Dusty Springfield: A Life in Music

Customer Reviews:

Not the best Dusty bio.......2006-05-12

Leeson's book is factually correct, but it covers ground that was covered earlier, and in a far more compelling fashion, in the Lucy O'Brien book "Dusty" and the "Dancing with Demons" biography. Leeson tries to capture Dusty as a subject from a more academic approach, but much of what he writes comes off as speculative at best and arrogant at worst. Often, Leeson interjects personal opinion about the industry that is completely unobjective.

Book Description

On the night of April 9, 1997, Warren Macdonald, a fit and experienced bushwalker, set out to climb Mount Bowen on Hinchinbrook Island, an unspoiled tropical paradise off the Australian coast. These would be his last steps as a fully intact human being: a freak rock fall pinned him for two days alone under a one-ton boulder, resulting in a double leg amputation. A Test of Will is a story both tragic and inspiring, conveying the horror of what happened and the extraordinary spirit that helped Macdonald survive a seemingly impossible ordeal.

Customer Reviews:

Standing ovation.......2007-09-01

Very inspiring. I did see Warren MacDonald in an interview and he had so much Charisma that I wanted to read the book. An amazing story how a person can evolve through crisis, this goes for the victim as well as for the savior. Warren shows that the sky can be the limit and it is possible to put mind over matter. It is a very intense story and the way it is written, it feels like being part of it. It's remarkable how candid he describes his feelings and conclusions regarding the amputation. It gave me very important insights as I never knew anyone dealing with amputation, but it completely changed my view.

Excellent autobiography.......2007-02-05

I approached this book with some trepidation. Having just read two similar accounts of persons severely injured in the wilderness, I was in no mood to endure yet another awfully written book.

Apparently, Warren MacDonald has some writing experience or perhaps a very good editor. In either case, readers are treated to an exceptionally interesting book chronically the course of Warren's maverick life.

As expected, Warren first immerses his readers in the gripping tale of his entrapment beneath a one-ton rock as fellow hiker Geert van Keulen frantically goes for help. An added feature of the book are the Geert van Keulen written sections covering his side of the experience.

In interspersed chapters, reader's learn of Warren's introduction to the wilderness, his doomed efforts to save a portion of it, and his eventual and emotional efforts with friends and family to overcome the loss of his legs. Showing his maturity, Warren is wise enough to thank all those folks responsible for his rescue and long recovery.

This is truly a well written and inspiring take on the age old ideal of never giving up.

Elliot M........2006-12-14

Wow! I knew how it ended and I still couldn't put it down. It's a great message in an even better book.

The Most Inspirational Story I Have Ever Read!!!.......2006-12-12

After you read this book, everything in your life will be measured by the BEFORE Warren, or the AFTER Warren Macdonald experience. Because one thing is certain, you will NEVER see the world in the same way, AFTER
reading Warren's book. There are some books that change your life, your heart, your mind and your perspective forever.... and then there is Warren's book, that is far greater than that! Warren will change how you value life itself. Warren will change how you feel inside your own skin! Warren will transform your
relationship with the Earth; and he will do it with an honesty, a directness and a sincerity that you will never forget.

There are some stories that forever change who YOU are by reading them. There are some people whose courage and strength, redefine what it means to be alive and successful. I am a better person for having read
Warren's book; how many authors can say that about their literary contributions?

Vaishali

An inspiring case study in transcending adversity!.......2006-12-10

Think you've had a bad day?

Outdoorsman extraordinaire Warren MacDonald literally got caught between a rock and a hard place during one backcountry hike Down Under. This is an inspiring first-person narrative of his horrendous experience and his enduring will to adapt to this setback and use it as a positive force in his life.

Whether or not you were a rock climber or an outdoorsman, MacDonald's story offers an excellent case study in overcoming adversity.

A Test Of Will: One Man's Extraordinary Story Of Survival

Average customer rating:

A Test Of Will: One Man's Extraordinary Story Of Survival
Warren MacDonald
Manufacturer: Greystone Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P62XDG

Book Description

This is the most definitive survey yet of Alice Faye's unique career in film, recording, broadcasting and on stage, a career that began in 1933 and which is still flourishing today as a spokesperson for the elderly on health issues. Even as a child, Alice Faye, born Alice Jean Leppert, was drawn to the stage. On Saturdays Alice and her mother would attend matinees at the Broadway theaters, where Alice would loiter by the stage door pretending she was leaving for her own engagement. Faye's first break came as a dancer for the Chester Hale troupe. Her dancing chores trained her well for when she auditioned successfully for impressario George White. Faye was cast in the eleventh edition of "George White's Scandals," which opened on September 14, 1931. Faye was now making $60 a week, in a company that included such young luminaries as Ethel Merman and Ray Bolger. Faye was soon taken under the wing of Rudy Vallee, the renowned radio crooner and recording star of the day. She debuted on his radio program in December of 1932, and became a regular shortly thereafter. Her career in film musicals began a year later when she was signed to do a musical number on a restyled movie edition of "George White's Scandals," at Fox Studios in Hollywood. In addition to individual chapters on each facet of her life, the book features an annotated bibliography of book, magazine, and newspaper sources. All undocumented quotes in the introductory biography are from first hand remarks of people contacted by the author. The filmography of feature films is arranged in chronological order, with five other Faye appearances in clips or film shorts listed separately. The discography chapter lists her recordings alphabetically and by category. This section also lists compact disc releases and miscellaneous compilations on tape. The broadcasting chapter covers appearances on radio and television in chronological order. The stage chapter also lists Faye's appearances in chronological order. The annotated bibliography is arranged in alphabetical order by author or by article title if no author is identified. Specialized appendixes and a general index and song index complete the volume. The song index lists songs exclusively featuring Faye (or in accompaniment with others) in her film, broadcasting and stage appearances. This book will be of interest to all Alice Faye fans and to anyone interested in the history of film musicals.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive but faulty.......2005-12-26

Theses Bio-bibliographies vary in quality. This is not one of the better ones. The volume is full of inaccuracies and VERY expensive but it certainly captures the breadth of Alice Faye's career and for anyone who thinks of her only as a film actress, it is a revelation.

However, the errors and sloppy editing could have been avoided because the author had access to all the corrections but did not bother. Sadly, this perpetuates the errors so that the uninformed just does not know what is correct and what is not.

The references to articles about Faye and interviews with her are particularly useful for those who wish to learn more.

Definitely Worthwhile For Faye Fans.......2000-10-22

I've owned the Alice Faye book for several years, and consider it a very useful, and even affectionate, look at Faye's career. The author clearly admires the star, and in the filmography chapter he does print contemporary reviews that prove how highly Faye was regarded. The bibliography alone encompasses an enormous amount of material that has been written about Faye, and even the complete log of her radio show with husband Phil Harris is accounted for. The volume even includes information I previously had no knowledge of-- such as Faye's post-Hollywood career as a representative for a pharmaceutical firm. I appreciate that a reference book as this has been done--there are some excellent photographs too.

A Well Intentioned Mess.......2000-06-27

Greenwood Press offers yet another example of it's policy of publishing something... anything... just because it's not yet in their cataloge. Those seeking an overview of Alice Faye's career will find all the basic facts (many of them wrong) in this work, which resembles nothing so much as xeroxed pages stapled together. In no instance do we get any feeling for the performer as a person, just a rundown of "and then she did..." or "and then she recorded..." etc. Such a long lived and important career deserves far, far better than this overpriced rubbish.

Alice Faye deserves better.......1998-08-24

To anyone looking at this book for information it is quite impressive. People giving these rave reviews aaasume the information in the book is correct. Anyone who knows about Alice Faye would know that the information in this book is unreliable. There is a mistake of some kind on almost every page. The author was given a wealth of information/corrections to work with but he and the publisher were more interested in getting it done now than getting it done right. It's a shame that people refer to these so-called "reference books", assume what their reading is fact, and the mistakes get copied over and over. To sum it up - opportunity lost. A big let-down for people who love Alice Faye. The book to find, although not as broad in scope, is "The Alice Faye Movie Book" (aka "The Films of Alice Faye"). It was written by someone who actually saw every film.

Book Description

A biography of Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly which discusses his life and works, including concert performances.

Average customer rating:

Zoltan Kodaly: A Hungarian Musician
Percy M. YOUNG
Manufacturer: Ernest Benn Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VQE2SO

Customer Reviews:

Dazed and Confused.......2002-09-03

This book is a confusing set of devices and instructions for players and storytellers alike. It is hard to read and equally hard to understand--i found my High School government textbook easier to read than this. However, if you do want to give you Tremere scorcer/witch a bit more depth i would recomend this book, and its companion book.

Great assistance for storytellers.......2001-11-18

I will rarely say in these reviews on Amazon.com that that "only X type of person should read this" but this review is one exception. I think this book has so much information, so many great ideas and guidelines, and clan background that it is really only useful for storytellers and maybe wouldbe writers who like the "world of darkness". I think a player would get a lot of ideas, many of which would not be compatible with a story from this book so the best way to combat that and still allow Tremere and other magic using Kindred to develop would be for storyteller and player to look at this book together. I think it does a good job of detailing how to design paths and rituals, a sample worksheet might help in this regard, but also in talking about the limitations of the practice of bloodmagic.

BAMPH!!!!!!.......2000-08-21

A book detailing the complex discipline of Thaumaturgy has been long needed. This is a really good one and while it doesn't solve all the problems created by the past handling of Thaumaturgy in VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE, it goes a long way toward clarifying and further developing the discipline.

The book discussed the history and theory of vampiric blood magic. We learn that it predates the Tremere, for example, and hear about basic principles of magical workings. There is discussion about the difference between a Tremere vampire and a True Mage (metaphysical, mostly, and assumes familiarity with MAGE- for more practical instructions on vampires and mages, see VAMPIRE: STORYTELLERS HANDBOOK), how non-Tremere might learn Thaumaturgy and some examples of arcane tomes. Most of it is clearly explained (with few exceptions like the unnecessarily ambiguous section about the difference between spirits and demons).

There are welcome sections outlining the Koldunic sorcery of the Tzimisce (finally!) and voodoo-derived traditions of Necromancy. Both the Assamites and the Setites have their own traditions of blood magic, detailed here. There are paths derived from Alchemy and Kaballah. Biothaumatugy is recycled from SECRETS OF THE BLACK HAND.

Unfortunately, while the material introduced here is superb, the book doesn't pull together the various little bits of Thaumaturgy scattered between VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE and VAMPIRE: DARK AGES. It just once again gives us more and better. It would have been nice, for example, to have an appendix showing which previously introduced paths and rituals are in which books. Furthermore, some storytellers seem intimidated about Thaumaturgy and disallow it as "too complicated". Step by step instructions (and a pep talk) might have been good, too. I should mention also that this book is about vampiric blood magic ONLY- no numinas or hedge magic more appropriate to allies like ghouls.

Way to bring the magi into focus.......2000-07-27

This is an excellent source for new Tremere players alnog with old ones. The information about the workings of Thaumaturgy in this book is excellent and it provides you with the things you need to properly be a true Tremere. There is info on Necromancy and Koldunic Sorcery also but since this is a book on Thaumaturgy the other two are not described in such depth as Thaumaturgy was.

A Tremere Elder's view on Blood Magic.......2000-02-27

As an Elder of Clan Tremere (-or just a long term Tremere player), I was very pleased to see this new teatise for upcoming apprentices (-White Wolf publish a book dedicated to Thaumaturgy). This book isn't merely a long list of new and revamped rituals and paths (although it had its share),it is an explanation of what is unquestionably the most complicated discipline. I found the history of Blood Magic to be well thought out, as well as the discussion of "how it works". All in all, a MUST READ for any Tremere (-player, as well as anyone fond of thaumaturgy) apprentice.

Average customer rating:

Managerial Material

This book featured in Fortune Magazine

Individual Responsibility Exposed

The first sentence floored me

Take Responsibility for Team Success

Teamwork Is an Individual Skill: Getting Your Work Done When Sharing Responsibility
Christopher M. Avery , Meri Aaron Walker , and Erin O'Toole
Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Book of Agreement: 10 Essential Elements for Getting the Results You Want

Quick Teambuilding Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutes

Increasing the Odds for High-Performance Teams: Lessons Learned

Teamwork: What Must Go Right/What Can Go Wrong (SAGE Series in Interpersonal Communication)

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player: Becoming the Kind of Person Every Team Wants

ASIN: 1576751554

Book Description

Teamwork Is an Individual Skill argues that learning to work with others may be the most important skill in the knowledge economy. The book promotes productive relationships by focusing on five abilities: assuming personal responsibility for productive relationships; creating powerful partnerships; aligning individuals around a shared purpose; trusting when something is "just right"; and developing a collaborative mindset.

Customer Reviews:

Managerial Material.......2007-08-24

This book is a must for anyone who is managing an office. if your office is full of egotistical employees or employees who are not term players, this book will help you to help employess get on the right track.

This book featured in Fortune Magazine.......2006-06-15

Excerpt from Fortune Article: How to build a great team by Jerry Useem, FORTUNE, June 1, 2006: 3:31 PM EDT

........ The fact is, most of what you've read about teamwork is bunk. So here's a place to start: Tear down those treacly motivational posters of rowers rowing and pipers piping. Gather every recorded instance of John Madden calling someone a "team player." Cram it all into a dumpster and light the thing on fire. Then settle in to really think about what it means to be a team.

We're certainly not against the concept of teamwork. But that's the point: All the happy-sounding twaddle obscures the actual practice of it. And teamwork is a practice. Great teamwork is an outcome; you can only create the conditions for it to flourish. Like getting rich or falling in love, you cannot simply will it to happen.

We will go further and say: Teamwork is an individual skill. That happens to be the title of a book. Christopher Avery writes, "Becoming skilled at doing more with others may be the single most important thing you can do" to increase your value - regardless of your level of authority.

As work is increasingly broken down into team-sized increments, Avery's argument goes, blaming a "bad team" for one's difficulties is, by definition, a personal failure, since the very notion of teamwork implies a shared responsibility. You can't control other people's behavior, but you can control your own. Which means that there is an "I" in team after all. (Especially in France, where they spell it Equipe.)

Individual Responsibility Exposed.......2006-03-21

Many of us charged with leading teams are expected to take the role of 'scapegoat' for team performance. While most of us agree that the team leader does contribute (critically) to the team's success, each individual member can and does impact the team's performance. This book provides a validation that individuals impact teams and goes further to explain that every team member has an obligation to provide for the success of the team. This book helps empower those that want to make a difference in their teams.

The first sentence floored me.......2003-04-16

The book entitled "Teamwork is an Individual Skill" is quite interesting. I work at a large semi-conductor manufacturer as a non-exempt fab technician on a self managed team on night shift.

I am the most experienced and capable person on my team, yet with all of my background I have come to realize how relatively little influence I often have on team performance, and on my ability to push the team in the direction I think it should go. The very first sentence in your book on page 1, "Do you share responsibility with others to get work done but don't have authority over them (and they don't have authority over you)?" absolutely floored me, 'cause that is me to the tee.

I had only gotten to page 8 of your book when I was thoroughly blown away by the directness with which the differences between flat and hierarchical structures were addressed. At my company there is no mention of this approach; even once when I mentioned the term "semi-autonomous team" to the most qualified tech (who happened to be on day shift--arguably a more hierarchical environment due to the presence of many exempt employees) he did not know what the term meant. The company has this structure in place almost as an unwritten agenda.

Your comment on page 5, "Many individuals--especially smart, high achievers--can experience great angst if asked to serve in teams." is in retrospect a great source of comfort to help me understand my angst during my three years with this company. In all of the areas I have worked in during that time I am sure that I had (at least on paper) more qualifications than any one other person (B.S. deg, two A.A.S. degs, 12+ prior years of technical experience, and a whole host of other skills that my teammates do not exhibit.) Plus add to that, that my experience has almost exclusively come from a strongly tilted hierarchical background in retrospect is why I struggled with teams, as you describe them.

Every page of your book is quite thought-provoking, causing me to pause and reflect on how your observations compare to my situation.

Take Responsibility for Team Success.......2002-05-16

For years, I have resisted the popular notion of "there is no `I' in "teamwork" because teams are a collection of individuals working toward a common goal. Each of us brings our own values and skill sets to the table. It is our choice to work together (or not) as a team.
Christopher M. Avery has captured this idea and more in his latest book, Teamwork is an Individual Skill: Getting Work Done When Sharing Responsibility. Chris suggests that individuals take responsibility for team success versus blame others He challenges the reader to be proactive and work through team issues rather than avoid or accommodate others.
This is a perfect book for team members who have been on teams before. It will validate good team behaviors and point out areas to upgrade...in a gentle and non-threatening way. The book is easy to read with lots of stories and examples to highlight the key points.

Amazon.com

Tom Brokaw has turned his popular book The Greatest Generation into a trilogy. After that first success came The Greatest Generation Speaks. Now there's An Album of Memories, a collection of letters and photos sent to Brokaw by readers who grew up during the Depression and came of age during World War II.

An Album of Memories simply overflows with nostalgia. "We were privileged to grow up in a time when honor, truth, loyalty, duty, and patriotism were real and meant something," writes Robert Cromer. Another correspondent, Douglas G. Fish, describes his own wartime experience--and that of many others--with an elegant simplicity: "I went in the service as a boy and came out a man." There are poignant letters from the dead. One reader submitted this one, sent home in 1942: "Dear Mom, I got your package and Dot's letter today. Boy, the cookies were swell, all the boys send their thanks. Not a one of them was crushed either." Almost exactly a year later, the writer was killed on a bombing run. Another man shares "the last letter my father wrote, three days before he died." It reads: "Tomorrow is D-Day at Iwo Jima--right on Japan's front doorstep--we will go in and lay nets sometime during the assault.... I have faith in God to help us through to victory but am prepared to die for America and face our Lord if He so wills it." The son who sent this letter to Brokaw wasn't even born until after his father had been killed: "I read [this letter] every year on Memorial Day, cry a lot, and think of what a hero he was," he writes.

It's hard not to agree with that assessment, and it applies to so many of those who fought bravely in Europe or the Pacific, as well as those who maintained the home front. All of them have their say in this attractive volume. --John J. Miller

Book Description

“I cannot go anywhere in America without people wanting to share their wartime experiences....The stories and the lessons have emerged from long-forgotten letters home, from reunions of old buddies and outfits, from unpublished diaries and home-published memoirs....As the stories in this album of memories remind us, it truly was an American experience, from the centers of power to the most humble corners of the land.”
—Tom Brokaw

In this beautiful American family album of stories from the Greatest Generation, the history of life as it was lived during the Depression and World War II comes alive and is preserved in people’s own words. Photographs and time lines also commemorate important dates and events. An Army Air Corps veteran who enlisted in 1941 at age seventeen writes to describe the Bataan Death March. A black nurse tells of her encounter with wartime segregation. Other members of the Greatest Generation describe their war—in such historic episodes as Guadalcanal, the D-Day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, and Midway—as well as their lives on the home front. Starting with the Depression and Pearl Harbor, moving on through the war years in Europe, in the Pacific, and at home, this unique book preserves a people’s rich historical heritage and the legacy of a nation’s heroism in war and its courage in peace—in the shaping of their lives and of the world we have today.

Download Description

History comes alive in Brokaw's beautiful American family album of stories, reflections, memorabilia, and photos. Starting with the Depression and Pearl Harbor on through the war in Europe and the Pacific, this unusual book preserves a people's rich historical heritage and the legacy of a nation's heroism.

Customer Reviews:

More memories from the "Greatest Generation".......2004-08-04

Brokaw provides another moving tribute to what he refers to as the "Greatest Generation." Many of the letters included here are quite emotional and touching. This book also includes timelines for the war in Europe, the Pacific, and the homefront, as well as the depression, and also touches on areas not addressed in the two earlier books. There is also an abundance of period photographs and copies of documents, submitted by the letter writers. These help to put a human face on the various stories.

Wonderful gift for the older and greater generation.......2002-12-08

I found this book while searching on Amazon.com for gift ideas. I have not read the book but it seems to be just what I need to finish a gift for my father. My parents grew up during the Great Depression and as a result saved everything. Last year I cleaned out the attic of the family home and sorted through bags and boxes of what we now refer to as disposable items such as bags of pencil stubs (did they really think they would use them again...especially if they are stuffed in the attic?). However, being the child of "savers" has paid off. I am preparing an "album of memories" of the original letters that my father, Roger Griffith, a WWII Navy veteran, sent to his parents during the war. I plan to buy Mr. Brokaw's "An Album of Memories" as a companion to the my album. Mr. Brokaw has again made gift giving easier for the older and greater generation. Thank you.

Trenchant, poignant, touching!.......2001-10-31

Being a baby boomer, I have not truly experienced war, albeit was born during WWII and have never failed to be impressed by its stories of bravery, of sacrifice, of unrelenting determination to pursue the glory that awaits those WWII heroes who have not died in vain, for all of us, and for our country. I have only read the book reviews but I feel that I have read the entire book. I also fully concur with my fellow book reviewers that the WWII veterans are, perhaps, not the most recognized, to this writing, as opposed to those veterans of recent wars. Some of the WWII veterans have long died, as well, such as those from the Bataan Death March, waiting to be recognized in vain. This is what truly hurts the most.

Characteristic of Mr. Brokaw's deservedly multi-awarded journalistic style, he has, and continues to impress on the whole world how vital and necessary it is for us to love history (as does this Filipino-American journalist reviewer with all of my strength, my mind, my will, my heart, and my soul so much so that it runs in my veins).

The book is a must-read for all future journalists. I cannot but add it to my personal library.

The Many Honorable Dimensions of Sacrifice and Caring.......2001-08-27

This book brings the dangerous and trouble-laden world of the 1930s and 1940s to life in a remarkably vivid and compelling way. Almost every letter comes with a photograph or memorabilia that make you realize that many of the servicemen and women were just kids when they moved into their place in history. They wanted to fall in love, marry, and raise a nice family. But first they had to take on incredible risk on land, on the beaches, at sea, and in the air around the world in places that they had never heard of. If they didn't become injured or killed, they knew that it was just a quirk of fate that they did not. Everyone lost family members, friends, buddies, and heroes. If they worked as a medic, they saw more ravaged bodies than we can imagine. Many still bear the pain of their wounds today. Nightmares continue to haunt the dreams of many others. Yet most have spared their families the full horror of that experience. Through Mr. Brokaw's books, we can better imagine some of what it might have been like.

My Dad was pretty open about many of his experiences in the Eighth Air Force, but every so often a new one slips out. I suspect that even in these stories we are getting a censored version of what the actual experience was like. Dad did share the number of times that Luftwaffe bombs blew up part of his barracks (while he was sleeping there) and obliterated his sleeping area (when he was away on leave). What he remembered most searingly were the horrors of the shot-up crews returning from bombing runs over Europe (especially when they crashed in a ball of flames) and officers committing suicide by jumping off the top deck of his ship on the way home. As a youngster, I was terribly surprised and thrilled when former president Eisenhower came through our hometown and recognized my father in the crowd at the train station, and called Dad by name and rank. We had no inkling that Dad had met the president. Dad's response was simply that he had met a lot of the top brass, but he never told us any of their names.

Our family was lucky. My parents met because of the war, so my life was immeasurably influenced for the better. None of my father or mother's families were killed or physically injured in World War II. One uncle did experience shell shock as a teenager in the Battle of the Bulge, and had to avoid stressful situations for the rest of his life. From this book, I was able to imagine what it was like for families that were not so fortunate.

I was surprised to see that many of the veterans and their families had never been back to the battlegrounds and cemetaries. I asked Dad a number of years ago if he wanted to go back. He said he didn't care if he did or not (a typical Greatest Generation answer), but my Mother did. So my wife and I gave them a trip to England as a present. They had a ball, and saw many of the old sights. My Mother said that it seemed to do him a lot of good to see things back in peaceful circumstances. But there was no way that we could presuade him to go to France or Germany on the trip. He gave no reason. I suspect that the pain of the memories of those he had known who had died om bombing runs over that territory would have been too great for him.

Since then, I have attended a reunion of Dad's old unit, and was pleasantly surprised to see how much the men care for each other. I don't know of another man my father was ever close to after World War II, but here were dozens he knew well and liked. It was a side of him that I had never seen.

This book contains many memories like these. Often written by family members, the introduction then puts letters from the veteran into evidence at the court of history for us to experience.

You will be powerfully moved by the stories of sacrifice (whether from being POWs, lack of supplies, discrimination, or the chilling experience being exposed to grave danger), loss (families losing their only child, wives losing husbands after just becoming pregnant, and veterans losing their buddies), and willingness to serve (great efforts to volunteer when too young or too old, to volunteer for tough duty, and trying to help all and sundry). One of the most powerful for me was the description of the horrors of a concentration camp that was considered well kept by the Nazis in order to make a good impression on the Red Cross. Most moving for me was the sense of forgiveness that many veterans felt towards their former enemies.

If you know someone who served in World War II (whether a family member or not), I hope you will consider giving them this book and saying "thank you." After a few months have passed, ask them if they will tell you their story. If they will share, why not ask them if they would be willing to let you make copies of old letters and memorabilia so that you can send them to Mr. Brokaw? In this way, we can capture more of what happened then, honor these wonderful people, and pass on their legacy to generations yet unborn.

May the best and most important of these memories live forever!

TEN STARS.......2001-07-27

Also read The Greatest Generation Speaks: Letters and Reflections by Tom Brokaw since these really belong together.And they are books that young people will love as well as those older.

Got the books because my birth father was a POW in WW2 and all I had was memories of what others remembered of him and the basic TV, etc., series on WW2 etc. And I wanted to know more about what his generation was like. In reading both of Mr. Brokaws books I also have gained a whole new respect for the quiet nature of these heroes who live amongst us.

Buy the books and get copies for your local library and public school libraries. And if your parents are still alive consider reading them aloud to them and discussing the book, WW2, Korean War and what they remember.

Mr. Brokaw has reminded me that it is true "military cemeteries are full of books never written."

Book Description

West Point - the name resonates through the annals of American history from its earliest pages down to the present day. Established by the founding fathers of a fledgling democratic nation, the United States Military Academy has, in 200 years, trained the leaders of American land forces in every major battle from the Civil War to Afghanistan, instilling in them the creed that has become part of the American cultural fabric - DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.

West Point: The First 200 Years is a celebration in words and pictures of the venerable military academy's remarkable role in our nation's history. Published to coincide with the Academy's bicentennial, this lavish commemorative book tells the story of West Point, from its awkward beginnings to the divisiveness of the Civil War through the social challenges of the modern era - including the admission of the first African American and female cadets and the backlash of the Vietnam War.

Woven into the fabric of this extraordinary history are the stories and images of the larger-than-life characters that people the Academy's past: Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Douglas MacArthur, and H. Norman Schwarzkopf to name just a few.

Stunning, full-color photographs of the campus as it looks today, archival images of the Academy, and photos of artifacts and memorabilia from the West Point Museum's collections are featured throughout the pages of this beautiful keepsake volume. The perfect souvenir of the Academy's 200th anniversary, this book will be a treasure not just for West Point alumni and their families, but for anyone with an interest in American history. (8 3/4 x 11 1/4, 208 pages, color photos, b&w photos)

Customer Reviews:

Very, very nice.......2002-07-27

Partly because I grew up as an Army brat, I've always been fascinated by the military and naval academies, as far back as the 1950s TV series "The Long Grey Line." This coffee table book is a companion to a special on PBS marking the 200th anniversary of President Jefferson's founding of a military educational institution at West Point, up the Hudson from New York. It's a gorgeous piece of work, with as much attention given to the text as to the pictures, tracing the Academy from its floundering first few years, to the sixteen-year reign of Superintendent Sylvanus Thayer (the true father of the school), through the classes that supplied most of the leaders on both sides of the Civil War (who all had served together in the War with Mexico), through the long years leading up to World War I. Fifty-nine of the cadets in the Class of 1915 ("the Class the Stars Fell On") became general officers, and one became president. During the later days of the Vietnam War, cadets seldom left the school, they were so badly treated by civilians their own age, and there were several major cheating scandals -- the author doesn?t whitewash any of that stuff -- but the Academy, having revised itself almost continuously for two centuries -- seems to be coming back. This is a beautiful book.

Glossy photos, glossy history.......2002-07-16

I admit I didn't watch the PBS program to which this book is 'companion,' but I have no doubt that the pretty pictures on TV matched the pretty pictures in this book. In fact, that's probably the biggest impression I carry away from this book: it's very ... colorful. The text gives an adequate history of the US Military Academy, hitting on all the requisite high points: Thayer, Lee, Flipper, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Hollen, and so on. The images -- portraits, old maps, memorabilia from the USMA museum, etc -- decently illustrate the text (though the contemporary photos mixed in with the historic ones are sometimes rather *non sequitur* to what's being discussed). Among the great piles of books and videos that have been produced to observe West Point's bicentennial, I'm sure this picture book will be very popular. But I suspect it will mean more to people who didn't themselves actually attend the school. Those who did will find little that's new -- and despite the Academy's official cooperation with this production, may find the book too, well, glossy for their tastes.

great history.......2002-02-03

Great companion to the PBS show. Reminds of us what we have to be proud of. Perfect gift for any fan of american history.

The Truth.......2002-02-03

This book is by far the best of the group. Without a doubt, this is a must-have book if you are interested in the West Point history. Don't let all the other books out there about this topic stop you from reading one that is clearly worth your time.

A Great History of West Point.......2002-02-03

I have read several books about West Point but this is easily one of the best. Many books have come out recently about this topic but dont let this one slip by you. Some people think that all the recent books are an attempt to capitalize on the 200 year aniversary but this one is clearly more than that. Not only is this a great book by itself but it is also a wonderful companion to the PBS televsion program.

Book Description

Almost two years after the "fall of Baghdad," the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Ordinary Iraqis wait in line for basic necessities like clean water and fuel, while the number of civilians and soldiers killed escalates in tandem with the billions of US tax dollars spent. In Iraq, Inc.: A Profitable Occupation, Pratap Chatterjee delivers an on-the-ground account of the occupation business, exposing private contractors as the only winners in this war.

Pratap Chatterjee is an award-winning journalist and program director of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Corpwatch. His early coverage of Bechtel was named Best Business Story by the National Newspaper Association, and he is the recipient of four Project Censored awards.

Customer Reviews:

A "must-read" expose for anyone studying the recent war in Iraq and its aftermath.......2005-08-14

Written by award-winning investigative journalist Pratap Chatterjee, Iraq, Inc.: A Profitable Occupation is a scathing indictment of how the American occupation has proven immensely enriching to private corporations - at the expense of American taxpayers and the freedom, safety, and economic stability of the Iraqi people. Chapters discuss the scams and frauds involved in reconstruction, the constant threatening presence of military men, militiamen, and civilians with guns, and the questionable and arguably unstable "shadow government" being set up. The author concludes his words in July of 2004, in fear of the future of Iraq. America and Iraq both need desperately to grapple with the difficult issues and outright larceny in order to promote the transformation of Iraq as a place where people can live without fear, and seek their destiny without the burdens of economic poverty or the hovering threat of violence. A "must-read" expose for anyone studying the recent war in Iraq and its aftermath.

Level-headed insight.......2005-06-19

I worked in Baghdad for an NGO outside the "green zone" and later worked for a British contractor that bid for reconstruction projects in Iraq on the basis there'd always be substantial Iraqi participation in all projects and decision-making. Chatterjee's Iraq, Inc is a well-researched, fair analysis of the deep involvement of big business and vested interests in the post-invasion management of Iraq, and provides striking insight as to why the last two years of occupation have gone disastrously wrong for both the US occupation authorities and the Iraqi people. Nothing in this book contradicts my experience of the sad implosion of post-invasion Iraq, changing Iraqi attitudes to the occupation and the reconstruction gravy train. A must read for those who want to understand where management of the post-war period has gone wrong; and for current green-zone employees who still haven't quite appreciated what they've contributed to in their blinded, do-gooding pompousness. A fascinating and sometimes (sadly) comic read.

Looking at the world through smoke covered glasses...........2005-05-01

The author is a passionate speaker, as evidenced in a recent C-Span Radio interview on his new book, listened to by yours truly while sitting in the Green Zone, Baghdad. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this "writer". Complete fabrications, sensational accusations based on misinterpretations of the most innocuous events, and a fundamental lack of understanding of the urban street war that exists in Iraq. He brags about all the places he's been, reporting on "Burger Kings in Kosovo...Starbucks in Afghanistan"

Well, I've been everywhere he's been (and more), and unlike his casual left-skewed tourist trips, I'm STILL in Baghdad. I understand everything he talks about and at the risk of sounding like a right-wing "nut"; I can tell you that his reporting is not even good enough for Fox News. He demonstrates extremely poor writing through unfounded conclusions, with no real understanding of the issues he makes so accusatory. It strikes me as a hatchet job for the leftists, bemoaning Big Business which obviously is a front for Satan, and piloting a careening world to Doomsday all for a buck...with Bush and Cheney at the helm. NOT!

Unfortunately, Chatterjee really lacks fundamental reporting skills. Why? Because he set out to tell a story, and was not swayed by the facts. Honestly, I cannot speculate as to whether he's got a strong third-world liberal bias, or whether he's just not very intelligent...but this writing project is better suited for one of those throw-away papers you get in the seamy areas of LA, New York or San Francisco...you know the ones with all the sex ads in the back? At least there you are sure you're reading the output of a fringe writer who could otherwise not be employable in a mainstream journalistic position.

Unfounded accusations against the US, major Corporations, policy decisions... Amazingly, he found nothing good about the Iraq situation, and attributes it all to American Imperialism and, at the end of it all, suggests that it was all a Republican plot to revive the economy.

I'm surprised he does not discuss space aliens, geodesic domes, mental telepathy and the importance of eating Chicken Karma everyday.

Frankly, Chatterjee is an extremely poor journalist, writing about a sensitive, easily misinterpreted subject that will sell books no mater how bad the writing.

Folks - this is bad writing. The down-side is that he misconstrues events, makes sweeping generalizations without substantive fact-finding, and simply fails to understand. Avoid it, and read Google News. Whatever your political persuasion, you'll still have that sense of honor or umbrage, but you'll have saved $15 that's much better spent in church, or in the Salvation Army kettle, or even at the Kosovo Burger King...but don't give it to this guy - simply to reward bad writing & prejudiced behaviors. That does no one any good - no matter what side of the issue you're on.

All About War Profiteering.......2005-04-04

Everyone knows that war is evil, deadly, horrible, etc. However, what some may not know is that war is also very mercenary - much of war is about a relatively few making huge amounts of money. The author writes a book explaining the war profiteering and corruption behind the war in Iraq. The author recently did an author event on C-Span2 BookTV which was very enlightening and added to the information in the book.

It's all to line Haliburton...etc's pocket.......2005-01-16

The recent 'war' in Iraq is a textbook example of corrupt government.

An administration front-loaded with many oil industry executives sent American soldiers to invade a sovereign country using fabricated evidence. The only freedom we were interested in was attempting to ensure that America would have a free oil supply.

Even after UN data revealed there were no WMD's, we quickly transformed a disarmament mandate into a regime change. Many of the same people who would be howling with anger if America's self-determination rights were similarly breached became oddly silent when we decided for ourselves that Iraq needed new (and more pro-American) leadership.

We have now reluctantly learned that the Iraqi's themselves were not happy to live under an American colonial government (regardless of what we were calling it). While we were talking about 'democracy' and 'freedom', we were preventing the Iraqi people from deciding if they actually wanted us in their own country.

Not doubting that Saddam was a brutal dictator, I question whether the Iraq policies of the Bush regime were any more humane.

Book Description

"Despite the fact that I have studied environmental justice from a women's-centered perspective for the last twenty years, every page of this book taught me something new. I found it so engaging that I couldn't bear to put it down." --Celene Krauss, professor, women's studies and sociology, Kean University "Keeping to its core of the environmental justice movement, where women shape the leadership of the grassroots, New Perspectives on Environmental Justice captures the historical and contemporary roles of gender and sexuality in environmental justice studies. A truly transformative collection whose leading insights every student, teacher, and scholar of environmental justice must confront." --Robert Figueroa, university studies, program coordinator of environmental studies and Latin American studies, Colgate University Women make up the vast majority of activists and organizers of grassroots movements fighting against environmental ills that threaten poor and people of color communities. New Perspectives on Environmental Justice is the first collection of essays that pays tribute to the enormous contributions women have made in these endeavors. The writers offer varied examples of environmental justice issues such as children's environmental-health campaigns, cancer research, AIDS/HIV activism, the Environmental Genome Project, and popular culture, among many others. Each one focuses on gender and sexuality as crucial factors in women's or gay men's activism and applies environmental justice principles to related struggles for sexual justice. Drawing on a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives, the contributors offer multiple vantage points on gender, sexuality, and activism. Feminist/womanist impulses shape and sustain environmental justice movements around the world, making an understanding of gender roles and differences crucial for the success of these efforts. Rachel Stein is professor of English and director of women's and multicultural studies at Siena College in New York. She is the author of Shifting the Ground: American Women Writers' Revisions of Nature, Gender and Race, and is coeditor of The Environmental Justice Reader: Politics, Poetics, and Pedagogy.

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