Biography Books > H Biography Books

Advantages: (+) easy to follow format (+) language not too advanced (+) very reflective of life
Disadvantages: (-) may be a little lengthy for some people

As with the majority of my reviews, I will provide you with a brief background to the product in question and, in this case, the author David Pelzer. Who is David Pelzer? David Jame Pelzer is an American author however, he is involved in many other areas of work, including campaigning for children's rights. He was born on 29th December, 1960 in California, USA and was one of five sons. Pelzer is most commonly known for writing books about ...
..."It"" are probably his most famous and popular books. It is in these books that the reader finds out just how abusive his childhood was - Pelzer tells of his Mother starving and beating him and on many occasions making him drink dangerous fluids such as ammonia and bleach. Is this book the same as his previous work? Yes and no. Whilst "Help Yourself: Finding Hope, Courage, and Happiness" does note some of the events of Pelzer's life, it ... Read review

Advantages: The authoritative work on Hitler.
Disadvantages: A huge book which takes time to read - and this is only the first half.

Ian Kershaw, the historian behind the BBC’s excellent series, ‘The Nazis: A Warning From History’, is also the author of what I feel is the definitive biography of Adolf Hitler. It is fascinating not just in terms of the details it unearths, but also from the point of view that Kershaw has taken a style of writing typically alien to him and made it his own. Modern ‘revisionist’ historical perspectives view history through ...
...previous historians tended to focus on individual people at the centre of importance (e.g. Hitler, Stalin or Napoleon) more modern writings examine the influences around them that shaped history. As the latter is the style adopted by Kershaw, it is surprising that he has chosen to write a biography of Hitler. As Kershaw mentions in the introduction, there is estimated to be over 120,000 works on Hitler, so why is another needed? The existence of ... Read review

Advantages: see opinion
Disadvantages: see opinion

...for presuming to write without his authorisation. He claimed that he and he alone, or someone he anointed, could write his life story, but no one else was allowed to do so." Having pursued the matter through the courts for over a year, his allegations of misrepresentations and misconstructions were proved groundless and eventually the case was dropped in late 1984. Her book followed two years later. Again this is a study where few stones, if any, ...
...the Mafia figured largely throughout his career. This made his connections with the Presidential Kennedy family all the more interesting gossip-wise. His involvement with women is explained in great detail throughout. First, his poor long suffering wife Nancy, quickly followed by all the famous and beautiful women that took his fancy. Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow are some of his well known romantic conquests, but what about Nancy Reagan or Lauren ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastically written with a gripping, true story.
Disadvantages: You can't put it down!

Handstands in The Dark is a fantastic book which takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions. You will not be able to put it down!! It became a No 3 best seller, winning numerous awards. Not bad for a first book!! The author of the book is a lady called Janey Godley, who is now a stand up comedienne. She was born in Glasgow in 1961, in the East End, which was quite a run down area. Between the ages of 5 and 13, she and her sister were sexually ...
...in which Janey tells of her fear during these attacks, pulls you as the reader into the room with her, you feel her fear and pain. Plucking up the courage to tell her mother was difficult, but she managed it somehow. The response could not have been predicted and Janey was threatened to keep quiet by her alcoholic mother. Janey was forbidden from telling her father and made to feel as if she was in the wrong. The only friend that she was able to ... Read review

Advantages: Comprehensive and thought-provoking
Disadvantages: Sometimes a bit dull.

Hadrian can be said to have been one of the greatest Emperors Rome ever had - a lover of art and Greek culture, an architect, and a well travelled man who enjoyed speaking to even the lowliest of his citizens. This book explores his life, from birth until death. What it reveals is a man that is cultured, intelligent, fair and kind, but also a man that is capable of great harshness and cruelty. Little is known of Hadrian's early years, and so understandably ...
...is brought out through a fascinating use of archaeology - some of it fairly obscure, which helps us to shed light on Hadrian's life. The author makes frequent use of speculation when it comes to precice dates and places, but never uses his speculation as solid fact. However, his educated guesses are precicely that - educated, and Birley is clearly writing on a subject opon which he is an authority. The book generally reads very well, but is sometimes ... Read review