man. Michael has also gotten involved with people you don't say no to, the mob. His former boss, Vito Giovanni assisted him as he was acquitted of Beth's murder. As he made various trips to Las Vegas, he met a chorus gal, Dani, and they have had a distant relationship. Dani also has a son, Vincent, who is also Michael's son, but he doesn't find out until seventeen years later. As Jackie Collins has done so well in the past, she goes back and forth in time with the various chapters as we, the reader, put it all together. There are also at least five plots going on in the book, and somehow, everything fits together. There is enough of each story to keep you reading, and in Jackie's style, lots of sex and drugs. As usual, I could not put this, yet another great Jackie Collins' book down. This was 517 pages of great reading.

"A Long Way From Home" is the second novel that I've read by this author. I was very curious about her ability to write a convincing story of this nature, regardless of the fact that she claims to be a decendant of James Madison's slave family. It certainly was a departure from "Big Girls Don't Cry", but well worth the time. I thought the book gave the reader a fairly realistic picture of the life and times of pre-Civil War slavery. Ms Briscoe reveals the horror of slavery adequately without excess. Any African American of southern ancestry is acquainted with what we, as a people, endured. I particularly liked the way the author continued to tell the story after the ending of slavery, showing you how this event affected both races in their daily lives. It was very sad that Susan had to allow her marriage and motherly roles to be so compromised, but, indeed this was done or one paid a cruel price. The book held my interest from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this author if you want your reading to be worthwhile.

A Long Way From Home is one of those books where I found myself unable to put it down, yet, it made me angrier and angrier as I turned each page! This is a story about slavery and it follows a family of slaves from Montpelier where James Madison, the ex-President, lived. The story takes you from Susie, Clara's mother, all the way to Clara's children, Ellen and Susan, to Clara's grandchildren. This is an absolutely powerful tale of hope for the blacks to receive their freedom. What I didn't think about or really realize, at least until I read this book, is that a lot of blacks during slavery times really did NOT want to be free. I always assumed that blacks wanted their freedom at all costs but when faced with poverty and starvation versus slavery, many of the slaves actually preferred slavery. In any case, A Long Way From home is one of those books that I'm glad I read although I really couldn't wait to get to the ending, not because this was a horrible book, but because I really wanted to know how things ended up and because I really, REALLY wanted to know if Susan obtained her freedom before the book ended! Yes, this book can make you angry from time to time, but, don't let that stop you from reading a fantastic story!

I thought the book to be an excellent and uplifting read. I was a little disappointed with "Big Girls Don't Cry." That particular book was definately not one of her best pieces of work. "A Long Ways From Home" reminded me of a Black version of "Gone With The Wind", only this time from a slaves perspective. Not many black authors write from a historical perspective. Connie Briscoe paid tribute to her ancestors by detailing the harshness and brutatily that slaves often endured. A key point that was referenced in the book was the differences in mentality between the house slaves and the field hands. The lighter skinned house slaves were preferred over the darker skinned field hands. House slaves often emulated their white masters as thinking themselves superior simply because of their skin color. The author mentioned at the end of the book that part of the story was fact and fiction. She had to put herself in her great-great-great aunt and grandmother's position and write based on how they must've felt growing up in those turbulent and rough times. I enojoyed this book immensley, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Briscoe's work.

Do not get fool by the title. There is absolutely nothing new on this book except the title which is aiming to take advantage of runners who may think this book can give us that extra edge in improving our skill.
If indeed any one of our fellow runners who are interested in yoga, check out the book of "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class" instead. It outlines very clear pose by pose, classroom teaching, lecture type of instruction.

This book gave me the pragmatic and necessary anatomical reasoning behind yoga and its uses in training for; not only running, but other sports as well. As a yoga instructor, this is a great resource.

an excellent introduction to yoga asanas... i always find myself going back to this book when i am trying a new pose and want to learn the basics of the pose... a must for anyone who has a yoga library...

Anthony Pitch has written a memorable account of a seminal event in American history. His portrayal of the British burning of our nation's capitol is an exciting, fast-paced description of events which catch and hold the reader's attention from the first to last page. Pitch's suspenseful story captures the essence of what is best in historical nonfiction - the ability to depict events in an accurate and yet dramatic style, painting word pictures in a crisp, authoritative fashion which entrances the reader. This book is a must for the library of every history buff, and for that matter, for every civic-minded citizen. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be made into an intriguing motion picture.

This fast-paced, incredibly well-researched book changed my view of American history. I never appreciated that the War of 1812 was, in fact, our second war of independence, one which we came close to losing. I never knew that the terrified U.S. government, in fleeing Washington, allowed the British Army to literally amble into town virtually unopposed and burn most of the government buildings (yet treat the populace with unimagined civility!). I never knew much about the inspiration and writing of the Star Spangled Banner and the importance of the Battle of Baltimore. And I was fascinated to learn that the Battle of New Orleans, in addition to being one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the mighty British Army (mostly at the hands of Andrew Jackson and a bunch of Kentucky and Tennessee hillbillys, no less), was a battle that never should have been fought. I have generally found history books to be ponderous reading, written more for the benefit of academic historians than for popular consumption -- often only giving me added details about things I already knew about. This book is different. It's crisp, fast-moving and very authoritative. Anthony Pitch has written a focused and important book about a pivotal period of American History about which most Americans, I suspect, know little. And after you read it, when you sing "The Star Spangled Banner", you'll appreciate with greater depth, possibly for the first time, what you're singing about. I loved the book!

Anthony S. Pitch is a first class story teller. From the humiliating defeat of the panic-stricken American troops at Bladensburg, Maryland (north of Washington, D.C.) to their magnificent victory over the British army at New Orleans (under the command of the immortal Andrew Jackson), it's all here. I found it difficult to put this riveting book down. As a native of Baltimore, I particularly enjoyed the author's fact filled account of the important battle at Fort McHenry and the birth of our National Anthem. The heroics of American Generals George Armistead, Samuel Smith, and John Stricker are faithfully retold, along with rich details about many other gallant defenders of the then-young Baltimore City. I grew up during WWII on Locust Point, in south Baltimore, where the Fort still stands as a sentinel, jutting out into the Patapsco River. Pitch's research of the combatants' competing military strategies in that seminal battle is very illuminating, indicative of the author's background as a journalist. The death of British General Robert Ross, just before the start of the decisive land battle at North Point (just east of Fort McHenry) at the hand of two sharp shooting patriotic riflemen, Henry McComas and Daniel Wells, deserves a chapter all to itself. Pitch also describes marvelous anecdotes about the torching of the city of Washington by the British that should be read by every American that cares about his country's history. I never fully realized just how close our nation came to again becoming a province of the British Empire. Pitch relates it was a lot closer then most of us ever imagined. I can't wait for this well-documented book to become a movie. It would make a great sequel to Mel Gibson's splendid film, "The Patriot."