Palestine Peace Not Apartheid

Bernie Tracey

Palestine Peace Not Apartheid
by Jimmy Carter
Simon & Schuster (November 14, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0743285026
ISBN-13: 978-0743285025

Many believe that Carter's book can be very helpful in starting dialogue that can help lead to a resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Also, as stated in the Baker/Hamilton Commission, (formally known as the Iraq Study Group), the resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict will have a strong impact on resolution of the situation in IRAQ. More bluntly, without a resolution of the Palestinian situation, the US will be hopelessly stuck in IRAQ. This is the reason I am trying to get as many people as possible to read Carters Book. It doesn't matter if you like Carter or not. He got results in moving forward Israeli/Palestinian peace efforts in the past. People need to hear what he has to say now. He seems to be the only politician with the courage to buck the Israeli lobby.

I got the Jimmy Carter's book for Christmas and also had difficulty putting it down. I found the overall history of the area which Carter presented very beneficial. Although most of this history went on during our lifetimes I hate to admit being so ignorant of even the very basic, key facts of the god awful story of what has happened in this tragic part of the world. I enjoyed greatly the narration of Carter's personal involvement in the peace talks etc. I thought that the book was shorter than I would have liked. I found it lacking in adequately describing the horrible humanitarian situation that now exists on the ground in the west bank. I would have liked more elaboration on what needs to be, (and can be), done to establish peace in the area. Also I would have liked him to have elaborated further on his use of the word "apartheid". I agree wholeheartedly with his use of the term but I came to my opinion based upon other information that I had read and from direct first hand accounts, from people who have been there. (Not so much so from his book.)

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy

Tom Magill

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy
by Ian W. Toll
W. W. Norton (October 2, 2006)
ISBN: 978-0393058475

An outstanding work on the 1st 6 wooden warships built by the US after the Revolution. All our ex-Navy classmates should enjoy. I was never in the Navy but I got a kick out of it. The ships, CONSTITUTION, CONSTELLATION, PRESIDENT and the rest had an excitying impact on our history.

With Rockne at Notre Dame

Jac Fitz-enz

With Rockne at Notre Dame
by Eugene J. Young
G P Putnam (1951)
ASIN: B0006ASU06

I found a rare book about Rockne recently. Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. It is a special treasure for Notre Dame family.

With Rockne at Notre Dame, signed by the author Eugene (Scrapiron) Young Nicknamed by Rock, Scrapiron chronicles his thirty years at ND starting in 1920 with a broken leg that ended his football aspirations and led to Rock picking him to be ND’s sports trainer.

Published in 1951 the book is an endless series of heart warming and comical anecdotes about Rockne’s coaching career and the players off field antics as told by an insider. Many game stories include the 1925 Rose Bowl victory over Stanford, games against USC and against midwestern and eastern powers such as Minnesota (Bronco Nagurski), Pitt, Army and others.

It describes the shock and mourning within the ND family at Rock’s death including how he happened by chance to be on the plane that went down.

It covers Hunk Anderson’s tenure, Jess Harper, Hugh Devore and on to Leahy. Sixteen photographs showing many of ND’s immortals: Brill, Carideo, the Four Horsemen, Jumpin Joe Savoldi, Marchy Schwartz, Elmer Layden with Will Rogers, Leahy as a player and coach and many more plus a picture of Rock and his wife Bonnie.

Also, photos of the original Cartier Field and the “new stadium” and campus as it was when we were there in 1951. 300 pages of priceless ND lore written in very simple, matter of fact, first person style.

Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography

Ed Machuga

Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography
by Lou Holtz
William Morrow (2006)
ISBN: 978-0060840808

I never thought a book by a football coach would be interesting. I am wrong; this book by Lou Holtz is more than just football. His description of the depression days--tell me about it. I also went to Kent State my first year, the last three to ND. He talks about Coach Wade Watts who coached at Canton McKinley high school, my alma mater. Very interesting, recommended reading.

(See earlier review by Larry Brehl)