Book Description
Few American presidents have exercised their constitutional authority as commander in chief with more determination than Franklin D. Roosevelt. He intervened in military operations more often and to better effect than his contemporaries Churchill and Stalin, and maneuvered events so that the Grand Alliance was directed from Washington. In this expansive history, Eric Larrabee examines the extent and importance of FDR's wartime leadership through his key military leaders-Marshall, King, Arnold, MacArthur, Vandergrift, Nimitz, Eisenhower, Stilwell, and LeMay.
Devoting a chapter to each man, the author studies Roosevelt's impact on their personalities, their battles (sometimes with each other), and the consequences of their decisions. He also addresses such critical subjects as Roosevelt's responsibility for the war and how well it achieved his goals. First published in 1987, this comprehensive portrait of the titans of the American military effort in World War II is available in a new paperback edition for the first time in sixteen years. 735 pages. 6 line drawings. Paperback. 6 x 9 inches.
Customer Reviews:
A Grand Look at the U.S. Commanders in WWII .......2006-08-23
I picked this book up not by choice in the beginning. I had to have it for a WWII class; I thought the book was going to put a strain on my already hectic schedule. Not the case at all.
This book was outstanding and Larrabee did an excellent job showing the mental, physical, and emotional strain on our leaders. The book is written in profiles so the book started with FDR and worked its way to Lemay for the ending. The profiles do not have to be read consecutively. The profiles were great descriptions with the Vandergrift profile being my favorite. Larrabee did an excellent job describing the Marines battles through their leader General Vandergrift. The profile on FDR showed that he had more strengths than weaknesses. The only apparent weakness being his health. Larrabee does an excellent portrayal of all the leaders and seemed a bit put off by Macarthur. Macarthur's profile was definately the most damning one in the book.
I agree with the one review that says this book should be read. This was a time when our country was united as one. Larrabee also does an excellent look at the Japanese command in the book. He has an in depth history of the Chinese Burma theatre. The book is a great starting point with WWII because the foundations are laid in leadership. Larrabee shows that the war was one with the competence of many great leaders during that time.
He also lead me to ask myself one question. Could FDR run his type of war in present time. I mean he did intern and imprison thousands of Japanese on the West Coast that had done nothing at all. He attacked Germany who never attacked the U.S. It was Japan who struck us on Dec. 7, 1941 not Germany. FDR saw the impending danger of Hitler and struck his head before there was a chance for attack. Maybe History needs to be read more often so future mistakes are not based on lack of knowledge. Also Larrabee shows that FDR did have enemies and the Chicago Tribune leaked a war plan against the Japanese. Thank God the Japanese did not heed this plan.
Larrabee shows there is always opposition against our leaders. FDR had the fortitude to stand up for what he believed and protect the world. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in leadership or WWII.
Superlative.......2004-09-25
I purchased this book many years ago when it was first published, but only recently got around to reading much of it. I was extremely impressed at the author's critical analysis of the major players. In terms of detailed biographical sketches and rigorous organization, it lapses from time to time and often spends several pages in diversions about subordinates. What was particularly strong about Commander in Chief, however, was the perspectival discussions on the talents and importance of individual flag officers. I was particularly impressed with the discussion of Eisenhower which was the best I've seen. Larrabee actually gives him more praise and regard than his own son did in the recent Ike: the Soldier. For once, Eisenhower comes across as a powerful and commanding figure in his own right, rather than as a fortunate protege of General Marshall. Indeed, Larrabee explains in a perfectly plausible fashion why Eisenhower was a better choice for overall European command in 1944 and beyond. Although it does tend to wander at times, Commander in Chief is finely written and makes for enjoyable, informative reading. I recommend it highly.
Required at Military Academies...should be in schools!.......2004-08-19
Eric Larrabee not only gives the facts about these men and what made them tick, he backs it up with real OFFICIAL memoranda from the time, often from more than just 2 or 3 sources. His study of Douglas MacArthur is outstanding. What MacArthur apologists won't tell you is that this book is required reading at all US military academies. It should be required in all high schools as well. Well written, well done!
Well Researched and Highly Regarded.......2004-05-28
This is the best book written about the story of World War Two from the perspective of the American military commanders. It won an award from the Society of American Historians called the Francis Parkman Prize for historical excellence. This book is a World War Two classic. You will not find a better one-volume profile of the American commanders in WWII.
Roosevelt was great at picking the right people for the right positions, such as George Marshall, five star general. In Washington D.C., he was the overall commander of the United States military during the war (and later Truman's Secretary of State). His work was superb and, no doubt, ranks him among the greatest American leaders ever. Read about him in the book.
Many expected that Marshall would be given command of the D-Day invasion (and all it's glory), but when Roosevelt told Marshall that he was thinking of hand-picking Dwight Eisenhower and asked Marshall for his advice, leaving the door open for Marshall to lobby FDR, Marshall dutifully told Roosevelt that he should do only what he thought was best for the country. Roosevelt then moved immediately to appoint Eisenhower. It was a great moment of self-sacrifice for Marshall.
The information in this book on Eisenhower is even better. Read about it in the book.
Another great leader that FDR hand-picked was admiral Ernest King, a tough, demanding and resourceful leader. Roosevelt elevated him to commander of the United States Navy shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, and King proved to be the ideal man at the right time. King was the first aviator to obtain command of the navy, and carrier warfare would emerge as the key to naval warfare during the conflict.
But the best part of this book is how the American commanders led America to victory in World War II. This is great history. It looked very uncertain for years. All of them, including FDR, did a great job. Read the book.
Commander in Chief.......2002-10-22
This is one of the most useful and well written books that I have read on World War II. Larrabee discusses in depth some of the leading American commanders, including: Nimitz, Eisenhower, Lemay, MacArthur, King, Marshall, and Stilwell. His discussion of Vandegrift included a lengthy discussion of Chesty Puller and his exploits on Guadalcanal. Obviously, any discussion of Chesty Puller can be extremely humorous, but Larrabee's anecdotes left me in stitches. I have also read a review on this site alleging that Franklin Roosevelt was aware of the pending attack on Pearl Harbor. The reviewer alleges that based upon the correspondence between the German foreign minister and the Japanese government should have made Roosevelt aware of the attack. My only response is that if German participation was a foregone conclusion, then why did Germany wait until December 11th to declare war? This is an extemely useful overview of the American leaders and the strategy that they employed in World War II. It should be required reading by any American history class studying the 20th century.
Average customer rating:
|
Freud and His Mother: Preoedipal Aspects of Freud's Personality
Deborah P. Margolis
Manufacturer: Jason Aronson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Medical
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Freud, Sigmund
| ( F )
| People, A-Z
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Child Psychology
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
| Development
| Psychology
General
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Psychoanalysis
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1568214480 |
Amazon.com
"There are two aspects to the human side of cancer: what cancer does psychologically to people and their families, and how emotions and behaviors may influence the risk of getting cancer and its outcome," writes Jimmie C. Holland, M.D., founder of the field of psycho-oncology (the psychological issues of cancer) and chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "The human side of cancer is all encompassing; it's about you, your surroundings, and your experience of the illness."
Doctors often don't have the time or the skills to deal with psychological issues. The Human Side of Cancer tackles the emotional issues of cancer head-on. Holland knows there's no "one size fits all" coping style and is sensitive to each reader's uniqueness and belief system. "We do have overwhelming proof, however, that how you cope with your illness can improve your overall quality of life," she asserts. The theory that cancer patients with a "fighting spirit" have a better chance of survival than those who are passive is not, it turns out, supported by research. But whether or not your personality is spunky and confrontational or laid-back and accepting, you can use your own methods of coping to make sure you live a healthy lifestyle and hang in there with your cancer treatment--which does improve your chances of survival. The authors explain how you can choose a doctor who demonstrates the "Three C's" (competence, compassion, and caring) and gives you practical instructions for making the most of each doctor's appointment. The book also covers coping strategies, the psychological effects of different treatments, psychosocial issues related to specific forms of cancer, and the "emotional baggage" of surviving.
The Human Side of Cancer combines sensitive advice and explanations with quotes and anecdotes of cancer patients, research summaries, self-help tips, and checklists. The book is for both the cancer survivor and family members. Anyone dealing with cancer will benefit from Holland's wisdom and experience. --Joan Price
Book Description
For more than twenty years, Dr. Holland has pioneered the study of psychological problems of cancer patients and their families -- whom she calls "the real experts." In The Human Side of Cancer, she shares what she has learned from all of them about facing this life-threatening illness and what truly helps along the cancer journey. This book is the next best thing to sitting in Dr. Holland's office and talking with her about the uncertainty and anxiety elicited by this disease. And it is a book that inspires hope -- through stories of the simple courage of ordinary people confronting cancer.
Customer Reviews:
an excellent resource..........2005-09-05
This book comes highly recommended. It seeks to instill a feeling of acceptance and comfort for distressed cancer patients. The author discusses how to cope with difficult emotions in all stages of cancer, from initial diagnosis and onwards. As a doc working with cancer patients myself, I cannot overstate the importance of Dr Holland's message. For example, one of her points that really stood out for me was the idea that negative emotions cannot cause the cancer. Some people do worry that they must always remain positive, even if they have to fake it. Not true...being real and honest is far more important...having occasional negative thoughts and feelings is normal and does not make the cancer worse. Dr. Holland presents these ideas in one of the most non-judgmental ways you will ever read.
The reason I only give it four stars is due to my personal bias toward a holistic perspective. The author presents a conventional approach to cancer. She does not give adequate merit to the effectiveness of natural ways to control swaying emotions, instead guiding readers directly to pharmaceuticals. In addition, her use of the food pyramid as a way to guide readers to proper nutrition is outdated. For this type of information, readers should choose other books.
Overall an excellent read for anybody dealing with cancer, directly or indirectly. I recommend it to my own clients. Genuine compassion in the medical system is in short-supply these days...Dr Holland gives us a healthy dose.
Overall very helpful.......2002-04-19
This is one of the few books I can imagine my mother reading. She was recently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer and I ordered this book (and a couple others) to help my understanding of the emotional aspects of the disease and treatments. My mother generally escews "self-help" type books and outside help such as counseling. But this book is matter-of-fact and is presented in a way that respects individual differences and styles. It's not full of "touchy feely" (Mom's phrase) jargon but does address psychological issues effectively. Mom might actually find this one helpful, as I have. One weakness I found was the short section on ovarian cancer -- it addresses mostly fertility and sexuality issues -- the first doesn't apply to the older woman and the latter may or may not -- the writer seems to miss the boat on this type of cancer in the older woman. Overall, though, a helpful book.
The Human Side of Cancer.......2002-02-09
I just liked reading about other peoples feelings and how they dealt with their various types of cancer. I am currently in remission of ovarian cancer and plan to stay there.
thanks.......2002-01-17
Since my diagnosis I've received tons of books. This one is by far the most helpful in understanding what is going on with me & everyone else. It is the only book that talks about when & how to tell others, what the side effects are of all the testing, etc. I liked it so much I bought a copy for my therapist for her to use with other patients like me.
Just another persons opinion.......2000-12-04
If you are looking for information this book (As the title says) does not provide information on the medical side of Cancer. It is about people involved in the day to day struggle of living with and hopefully recovering from this disease. I don't think this is a bad book and some people may love the human qualitites it brings to the disease it just was not in my opinion the correct book for me at the time I read it.
Customer Reviews:
Great introduction........2003-02-22
In its roughly 50 parts, all written by experienced cooks and cook book writers, HP Books' "The Book of ... Cooking" series takes you to the cuisines of various regions of the U.S. and around the world; all in easy to follow, well-explained recipes.
This installment, the Book of Dressings and Marinades, starts with a brief introduction to the various basic types of dressings; and a similar introduction precedes the section on marinades. The book presents recipe suggestions for all different kinds of dressings and marinades, from yogurt dressings to fruit marinades. Special chapters are dedicated to oil and vinegar dressings, sour cream dressings, fruit and vegetable dressings, mayonnaise dressings, soft cheese dressings and dips, meat marinades, poultry and game marinades, fish marinades and vegetable marinades. Classics such as vinaigrette, blue cheese dressing, horseradish, dill and cucumber dressing, different kinds of mayonnaise and yogurt dressing, and cocktail, Greek, mustard, and sweet and sour dressing appear next to unique recipes such as apple and Madeira dressing, fig and Port ice cream, cherry cinnamon dressing, coconut lime dressing, fruits in wine, egg and walnut dressing, orange and sesame seed dressing, and saffron and pistachio dressing.
From almond yogurt dressing to walnut mayonnaise and yellow tarragon dressing, this collection of recipes, while not all-encompassing, is a great introduction to the endless possibilities of spicing up a meal with a great dressing - and at a relative bargain price, to boot. Also recommended: This series' installments on salads, sauces and dips and salsas.
Average customer rating:
|
The Encyclopedia of Sauces: The Complete Guide to Creating 180 Sauces, Marinades, Dressings, and Stocks
Moya Clarke
Manufacturer: Courage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
| Arts & Photography
| Audiobooks
| Biography
| Business & Investing
| Calendars
| Children
| Computers & Internet
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Film
| Greeting Cards & Accessories
| Health, Mind & Body
| History
| Home & Garden
| Humor, Comics & Pop Culture
| Literature & Fiction
| Mysteries & Thrillers
| Nonfiction
| Parenting & Families
| Reference
| Religion & Spirituality
| Romance
| Science & Nature
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Sports
| Teens
| Travel
General
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Sauces, Salsa & Garnishes
| Cooking by Ingredient
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Cooking
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1561384410 |
Customer Reviews:
A Basic Kitchen Resource.......2006-06-09
This book has 180 different sauces, from foundation and classic sauces, to marinades, fruit sauces, pasta sauces,etc. There's even a section entitled "what goes with what." A basic, useful, and interesting resource to have in your kitchen library.
Average customer rating:
|
Dressings and Marinades: Classic and Novel Ways to Enliven Every Dish
Hilaire Walden
Manufacturer: Chartwell Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Herbs, Spices & Condiments
| Cooking by Ingredient
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Sauces, Salsa & Garnishes
| Cooking by Ingredient
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0785805559 |
Average customer rating:
- Good book for beginners-- Not in depth enough for advanced
|
Clownfishes Anemonefishes: A Complete Authoritative Guide
Richard F. Stratton
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fish & Aquariums
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0793802237 |
Customer Reviews:
Good book for beginners-- Not in depth enough for advanced.......1998-11-11
If you are a beginning aquarist with a desire to plunge straight into marine fishkeeping and in particular clownfishes and anemonies, this is an excellent book. It is easy to read and understand and is pretty basic. This book takes you from start to finish in setting up a tank for clowns and covers lighting, filtration/protien skimming, some different species of clowns and their characterristics and individual needs as well as a pretty decent list of the types of anemonies that each will accept as a host. If you can successfully maintain a freshwater aquarium, you can most likely use this book as a guide to set up and maintain a marine tank with clowns. If on the other hand, you are an advanced aquarist more interested in breeding, spawning behavior, specific info and fine tuning your set up, I recommend The book "Clownfishes: a Guide to Their Captive Care, Breeding& natural History by Joyce D. Wilkerson.
Book Description
It’s the latest and hottest idea in embroidery today, expanding the reach of textile art: the use of a soldering iron to cot, bond, and etch fabric. And Margaret Beal is the pioneer of the practice. For the first time, she gathers her expertise in book form, with photographs showing finished pieces and diagrams and drawings illustrating the process. All the principal techniques are thoroughly explained, from choosing and cutting fabric to using three-dimensional materials. Appliqué, reverse appliqué, shadow work, piercing, weaving, and bead making all receive in-depth coverage. Projects range from a pocket mirror to a variety of brooches.
Customer Reviews:
Fusing Fabric: Crative Cutting,Bondingand Mark-Making with the Soldering Iron.......2007-05-31
Found this book to be very well issustrated and clear and conciss directions well laid out
New and intruiging fiber process.......2007-05-10
Another reviewer has said there was no mention of where to buy a soldering iron. Well, I emailed the author and promptly got one mailed to me. No problem. Definitely use with good ventilation and a respirator, especially if you are 'burning' plastic materials.I am enjoying experimenting with the process.Well written, clear instructions.
Know what you are getting into.......2006-10-31
The idea of fusing together synthetic fabrics by melting them with a soldering iron is a creative one. However, on opening the book, the reader is advised of the need for a respirator and an extractor fan to protect against toxic fumes. This is not to be taken lightly. A fire extinguisher might also be recommended.
For those who decide to forge ahead, it might also have been helpful to have more guidance included about what to search for in a soldering iron. It is not helpful to say that we do not want it "too hot" or "too cool".
Very Interesting Book!.......2006-07-17
I am very excited about trying projects found in this book. Margaret Beal gives clear instructions, but yet allows you to express your own creativity. I will be trying these techniques soon!
Opens your eyes to possiblities.......2006-07-05
Its amazing what I have seen done with Soldering Irons of late! I am impressed with these women - but especially Margaret Beal. She realized that it could be an "iron" of sorts. Its a lesson in what can be done to synthetics if we only remember how many we have burned with a normal iron. Ms. Beal has learned how to control that burn and with an even hotter utensil - the soldering iron. . I especially loved the "pillows".
I bought this book without seeing it first and am so glad I did not have to wait until the Quilt Show in Houston to find a copy to check out. Definitely I would buy a book by Ms. Beal sight unseen again!
Book Description
Garden enthusiasts can turn their yards into fabulous Southern gardens with annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, ornamental trees and more. This all-inclusive book feathers month-to-month gardening ideas, stories and projects, as well as answers to the most pertinent gardening questions. Practical tips from Southern Living gardening editors are also featured and will ensure gardendig success.
Book Description
MORE COMPLETE, MORE HELPFUL, AND MORE FUN THAN ANY OTHER BABY NAME BOOK!
* over 30,001 boys' and girls' names complete with origins, meanings, variations, and famous namesakes * the latest baby name popularity poll rankings, including the most popular names for African-American and Hispanic-American children * survey results on stereotypes of commonly used names * 15 steps to selecting the best name for your baby * advice on changing names, plus famous people who did * fascinating facts about names * advice from "Dear Abby" about using "Jr."
It really is the very best name book you can buy!
Customer Reviews:
We found a name.......2007-09-23
We found a name for our son in this book, when no book seemed to do it for us.
The Very Best? Well, Maybe Not.... (Review Number 250!!!).......2006-02-24
This name book isn't necessarily top of the line, but it's not a bad book either. I found several names that I thought would suit my tastes. As a first time parent, I'm exploring all options and approaching it very carefully so that when it's time to deliver (11/03/06 is the due date) I'll have a name ready and I think this book is more than helpful in the process.
There are sections in the book that cover gender neutral names, 100 most popular boy and 100 most popular girl names in the U.S., popular names worldwide, legal issues (like filing birth certificates if your child is born outside of a hospital), birthstones & flowers, fascinating facts about names, and what some celebrities are naming their kids in addition to the listing, origins, and definitions for over 30,000 names. The definitions aren't totally accurate, but a little research will probably take care of that. I guess for $8.00 you can only ask for so much. To get more depth and insight, you'll probably have to pony up more cash, but The Very Best Baby Name Book In The Whole Wide World is quite capable of fufilling its purpose. It's definitely worth looking into.
This was our favorite.......2005-03-15
Picking a baby name is a very personal process and everyone approaches it differently. We were given four or five baby name books, and this was the one we found most complete and helpful.
I suggest getting several books, including this one, and just enjoy looking through them and getting ideas. Don't worry too much about what a name "means", it varies from book to book and country to country, and no one will know it anyway.
And don't worry if your name is or isn't on a "Top 10" list. The only list that matters is your baby's!
Frustrating.......2003-07-18
I find this book to be a waste of time. My husband and I have searched this book probably a hundred times trying to find a name that has a good meaning for our son. Almost all names with a decent meaning are unusable, while others are generic and boring. We are frustrated looking up 3 or 4 names to find the meaning of the one we are considering. Why cant the author just insert the meaning again instead of writing only "variation of ...."? Also, the meanings of names in this book differ from other sources. Which source is correct? Our son is 16 days old and we are back to the book store trying to find something more helpful. Ridiculous
OK, but many others better.......2003-04-02
I bought Lansky's 15,000+ Baby Names book 2 1/2 years ago before my daughter was born and found it to be less than helpful. I didn't like the way the narrative was handled for each name, plus too many names I specifically went to look up were not in the book. Now we are waiting for our baby boy to be born in June. I checked out this book in the store, and found it to be a rehash of the previous book with more alternate spellings. Once again, some names I looked up were not in here in any spelling. I bought Carol McD Wallace's "The Greatest Baby Name Book Ever" instead, and am much happier with it, although it has shortcomings of it's own. A few inaccuracies, and places where better research would have yielded a better history and origin of certain names. Never-the-less, I recommend Wallace's book along with "The New Age Baby Name Book" for a more complete list of available names.
Book Description
In an irresistible tale of a life lived fully, if not always wisely, Liam Clancy, of the legendary Irish group the Clancy Brothers, describes his eventful journey from a small town in Ireland in the 1930s into the heart of the New York music scene in the 1950s and ’60s.
Following in the grand tradition of such Irish memoirs as Angela’s Ashes and Are You Somebody?, Liam Clancy relates his life’s story in a raucously funny and star-studded account of moving from provincial Ireland to the bars and clubs of New York City, to the cusp of fame as a member of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers. Born in 1935, the eleventh out of as many children, young Liam was a naive and innocent lad of the Old Country. His memories of childhood include bounding over hills, streams, and the occasional mountain, getting lost, and eventually found, and making mischief in the way of a typical Irish boy.
As an aimless nineteen-year-old, Clancy met a strange and wonderfully energetic lover of music, Ms. Diane Guggenheim, an American heiress. She and a colleague from America had set out to record regional Irish folk music, and their undertaking led them to Carrick-on-Suir in the shadow of Slievenamon, "The Mountain of the Women," where Mammie Clancy had been known to carry a tune or two in her kitchen. Guggenheim fell for young Liam and swept him along on her travels through the British Isles, the American Appalachians, and finally Greenwich Village, the undisputed Mecca for aspiring artists of every ilk in the late 1950s.
Clancy was in New York to become an actor. But on the side, he played and sang with his brothers, Paddy and Tom, and fellow countryman Tommy Makem, in pubs like the legendary White Horse Tavern. In the heady atmosphere of the Village, Clancy’s life was a party filled with music, sex, and McSorley’s. His friendships with then-unknown artists such as Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, Robert Redford, Lenny Bruce, Pete Seeger and Barbra Streisand form the backdrop of the charming adventures of a small-town boy making it big in the biggest of cities.
In music circles, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are known as the Beatles of Irish music. The band’s music continues to play on jukeboxes in pubs and bars, in living rooms of folk music fans, and in Irish American homes throughout the country. Liam Clancy’s lively memoir captures their wild adventures on the road to fame and fortune, and brings to life a man who never lets himself off the hook for his sins, and happily views his success as a blessing.
Download Description
In an irresistible tale of a life lived fully, if not always wisely, Liam Clancy, of the legendary Irish group the Clancy Brothers, describes his eventful journey from a small town in Ireland in the 1930s into the heart of the New York music scene in the 1950s and '60s.
Following in the grand tradition of such Irish memoirs as Angela's Ashes and Are You Somebody?, Liam Clancy relates his life's story in a raucously funny and star-studded account of moving from provincial Ireland to the bars and clubs of New York City, to the cusp of fame as a member of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers.
Born in 1935, the eleventh out of as many children, young Liam was a naive and innocent lad of the Old Country. His memories of childhood include bounding over hills, streams, and the occasional mountain, getting lost, and eventually found, and making mischief in the way of a typical Irish boy.
As an aimless nineteen-year-old, Clancy met a strange and wonderfully energetic lover of music, Ms. Diane Guggenheim, an American heiress. She and a colleague from America had set out to record regional Irish folk music, and their undertaking led them to Carrick-on-Suir in the shadow of Slievenamon, "The Mountain of the Women," where Mammie Clancy had been known to carry a tune or two in her kitchen. Guggenheim fell for young Liam and swept him along on her travels through the British Isles, the American Appalachians, and finally Greenwich Village, the undisputed Mecca for aspiring artists of every ilk in the late 1950s.
Clancy was in New York to become an actor. But on the side, he played and sang with his brothers, Paddy and Tom, and fellow countryman Tommy Makem, in pubs like the legendary White Horse Tavern. In the heady atmosphere of the Village, Clancy's life was a party filled with music, sex, and McSorley's. His friendships with then-unknown artists such as Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, Robert Redford, Lenny Bruce, Pete Seeger and Barbra Streisand form the backdrop of the charming adventures of a small-town boy making it big in the biggest of cities.
In music circles, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are known as the Beatles of Irish music. The band's music continues to play on jukeboxes in pubs and bars, in living rooms of folk music fans, and in Irish American homes throughout the country. Liam Clancy's lively memoir captures their wild adventures on the road to fame and fortune, and brings to life a man who never lets himself off the hook for his sins, and happily views his success as a blessing.
Customer Reviews:
Literary Talent Too!.......2007-05-07
Liam Clancy's has great literary talent. His bio is a tribute to his family and to his native land. Catholic schools greatly contributed to his native talent for the stage----I am not sure why he makes a critical remark of the Church.
Very Readable Irish Bio.......2006-11-16
The Clancy Brothers albums opened by ears to traditional celtic music in the 60s, so it was a treat for me to read Liam Clancy's account of how the group evolved. The family background and his personal development as an student, actor and musician were very enjoyable reading.
If you liked Angela's Ashes, this will certainly appeal.
More bleakness than blarney.......2006-06-20
I never heard Liam Clancy sing until a couple of months ago, when I found a copy of an album called "The Lark in the Morning" that looked interesting, given its cover and its date of the mid-50s. Growing up, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were heard of but not heard by me--I associated them with Aran knit sweaters, hearty shour-an'-begorra singalongs,novelty tunes, and the kind of kitsch that the previous generation had listened to complacently before the revival in the 70s of a tougher trad scene out of Ireland shook it all up again.
Well, I heard the tracks on "Lark" in the car without knowing who was who since I could not see the CD case listings. But when I finished it, I noticed that the songs that had stood out from the rest were all by Liam C. Impressed, I read the liner notes about one Diane Hamilton, who I had never heard of, and Tradition Records, the label for which "Lark" was the debut issue. But the whole story was not clear, given the brief notes, until I read "Women of the Mountain."
From the title, I expected a tale of lusty drunken couplings and riotuous escapades from the "Folksmen"/"Kingston Trio" era. Instead, an evocative tale of growing up eating mortar and chalk for nutrition during WWII, poverty, clerical abuse, and hardscrabble small-town life in Waterford's Carrick-on-Suir unfolded smoothly and eloquently. Sure, the blarney sometimes is laid on a bit too thick for less glib me, but the stage Irishman tendencies are kept mercifully in check by realism: the death of a sibling, the estrangement from mother and Church, the entanglement with Diane H. (who turns out to be a Guggenheim nearly as neurotic as her relative Peggy G. did for Beckett!), and the adventures on the road, in theatre, and on stage.
One surprise and a reason for four stars is the lopsided nature of the book: the singing takes decididly second fiddle to the stage in the dramatic sense. This was fascinating for me, but it misleads the reader perhaps who by the back photo of the group harmonizing might expect far more about Clancy's musical experience. He mentions, for example, as if offhandedly that he learned the tin whistle. Yes, but how? As a musician, did he find it easy after the guitar? How did it help his reportoire? Did he learn it so the group could expand its range? How does it sound to him? How does he play it? Here, music as enacted comes rather late in the book, in not a lot of detail, and seems rather superficially treated as opposed to other incidents and events.
I do commend Clancy on his delicacy with relating his own romantic and emotional engagements with women and men--he reminds us of the fragility we all possess and the need to recognize humanity in each other. And he makes his point after having earned the right to say so after his own checkered past. He comes off wise without sounding pious, intelligent without acting snobbish, and flawed without playing it up as maudlin. He handles people and places with stamina and wit, and his own coming-of-age here, while cut off while he's not even thirty yet, needs however fuller exposition than is given here. The New York Greenwich Village years deserve more depth than they're given here; the book's unbalanced in favoring much more from his pre-NYC years (nothing wrong with that) and again this may mislead misinformed readers as to its actual coverage of many more early situations predating the group's rise to fame. I also got little sense of how he got along with his fellow group members--granted that two are his brothers--but how the three Clancys got along with Makem who was from Keady in the north and from a different region, musical tradition, and political regime seemed like the sort of detail that could have enriched the book.
I guess a sequel is in the works. Like recent Irish memoirs by Frank McCourt and Hugo Hamilton, the autobiographical account stops suddently, at the height of a self-realization by the author in his formative years. I do not know if this book would have been published if McCourt had not led the way, but resilient Clancy's tale too deserves a wide readership for dispelling (as do McC and HH in their accounts--also see John McGahern's memoir) the myths of recent Irish life, while advocating a return to the more durable and more feminine myths that inspired Yeats, Behan, Synge, Joyce, and the Slieve-na-mBan/Sleivenamon that gives its rounded breasted mountain shape to the landscape that rose above Clancy's hometown.
"God is good and the devil is not that bad.".......2005-03-19
First of all,there are 17 other reviews;most of them excellent and all deserve to be read.I read a fair bit of modern Irish Writing.The McCourts,Roddy Doyle,Brendan Behan,Morgan Llywelyn,Brendan O'Carroll,just to name a few.What I really like about these writers is their magical use of language.Although I have been a fan of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers for at least 30 years,I have never read anything about them.I had no idea of how much they were involved in acting;let alone that any of them had such gifted writing skills.What a surprise;Liam's skills are as good as his musical talents.
Though not a Clancy,I heard Tommy Makem perform here in Toronto at an intimate club a few months ago.He did "Oh, me name is Dick Darby,I'm a cobbler.";mentioned on page 102.That had to be the best recitation I ever witnessed.
I would like to quote something Liam wrote about his experience in North Carolina in 1956 and he was writing about it nearly 50 years after the fact.
From page 170....
"South Carolina in the spring was seductive with scents of growing things,of magnolias and hibiscus,the air heavy with noontime heat and the swampy buzz of katydids and flying critters.The nights there belonged to the frogs and bats and flying beetles and the countless mingled smells of a land at rest after a burgeoning day's work fermenting life." Imagine the thoughts of a 21 year old,written 50 years later.
I also had no idea of Clancy's involvment with the people like Oscar Brand,Bob Dylan,Woody Guthrie,Pete Seeger,Odetta,Barbara Streisand,Lenny Bruce,Jean Ritchie,Ramblin' Jack Elliot,Brendan Behan,Diane (Guggenheim),Josh White,Alan Lomax,Mary O'Hara and on and on.
Liam gives a great insight into the world of acting and folk music of the 50's and the 60's. Now that I have read the book,I am looking forward to listening to the tape.
I also have no idea if Liam has a second book planned to cover the last 40 years.I am sure it would be a great follow up.How about it Liam,you're only 70 ,and you must still have lots to tell us.
Thanks.
Insightful Biography.......2004-07-07
The Clancy Brothers albums opened by ears to traditional celtic music in the 60s, so it was a treat for me to read Liam Clancy's account of how the group evolved. The family background and his personal development as an student, actor and musician were very enjoyable reading.
If you liked Angela's Ashes, this will certainly appeal.
Average customer rating:
|
Liam Clancy: Memoirs of an Irish Troubadour
Liam Clancy
Manufacturer: Virgin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
| Actors & Actresses
| Artists, Architects & Photographers
| Authors
| Composers & Musicians
| Dancers
| Entertainers
| Movie Directors
| New Age
| Television Performers
| Theatre
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Folk & Traditional
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Rock
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1852279486 |
Books:
- Companions to Clematis: Growing Clematis with Other Plants
- Cracking Open a Coffin
- Deadly Winter: The Life of Sir John Franklin
- Defiant Diplomacy: Henrik Kauffmann, Denmark, and the United States in World War II and Cold War, 1939-1958 (Studies in Modern European History, Vol. 54)
- Diatoms of the Streams of Eastern Connecticut (Bulletin 106)
- Eagle's 100 shrubs & climbers of New Zealand: Companion volume to Eagle's 100 trees of New Zealand : botanical paintings & notes
- Experimental Psychology: Cell Walls and Surfaces, Reproduction, Photosynthesis (Experimental Phycology)
- Ferns of Malaysia in colour
- FIGHTER PILOT'S SUMMER: Sequal to the Best-Selling Fighter Pilot
- Flame Dragons Of The Korean War
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Best of the British Virgin Islands: An Indispensable Guide for Anyone Visiting Tortola, Virgin G
- The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa
- Seeds of Peace: A Narrative Journey of a 20th Century Foreign Service Family
- Teaching in America
- Storms: My Life with Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac
- The Four Adventures of Richard Hannay: The Thirty-Nine Steps/Greenmantle/Mr. Standfast/the Three Hos
- Reflections of Eden: My Years with the Orangutans of Borneo
- Electrician's Technical Reference: Variable Frequency Drives
- Rand McNally 2005 Road Atlas and Travel Guide: United States, Canada, & Mexico
- Scotland Business And Investment Opportunities Yearbook
Why The Allies Won
Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932-1945: With a New Afterword (Oxford Paperbacks)
The Generals' War : The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf
A War To Be Won: Fighting the Second World War
The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy
