Well Written and Favorable Bio
348648
A nice rundown and background to Pope Francis rise through the ranks and the major appeal of his life to the faithful.  He will be greatly missed in his home of Argentina. A well written and thorough biography.
342671
I found this a very readable biography, and I appreciated learning more about the role her parents (particularly her father) played in her career moves. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse of the inner workings of CNN, NBC, and CBS and their respective anchors. What I concluded from this biography is that Katie's niche is not that of a serious news anchor (possibly her dad's influence to be another Cronkite) but rather something more akin to that of a talk-show host where she can use her particular gifts to the fullest.
552109
Evan Thomas's John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy is good biography. Thomas covers the life of John Paul Jones from his birth in Scotland to his actions in the US and Russian Navies to his death in France. Jones is shown to be a very flawed individual who often let his own ambition and moodiness get the better of him. Yet, Thomas also paints a picture of a deeply dedicated, patriot  whose actions would help change the history of the US Navy.
  This is a very enjoyable book. This is by no means a hagiography of John Paul Jones or an indictment. It simply shows the man as what he was with all of his flaws, mistakes, but his accomplishments shine through. Thomas's work reads like a novel, rather than a boring history tome. It reminded me a bit of David McCullough's 1776 or John Adams (both of which I would highly recommend if you enjoyed this title). This is a great place to begin for someone who is interested in the history of the US Navy.
2821388
A lot of reviewers complain that Frehley leaves out too much information on their favorite albums, and so on. I decided to borrow the book from my local library, rather than purchase my own copy. But in fact I find the book very well written--give credit to Frehley's two co-authors, I suppose--and he tells his tale in a fairly cohesive manner. I am about two-thirds of the way through the book--up to "Music from the Elder" and so far did not find the booze-drugs-sex anecdotes excessive, as some reviewers have remarked. I'm not particularly charmed by stories of drug use, etc., but the proportion of text given to these pursuits seems to be in line with the amount of time and energy Frehley spent doing those things, which was considerable.  I would also say that Frehley does not disproportionately slag his former bandmates, as I might have expected someone in his situation to have done.

So far, I think it's a good read. You know, it's not magnificent literature, it's a book about one of the guys from KISS. Good enough!
1313847
Ron Hamm has penned a concise biography of a complex and learned man. In this book we learn much about the character of Ross Calvin: his intense and highly-focused interest in nature; his pride in a Harvard education; his support of the boys of the CCC; and his deep and abiding love for his first two wives. Hamm also points out the lifelong tension between Calvin and his oldest son, his racist opinions, and the difficulties he experienced with Episcopal Church hierarchy.

Within the biography of Calvin the man, an interesting and thorough biography of Calvin the writer flourishes. Hamm deftly covers the writing and publication of Calvin's two key works: Sky Determines and River of the Sun. The first is a highly regarded treatise on the nature and people of Southwest New Mexico. The second, also well-regarded, is a similar volume about the Gila River.

Hamm's narrative is easy to read yet not lacking in insight. His observations regarding Calvin's character neither place the man on a pedestal nor pull him down from one. Ross Calvin is presented warts and all.

Clearly this volume should stand next to Sky Determines on the bookshelf of any serious defender of New Mexico's natural resources.
2099229
I enjoyed this and found it quite interesting. I knew very little about Stephen Hawking prior to picking this up, although I had read his Brief History of Time and The Grand Design. Pay no heed to the critical reviews that have so far been posted. This biography is well-written, appears balanced, and provides a nice overview of Hawking's life so far, while simultaneously giving a comprehendible summary of the past several decades of developments in the field of Cosmology. Regardless of what critics think of Hawking's true achievements (or lack of), he is a fascinating character and worth learning about and from.

Stephen Hawking has provided me with much to ponder over the past ten years and I am grateful for his efforts to make the workings of his mind accessible to the rest of us. Kitty Ferguson has done a marvelous job introducing Hawking to us to the best of her ability. I can only imagine the monumental task of tackling the complexities of telling the story of this man and his science. Well done.
2070558
Schmidt has written an excellent bio from start to finish.  His writing is organized, clear, and easy to read.  This is a pleasure as so many biographies lack many of these qualities.  A nice selection of photographs.  And most important, a well researched effort with logical and reasonable insight offered and no gossip.

Her story is simply as sad and tragic as they come.  I didn't realize just how tragic until I read this.
3092236
This biography of Herb Greenberg does an excellent job of using his story to help bring out one's own authentic self. It is well-written and well-edited, and a pleasure to read. I left off one star because the book assumes that every reader holds theories of psychology with the same level of "faith" as the author and the subject. I found much to apply, but have misgivings on some psychological theories, so some sections didn't resonate with me. Whether you're from Brooklyn or not, it's worth the read!
3022644
Well written and very interesting biography, with contributions from multiple sources. Explains differences and similarities between the different stories as well.
140217
I have read four or five biographies of Mencken this past year, and this was probably the best combination of comprehensive and readable. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I had read so much already. It's well written.
4944855
I'm a big fan of Miller but mistook his semi-autobiographical novels as close to literal truth. I'm glad I came across this biography, since it paints a fuller picture of his life. Miller's an incredible writer and this book does a great job of tracking his story. It puts Miller in a more accurate light and makes him more real. Hopefully, it aids in keeping Miller relevant to modern readers.

The biography is clearly written, and does its job admirably.
1435405
I am surprised only three reviewers have posted about this book.  I never comment on books that are adequately reviewed.  This is a splendid biography, well worth reading.

The greatest value of Mr. Potter's work is the insights and behind-the-scenes look at Navy, government, political and expediency of politics.  It has important comments on the history of the entire era of Admiral Burke's career, from his pre-World War II rise through junior and field ranks to his well-deserved selection as flag officer and chief of Naval Command.  Of course we know there were internecine battles, conflicts and resolutions, compromises and mistakes.  Yet the histories of these experiences are greatly informative and useful.  I lived through much of Admiral Burke's career and paid no attention to the swarm of problems, decisions and agonies these men experienced.  So I appreciate the chance to understand them and find out exactly what happened and how the United States navigated those difficult times.

There are good maps and thoughtful accompanying explanations.  The photographs add dimensions to Admiral Burke's personality.  I craved slightly more details about the carrier battles of World War II but the Admiral is admirably and capably described.  I wanted to know more about his conflicts with Admiral Chester Nimitz but can likely find some of it by reading a biography of that great warrior who almost single handedly changed the entire face of the Navy.  I grew to admire Roberta (Bobbie), his truly devoted wife who sacrificed so much of her own life so Admiral Burke could accomplish his many goals for our country; she deserves her own biography.

The single, minor defect in Mr. Potter's book is that it occasionally sounds like an officer evaluation report (OER).  Being former Navy, this is understandable and forgivable.  It is a smooth, seamless and interesting book that is packed full of information and fascinating characters, an excellent biography.
3377492
A fine biography of a wonderful person. I liked Marian before reading it, and like her lots more now. Even non-jazz fans would enjoy this book.
4187238
The book was well written and not boring. Summarized topics and didn't go into explicit detail which was good. Generally moved along quite well and covered a large amount of his life.
3027609
Isaacson writes a very readable biography.  He paces it well, and provides interesting details without overly focusing on any particular tangent.  Jobs is a fascinating subject -- and he does not come out smelling of roses from this book.  In fact, he comes across quite negatively.  But it is a testament to both Jobs himself and to Isaacson that the book remains compelling from the first to the last page.
526309
Biography is my favorite genre, and this one does not disappoint. Having recently read Chernow's biography of Hamilton, this biography was a nice complement to the discussion of the period 1775-1820. Ketcham's bio of Madison is well-researched. I liked especially his treatment of the run-up to the War of 1812, and his treatment of the challenges Madison faced throughout both the pre-war and war periods.

Ketcham usefully provides at the end of each chapter a summary of conclusions one may draw about the events depicted in that chapter. This shows the depth of the author's analysis and research.  And, Ketcham does not refrain from criticizing Madison or sharing the criticisms of others about Madison and how he acted.  Ketcham is not afraid to show us Madison's limitations and failings, even though it is clear that Madison is one of the most admirable and important of the men who created our republic.

The detailed descriptions of the convention that wrote our Constitution, the problems with the Articles of Confederation that preceded our Constitution's adoption, Madison's efforts to propose a successful Constitution, the debates in Virginia over whether or not to adopt it, and the efforts of both Federalists and their opponents in the last two decades of the 18th century are a valuable addition to the scholarship of that era AND a vivid reminder just how touch-and-go were the prospects for the new nation created in 1787-89.

Throughout the book, and especially in the pages that treat the 20 years following Madison's presidential term's end, we see through Ketcham the deep commitment of Madison to his republican principles, juxtaposed with his faith in the Union and the national government to act in the interest of our populace.  We also see how principled men grappled with issues of the Monroe Doctrine, slavery, expansion, and the nation's growth.
4280629
Such a well-written and compelling bio. I came late to Oriana Fallaci's work, only really clicking into her work with her late-in-life, and famous screed against Islam. This bio fills in the gaps for me. Unlike the poorly written last author bio I read, that of David Foster Wallace, Cristina De Stefano combines excellent research with a driving, page-turning narrative. The young Oriana's love of books comes through loud and clear. Will be recommended this to several Italophile friends.