The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't quite capture the imagination
Review: Great speeches - and great books - can move mountains. This book has mountains of speeches and are all the great ones are there from Moses to Mandela. But something is missing. Despite the content matter, MacArthur's editorial contribution is too flat, too dry, too short. Compare his prose with that of Safire's in the latter's "Lend Me Your Ears". Safire sets fire to our senses, MacArthur fails to stoke the embers. If you only want to read the speeches than this book is fine. But this is not the book if you are looking for an editor who can take the raw material and then explain, instruct, inspire. A useful read but there are better.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't quite capture the imagination
Review: Great speeches - and great books - can move mountains. This book has mountains of speeches and are all the great ones are there from Moses to Mandela. But something is missing. Despite the content matter, MacArthur's editorial contribution is too flat, too dry, too short. Compare his prose with that of Safire's in the latter's "Lend Me Your Ears". Safire sets fire to our senses, MacArthur fails to stoke the embers. If you only want to read the speeches than this book is fine. But this is not the book if you are looking for an editor who can take the raw material and then explain, instruct, inspire. A useful read but there are better.