Product Description
The definitive autobiography of one of the most famous personalities in television history-an intimate, revealing, and riveting memoir that will show a Larry King the world has never known, up close and personal.

Celebrated as "the most remarkable talk-show host on TV ever" by TV Guide and "master of the mike" by Time magazine, for a half-century the world's most influential figures have been telling their story to Larry King. Now the man in suspenders shares his riveting and inspiring story, from his humble roots in Depression-era Brooklyn to the heights of celebrity as host of CNN's Larry King Live.

Before he befriended presidents and iconic entertainers, Larry grew up on the streets of Brooklyn, where he was known to friends as "Zeke the Greek the Mouthpiece" because he never stopped talking. Larry delves deeply into his extraordinary personal odyssey, beginning with the loss of his father at age nine. He has lost jobs, had a three-pack-a-day smoking habit, been down to his last $2 when he won an $8,000 trifecta at the racetrack, had a heart attack and quintuple bypass surgery, quit smoking, founded a heart foundation that has raised millions and assisted thousands, and now, at the age of seventy-five, has recently gotten thrown out of a Little League game for arguing a call in defense of his nine-year-old son.

Filled with delightfully evocative personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes observations on some of our most important world figures, What Am I Doing Here? will be devoured by Larry King's millions of fans worldwide.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Sentimental at times but I enjoyed it.....
I found this book in the library of my gym and started reading it in the sauna. The first big discovery I made was how funny this guy is. He could have been a standup comic. I particularly liked the Henny Youngman joke he tells about the guy whose brother tells him he's sure he won't be mentioned in his brother's will. You'll have to read the book to find out the punchline. Other facts that I learned about Larry King: he was quite the lady's man including a relationship with Angie Dickinson (my admiration for him...uh, envy might be a better word...went way up on reading this), his philanthropic work with the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, his lack of a college education (who says you need a college degree to succeed in life), his 8 marriages which don't seem so bizarre once you read his explanation, and other interesting tidbits. The book is a breezy read, much like his interviewing style, and you get the sense of a genuine individual, not a phony.

Why not 5 stars? His liberal bias seeps in once in a while, something that rarely happens during his interviews. I wonder what he would say about the Obama presidency today given how divided and polarized the country is and how hope has been replaced by doubt and anxiety. And boy does he have it in for Rush Limbaugh. He ought to interview Rush on his show. Maybe, like Elton John, he should be a little more open toward the conservative viewpoint, or at least see Limbaugh as a human personality and not this right wing bogeyman. Larry King comes from a certain generation where the biggest political and social change was in civil rights, so I can understand his pride and satisfaction when America elected it's first black President. I was happy about that too; I just wish Obama lived up to his hype.

But this is a minor criticism. And the book did succeed on one level. Now I want to watch his show.

Baloney, liar
I graduated from Lafayette H.S. the same year as Larry and knew him and his friends.He was a liar and a jerk then and still is now. His stories about how he got to where he is now and who some of his friends were in high school (e.g. Sandy Koufax) are fabrications.He lied and stole (in Miami) in the past.I found it difficult to believe most of what he wrote in his book.The only reason he was able to marry and date young, beautiful women was because he has money.When he was young he couldn't get a date with anyone.

I love Larry King more
After reading this book, I really fell in love with Larry King more. I recommed it to everyone who want to read a little history about him. He seems to be a kind fellow and he is funny too.

A great read
"Memories are all we have. Lose them, and we have nothing. But memories touched by humor, those are the best of all."

This is a quote from "My Remarkable Journey" that resonates throughout all the stories from Larry King's life. From his childhood memories with his father to his high school hijinks, to his first experience on the radio to his criminal arrest, and to the birth of his children, he writes with such honesty and nostalgia that you either wish you were there with him along the way or want to know more.

I purchased this book when Larry came to our city for a Q & A and book signing late last year. I've admired and watched him since I was a kid and was grateful for the opportunity to see this legend in person. He is as genuine, straightforward, and funny as he is in the book. Read "My Remarkable Journey" if you want to know more about the man who merely asks questions -- this is where it's his turn to tell his story.

Informative, Interesting
A fan of Larry King, this book gave insight into how he became the face of CNN.The book flows well and comes across as a detailed timeline of Larry King's career.The book offers information regarding his childhood, including some very funny childhood stories.Near the end of the book, he discusses his family in detail, and how all of his children remain in touch with him today.A quick and enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
In his latest best seller, Powerful Prayers, the king of the interview asks some of the world's most prominent, glamorous, and intriguing figures to answer the most profound questions of our times-questions that deal with the resurgence of faith and spirituality. Larry King explores the intimate prayers of such famous personalities as Muhammad Ali, Barbara Bush, President Jimmy Carter, Deepak Chopra, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Alan Dershowitz, Laurence Fishburne, John Gray, Goldie Hawn, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Tommy Lasorda, Ralphy Reed, Shimon Peres, Ann Richards, Anthony Robbins, Rene Russo, Steve Young, and others.Amazon.com Review
When Larry King, an agnostic, decided he was going to "scopeout this prayer thing," he did it as only Larry King can: bytalking. And talking and talking. King starts by relatingconversations with Rabbi Irwin Katsof--the rookie chatting up theseasoned pro--and then moves on to discussions of prayer with themyriad celebrities and religious figures he interviews. Sinceeverything is in King's voice, we have to assume he's quoting allthese people accurately. Of course, this is Larry King, the only guyon earth who can mention the Dalai Lama and Florence Henderson inpractically the same breath and give their opinions equalsignificance. And although he pitches prayer with the same enthusiasmhe uses to hawk garlic tablets in radio commercials, by tape's endthis is an educational experience, comparing and contrasting the roleof prayer in various belief systems and among disparateindividuals. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --LouSchuler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

This book is a little of everything
Larry King is humorous. I read this book in 1 day I couldn't put it down! If you want to understand prayer from a wide range of people from different faiths and beliefs then you should get this book. I read it free from the library years ago and for some reason I just thought to myself maybe I will buy it. lol....hope you enjoy this book as I did.

A wonderful read
This book is going on eight years old as I write this review, but I suppose it will always seem timely.Larry has quite a knack for just telling it like it is.As an admitted agnostic he has no agenda in passing along this delightful collection of tales and interviews with those who [mostly] have belief in God.And mind you, this is not a book on religion.True to its title, the book relates prayers - moments - that have moved others to prayer.In some instances it is the circumstance which catches your attention, and other times it is the prayer itself that provides the power.And Larry's personal asides are even more delightful.

All in all I was always interested in reading on to the next page, person, or prayer.This is an "un-fussy" book and a wonderful read.

Great Book
This book will open your mind if you are agnostic, and it may make you angry if you are set in your conventional religious beliefs.This is not a politically correct book, and King takes some risks, but it is worth a good read whether you are spiritally inclined or somewhere in the middle.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Simply Powerful
Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.

Simply Powerful
Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue.The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs.I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book. ... Read more

Product Description
A master of the art of conversation shares ideas on effective communication skills, explaining how to get one's message across, interest listeners, recover from mistakes, and develop self-confidence in situations ranging from business meetings and job interviews to giving a speech. Reprint. 35,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

pretty simple tips - gives lady adviseHA!
god his voice is annoying.the book is lame but full full of refreshers.I love how he tries to give advice about talking to women.LOLyeah that worked for him.

Most of the topics in this book can be found for free on the internet.

Great!
Wow, I rarely purchase items online and found this book that I have been looking for on amazon. It was real quick and shipping wasexcellent with no problems. It got here faster then I had planned and that was great!Thank you.

A breezy, common-sense-filled book
Granted there's nothing terribly profound here; nevertheless, Larry King and his co-author have produced a short, enjoyable, easy-to-read book that touches on various aspects of public and private speaking.I'm no fan of either talk shows in general or Larry King Live specifically, but King's description of his best and worst guests and why he considers them such is definitely worth reading.And like all good talkers, King spins good yarns that don't necessarily have to be swallowed whole to be enjoyed.There are many less profitable ways to spend a couple of hours than with this breezy, common-sense-filled book.

Audio is much better than the book
A good journalist is able to ask intelligent questions of anyone, any profession, in any occasion. Larry King, one of the most accomplished journalists of all time, has particular skills and excellent advice in these areas.

The book version of the book has a lot of biographical stories by King, anecdotes, etc. While I enjoyed all of these stories, the audio version got straight to the point. It was very punchy, very useful. King gives practical tips on what to say at a funeral or wedding, how to introduce yourself to people, how to ask intelligent questions (regardless of who you're talking to), and much more.

I give the book 3.5 stars. I give the audio 5 stars.

Hey, It's Larry King
This is not a book based in research, but Larry does offer many good suggestions from what he has learned in his speaking career. Some of his tips won't fit everyone's personality, but if you want to learn how to better converse with people this is an easy read. He also relays some relevant public speaking advice. ... Read more

Product Description
A tenth anniversary celebration combines the most noted celebrity interviews from the award-winning CNN talk show with highlights from discussions with such figures as Henry Kissinger, Norman Schwarzkopf, and Kermit the Frog. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Larry's best
The title says it all... his most enjoyable and insightful interviews.I've given this book as a gift to men of all ages who have everything, and they all have loved it. ... Read more

Product Description
Did you know dogs can talk? Well, neither did Cathy and her father, Tom,a songwriter struggling with a new tune—that is, until their pet dog Larryopened his mouth and helped Tom finish the song!

Once Larry reveals he can not only talk but sing, there’s no stopping him.In no time, he’s on stage singing for sold-out audiences. Even the Presidentof the United States is a fan of Larry. But soon enough, fame goes toLarry’s head: he drops Tom from his act, abandons Cathy and moves in withhis agent. By the time of his showcase gig at the Hollywood Bowl, it’s clearhe’s the king of rock and roll—but at what cost?

A fun-filled, tongue-in-cheek romp through the world of music stardom,Larry: The King of Rock and Roll is sure to win this lovable pooch a wholenew legion of fans—young readerseverywhere! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A Rocker Dog
Even adults will love this book, which is geared toward 9-12 year-olds.You won't look at man's best friend the same again!

Larry Rocks!
With "Larry: The King of Rock and Roll," Iris Rainer Dart and Joyce Brotman have created a moral tale that is at once wildly fun, totally absorbing, and quite touching. As we follow the sky-rocketing career (and ego) of Larry, a talented and talkative Maltese, we learn that even the most famous fido has his day and ultimately needs his friends. In Larry's case, these are Tom and Cathy, the father and daughter who are, respectively, Larry's musical partner and his best friend. Rainer Dart and Brotman give extra zip to the story of Larry's rise, fall, and return to grace by alternating the chapters between Cathy's narration of events and Larry's, creating a conflict of perspective that will keep children and adults eagerly flipping the pages. A great story--even for cat people!

I don't like dogs, but I love this book
My six-year old son and I read this book together and loved it. The story is original (rare for a children's book) and engaging. I would recommend Larry the King of Rock and Roll without reservation.

I Love Larry
Yes, you CAN tell a book by its cover. Though I am a mature adult, I was attracted to this book, recommended for 9-12 year olds, by its delightful cover. So I bought it, read it, and loved it. It's breezy, funny and feel-good. And it has a story that keeps you guessing till the very satisfying ending. My wife also loved it and we have already sent it to cousins with two kids. Can't wait to see the movie!

Another raving review from a kid
This is an excellent book. Full of talent and originality, you will never look at your dog--or treat him/her for that matter--the same way again! A must read for early tweens. ... Read more

Product Description
As host of Larry King Liveone of the most popular daily forums for political news and commentaryLarry King has asked probing questions of North Americas movers and shakers: the major world leaders, politicians, pundits, spin doctors, and reporters who are directly involved with the North American scene. Now, in Anything Goes!, King takes an in-depth look at how North Americathrough the prism of the electronic and print mediahas gotten to the point where it is today. Bipartisan politics, bimbo eruptions, grandstanding in Congress, backstabbing tactics, and more are covered in this fascinating and revealing memoir of the last decade. Its Larry King at his bestincluding inside political stories and anecdotes never before reported anywhere. Since its 1985 debut, Larry King Live has consistently been CNNs highest-rated program. Viewers in more than 170 million households from 210 countries and territories worldwide tune in regularly. Larry King has been named Broadcaster of the Year by the International Radio and Television Society and has won numerous Cable Ace Awards. His coverage of the 1992 presidential elections won him the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. Timed to coincide with the presidential elections of 2000, Anything Goes! should receive considerable attention from both the media and public.` ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Undecided...
Larry King is usually the background noise during dinner time in my (single) household so I pretend that I know him rather well.So when I started the book I expected the wise and experienced uncle to provide some wisdom and tell me about invaluable experiences.Well, it did not live up to that, especially in the first half of the book.But every now and again - moreso towards the end - I could hear him saying what he was writing.Much in the beginning just does not sound like him.

The books offers a great overview of what moved the media during the 90ies: so, here is your entertaining history lesson - not entirely comprehensive but certainly the basics for the media small talk.He does not show off, he is honest with himself and he displays the very down-to-earth side of himself.Maybe it just lacks more wicked, unheard-of experiences that I expected to get a better rating.You got to have this "wise uncle at 9 PM EST" with him to like the book.

Disapointed
This book reminded me of a collage term paper being done at the last minute when you increase the font size and margins to try and stretch the meager text to the length requirement.I have never been a big fan of his interview show, but I was hoping given the amount of time he has been at it, he would have some interesting "during the break" type of stories from his guests.It turned out that this was not the case.

I would like to say that I enjoyed this book or at least found parts interesting or well written, but that would not be honest.I had to keep reading given it was the only book I had on a 9 hour flight.How can someone that has interviewed so many interesting and influential people over the years have this little to say? Thank goodness for the professional writer he hired or who knows if we would have even had complete sentences to read.Overall the book was dull, no insights and barely anything interesting.

The world today in Politicians and Presidents
Well never having read a larry King book considering he wrote so many this book was great. It gave you inside edge on what larry king has seen, heard, and talked about in the years of his careers. It's was great reading about all the people he talk too. I would definely recommand this book to a friend.

The King of TV Talk Continues to Reign
Kudos to Larry King (and Pat Piper) for their riveting account of the rich, famous and powerful during the final, tumultuous decade of the late (and unlamented) century.While "Anything Goes" provides fascinating insight into the lives of Washington's movers and shakers, it also gives a good glimpse of the talkmeister king himself, just a "poor kid from Brooklyn" embued with a rare gift of knowing whom to talk to, when, and what to ask."Anything Goes" is a great chronicle of one of the most topsy-turvy periods in American history.It's also enormously entertaining. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An irreverent look at life from a literary raconteur
Judging from these often humorous, sometimes poignant, but always brash and candid letters, it is probably safe to assume that few writers have had such widely varied experiences as has Larry L. King.Spanning over 40 years, King's fascinating and provocative letters--along with his no-holds-barred reminiscences interspersed among them--provide a virtual autobiography of this novelist, playwright, essayist, and commentator.What makes this epistolary volume especially interesting is that King suffers no fools lightly, appears to be intimidated by no one, and is always ready to prick the balloons of the famous--and oftentimes pompous.(His accounts of working with actor Burt Reynolds and dancer Tommy Tune are particularly hilarious.

Not for parents of small children
Parents of small children desperately need sleep, so I cannot recommend that they read this book--ithas kept me awake for two nights in a row.It's as hard to put down as any thriller, and a whole lot funnier thanmost.

An hilarious and candid look at the writing life
King's book of letters take you inside the heart and head of one of America's most perceptive and humorous writers.Roy Blount once said that King writes like an angel would if it grew up in West Texas and drank. It's hard to improve on Blount's assessment.King's rollicking missives,directed to friends, family, politicians, critics, and fellow writers offera fascinating portrait of the writing life.There's also the vicariousthrill of reading someone else's mail.Stories range from fellow authorWilliam Styron's run-in with "Mexican boo-smoke" to King's feudwith the "alleged actor Burt Reynolds."The fact that a bookthis interesting has been published by a university press instead of amajor trade house is as indicative as anything of the sorry state ofaffairs in the publishing industry these days.King's book, like himself,defies the mold.

A fascinating view of a writer's life
This book takes the reader inside the head and heart of a working writer and reveals the triumphs and the despair that are staples of a writer's life. There are a lot of famous people in it, too.

A terrific read
Larry L. King is an American hero.His work should be required reading for anyone who even thinks about the writing life.He ought to win the Nobel Prize, but then, he's a Texan so probably doesn't qualify. ... Read more

Product Description
Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain tells the 20-year story of a female physical therapist's triumph over debilitating pain and disability, and the discovery of a natural treatment for conditions previously thought treatable only by surgery or drugs. Filled with hope, scientifically-researched data, over 100 original images and 80 individual patient narratives, Miracle Moms focuses on a "hands-on" therapy that has been very successful treating female infertility and other complex conditions, in published studies.

Adhesions form in all people as they heal from infection, surgery or injury. Modern medicine offers little relief, because surgery creates more adhesions. When physical therapist Belinda Wurn experienced terrible adhesion pain a year after cancer surgery, her doctors said that corrective surgery would only create more adhesions. Unable to cope with the pain and unwilling to undergo surgery, she and her husband (co-author Larry Wurn) worked with respected physicians and scientists to develop a non-surgical treatment that has cured many complex medical conditions, including cases of female infertility.

Joined by research gynecologist Richard King, MD, Miracle Moms traces the team's 20-year journey as the group developed and researched a natural physical therapy with proven scientific results in common but serious conditions that have challenged medical science. These include female infertility, small bowel obstruction (which is life-threatening), sexual dysfunction (which affects nearly half of all US women) endometriosis, intercourse, menstrual and post-surgical pain.

With cover endorsements from respected physicians including New York Times best-selling author Christiane Northrup, MD (who wrote the Foreword) and doctors from Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern medical schools, this book promises to usher in a women's health revolution for the 21st century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

All I can say is Wow!
Wow! I can't believe I read an entire medical book of this size in just a day and a half! I can't believe how helpful this was for people EVERYWHERE who have ever had a surgery, more particularly women who struggle with the debilitating pain of endometriosis!

Good but not what I was expecting
This was a good book but not what I was expecting.It really explains the authors techniques but you need to visit one of their facilities to get the therapy.

It could be that my problem just wasn't severe enough.If it was, I would probably go to greater lengths to try it.

A True-Life "Adventure of Discovery" of new ways to treat infertility and pain. Fascinating!
What a wonderful find! This book tells the inspiring story of a female physical therapist whose body was severely injured by surgery and radiation therapy when her doctors treated her for cancer, in the 1980s. In the 20+ year search for a cure from her medical injuries, she and her husband, a massage therapist, stumbled on the fact that their work seemed to be very helpful to other patients with a variety of chronic pain issues - and several other conditions that present problems for Western physicians and their patients (e.g., infertility, endometriosis, bowel obstruction.)

Driven largely by their patients' requests to investigate other conditions for which Western medicine offered little or no hope, the therapists embarked cautiously into areas that had heretofore been the exclusive domain of physicians. Thus, what started as a very personal search for relief, unfolded into the creation of a non-surgical, drug-free physical therapy that helped people overcome a number of unexpected disorders over the last two decades. The common culprit in all of these conditions (pelvic pain, endometriosis, small bowel obstruction, infertility, sexual problems) are the adhesions that form as the body heals, during one's lifetime.

Throughout the book, the story of discovery is punctuated rather profusely with personal stories written by patients who underwent the therapy. While many of these tout the therapy, there really does not seem to be a way around that in this very personal lifetime quest.

Many of the patient stories are inspiring; the ones from infertility patients, those who had reversals of life-threatening conditions, and those who experienced relief from years of debilitating, often unexplained pain) are downright heart-rending. Virtually all are very personal accounts of searches for relief from pain or female infertility. Many patients write about problems that resolved despite the failure of modern Western medicine. Quite a few patients had suffered for many years, up to a decade or more in some cases, before the new therapy brought relief. In most cases, it was because the therapists decreased the strong adhesions that are common, but difficult for physicians to diagnose.

Most of these personal stories would interest readers who are looking for answers from themselves, or a loved one. Others are of special interest to people who have been struggling with some conditions that have more elusive cures: e.g. endometriosis, infertility, sexual pain or chronic pain conditions.

As the therapists' story unfolds, the couple and their physician advisor tell how they were initially quite surprised to find that the therapy opened totally blocked fallopian tubes with subsequent natural pregnancies in women diagnosed infertile. The first was a surprise natural pregnancy in a woman whose tubes had been blocked for seven years. Another was the wife of a referring physician who was menopausal, and whose only tube had been blocked for twelve years. Both of these women had natural full-term pregnancies. You can imagine the surprise - and shock, of everyone involved when these conditions resolved with a modern version of old-fashioned "hands-on" care.

The discovery that they could open fallopian tubes (which typically close due to adhesions) and the peer-reviewed studies they then conducted and published led them their co-author, hospital Chief-of-Staff Richard King, MD. Dr. King helped them conduct clinical studies to investigate the therapy, first for infertility, then for other adhesion-related conditions.

As the book progresses, the group investigated (and published studies on) several other conditions, such as the ones noted above. Recently, they have been investigating its use clearing small bowel obstructions, a life-threatening condition that is sometimes made worse by surgical repair.

Per the back cover and first few pages, the book has received quite a bit of praise from doctors at Harvard, Columbia and Northwestern medical schools. Some of these doctors suggest the book as an appropriate and useful medical text, as well as a book for consumers. The Foreword by NY Times bestseller Dr. Christiane Northrup (arguably the best-known gynecologist in the US) is particularly moving. Unfortunately, it is not viewable on the "Look Inside" feature of Amazon, as of this writing.

The book is profusely illustrated, with dozens of large, original drawings. These augment the text nicely, and are especially useful in the descriptions of how adhesions form, the effects they can have on various parts of the body, and how the therapy may help unravel the affected areas.

Towards the end of the book, the writers reveal that they have recently been asked by patients and physicians to investigate other areas usually reserved for physicians. These include hormonal problems, Parkinson's and even Alzheimer's. Sound too good to be true? Well, that part may be . . The authors admit that they are approaching these last two topics with a great deal of reservation, but they feel the area is too important not to investigate. I can't wait to read the updates from this group of healthcare providers who think "outside the box," then submit their findings to scientific review. Really fascinating!

-Mary Hart

Most amazing, pertinent, and comprehensive book about women's health on the book shelves today!!!
This book is absolutely amazing in its content, organization, research, pictures, and stories!I've been looking for a book like this on the shelves for years to read about women's health but none have existed until now! I have suffered for years with severe endometriosis and I have never found a book like this! The Wurn's talk about topics that have not been broached by other authors.Their research is amazing and gives hope to millions of women that they can get help for their pain, adhesions, endometriosis, infertility, sexual abuse and dysfunction and it can be found at Clear Passage Therapies and it doesn't involve surgery.This read is one you will not put down because the book is incredible in the information they write about but also the people they have helped around the world. You will not be disappointed in this book it is easy to read and understand and the information is so very valueable.I cannot say enough good things about this book besides thank you Belinda and Larry Wurn for your work! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Not What I Want When I Choose to Read Middle English
[Postscript: Since writing the review below, I was able to get hold of Mary Hamel's edition of the alliterative Morte Arthure, published by Garland in 1984.I found it satisfactory in every respect & would enthusiastically recommend it for its text, notes, glossary (line 35, helde of: "owed allegiance to"), and introductory discussion.However, I should note that Krishna's edition, in which I note a small oversight below, is generally very good.But when Hamel says she's thought about EVERY word, I must say, I believe she's the only editor since Bjorkman who actually has.For the stanzaic poem, I plan on using the old school edition "Le Morte Arthur: A Middle English Metrical Romance," edited by Samuel B. Hemingway, Houghton-Mifflin, 1912.]

Before I criticize this edition, I'd like to state that I know Larry Benson is a phenomenal scholar of Middle English, that when he chooses to make editions for serious purposes, he does an exemplary job, and that the defects in this book therefore arise entirely from a misconceived effort to cater to "readers who have had little or no training in Middle English."I do not believe that even such readers are well served by the awkward resultant compromises.

I got disgusted with this edition in line 1 of the alliterative Morte Arthure.Then I got worried about the adequacy of the fuller and more scholarly edition of the same poem by V. Krishna--in line 35.I write this review just in case your sense of what you want from such books agrees with mine.

The TEAMS edition under review has been aggressively modernized (more so than is the normal practice of this series: the preface explains that this is because Benson's edition was previously published by Bobbs-Merrill in another series, but defends the text printed as "authentic in all material respects").Benson's preface confusingly follows up a high-minded insinuation that the MS text has been corrected because it is phonetically misleading ("even for the relatively advanced student, a faithful representation of the manuscript forms is frequently a misrepresentation of the language itself...long study and much practice are necesary before a student can easily distinguish betwen significant and insignificant spelling variations or can tell when a later scibe has foisted a 15th c. sound change off on a 14th c. poet") with an admission that he has, when push came to shove, simply replaced 14th c. English with Modern English spellings (chosen for "their faithfulness in representing the sound probably used by, OR AT LEAST UNDERSTANDABLE TO, the author...where I have had to make a choice...I have chosen ease in recognition, preferring a small error in sound or a slight deviation from the form the author may have used").

When I read the preface, I naturally applied the benefit of the doubt & put my faith in "small" and "slight."But I quickly got the sense that what we really have here is a tin-eared pastiche of MidE and ModE, and a disservice to the poet, to whom rhythms, syllables, and sounds are things far too important artistically to be so casually tampered with.Now, I find this particularly frustrating because I am NOT an expert.I'd love for Benson to give me a reliable reconstruction of the poet's sounds.But I'm left concluding that the scribal inconsistencies were just a flimsy justification for the "authenticity" of a text that so often prefers words in their modern forms.Line 1 already made me suspicious.The word "through" just didn't seem to fit.A check confirmed that the MS has "thurgh."The MS also has "grett" for Benson's "grete" (glossed "great," so presumably not a recognition-aid).In line 5, "through virtuous" represents MS "thorowe vertous."Moreover, Benson's way of modernizing is capable of removing ambiguities or even muddling passages that are clear.For example, by turning "schamesdede" (3) into "shamesdeede," Benson precludes the possibility that we have here the common expression for "a shameful death" (OED "shame" 3d).In line 49, Benson changes "dyvysed" into "devised" and, for "devised ducheries," offers the gloss "created dukedoms."It is possible to defend the translation "created," but only if it means "created by division, dividing up, allotment" -- "divised" would have been a more pertinent modernization, unless perhaps we are supposed to know and think of the legalese meaning of "devise" ("to transmit or give [real property] by will").Some of the interpretation-forcing changes are more dubious: line 513 "certes" for "sertes" precludes the more likely meaning.In line 486, the poetic rhythm has been ruined by an (accidental? certainly pointless) insertion of "the": Benson's half-line reads "whiles them THE light failed."This kind of thing does more damage than the misprints (which are also too many).All these things are little, but they add up, and at the end of the day, it's worth asking--why are we reading it in this version instead of the Penguin translation, which at least has its own consistent poetic texture?

I kept reading to line 35.In a list of Arthur's conquests, we are told, "Holland and Hainault they held of him bothen."Benson's only note on this line is to tell you that "bothen" means "both" (kind of obvious, but fine).But the line contains a very obviously greater difficulty: what does it mean for geographical regions to "hold of" a person?I'm the sort who actually wants such questions answered (even if I can figure it out from context).After all, it's curiosity about the English language of earlier periods that has, in part, motivated me to read this poem in the original.Where, if anywhere, can we get such an apparently simple question answered?In Valerie Krishna's more complete and critical edition of 1976?No, she has no note, and in her glossary under "holde," she has no indication of anything special here (though in line 1512 she glosses haldez, 3rd sg., as (the court) "is held" -- good, cf. OED s.v. I.8.a).[Krishna has a general note complaining of "tangled syntax" in this passage--perhaps, though I agree with Hamel that any obstacle to the rhetorical and linguistic clarity here is "more apparent than real."]In the OED?No, the only really close definition (II.19.b) isn't cited until 1648.OK, in the Middle English Dictionary?Nope, nothing useful anywhere in the vast entry for "holden."

I just did not believe that I, an occasional, casual reader of Middle English classics in my leisure time, had outstripped the OED and MED's lexicographers in my need for information about the verb "hold."Surely I was just being obtuse in my weird notion that some learned philologist somewhere should have noted for me that the 14th c. poet uses "hold of" in the sense "belong to" (even "be held by")?Well, I did finally find such a confirmation (good for my confirming how English was being used in line 35, bad for what it implies about the quality of these other student editions).O English reader, prepare to be disheartened -- I found my answer in a 1915 edition of the poem, by a Swedish professor (Erik Bjorkman), IN GERMAN, published IN HEIDELBERG.His glossary, s.v. "halde," duly notes "-- of, 'zu Lehen gehen,' 35."That is, "to belong to someone, as a fief."(The note ad loc. gives what I understand, from the cryptic abbreviation Mtzn. Wb., which at the time apparently required no explanation, to be a reference to be Maetzner's "Altenglische Sprachproben nebst einem Woerterbuch," vol. 2, p. 405, with the apparent misprint, however, "zu Lehen geben" [to enfeoff].)As they say on Jerry Springer, "Thank YOU!"This is more or less the OED definition first cited in the 17th c.

What does this long story mean?In my opinion, it suggests that this edition of Middle English poems isn't designed for readers who want to hear the sounds that danced in the poet's ear, or even to understand the literal sense of the poet's language, but for those who will be happy with muddling through (maybe students who HAVE to muddle through, or other folks who just want to get to the end with the gist).I wouldn't mind the extra convenience of Benson's copious glossing, which no other complete edition features.There is definitely room for a new student edition that does not force the reader to forgo an accurate representation of the poems in order to get such helps!

Great goodness!
I love this book! I read it for a class and i still loved it, that's just how good it is. The sidebars are truly helpful in the reading of the text, and cause the ability to understand the words in most cases.It is a beautiful and noble work. ... Read more

Product Description

Larry King, world-famous radio and television personality, asked celebrities a question all of us have pondered: How would you like to be remembered after your death? The result is REMEMBER ME WHEN I'M GONE, an entertaining and eloquent collection of famous last words from people still alive in the arts, in politics, in sports, and in business. In candid summaries, often leavened by self-deprecating humor, the celebrities reflect on their lives, their ambitions, their mistakes, and their accomplishments.

The contributors include such well-known figures as Alan Alda, Bob Dole, Denis Leary, Hugh Hefner, Stephen King, Beverly Sills, and Donald Trump. Here’s just a sampling:

“Some of the ways I think I want to be remembered can be dismissed almost immediately because they are self-serving, unrealistic, ludicrous, or all of the above.…The actual wording should be ‘A lucky and grateful human, who hopes he is remembered as a man of some integrity.’ ”–Hugh Downs

“Show me Heaven! I have seen hell.”–Patricia Neal

“If I am remembered first and foremost as a dad and a husband, then I think you could say I kept my priorities straight.”–Jeb Bush

“He Really Was in Charge.”–Alexander Haig, Jr.

“Get a hot roasted chicken, a good loaf of French bread and a cold bottle of chardonnay, eat it all and enjoy and remember me when I’m gone.”–Maya Angelou

Customer Reviews (5)

Sad, but hopeful that we'll be reading for real very soon
I was among the saddest to hear of Larry King's passing in 1987. I had long been a fan of his nonsensical ramblings in USA Today and knew that I might miss those columns unless they replaced it with something superior like a Jumble or a Suduko puzzle. Imagine my surprise to see him on CNN almost 20 years later. Alive ... well sort of alive. Was he cryogenically thawed out? Let this be a warning to all of you in frozen states ... it does NOT always work out.

And this book is just fabulous, a collection of self-serving, inane babblings by the assistants of famous people. Because famous people most certainly do not have the time to write such heartfelt and sincere passages ... they're just not capable of it. It's outside their skill set. So don't be angry with them, just accept them for who they are ... famous friends of Larry King, columnist, talk show host, suspenders-wearer.

Inanity, vanity a little wisdom and a few laughs
This book is built on an interesting idea. Larry King asks three- hundred people, most of them American celebrities from the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, journalism, music, comedy, writing ,acting, politics, science and education what message they would leave behind and wish to be remembered by.
Some take this lightly and answer in a quick one- liner or even a word- some seem overly burdened by their own importance, but many hit ' right notes' and quite a few have a real humor.
This is the kind of work which one skims, jumps back and forth in, looking for something interesting. Most are misses, but some are scores, and it is the scores that make the book worthwhile.
A few examples follow which I found of some value.

" For years I've been claiming ,"I'm only human. I'm only human." Maybe now you'll believe me."SHELLY BERMAN

" I hope I see you later."MAUREEN STAPLETON

"He did his best when no one was watching." BOB COUSY

"Jim who?'JIM BOUTON

"I want to be remember as a good guy one who always helped others in need. JOE FRAZIER


" The best is yet to come."BEVERLY SILLS

" He was never boring. He said out loud what others whispered. He challenged authority; the higher the authority, the stronger the challenge. He made the legal system more acceptable to the public He taught thousands of students and educated even more readers and viewers.He listened best with his mouth open. He was fun to be with. He was never boring.All this without knowing how to use a computer. ALAN DERSHOWITZ

Last Words of Legends
Well, this is definitely a page turner and a flip through and a go back and read again and share and tell people they just have to read it.

Imagine, so many wrote their last words poetically.Some wrote pages while others wrote short. "I demand a recount.""Mispronounced dead on arrival."And perhaps you'll guess who wrote one word "Imagine!"

My absolute favorite, laugh out loud epitath--

When my time on earth is done
And I have breathed my last
I want them to bury me upside down
So my critics can kiss my ass

Entertaining!
This is definately one of the most entertaining reads all year.
The telling, moving, and sometimes hilarious reflections kept me turning the page. It was tough for me to put down! This book is a real treasure. Debbie Farmer, author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'

Celebrities' last words
When you pass on from this life, what would you want people to say about you?Larry King asked that question of over 300 celebrities, and the result is "Remember Me When I'm Gone," a fascinating compendium of epitaphs and obituaries penned by the still living about themselves. The celebrities include actors, authors, business people, journalists, artists, musicians, politicians, and scientists. The contributions run the gamut:funny, spiritual, laudatory, biographical, comforting, witty, and philosphical. Appropriately enough, there are some song lyrics from songwriters, cartoons from cartoonists, comic epitaphs from comedians, and poetry from writers. Fred Rogers composed his contribution before his death, when he knew he was seriously ill. Larry King provided his own epitaph as well. It was tough for me to select a few examples from so many interesting contributions, but here goes:

Joanna Barnes:At Last - A Parking Space!
Arnold Schwarzenegger:I had fun.
Ted Turner: I have nothing more to say.
Beverly Sills: The best is yet to come.
Robin Leach: Hi, this is Robin Leach standing outside the pearly gates!
Jim Davis: I would like to be remembered as someone who was extremely old.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger: How arrogant to write your own epitaph.

This book displays a lot of wit and wisdom on a sobering topic, and I recommend it as an entertaining and enlightening read.

Eileen Rieback ... Read more

Product Description
You can't help but benefit from Larry King's years of experience and sage advice. Even if you think you were born without the "gift of gab," you can begin to improve your speaking abilities immediately. King offers myriad techniques, skills, and ice breakers that anyone can learn to use with confidence. Mr. King also tells personal stories about the best and worst communicators he has met or interviewed. You'll hear the secrets that made Mario Cuomo, Richard Nixon, and JFK such powerful political speakers; how Jack Kent Cooke, Ted Turner, and Ross Perot became such dynamic businessmen through their communication styles; what makes George Burns, Bob Hope, and Don Rickles so funny all the time; how the super trial lawyers like Edward Bennett Williams, William Kunstler, and Louis Nizer use very different techniques to get amazingly similar results. Listen to this program, and you'll learn how to: * Open a conversation with anyone, anytime, anywhere. * Be confident that you will always have something interesting to say. * Get prospective clients, customers, and employers listening to what you're saying immediately. * Be prepared with the "greatest question ever asked." ... Read more

Product Description
This textbook is intended for students in neurology and a variety of related disciplines who wish to learn the basic principles of neurology and to understand common neurologic diseases. It is designed to be read from cover to cover in a 3-4 week neurology rotation, or in a classroom situation, giving the reader a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of neurology. The initial chapters cover the basic approach a clinician takes when encountering a patient with a neurologic problem, the key elements of the neurologic exam, and an overview of common neurologic tests. They discuss how to use the history and neurologic exam to localize the patient's problem to specific neuroanatomic sites and to use the neuroanatomic information along with results of appropriate laboratory tests to establish a diagnosis. The second half of the book is divided into chapters that discuss common diseases presenting at different neuroanatomic sites along the neuroaxis, from muscle to the cerebral cortex, and chapters on diseases that have similarpathophysiologies.The authors selected 58 neurologic diseases based on their frequency, ability to represent that category of neurologic disease, value in teaching neuroscience concepts, and diagnostic importance. Each chapter begins with an overview to understand the common features of this group of diseases. Selected diseases are then discussed with an emphasis on the pathophysiology, major clinical features, major laboratory findings, and the principles of disease management. This book covers both adult and pediatric neurologic diseases as well as selected neurosurgical diseases. Key features include: * The book can be used either on clinical rotations on a neurology service or in the classroom. * The book focuses on the most important neurologic diseases, carefully selected based on frequency, ability to represent that category of neurologic disease, value in teaching neuroscience concepts, and diagnostic importance. Thus, students with a limited period of time can focus on the most important neurologic diseases that they need to understand.This is in contrast to existing texts that list virtually every disease within each category, with each disease given almost equal weight regardless of its importance, as a result of which the student can easily become confused as to which disease are important to understand. An early chapter discusses the common tests ordered for neurologic patients, including the basic principles of the test, when the test is helpful, and some general principles toward interpretation of the results. This approach helps students understand in the later chapters why certain tests are recommended for specific diseases. * Each disease chapter begins with an extensive introduction that includes the features of illnesses that occur at that anatomic location or class of disease. This helps a reader understand how to localize neurologic illnesses that in turn leads to improved differential diagnosis and the better ordering of diagnostic tests. It also helps the reader understand how the nervous system is organized and how disease in each part can lead to specific types of signs and symptoms.Attention is focused on the pathophysiology of each disease, in contrast to books that just list signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests ordered, and drugs with doses that can be used. This book allows the student to better understand the etiology, the pathology and how the pathology causes neurologic signs and symptoms. * Two color printing of illustrations greatly improves readability. No other common student book has this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Easy to understand, not a lot of detail in some sections
Overall, this textbook is good for a couple of things.I think it's great for reading before going to a lecture on a specific topic, or perhaps for hitting the high points of diseases on the neurology clerkship.

I don't feel like the book has much detail in at least several of the sections, since it seems to focus on the most common conditions.My professors tend to teach in great detail, discussing both common and uncommon findings, but this text doesn't focus on the uncommon.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is having trouble understanding more difficult/dense texts or who are looking to not delve into great detail.Also, I've found more than a few typos throughout the book.No errors, just misspelled words. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Aw, Come On!!
John Larry Ray's TRUTH AT LAST, tries to convince the reader that his brother did not kill Martin Luther King. Well, maybe he didn't. But John's account is too biased for me. Avatar, Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz is more believable. Was this a try at comedy?

Probably true but still an awful book
Unlike the other negative reviewers I'm not someone who thinks that all conspiracy theories are nonsense spouted by people waring tin foil hats. I think the murder of MLK is one of the most blatant examples where many people have swallowed a story with minimal evidence, namely the theory of Ray as lone nut assassin. The evidence against Ray was non-existent. The ballistics didn't match with his gun, no one saw him fire the gun and the one guy who said that he saw Ray in the building where he aledgedly fired the weapon was also by his own admission falling down drunk at the time. Ray was coerced via early versions of "enhanced interrogation techniques" (e.g. complete deprivation of sleep) and by legal trickery to sign a confession. So I'm quite open to the theories that James Earl Ray's brother John has to tell. However, John Ray is no writer or researcher. There are no foot notes, even for some amazing claims. There are also constant leaps of association and supposition that characterize the worst in conspiracy research. There is very little original work here. Most of what the author does is to regurgitate ideas and excerpts from other authors. What is original is completely untrustworthy since there are no sources. A book I would recommend over this is Murder in Memphis by Mark Lane.

Complete trash
You certainly do get another side of the story with this book. It is written by convicted assasin James Earl Ray's brother, and boy, does he lay out some whoppers. You would have to believe in about three different major conspiracy theories to wind up with the conclusion that John Ray comes up with. The cia warped Jame's mind with LSD, hired the mob with FBI approval to get a hit man to kill MLK jr and use James Earl as a patsy.

Why did James leave finger prints all over the place and his gun behind? Because he was a not too bright con man.

Unsubstantiated allegations, assertions with no proof or facts to back them up. If there was another gunman as stated, what evidence is there to back it up? None is provided.

Whatya expect, it's his brother. Not likely he's going to come out and admit James Earl killed one of the most important and influential Americans of all times.

I kept reading this like one would a bad sci-fi book - just to see how outlandish the author dared to be. That's the only value this book had to me. Frankly, I'd skip it altogether.

Another Side of the Story
John Larry Ray's oldest brother was James Earl Ray (p.1). John spent 25 years in federal prison and now lives in Illinois. John claims he was imprisoned because he knew too much about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr on April 4, 1968. Lyndon Barsten is a historian who frequently lectures about the assassination. This is a very readable book that is fast-paced like a novel, except it is based on fact. John begins by telling about the Ray family history and culture, and debunks the stories reported in the Corporate Media. John gives the facts as he witnessed them. The Ray brothers were often in trouble and in prison. John claims his brother was a "patsy" like Oswald. He tells what he knows and what he was told by his brother James.

John says there was "no evidence that Jimmy killed King" because the Feds didn't use it in theextradition proceedings (p.128). James had to plead guilty to escape the death sentence (p.129). Was there a conspiracy to murder Martin Luther King (p.131)? A famous lawyer takes a criminal case for "free advertising" (p.134). Should James have gotten a new trial (p.135)? Were there mysterious deaths associated with this case (p.136)? Chapter 8 tells of John's conviction for conspiracy (summarized on page 149). William H. Webster was both the FBI and CIA chief after convicting John (p.151). Do you have to "bend the Constitution" (p.153)? Did two journalists, Bill Slater and Louis Lomax, die under suspicious circumstances (p.158)? Both investigated the King assassination.

In October 1974 James got an evidentiary hearing in an attempt for a new trial. Herb MacDonnell testified as an expert witness to say the shot that killed King could not have come from Ray's room (p.162). Did the King family question the Federal version (p.164)? Are the mentally ill recruited as assassins (p.165)? Would a Federal judge be bumped off for political reasons (p.168)? James was never tried for his escape attempt (p.173). There was a problem about James' money during 1967-68 (p.175). Is reality irrelevant (p.179)? John says he was the victim of a "Federal Vendetta" (Chapter 11). Was he convicted for "not picking up someone on the highway who was found not guilty of robbing a bank" (p.190)? Does greasy food destroy your liver (p.191)?

The importance of this book is its presentation of a counterpoint to the Establishment Media version. "Only one in five people believe the mainstream media." If the rifle bought by James did not match the bullet that struck Dr. King (p.115) that would establish James as a "patsy". The 'Bibliography' lists the articles, books, and other references to this event.

RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "JAMES EARL RAY: CIA/FBI/MAFIA "PATSY" OR MARTIN LUTHER KING ASSASSIN?"
I must start off this review by stating for the record that I have never been one of those "CONSPIRACY NUTS". In fact I have never even paid such claims a second thought. I even made fun of Oliver Stone. But the detail provided in this book by James Earl Ray's brother, John Larry Ray and Lyndon Barsten, a lay historian is quite compelling! John takes the reader all the way back through the entire history of the Ray family, "warts" and all. In fact the "warts" (criminal activity) are an essential element that adds veracity to the conspiratorial intersection of the CIA, FBI, Mafia and the United States Government. Aiding John's real-life firsthand knowledge regarding the people, organizations and events that culminated in Martin Luther King's (MLK) assassination is Lyndon's expert use of the "FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT" (FOIA) which freed up TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW PAGES OF NEW MATERIALS ON THE MLK ASSASSINATION.

When James went into the Army he became a military policeman "for a year and a half in the 382nd MP Battalion. Later, he joined a new organization largely formed out of the old OSS, (Office of Strategic Services) which had been the Army's wartime intelligence service", but after 1947, the outfit was generally known as the CIA. "When James joined the Central Intelligence Agency, he was given a new U.S. Army serial number." James involvement in the Army with the OSS/CIA and his civilian criminal contacts would haunt and control him for the rest of his life. James would later say: "When you join the OSS, it's like joining the Mafia, you never leave." According to the authors, the CIA is probably the closest thing to a worldwide Mafia that ever existed. James was assigned a "handler" that would manipulate and direct him the rest of his life. "James would frequently say that when he joined the Army, it put him on the road to ruin. From the time he left the service in 1948 until his death in 1998, James Earl Ray spent forty-three of those fifty years in prison." In my opinion, if it wasn't for the FOIA the things I'm about to tell you would seem like science fiction. "Documents clearly indicate that the CIA was busy trying to reprogram people, and it was doing it in 1948. Several thousand mostly financial documents on mind control, drugs, and many other subjects the public would consider crazy survived a document-destruction project ordered by the director of Central Intelligence, Richard Helms, and Sidney Gottlieb, headof mind control studies, as they left the CIA in 1973. Today you can get the surviving several thousand pages of CIA mind control documents on three CD's that detail the bizarre experiments done in the name of "national security." The Army had their own programs that paralleled the CIA's: tens of thousands of surviving government documents detail, among other subjects, how they endeavored to create HUMAN ROBOTS to be used as killing machines. The CIA's own documents say it best. This document, "Hypnosis and Covert Operations" (written May 5, 1955) is released through the FOIA by the CIA as MORI 428311." "The CIA's MK-Ultra brainwashing program included feeding Army soldier's mescaline, sodium pentothal, depressants, amphetamines and LSD both on base and at local bars."

On many of the occasions that the post-military James was ordered to report to his "handler" he was directed to smuggle weapons in and out of Mexico. The potential reader should be made aware that the CIA and FBI had a very close working relationship with the Mafia. "They used the Mob for clandestine operations so that they could maintain plausible deniability if the operation went wrong." Just a few of the documented examples are Lucky Luciano in World War II and the planned assassination of Castro in Cuba. So because of James's relationship with certain mob figures, when he met his "handler" in the time leading up to the MLK assassination he was led to believe he was going to be a "wheel-man" in a diamond heist. (In fact one of the hardest things for the government to cover-up was the money they gave James to keep him available and indebted to them when the conspiracy was questioned years later.)He was even directed to buy the rifle that the government would attempt to say killed MLK. The flophouse bathroom that the government said James shot MLK from was proven to be too narrow to fit the length of the rifle in at the proper angle without James either making a ten-inch-deephole through the wall or hanging out of the window.

It gets more insane from there as FOIA documents later proved that while James was given a lawyer from a government approved list, the FBI was secretly giving an author bogus incriminating evidence about James to be published in "LOOK" and "LIFE" magazine before James ever got his "fair" trial. By this time Coretta Scott King "was now openly and publicly beginning to discuss her suspicions of government conspiracy in her husband's death and in the death of her brother-in-law." Add to this, Judges about to approve an appeal dying of heart attacks, new lawyers handling James's case dying of heart attacks, and witnesses dying of heart attacks. NOTE: "One of the most common methods used by intelligence agencies for murder is HEART ATTACKS!" There is so much more documented detail in this expose that even if you start reading this book with a closed-mind... by the end of this book it will be opened to the possibility that...???

... Read more

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Beyond a reasonable doubt.The phrase represents the burden of proof placed upon the prosecution in every criminal trial in the country, and yet the standard represented by this phrase is nowhere mentioned in the constitution and nowhere in our laws is it defined. What then does it really mean?How can it be interpreted?In Beyond a Reasonable Doubt over 80 of the most influential scholars, attorneys, novelists, journalists, and religious figures discuss, explore, interpret, and define the phrase and its meaning. Destined to be one of the most talked-about books of the year, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is essential reading for anyone with an interest in how our justice system works today and how it will work in the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great read while traveling.
You can pick up this book and start reading at the beginning, middle or end.Whether you read it for five minutes or five hours it's enjoyable and provides valuable insights.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, has many authors. They range from the famous to the infamous. From high-profile attorneys to everyday hoodlums.Together, they provide a fascinating compendium of what is required to prove a defendant guilty before a jury.A brief biography of each author is presented along with their opinion.Some positions reflect on years of careful thought and introspection.Other opinions are shot from the hip.

The book deals with the criminal and the civil justice systems. A good case is made that the civil system is arbitrary because right and wrong have lost their meaning.Examples are provided for medical malpractice,business ethics and contracts. The state of the criminal justice system is more ambiguous.Strong arguments are made for both the equity and inequity of criminal justice.

All of the information provided is valuable to anyone who may be called to jury duty.Selected information can be used to bolster just about any bias one may have regarding our justice system.The range of authors and the fact that they are kept to just a few hundred words, make for entertaining reading.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt:Letteers and Essays from the famous and Infamous on the True and Legal Definition of Guilt in American
Excellent, interesting and informative reading. Most of these essays/chapters are very thought provoking.

An interesting book about standards of innocence and guilt
This book deals with a number of topics and has 85 contributors.An important topic is jury nullification.This is the case where a jury decides, quite legally, to let a guilty person go free.A jury can also intentionally convict an innocent person, but that can often be appealed.I'm against jury nullification.Many years ago, some students were unhappy about the fact that secret (and highly inaccurate) files were being kept on them by their university.They protested, but they could get nowhere because the existence of these files was denied!Finally, some of them broke into a dean's office, restrained the dean (that's a crime; it's called "kidnapping"), opened his file cabinet, and removed the secret files (that's also a crime).

Although the criminals accomplished something positive by their crimes, I felt the criminals needed to be punished in accordance with the law.They weren't, and as a result, numerous destructive "copycat" crimes followed which did no one any good.

Of course, in this country, jury nullification has an even more annoying aspect.In the case that I cited, the issue of "reasonable doubt" did not come up.But sometimes it does, such as in the OJ Simpson case.Here, "reasonable doubt" was used as an excuse for jury nullification.That makes me wonder about the entire idea of using juries as determiners of fact.I think if we want to allow a jury to let a guilty person go free, we should first make sure the accused is actually guilty!And that means letting some folks other than the nullifiers determine the facts.

In this book, Philip Howard points out that the role of a jury is to inform the Court of the facts.Of course, he's right.And he is discussing the contrast with the role of the judge, which is to answer questions of law.But my point is that we won't have a justice system at all unless questions of fact are resolved, and that jury nullification forces us to skip this step.I was hoping to see more comments on this point in the book.

Howard did at least make the point that we need to stop juries from making whimsical decisions on matters of law as well.

The first section of the book deals with the concept of "reasonable doubt" specifically.Next is a section on "equal justice."And after that, there's a section called "quest for truth."There's plenty of interesting material here.But I wanted to see far more on ideas to get truth to play a much bigger role in our legal system.After all, without truth, there can't be justice! Some of the contributors did not mind the fact that OJ Simpson got away with murder, reasoning that a system that would convict him would also convict some innocent people.I think those contributors are totally wrong.OJ Simpson went free because the system was no good; I think such a bad system will generally convict more, not fewer, innocent people.

There is also a section on the media and the justice system.And there's a section on protecting victims.Following that is a section called "punishment in America."

The penultimate section deals with some rather serious crimes, such as the Armenian genocide and Serbian crimes against Bosnia.Again, I want to see more emphasis on truth here.For example, although I see a need for justice in such crimes, I am strongly against any international criminal tribunals.I believe such tribunals tend to degenerate into kangaroo courts that ignore the guilty while trying and punishing the innocent.If there were more value placed on truth, along with some checks and balances to prevent such perversions of justice, I would be less leery of such courts.

I enjoyed this book even though I strongly disagreed with a great deal of what the contributors had to say.It addresses a wide range of important issues.But it should have given more advice on how to make truth a more important aspect of legal decisions, and I'm deducting a star for that.
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Provides a succinct bibliography of the various kings of medieval England, from the Bretwaldas of Bede's day through the short reign of Richard III. In selecting works to be included, the author has focused his attention on providing annotations of informative and accessible sources, particularly biographical materials, that might be used by a wide range of individuals--scholars, undergraduate researchers, Anglophiles, and others. The annotation for each entry contains a 75-to 150-word analysis of content and other factors, such as bibliography, helpful notes, tables, illustrations, and level of comprehension, which commend the book or article to the reader. With author index. ... Read more

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Foremost in the historiography on English monarchs.
Dr. Larry Usilton, Professor of History at the University of NorthCarolina at Wilmington has released a remarkably lucid, engaging, andcritically important reference source for anyone interested in the earlymonarchs of Britain. Any lecturer in the field should feel comfortablerecommending this book to their students. ... Read more

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Willie's back in town
I didn't discover Willie Morris until shortly after he died. After reading North Toward Home and New York Days, I gladly would have traveled across the continent to meet him. Few persons are born with as much charm, and fewer still are born with as much intellect. Now Larry L. King has brought Willie back to life in the pages of a generous and understanding biography. You won't find a better opportunity to revel in Willie's company one more time.

Decoding Willie Morris
I would like to thank Larry King for introducing me to my former brother-in-law, Willie Morris. (If that sounds a little bizarre at first blush, it will seem less so to those who read Larry King's book.) I always liked Willie and respected him for his achievements, but I never had any illusions that I really knew him. While I was aware of most of the "facts" -- albeit after they had passed through some dubious filters -- that was clearly not enough to understand Willie Morris. Larry King supplies many of the missing pieces, and he does so with frequently lyrical prose, wit, and keen insight. Those who want to know about Willie Morris and his times should read this book and "North Toward Home," sparing themselves the subsequent "dueling autobigraphies" of Willie and Celia Morris.

Larry King accurately captures the famous Willie Morris charm. I learned about it first hand in one of our rare private moments. Willie told me that he had never had a brother and was looking forward to the experience. Although I was aware at the time that this probably wouldn't really work out, I was quite taken by this gesture to the "kid brother." After all, I was certain that however our relationship evolved, it HAD to be an improvement over having an older sister. Meanwhile, I was already impressed that he had been a baseball player and that my parents clearly didn't really approve of their daughter's choice of husbands. Thus, his "charm offensive" certainly worked on me and apparently on many others as well.

King also explores Willie's dark side at some length, but does so sympathetically. At the minor end of that scale, King notes Willie's propensity for isolating himself from the outside world, ignoring letters, messages, or other forms of contact. I understand better now why ne never responded to the occasional notes I sent him complimenting him on this or that piece that he had written. (My wife had somewhat better luck.) At least I learned from Larry King that I was in good company and, in retrospect, don't take it as personally as I did at the time. As Larry King makes clear, Willie had much more serious problems to worry about.

As good as the book is, I have to wonder how broad an audience it will attract. (Of course, the question is somewhat academic at this point.) To be sure, Willie Morris achieved much, especially in the early part of his life, and he certainly rubbed elbows with the famous and powerful. Moreover, there has always been a Willie Morris "cult" -- or, more precisely, cult(s) -- that will dutifully read the book. Still, in the grand scheme of things, that is a relatively small and somewhat rarefied audience. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, I think Mr. King may have missed an opportunity to introduce a broader audience to Willie Morris. That is too bad because Willie has indirectly affected many people who have probably never heard of him. In that vein, I think that Larry King's basic conclusion that Willie Morris should be remembered mainly for his literary contributions is wrong. Instead, I think Willie should be remembered primarily for those whose careers he helped nurture, including Larry King himself.For example, in martial arts, the measure of a master is the skill of his students. Without extending the metaphor too far, to the degree that Willie Morris helped make it possible for David Halberstam, Larry King, and others to create their magical works and reach wider audiences, we should all bow to his memory. The world owes him a debt. THAT should be Willie Morris' legacy.

Willie We Hardly Knew Ye
To readers in Mississippi and throughout the South, Willie like Elvis doesn't need a last name.

I first learned of and became a fan of Willie Morris when in the 70's I read his mid life memoir of sorts, North Towards Home.It was one of those books I never forgot.I was less impressed with Morris'later works, especially New York Days.
( Boy talk about industrial strength name dropping. But I digress. )

In this book, Morris' long time friend Larry King provides a lot of info about Morris, his carrer, his friends and enemies, his ups and downs, his affairs, etc.While it is an informative and enjoyable read, it is kind of streange in that the author in many instances seems to abandon his "search" for Willie to indulge in a search for himself since he was so close to Morris. That may be a not unacceptable price for the reader to pay to get the huge number of intimate insights into the life of someone who was nothing if not over the top interesting.

As with any such book, there are places where detail gets out of control and scanning is in order, but they are minimal.

Willie Morris, warts and all, will always be remembered fondly by Mississippians as someone who never lost his love for the state ( and its considerable number of "warts" ).

You might have to be a Mississippian to really enjoy the book, but then again you never can tell.Definitely worth a spin.

From a life of promise and its decline
This is a biography of a life that might have come off the pen of Eugene O'Neill. Willi Morris was a mississippi native who made it big as a writer of a couple books well known in the American literary community, and was head of Harper's magazine for a critical few years.

From this peak of power he degenerated into a life of drinking and womanizing until finally settling down as nominally a college professor back at Ole Miss.

Larry L. King (not the TV host) has written this biography to show Willie Morris as a friend, a genius, a writer and editor of some fame that is now largely forgotten. At the same time, it shows some of the weaknesses, the troubles that made his own life unpleasant.

Willie Morris was one of those people that don't quite reach the highest rungs of the ladder, but come very close, only to fall back down. He was an assist, friend and mentor to many of the best writers of our time.

Ineluctable, Ineffable, Inexhaustible
Willie Morris was many things, but how he ended up said less about him and more about the culture from which he sprung.By that I mean the South can take a heavy toll on its sentient sons and daughters.Larry L. King provides us with Willie's story in fine fashion but does miss that ineluctable truth- to use a favorite word of Morris'.Now let me say a thing or two about this Mississippian whose work I have read in full.

I would like to defend Willie Morris against two types of readers.There is the one kind who sees him as a defender of the South and another who remarks only upon his descent from the literary heights.He did do both, but that was only part of his odyssey.

Morris wrote North Toward Home, perhaps the finest autobiography produced by the last of the southern gentleman.The book holds no punches and reflects unflinchingly on what it means to be both southern and American.It should be required reading for everyone here in these United States.We might be a better country for it, and you cannot say that for many books.

After that work, Willie didn't come close in his writing efforts.However, North Toward Home endures and will endure.Most big time editors cannot say that, and I am struck by how the famous folks who surpassed him- Halberstam, for example- have never written anything on the level of North Toward Home.The Best and the Brightest is a fine book, but it is a far remove from literature. North Toward Home reminds me of C. Vann Woodward's comment, "all historians are failed novelists."A last gentleman as well, Woodward could write those words from the marrow of his bones.Our present age is too literal for that to still ring true, but it does in Morris's case, even if it be autobiography, not history per se.

Finally, a word about Willie's last years.Yes, I heard him called a drunk.I grew up only about 75 miles from Oxford in the Delta town of Tunica.His alcoholism didn't cut much ice with me, though.After all, Faulkner was called the same.You would be hard pressed to find a southern writer worth his salt who didn't have a fondness for the bottle.Maybe Willie was more fond than some, but I bet Faulkner would have drunk him under the table- even if they never actually met.My hunch is Willie had said it all and then some in North Toward Home.There wasn't much more for him to say.That would be a tough burden, especially if you were the genius Morris was.Even Faulkner didn't produce much quality after his torrid pace in the late '20's and early '30's.

Moreover, Willie came home.He may not have been the finest teacher, but his influence on Oxford, Ole Miss, and Mississippi was enormous.He inspired Donna Tartt, wrote about Chucky Mullins, assigned pretty coeds Pery's "The Moviegoer", and helped put Square Books on the map.Yes, indeed, Willie's legacy endures.For my money, despite his lack of material fame and fortune, "the bitch goddess success", that his peers may have gained, Morris did as well in a larger sense, if not better.

RIP, Willie, and thanks from a fellow Mississippian.
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