The Seven Storey Mountain96 reviews Thomas Merton Harvest Books, 1999 After "The Confessions," maybe the best-ever 'autobiography of Faith' + Storey Mountain + a treasure, and immortal + The Seven Storey Mountain + Beautiful, beautiful book!             The Emperor Constantine (Phoenix Giants) Michael Grant Weidenfeld & Nicolson History, 1998             The Mad King: The Life and Times of Ludwig II of Bavaria9 reviews Greg King Citadel, 1996 An interesting portrait of the Swan King and his family + His life of fantasy + Well documented and very enjoyable to read As a big fan of the Bavarian King Ludwig II, I have read several books about the "Swan King", including the remainders of his secret diary. Still, I was quite charmed by this biography by Greg King. I was touched by his description how awkward the relation between Ludwig and his parents was. They ...             Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris69 reviews Ian Kershaw W. W. Norton & Company, 2000 Anticipating "what Hitler wanted" + Superb + Putting Hitler into History + The Ultimate Hitler Bio             Franco a Biography16 reviews Paul Preston Basic Books, 1996 Outstanding Biography + One of the most interesting biographies I have read + Must read to understand Spain and the Spaniards This is a first rate biography by Prof. Paul Preston, perhaps the leading authority on mid-20th century Spain. Written well and documented superbly, this book offers an unparalleled account of Franco's long career. Preston presents Franco as an unusually able opportunist dedicated to a relatively ...             Elder Ambrose of Optina1 review Sergius Chetverikov St. Xenia Skete Pr, 1997 The Most Important of the Series This book is volume 4 of what was a 7 volume series, but now is part of a larger series. All the books were edited by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, about the elders of Optina which were from a Russian Orthodox monastery southwest of Moscow. The most famous of the elders was Elder Ambrose, ...             Fulgencio Batista: Volume 1, From Revolutionary to Strongman5 reviews Frank Argote-Freyre Rutgers University Press, 2006 The Leading Authority on Cuba + " Viva Batista" + Excellent account of life in Cuba + NINETEEN THIRTIES TO THE NINETEEN FORTIES'S CUBA             Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant40 reviews Humberto Fontova Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2005 Hooray for Humberto for having the guts to write this book + Not all liberals are stupid + Ask a Cuban! I love this book and cannot wait for Humberto's next book on Che. I find his information very well researched and reflective of his extensive and informed studies in Latin American History in which he has his Masters degree from Tulane University. I am a first generation American. My mother ...             Nixon Volume I12 reviews Stephen E. Ambrose Simon & Schuster, 1988 Moves fast and tells a great story + Great book + Nixon: The Education of the READER + Great start to the three volume biography + The real Nixon!             Hitler: 1936-1945: Nemesis53 reviews Ian Kershaw W. W. Norton & Company, 2001 Excellent + Superb Redux + "Working Towards the Fuhrer" + Worth reading without reservation             Nixon, Vol. 2: The Triumph of a Politician, 1962-19726 reviews Stephen E. Ambrose Simon & Schuster, 1989 Character Matters + The least interesting of the 3 part series + Hard to find, but a great read + Good bio / bad man + A man to whom nothing mattered except power!             Forgotten Soldier : The Classic WWII Autobiography (Brassey's Commemorative Series WWII) (Brassey's ...163 reviews Guy Sajer Brassey's (UK) Ltd, 1990 Chillingly Clear Account of War on the Eastern Front + Best War Book + Sobbering and Balanced + I'd put SIX stars if I could ******!!!             Mussolini: A Biography8 reviews Dennis Mack Smith Vintage, 1983 The Definitve Work + mussolini the fraud + The Definitive Poltical Biography of Mussolini + Hilarious, groundbreaking work on the life of Mussolini             Nicholas and Alexandra106 reviews Robert K. Massie Ballantine Books, 2000 The Tragedy of The Twentieth Century + best book on royal couple + Among my Top 20 Books + Wonderful biography of the last of the Romanov dynasty + Suicide of a Dynasty             Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar85 reviews Simon Sebag Montefiore Knopf, 2004 A delicious read + The History of a Monster + Scary insight into how totalitarian regimes operate + Monsters             Father Arseny, 1893-1973: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father : Being the Narratives Compiled by the Servant ...18 reviews St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1998 Life-Changing Experience + An insightful read. + This man's story made me stand up... + A great witness.             The Twelve Caesars (Penguin Classics)32 reviews Suetonius, Michael Grant Penguin Classics, 1957 A Great Introductory Book to Imperial Rome + Indispensable guide to the early Roman Empire + Suetonious or Tacitus? + A fine collection of inbred pedophiles, sadists & basic + By Jove, this is scandal!             Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend89 reviews James Robertson MacMillan Reference Books, 1997 Best Civil War book, Best Biography, period + A Huge Work of Scholarship + Great book + Complex Man Good Bio + Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall"             Napoleon15 reviews Vincent Cronin Harpercollins, 1995 The Best Single Volume about Napoleon's Life + Sympathetic psychological portrait + Great read if you are interested in Napoleon + "What a great novel my life is!"             St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis of Assisi: With Introductions by Ralph McInerny and Joseph Pearce3 reviews G. K. Chesterton Ignatius Press, 2002 Sketches of Two Seminal Saints in Classic Chesterton Style + A high altitude view of two great Saints. + Classic Chesterton Legendary Christian philosopher GK Chesterton wrote concise semi-biographies of St. Francis and St. Thomas Aquinas in 1923 and 1936 (the year of his death), respectively. Those years saw him convert to Catholicism, crystallizing a journey taking him from early appreciation of St. Francis in poetry ...