Outliers: The Story of Success

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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.com Review Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the "self-made man," he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: "they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot." Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, "some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky." Outliers can be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots' culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there's more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples--and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps--Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. --Mari Malcolm Product Description In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band. Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.

Customer Reviews: Read 135 more reviews... Fast Start, but limps to the finish December 23, 2008 Michael D. Jura (Pittsburgh, PA) The book was very interesting and engaging, but it seems like most of Gladwell's books, the most interesting material is in the beginning, and much of the book then repeats. I wish this could be more evenly split throughout the work. All and all, an interesting and easy read and I'd recommend for light reading over a vacation. Outliers "hits the mark" December 22, 2008 L. C. Brouse (Delta, CO USA) Malcolm Gladwell has taken populr opinion on what it takes to be "successful" and turned it on its ear. I teach in public middle schools and high schools. A minority of my students think that hard work is more important than to be born with "it", whatever "it" is. Good math students are popularly seen as being naturally "good" at math while the less industrious ones lean on their parent's excuse of "I was never very good at math." The 10,000 hours of practice required to become "good" at ANYTHING is a number I can support. I have taught students from kindergarted through graduate school in college. The more dedicated to their education, the "smarter" these students become. The message delivered by Mr. Gladwell is music to my ears. I have quoted his stories in all of my classes to extremely receptive audiences. I heartily endorse this book for students of all ages. No room for self-idolization December 22, 2008 Gregg A. Iverson (Winston Salem, NC United States) I am impressed by Malcom Gladwell's style. He led me throught stories of success that were so interesting I lost hours of sleep each day as I had to find out the details of each story before I could retire. As a teacher it reinvigorated me and reinforced my belief that each and every individual, given the right resources, can be encouraged to reach a much higher potential than often is thought. If every school district official and every politician were to read this book it would change the way we spend money in our educational programs! This is a must read for everyone interested in creating or reaching success. Eye Opening Insights into Factors Guiding Success December 22, 2008 jgsilber (Arlington, VA) This book is a true page-turner. Many of the chapters tell interesting stories that explain why certain people or groups of people are successful at what they do. However, there are some very practical sections too. Scientific evidence showing that success cannot be achieved without extensive practice and that children should be taught to speak intelligently to authority figures are two of the best examples of why this book is a resource for practical applications. Great Book December 22, 2008 H. Bechtum (La Crosse, WI) Malcolm Gladwell again delivers a great book looking at American society. A must read.

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The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition

Similar Items: • Harry Potter Schoolbooks: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them / Quidditch Through the Ages • The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition (Offered Exclusively by Amazon) • Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon • Inkdeath (Inkheart) • The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Editorial Reviews: Product Description Order your copy of the newest book in the Harry Potter Series, The Tales of Beedle the Bard! It contains all five wizarding fairy tales left to Hermione Granger by Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Only one tale, The Tale of the Three Brothers, was recounted in that book. The other four are revealed here for the very first time. Amazon.com Review The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition In December 2007, J.K. Rowling unveiled The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a very special book of five fairy tales illustrated by the bard herself, embellished with silver ornaments and mounted moonstones. Amazon was fortunate to come into possession of one of the original copies, and it was our privilege to share images and reviews of this incredible artifact. Now J.K. Rowling is giving millions of Harry Potter fans worldwide cause for celebration with a new edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, available December 4, 2008. Offering the trademark wit and imagination familiar to Rowling's legions of readers--as well as Aesop's wisdom and the occasional darkness of the Brothers Grimm--each of these five tales reveals a lesson befitting children and parents alike: the strength gained with a trusted friendship, the redemptive power of love, and the true magic that exists in the hearts of all of us. Rowling's new introduction also comments on the personal lessons she has taken from the Tales, noting that the characters in Beedle's collection "take their fates into their own hands, rather than taking a prolonged nap or waiting for someone to return a lost shoe," and "that magic causes as much trouble as it cures." But the true jewel of this new edition is the enlightening and comprehensive commentary (including extensive footnotes!) by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who brings his unique wizard's-eye perspective to the collection. Discovered "among the many papers which Dumbledore left in his will to the Hogwarts Archives," the venerable wizard's ruminations on the Tales allow today's readers to place them in the context of 16th century Muggle society, even allowing that "Beedle was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles" during the era of witch hunts that would eventually drive the wizarding community into self-imposed exile. In fact, versions of the same stories told in wizarding households would shock many for their uncharitable treatment of their Muggle characters. Professor Dumbledore also includes fascinating historical backstory, including tidbits such as the history and pursuit of magic wands, a brief comment on the Dark Arts and its practitioners, and the struggles with censorship that eventually led "a certain Beatrix Bloxam" to cleanse the Tales of "much of the darker themes that she found distasteful," forever altering the meaning of the stories for their Muggle audience. Dumbledore also allows us a glimpse of his personal relationship to the Tales, remarking that it was through "Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump" that "many of us [wizards] first discovered that magic could not bring back the dead." Both a wise and delightful addition to the Harry Potter canon, this new translation of The Tales of Beedle the Bard is all that fans could hope for and more--and an essential volume for the libraries of Muggles, wizards, and witches, both young and old. The Children's Voice Campaign The Tales of Beedle the Bard is published by The Children’s High Level Group (CHLG), registered charity number 1112575, a charity co-founded in 2005 by J.K. Rowling and Emma Nicholson MEP to make life better for vulnerable children. All net proceeds from the sale will be donated to The Children's Voice campaign. The Children's Voice campaign is run by CHLG. It campaigns for child rights across Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe where over a million children and teenagers are growing up in institutions, often in unacceptable conditions. In most cases they are without adequate human or emotional contact and stimulation, while many only just survive without life's basics such as adequate shelter and food. CHLG's Children's Voice campaign helps around a quarter of a million children each year through education activities; outreach work in institutions; and a dedicated telephone and email help line. Also Available: The Collector's Edition, Offered Exclusively by Amazon Amazon is thrilled to be the exclusive seller of the Collector's Edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard featuring an exclusive reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, 10 new illustrations, metalwork and clasp, replica gemstones, and tucked in its own case disguised as a wizarding textbook from the Hogwarts library. (Available in limited quantities) Standard Edition Product Features: • All five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard • A new introduction by J.K. Rowling • Illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book • Commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore Read this review and description in: Italian | Korean | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish [PDF] Amazon Reviews the Original Handcrafted Edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard The following is Amazon's original December 2007 review. Please note that the review and images below pertain to the handmade book purchased at auction: There is no easy way to define the experience of seeing, holding, or reading J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, so let's just start with one word: "Whoa." The very fact of its existence (an artifact pulled straight out of a novel) is magical, not to mention the facts that only seven copies exist in all the world and each of the never-before-told tales is handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling herself (and it's quite clear from the first few pages that she has some skill as an artist). Rowling's handwriting is like the familiar scrawl of a favorite aunt--it's not hard to read, but it does require attention--allowing you to take it slow and savor the mystery of each next word. So how do you review one of the most remarkable tomes you've ever had the pleasure of opening? You just turn each page and allow yourself to be swept away by each story. You soak up the simple tales that read like Aesop's fables and echo the themes of the series; you follow every dip and curve of Rowling's handwriting and revel in every detail that makes the book unique--a slight darkening of a letter here, a place where the writing nearly runs off the page there. You take all that and you try and bring it to life, knowing that you will never be able to do it justice. With that, let's dig in and begin at the beginning, shall we? --Daphne Durham Caution: the full reviews contain spoilers! Please note that the review and images below pertain to the handmade book purchased at auction in December 2007. "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" "The Fountain of Fair Fortune" "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" "Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump" "The Tale of the Three Brothers" More images from the original handcrafted edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard Please note that these are images of the handcrafted book purchased at auction in December 2007. Click thumbnails to open full-size images in a new window. See more on our original The Tales of Beedle the Bard pages. The Beedle the Bard Ballad Writing Contest Amazon customers have spoken, and out of thousands of entrants, you have chosen Rhiannon D. of Australia as the winner of the Beedle the Bard Ballad Writing Contest, sending her and a friend on a trip for two to London, England and a weekend with The Tales of Beedle the Bard. See her Grand Prize winning entry, as well as all of the other delightful semifinalist submissions. Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling "I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I’m sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling. Rediscover the Complete Harry Potter Series Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Hardcover Paperback Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Hardcover Paperback Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Hardcover Paperback Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Hardcover Paperback Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hardcover Paperback Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Hardcover Paperback Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Hardcover Deluxe Hardcover Why We Love Harry: Our Favorite Moments from the Series There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone * Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him. * When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists. * Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards. * Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets * The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius. * Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother. * The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban * Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'. * Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children. * The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire * Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them. * Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it. * Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge. * Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix * Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming. * Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone. * Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager. * Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape. * Dumbledore's confession to Harry. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince * The introduction of the Horcrux. * Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition. "Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur’s answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles. * Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling’s most ingenious inventions. * Fred and George Weasley’s Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!" * Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator. * The effects of Felix Felicis. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows * The revelation of Snape's nature (especially Snape’s Patronus and the emotion behind it). It serves as a reminder that it is love (requited or not) in all its forms that drives many of our actions. * Harry asking if the conversation with Dumbledore was real or happening in his head, and Dumbledore responding "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" * Ron gifting Harry a book on dating witches, a subtle reminder that they are still teens, after all. Visit the Harry Potter Store Can't get enough of Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Our Harry Potter Store features all things Harry, including books, audio CDs and cassettes, DVDs, soundtracks, games, and more. Customer Reviews: Read 84 more reviews... Short but sweet December 22, 2008 Dimndbangr Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of short stories by J. K. Rowling dealing with the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Each story has its own lesson for children and also a side note afterwards written by Albus Dumbledore. It was an enjoyable quick read. while most of the stories are geared towards children, there are some that have a bit more violence and should be read to children that are a bit older. If you are looking for something to pass about an hour of time, this will do it. Harry Potter fans will more than likely want this one just to see a bit more inside the tales of Beedle that were hinted at in the Harry Potter series. This book does not expand on the main plot of Harry Potter though. These are children stories and if you do not like reading stories geared to a much younger crowd, then you may want to skip it review December 22, 2008 Christos Kosmas (Greece) Rowling is a fantastic writer, and I just couldn't wait to get her new book on the world of Harry Potter.It arrived extremely fast, and I can find nothing to complain about. Very Disappointed December 22, 2008 BreakingDawnFAN (SLCUTAH) 0 out of 2 found this review helpful I love the Harry Potter series and yes the stories in this book are quite fun BUT ... it was lacking that magic and Dumbledores commentary was boring and I had to reread it many times just to read what I skipped over from dazing off. I'm sadden to write a disappointing review but I did give it an extra star because I respect the Harry Potter series so much ! Quite fun and not for kids under eight that's for sure ! Magical and... just plain cool! December 22, 2008 C. Beauchamp (Austin, TX) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful Rowling is amazing. She has created this huge world that you get yourself sucked right into. It's pretty cool, actually. I could hear these stories being told to the kids in the school at Hogwarts. I could SEE the kids, the school. The author is truly talented, there's no doubt about it, but I also sometimes wonder if she isn't also a witch herself... I know I'm completely under her spell ;) This is a must read for all Potter fans. Dumberdore's notes alone make it a great read with some additional insight into the "Magical World of Harry Potter". Fun But Short December 21, 2008 Samantha L. Sayre (WV United States) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful I'm a little conflicted with this book. I wanted to love it but I can't. First of all, it's a little more than a 100 pages but the margins are huge and the print is double spaced. So it's basically about 50 pages and that might be stretching it. Also, the "fairy tales" are intersting but I was expecting a lot more from Ms. Rowling. There's not a lot of detail and she gets right to the point. I think they are excellent for an 8 year old or a little older. However they are too simplistic for a teenager. If you go much younger than 8 years old then I feel they may be inappropriate because of the subject material. I loved Dumbledore's commentary and the fact that they were translated by Herminone Grainer. Dumbledore's commentary and footnotes really were intesting and explained a lot about history and how things were seen. I enjoyed the book but just found it way too short. I hope that J. K. Rowling continues to write in the wizarding world. Just hope it's longer. I would recommend this to any Potterheads as long as you know what you are getting. Books Golf GPS iPod Wathces Store Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black) List Price: $229.00Price: $209.00You Save: $20.00 (9%)11 used & new from Too low to displayHere it is! A 720p HD camcorder that fits in your pocket. The Flip MinoHD has 4GB built-in memory to record a ... 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American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House

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Editorial Reviews: Product Description Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson’s election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson’s presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama–the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers–that shaped Jackson’s private world through years of storm and victory. One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will–or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House–from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman–have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision. Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe–no matter what it took. Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency–and America itself. Exclusive Amazon.com Q&A with Jon Meacham and H.W. Brands On the eve of the historic 2008 presidential election, we were fortunate to chat with historians Jon Meacham and H.W. Brands (author of Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) on the similarities of their presidential subjects and how the legacies of FDR and Jackson continue to shape the political world we see today. Amazon.com: One of Andrew Jackson's childhood friends once remarked that when they wrestled, "I could throw him three times out of four, but he never stayed throwed." How emblematic is this of Jackson's career? Meacham: Utterly emblematic. Jackson was resilient, tough, and wily, rising from nothing to become the dominant political figure of the age. He was crushed by his loss in 1824, when, despite carrying the popular vote, he was defeated in the House of Representatives. But, tellingly, he began his campaign for 1828 almost immediately, on the way home to Tennessee. And he won the next time. Amazon.com: What would Jackson think of Franklin Delano Roosevelt? Meacham: I think they would have gotten along famously. It is difficult to imagine men from more starkly different backgrounds?to take just one example, Jackson lost his mother early, and FDR was long shaped by his mother?but they both viewed the presidency the same way: they both believed they should be in it, wielding power on behalf of the masses against entrenched interests. Amazon.com: How important was Jackson's legacy to FDR's Presidency? Brands: Jackson was FDR’s favorite president, and Jackson’s presidency was the one Roosevelt initially modeled his own after. FDR saw Jackson as the champion of the ordinary people of America; he saw himself the same way. He compared Jackson’s battle with the Bank of the United States to his own battle with entrenched economic interests. And just as Jackson had reveled in the enmity of the rich, so did Roosevelt. Amazon.com: Although both were regarded as champions of the people, their backgrounds were drastically different. FDR hailed from a wealthy and politically-connected family, while Jackson was an orphaned son of immigrants. How did each manage to endear themselves to the voters of their day? Meacham: Jackson was in many ways the first great popular candidate. He had “Hickory Clubs,” and there were torchlit parades and barbecues?lots and lots of barbecues. Jackson helped mastermind the means of campaigning that would become commonplace. He also intuitively understood the power of image, and kept a portrait painter, Ralph Earl, near to hand in the White House. Brands: FDR combined noblesse oblige with felt concern for the plight of the poor. His polio had something to do with this?it introduced him to personal suffering, and it also introduced him, in Georgia, where he went for rehabilitation, to poor farmers unlike any he had spent time with before. He came to know them and to feel the problems they faced. He took people in trouble seriously and communicated that seriousness to them. Continue reading this Q&A

Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews... Too Caught Up with Jackson the Person. December 21, 2008 Joseph Faraldo (NYC) To learn of the early days of Jackson and the personal loss that accompanied the days shortly after his election, is interesting but the the detailed treatment of and by the wives of cabinet members in the first half of the book brings the work down to a level of near gossip column status. Jackson's struggles to make for a stronger Presidency may have been part of what appears to be an overconsuming control personality and the real lack of concern about anything that got in the way. At least that's the impression i got so far and at least whatever it was that drove him, he was on the right side of the question of Democracy. When the book reverts back to what positions he took on earlier efforts to divide the Union, which are generally overlooked because they didn't precipitate a crisis in American history at the time, may make one wonder if their were times he really made decisions not based upon a matter of his sheer will. The book does at least get one to refocus on perhaps the first Democratic President of the United States. There is always something to learn from the experiences of men in positions of power who faced what appeared, at the time, to be problems that would bring down a family or a nation. I did want to like this book... December 21, 2008 Bvus (Los Angeles) 3 out of 3 found this review helpful This review refers to the abridged audio version of this book. I really was looking forward to this book and unfortunately it was a disappointment. I read or listen to as many of the popular historical writings published lately as I can (including but not limited to the writings of David McCullough and Doris Goodwin). To date I have always enjoyed these works. I cannot include this book in with the ones I enjoyed. The introductory chapter relayed all that was to be covered in the rest of the book. The rest of the book contained detail, but little detail of interest. A substantial portion of the book was spent describing a social snub of the wife of Jackson's Secretary of War and Jackson's attempts to revoke the charter of the national bank. Interesting to a historian, but there had to have been more important things to focus on than this in this legendary president's two terms in office. I understand the author used these issues to illustrate Jackson was stubborn and loyal and that was probably brought about by him not having a strong family environment when he grew up. This is not enough to sustain an entire book. The author taking the bold position that Jackson's views on slavery and the indians were wrong in hindsight did not make Jackson appear flawed or complex as it appeared the author intended. He described Jackson as a heroic figure, but in the end did not back it up with evidence to show it. He would describe Jackson as livid as he had ever been and then describe the scathing letter that Jackson would send out in protest. Old Hickory sure sent a lot of letters. The reader for the audiobook was the worst I have ever experienced. On that alone, I almost stopped listening to the book. I drive a long route each day and there were times that I preferred to listen to radio commercials than the voice of the reader. He sounded like a '70's DJ. Worst of all were his quotations from Jackson that appear to have been made to make him sound heroic, but just made him out to sound like a pompous windbag. To add insult, he would use virtually the same voice to quote other people. I find it hard to believe everyone in the early 1800's sounded like a jerk. If you don't read many books in this genre, I would recommend McCullough's book on Adams instead for a better idea of what these types of books can be. Tremendous!!!! December 18, 2008 BookWoman/BookMan TV REVIEWS (Nashville, Tn United States) 1 out of 2 found this review helpful "It takes a native Tennessean to interpret the life of one of Tennessee's most controversial and powerful leaders. Meacham does a tremendous job." Rich, gracefully written biography December 15, 2008 Bookreporter.com (New York, New York) 7 out of 7 found this review helpful I've always had something of an affinity for Andrew Jackson. Perhaps it's nothing more than the fact that we share a birthday (March 15th). Or maybe it's because he's generally regarded as one of the progenitors of the modern Democratic Party, of which I've been a member for almost 40 years. But now, after reading Newsweek editor Jon Meacham's rich, gracefully written biography of our seventh president, I've discovered new reasons to admire this colorful and controversial leader for the decisive role he played in shaping the modern presidency in the midst of a turbulent period of American history. Drawing upon a diverse and impressive array of sources, including letters in private hands for 175 years, Meacham (like Jackson a Tennessean) paints what he describes as "not a history of the Age of Jackson but a portrait of the man and of his complex relationships with the intimate circle that surrounded him as he transformed the presidency." Born in humble circumstances and orphaned by the age of 14, Jackson rose to the pinnacle of power amidst the rude environment of the American frontier. He killed a man in a duel and was a ruthless military leader, whose victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 catapulted him to national prominence. After winning a plurality of the popular vote and then losing the 1824 election to John Quincy Adams in the House of Representatives, Jackson captured a decisive 56 percent majority in 1828. Two dramatic political battles marked Jackson's presidency: the conflict surrounding the nullification doctrine advanced by the state of South Carolina and its chief advocate John Calhoun (Jackson's first-term Vice President), by which it claimed the right to reject laws passed by Congress, and the fight over the charter renewal of the Second Bank of the United States. Despite his belief in the principle of states' rights and the desirability of a limited federal government, Jackson maintained an unshakeable determination to preserve the unity of the new nation. "Convinced that the Union should stand strong, with the people at its mystical center," writes Meacham, "Jackson did not believe any amount of Southern sophistry --- as he would have seen it --- could destroy America." In the case of the Bank, Jackson saw himself as "the embodiment of the people standing against entrenched interests" and prevailed in his effort to block the renewal of the Bank's charter, enduring withering criticism and the formal censure of the Senate in the process. Meacham connects Jackson in a straight line to Abraham Lincoln, the next great president after a forgettable string of eight, ranging from mediocre to abysmal (Van Buren to Buchanan). Indeed there's even a link between the two, as Jackson named a 24-year-old Lincoln to the job of postmaster of New Salem, Illinois in 1833. Anyone not intimately familiar with the history of the Jackson era will come away from this account with an appreciation of the fact that had it not been for Jackson's determination to quell the threat of Southern secession there may have been no Union left for Lincoln to preserve a generation later. While his portrayal of Jackson clearly is sympathetic, Meacham makes no attempt to deify his subject. Jackson was a slave owner, "blinded by the prejudices of his age," and never questioned the morality of that despicable practice. And he had no qualms about supporting the forced relocation of Native American tribes, culminating in the Cherokee "Trail of Tears," in which nearly a quarter of the Cherokee Nation disappeared. These less attractive aspects of Jackson's character are balanced against Meacham's portrait of "Old Hickory" as a tender and attentive family man, dependent on his niece Emily Donelson, who served as White House hostess when Jackson's wife Rachel died shortly after the 1828 election, and her husband Andrew, his political confidante. "The idea and image of a strong president claiming a mandate from the voters to unite the nation and direct the affairs of the country from the White House took permanent root in the Age of Jackson," Meacham concludes. Reading those words, it's hard not to appreciate their relevance on the eve of a new presidential administration owing its victory, in large measure, to an extraordinary grassroots campaign. Thanks to this wise and nuanced portrait of Andrew Jackson, it's possible to see the historical link between these eras, no matter how improbable the outcome might have appeared to Barack Obama's predecessor of nearly two centuries ago. --- Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg (mwn52@aol.com) quality biography December 14, 2008 David Yennior (Belleville, NJ) 1 out of 2 found this review helpful The book was a gift from me to a fan of Andrew Jackson. So far my friend cannot put the book down. She said it is good reading.

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