GUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2016 'The most brilliant and fascinating book I have read in my entire life' Dan Snow 'Blitzed is making me rethink everything I've ever seen and read about WWII... terrific!' Douglas Coupland 'A huge contribution... remarkable' Antony Beevor; BBC RADIO 4 'Extremely interesting ... a serious piece of scholarship; very well researched' Ian Kershaw The sensational German bestseller on the overwhelming role of drug-taking in the Third Reich; from Hitler to housewives. The Nazis presented themselves as warriors against moral degeneracy. Yet; as Norman Ohler's gripping bestseller reveals; the entire Third Reich was permeated with drugs: cocaine; heroin; morphine and; most of all; methamphetamines; or crystal meth; used by everyone from factory workers to housewives; and crucial to troops' resilience - even partly explaining German victory in 1940. The promiscuous use of drugs at the very highest levels also impaired and confused decision-making; with Hitler and his entourage taking refuge in potentially lethal cocktails of stimulants administered by the physician Dr Morell as the war turned against Germany. While drugs cannot on their own explain the events of the Second World War or its outcome; Ohler shows; they change our understanding of it. Blitzed forms a crucial missing piece of the story.
#359496 in Books Charles B Strozier 2016-05-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.10 x 1.40 x 6.40l; 1.00 #File Name: 0231171323352 pagesYour Friend Forever A Lincoln The Enduring Friendship of Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Lou SorchiottiExcellent book!2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A very interesting bookBy Barbara WassermanThis book portrays an aspect of Lincoln's emotional development as I don't believe anyone else has.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. With All Due SpeedBy Christian SchlectA good study of the friendship that developed nearly two centuries ago between two young men in Springfield; Illinois.This book provides a useful explanation of the early adult life of Abraham Lincoln and his struggles; while plagued by deep mood swings; to find a wife. His roommate and friend; Joshua Speed; provided the emotional support and example that led to a more stable Lincoln. As with all true friendships the support was reciprocal.The author is a psychoanalyst; as well as an historian; so be prepared for some occasional leaps into imaginary territory and; perhaps; over-inflated judgments in the absence of hard evidence; about what happened between two men a long time ago.I do think that the explanation given of why Lincoln married Mary Todd; who later became to be known by John Hay as "'the Hell Cat;" rings true.
