What a delightful memoir of growing up in England, the son of a poor Jewish family, living in a blue-collar town. There was an ‘invisible wall’ that rWhat a delightful memoir of growing up in England, the son of a poor Jewish family, living in a blue-collar town. There was an ‘invisible wall’ that ran down the street where the Jews lived on one side of the street and the Christians lived on the other side. This memoir was written by the author when he was 93 years old. His perspective at that age is just delightful. So interesting and heart-warming! ...more
This review is for the audiobook. The author, Walter Isaacson, never disappoints! This biography is so well-done. The bio is not a paean to Musk. IsaaThis review is for the audiobook. The author, Walter Isaacson, never disappoints! This biography is so well-done. The bio is not a paean to Musk. Isaacson has covered both the good and the less desirable traits about Musk and his conduct as he runs his businesses. Likewise, he has given the reader an insider view to the great achievements Musk has accomplished. A fascinating read. Loved it!...more
This review is for the audiobook. What a terrific book! The life of John Marshall Harlan is chronicled in this biography of one of the most outstandingThis review is for the audiobook. What a terrific book! The life of John Marshall Harlan is chronicled in this biography of one of the most outstanding Supreme Court Justices of the US Supreme Court. ...more
Absolutely stellar! Tyndall was an absolute marvel. This biography explores Tyndale’s one sole object in life: to translate the Bible, not from the LaAbsolutely stellar! Tyndall was an absolute marvel. This biography explores Tyndale’s one sole object in life: to translate the Bible, not from the Latin Vulgate version that others, including John Wycliffe, had done, but from the more original sources in the Greek and Hebrew languages. Tyndale’s economy with words, as he worked and reworked the translation, was meant to produce an English version that was more correct and which could be easily understood by even the common English farm worker. He labored continually to use the most correct English wording to get across the concepts he found in the original Greek/Hebrew. He worked at a time when his efforts were outlawed, he had to flee England to,the Continent to continue his work. There was a price on his head and he was eventually betrayed, captured, and was sentenced to death as a result. I was gobsmacked to find so many common everyday phrases and aphorisms that we use today were first written by Tyndale. My favorite quote from the book: “Without Tyndale there would have been no Shakespeare”. The number of those phrases, originally written by Tyndale that appear in Shakespeare’s work is really astounding. The King James Version of the Bible can be considered an homage to Tyndale when one considers that approximately 83% of the New Testament snd 87% of the Old Testament were taken directly from his (Tyndale’s) Bible, with no alteration at all. This was one terrific read! ...more
I made it through a fourth of this book and was so bored that I finally gave up. I have an appreciation of the analysis of Adams’ life and times, alonI made it through a fourth of this book and was so bored that I finally gave up. I have an appreciation of the analysis of Adams’ life and times, along with the research done to write this biography but I could not build up any interest in it, as much as I wanted to. DID NOT FINISH....more
Loved this bio of a man about which I knew very little. The author made John Hay come alive for me. I didn't feel the author whitewashed Hay's shortcoLoved this bio of a man about which I knew very little. The author made John Hay come alive for me. I didn't feel the author whitewashed Hay's shortcomings, nor did he write a hagiography of him. So interesting to become informed of Hay's long career that spanned from Lincoln into the early 20th century, watching the things he had learned, and the advice he gave. ...more
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