Category Archives: Books

A Look at “After Hitler” by Michael Jones

Posted on July 16, 2016 by billmanzi

After Hitler: The Last Days of World War Two in Europe by Michael Jones My rating: 3 of 5 stars A nice summer read that adds to the historical record surrounding WWII. In much of the history written we seem … Continue reading →

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All the Way- LBJ and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Posted on July 4, 2016 by billmanzi

HBO has recently released a version of “All the Way,” the movie version of the Broadway play with Bryan Cranston, who also starred in the movie. Cranston was superb in both, bringing Lyndon Baines Johnson to life in a fascinating … Continue reading →

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Review of Rick Perlstein’s “The Invisible Bridge”

Posted on June 26, 2016 by billmanzi

The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein My rating: 4 of 5 stars Perlstein’s effort, the third installment of his series, is an informative and insightful look at the fall of Nixon, … Continue reading →

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A Review of “On His Own Terms: A Life of Nelson Rockefeller

Posted on May 8, 2016 by billmanzi

On His Own Terms: A Life of Nelson Rockefeller by Richard Norton Smith My rating: 5 of 5 stars Such a terrific book on a political giant, who played an enormous role in American politics, and whose name and philosophy … Continue reading →

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Book Review- Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus

Posted on March 26, 2016 by billmanzi

I read the first of the three Rick Perlstein books back in 2014. In this election cycle featuring the rise of Trumpism, and the seeming disintegration of the national GOP it might be time to take another look at this … Continue reading →

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Review of the Buddy Cianci Autobiography Politics and Pasta

Posted on February 15, 2016 by billmanzi

Right after I read this and posted my review on Goodreads Mayor Buddy Cianci passed away. I have placed the review here, as well as a video of Mayor Cianci talking about the book on WGBH. Good stuff from a … Continue reading →

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Review of Ben Bernanke "The Courage to Act"

Posted on December 28, 2015 by billmanzi

The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath by Ben S. Bernanke My rating: 4 of 5 stars A fairly dry, but very important book by the man at the helm of the Fed during the … Continue reading →

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Review of "The Prize" by Dale Russakoff

Posted on October 11, 2015 by billmanzi

The Prize: The High-Stakes, Big-Money Race to Save Our Failing Schools by Dale Russakoff My rating: 4 of 5 stars Dale Russakoff’s “The Prize” is such a good, and important book. It tells us the story of what happened after … Continue reading →

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Review of Michael Isikoff's "Hubris"

Posted on July 25, 2015 by billmanzi

My review of the really great book by Michael Isikoff on the invasion of Iraq, with a You Tube video featuring Isikoff discussing the book. Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War by … Continue reading →

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Review of Bismarck by Jonathan Steinberg

Posted on June 28, 2015 by billmanzi

Bismarck:A Life by Jonathan Steinberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars I enjoyed the book, although it was, in my opinion, light on the the great achievements of Bismarck in foreign policy. Bismarck was a truly monumental historical figure who … Continue reading →

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