Category: Biographies

My 21 Years In the White House-Alonzo Fields

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27858869In 1994, Alonzo Fields died at the age of 94, having lived a life that was nothing short of fascinating. Fields is best remembered for having served as a butler and then Chief Butler at the White House for 21 years under four Presidents.  In 1960, he wrote this short but intriguing memoir of his time in Washington and the many important historical figures that he encountered during his time at the White House.  As a book about the behind the scenes workings of the White House kitchen and support staff, one may be tempted into thinking that the pages of the book will be filled with curious tidbits of gossip about the personal lives of the occupants.   This is book is anything but that.  Never intended to be a gossip account, Fields stays away from rumors and the secretive lives of the presidents and their families.  He mainly recounts his encounters and his opinions regarding his day-to-day interactions with the presidential families.

While Fields’ account does not contain any provocative information, students of history will pick up things here and there throughout the book.   And the foreign leaders and ambassadors that visit provide additional  memories that Fields fondly recalls.  The encounters with Sir Winston Churchill are nothing short of humorous and support the common notion of Churchill being one of the most grand leaders in world history.   More often than not, a common misconception about the presidency is that the holder of the office has unlimited power and lives in the most grandest fashion.  From Fields’ eyes, we see that isn’t always the case and level of frugality varied from one President to the next.  Additionally, the President serves as the top-level head of the nation but his job and the job of the First Lady also dedicates a significant portion of time hosting others.  And supporting these endeavors is an amazing and highly tuned supporting staff which Fields proudly recalls having been part of for 21 years of his life.   Some of the best witnesses to history are often the silent ones for with the eyes and ears open and mouth closed, they are able to observed and analyze almost everything they encounter.  Fields, who remained friends with President Truman and is mentioned in the records of the Truman library,  held one of the most important positions in the nation and as a result left us with this good read of what it was like working for the President of the United States.

ISBN-10: 1530072379
ISBN-13: 978-1530072378

Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life-Jon Lee Anderson

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20180602_215622 On October 8, 1967, Ernesto “Che” Guevara (1928-1967) is executed by the Bolivian army after he is captured in failed attempt to spread revolutionary ideology throughout Latin America.  He leaves behind a widow and five children.   Since his death he has become the icon for revolution and his image can be found on items such as lighters, coffee mugs, t-shirts,  posters and even the graduation caps of high school and college students throughout the world.  Students of Marxist-Leninist ideology and guerrilla conflict look to his writings, speeches and quotes as inspiration.  And although forty-eight years have passed since his death, his name continues to spark admiration, disdain and curiosity.

Recently, President Barack Obama visited Cuba in an effort to repair the strained relationship between two countries that share a long history.  And while the embargo is still official U.S. policy towards Cuba, their meeting did serve as a sense of change for future generations.  I couldn’t help wonder, had Che been with us, what his thoughts would be about the recent developments.  Often seen as the “hardliner” of the Castro regime, the Argentine doctor turned guerrilla fighter was one of the most important participants in the Cuban revolution and a staunch opponent of any form of U.S. aggression and intervention in Cuban affairs.

The more I began to think about Che, the more I realized that I needed to revisit his life story to get more of a sense of who he was and why.  And for those reasons, I took another look at the most comprehensive and extensive biography of Che’s life by author and journalist Jon Anderson Lee.   Che never wrote his own biography but instead penned several books about his experiences in the revolutionary campaign and articles in the journals El Cubano Libre (Free Cuban) and the Verde Olivo (Olive Drab).  His book Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War‘ is among the best written about the campaign.   Others have published accounts of their memories of Che with his widow Aleida’s account ‘Remembering Che‘, the most intimate of all.   While he is seen as the icon for violent revolution, the real Che was extremely complex, highly intelligent and fiercely devoted to revolution with unwavering fanaticism in his beliefs of a new Latin America shaped by Marxist-Leninist ideology.

Through Anderson’s writing, we step inside Che’s life and witness the many obstacles and chance encounters along the way that allowed him to become a doctor, author, ambassador, guerrilla fighter, husband, father and unfortunately in some cases, executioner.   The true beauty in this book is its unbiased view of Che’s life and Anderson does a masterful job of being as neutral as possible even in face of some of Che’s least favorable actions, some of which would cause surprise and consternation among many today.  In life, it is always tempting to portray icons of the past in the most favorable light possible.  And although Che’s image has become a commercial success, what we learn in this book is that the real Che was no where close to believing himself a commercial icon and openly showed disdain for capitalist tendencies.

His actions will come under scrutiny for generations to come and his image and likeness will continue to be reprinted and used as a commercial too for entrepreneurs across the globe.  He will forever be loved, feared and hated, and his commitment to communist ideology combined with a fearlessness of using armed conflict are eerily similar to modern-day fundamentalism in various parts of the world.  Nonetheless, he is a critical part of Cuban and world history and one of the most important figures of the 20th century.   Anderson’s biography is the definitive account of the mythical Argentine revolutionary.

ISBN-10: 080213
ISBN-13: 978-0802135582

The Revenant-Michael Punke

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revenantIn the spring of 1833, Hugh Glass and several companions died after being ambushed by members of the Arikara tribe native to the Midwestern United States.  Glass, a former member of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, is best remembered for being attacked and mauled by a grizzly bear in 1823.  The story of the attack and his survival serves as the  basis of this fictional work by Michael Punke  and the inspiration for the 2015 masterpiece film ‘The Revenant’, which earned Leonardo DiCaprio a Golden Globe and Academy Award under the direction of Alejandro González Iñárritu.

On a recent flight back from Atlanta, I saw this on the newsstand and decided to give it a read.  The book begins very similar to the film and throughout the novel, viewers of the film will undoubtedly revel in the very accurate casting during the making of the film.  Punke, admittedly took several liberties with the book and in the film itself, several others were taken most notably the sub-story of Glass’ relationship with his son, also a worker for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.  Nonetheless, the book is an engaging story that keeps the reader pulled in from beginning to end.

Like its film counterpart, the beauty in the book is not the level of violence or graphic descriptions of wounds and conditions, but the window provided for the reader to step back into time to an era where law was non-existent in many parts of the United States and the plains were home to traders, soldier, mercenaries, rebels and dozens of Native American tribes.  It reminds us of a time long gone from which society has greatly advanced.  In the midst of our modern-day conveniences, it is fairly easy to forget that less that 200 years ago, many parts of this nation lay uninhabited and in the control of no formal government.  Survival skills, instinct and knowledge were critical assets that often meant the difference between life and death. Some of Glass’ story is disputed but what appears to be clear is that he did work for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and as in fact mauled by a grizzly bear.  The pursuit of Fitzgerald and his revenge or non-revenge, will be the subject of debate for an eternity.  Regardless of person opinion regarding the veracity of the story, Glass led an interesting life changed in an instant by one grizzly bear and sheer determination to live of a noted frontiersman.

ASIN: B01FODDF5E

My Rise and My Fall-Benito Mussolini

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wp-1461726831642April 28, 1945-Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petracci are murdered and their bodies are hung upside down in the Piazzale Loreto square in Milan, Italy.  His death marks an end to one of the most controversial eras in the history of Italy.  The former leader of the fascist movement that dragged the nation into the second world war had been removed from office for several years and become one of the most despised leaders in Europe.  However to the end he retained numerous supporters and could have led his country down a different course far removed from the course taken by Germany under the personification of evil himself, Adolf Hitler.

There are hundreds of books on the war and a large number cover Nazi Germany but with this book, the Duce is given a platform to share his own story and the reasons behind his decisions.  The first part of the book was written in 1928 and in it we learn about Mussolini’s background and his rise to power.  Finding himself removed from office, it is following this point in his life that we are introduced to the second part, his fall, edited by Max Ascoli.  It begins with his arrest and confinement and continues with his rescue by German forces in a daring day time raid.  In spite of this  he would never again rule Italy and his ousting remains an often discussed topic in World War II history.

Like all leaders of the past, he was a complex figure who wore many hats.  A former teacher, journalist and pilot, he used his past experiences as he set about to change the course of Italian history.  And perhaps if he had never met Adolf Hitler, his name and legacy would have different connotations attached to them.  Mussolini isn’t here to defend himself or give more insight into his decisions and action. but his life and death remain some of the most important moments of the 20th century.

ISBN-10: 0306808641
ISBN-13: 978-0306808647

My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King-Reymundo Sanchez

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51andlwz7jl-_sy344_bo1204203200_The Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation still reigns as one of the largest and most violent gangs in the United States. Thousands of young men and women join the gang in search of acceptance and excitement. Visions of grandeur of money, cars, fame sex and power form a nexus of seduction designed to lure new members into the fold.  Tragically some of these members will live and die by the code of the gang.  Others spend their lives in prison but some are able to leave the gang and face a life without the backing of the very people that they have called family for most of their young lives.

Reymundo Sanchez, author of ‘Lady Q’, tells his story or his own path to becoming a Latin King on the gritty streets of Chicago, IL, the birthplace of the Latin Kings.  Born on the back of a pickup truck in Puerto Rico into a dysfunctional household, his young life seems as if it reads from a script all too often played out in low-income households.  Upon re-locating to Chicago, his life takes yet another turn where he is formally exposed to the gang culture then beginning to tighten its grip on the windy city.

Gang memoirs are never easy reads and Sanchez’s story is no different.  The encounters and acts of violence in the book are gritty and his struggle with his own personal demons is moving and eye-opening.   And at times, his story has all of the hallmarks of a classic gangster film.  There’s an assortment of characters, ranging from range from sexual deviants, homicidal maniacs, drug addicts, everyday people and young children caught in the vicious cycle of gang life.  Reading this book made me reflect on my childhood in East New York and the many Latin Kings that I knew on a first name basis as this book could have been written by any one of them.  In spite of its brutally honest recollections of violence, sex and drugs, the book is an invaluable piece of literature that should be read by anyone considering joining a gang or for those seeking to understand what drives kids to join in the first place. It also highlights the ongoing problem of lack of education and family structure issues that continued to plague inner city youths.

ISBN-10: 1556524277
ISBN-13: 978-1556524271

 

Belushi: A Biography-Judith Belushi Pisano and Tanner Colby

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51xmvffffnl-_sx258_bo1204203200_ On March 5, 1982, comedian John Belushi dies at the age of thirty-three from an overdose of cocaine and heroin leaving behind a widow Judith, friends, relatives and scores of fans.  The former Saturday Night Live star featured in the hit films ‘Animal House’ and ‘The Blues Brothers’, had become addicted to cocaine and at the time of his death, had also included heroin into his repertoire of narcotics .  The highly talented outgoing Belushi had yet to reach his full potential in a career with unlimited possibilities. But just who was John Belushi behind the scenes?  And where exactly did he come from?   His widow Judith Belushi Pisano, old friends, co-starts and directors explain to us what they recall of the life of one of the most popular comics in history.  And what they have presented to us, is the definitive biography of the life of an enormously talented star gone far too soon. His life is examined in detail from his humble beginnings in Wheaton, IL to his final tragic moments in Los Angeles, California.

His role as Jake in the ‘Blues Brother’s is among one of my favorites and the film itself retains a place in my collection of films.  The cameo appearances by numerous music stars, choreographed dance scenes and overall humor to the film make it one that I have watched several times and still find it enjoyable.  His death and this biography shed light on the notorious drug culture that walks hand in hand with the celebrity lifestyle.  Belushi, like hundreds of other stars, fell victim to a climate in which drugs, alcohol, sex and most other vices known to man are easy to obtain and abuse.  Tragically, he wouldn’t live to talk about his past addictions and his name shares a place on a long list of celebrity drug tragedies that is populated by such names as River Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Chris Farley, also of Saturday Night Live fame. Nonetheless, he remains an icon in American cinematic and television history and the short career he did have resulted in some of the most memorable moments ever captured on screen.  It’s often said that as long as we’re remembered, we live forever. In John’s case, he will live for an eternity.

ISBN-10: 1590710487
ISBN-13: 978-1590710487

Mr. New Orleans: The Life of a Big Easy Underworld Legend -Matthew Randazzo and Frenchy Brouilette

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51hke4pto-l-_ac_ul320_sr214320_New Orleans remains one of the most popular and mystical cities in the United States.  The Big Easy is rich in history, culture and home to some of the best food found in America.  In fact, just thinking about it brings me back to my visit last year and the incredible plate of fried chicken, red beans and rice that I enjoyed thoroughly.   Spending the majority of my time in the French Quarter on Bourbon Street, I felt as if I had stepped back in time to an era when New Orleans was also one of the most infamous cities in America, filled with pimps, madams, prostitutes,  escorts, intelligence operatives and mafia bosses, most notably the legendary Carlos Marcello.  Kent “Frenchy” Brouillette (1935-2015) teams up with Matthew Randazzo and brings us the story of his life from his humble beginnings in Marksville, LA to his time in the Big Easy and his association with underworld figures such as Carlos Marcello, Norma Wallace, Diamond Jim Moran and Dutch Kraut.  And what we come to learn is the incredible story of one of a legendary figure in the history of the New Orleans underworld.

I do have to admit that I’m a sucker for good true crime stories and biographies of those who at one time were entrenched in the street culture.  I find that crime figures are usually the best readers of people and reveal to us some of the darker sides of human emotion and psychology that many would second guess exist.  Frenchy fits right in to my expectations and his revelations were far more interesting than I could ever have imagined.  My biggest shock is that I had never heard his name prior to reading his book.  One of the most interesting parts of this incredible book is its relationship to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Thanks to Jim Garrison, who is also covered in this book, New Orleans was put into the spotlight with the failed trial of businessman Clay Shaw in the late 1960s.   I wouldn’t say that this book is a smoking gun, but for students of the crime, the information about the characters at the focus of Garrison’s investigation and Oliver Stone’s ‘JFK’ is priceless.  And after reading this book, you just might view the crime in a completely different light and have a new found understanding of the City of New Orleans.

ISBN-10: 0692237488
ISBN-13: 978-0692237489

 

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education And Was Shot By The Taliban-Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

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MalalaOn a recent flight back from Europe I had a chance to catch an engaging documentary about Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani girl who was shot along with two friends by Taliban rebels for their efforts to promote the education and freedom of young women to live the lives that they choose.  The shooting nearly took her life, killed her but miraculously she survived and went on to become a Nobel Peace Prize winner and spokesperson for thousands of young women throughout the world who are also denied the right to a formal education, freedom of thought and freedom of expression.  Upon returning from abroad, I added her autobiography to my list of books to read and after finishing this book, my only regret is that I did not read it sooner.  I find it hard to put into words how much admiration I have for this young woman for her courage and efforts to improve her homeland of Swat, Pakistan.  Although she no longer lives in the village of Swat, she still retains an emotional and spiritual connection to the place of her birth.

In recent years, she had developed into an excellent public speaker and highly articulate young lady whose voice has been heard in by millions.  Resettled into a neighborhood in Birmingham, England, her family has adapted to the British way of life but will forever remain Pakistanis as heart.  Their plight and eventual relocation is a story of which most of us here in the west could never see ourselves telling.  We are fortunate to live under the rule of democracy, a constitution and a bill of rights  that guarantees each of us rights that are dreamed of by people from nations on all continents.  And through this wonderful and yet tragic account, I learned not only her story but many facts about the history of Pakistan and its tormented relationship with India that has never healed.  From its beginning, Pakistani society been volatile with murders, assassinations and political coups overthrowing one government after the next.  And with the fallout from the 9/11 attacks and the U.S. government’s pursuit of the Taliban, the nation of Pakistan has been transformed into one of the most dangerous places on earth.  Through voices such as Malala, our eyes and ears can be opened to the life that lies ahead for many of the young in the Middle East.

ISBN-10: 0316322423
ISBN-13: 978-0316322423

Evita: The Real Life of Eva Peron- Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro

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Eva PeronOn July 26, 1952, Evita “Eva” Peron died at the age of 33 from the effects of uterine cancer, leaving behind a grieving husband and a country in mourning.  The former actress and radio personality had risen from the streets of Los Toldos to become the First Lady of Argentina and the creator of the Eva Peron Foundation.  The organization had served the poorest residents of the country giving financial support and developing areas in need of structural improvement.   Her policies and actions sometimes drew controversy and faced resistance from different sectors of society including the military, who tried more than once to stage a coup before Juan Peron finally fled into exile in 1955. Her life has been depicted in Broadway and in films but the true story is often subject to speculation, misinformation and mystery. This is the real story as told by Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro of a young woman, born in adversarial circumstances but destined for a life of fame and purpose but destined to a tragic fate.  Carefully researching her early life, their account also serves as a historical record of the social climate of Argentina in the early 20th century.  Her spiritual and political evolution into a leader who at times garnered more attention than that of her husband, displays remarkable commitment, drive and patriotism.  But like all famous historical figures, controversy follows her throughout her life and her tragic decline is a reminder of our own mortality.  Her death and the actions surrounding the embalming and theft of her body are both shocking and disturbing.

Well over 50 years have passed since her death and even to this day there are many loyal Peronist and Peronistas that remain committed to an era that has long since passed.  Since the time when Eva was the name heard around the world, there have been many figures in Argentine politics that have come and gone.   The  recent administration of Cristina de Kirchner was plagued by accusations of corruption and even murder after the untimely death of Alberto Nissan who threatened to reveal what he believed to be the government’s complicity in a horrific crime that had been covered up and ignored by the government. In 2015, she was succeeded by Mauricio Macri and many hope that change is in the air.  And with the recent visit of President Barack Obama, the people of both Argentina and the United States have renewed optimism that the two nations can repair relations and continue to build a better relationship.   While Peron is no longer with us, she remains a mythical figure in the history of Argentina and for some she will always be the unrelenting crusader for equality. But for others, she will always represent the many things that were considered to be wrong with Argentine politics.  Nonetheless, her legacy continues and for an eternity, Eva will always be remembered.

ISBN-10: 0393315754
ISBN-13: 978-0393315752

 

Last Night At The Viper Room: River Phoenix and The Hollywood He Left Behind

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phoenix 1On the night of October 31, 1993, paramedics received a call of a man lying unconscious outside the club known as the Viper Room. The club was party owned by actor Johnny Depp who was in attendance that night. Paramedics arrive and recognize the victim as River Phoenix. He later dies at the age of 23 from an overdose of cocaine and heroin known on the streets as a speedball.  He leaves behind his parents and four siblings.  His untimely death shocks the film industry and millions of fans across the globe.  The events of that night also shed light on a widespread drug culture in Hollywood and the ease of access in which many child stars have in obtaining them.   Phoenix’s fatal last dose was eerily similar of the death of comedian and actor John Belushi nine years earlier.  At the time of his death, Phoenix had been filming  “Dark Blood” and had returned to Los Angeles on a break from filming in the deserts in Utah.

I vividly recall the news reports of Phoenix’s death and his role in Rob Reiner’s “Stand By Me” is my personal favorite.  I’ve often heard that if he had lived and stayed clean, there was a high probability that he would taken many of the rolses that went to another rising child star, Leonardo DiCaprio.  The biggest tragedy in his death besides his age and the love ones he left behind, is the list of possible directions his career could have taken.  We can only speculate as to where he would be in life now and what he would think of the Hollywood we currently see.  In the short time that he did spend on earth, he left a permanent mark on the film industry and American cinema.

Gavin Edwards takes us back in time to revisit Phoenix’s life from his birth, nomadic life with his parents and his entry in Hollywood and the demons that he developed that would later claim his life.  The book is an interesting look at Phoenix and the dark side of the film industry.   Hollywood can be a mysterious and strange place to outsiders but books such as these provide us with a window of normalcy familiar to the average person.  It is often said that artists live in a completely different world not out of preference but out of circumstance.   His transformation from child star, animal rights activist to a film star with a crippling addition is similar to the lives of other stars such as Corey Feldman, Corey Haim and Kiefer Sutherland to name a few.  Great stars whether they’re actors, musicians, artist or writers, are far and few in between.  And tragically, the greatest stars are sometimes those that do not live for very long.  But in their careers they help to create entertainment that lives forever.

ISBN-10: 0062273175
ISBN-13: 978-0062273178