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If you could only own one book on a particular subject and one a bio on a particular person what would it be. In other words you couldnt own 3 books on John Adams you could have one, or one book on Gettysberg, etc. I'm looking for your opinions on THE book on that person place or thing.
Welcome aboard, Stumpfoot! Glad to see you could make it! If I could only own one book - this would be a hard one. Perhaps it would be Frederick Copleston's History of Philosophy, Vols. I - IX. That would give me the biggest bang for the buck and it would center on the general topic of philosophy (of course, this is kind of cheating). It is an awesome resource, straightfoward and concise, covering the entire span of philosophy throughout the ages.
Mccullough's book on John Adams.Stephen Sears book on Getysberg.I wouldnt say at this point that it is definitive but TJ Stiles book on Jesse James is real good.I also enjoyed carters Buffalo Bill Bio.
Sounds like you're a big Civil War/Post-CW fan. Do you prefer straight biographies or books covering historical events?
Yea , I do lean towrds American history in General. As to your question I read both pretty regularly. Right now I am doing a lot of research on the irish potato famine (Paddys lament is really good) and the subsequent irish immegration particularly to NY and the five points area.
That's pretty interesting stuff. I'm guessing you've seen Gangs of New York. What did you think of it? Honestly, I don't think I had learned about the New York riots as a reaction against the Union's draft during the Civil War. What the movie showed was really quite interesting, including the government's brutal response to the uncontrollable riots. Last summer a cousin took me to Manhatten and showed me the wall and the church which were depicted in that movie in the Five Points area (right near that Mott/Mulberry Street area). Today the location is right in the Little Italy/Chinatown area. It's worth a visit if you're ever in that area.
I actually am going to NY this fall and plan on visiting the area. I really liked gangs of new york. However Asburys book on which the movie is based is not entirly accurate. If you want to read a good acount of the riots, (even though the book is fiction) read love and war by John Jakes. It's a pretty accurate description of what happened.
If you could only own one book on a particular subject and one a bio on a particular person what would it be. In other words you couldnt own 3 books on John Adams you could have one, or one book on Gettysberg, etc. I'm looking for your opinions on THE book on that person place or thing.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl would be my definitive read on the World War II Holocaust.
