Genealogy Books - Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel and Charles Lindbergh

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Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:

Summary: A lesson of commitment and ethics
Comment: I met Mr. James Newton and his wife Ellie, almost twenty five years ago in his Fort Myers real
estate office. Jim was in the process of finishing the manuscript for this outstanding book in which
he shares many life changing moments with his five unusual friends. Jim delightfully reminds us of
his firsthand experiences with them. Throughout the book, he gives us a clear understanding of how
these historical icon friends impacted his life. Each of them, 'The Uncommon Friends,' had high
standards of personal and business ethics. Reading the book is a flash back in American history.
You may have heard some of these stories previously. But they were secondhand. Now you can read in
his book as Mr. Newton relates many of these firsthand, intimate moments with Edison, Ford,
Firestone, Lindbergh and Carrel. I recommend the book!

My only regret is waiting so
long to acquire the it.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Very Interesting.
Comment: What a lucky man, to have lived and shared the time he did, with those incredible people. Mr. Newton
tells it like he lived it, you get the distinct impression, from reading this book, that Mr. Newton
saw these men as both great leaders and great men. It is impressive today to be able to get a cross
section of turn of the century greatness, all rolled up in one place. Interestingly enough, Mr.
Newton has a strong sense of faith that worked it's way into all of these relationships, yet he
incorporates it into the text with minimal overtones. I would recommend this book to anyone, like
me, that only has a passing knowledge of these people and their times, it helped to color these
people in as human.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Fascinating & stimulating
Comment: This book gives insight in many discussions on business, theology and philosophy among five
extraordinary people. But I find it regrettable that the belief of Edison, Ford & Lindbergh in
reincarnation is rather superficially worked out. Perhaps because of the religious stance of his
wife and the author.
I deem it also regrettable that no mention is made of the membership of
Edison of the Theosophical Society while it is obvious he was much inspired by the books of
Blavatsky.
Apart from a few inaccuracies (on p. 10: Edison is attributed to have received as a
gift every new car that ran from the Ford assembly line, among which the first V8. But the V8 was
introduced after the demise of this great inventor, p. 100) I find this book very readable and
stimulating.

Customer Rating:

Summary: A Truly Fascinating Book on the Lives of a Five Twentieth Ce
Comment: This book originally caught my eye as an addition to another book I read called Edison: A Life of
Invention by Paul Israel. I wanted a book that would cover a little more of Edison's personal life,
and this book did just that. However, James Newton's close, dedicated friendships with all of these
great men of the twentieth century is truly amazing, and I learned more than I would probably learn
otherwise about some of these important historical figures.

The entire book is fascinating, and
surely different parts will appeal to different readers. I was particularly enchanted with a
poignant description of how Charles Lindbergh handled dying as he lay on his deathbed. I was also
fascinated with how environmentally conscientious some of these men were, particularly Edison and
Lindbergh, but also Ford. For example, Ford was very interested in making automobile parts out of
soybeans in order to reduce the need for metal parts. It seems that all of these men had numerous
ideas and ideas for inventions that were way ahead of their time - perhaps some of them still
are.

Newton's writing is quite good, and I only have one very minor criticism: it seems that he
preaches a little bit and dwells on the religious facet of his relationships with these people. Of
course, I'm sure this was a very important part of his relationship with these men and their
families, but it seems that there is a grand, overarching agenda he has in constantly illustrating
their connection to God and religion.

If you are interested in any of these historical figures and
their fascinating relationships with each other, this book is definitely the best book you will find
on the subject.

Customer Rating:

Summary: A Fascinating Book on the Lives of Five Great Men
Comment: This book originally caught my eye as an addition to another book I read called Edison: A Life of
Invention by Paul Israel. I wanted a book that would cover a little more of Edison's personal life,
and this book did just that. However, James Newton's close, dedicated friendships with all of these
great men of the twentieth century is truly amazing, and I learned more than I would probably learn
otherwise about some of these important historical figures.

If you are interested in any of these historical figures and
their fascinating relationships with each other, this book is definitely the best book you will find
on the subject.

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