The Secret File on John Birch

Book Description

Birch was a young man any American would have been proud to call son. While he's affected thousands, his death could have changed the course of history... except for the massive cover-up by U.S. government officials.

Customer Reviews:

A True Hero.......2007-03-27

While there could be better books on John Birch, more than likely this is the only one that will ever be published. With this in mind, it is an excellent account of one of the true military heroes of World War II and a Christian as well. Birch's name has been sullied by its use for the right-wing political organization and few are aware of who he really was. Although he is slightly known in the fundamentalist Baptist circles that produced him, even then very little is known about him other than that he was a missionary in China who became an intelligence officer and was killed by Chinese communists at the end of World War II. The authors have done a good job of documenting his life. Every American, Christians especially, should read this book.

John Birch stood up for Christ and the gospel!.......2006-05-16

It was amazing to read this testimony of a Christian. I can only agree with so many of John Birch's convictions and views whether it is his stand against liberalism in American colleges and against communism abroad. If the message of John Birch had reached all of America in time, China would be a different nation today. There was a chance back then to defeat Chinese communism. It did not happen and look what a tyranny China is today. Most of all I like that John Birch stood squarely for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the inerrancy of the Bible, for salvation by grace through faith, for soulwinning, for world missions. He must have had some strong dispensational, premillenial views. This book encouraged me greatly and I do recommend it esp. to college and high school students as well as those interested in Bible-believing mission work.

A thrilling biography of one of the greatest Americans........2003-06-02

I found it difficult to put this book down before had I finished it, and I can't say that about many books that I have read.

The Hefleys did a superb job "painting a picture" of the short life of this incredible man. Birch was a very "intense" character; I got the impression he was always working on something, he was non-stop...whether it was the rescue of the Doolittle crew, or setting up an intelligence network across the entirety of China or most importantly, bringing Chinese brothers and sisters to Christ, John never let anything stand in his way.

It has been said (in this book and in other sources) that John's death was a result of his "irrational behavior" which in turn, was a result of 3 years of his non-stop activity behind enemy lines. But from what I read, I understand that John knew something that the rest of these people did not understand. You see, John was a very intelligent man...how many English-speaking people do you know are capable of mastering several Chinese dialects in 6 weeks?

John saw something about these "agrarian reformers--" he saw the pure wickedness within them. So John, at the very end of his life, was willing to sacrifice himself, in order to make a demonstration as to whether the Communists were our friend or our enemy. This very nearly became a tragic mistake--you see, John assumed that if the Communists killed him and thus demonstrated themselves to be our enemy, then the United States would immediately seek retribution and demolish the Communists, at least those in China. This turned out not to be the case. In fact, our US Government sought to cover up John's death. This the government did by listing the murder of Birch as an "accident--" that is, "he was killed by stray bullets" was the lie. And what was the reason for this cover up? Well, the Truman administration and their allies in the press did not want to make the murder public, lest there be resentment held by the American people against the Communists! And why would these conspirators care about something like that happening? Take a wild guess.

In spite of all this, a miracle did happen. A Chinese companion of John Birch, who was left to die with Birch, and who suffered nearly the same wounds as Birch, lived to tell his story. And the truth became known. Not by many people at first, but thanks to the loving dedication of Mr. and Mrs. George Birch (John's parents) and Mr. Robert Welch, the life and death of John Birch began to become known to millions of Americans. If it were not for the work of these three people, I guarantee you you would never have heard of this man John Birch, and neither would I be writing this review.

Unfortunately too many well-meaning Americans (some are even characters in this book) chastise Robert Welch for naming his Society after Birch. They say "John would never approve." From what I read in this book by the Hefleys, I get the impression that John would approve. (John's parents certainly approved!) John may not ever have joined the John Birch Society, however I know that he would have approved the hard work and dedication of Mr. Welch and members of the Society in "getting the word out." This is exactly what John wanted to have happen.

Fascinating story of Christian conscience!.......2000-04-11

Forget about the society that bears his name and read the Real Story of an unusual Christian hero. John Birch, soul-winner, soldier and patriot is a man you would do well to read about, and Hefly-- a foremost Christian biographer-- does a great job presenting his story and the decisions of his conscience in the light of God's Word.

Good reading for any Christian and especially any Independent Baptist.

The story the insiders don't want you to know.......1999-09-26

This book tells the true story of a real American hero. John Birch was a Christian Missionary serving in China when the Japaneese attacked China. John Birch put together the intelligence network that allowed the Flying Tigers to be effective in cripling the Japaneese supply lines to the war effort. At the end of the war, Lt. Birch was betrayed and was murdered by the soldiers of Mao Tse Tung and the Communist regime.

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The Secret File on John Birch

Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0842356819

Book Description

Dioramas and panoramas, freaks and magicians, waxworks and menageries, obscure relics and stuffed animals--a dazzling assortment of curiosities attracted the gaze of the nineteenth-century spectator at the dime museum. This distinctly American phenomenon was unprecedented in both the diversity of its amusements and in its democratic appeal, with audiences traversing the boundaries of ethnicity, gender, and class. Andrea Stulman Dennett's Weird and Wonderful: The Dime Museum in America recaptures this ephemeral and scarcely documented institution of American culture from the margins of history. Weird and Wonderful chronicles the evolution of the dime museum from its eighteenth-century inception as a "cabinet of curiosities" to its death at the hands of new amusement technologies in the early twentieth century. From big theaters which accommodated audiences of three thousand to meager converted storefronts exhibiting petrified wood and living anomalies, this study vividly reanimates the array of museums, exhibits, and performances that make up this entertainment institution. Tracing the scattered legacy of the dime museum from vaudeville theater to Ripley's museum to the talk show spectacles of today, Dennett makes a significant contribution to the history of American popular entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

The more things change..........2007-04-26

Weird and Wonderful is a well researched and very readable account of the (mostly) 19th century phenomenon commonly known as dime museums. While they were themselves short-lived, the influence of dime museums extends far and wide throughout our culture - from Discovery Channel programming and blockbuster museum exhibits to freak show revivals and viral videos.

The book should prove interesting to readers of American social history, and particularly enjoyable for museum and entertainment professionals.

Great history, but could use more analysis.......2002-12-05

This is a highly detailed history of an unusual topic: American dime museums. Dennett does a good job of examining an institution which combined a thirst for `useful knowledge' with amusements and entertainment. Her discussions of the economics of running a dime museum are especially interesting.

I would, however, have liked more cultural analysis and less fact-listing; more conclusion and less premsies.

Lots of words and a good history book on wacky museums.......2002-10-28

I have read this book more than once. I would have given it 5 stars but it didn't have enuf pictures. Anyway - if you are interested in wacky museums and freak shows - this gives the reader a good background on the subject.

"Come one, Come all!".......2002-07-28

Here's a delightful and informative reference written in a breezy style and enhanced by a keen insight into popular culture and entertainment.
A terrific historical overview of a forgotten genre of education and entertainment, the book has amazing parallels to today's museum extravaganzas - and the author has captured a period and its personalities with aplomb.
A must read for lovers of pop culture, oddities, museums and turn of the century personalities.

excellent book not only on the dime museum but also in the.........2001-04-04

general phenomena of exhibiting human anomalies, from this exhibitionary complexes to today's talk shows. this book offers a great overview of how these institutions emerge during the last decades of the 19th century and the impact that they had in exhibition spaces of the 20th century. it is highly recomended for those people interested in cultures of exhibition and collection ususally defined as not legitimate or not institutionalized.

Weird & Wonderful The Dime Museum in America

Average customer rating:

Weird & Wonderful The Dime Museum in America
Dennett Andrea Stulman
Manufacturer: New York University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UIRTE2

Book Description

Save the world from pirate invasion!

Rayman. He's limbless, he's beloved, and he's back! Rayman 2: The Great Escape–Prima's Official Strategy Guide once again guides you through Rayman's crazy adventures, this time on the PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and Nintendo 64. Collect all the lums, defeat every boss, find all the masks, and save Rayman's beloved friends from the clutches of a mysterious evil with Prima's Official Strategy Guide at your side. Detailed walkthroughs of each level guide you through Rayman's world, revealing every bonus, secret, friend, and foe. Inside this guide, you'll get:

• Coverage of the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast versions
• Strategies to defeat every end-level boss
• Detailed walkthroughs for each level
• Bonus levels exposed
• All four mask locations revealed
• Strategies for maneuvering Rayman
• A complete character list

Customer Reviews:

Rayman 2: The Great Escape.......2001-05-27

This is one of the best guides I have gotten so far for help through the levels of a game. It is simple and I love the tips. You do not have to be a master a of strategy to play this game as long a you follow the instructions of the guide. I recommend this book for beginners in gaming.

Great Guide.......2001-03-20

This guide to Rayman 2 is everything that you will need to be able to complete the game. This guide will tell you where to find every lum, every bonus and all of the cages. There are detailed maps telling you the location of everything that you need including the masks. This will make the game easy for you but if you can do it without the guide then i would recommend that you do that as you will have more satisfaction in yourself for being able to defeat it without any help. (if not buy this guide)

Can be more elusive than the lums.......2000-10-02

I know I'm not alone in believing that when I buy a game that's SURE to be challenging, so I get the "strategy guide", that this 100+ pg book will actually clear some things up, right? Well, those were the expectations I had in purchasing this version of the Rayman2 guides. I'm sorry to say, however, that at numerous points in referring to this guide, it did more harm than good. For those who've never played a Rayman game before, but decided to try this one, it's safe to assume you know nothing of Rayman mythos. Of course, this is something that the "guide" should clear up, right? Wrong! There were instances in the walk-through (if you can call it that) that seemed to take it for granted that you already had some pre-exposure to the game; the pyramid-shaped objects hidden throughout the levels were not part of the walk-through (or even mentioned at all); cleverly-hidden lums were overlooked; and worst of all, there was no counter letting you know how many lums you should have at a given point (in this game, there are "point of no return"s wherein you'd have to exit and go through the stage's start if you missed something). Given that you need all 1001 to finish the game, I don't think that's too much to ask. Overall, the directions of each section seemed disjointed to the point of being half-finished, which gives the player a feeling of frustration rather than excitement in playing such a cool game. With the exception of the pirate ship rescue stage and a couple bosses, I'd hazard to guess I might've been better off huntin n' peckin my way through the game--it'd have taken about the same time to complete and I'd have saved the 12 bucks.

Rayman 2.......2000-09-04

This the best stategy guide for Rayman 2. It shows you all the lums all the sercerts and so much for. The best thing about it is its afordable price.

A Great Help for Frustrated Gamers.......2000-05-05

I bought this guide last week after I was thoroughly stumped on how to get at some of those cages in the beginning. The book is divided into sections, each one telling you what you have to do to get through each world. I found one discrepancythere was no cage dangling at the end of the pier in the Sanctuary of Water and Ice. I haven't played the whole game through yet, but so far this guide has helped me a great deal.

Book Description

If you are new to Cinema 4D ? this is the book to get you started. Despite its ease of use Maxon?s Cinema 4D R9 is an incredibly powerful and diverse package. The Cinema 4D 9/9.1 Handbook teaches how to harness this power and flexibility through a project-based approach that allows you to create impressive projects as you learn C4D?s array of tools and functions. The book is best for beginners. It explores the most powerful and frequently used aspects of the program and explains how best to use them. Through intensive tutorials, you will learn ideas and techniques not covered in the manuals. You will also learn about the theory and why things work the way they do. Plus, if you have been using earlier versions of C4D, this volume will get you up to speed with the new tools and functions quickly. Cinema 4D R9/9.1 is a major upgrade, including updates to most facets of the program. The book has been updated to reflect these changes, including new chapters on NURBS, Polygon Modeling, Materials and Texturing, and Cloth. The organization of the book has also been reworked to provide a better workflow and all chapters have been updated to reflect any feature changes in R9/9.1.

Customer Reviews:

Great Tutorials.......2006-11-06

This book has great tutorials on beginning to model and good descriptions of the functions of Cinema 4-D through those tutorials. It does leave some features/buttons out. However, the walkthrough practice modeling it gives you, knowledge of basic buttons and the knowledge of how to go about exploring the rest of the functions, as well as the fact the tutorials are easy to follow, easily makes up for it not being a modeling dictionary. If you're just starting modeling or just want a layout for the basic features of Cinema 4-D, I highly recommend this book.

Needs better organization.......2006-11-03

This book, like Tony Alley's "3D Modeling with Cinema 4D R9" is geared towards beginners. Unlike Tony Alley's book, some of the lessons are disorganized and do not clearly outline an approach to modeling, animation, lighting, or creating materials. The examples are fairly good in the beginning of the book, but towards the end, the author has individual paragraphs for each animation tool but never clearly describes how to use them. By attempting to cover so much material, the author leaves out details that gives one a somewhat muddy understanding of the program.

cool beans.......2006-01-13

I took a class on maya in college a year ago, spend most of my time in maya. When I received a full copy of cinema 4d I thought ill give it a world & see what the fuss is about.
This book is pretty simple, I was amazed at how simple 3d can be. As a Maya user, there is no node based system, no user control, no history in cinema that iv come to know in maya.
cinema turns 3d from a high end user to a hobby. some may find this strange, im one of those that want that level of control maya has to offer however for anyone just starting out who doesn't want to know the why behind modeling & whats really going on then cinema 4d is your flame & this book will guide you in a world of fun.

The projects are ok, short & to the point, you get a well coverage of modeling, animation, rigging, rendering even cloth & toon. after browsing the book I must say it would take anyone a month to learn cinema & another month to master cinema using what you learn in this book which is unheard of in Maya. I highly enjoyed this book, found it less detailed keeping the reader more on skill then brainy concepts that make you feel as if you just earned a P.H.D. If you buy this book, congrats!

Only partially satisfied.......2005-11-16

As a fan of two previous versions of the C4d Handbook I looked forward to working through the tutorials in the v9/9.1 book. The enclosed CD (necessary for the tutorials) refused to load and/or allow its files to be copied for use in Cinema 4D. I returned the CD to the publisher with explanation and received a new CD. Same problem. Returned it and got a third CD. Same problem. Very frustrating. The book looks well written as usual. Too bad it is usless to me.

Great book.......2005-09-25

This book makes learning Cinema 4D easy. The book has a good flow to it, and continually builds upon itself to help you remember the basics.

Book Description

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the White House with this richly illustrated new book on America's, if not the world's, most famous residence. Abigail Adams dried her wash in the unfinished East Room. Benjamin Harrison left the lights burning all night because he feared being shocked by the newly installed electric switches. LBJ waged an obsessive battle with the water pressure in the shower, demanding shower heads on all sides. His successor, Richard Nixon, promptly had them removed. The White House has not always been the ideal home, and as each president moved in, he transformed the house in small and large ways to fit his family's needs.

Real Life at the White House celebrates two centuries of domestic life in this historic abode. In forty-two chapters - one for each administration - this stylish sourcebook takes us on an intimate tour of the daily life of each president and his family, bringing into view everything from china patterns to built-in closets (a luxury added during the Truman renovation), from plumbing to telephones (Coolidge refused to use the phone for business) from architectural structure to state dinners and family meals.

Filled with hundreds of anecdotes, photographs, and presidential quotes from Washington(who never lived there but oversaw the first plans) to Clinton, this thoroughly engaging book captures the texture of presidential life while documenting the very human history of a house.

Customer Reviews:

A Waste of Time and Money.......2005-03-29

This book is a waste of time and money. It presents nothing that two other more significant works do not already present in more accurate, better edited ways. These two other works are: 1)Inside the White House: America's Most Famous House, The First 200 Years by Better Boyd Caroli, published by Canopy Books; and 2)The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families by Betty C. Monkman, published by Abbeville Press. Caroli has much more research experience with the White House and the nation's first ladies, and Momkman actually worked in the White House Curator's Office.

If it were not for sloppy editing and factually incorrect information, the Whitcomb and Whitcomb book would be a nice addition to these two more accurate, and frankly more interesting works. Grammatical and punctuation errors pepper the entire book and really take away from its readability. Worse are the blatantly wrong facts presented in this book. For example, on page 371 in the chapter on Lyndon Johnson, Clark Clifford's wife is erroneously called "Mary." Her name was actually "Marny," which was a nickname for Margery (Margery Peperell Kimball). The authors interestingly cite Clark Clifford's memoir, Counsel To The President published by Random House, as a source of infomration for the chapters on Presidents Truman and Johnson.

On page 395, in the chapter about Richard Nixon, the authors state that Daniel Ellsburg was a psychiatrist. Had the two authors consulted Ellsberg's memoir, Secrets: A Memoir Of Vietnam And The Pentagon Papers, published by Viking Penguin, they would have seen that Ellsberg is indeed NOT a psychiatrist, but that he earned a doctoral degree in economics from Harvard and later worked in the Pentagon under Secretary McNamara. The authors are undoubtedly confused; there was a break-in at the office of Ellberg's psychiatrist (a Dr. Lewis Fielding...the real pshychiatrist), which was a scheme carried out by G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt.

Another misconception put forth by Whitcomb and Whitcomb on page 395 is that the so-called "White House Plumbers" were the infamous Watergate burglars. The team known as the Plumbers consisted of four men: Liddy, Hunt, Bud Krogh, and David Young. Only Liddy and Hunt were present at the June 17th break-int. However, they were not members of the break-and-enter team. Hunt had recruited five cuban nationals and two Americans, one of whom (James McCord) worked for the CIA and was director of security for the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) to go into the Watergate. The authors negelected to consult the most accurate account of Watergate and events leading up to the infamous burglary, Watergate: The Corruption Of American Politics And The Fall Of Richard Nixon, published by Simon and Schuster. This book is the accompaniment to a documentary on Watergate developed by the BBC and the Discovery Channel.

These mistakes make me wonder what else the authors got wrong....and such factually inaccurate information really takes away from a historical work. I encourage readers to consult the Caroli and Monkman books for all things White House, as well as the independent biographies and memoirs of the presidents, first ladies, and their staff members (e.g., the memoir by Clark Clifford) instead of wasting their time and money on this sloppy attempt at historical writing.

An Interesting Account of Our Presidents.......2002-09-12

I found this book full of information about the different Presidents and their families and how they adjusted to living in the White House.

There is a lot of information about earlier, less known Presidents, and I enjoyed reading those chapters.

I was also interested to read about all the pets over the years.
Every family seemed to have all sorts of animals.

It was interesting to read about the First Ladies and their "quirks". Mary Todd Lincoln ran up clothing bills that she tried to hide---just like Jackie.

Other stories that I found amusing were that Nixon would not allow guards or policemen to speak to him or Mrs. Nixon. Betty Ford couldn't understand why they ignored her greetings until this was explained to her.

Ronald Reagan served tea to Prince Charles who did not touch it because, as he explained later, he didn't know what to do with the little bag!

Many such amusing stories made this a truly enjoyable book. I recommend to anyone wanting to know about living in the White House.

Poorly done.......2002-06-21

I was so excited when I got this book. I love stories about Presidents. However, everything in this book I had read somehwere else. Same old boring stuff. No new pictures. Basically, I thought it was awful.

Great research; fascinating stories.......2002-04-15

Former White House curator Clement Conger calls this one of the best White House books he's read. White House scholar William Seale also endorses it. I found it full of fasincating stories that really show what it was like for forty families to live in one house over 200 years.

Lazy research, lazy writing, lazy documentation.......2001-11-29

If you simply want a few raise-your-eyebrows stories about WH occupants, order this one. If you care about historical accuracy and context, forget it. The myriad misspelled names and often creatively edited/paraphrased quotations are the first big clue that these authors took the path of least resistance (how hard is it for a self-professed history teacher and an alleged professional journalist to check these simple and very important facts?). The heavy reliance on only a few sources--some of them completely unattributed and others, like Ronald Kessler's Inside the White House, entirely questionable--is the second.

Certainly, most readers won't care that much about these flaws. If you're more interested in storytelling than history, this is a decent collection of cotton-candy gossip about presidents and their families. But history fans looking for a competently executed and engagingly written account of White House private life will still do better to check out the work of the wonderful William Seale, among other writers. Though it's written by self-described professionals, Real Life at the White House is amateur hour.

Average customer rating:

The astonishing facts behind our everyday mysteries.

all the questions answered that you were afraid to ask

100 of the World's Strangest Mysteries

The New York Times Book of Science Questions & Answers: 200 of the best, most intriguing and just plain bizarre inquiries into everyday scientific mysteries
C. Claiborne Ray
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Questions & Answers | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 038548660X
Release Date: 1997-05-19

Book Description

Why is glass transparent? Why do cats purr? Why do men have nipples? These are but a handful of the thousands of questions that over the years have been asked and answered in The New York Times "Science Q&A" column. At last, the best and most interesting questions-and their replies-have been collected in a book for general readers.

From wild animals to outdoor vegetation, from the human body to the heavens above, The New York Times Book of Science Questions and Answers takes readers on a thoroughly entertaining and informative journey through the world we live in. Like David Feldman's bestselling books Do Penguins Have Knees? and Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise?, this is science at its fun-filled best. Featuring answers from a wide variety of leaders across the country in scientific research and education, and illustrated by the delightful drawings of Victoria Roberts, The Times Q&A column is one of the best read features in the Science Times, which is one of the most popular sections of the newspaper. With a daily circulation of 1.2 million people, The New York Times is a leader in conveying scientific information to the general public.

This fact-filled handbook for the scientifically curious should prove invaluable as a family reference book, as a classroom resource, as an entertaining subway diversion, and even as a supplement to public libraries' Frequently Asked Questions lists.

Customer Reviews:

The astonishing facts behind our everyday mysteries........2004-06-16

This well-written and easy-to-understand book answers two hundred of the most interesting, curious and bizarre questions ever published in The New York Times' "Science Q&A" column, giving us an entertaining and informative look at the most fascinating and wonderful inquiries ever posed by inquisitive minds about the world we live in.
This compendium includes topics that range from astronomy, biology, anatomy and physics to nutrition, common sense, wilderness survival and even urban legends, all neatly organized in easy-to-browse sections that are delightfully illustrated by the witty and sometimes hilarious drawings that were originally published in the newspaper.
As a bonus, the section titled Notes located at the back of the book, lists the source(s) used to answer each question.
So, if you want to know whether the are any one-eyed animals or why a magnet loses its power overtime, where dust comes from or why bruises change color, what makes a Mexican jumping bean jump or why spoiled cans of food swell, then this is the book for you. It's a must-read, fact-filled, fun reference for readers of all ages, be it a science enthusiast or just someone who isn't afraid to ask life's most unconventional questions.
--Reviewed by Maritza Volmar

all the questions answered that you were afraid to ask.......2002-06-13

As a science teacher, I always have to be prepared to answer questions from left field. This book has many of the commonly asked questions that you won't find in a textbook. It's well wriiten and easy to understand--and entertaining too!

100 of the World's Strangest Mysteries.......2000-04-28

It was a wonderful book! It was very informative. I didn't even know i wanted to know that much.

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