History through the eyes of the participants
920297
Having lived in Europe and toured the Ardennes extensively, twice with Martin King as a guide, I can tell you that this book and DVD make a perfect cap to my travels. Reading various histories (Ambrose, Macdonald, etc...) of the battle provided the overall context. Touring the battlefields with Martin provided the sights and smells. Actually reading and hearing the words (of both Americans and Germans-a first for me) of the participants tied everything together in a living history. The stories told by the vets, especially Mr. John Schaffner, whom I recently was extremely honored to meet in person, are heartfelt and unvarnished. Martin and Michael compiled a great book- but it is the vets themselves that are the Voices. Well DONE!
2786825
Wonderful book to read. I liked seeing this time in history seen through the eyes of the young people.
1501242
Using the actual words of participants, observers, victims and non-combatants presents an overwhelming insight to the chaotic situation at the end of WW II in Europe.  I am haunted by the gritty realism of the images described in this book.
297292
A look at actual history through the eyes of a participant  The description of shipboard life in the eighteenth century actually brings one aboard these heavy wooden ships.
1043494
This was an illuminating look at the lives of various first-class passengers on the Titanic: who they were, why they were there, how their lives intertwined before, during and after the disaster.  It takes a while to pick up steam (much like a large ocean liner), but accelerates as it takes us closer to the calamity.  We are shown how the people we have come to know react, and eventually how even the survivors are often haunted by this "night to remember".
886820
History through the eyes of a child, yet with the wider view of an adult who understands World War II's place in history. A wonderful memoir of a difficult time in world history, and a delicate recounting of one family's struggle to a place in that world torn apart by forces beyond their own control. History can be bogged down by the whens/whats and wheres/whys. But it's the stories of those stories of those who lived through it that make history so important to understand all the other aspects. This book gives us a look into how this global war impacted and changed five people's lives, and how family was the bond that saw them through it.
1801871
A very insightful read, giving the reader the feelings of those being interned, and of those who watched it happen.
4805905
A good mini-series that does an able job of covering 50+ years of history through the eyes and actions of pretty much one family. It gave me an idea of attitudes and life as it changed over those years.  I recommend it.
918802
I enjoy reading about the behind the scenes of events in history and Robert A. Caro has a smooth way of delivering that information. Especially an in depth study of the people, their personality and how they reacted to the events.
203977
This is not your ordinary history book. Dr. Mabalon has called on the tool of personal narratives to bring history to life. For once in my life, I was not bored by the topic. Normally, history is just not my thing. But I could not put this book down. I was pulled in by the people in the book and their stories. It really makes the reality of the past something you can connect to. I could see how the stories of my Mexican relatives related to the stories of the manangs and manongs in the book. I strongly recommend this to anyone interested in Filipino-American history, California history, farm labor history, and immigration history.
1751362
A well written view of events from all levels brings the reader up close and personal into what motivated and sustained all participants.
4513493
This is a well done photo book of the subject for those who have folled show over its long history.
239137
It is a bit slow to read with the local wording but a reasonable history of the period.  Known events are reviewed  and the view of the people from the time are given.  If the reader wants to follow the events on a map it can be done.
347905
This book reveals history through the eyes of the Native Americans as they lived it. History usually details the settling of Jamestown and the Chesapeake Bay area from the viewpoint of the English colonists, and we can only guess at what the Indians experienced. In WHEN THE GREAT CANOES CAME, Clifford shows us their hardships and emotions through the storytelling of the female chief, Cockacoeske, successor to Powhatan, as she relates the tribal history to the boy, Lost Owl, and his friends. The boys are at the age that their ancestors had their huskenaw, or coming of age ordeals and rituals.

While the native language and names are challenging to pronounce and the tribal relations require some effort and concentration to keep straight, the story about this exciting chapter in our history is thought-provoking and compelling.

Cockacoeske describes the days before and after the arrival of the European settlers. The great chiefs, Powhatan and Opechancanough, deal with the invaders to the best of their ability through the harsh weather and the atrocities committed by the English. The story is told through episodes of the Pamunkey everyday life, interspersed with storytelling sessions.

Mary Louise Clifford's extensive research is evident in this footnoted account of 17th-century America. An epilogue tells of the fate of the tribes after the Jamestown Island settlement in 1607. Ten illustrations, a bibliography, map, genealogical chart, and chronology add to the reading experience. This book would be an outstanding extra accompaniment for early American history studies in elementary school or home school to help put that era in perspective.

Meet Powhatan, Pocahontas, Captain John Smith, John Rolfe, and other historical legends in a whole new perspective.

Reviewed by:  Grandma Bev
2176999
This book helped me put names, faces, and personalities to the people of Masada. Nobody knows exactly what happened or how, of course. We can imagine that the people would have wanted us to know their story. The author takes the facts that we do know and weaves them into a story of the way it might have happened. That is helpful as we weigh those ideas with those of other sources before formulating our own ideas.

Even for those of us who are Christians living in America, just hearing  'Masada' evokes strong thoughts and feelings. It stirs up questions about who these people were and what their lives must have been like during the Roman army's siege against them. How terrified they must have been! We wonder what we would have done.

When I visited Masada last year, we sat outside looking at the view of the Dead Sea. I wondered how many times the people of Masada sat staring at that same view, hearing the noises of the soldiers camped out below them, maybe smelling the pots of food cooking, pondering the fate that awaited them, hoping that other options would save them, knowing that time was growing short and they would not be able to live out the dreams they had for the future. Our tour guide handed us two items that had been found at Masada, a coin and a woman's ring. These were obviously copies, of course, but everyone got very quiet as we transitioned from viewing the 'place' and the 'event' into thoughts about the individual people who held a coin like that in their hands, who wore that delicate little ring. I tried to imagine the person who wore that ring. Was it her wedding ring? Was she young, or old? Did she have children? Did she agree with the decisions that were made? Did she have a voice? What were their lives like during those days?

I looked over the landscape below. As I visited the various rooms and buildings, I tried to picture them bustling with people both before the Romans arrived, and after. I tried to picture them preparing for those last moments, trying to preserve valuable scrolls. I 'saw' them leaving stores of food rather than destroying it so the Romans wouldn't have it. This was evidence that they didn't make their decision because they were out of food or water, but because they chose death over slavery, abuse and mistreatment, and what was essentially a slow death, the only other option available to them and one that was unacceptable to them.

I read Masada, The Last Fortress, to help me put personalities into the very sketchy historical records. In fact, I found a video here on Amazon, but before viewing it, I wanted to read this and another book because the video can't describe thoughts and feelings the way a book can. I want to be able to process and compare the ideas from several sources, including Flavius Josephus' account before forming my own personal ideas about the people who experienced this event.

There was much that I did not know about Masada, including what had happened before they arrived there and the amount of time they spent with the Roman army camped out at the base of that 'rock' called Masada. This book may have been designed for young people, but I found it to be appropriate for adults as well.
42969
This is a collection of accounts by people who were there, which is why it's worth reading.
3721448
I found the historical input and psychological reactions of individuals in this book the best bits,.but worth a read.
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