Witness

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Reading
Review: Chambers, being a master wordsmith by trade, has put together a story that again confirms the aphorism, "truth is stranger than fiction." Any open minded reader who observes the facts of this first hand account cannot help but see the severity of the threat posed by communists in the mid 20th century. In the preface Robert Novak tells us he has read "Witness" three times (as of that date, perhaps more now) and reminds us "He (Chambers) views this struggle as inseparable from faith in God, asserting that 'man without mysticism is a monster.'"

In considering ideological warfare, listen to Chambers' analysis, "...in the war between capitalism and communism, books are weapons, and, like all serviceable weapons, loaded." In fact, it is through reading, he tells us, that his eyes were opened. Consider the challenge he lays out as he asks, "Why is it that thirty years after the greatest revolution in history, the communists have not produced one single inspired work of the mind?"

Chambers tells us he learned to pray by doing. It started as an awkward attempt, but led into a "daily need." Consider how he describes the providence of God in bringing the woman who would become his wife into his life as he writes, "Neither of us had much to do with the fact that we met again. Our meeting came about by what the world calls chance, but in which we now see the workings of a grace before which we feel reason to be reverent."

This is a classic for a reason, it's excellent! Historically it records an insider's account of a crossroads moment in American history. It is exceptionally well written. It has my highest recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Look at a Courageous Man
Review: I acquired an original 1st edition copy of this classic, but oddly enough I kept it shelfed, assuming it to be rather mundane. I was very wrong! This is a fascinating biographical account of a former American communist, who 'defected' to the cause of freedom after seeing communism for what it really was- a LIE! Witness profiles the life of Whittaker Chambers during his hey-day as an avid Marxist to his conversion, which was as much a spiritual transformation, as an ideological one.

He was the whistleblower who offered the account of over Alger Hiss and an entreched number of communist agents in the U.S. State Department and other positions of power. I also recommend his biography by Sam Tanenhaus. Chambers would later continue his journalism career, writing for Time. He eventually came under the umbrella of the conservative William F. Buckley's National Review.

Rating:
Summary: My 2nd All-Time Favorite book
Review: I bought my copy this year at the library book sale, but plan to order a few for friends. I saw it by accident and had remembered vaguely hearing of it. If other history buffs had understood what it was, it would have been gone the first day of the sale. It's the most beautifully written and powerful book I have ever read (outside of scripture). My used book was also underlined in pencil throughout, a testament to the impact it has on the reader. I am re-reading it for the 3rd time. It's a book that you want to show people passages from and say... "see, look what happened not too long ago?"... and we are losing our collective memory of that time. I don't have the book with me, but the part that stunned me the most was when (I believe it was the late '30's) Chambers first tried to notify officials of communism in high places - he says that it was reported back to him that the President "laughed". I quickly pulled out a book that contains a fascinating interview with Father Coughlin to compare dates. Coughlin recounts a meeting with Roosevelt at the President's home along with Joe Kennedy (at Roosevelt's request) because he wanted to know why Coughlin had not been to see him recently. It was because his Bishop had come by some documents from government sources indicating there was widespread communist infiltration of government offices. Roosevelt then - a few years earlier than being approached with Chambers' information - reportedly said "It just can't be". Joe Kennedy, by the way, wrote a letter of resignation as head of the SEC that day, after hearing the information from Coughlin. I looked again at the passage in Witness and said to myself... the President "laughed"? A few years later he laughed? You see Coughlin had told Roosevelt exactly where he could find the pertinent information and facts back in Washington.

We are losing, for lack of a better phrase, our historical memory of the truth. And because of that, the various groups that promote world government are successfully tricking and fooling people. When I read Witness the first time and read that Hiss worked for Wilson's son-in-law, and Harry Dexter White was a Communist, a high government official, AND first head of the World Bank, I was, I guess I could say shocked at how long these dedicated and ongoing attempts to undermine our freedoms and sovereignty as a nation have been going on. Again, this book is powerful and beautifully, poetically written. I love it on about 5 different levels. It's great!

Rating:
Summary: Everything you've always wanted to know about Chambers!
Review: I decided to read Chambers' autobiography as a prelude to reading Tannenhaus's biography of Whittaker Chambers. Witness is certainly all you ever needed to know, or wanted to know about Chambers. At nearly 800 pages it does seem quite formidable at first glance however the work is a necessary read to complete the story of the Chambers-Hiss matter. As you read you will often smile at several original Chambers' musings which bring to mind many political situations of this age. Gregg S. Baumgartner Houston, Texas

Rating:
Summary: wonderfull story of one mans struggle
Review: I first read this book because of the recent former soviet Union documents that just came out proving once and for all Alger Hiss was agent for the soviet Union. I am only 22 and therefor didn't grow up during this episode. I was shocked after reading the book that any sane person would believe Alger Hiss wasn't a agent of the Soviet Union. It is trully sad that there are actually people living today that still think Hiss was innocent Altogether I found this book to be a brilliant story of one mans struggle against communism and the media bent on destroying him. Although He had all the evidence backing him up people still refused to believe the truth. This story shows that you should always keep an open mind and not just blindly follow people for pollitical reasons.

Eternal Vigilance is the Price of freedom. We can thank Whittaker Chambers for a small piece of the freedom we enjoy today. His courageous stand in the face of public condemnation makes him a true American Hero.

Rating:
Summary: Chamber's trial by fire . . . no one would listen . . .
Review: I loaned my first edition of "Witness" to a friend. Haven't seen it in more than 15 years.

Chambers, a literate, thought-leader in the U.S. (editor of Time Magazine), became convicted that his activities were selling out his beloved country instead of reaching for his ideal of making his homeland better.

When he wanted to tell his story of the cancer, eating away at the vitals of America, no one would listen. He searched for a listening ear who could possibly provide an antidote. The young Congressman from California, Richard Nixon, not only listened, but could be trusted.

Liberals would have us believe that the ensuing investigations were baseless, panic-driven, witch-hunts, when in fact they were critical to the survival of our country.

How many more enemies have found secure places in the vital innards of our governmental framework where they can hide and erode our freedoms. Our democratic republic is exquisitly easy to betray. We are a nation built upon and thriving up trusting each other.

We must not sleep, but be eternally vigilant. Communism and other forces who would bring down our nation have their roots in the days of Chambers and Hiss, but still thrive in the young 21st century. Their threat is not dead.

"Witness" should be required reading for all who love America, and should be a textbook for learning how to ferret our her enemies within.

Rating:
Summary: Yes Virginia, there really were communist spies...
Review: I recently read this book and was stunned at what it held. I always knew there were spies and traitors (every society, even the communist ones, has them) but to have such a large endeavor displayed before your eyes and to have it supported by reams of material evidence makes such knowledge real.

Mr. Chambers lays out why he was a communist and why he spied. He lays out the factual circumstances of his spying along with his traitorous compatriots (to include, despite "The Nation's" shrill cries of protest - Alger Hiss). He explains their motivation as well as their activities. He then goes through the agonizingly personal process of justifying his switch from communism to freedom and God. He makes clear that his choice was between two religions - the religion of man and slavery known as communism - and the religion of God and freedom - known as Christianity (as manifested in a culture of tolerance and freedom). He is explicitly personal and religious and he has been derided for such stands since he made them. His actions were a typical mix of faith, doubt, courage and cowardice, but he finally stood on the side of faith and courage and he was counted and Alger Hiss went to jail - where he belonged. Not even the slanderous bilge of "The Nation" can change that.

Kelly Whiting

Rating:
Summary: changed lives will result
Review: i was encouraged to plunge into this rather imposing work by a friend who just loved it. she was right. i am a person who values truth. i put a high priority on being able to express oneself clearly, concisely, and without shrinking from the truth. whittaker chambers does all of the above in superb fashion. i began reading this book assuming it would be a somewhat long but fairly easy read. i was wrong. the ideas and truths expressed by chambers require time and thought. i generally refuse to mix work with play, but in this case i found myself reaching for a pen to underline or emphasise large passages. they encouraged me and have reaffirmed my convictions at a time i needed it most. thank you chambers for doing what you knew you had to at a time that it seemed unwise.

Rating:
Summary: Radically change your view on the Cold War
Review: I'm currently studying as a history major and found Chambers' "Witness" an incredible insight on the Cold War period. It has affected my perspective in a way that no other book I've ever read has. Of all the books I've been assigned to read that suggested that communism is benign and that both the United States and the Soviet Union were equally culpable for the Cold War, Whittaker Chambers has provided a formidable counterweight. I wish my professors could read this book.

Rating:
Summary: What motivates these people?
Review: I've read extensively on the French and Russian Revolutions and I still can't grasp the hatred of history, society, Christianity, capitalism, etc. that leads the revolutionary to dedicate his entire being to subverting and undermining all of them. Chambers' _Witness_ talks a little of what drove him and other Communist agents to recruit, infiltrate, and spy on America. I found it a facinating and superbly well-written book.

The only drawback: I doubt that Chambers was quite as noble and naive as he paints himself and to that extent the book is a touch self-serving, but it is easy to recognize and ignore.

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