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It comes as little surprise that Armand Hammer, the chairman and tyrant of Occidental Petroleum who molded himself into a modern Medici, was a philanderer, a sycophant to American Presidents and Soviet leaders alike, and an avid art collector who cared not a fig for art. The surprises in this absorbing biography by Edward Jay Epstein, with Armand Hammer, come from long-buried sources: that Hammer financed Soviet espionage in the United States, that he forced his long-time mistress to change her appearance and her identity to throw his wife off the track, and that Hammer was neither an astute businessman nor anything near the billionaire he portrayed himself as. Hammer's secret history, and his repellent yet fascinating character, deserve the exhaustive, acerbic treatment Epstein provides.
Book Description
The meticulously documented exposé of a celebrated American philanthropist - and traitor - that reads like a classic thriller.
New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year
Winner of the Financial Times Book Award
The dossier on Hammer tells another story. With unprecedented access to the files of both American and Soviet intelligence agencies as well as Hammer's own secretly taped conversations, investigative author Edward Jay Epstein lays bare the appalling fraud, unconscionable corruption, international treachery, and personal betrayal that indict beyond doubt this ruthlessly manipulative opportunist who courted American presidents and conspired with every Soviet leader from Lenin to Gorbachev.
"A morbidly fascinating compound of ambition, greed, unscrupulousness, and power hunger . . . It is hard to imagine a sharper picture of how a tycoon is both born and made and how the power game is played." - New York Times Book Review
"What a story! . . . Read this extraordinary book." - Wall Street Journal
"An arrestingly written and brilliantly researched biography" - Washington Post
"Compelling" - Vanity Fair
"A chilling book" - Forbes
Customer Reviews:
Marxism is a de luxe product.......2007-05-22
This book is a biography about an american oil mogul:Armand Hammer.The author is a jew, as the biographed.
If you read this book, you will see a true:marxism(leftism, eugenicism, environmentalism, feminism, etc.) is something for millionaries.
Hammer got a fortune linking to former Soviet Union's interests.Then he went to oil business.Again he linked his oil business to Lybia, even to Khadafy money.
Defects of this book are small.I don't believe ,that Al Gore had school's payment from Hammer.Another problem,of this book,is to forget that Hammer was a little linked to eugenics movement, at least until Hitler's time in 1933.These are small problems.This book is good.
If only he had done the opposite.......2006-04-20
Mr. Epstein places a great work on to the life of Armand Hammer. Many individuals wonder how such a man, whom was red flagged by the CIA, could remain connected to each and every Presidential administration and Kremlin since the days of Lenin. I was hoping for more information on their dealings with Robert Maxwell but it was only mentioned in brief. Hammer, like is father, presented to the public as immensely wealthy and powerful individuals, yet reality had dictated the opposite. Hammer, a man in quest for power, could have taken the time to do good things but instead he worked to expand not only his own personal image/power but to keep the secret line open to advance the Communist movement. I'd also recommend "The Perestroika Deception" - A. Golitsyn.
From Bolshevik Entrepreneur to Oil Mogul.......2004-08-19
~Dossier: The Secret History of Armand Hammer~ chronicles the life and despondent character of Armand Hammer. In his later life, Hammer invested great time and sizable resources to get a favorable authorized biography that portrayed himself as a generous, urbane and cultured philanthropist. Hammer no doubt would be dismayed by Epstein's account, though he never lived to see it. Epstein chronicles a different Armand Hammer. Epstein draws a picture of a power hungry man with an unscrupulous character. The real Armand Hammer led a life corrupted by avarice, adulterous sexual escapades and notoriously unscrupulous dealings with the Soviet Union and American politicians. Epstein by implication shows that Hammer may very well have been a Soviet agent. Hammer was in Bolshevik Russia while the revolutionary hadn't quite settled down. Hammer got a trade concession for a pencil factory that he operated in Moscow. While in the Soviet Union he moonlighted with Lenin and other Bolshevik revolutionaries. Hammer soon left Russia and supposedly almost went insolvent. His questionable business dealings in Europe perhaps as a launderer for Soviet enterprise to fund covert operations abroad would eventually gained the watchful eye of American authorities. Hammer got into art dealing and liquor distilling, but never lost his Soviet ties. He would eventually become the target of scrutiny by J. Edgar Hoover's FBI who took interest in his domestic and overseas machinations. While Hammer was the target of American counterintelligence, he ironically made use of his own intelligence clique especially later in life; he hired detectives, spies and former government agents to acquire information while manipulating business partners, competitors and politicians for personal gain. Hammer rose to fame as the Occidental Petroleum mogul and continued his shady dealings. Though, he tried to break into the market of the Seven Sisters oil cartel by getting an oil concession in Libya. His unscrupulous and devious dealings included bribery of foreign countries for trade concessions. Having lived a life of infamy, in his twilight years, the billionaire labored tediously to cultivate a favorable personal image. Hammer would have liked to have been remembered as a wealthy, cultured, humanitarian and religious Jew. Then Epstein came along to tell the real story.
This secret history is a window into the world of Armand Hammer: Hammer was an unscrupulous man, disloyal to his country, who put greed and power above family and nation. Epstein's conclusion is almost irresistible, yet he is never so obvious enough to state it: Hammer was a selfish opportunist who should have spent a substantial part of his life in a federal penitentiary.
Straightforward Biography of a Twisted Individual.......2003-01-08
Biographer Epstein does a straightforward, almost journalistic description of the life and times of Armand Hammer, considered by many to be a man of vision, humanity, and charity until details of his life began to seep out following his death. Even the New York Times gave this man a glowing obituary. But, thanks to the tremendous research done by Epstein, we see Hammer for what he was: an evil, self-serving, egomanic. And Epstein's non-sensational telling of the details of Hammer's life is appropriate; it is unnecessary to augment beyond the notoriousness of Hammer's own actions. What Hammer did speaks for itself, and Epstein catalogues his many sins. He was a traitor to his country, his family, his friends. He was such a lowlife that he allowed his father to go to prison for crime he, the son, committed. He was a perpetual adulterer. He laundered millions of dollars and had secret accounts everywhere. He drove what most believed to be a successful company to the brink of bankruptcy. But I could have done without the incessant mini-flashbacks that kept creeping into the narration. And I think it was a really bad choice to begin the book with the prologue describing Hammer's final days. It would work much better at the end, as this failure of a human being tops himself while he is dying with malicious, coniving, and deceitful steps to preserve his false characterization upon his passing. I would strongly recommend that you read the prologue at the end of the book. I would also suggest that as you finish each chapter, you turn to the source notes for that chapter and be amazed by the research Epstein did to compile his facts. He paints Hammer as such a dispicable character, that you will be astounded that this character got away with his ruse for his entire life. In this day of rotten corporate big-business, the book shows the rot has been going on for decades.
Fascinating history of a strong & questionable personality.......2002-12-29
I remember Armand Hammer appearing on the Tonight Show and other of guest appearances on the popular shows of the day doing his best to create a positive public image. He largely succeeded.
This book shows the deals he cut with rather awful people and Hammer's, being kind, questionable character. It is an engrossing story and the book is a great read.
The point is that this is an important story because of the relationships Hammer had with people in power in the Soviet Union, in the Middle East, and in Washington. Occidental Petroleum was and is an important company. Of course, Al Gore's father success, and much of Gore's personal wealth, is based upon carrying water for Occidental Petroleum. The company worked hard in post Hammer times to erase that difficult past. You can judge for yourself.
I believe that you will enjoy this book and warmly recommend it to you.
Book Description
Jill Fredston has traveled more than twenty thousand miles of the Arctic and sub-Arctic-backwards. With her ocean-going rowing shell and her husband, Doug Fesler, in a small boat of his own, she has disappeared every summer for years, exploring the rugged shorelines of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Spitsbergen, and Norway. Carrying what they need to be self-sufficient, the two of them have battled mountainous seas and hurricane-force winds, dragged their boats across jumbles of ice, fended off grizzlies and polar bears, been serenaded by humpback whales and scrutinized by puffins, and reveled in moments of calm.
As Fredston writes, these trips are "neither a vacation nor an escape, they are a way of life." Rowing to Latitude is a lyrical, vivid celebration of these northern journeys and the insights they inspired. It is a passionate testimonial to the extraordinary grace and fragility of wild places, the power of companionship, the harsh but liberating reality of risk, the lure of discovery, and the challenges and joys of living an unconventional life.
Customer Reviews:
An Editor's Viewpoint.......2007-03-24
I recommend that you take these reviews with a grain of salt. The stories told by author are quite exciting, but I think that some readers have let them overshadow the author's trite metaphors, frequent, not-so-subtle digs at her husband, and self-aggrandizing style that any editor worth her salary would have edited out in the first draft. The author actually compares herself to Mother Teresa at one point.
If you are looking to read about adventure, try some real writers. Read "The Places In Between," by Rory Stewart, or "The Worst Journey in the World," by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. These are written with sensitivity, elegance, and complete lack of ego. Perhaps Ms. Fredston should have taken a look at these before dashing off her book.
Genuine, down to earth, beautiful.......2006-11-11
Her style is elegantly simple, her stories come from the heart...
Adventures of mind and heart........2006-11-11
Unusual deep and wide revelations, experienced and written by a woman describing extreme world wide rowing and paddling. Fully appriciated by kindred spirit having traveled with mind and heart.
Wonderful, honest narrative about life experiences.......2004-02-05
I was truly sad to finish this book. Jill is very honest about her adventures and about the frustrating and life changing times she has had in the wilderness. Even if the reader is not an outdoorsperson, he or she will enjoy the vivid descriptions of the arctic communities, the relationship between Jill and husband Doug, the struggles Jill faces in life including her mother's battle with cancer and much more. Thank you Jill for writing such a beautiful book.
Inspiring, Adventurous, Real.......2003-09-22
I just finished reading this book. I stopped part way through, because it was so good, I didn't want to finish it yet. Now, I'm going to name it as the book of the month when I host my book club next. This book is so fresh, so in-your-marrow real, so insightful, adventurous, and breathtakingly descriptive, it defies easy categorization. Ms. Fredston is a fantastic writer, and after hearing her words for the last 286 pages in my head, I sincerely would consider it a tremendous privilege and honor to meet her in person. She has sent me on a search for the woman in me who is so wise, so calm in the face of crisis, so adaptable, so loving, and so passionate about life and living it. I know I have emerged from this reading with a sincere desire to make my life what it is I desire, instead of waiting for "someday". I am thrilled to have her voice added to the voices of other women, so few, who lead us boldly into our dreams, fears, and wildest adventures. You must read this book, and if you have a daughter in high school or college, give her one as well.
Book Description
Based upon Ethan Canin's short story "The Palace Thief," this movie stars Oscar®-winner Kevin Kline as William Hundert, a passionate and disciplined classics professor who finds his tightly-controlled world altered when a new student challenges his principles, resulting in a life lesson that will still haunt him 25 years later. Directed by Michael Hoffman, the film stars Kevin Kline, Steven Culp, Embeth Davidtz, Patrick Dempsey, Joel Gretsch, Edward Herrmann, Emile Hirsch, Rob Morrow, and Harris Yulin. In the Newmarket Shooting Script® format, this book includes the complete screenplay, movie stills, production notes, and cast and crew credits. 25 b/w photos.
Average customer rating:
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Hugo Wolf and his Mörike Songs
Susan Youens
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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ASIN: 0521027195 |
Book Description
Viennese composer Hugo Wolf produced one of the most important song collections of the nineteenth century when he set to music fifty-three poems by the great German poet Eduard Mörike. Susan Youens reappraises this singular collaboration, examining selected Mörike songs in detail to shed new light on the sophisticated interplay between poetry and music. Although Wolf is known as "the Poet's Composer," someone who revered poetry and served it faithfully in his music, Youens reveals how his Mörike songs were also influenced by his own life, psychology and experiences.
Download Description
Viennese composer Hugo Wolf produced one of the most important song collections of the nineteenth century when he set to music fifty-three poems by the great German poet Eduard M
Book Description
Many players are frustrated by an apparent inability to score well at duplicate pairs. In this revised edition of his popular book, Ron Klinger shows you how to do it. There are five sections covering constructive bidding, competitive bidding, opening leads, declarer play, and defence, and they are full of well-chosen example hands and sound advice.
Book Description
The new edition of this outstanding book contains some new tips which reflect the changes in the game since its original publication sixteen years ago. Learning from bitter experience at the bridge table is a slow, painful, and often costly business. The 100 winning tips are designed to cover specific and everyday situations in bidding, play, and defence, and they provide a painless substitute for experience.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome book for beginning to intermediate players.......2001-09-15
This is an excellent book that tries to improve ALL aspects of your game. In bite-sized tips, your game is gradually taken to another level. I especially liked the sections on Declarer play and Defense, with the section on Opening Leads being the best feature of the book. As most players know "Lead Trumps when in doubt" is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. However, I was not sure when I SHOULD lead trumps. The feature of this book in my opinion is clearly laying out when trumps should be lead.
These tips include most of the basics like Third Hand High, Rule of 11, as well as a lot more tips that are not as well known. The sequel to this book (50 More Tips ..), while also good, is not as useful for beginning players.
WANT TO READ THIS BOOK.......1999-07-04
I'LL LET YOU KNO
Follow these tips to winning bridge.......1999-02-11
This is a great "bathroom book;" read one or two tip each time you are in there. If you follow the tips in this book, you will end up on top much more often than on the losing end.
I read the tips on leading one night before a bridge tournament event. The next day I was on lead 20 plus times; in each case I made either the killing lead, or the least costly lead (we ended up 6th overall!).
I can think or no book that will help your game faster than this book.
Practical, very useful advise!.......1998-02-11
One of the most useful Bridge books I have ever read. Full of useful advise for common situations, both bidding and play. Lots of practical tips packed into small space. highly recommended
Book Description
Fully revised and updated
Here is the only comprehensive source that explains the various instruments in the market, their economic value, how to document trades, and more. This new edition includes enhanced treatment of U.S. and worldwide regulatory issues, and new product structures.
"If you want to know more about credit derivatives--and these days an increasing number of people do--then you should read this book."
--Merton H. Miller, winner, Nobel Prize in Economics, 1990
"Tavakoli brings extraordinary insight and clarity to this fascinating financial evolution . . ."--Carl V. Schuman, Manager, Credit Derivatives, West LB New York
Janet M. Tavakoli (Chicago, IL) is Vice President of the Chicago branch of Bank of America, where she directs the company's overall marketing of global derivatives and manages its CreditMetrics initiative.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-03-31
Great book for introduction of CDS and other structured products. I work in risk and this book helped clarify several things.
a practical guide.......2006-10-31
This is a good book about how credit risk derivatives are handled in the daily practice of a big international bank. Although the author clearly knows her math the book contains hardly any formula. Since I am a model builder and most clients of our treasury consultancy firm are medium seize companies there initially was a misfit. However this book is a very good antidote for people putting too much faith in mathematical models. I can not help being one of them. I liked the down to earth approach very much. In the end I learned a lot more than I thought I would.
Recommendation from a Credit Derivatives Trader.......2005-10-15
This is my fourth purchase; this one is for a new analyst I hired. I have read Janet Tavakoli's book as well as all of the current literature on credit derivatives. This book is one of the best books on derivatives I have read in terms of style of writing and content (I'm not after the mathematics on finance; there are plenty of those). I am a current successful credit derivatives trader.
Good collection.......2005-03-27
I am a Fin Math student and by now a Google search expert. I do have this book from my library and it requires patience .
Personally I would keep it that way borrow from a library and read free research on the net with more math. It is a good buy for a practioner who needs to refer various structures and market structure in one place. The author has definetely put in effort to collate all her years of market experience.
Derivatives Sales view:.......2004-03-24
POSITIVE POINTS: Best indepth book on Credit Derivatives. Very readable. Explains very nicely why this derivatives are so important for banks. Non technical.
NEGATIVE POINTS: Focus on banks with only a little chapter on Credit Derivatives as investment products. No explanation how those derivatives are priced (but hey, there are loads of technical books)
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