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Lesser-Known Giants of the 20th Century by Charles M. Aulino BookSurge
book review by J. Alpha
"How many major league baseball players can you name who graduated magna cum laude from Princeton, spoke seven languages and attended the Sorbonne and Columbia in the off season?"
Comprised of eleven biographical vignettes, Lesser-known Giants of the 20th Century introduces readers of all ages to a diverse array of the inspiring life stories of extraordinary men and women of various ethnic backgrounds, talents and careers—from the arenas of professional sports, politics, journalism, entertainment, academe, and banking.
Aulino's genuine excitement and admiration for the accomplishments of these historical figures is evident in his humble introduction, and in the way he unobtrusively infuses his spirit of admiration into his well-written biographical sketches, effectively creating a work that transcends the norms of being labeled as just another static collection of biographical historical essays from an uninspired biographer. Instead, Aulino successfully delivers what every good work of historical biography should deliver: a rewarding experience for both the writer and reader.
From the title through the conclusion of each biographical sketch, Aulino creates a well organized, interesting, and proficient historical narrative. And in addition to providing the specific biographical details pertinent to each of his featured achievers, Aulino provides a strong sense of the sociological and historical elements present in each of the individual's lives at the time of their achievements.
Highly recommended by The National History Club, Lesser-known Giants of the 20th Century features the life stories and accomplishments of...
- I.J. Paderewski—renowned pianist, political activist, and signer of the Treaty of Versailles
- A.P. Giannini—founder of the Bank of Italy (known today as the Bank of America) in 1904, Moe Berg—intellectual baseball player and international spy
- Max Schmeling—world heavyweight champ and reluctant symbol of Nazi power
- Joe Louis—winner of the "the fight of the century" and advocate for African-Americans in the U.S. Military
- Branch Rickey—architect of baseball's farm team system and terminator of segregation in Major League Baseball
- Margaret Chase Smith—the first woman nominated for U.S. President by a major party
- Medgar Evers—field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi during the Civil Rights struggle
- Katharine Graham—head of the Washington Post and overseer of the Watergate coverage, which lead to President Nixon's resignation
- Paul Winchell—legendary ventriloquist and inventor of the artificial heart
- Edward W. Said—an intellectual who brought attention to the plight of the Palestinians in Israel to the Western world
Selected not only for their well-known achievements, but for their "lesser known" often hidden and or overlooked back stories and accomplishments as well, Mr. Aulino writes... I was looking for stories that amaze. And I found them. His readers will agree.
Aulino sought to shine a new light on other people who accomplished great things in life, became celebrities as a result, but whose stars have grown faint over times. And now, at this time in history, just as in the past, readers who are facing so many of their own challenges and fears will find inspiration in reflecting on the stories and achievements of other people who have overcome adversity and made significant contributions in America and around the world.