Product Description
General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1828Original Publisher: H. HallSubjects: OrnithologistsBiography ... Read more

Product Description
Analysis of the failure of the U.S. Senate to accept the League of Nations and other defeats of Wilson’s. Examines Wilson’s character and association with House, national politics, President’s collapse, more. Psychoanalytical interpretation.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Woodrow Wilson and His Ego.
This book analyzes Woodrow Wilson's personality and his relationships with others throughout his adult life. A lot of the material centers on his quests for power, first as an educator and then in politics.
Colonel Edward House was one of three people to really become a confidant of Wilson.

The sources for the book from Wilson are personal letters he wrote as well as speeches he gave. The personal papers of Edward Mandell House were also used as a source.

From reading this book it is evident that Woodrow Wilson had severe personality flaws. His mental health problems in the 1890's were troubling! He was also obsessive in his pursuit of the presidency at the expense of anyone he could utilize to achieve that goal.

What I took from the book was that Wilson was a megalomaniac and Edward House was a shrewd political manipulator(until the end of their friendship) that eventually was perceived by Wilson as a threat.

On the presidential term, the book focuses on the defeat of the League of Nations which was aided mostly by Wilson's refusal to compromise. The authors also detail the circumstances of the falling out between Wilson and House.

This is an excellent book about the psychology of Woodrow Wilson. Not as much attention is spent on House or some of the major changes in the U.S during Wilson's administration, namely the Federal Reserve Act, and Income tax.

Overall WOODROW WILSON AND COLONEL HOUSE provides some insight on Woodrow Wilson from childhood to death. This book also addresses some of the politics and politicians of the WWI era.

A surprising discovery
I came across this book as an Amazon recommendation.
Wilson was one of my least favourite Presidents - so I thought this may give me another perspective.
I was captivated by the book - the complexity of WW's charachter, the same mistakes continuously repeated with links to his parental relationships.
In 50 years time someone will write a best seller of the Clintons as a psychological profile - this was the precedent.

Great book. Great surprise.

Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study
required reading as background historyto understand the future we need to understand the past to the best of our abilities

Entertaining. Informative. Thought-provoking.
This books presents a "personality study" of Wilson. I ordered it as a political scientist interested in individual-level analyses of international relations. I came to it with little or no particular interestin Wilson or House (who?) or American politics during the Wilsonadministration. I knew nothing of the authors.

I read the book in 2 daysbecause I could not put it down. It well deserves the status of"classic."Although the psychological disposition anddevelopment of Wilson provide a motif throughout, the authors state theircase in moderate terms and are kind enough to limit jargon-filleddiscussions to very few pages. Some readers will sense contradictions inthe analysis, but they are not too distracting. Meanwhile, an impressivetale is told. The reader goes from the singing of hymns in church as achild to a bizarre last speech on a balcony (before Wilson dies). Wilsonemerges as a perfectionist, an idealist, one full of self-doubt, and yetone unwilling to compromise EVER ! He also emerges as someone who had lowself-esteem and a giant, hyper-sensitive ego which allowed him about 3friends (his 2 wives and Colonel House). House was valued by Wilson becausehe knew how (and was willing)to flatter and say "yes" a lot toWilson (to his face anyway). Personal diaries and letters add color to thediscussion of the relationship. Wilson's complex make-up interestinglyresulted in all too predictable dispositions and behavior. Participants atthe Paris Peace Conference and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge understood thisand played him like a cheap deck of cards. Thus, this great read teacheslessons about politics, personality and life! ... Read more

Product Description
Alexander Wilson, expatriate Scotsman, poet, & reformer, has been called ''the Father of American Ornithology.'' This collection of his letters, many of them new & many complete for the first time, captures a splendid & stimulating time in American history. Wilson was a confidant of William Bartram, a correspondent of Thomas Jefferson, a sensitive personality who set out as he said to make ''a collection of all our finest birds.'' In pursuit of this goal he traveled through much of the eastern part of the U.S., often on foot. His letters well document the joy he felt at each new discovery as well as the terrible physical hardships he endured. Though later overshadowed by J.J. Audubon, Wilson deserves much credit for being one of the pioneers in American ornithology. Includes an intro. by Clark Hunter, ed. of the letters. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:tences, constructed by the ear, often displease one by their gross violations of the rules of grammar, an essential part of learning to which he never seriously applied himself until, after his arrival in America, he found it necessary to qualify himself for an instructor of youth.Wilson's father, feeling the want of a helper in the government of an infant family, again entered into the matrimonial state. The maiden name of this second wife was Brown.It was the intention of the father that Alexander should be educated for a physician; but this design was not relished by the son, who had, through the impertinent interference of some persons, imbibed some prejudices against the profession, which were the cause of the project's being abandoned.It being the wish of the step-mother that the boy should be put to a trade, he was accordingly apprenticed to his brother-in-law, William Duncan, who then resided in Paisley, to learn the art of weaving. That this determination was the result of good sense there can be no doubt; the employment had the tendency to fix a disposition somewhat impetuous and wavering; and the useful knowledge acquired thereby he was enabled, at a subsequent period of life, to turn to account, when mental exertion, even with superior resources, would have availed him but little.The scheme of being taught a trade met with little or no opposition from the subject of this memoir; his father's house no longer affording him that pleasure which it had done during the life of her who had given him existence. Some difference had arisen between him and his step-mother, whether from undutifnl conduct of his, or harsh treatment of hers, I know not; but it may be asserted with truth, that she continued an object of his aversion through life: which was manifest fr... ... Read more

Product Description
One of the greatest nineteenth-century scientist-explorers, Alexander von Humboldt traversed the tropical Spanish Americas between 1799 and 1804. By the time of his death in 1859, he had won international fame for his scientific discoveries, his observations of Native American peoples and his detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna of the new continent'. The first to draw and speculate on Aztec art, to observe reverse polarity in magnetism and to discover why America is called America, his writings profoundly influenced the course of Victorian culture, causing Darwin to reflect: He alone gives any notion of the feelings which are raised in the mind on first entering the Tropics'. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Ignorance and arrogance in equal amounts, then as now, trademarks of the Hispanic world
Humboldt's travelogue through Spanish America and the Canary Islands from 1799 to 1804 sounds fresh and vivid. It's the closest thing to time-traveling. The author takes us to a timewhen practically all America south of the US border was one varied but politically unified entity. The 300 hundred years passed since colonization had barely made any difference in the way peoples and races lived on the continent. No progress either economically or socially. So the most interesting thing of this book, in my opinion, lies on this ability to make a still picture of 300 hundred years of life in South America.

Afraid that the book would be too technical, too botanical, I had had put it aside for too long, regrettably. This is humanity at work, civilization-making (or rather staling), this is a picture of humanity surrounded by humbling nature. Man strives to improve his condition against that of his neighbor, fights to better his social condition against those who are not his kind, his race, his relatives. But man is humbled over and over again by nature.

It is thought-provoking, if not downright funny, to see supposedly civilized Spaniards trying to civilize their Indian "pupils". Retrospectively both failed, as always happens when the one-eyed lead the blind. Fat chance of finding any literate Spaniards among the "civilized" conquerors and colonists. The Catholic church endeavored to keep the monopoly of literacy for so long, in Spain as well as in America.

Humboldt's clarity of mind and sensibleness are made apparent, to mention one example, when he takes on the praise lavished on the Guanches of the Canary Islands, who became a fashionable topic among Spaniards, only "when Spain was at the zenith of her glory". More so: "When nations are mentally exhausted and see the seeds of depravity in their refinements, the idea that in some distant region infant societies enjoy pure and perpetual happiness pleases them." Utopias and phariseism were things Humboldt didn't fall for as socialists-turned-environmentalists today do: "enormous forest fires are also caused by the carelessness of the Indians who forget to put out their camp fires."

Being myself a Spaniard by birth I have to deplore how little, if at all, has the Spanish idiosyncrasy changed since immemorial times,and am amazed how well this author detects faults in our national soul: "a shoemaker of Castilian descent ... received us with gravity and self-sufficiency characteristic in those countries where the people feel they possess some special talent." One might think the author a little arrogant himself, but this is not so. Humboldt is equanimity personified. The shoemaker "pulled a few small opaque pearls from out of his leather pouch and forced us to accept them, making us note down ... that white and noble Castilian race had given us something that, across the ocean, was thought of as very precious."

More on Spanish traits: "The missionary in San Fernando was an Aragonese Capuchin ... sitting in his redwood armchair most of the day without doing anything, he complained of what he called the laziness and ignorance of his countrymen ... however seemed quite satisfied with his situation." It is also very symptomatic of Spaniards from all regions to see their "lively curiosity manifested ... in the middle of American jungles for the wars and political storms in the Old World." Reminds me of the the bigoted upper and middle classes in Spain today who shout out anti-capitalist slogans, never seeing the pillar in their own eye. They also are satisfied with their own situation.

Spanish old prejudice against manual labor (when done by themselves, that is), as was described in 16th century Spanish literature, picaresque mostly (e.g. Lazarillo de Tormes), lives on and well: "Many of the whites of European stock, especially the poorest ... leave their townhouses ... dare to work with their own hands, which, given the rigid prejudices in this country, would be a disgrace in the city."

Humboldt does recognize the divide between the English-speaking world and the Hispanic world, as reflected in their American versions, and as early as the 1800's: "Beyond the Atlantic ocean, only the United States of America offers asylum to those in need. A government that is strong because it is free, and confident because it is just, has nothing to fear in granting refuge to exiles."

A book to relish because it blends beautifully Hispanic cupidity and arrogance with nature's zero tolerance for stupidity and tough reality. The Spanish-speaking world continues to reap what it sows.

God save the USA, if only as a last resort. Oh, and please, no fools allowed.

Humboldt is great! This version- maybe less so
It's true that this version of the Narrative stops halfway through the actual journey. If I wanted the full Humboldt experience, or even if I just wanted to read the most interesting parts, I would probably get a different version that was in fact complete. But it is also true that what this book does contain is highly worthy of reading.
For anyone interested in 19th century science and exploration, it is a delightful read. Humboldt visited many interesting places, and viewed them with an enthusiastic and scientific eye that makes reading this work entertaining and thought-provoking. His descriptions are world-famous-- they brought him great popularity upon his return to Europe, inspired Charles Darwin to travel on the HMS Beagle, and still today evoke wondrous images. He speculates on the geology and anthropology of the places he visits, and recounts anecdotes that make the people and the story more human and relatable. Basically, reading this half of Humboldt's Narrative just makes you want to read the rest-- so even though the translation in this version is very good, and the notes at the back elucidate Humboldt's points and provide the reader with nice additional sources, it's probably best to just go ahead and get the real deal.

Just a glimpse of the Journey
I bught the book, and was expecting it eagerly.
Once it arrived I realized I had make a mistake by not realizing it was just an exceprto from the real deal.

Only a small part of the trip is described and nothing in the parts I was interested is even mentioned.
I hope the other parts will come at any time soon.

woefully incomplete, poorly edited, superficial introduction
Much as I'm glad to have at least some of von Humboldt's very important travel writings availible, this edition is sadly emasculated.

While it does include the initial Amazonian phase of Humboldt's South American expedition, the narrative is cut short at mid-point, von Humboldt's stay in Cuba.It's inconceivable to me that the editor would have omitted all of the author's writing on his exploration of the Andes, and in particular the volcanoes of South America.

Those excluded descriptions are not only fascinating to read today, but were also what most inspired readers in von Humboldt's own day.As a matter of fact, von Humboldt's account of the Andes so inspired the 19th-century imagination, that the era's greatest landscape painters, such as Frederic Church, actually travelled to South American specifically to witness and depict the vistas which von Humboldt had recorded in print.The integral von Humboldt, in contrast with the one presented here, wanted not simply to view and record exotic cultures and climates, but far beyond this to attempt as much as possible to experience the totality of the Cosmos in microcosmic form.The closest von Humboldt came to this impossible experience was his rapid ascent of the large volcanoes of South America, insofar as in this manner he could pass, virtually, through all the Earth's various climates in a single day--an astounding and Romantic feat completely unavailable to anyone using this edition as an introduction to von Humboldt.

But none of the above can be glimpsed even remotely by the reader equipt with only the Penguin edition.Because of the premature truncation of the text, one entirely loses sight of von Humboldt's overarching project, which was not merely a geographical descripton of the Earth's surface, but rather a geodetical construction of the World as an organic Unity.Thus abbreviated, von Humboldt appears scarcely different from his Enlightenment precursors; we lose all view of him as writer who has passed through defiles of Romanticism.Not the real von Humboldt at all.

Rather than making one rash cut down the middle, the editor would have served the reader much better by extracting key episodes from von Humboldt's entire journey.As I said above, something is generally better than nothing at all.But in this particular case, not much better.

Entertaining account of 5 years in S.America
Alexander von Humboldt (of the Current fame) was a famous polymath during the age of enlightenment. Like many noblemen, he used his money and leisure time in esoteric pursuits, such as collecting flora & fauna and trying to find the deeper meaning of it all.

This particular volume has been well-translated from the original - there is none of that stilted 'I haf von the Cherman translated been' style - it reads conversationally (assisted by the editing-out of long passages where Humboldt takes one of his many diversions) yet it also gives us an idea of what the man was really like. There is an extensive set of notes at the back, not just references, but elaboration of the point, which I found very illuminating.

His travels to South America span 5 years, during which time he collects and measures EVERYTHING - for at this time in history, no-one knew what was going to be pertinent or useful to science or economy. There are some amazing descriptions where he was the first educated person to see places; the problems of travel in uncharted, trackless & mountainous country make terrific reading. We may scoff at the zeal of the man, but if Hiram Bingham hadn't done the same, we wouldn't have the fantastic ruins of Macchu Picchu to study.

We also learn of the relatively tight circle of 'scientists' at that time - almost everyone knew everyone else, either via letters, Society writings or personal contact - and they knew it all; there was as yet no division between geology, biology, zoology etc - it was just 'Natural Philosophy' and one studied the lot (of course some dedicated themselves to a favourite pursuit). What is amazing to us now is the most simple things were unknown; for example, a sailor at death's door deep in the bowels of the ship, 'miraculously' recovers when taken on deck, out of the fetid miasma of the orlop - well, who wouldn't?... There are many similar incidents.

Slightly heavy going at times, because of the writing style of the period, it is nevertheless chock full of interesting snippets and amazing discoveries, giving a great insight into the mind and motives of a typical adventurous philosopher of the time. ***** ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: Hilliard, Gray; Publication date: 1834; Description: Peabody, W. B. O. Life of Alexander Wilson.--Hillard, G. S. Life of Captain John Smith.; Subjects: Ornithologists; Explorers; United States; Biography ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars.
Delve into what it was like to live during the eighteenth century by reading the first-hand accounts of everyday people, including city dwellers and farmers, businessmen and bankers, artisans and merchants, artists and their patrons, politicians and their constituents. Original texts make the American, French, and Industrial revolutions vividly contemporary.
++++
The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification:
++++
National Library of Scotland

N013206

A reissue of the first 1733 edition, but with continuous pagination and register.

Edinburgh : printed by Thomas Lumisden and John Robertson, and sold at their printing-house, and by most book-sellers both in town and country, 1733. 8,80p. ; 8° ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more