The History Book Club discussion
MY BOOKS AND I
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I AM LOOKING FOR A BOOK ON.........?
Jack, a new member is looking for a book about WW2 Eastern Front.I have moved his request here.
Recommendations needed - WW2 Eastern Front
Hi there
I'm fascinated in books about the Eastern front, c.1941-5. I've read Anthony Beevor's seminal 'Stalingrad', and several fictional works set during that period, such as 'City of Thieves' by David Benioff. I have also just finished studying a course on the Holocaust, so I am across Barbarossa. Can anyone recommend some other well-written books about that place and time? Civilian/military, it's all good.
Thanks
Jack
Hi all,I am looking for a book on the 1820's . . . specifically the banking and land crisis since there are so many parallels between the economic crisis at that time and what is happening now. Any suggestions?
Hello Liz,Andrew Jackson was President of the United States from 1829 to 1837. He was very much opposed to what Madison had done in regards to the banks and banking. And of course, I am not taking any sides here nor am I discussing any parallels between the economic crisis at that time and what is happening now. But in wikipedia; it describes Jackson's stance as the following:
Opposition to the National Bank
Democratic cartoon shows Jackson fighting the monster Bank. "The Bank," Jackson told Martin Van Buren, "is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!"
The Second Bank of the United States was authorized for a twenty year period during James Madison's tenure in 1816. As President, Jackson worked to rescind the bank's federal charter. In Jackson's veto message (written by George Bancroft), the bank needed to be abolished because:
It concentrated the nation's financial strength in a single institution.
It exposed the government to control by foreign interests.
It served mainly to make the rich richer.
It exercised too much control over members of Congress.
It favored northeastern states over southern and western states.
Following Jefferson, Jackson supported an "agricultural republic" and felt the Bank improved the fortunes of an "elite circle" of commercial and industrial entrepreneurs at the expense of farmers and laborers. After a titanic struggle, Jackson succeeded in destroying the Bank by vetoing its 1832 re-charter by Congress and by withdrawing U.S. funds in 1833.
The bank's money-lending functions were taken over by the legions of local and state banks that sprang up. This fed an expansion of credit and speculation. At first, as Jackson withdrew money from the Bank to invest it in other banks, land sales, canal construction, cotton production, and manufacturing boomed.[27:] However, due to the practice of banks issuing paper banknotes that were not backed by gold or silver reserves, there was soon rapid inflation and mounting state debts.[28:]
Then, in 1836, Jackson issued the Specie Circular, which required buyers of government lands to pay in "specie" (gold or silver coins). The result was a great demand for specie, which many banks did not have enough of to exchange for their notes. These banks collapsed.[27:] This was a direct cause of the Panic of 1837, which threw the national economy into a deep depression. It took years for the economy to recover from the damage.
The U.S. Senate censured Jackson on March 28, 1834, for his action in removing U.S. funds from the Bank of the United States. When the Jacksonians had a majority in the Senate, the censure was expunged.
I mention Jackson because there is the Pulitzer Prize book titled American Lion Andrew Jackson in the White House which may be of interest to you.
Here is some more info:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/di...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presi...
Here is Meacham (the author) with Jon Stewart:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacke...
I think this book might give you some basis to understand Jackson's view regarding this era and these crises.
Also you may want to read a book about the preceeding president: John Quincy Adams who would have been President for the four years before Jackson.
The book John Quincy Adams A Public Life, A Private Life may be of interest to see some of the opposing viewpoints.
Regarding the 1820's:http://historicaltextarchive.com/sect...
SIMONS BOOK:
http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carri...
THE PANIC OF 1819 BY MURRAY ROTHBARD:
http://mises.org/rothbard/panic1819.pdf
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1819: BY MICHAEL BORDO
http://research.stlouisfed.org/public...
Here is a very all encompassing book on the financial issues:http://home.comcast.net/~alexanderham...
This book is not listed in goodreads otherwise I would attach the url and link.
Robert E. Wright, “Banking and Politics in New York, 1784-1829” (Ann Arbor, Mich: University Microfilms, 1997).
Purchase this doctoral dissertation from:
University Microforms
Download a summary:
Journal of Economic History
Review blurb:
"When I first saw Robert Wright's dissertation I was overwhelmed by its sheer size. Upon closer examination I became overwhelmed by its scope. A close reading left me overwhelmed by the range of evidence and materials assembled -- pages of maps, tables and some 4,000 footnotes citing personal letters, diaries, newspaper articles, legal and banking documents, and a wide range of secondary sources. Now that I have read the dissertation, I am still overwhelmed by Wright's accomplishment. The discussion is authorative and literate, the attention to detail encyclopedic Robert Wright's treatment of the politics of banking in New York is a singular contribution. Robert Wright understands how early American banks and financial markets worked, possesses an Engerman-like knowledge of their history, and offers us new evidence and insights." -- Journal of Economic History
Liz, here are some other good books by Robert E. Wright which may be germane to what you are looking for: 
Here is his blog:
http://financehistoryandpolicy.blogsp...
Liz,Also here are some audio and video presentations which are quite good. These ae done in conjunction with the McKinsey Executive Roundtable and the Council on Foreign Relations.
One that you might find interesting is the video recording of the Roundtable Session called:
McKinsey Executive Roundtable Series in International Economics: Crisis and Capitalism: Does History Suggest Where We're Headed? (Video)
http://www.cfr.org/publication/18197/...
Hope that the above give you a few suggestions where to look. I am sure that there are many more out there that would prove interesting to you.
Bentley wrote: "Jack, a new member is looking for a book about WW2 Eastern Front.I have moved his request here.
Recommendations needed - WW2 Eastern Front
Hi there
I'm fascinated in books about the Easte..."
Jack, I have not forgotten you either. Here is a url which should steer you in the right direction. It appears to be a UK based url and site so that should be helpful to you if you are trying to order any of these.
http://www.worldwartwobooks.com/secti...
Bentley wrote: "Hello Liz,Andrew Jackson was President of the United States from 1829 to 1837. He was very much opposed to what Madison had done in regards to the banks and banking..."
Thanks Bentley for all your suggestions and for moderating this wonderful group. I will add both these books to my reading list & the online archive article.
I have been surprised that so many comparisons have been drawn between the current economic crisis and the Great Depression but few, if any, mention the Great Panic of 1819 or its aftermath. Both today and in the early 1800's there was an abundance of easy credit to buy land. Today the banks hold the debt -- in the 1820's the treasury was owed 23 million for land that had greatly depreciated in value. (As with today, many landowners, speculators and banks were also effected.)
"the new Land Law of 1820 abolished the nation's twenty-year experiment with credit. . . . Though sales slowed significantly, the abolishment of credit
eventually helped stabilize the economic failures caused by land distribution. . . it was not until eleven different relief measures were applied over the next twelve years that the end of the credit era was finally recognized" Land & Property Research in the United States
It could be argued that both today and in the early 1800s that property values were driven up artificially by easy credit . . .
There have been numerous changes in laws since both the Great Depression and the Panic of 1819 that make predictive comparisons virtually mute. But, I find that I have become fascinated with the history of these events if only to avoid repeating mistakes from the past. It would be unfortunate to create another Panic of 1837 by not carefully considering the consequences of current actions.
I'm off to check Wiki for the Panic of 1819 :)
Ok, I remembered having read somewhere else about the connection between land & the Panic of 1819. I found the link again in Wiki and will paste it here in case this topic is of interest to anyone else. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ent...Perhaps the land connection was not as pronounced in non-Land states & so is not often discussed in conjunction with the Panic of 1819.
I did find an online reprint of Panic of 1819 Reactions and Policies which together with the books recommended by Bently should round out this exploration a bit. Thanks again.
Liz wrote: "Bentley wrote: "Hello Liz,Andrew Jackson was President of the United States from 1829 to 1837. He was very much opposed to what Madison had done in regards to the banks and banking..."
Thanks B..."
Good points Liz and thanks for posting the additional links. I too felt that to view the 1820s; you had to go back to the panic of 1819. Situations do not develop overnight although many times all of the signs are ignored along the way. Glad to help out.
PS for Liz...if you look in message 5; Rothbard's book is there for free. I found it on line and posted the url (hope this helps). Also, thanks so much for your kind comments.
Bentley
I too felt that to view the 1820s; you had to go back to the panic of 1819.Seems the roots started much, much earlier . . . Wright seems the right way to go for more information (sorry for the horrible pun). More contemporary than Rothbard though I will read his analysis as well. The McKinsey Roundtable is also right on the spot.
Interesting that the local (Ohio) experience of the Panic of 1819 was so different than the national one. Not surprising though. I'm certain that Michigan has a very different take on the current situation than most of the rest of the nation.
Liz, you raise some interesting points about how vastly different the United States is from one part of the country to another and from state to state. Our founding fathers had a heck of a time bridging these different interests and priorities. Yes, I surmise that the roots probably started much earlier going back to Madison's theories, etc.; but in terms of the decade itself you would get a snapshot of the situation by at least starting with the Panic of 1819. I guess it depends upon how deep you want to go. I think Wright seems more up to date in his analysis and being a Monday morning quarterback has its advantages.
Very true about the different locales. Look at the unemployment rate in Michigan. I think the McKinsey Roundtables are always informative. They usually have put together good panels for discussion and for an engaging exchange.
Bentley wrote: "Jack, a new member is looking for a book about WW2 Eastern Front.I have moved his request here.
Recommendations needed - WW2 Eastern Front
Hi there
I'm fascinated in books about the Easte..."
REGARDING PRITZKER MILITARY LIBRARY (FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN MILITARY HISTORY - A GREAT RESOURCE)
Jack, I just thought of another good source for you.
Have you ever visited the Pritzker Military Library?
It is in Chicago; but there is a wonderful on line site which offers all sorts of things; access to video presentations, podcasts, audio interviews, access to its collections on line, etc.
It is a free library and open to the public, with live events and a collection of books, posters, photographs, and other fascinating artifacts that tell the story of the Citizen Soldier in American military history.
Now I realize that you may be more interested in World Military History; but if you do want to find out additional information regarding military history; this is another great source and is open to all.
You can also watch all of the video presentations that Pritzker has had. Here is a link to them:
http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.or...
Bentley wrote: "Jack, a new member is looking for a book about WW2 Eastern Front."Jack, Thanks for the reco of Stalingrad The Fateful Siege 1942-1943. I've added it to my now burgeoning list of to read books . . . Goodreads is dangerous! In The Post-American World, Fareed Zakaria states that 70% of WW2 was fought on the Eastern Front. My WW2 education (during the Cold War) in the US was heavily biased toward the role of England and the US in the war. (grin) Here are a few other books I found in trying to fill that gap. You might find interesting as well:
The Forgotten Soldier
Blood Red Snow The Memoirs of a German Soldier on the Eastern Front
In Deadly Combat A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front
Sniper on the Eastern Front The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross
Russia's War A History of the Soviet Effort 1941-1945
Absolute War Soviet Russia in the Second World War
If any of you have read these books and can provide some perspective on them that would be great! I need to strip down my reading list a bit :)
Liz, what great selections you posted. A terrific post; we haven't heard back from Jack but last time I checked he was still out there. I did not respond before because your note was directed to Jack but then I noticed your last sentence; I have to admit that I have not read any of these books to be able to give you any input or feedback. Possibly some other folks have.
Bentley wrote: "Liz, here are some other good books by Robert E. Wright which may be germane to what you are looking for"I'm adding a new publication to this post in case others are interested. I'm still focusing on Colonial History and haven't yet switched to the 1820s and Financial History reading . . . all in good time :). But, here's another possibility:
This Time is Different Eight Centuries of Financial Folly
Bentley wrote: "Thanks Liz, this looks like it was a very recent publiication from Princeton University Press."It is reviewed in this week's edition of The Economist, http://www.economist.com/books/displa...
This should be a good book then for what you were looking for. Thanks for also posting The Economist's review.Bentley
Hi All,I had a conversation with someone over the weekend that made me painfully aware of some gaps in my knowledge of Ancient history. I would like to find something readable concerning the Medes,and Persians and hopefully going through Alexander the Great. So I'm not looking for something super technical, as I would ideally like to read parts it with teenagers. Any suggestions.
Hi all,I am looking for a book that has to do with the Oregon trail and/or the Westward movement in the United States. Thanks
Andrea wrote: "Hi All,I had a conversation with someone over the weekend that made me painfully aware of some gaps in my knowledge of Ancient history. I would like to find something readable concerning the Mede..."
Have you read Persian Fire The First World Empire and the Battle for the West, by Tom Holland?
Susanna wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Hi All,I had a conversation with someone over the weekend that made me painfully aware of some gaps in my knowledge of Ancient history. I would like to find something readable conc..."No, I haven't. Actually, I know very little about the period. That book looks very promising; thanks.
Andrea wrote: "Hi All,I had a conversation with someone over the weekend that made me painfully aware of some gaps in my knowledge of Ancient history. I would like to find something readable concerning the Mede..."
Hi Andrea, I must second the recommendation made by Susanna. Tom Holland has written some great books covering this period and the book Susanna mentioned:
by Tom Hollandis a great book, covering the invasion of Greece in 480 B.C. by the Persian empire, led by Xerxes. All the famous battles of antiquity are there in great detail, battles as Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis and its not overly technical, but very easy to read.
It does look good, thanks Susanna and Rick. One of the "problems" with this group is that my lists of books to read is growing much faster than I can read them. And just the other day I was talking with someone who said they have a hard time finding good books to read!
When I am working in the bookstore, I often recommend goodreads to customers and sometimes even print out things from my own bookshelf lists for them. But I have to say people who can stand in the middle of a bookstore and say they can't find anything to read really amaze me.
Sitatunga wrote: "Beevor is good; 
is better. Avoid
except perhaps as a curiosity"Try to also add the authors when posing...goodreads software populates the fields and then you can cross reference which threads either the authors and/or books are being discussed in addition to the thread's helpful list with supported urls.
William Craig for
Alan ClarkSitatunga..I am not sure what the Beevor reference refers to and what book...I would have added that as well.
PS: I found it:
and his photo was available, better still.
Hi there, Has anyone read a good book covering South Korean combat forces in the Vietnam War, any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Not a book...but thought this might be interesting to you:http://www.talkingproud.us/Internatio...
Also as I come across any titles I will post them here...but I have not read any of them.
Charles Melson
(no cover available) by Robert M. Blackburn
Ahn JunghyoThis was the bibliography on the ROK site:
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/...
(no cover) by Jong-Sup LeeClemson's Vietnam Bibliography:
http://www.clemson.edu/caah/history/f...
This publication is done by the Department of the Army and can be read on line:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vie...
There are oodles of books on the Vietnam conflict; but on the narrow subject area of the ROK; there seem to be more articles and dissertations.
Hi Bentley, Thanks for the information. The one book I checked out that looked like it would cover what I needed (Mercenaries and Lyndon Johnson's "More Flags") was over $250 for a second hand copy! I might have to wait a bit longer to find something I can afford :)
There are not many readily available but I did include the bibliography that does point to a thesis or two as well as a few articles.
I'm looking to purchase a biography on Joseph Stalin. Has anyone read anything that he or she might recommend? There are quite a few choices so I'm hoping that you'll be able to help me to track something down.
Hi Fran..we have a requirement that the book cover and the author 's photo or link must be posted for any recommendations or citation.
This really helps the group members and goodreads has some wonderful software which links all of these covers and author's links across our site.
It populates automatically when this is done. All of the goodreads members can simply click on the link which is built into the cover, author's name and photo and find out additional information.
This is what it should look like.
by author Martin AmisThank you for your recommendation for Sera; but I just wanted you to know of our requirement.
Hi Everyone...I am taking a class on Tudor-Stuart England this semester and we have to do a 10-12 page research paper. I am way more familiar with American History than European or British history. I believe I would like to focus on Mary I (or whichever number was Henry VIII's daughter) but I don't know of a good biography that might help get me started. Any suggestions?
Lori wrote: "Hi Everyone...I am taking a class on Tudor-Stuart England this semester and we have to do a 10-12 page research paper. I am way more familiar with American History than European or British history..."Hi Lori, Is that 'Mary Tudor', Henry VIII's daughter by Katherine of Aragon? If so I can recommend "The First Queen of England" by Linda Porter.
by Linda PorterPublishers blurb:
In this groundbreaking new biography of “Bloody Mary,” Linda Porter brings to life a queen best remembered for burning hundreds of Protestant heretics at the stake, but whose passion, will, and sophistication have for centuries been overlooked.
Daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, wife of Philip of Spain, and sister of Edward VI, Mary Tudor was a cultured Renaissance princess. A Latin scholar and outstanding musician, her love of fashion was matched only by her zeal for gambling. It is the tragedy of Queen Mary that today, 450 years after her death, she remains the most hated, least understood monarch in English history.
Linda Porter’s pioneering new biography—based on contemporary documents and drawing from recent scholarship—cuts through the myths to reveal the truth about the first queen to rule England in her own right. Mary learned politics in a hard school, and was cruelly treated by her father and bullied by the strongmen of her brother, Edward VI. An audacious coup brought her to the throne, and she needed all her strong will and courage to keep it. Mary made a grand marriage to Philip of Spain, but her attempts to revitalize England at home and abroad were cut short by her premature death at the age of forty-two. The first popular biography of Mary in thirty years, The First Queen of England offers a fascinating, controversial look at this much-maligned queen.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Lori wrote: "Hi Everyone...I am taking a class on Tudor-Stuart England this semester and we have to do a 10-12 page research paper. I am way more familiar with American History than European or Br..."Thank you! I will definitely have to check that out. I'd like to get some background reading done soon so that I can knock this paper out of the way sooner rather than later.
And, of course, any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Lori wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Lori wrote: "Hi Everyone...I am taking a class on Tudor-Stuart England this semester and we have to do a 10-12 page research paper. I am way more familiar with American Histo..."Hi Lori, I'll check my library later tonight and let you know if I find any others that would be useful. Off the top of my head I can suggest these two:
by Carolly Erickson (not read by myself but have read other works by this author)
Reviews:
"A book of considerable literary distinction. The result of [Erickson's research:] commands belief as well as respect." - John Kenyon, The Washington Post Book World
"Carolly Erickson has written a historical biography of rare distinction, impressive both as a portrait of the less celebrated of Henry VIII's daughters and in its depiction of the turbulent age in which she lived." - Peter Stansky, Stanford University
"Carolly Erickson has re-created it all so vividly...A dazzling achievement. She has fleshed out the indistinct shade of Mary Tudor so that we perceive her as a living, breathing human being." - Jessica Mitford
by Jasper RidleyPublishers blurb:
Mary was crowned queen in 1553. In the space of just five years, her brutal methods earned her the macabre nickname she has carried ever since. Men such as Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, were burned at the stake, as were some 300 others who refused to renounce their Protestantism and accept Papal supremacy. This lucid and expert account sheds light on a dreadful episode in English history.
Review:
“Ridley tells the story of England's Terror with verve, lucidly explaining the trial procedures..” - Sunday Times
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House (other topics)John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life (other topics)
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House (other topics)
The Origins of Commercial Banking in America, 1750-1800 (other topics)
The First Wall Street: Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and the Birth of American Finance (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Fareed Zakaria (other topics)Tom Holland (other topics)
William Craig (other topics)
Alan Clark (other topics)
Antony Beevor (other topics)
More...
This will keep the thread What is Everybody Reading Now for books that members would like to talk about and ones that they are already reading; not trying to find.
If you are looking for a specific historical book about a specific subject, event, person, etc. - then this is the thread to make that request.
Enjoy.
Bentley