Louis P. MasurRecensioni

Good edition.

One hundred and fifty years after the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter, the Civil War still captures the American imagination, and its reverberations can still be felt throughout America's social and political landscape.
Louis P. Masur's The Civil War: A Concise History offers a masterful and eminently readable overview of the war's multiple causes and catastrophic effects. Masur begins by examining the complex origins of the war, focusing on the pulsating tensions over states rights and slavery. The book then proceeds to cover, year by year, the major political, social, and military events, highlighting two important themes: how the war shifted from a limited conflict to restore the Union to an all out war that would fundamentally transform Southern society, and the process by which the war ultimately became a battle to abolish slavery. Masur explains how the war turned what had been a loose collection of fiercely independent states into a nation, remaking its political, cultural, and social institutions. But he also focuses on the soldiers themselves, both Union and Confederate, whose stories constitute nothing less than America's Iliad. In the final chapter Masur considers the aftermath of the South's surrender at Appomattox and the clash over the policies of reconstruction that continued to divide President and Congress, conservatives and radicals, Southerners and Northerners for years to come.
In 1873, Mark Twain and Charles Dudley wrote that the war had "wrought so profoundly upon the entire national character that the influence cannot be measured short of two or three generations." From the vantage of the war's sesquicentennial, this concise history of the entire Civil War era offers an invaluable introduction to the dramatic events whose effects are still felt today.

Last year was the 40th anniversary of the release of Born to Run, the album many critics consider to be Bruce Springsteen's finest work (for me, the top spot circulates among a handful of albums depending on my mood and circumstances). This book is presented as an in-depth look at the making of that album, including a song-by-song analysis that was really interesting to someone like me who loves music but doesn't play or know much about the particulars.

Unfortunately, that's only one chapter of the book and the only chapter that was completely new to me. The rest of the book is fleshed out with an overview of Springsteen's life and career, both before and after Born to Run, that as a card-carrying crazyfan I was already very familiar with, even to the extent of being able to identify which interviews or articles various quotes were pulled from. And the tense drama surrounding the recording of the album, which took months and months, while reviewed adequately here is better covered in the documentary Wings for Wheels that accompanied the re-mastered version of the album back in 2005.

So superfans won't find a whole lot new in this book. But casual fans or readers interested in musical analysis or the music-making process should get much more value out of it. The writing is fine, and in my limited judgment the musical analysis seems original and accurate (there's lots of talk about how various songs on BTR modulate from major to minor chords and the effect that's meant to give, and even though I listened to each song several times as I read the segment about it in the book, I'm still not sure I could identify a minor chord if one walked up and spit on me).

A really good little read about a singular year in American history. Its amazing what all we can pack into 365 days...

Found this book while browsing through the baseball section of the local B&N... was in the mood for an historical baseball book. This fit the bill: well written and researched, along with some great photographs.½

I think we all learned a little about Benjamin Franklin in our history classes, such as his experiments with lightning, his inventions, and some of his public service achievements, as well as his involvement with the Continental Congress. But I was especially interested in his Plan of Conduct as well as his list of Virtues which he tried to follow. According to his autobiography, he was a great believer in industry, frugality, prudence, knowledge. He believed that in order to succeed, you needed to work hard and not waste time. He also believed that the money that you earned, you should not waste, but rather be frugal with it. I also found it interesting that Franklin was self-educated, yet he was very well-read, and he eventually received honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge. This shows what dedication and industry can achieve. This, I believe, is a book that everyone should read, and it is especially thought provoking during difficult economic times such as those in which we now find ourselves.

In addition, I found it interesting that even though Franklin had his list of thirteen virtues that he tried to follow, he admitted that he was not perfect and he often found them difficult to follow, but by making a schedule and keeping track of how well he did with each virtue, he was able to slowly improve. He was setting goals for himself so that he could continually become a better person. He seemed to be a very organized man. I feel that each of us could find something in his autobiography which could benefit us. I only wish that I had read it earlier and applied some of his techniques to my own life at an early age.

Born in America, lived 1706-1790. This work has great historical value, and for the record, is accurate and specific. Franklin injected himself into significant events, developed and employed methods and inventions for "public good", and the convenience of others, including readers. In this Autobio, he narrates his business years. However, this was published before the founding of the United States. His time as ambassador to France and years as Postmaster are not covered. Nor does he comment on the great honor and esteem he enjoyed, second only to Washington. Nor does he ventilate the tragedies and betrayals in his life, such as his own son's loyalties to King George.

Literature - this is writing intended to be read and understood; it is instructive rather than pompous "biblical" or egomaniacal.

Science - Franklin saw and contributed to the sea change of the 18th century. He moved from the "cramped" life of Boston to the young opportunities of Philadelphia. The growing interest in science, influence of liberal writers like John Locke, the rise of learned professions and a merchant class, and radical political ideas made "progress" possible. Franklin became a Self-Improvement guru.

In Politics. His solid merits and unusual tact made him a natural diplomat.

Morals - he kept an almost daily journal of his moral achievements and failures, with a view to continuing to experience "the goodness of that Being" in the hereafter which he enjoyed in this life. He was clearly an atheist with no belief in unicorns or heaven.

One of the best pieces of American writing. Filled with Franklin's expected wit and sparkle, this short little work will have you chuckling and thinking throughout.

My favourite antebellum book yet