Dave: Today we're talking about the book, "Einstein: His Life and Universe", by Walter Isaacson. First of all, one of the reasons this particular biography of Albert Einstein stood out to me was...

Dave Coleman and I were discussing Ed Asner and the FDR program at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Here is what Dave had to say:

In November of 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the...

Paul Newman: A Life by Shawn Levy

Comprehensive is the best word to describe this outstanding biography of movie icon Paul Newman. Even though biographer Shawn Levy never interviewed Paul...

Moon River and Me: a Memoir by Andy Williams

This beguiling memoir of popular singer Andy Williams, best known for his rendition of Moon River, is an eye opener and takes the reader on a...

Andy Bridge and his mother Hope loved each other with a deep, abiding love, but she was so tormented in her mind that she was unable to care for her son. Andy was seven when she was institutionalized, and he was placed in foster care.

The book begins and ends at the Eufaula Adolescent Center in Alabama, site of a class action lawsuit centering on poor treatment of its residents. Newly-hired as a lawyer, Andy interviews Jeff, a teenager sequestered in a drafty basement for an infraction of the rules. Andy sees himself in Jeff and flashes back to his own experiences.

The descriptions in this memoir are so vivid that the reader feels an affinity for Andy and his story. A page turner, this memoir is hard to put down and provides a moving portrait of a boy who refused to fail in life in spite of his circumstances. This book is a must read!  Reviewed by Susie Nightingale