Captain Supreme Goes to Washington: A Memoir

Book Description

Telling the story of the greatest sailor of them all, "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" is a vivid and definitive biography of Columbus that details all of his voyages that, for better or worse, changed the world. 50 drawings, maps charts; 4 fold-outs.

Customer Reviews:

How Times Have Changed For Cristobal Colon.......2007-10-11

Morison wrote this fine book in honor of the 450'th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. I think Morison would be surprised at how people's perceptions of the event have changed in the decades since.
First off, let me say that the book is well worth reading. Morison was a man of the sea himself and he sailed in the same waters as Columbus. We see in the book how Columbus was a master seaman as well as being a great salesman, but on the other hand he was a poor geographer and even worse politician. The Portuguese were right in turning down his proposal for the Enterprise of the Indies, their geographers knew that Columbus was way off the mark regarding the distance from Europe to East Asia. In any event, they were making good progress down Africa and they felt it was just a matter of time until they found the bottom of the continent and the entrance to the Indian Ocean.

I would now like to address the change in fortune for Columbus's reputation.

(1) People now like to say that he didn't "discover" America. One reason is because there were already people (the American Indians) there, but that is simply world-games. Of course he "discovered" it, no one in Europe or Asia knew about it, and the Indians didn't know about Europe or Asia either. Secondly, the fact that Columbus wasn't necessarily the first to cross the Atlantic doesn't change anything. The Vikings who reached North America simply viewed it as another Arctic land and had no idea of the geographical relationship of this new continent to the rest of the world. In any event, they didn't exploit their discovery in the long run, only Columbus's voyage led to that. It is also speculated that Portuguese fisherman were crossing the Atlantic before Columbus, after all, they discovered the Azores already in the 1420's (already one-third of the way across the Atlantic) but we don't know if they sighted the continent, and even if they did, they, like the Vikings didn't do anything to exploit their knowledge.

(2) People say that he is responsible for the destruction of the Indian society that existed on Hispaniola. It certainly wasn't his original intention to do this. He wanted to convert the natives to Christianity, so killing them off wouldn't help this mission. Morison himself points out that Columbus did contribute to this tragedy, but even if Columbus had been more careful, I think the Indians would have had the same fate. The settlers that came in the wake of the discovery brought new plants and animals in addition to previously unknown diseases and all these things would have grievously damaged the Indians agricultural system and society. Add to this the Spaniard's missionary religion which no doubt was attractive to at least some of the native population and we see that things could just not remain the same.
(3) Some people claim the pre-Columbian New World was some sort of paradise that the Europeans ruined. This is also knows as the myth of the "noble savage". Unfortunatley it is just a myth because human nature is the same all over the world. Greed, cruelty, avarice and the such are not just European or Western traits. The Carib tribes who inhabited the Caribbean Sea (and gave it its name) were very warlike and fought other, more peaceful tribes. Similarly, the Mexica (also knows as the Aztec) the Hernan Cortes conquered in the wake of Columbus was hated by its Indian neighbors for supressing them and taking prisoners for the human sacrificial system. Thus, we should be more realistic in evaluating the pre-Columbian societies and remove the "politically correct" rose-colored glasses.

(3) While it is true that slaves from Africa were brought over to Hispaniola, it must be remembered that the European slave traders who brought them over to the New World did not land in West Africa and grab natives "off the streets". They bought them from local African chiefs who captured prisoners in their local wars and then sold them to the Europeans. Thus, regarding the cruelty of the slavery system, there is plenty of blame to go around and not just to the white men involved.

All-in-all, this is a very enjoyable book to read about a man, who perhaps more than any other single person, brought about the most massive revolution in human history.

Excellent work.......2007-01-12

Morison's pulitzer prize winning work is an engaging, balanced, well written look at the life of the great explorer. The emphasis of the book is on Columbus, the mariner.(Morrison, a Harvard professor with a sailing background, actually retraced Columbus journeys in his own sailing craft). I was interested in finding a fair and objective historical biography of Columbus (without all the negative, politically correct, anti-European propoganda that permeates the thinking of modern leftist academics).In my opinion, this book provides it. I would highly recommend this work for students of history, who want to gain a better appreciation of the nature and significance of Columbus Voyages.

"Adelante! Adelante!" (Land! Land!).......2006-10-22

"Admiral of the Ocean Sea", Samuel Morison's 1942 Pulitzer Prize winning
biography of Christopher Columbus, is still considered by many to be the
best there is. Morison spent 2 years on a sailboat re-tracing Columbus' voyages bringing a first hand immediacy and perspective that gives it unusual authority on all technical aspects of sailing and navigation. In addition Morison was a Harvard history professor whose research of the written record is impeccable. Even before Columbus died in the early 16th century, there have been countless controversies and debates about many aspects of his life and voyages. Into this maelstrom of legend, myth and folklore - like the discover he writes about - Morison brings order, calm and reliable passage through one of the most fascinating and mythological figures of World History.

Genuinely worthy of five stars.......2005-07-25

I have had this book on my shelf for quite a while, and finally got around to reading it after watching a documentary on Columbus on the Discivery Channel. I got inspired to overcome my intellectual laziness, and how pleased I am I did! This book really deserves its reputation as a timeless classic, and the author, a giant of maritime history, did such a fine job that I now want to read his well known biography of John Paul Jones. The text is gripping and the author's insights abound. This is a fine book.

A colorful narrative, rich in detail........2005-02-22

This book is the definitive work on Columbus. Morison is famous for making the same journey that Columbus made with largely the same equipment in order to prepare for writing this book. His experience shines through in the detail thatMorison lavishes on his subject.

As is the case with any great biography, Morison has become enamored with his subject, highlighting his strengths and successes while downplaying his weaknesses and failures, but you know that going into any biography and can adjust your interpretation accordingly.

The story here is told very well, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages. Additionally, the book dispells many of the myths and common misconceptions about Columbus and really fills in a complete picure of the man.

Well worth reading for any fan of history or biography.

Admiral of the Ocean Sea A Life of Christopher Columbus

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Admiral of the Ocean Sea A Life of Christopher Columbus
Samuel Eliot & Mauricio Obregon Morison
Manufacturer: The American Past/Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MMQ9ZG

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Admiral Of The Ocean Sea - A Life Of Christopher Columbus
Samuel Eliot; With a new Foreword by Quinn, David B. Morison
Manufacturer: Northeastern Univ. Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K0CRCY

ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA : A Life of Christopher Columbus (100 GREATEST MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN LITERATURE)

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ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA : A Life of Christopher Columbus (100 GREATEST MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN LITERATURE)

Manufacturer: Franklin Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000ERANQ0

Admiral of the ocean sea : a life of Christopher Columbus / Samuel Eliot Morison ; maps by Erwin Raisz, drawings by Bertram Greene

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Admiral of the ocean sea : a life of Christopher Columbus / Samuel Eliot Morison ; maps by Erwin Raisz, drawings by Bertram Greene
Samuel Eliot (1887-1976) Morison
Manufacturer: Franklin Center, Pa. : Franklin Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NWW83C

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Admiral Of The Ocean Sea A Life of Christopher Columbus
Samuel Eliot Morison
Manufacturer: Little, Brown & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W38J08

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The life of Columbus

Admiral of the Ocean Sea a Life of Christopher Columbus
Maps by Erwin Raisz, drawings Bertram Greene Samuel Eliot Morison
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JD3G72

Customer Reviews:

The life of Columbus.......2007-03-08

A great read.
The maps Charts and illustrations are incredible and worth looking at even if the book is not read. 5 stars for this awesome book.

Admiral of the Ocean Sea a Life of Christopher Columbus in 2 Volumes

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Admiral of the Ocean Sea a Life of Christopher Columbus in 2 Volumes

Manufacturer: Time Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IFZS2W

ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA VOLUME 1 A LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

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ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA VOLUME 1 A LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Samuel Eliot Morison
Manufacturer: time inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I35Z7M

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Admiral of the Ocean Sea, A Life of Christopher Columbus
Samuel Eliot Morison
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZKJDK

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Practical Tips

THIS IS THE ONE TO OWN!

Easy to do fix it up instructions, also good marketing tips.

Terrific book on how to fix antiques.

Wonderful introduction to buying antiques

Antiques on the Cheap: A Savvy Dealer's Tips: Buying, Restoring, Selling
James W. McKenzie
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Care & Restoration | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How to Start a Home-Based Antiques Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series)

How to Make $20,000 a Year in Antiques and Collectibles Without Leaving Your Job

Double Your Money in Antiques

Antiquing for Dummies

How to Sell Antiques and Collectibles on eBay... And Make a Fortune!

ASIN: 1580170730

Book Description

Get the inside scoop on every aspect of antiquing - buying, cleaning, repairing, embellishing, refinishing, restoring, and selling. Expert advice for getting great deals at auctions, flea markets, and shops, and how to spot items that can be repaired to increase their value. Advice for selling antiques at flea markets, on consignment, and in shops is included.

Customer Reviews:

Practical Tips.......2007-03-09

This is a great book. Informative, practical, concise and easy to follow directions for restoring all types of items. I wish I'd had it years ago.

THIS IS THE ONE TO OWN!.......2001-09-14

THE BEST BOOK TO OWN. INEXPENSIVE AND PRACTICAL ADVISE ON HOW TO CLEAN AND REPAIR FRAMES,SILVER, BRASS (THE ONLY PLACE I'VE SEEN BRASS CLEANING THAT WORKS) TRUNKS, POTTERY, AND LAMPS. YOU DON'T NEED A WORKSHOP OR ART SUPPLIES TO USE MR. MCKENZIES' RECEIPES FOR REFURBISHMENT OR REPAIR. NO COLORED PICTURES, JUST DRAWINGS, IT'S THE TEXT THATS WORTH THE PRICE OF THE BOOK. IF YOU CAN READ, THINK, AND FOLLOW VERY SIMPLE DIRECTIONS, THEN USE THE PRETTY COFFEE TABLE BOOKS FOR INSPIRATION AND THIS BOOK FOR REALIZATION. I USE IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

Easy to do fix it up instructions, also good marketing tips........1999-07-26

This is the most helpful book I've read that in very succinct style tells how to buy, fix up, and possibly resell antiques and other second hand stuff. If you love "shabby chic", but can't afford the prices, this book will make it easier to achieve that look. This book is not for people who worry about getting their hands dirty.

Terrific book on how to fix antiques........1999-07-06

I bought an antique camel-back trunk that needed lots of restoring and didn't know how to start. My friend recommended this book, and I am so glad I bought it. Not only did it give step by step on restoring a trunk but it also had a refrence page on suppliers for trunk parts. I highly recommended this book to anyone who needs to repair trunks, lamps, pottery and frames. The furniture repair section was sort of brief; I would have like to see more on this topic.

Wonderful introduction to buying antiques.......1999-02-09

Don't let the title fool you - this is NOT just for antique dealers. As someone who is interested in antiques, but who doesn't have a lot of money, this has been a great primer on how to pick items and how to clean, fix and generally improve the the things purchased. Instructions on marbelizing, sponge painting, rebuilding lamps and stripping and refinishing furniture are all easy to understand.

Antiques on the Cheap, a Savvy Dealer's Tips, Buying, Restoring, Selling

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Antiques on the Cheap, a Savvy Dealer's Tips, Buying, Restoring, Selling

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1568659563

Comprar, Conservar Y Vender Antiguedades/ Antiques on the Cheap: A Savvy Dealer's Tips on Buying, Restoring and Selling

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Comprar, Conservar Y Vender Antiguedades/ Antiques on the Cheap: A Savvy Dealer's Tips on Buying, Restoring and Selling
James W. McKenzie
Manufacturer: Robin Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Care & Restoration | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Dirección Comercial | Profesional y Técnico | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 8479273615

Book Description

From a rare and vast storehouse of botanical information — beautiful, royalty-free illustrations of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and garden flowers. Ideal for craftwork as well as for use in gardening books, cookbooks and general-interest publications, these handsome illustrations will also delight herbal enthusiasts. 214 black-and-white illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Useful information.......2007-01-25

I believe this book has useful information. Whether you decide to spank or not spank, just make an informed decision. This is just one of many resources I checked before my husband and I made a choice. All parents should make that informed choice, and the parenting team, should be in agreement. I know this got both good and bad reviews. I guess it's just a matter of whether you agree with the author or not. Whether I agree or not doesn't matter, the book still has useful information that should be read by all parents.

yet another spanking book.......2006-06-27

Yet another spanking book leads me to hypothesize that many of these fundamentalists are having a major problem with repressed sexuality. For crying out loud, go to Miami or Las Vegas and have a session or two with "Mistress Elsa" or some other dominatrix. Don't express your repressed sexuality on your kid's bare butt! I read this book while browsing thru a Xian bookstore, and I felt like telling the manager that it really should be put behind the counter or not sold at all. If you, as a parent, think that your kids' behavior is so bad that you need to spank, then consult a qualified family therapist and see if something other than spanking can be worked out. If you decide that CP is required, then do it as gently and infrequently as possible, and stop it b4 the child turns 10.

Do you want to be your child's friend or his parent.......2006-04-06

I have to believe that the negative reviews of this book are by people that have an agenda or have not read this book.

Rosemond makes very clear the difference between HITTING and SPANKING. And he states there are other more effect ways to disipline a child.

He further says that a steady diet of spankings are not productive. But that an occasional pop on the rear end is effective in getting the child's attention so that you can communicate your message to the child, and that spanking alone will accomplish nothing.

This book is right on target..........2004-03-23

As a minister, I must say that this book makes a clear distinction between "hitting," "beating," and spanking. Per Proverbs, " in the heart of a child foolishness abides, but the rod of correction draws them far from it." I "believe" that spanking is sometimes "necessary". John's book gives parents an understanding that spanking can immediately stop unfavorable behavior, and does not lead to the murderers that we have in prison, maybe they deserved a "swat"; perhaps if they had received some sort of discipline, we wouldn't have those "menances to society."

Hmmm..........2004-02-10

It's impossible to argue that children should be spanked, but adults should not. Furthermore, Mr. Rosemond, as the other comment stated, Jesus will be waiting for you on judgement day, but your child may pay you back sooner than that:

Accurate scholarship can
unearth the whole offence
from luther untill noe
that has driven a culture mad.
From what occured at linz
what huge imago made
a psychopathic god.
i and the public know
what all schoolchildren learn
those to whom evil is done
do evil in return.
W.H. Auden

Book Description

Incomparable and unique in their ability to write both libretti and lyrics, Oscar Hammerstein and Alan Jay Lerner brought the musical theater to an artistic peak that remains unsurpassed. From Show Boat, Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music to Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, and Camelot, they wrote book
and lyrics for one glittering gem after another, capturing the verve of the Golden Age of the musical at its peak. Their works continue to hold a preeminent place on stages around the world.
Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished manuscripts, lyrics, letters, and interviews, Stephen Citron's generous dual biography brilliantly brings to life the strikingly different worlds of Hammerstein and Lerner--two remarkable artists who revolutionized the musical theater. Citron's
narrative brims with fascinating stories and telling anecdotes about these two master wordsmiths, sweeping us along Hammerstein's roller coaster career with its mixture of hits and flops. This is contrasted sharply with Lerner's endless rewrites, eight marriages, and debilitating drug habits. We
learn how Hammerstein and composer Richard Rodgers first wrote musicals together as undergraduates at Columbia, then parted company for twenty years before reuniting to produce one smash hit after another. We also discover that the Loewe-Lerner team almost never made it past Brigadoon, due in part
to Loewe's aspirations to become a serious composer and Lerner's chronic (and often exasperating) insecurities about his own talent. Along the way, we meet the century's greatest composers, actors, and actresses--including George Gershwin and Kurt Weill, Mary Martin and Rex Harrison--whose
transcendent melodies and showstopping performances combined with Hammerstein's and Lerner's words to leave an indelible mark on one of America's greatest contributions to twentieth-century popular art--its musical theater. And not only does Citron offer consummate analyses of his subjects' lyrics
and probing insights into their plots and dialogue, but he provides us with a mini-reference packed with photographs of notable productions and of the artists themselves. The book provides a complete list of their works, an extensive bibliography, and a quintuple chronology of their lives in
relation to world and theatrical events.
In The Wordsmiths, Stephen Citron has penned what will surely be the definitive guide to the art of writing story and lyrics as well as an exhilarating dual biography. It is as well a fascinating read for all lovers of the American stage.

Customer Reviews:

A worthy book, but ...........2005-03-10

I recently finished reading this dual biography of Hammerstein and Lerner. My overall impression was that it was interesting and insightful. I would have given the book a higher rating except that the number of typographical and minor factual errors was a little more than I feel is appropriate. As an example, in the section descrbing Hammerstein's "Allegro", the writer stated that the hero of the piece, Joseph Taylor, Jr., sings the number "So Far" to a college co-ed. A look at the score or the libretto clearly indicates that it is, in fact, the opposite. The co-ed sings the song to Joe. This may sound a bit nit-picky, and I could forgive one or maybe even two errors like this. Unfortunately, the book gets a number of these details wrong.

The Wordsmiths Oscar Hammerstein 2nd and Alan Jay Lerner

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The Wordsmiths Oscar Hammerstein 2nd and Alan Jay Lerner
Stephen Citron
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OK6I2K

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The Early Acharonim: Biographical Sketches of the Prominent Early Rabbinic Sages and Leaders from the Fifteenth-Seventeenth Centuries
Hersh Goldwurm
Manufacturer: Mesorah Publications, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0899064884

Book Description

Biographical sketches of 300 great sages and leaders from the 15th-17th centuries. A panoramic range of biographies of great men from all from all Jewish communities - such as Arizal, R' Yosef Caro, Maharsha, R' Menashe ben Yisrael - as Jewish life moved eastward. By Rabbi Hersh Goldwurm.

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Early Acharonim
Hersh Goldwurm
Manufacturer: Mesorah Publications, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Jewish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Lights of the exile: Early acharonim (Hashkafah history series)

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Lights of the exile: Early acharonim (Hashkafah history series)
Zechariah Fendel
Manufacturer: Hashkafah Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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