Posted on 04/29/2009 8:50:16 PM PDT by rlmorel
In particular, read the letter to his children that I posted. It pretty much encapsulates the theme of the book. Simply amazing, if you have never read it, take the time to do so.
I LOVED LOVED that book. Great!
LOL...no, I had to scale down my expectations, I only have 10 days, so I traveled down the East coast, stopped in DC, Kitty Hawk and Yorktown...sigh. I wish I had a month.
Don’t we all...:)
Alger Hiss was the epitome of the smug, elitist, leftist government bureaucrat.
I am not surprised that he has defenders to this day.
This is a very important book and it shook me to my core. It convinced me of the rot at the core of the bureaucratic apparatus in DC.
Witness is an amazing story of the Twentieth Century.
My favorite Chambers quote comes from his Meet the Press appearance, something like: “The problem of communism is not one of economics. The problem with Communism is one of atheism.”
Be sure to read Sam Tanenhaus’ great 1997 biography Whittaker Chambers:
You are a fine and valuable asset to Free Republic.
I read this book for the first time this year also. Herniated disc in my back gave me the opportunity.
The herniated disc was worth it just for this.
I bought two more books and gave them to my brother and mom.
This book can change lives.
The religious aspect was compelling.
“Witness” was the first book I read from cover to cover when I was growing up. My Mother literally forced me to read it. I was 16.
It made me a life long Conservative and infuriated my Aunt who lived on the old family farm in Maryland, had a dog named “Democrat” and thought Alger Hiss was the finest man to ever draw breath.
Its a powerful book....should be required reading for every High School...fat chance of that with the NEA and Obama hand in glove.
Pick up a copy of “Blue Highways” by William Least Heat Moon.
Simply the best travelogue on America you’ll find and one hell of a story to boot. It covers all the places you missed - and will give you a different view of the ones you did see.
bookmark
Yes, Witness is very powerful. While in college, I picked up a copy at a used book sale for fifty cents. When I started reading, I could not stop.
For better and for worse, Chambers was a witness to and a participant in the great intellectual events of the 20th century.
So is this the audio CD version of the book that you have, rather than the cassette tape? I am imterested in getting the audio CD of the book, but it isn’t available on Amazon.com.
Where can I find a good online source of audio CD books other than Amazon? I have about 350 books on my Amazon Wish List, but I need to find the audio CD of the book rather than the hard/soft cover because I am legally blind.
“To me, it was the singular book that had a greater influence on my political thinking than any other.”
Same here. My most cherished possession is my first edition of “Witness.”
By saying better and for worse....is the worse refer to him being a spy?
If he wouldn’t have been a spy the better part would never have been known about him.
I loved his writing. You could tell he knew how to write.
I have been a member of Audible.com since 2002, and even though it is clearly a liberal site, they do have a wide variety of conservative books.
I say they are liberal, because if a liberal book like Clinton’s comes out, it will be available on day one. Books by Ann Coulter in the past have taken months.
However, there are two things that are encouraging: First, conservative books are showing up much more quickly. Mark Levin’s new book was available on day one, and secondly, Audible was purchased by Amazon, and...voila! On the first day I tried to look after the merger, “Witness” was available. I had been looking for years for the audio version, even on the conservative sites, to no avail. But I have it now...:)
I highly recommend Audible. For $20 a month, you get the choice of two books, regardless of price. I look forward to my renewal date each month, and get my books as soon as I can. It is great!
You're probably correct concerning the bent of this website; however, is it *possible* the publishers of the Liberal pap pay for this "service" while Coulter's et al, don't?
Consider Fox and especially Fox's local affiliates, they report a few top local & national headlines, maybe.
Soon as it's over they're off shilling their own American Idle and then then their "special features".
Special features that aren't so special, can only be explained as "pay-to-play" stuff.
Fox sports is even worse.
While all the alphabets do the same, Fox was the first to turn the shtick into a genuine science.
After seeing the disgraceful "reporting" of what's obviously anything but news, I no longer wonder what MBAs not working in the financial sector are doing.
That could be entirely correct on your part. However, I know that in addition to being writers, the authors want to make money, so I will bet they try to have these things scoped out in advance. I guess Levin’s book they couldn’t help, since it was on the best seller list from day one, but I’ll wager if not the excuse is “our readers/listeners didn’t ask for it”
I always try to ask for it if it isn’t there, but that doesn’t always work.
Perhaps, possibly a "special" offered by websites such as you enjoy?
The salient point is you receive a useful service, one you like and are willing to pay a fee for.
In this day and age, *I* for one wouldn't knock an equal exchange. {g}
"I guess Levins book they couldnt help, since it was on the best seller list from day one, but Ill wager if not the excuse is 'our readers/listeners didnt ask for it'"
Bingo, you peg their motivation, to a T.
In any event I'd decline the wager, my friend.
"I always try to ask for it if it isnt there, but that doesnt always work."
Good practice, asking.
Since you mention Levin's book, therein lies a great example.
Just yesterday I'd an impromptu conversation with --for the most part-- a complete stranger, concerning the political situation et al.
This man was livid he couldn't find Levin's book at area book stores; and, he'd asked.
We veterans know what's up with that, happened to people like Rush time and again.
All I could tell him was suggesting he conduct his book shopping needs via the Internet from now on.
I told him that knowing this man was an agricultural guy and not exactly the Internet kind we who frequent places like this, are.
The brick & mortar stores may very well lose another one. :^)
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