Book Description

Reviews (1)

How amazingly UNAWARE we all are!
An incredible true story of Warren Jackson's life in Europe. How little this country knows what kind of conditions our fore fathers went through during World War I. Jackson tells his story from the heart, during the entire book. Some parts of his story, you'll be wishing there was more he would of said, but definately a good read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Reinhard Heydrich was one of Hitler's most ruthless Nazis. In addition to heading the occupation of Czechoslovakia, he was a leading architect of the Holocaust. There was even talk of his one day succeeding Hitler. For these reasons and others, he became a target--and ultimately the victim--of Allied special operations. This compelling book by English author Callum MacDonald is a skillful, journalistic retelling of a story that would make a solid espionage novel. It begins with a brief sketch of Heydrich--a handsome, violin-playing villain. His fierce anti-Semitism apparently was an emblem of self-hatred; all his life he was bewitched by the knowledge that some of his ancestors may have been Jewish. The bulk of the book turns to the assassination itself, from its planning stages in Britain, to the nighttime airdrop of the conspirators, to their arrangements in Prague, to the nearly botched event itself. Following Heydrich's death, which Hitler compared to losing a battle, the assassins eluded a massive manhunt. Sympathetic priests had hidden them in a Greek Orthodox Church. Despite the success of their mission, their story does not have a happy ending--the Nazis eventually learned of their whereabouts, and the book climaxes with their bloody last stand in the church crypt. This is an outstanding tale of evil, intrigue, and heroism. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Reviews (9)

excellent book
This is an excellent book for people exploring the dedicated and intelligent Nazi known as the "Butcher of Prague." It looks at Heydrich and his career through the German military and the Nazi ranks and eventually leading up to his assassination. This is a small book but a very good one. I recommend it to anyone interested in exploring the monster and "ideal Nazi" Reinhard Heydrich.

Multi-layered account of a killer's killing
True war stories are not a genre I especially seek out. I read this account of the complex web of intrigue and decisions behind Nazi Heydrich's assassination because a relative of mine was actually involved in the plot. I can't say it was spellbinding since it's hard to build much suspense about a case with so well known an outcome. But this book is not just about or even, I would say, primarily about, the halting, fascinating and nearly abortive ground operation that ended the life of one of Nazi Germany's most determined mass murderers. The opening several chapters are about Heydrich's rise to power after a checkered sometimes-disgraced early career in the military. Callum MacDonald clearly has a penchant for dissecting the meticulous planning and thirst for raw power that lay behind this ascent, and the frigidly cold-blooded maneuvers rising stars of the Nazi regime used, including against each other.

MacDonald then maps in detail the even more complicated political terrain navigated by Czech president in absentia Eduard Benes. Ever since the May 1942 killing of Heydrich and the predictable gory aftermath of reprisals -- including the systematic and total destruction of the Czech village of Lidice -- the wisdom a plot to kill such a high ranking Nazi and bring on excessive retaliation, has been doubted. The author depicts the rationale in terms of tragic choices Benes faced in trying to shore up the very limited and shaky international support for his government-in-exile. In a nutshell, the very existence of Czechoslovakia seemed, at that time, to be in question, as German military success against Russia led the latter to call for uprisings behind Nazi lines. From Benes' point of view, had his exiled government accomplished nothing dramatic in the war effort, Russia would have turned to the Czech communist party and thereby ensured their eventual rule in post-war Czechoslovakia. Thus sprang Operation Anthropoid, and the parachuting of assassins into occupied Eastern Europe.

MacDonald has been painstaking in his research into and use of primary once top-secret files. He has then brilliantly boiled it down to just the right amount of detail to both educate and tell a good story. At the end he devotes what seems to be a bit of an afterthought to the question of whether, in sum, the assassination was worth it. I hungered for MacDonald's last word and opinion on something he spent such obvious care researching. But in the end his balanced answers and the way he weighs the complexities may have real bearing on the difficult questions the free world now faces today confronting the new century's brutes and monsters.

Eisernes Herz und eine Handgranate.
The above caption means "Iron heart and a grenade." It captures the essence of this book. SS General Reinhard Heydrich (1904-1942) had been called the reflection of National Socialism because he epitomized every ideological ideal that the Nazis considered revered - he was blond-haired and blue-eyed, tall, calculating, organizational and ruthless. In his lifetime, he was head of the Nazi SD (Sicherheitsdienst, the intelligence branch of the elite SS), the creator of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) and the Security Police (SIPO - a branch of the RSHA), the de facto governor of Nazi-annexed Bohemia-Moravia and the chairman of the Wannsee Conference, where the 'Final Solution to the Jewish Question' was intimately planned. In each of these positions that he held, the outlined qualities and ideals resurfaced and certainly were put into practice. Consequently, Heydrich became one of the most hated and reviled Nazis in occupied Europe. Even within the Nazi hierarchy, he used espionage and blackmail to secure his hard-won position: many believed that he would be Adolf Hitler's eventual successor. On the morning of May 27, 1942, he was being chauffeured in an open-roofed Mercedes in a suburb of Prague, intending to reach the airport where he would fly to Berlin and meet with Hitler to discuss Nazi foreign policy. But then, at a bend in the road, he was assassinated. Hitler would call him "the man with a heart of iron," but he expired from his wounds nine days after the incident, on June 9, because shrapnel and pieces of his car got lodged in his spleen and gangrene set in. So much for iron...

Callum MacDonald first wrote this book in 1989 under the title "The Killing of SS Obergruppenfuehrer Reinhard Heydrich" (New York: Free Press, 1989), and it is this edition that was consulted by the reviewer. His work is the first in several years to address the full story of Heydrich's assassination, significant in itself because it was the only successful assassination of a high-ranking Nazi during the Second World War. Using the existing literature on the topic (MacDonald has cited works in English, German and Czech) as well as several primary archival sources, he vividly re-creates a full account of the whole phenomenon of Heydrich. His life is discussed in some detail, as are the details of his assassination, from its implementation, planning, involved personnel and a valuation of it, in the context of its aftermath. It is a very well written book; readers are lucky that the book has now been reissued.

Stunning are MacDonald's revelations and assessment of the exiled Czech president, Eduard Benes, who remained in England during the war and sponsored the assassination. His motives certainly bear question, as he wanted the assassination of Heydrich to prove that Czechs would not blindly accept their fate at the hands of the Germans and had "contributed" to the war, even though he had inklings and knowledge of how the Nazis would wreak their revenge on Czechs and Jews in Heydrich's name. It was these two groups that suffered most after the assassination: the towns of Lidice and Lezaky were razed to the ground and its inhabitants were massacred (except for a few children deemed worthy of "Aryanization"). Several convoys of Jewish deportees were sent to extermination camps under the words "Aktion Reinhard." From that point, occupied Bohemia-Moravia was ruled even more so by checkpoints, security police and the Gestapo than when Heydrich was still living. Benes never sighed a word of the assassination (code-named OPERATION ANTHROPOID) after the war in light of the consequences.

The three assassins, Jan Kubis, Josef Gabcik and Josef Valcik are described and given a face: heroes they were indeed, as they made the ultimate sacrifice in assassinating Heydrich. It was Kubis' grenade that blew up Heydrich's Mercedes and sent bits into his insides, while Gabcik would have mowed him down with a Sten gun, but it jammed at the crucial moment. Valcik was their lookout man, poised at the top of a hill where Heydrich would come down; he signaled with a pocket mirror to his accomplices down below that their target was on the way. MacDonald describes what happened to these three heroes: they fled the scene and hid in the cellar of an Orthodox cathedral in Prague, only to be betrayed by a comrade named Karel Curda, allegedly fearing the arrest of his mother and sister (he was rewarded with one million marks, but was hanged after the war for treason). Fighting the SS for six hours, they all used their last bullets to shoot themselves rather than be taken alive.

Callum MacDonald has written a superb and original book. It is a tale of military intelligence and espionage, heroism and grand sacrifice, banality of evil and the man that reflected Nazism more so than any other in his age, except for Hitler himself.

Praise the Assassins
I have always been facinated by Reinhard Heydrich...what made this cold-blooded, calculating Nazi leader tick? MacDonald's book was able to answer those questions and more...For anyone interested in Reinhard's background and the events in his life which made him hate not only Jews but himself, you will enjoy this book and get to really despise this man...It makes you really ask yourself how a person like this could exhist and hope you never come across...The book equally delves deep into the assisantion plot and one appreciates the sacrifice and heroism made by the Czech assassins...I read this book in two days...very engrossing, tense and educational...

A Great Read!
I have always been facinated by Reinhard Heydrich...what made this cold-blooded, calculating Nazi leader tick? MacDonald's book was able to answer those questions and more...For anyone interested in Reinhard's background and the events in his life which made him hate not only Jews but himself, you will enjoy this book and get to really despise this man...It makes you really ask yourself how a person like this could exhist and hope you never come across...The book equally delves deep into the assisantion plot and one appreciates the sacrifice and heroism made by the Czech assassins...I read this book in two days...very engrossing, tense and educational... ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

A very good book
The Malaysia theater of WWII has often been neglected, especially after the capitulation of the commonwealth at Singapore. This book was written by one the the operatives the Brits sent in to hassle the Japanese forces behind their lines. It is an interesting story that leads to many adventures and insite into a complex number of peoples fighting the Japanese.

Unbelievable but true
There are so many interesting pieces of information in this book that they make the read worth it. The literary quality is not high but the text does not get in the way of the contents. It begins with day-by-day accounts of guerilla warfare in the jungle but the at the end gives more of an overview of events. Read and be baffled by a man that lived through disease and dangers beyond your imagination.

The WWII tactical equivalent of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"
This book was used as a primer for jungle operations by the Ex-Nazi units of the French Foreign Legion during their involvement in Indochina from 1947 - 1950.

Although it lacks the literary quality of Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," it is without a doubt the tactical equivalent.

A must-read for the professional military officer.

A true story of"saving private ryan" drama in the east.
A diary of an English army officer during world war 2,fighting a guerila warfare attack against the Japanese occupation in Malaya.It reveals Chapman's jungle survival skill , his determination to survive over the years in the jungle and the detail account of his guerila style attack against the enemy.Chapman embrace you deeply into the plot,e.g:his sorrow of losing his fellowmate during the attack,the frustration and thinking of the day when he can go home to England.Truly a must read book for the world war 2 nostalgic.He committed suicide later in his life blaming the pain and suffering he endured during the war did not leave him. A true war hero!

Captivating and inspiring book; informative as well
Mr Chapman's true account of his existence in maylaysia in a stay behind party is captivating. It reads like a diary but also an awsome survival guide for anyone lost in the jungles of the far east; also contains maps and recipes. I understand some soldiers were made to read this as an assignment. But, and this is the beauty of this book, its value is not limited to the poor bloke who has to fight charlie, mosquitoes and dissentary: this is the picture of a real man, nothing to do with the men of leisure that we've become today in the west. Real nerves of steel...I'd have died within three weeks of the ordeal, I can almost guarantee that. ... Read more

From the Publisher

Winston Churchill is one of the most extraordinary leaders the tumultuous twentieth century produced. Why did he see so clearly when those around him acted so blindly?What enabled him to stand steadfastly when those around him vacillated? How was he able to inspire whole nations to endure the unendurable and to achieve the unachievable when those around him surrendered all hope? In this remarkable new study of Churchill's legacy, Stephen Mansfield addresses these questions and shows us what lay at the core of Churchill's extraordinary character. The result is an inspiring portrait of a truly great leader. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

An example of how character is built in great leaders.
This book was at the same time inspiring and challenging. To learn how Churchill was able to not only rise above his circumstances, but to lead others to do the same, was very encouraging to me.Here was a man who possesed the character that enabled him to come from the type of childhood that could paralyze a person, to a position of leadership which enabled him to call an entire nation to do extraordinary feats. I think that in these times we live in, this book serves as a catalyst to challenge the status quo of mediocre leadership, and perhaps kindle the same passion and vision for great leadership that was embodied in Churchill. Mansfield's style of writing was to me clear, articulate, and was well thought out, which gave it a clear direction. He did not mince words. The format was such that a chapter at a time could be read in one sitting. An excellent read!

For Leaders, not avid Historians
In reading the reviews under this section, I find that a reader either loves this book or hates it - there is very little middle ground.

I believe those who discount this book are looking for an objective work on the history of Churchill. While this is a very fascinating subject, the market is saturated with such works, so if that is what you are looking for, go elsewhere...

Those who love the book don't seem to place such emphasis on its historical precision; rather on the value of the information as it pertains to their own lives and leadership styles.

I found this book to contain many great nuggets of wisdom and my highlighter saw much action as I poured through the pages.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their leadership qualities. If you are looking for a historical masterpiece, this isn't it nor did the author intend it to be...

Outstanding Book
I found this book to be a superb look at the man and what made him succeed against all odds. This is an inspirational book and I enjoyed it so much that I have re-read it a second time.
Not only is the book full of insightful and moving comments about Churchill but, it gives a deeper perspective on what made him the undaunting leader that he was. The book is short but wonderful. It does have a Christian perspective and I assume that this is why some readers are putting it down. Nevertheless, Churchill's faith was an important part of his life and ultimately why he sensed his destiny. I love this book.

Could the last review possibly be the author?
The last review is title "the best book I've read" - could this possibly be the author himself or at least a relative? Evidence

1) From Nashville TN, which as another read points out is where the author is from.
2) "Best book I've read" is a little too strong even if you did like it. I mean its not exactly Catch 22 or Hamlet.
3) The author advises people to read "other books by Mansfield".
4) Knows a few too many facts about prizes "Amway book of the month" - wow what a recommendation. Amway, not exactly Nobel Prize in Literature (which actually Churchill won, so I think there are is a least one book on Churchill that is better written i.e. anything by the man himself).

Anyway, onto the review itself. I am an avid Churchill fan and have read almost everything on the man - I was therefore initially pleased to see an potentially interesting book on his leadership style. Unfortunately this is the first book in my entire life I have actually thrown in the garbage. It was that bad. Forget about the authors "intrusive voice" as one other reviewer puts it (quite rightly) - it is just poorly written and poorly researched. I urge you to read almost any other book on the great man apart from this.

Best Book I've Read
I'm shocked at some of the critical reviews listed here. This is a beautifully written book that tells not only the powerful story of Churchill's life but attempts to understand the spiritual engine behind his greatness. The book was a Gold Medallion Finalist and has been an Amway Selection of the Month. There is far more here than Churchill as spiritual giant. There is the pain and the failure that fashioned the greatness. There are the flaws and the mistakes that make the glory clear. My suggestion: don't miss this book or any of Stephen Mansfield's works. ... Read more

Book Description

This riveting memoir, a primary source for the NBC miniseries Uprising, tells the story of the Jewish resistance fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto who defy the Nazis against impossible odds. Kazik (played by Stephen Moyer in the film) and his fellow Jews smuggle in arms and explosives, perform acts of resistance, hold off the Nazi army for almost a month, and rescue the few surviving Jews after the Ghetto is destroyed. Kazik spends the rest of the war helping Jews who still remain in Warsaw, joining the Poles during their ill-fated uprising against the Nazis, and assisting the Polish underground. This shattering tale of courage will change forever the image of how Jews fought and survived during the Holocaust. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

touching and powerful
Being a decendant of a Holocaust survivor and also a Warsaw Ghetto survivor this book brough to life the pain struggle and courage that they all went through. This is one of the best books i have ever read and i would recomend it to anyone

This is a great book
A terrific true story of one of the few survivors of the ZOB (Jewish Fighting Organization) It is very vividly told and I suggest you get it too. ... Read more

Book Description

For the past thirty years, the United States government has secretly trained a select corps of military personnel in the art of "remote viewing" -- the psychic ability to perceive the thoughts and experiences of others through the power of the human mind....

Now, for the first time, Lyn Buchanan -- a world-renowned expert on remote viewing and its potential -- tells the complete, candid story of his experiences. Assigned for nearly a decade to a clandestine U.S. Army intelligence group, Buchanan trained military personnel who utilized their inherent psychic abilities as a data-collection tool during the Iran hostage crisis, the Chernobyl disaster, and the Gulf War.

In this incredible account, Buchanan tells how he was selected for his unique psychic abilities, and how he was transformed from an ordinary soldier into one of our nation's leading psychic spies. Working on top-secret government and military projects using "mental espionage" created permanent, life-altering changes within Buchanan. Now, after many years of analysis and interpretation, he reveals the techniques and mental exercises used to train remote viewers, and demonstrates that each of us carries a dormant psychic ability that we can explore and use ourselves.

For anyone interested in a hard, scientific look at the reality of psychic covert operations in the world today, or anyone who has ever wondered if he or she could have the inherent skills to become a remote viewer, this fascinating chronicle of life as a psychic spy will reveal the answers. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Timely & Fascinating
Fascinated by remote viewing, I started reading Lyn Buchanan's experiences as a military officer reading "our enemies'" minds. Well, it turned out to be quite an adventure. He describes how he got involved in remote viewing, his experiences in the army intelligence, and even how one can learn to be psychic. It is a skill everyone can learn and sharpen. On top of it, this book is very timely. Buchanan describes one of his most active projects, working on Desert Storm and Sadam Hussein. "Sadam is absolutely what I would call a totally crazy man", Buchanan says. Well, why instead of using billions of dollars and weaponry, let's use Buchanan's insights and find out how to resolve a possible war. A must-read for interested citizens, politicians and weapons inspectors, before it's too late!

Best Controlled Remote Viewing reading
Fascinating stories about Lyn Buchanan's life experience with remote viewing. The style of writing makes you want to turn the pages to the end of the book without interruption. Informative as well as thought-provoking in an intelligent way. Raises spiritual questions. Refreshing and rivetting at the same time. Recommend for non-viewers, for those who are curious about the subject, and for those who have trained in crv.

I couldn't believe this book--literally
I consider myself open-minded, sometimes gullibly so, but I just couldn't believe this book. Okay, maybe parts. Small parts. But there were just too many convenient ways to sidestep a curious reader's need for evidence. Being able to explain intriguing details of past events is very unconvincing in a world where the information flows at the speed of your modem and everyone has a modicum of imagination.

Little red flags for me were the quotes beginning several chapters which were taken from Buchanan's own unpublished science fiction novel. This told me that he loves his own words (choosing them before all other literature), has an active imagination and the drive to write down his stories.

He also makes enormous claims of his influence in the world which sound fairly humble but are reminiscent of Forrest Gump. (Which I laughed to find is also quoted in the book.) Buchanan claims to have planted the original thoughts in Gorbachev's mind that communism was not working in the USSR, he apparently made Saddam Hussein sick for two weeks (which he deduces from the fact there were no public appearance or orders given by him for 10 days), and he averted a world war. Wow.

If I never review another book, you'll know that Buchanan got me and you may disregard my opinion.

I must say though, that I would like to read his science fiction novel. Some of those quotes were cute. Really.

Psychic Secrets of Military Intelligence
Want to know what's possible with a trained mind? Want to know what's actually been done psychically by someone who's done it? Want to know where people go when they die by someone who has gone with them? Two of the four places they go may surprise you.

I spent a couple of fascinated hours reading about Controlled Remove Viewing. And, I have practiced a few of the exercises. They certainly improve environmental awareness.

And I learned a great deal about famous people.

If you like the Weekly World News
You're going to love this book. My favorite nugget was where he describes sending (beaming, whatever) Gorby thoughts on ending Communism. Next thing you know they're knocking down the Berlin Wall...

That he was a part of this project with the U.S. Army is not in question. That this stuff actually works, well, that's something else entirely. Funny thing about these ex-project guys - they're all trying to cash in using a failed program to give them credibility.

Rather than taking money from the foil-lined hat crowd with seminars, courses, and books, why not locate Osama and pocket some real coin? ... Read more

Book Description

Breakthrough biography of a revolutionary thinker who transformed American military policy and practice.

Based on extensive interviews with Boyd and with those who knew him, The Mind of War is the first biography of this pivotal figure in American military history. 13 b/w illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Boyd From The Inside
Good job of documenting the work of Boyd and the environment in which much of it was done.

Less readable than BOYD , but a better insight into the man and his work. Highly recommended.

THE Book on Boyd
A well-written, clear, and perfectly adequate introduction to the life and thought of John Boyd, arguably the most influential American military thinker of modern times.

Coram's BOYD is the "good read", this one's for the student and theorist.

Curiously, some of the anecdotes involving Boyd's life differ completely from Coram's volume, e.g., the events surrounding the birth of Energy Maneuverability at Georgia Tech. I'm inclined to give the nod to Hammond here on the grounds that his versions tend to make more sense.

Although unquestionably an admirer of Boyd, Hammond's assessment is reasonable and balanced-he's quite open about Boyd's manifest flaws, his willful eccentricity above all, and makes it clear that Boyd was far from alone in his efforts to better the U.S. military.

There's a solid discussion of the OODA cycle, probably Boyd's greatest insight and most effective contribution to tactical thought (as the Republican Guard recently discovered). Hammond carries out preliminary work in placing Boyd's concept among those of other military thinkers, in particular Clausewitz, which is valuable if not as detailed as it might have been. He shows little familiarity with Asian strategists, many of whom were direct influences on Boyd's thought. (e.g., Miyamoto Mushashi: "In strategy there are various timing considerations. From the outset you must know the applicable timing and the inapplicable timing, and from among the large and small things and the fast and slow timings find the relevant timing... It is especially important to know the background timing, otherwise your strategy will become uncertain." -["A Book of Five Rings", Harris translation, P. 48.] How's that for your Boyd Cycle! )

In Hammond's eyes, Boyd was a synthesist, applying previously isolated bits and pieces of knowledge to construct an overarching theory. A serious analysis of Boyd's work would require familiarity not only with strategy, but with quantum physics, modern clinical psychology, management theory, and half a dozen other equally arcane disciplines. To fully understand Boyd, one might be required to become Boyd!

One annoying note is Hammond's dismissal of Ronald Reagan's attempts to rebuild the military (something also found in Coram), implying that Boyd shared this loathing. If any actual evidence of this exists, I'd like to see it.

Finally, though he fails to make note of it, Hammond makes it quite apparent that Boyd was, above all else, a phenomenon better known in the East than our hemisphere. He was a sensei, a master, one who teaches arcane and difficult knowledge to a select group of followers, who then move on to teach others. This explains so much about Boyd-the almost medieval loyalty he inspired (even among people who never met him, as Gerald Martin points out about Coram in his insightful review of BOYD), his penchant for using the briefing as a teaching tool, the unwillingness to fit into any organization, the wandering from post to post, even the cheap and ragged clothes!

The sensei approach has its flaws (among them the master's unfitness for family life) sensei rarely do well at writing, which explains why Boyd never progressed with his magnum opus, "Creation and Destruction". This tends to throw the teachings into the hands of interpreters, some of whom may be less than capable. There's a danger that Boyd's thought might become Californized, in much the same way that the perfectly legitimate scientific field of quantum mechanics was rendered unrecognizable by various New Agers in the 70s and 80s.

But Hammond is not one of these. We need more--a carefully edited and annotated edition of the Green Book, to start with. (not to mention the tantalizing question: is there a videotape?) But we'll be discussing Boyd for a long time to come. Hammond's book is a fine introduction. It'll be awhile before we see better.

An Important Work
While I find it hard to disagree with some of the comments in the previous reviews, I would suggest that describing this as hagiographical is to criticize Hammond's performance of a job that he never undertook. The Mind of War, strictly speaking, is not a biography of John Boyd. It is better described as a presentation and discussion of Boyd's ideas. A person who is interested in learning about both Boyd's life and his ideas should read Robert Coram's book Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War along with The Mind of War. Grant Hammond has written a very important book. John Boyd's preferred form of communication was the military brief and, as a result, his ideas are virtually undocumented. Hammond had the opportunity to know and work with Boyd for six years and, to a significant degree, has written the book that Boyd never did.

Overdue homage for an American genius
Grant Hammond has written a long-overdue book on Col. John P. Boyd, USAF, the man who was the American genius behind maneuver war. Unfortunatley for Boyd, being a amverick thinker, he was shunned by his service. Fortunately for America, others, especially the US Marine Corps, listened to Boyd and incorpoated his theory into their doctrine of manuever warfare. America is safer because of this man's vision, and Hammond brings the man and his accoplishments to the light of the public-- atlong last.

Getting Boyd Right
Grant Hammond has written a superb profile of John Boyd and his ideas. In so doing, he has publicized one of the most influential but least known American military thinkers of the Twentieth Century. Boyd was that rarity of a thinking man inside an ahistorical and anti-intellectual institution. This is not a book about the military reform movement of the 1970s and 1980s per se, but rather about a powerful mind that greatly indluenced the movement. Boyd, to be sure, was abrasive, but most mavericks are; their lot in life is to irritate the self-satisfied. Boyd was certainly more honorable than many of his detractors inside the Air Force. At last, someone has done justice to Boyd and his intellectual legacy ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good Introduction
I have no prior background in Biology except for some dabblings at High School, so this book was definitely informative.

The text is simple for the non-biologist to follow, good diagrams, and easy explanations.

It still needs more work, because many ideas put forth could have been put in very concise words.

An excellent introduction to the subject
As a volunteer science reader for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, I have probably read 20 beginning Biology texts cover to cover in the past 10 years.This one is by far my favorite.It is extremely well-written, has amazing illustrations, and is one of the few introductory texts that treats plant biology as more than a footnote to the biology of animals.
The book never talks down to the reader and is engaging enough that even volunteeers with no interest or background in science looked forward to working with it and on more than one occassion I had to stop recording because my monitor wanted to ask quetions about the current subject.

Still Using IT!
I'm a student in a medical school and I'm still using this book whenever I need good quality pictures of anything from microscobic views of miosis to relatively simpler and understandable illustrations and tables. ... Read more

Book Description

Text tells the story of Frank B. Rowlett, a codebreaker whose workwas done for years before and during World War II in deepest secrecy. Althoughdozens of cryptographic systems of both friends and enemy were broken, thegreatest triumph was perhaps that of breaking the Japanese PURPLE diplomaticcipher machine, the machine used for transmission of Japan's most secret andsensitive diplomatic messages before and after the entrance of the United Statesinto World War II. Adding greatly to the book is its Foreword and Epilogue,written by David Kahn, author of The Codebreakers. Text includes pictures. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

a reader's review
Frank Rowlett's story is an intense day-by-day account of life as a cryptanalyst in the Signal Intelligence Service during the years leading up to WW II. This story puts together important pieces of the historical puzzle. As a story, it is exciting, and brings history alive.

This book was published as a well bound, hardback, dust jacketed book by Aegean Park Press, a publishing house well known for re-printing (keeping available and alive) important Cryptanalytical, Cryptological, Cryptograhic publications in softcover 8-1/2" x 11" format. Just the way this particular publishing house, who specializes in crypto works is treating this book "screams" the high regard they have for it.

If you're looking for crypto course work, the how-to-do-it, Aegean Park Press has it, (though not in this book). If you are looking for the taste and feel, the heart and soul of real cryptanalysts enjoying their work, that IS the form & substance of this book; as well as being an important historical work.

Nothing new but in greater detail
This book goes into considerable detail regarding what was done but provides almost no information on how it was accomplished. Rowlett was one of a small group of mathematicians who were introduced to cryptography by the legendary William Friedman. As recounted in the book, the group had remarkable success in breaking both Red and Purple,the Japanese diplomatic codes in use prior to WW II. Rowlett describes how the group was trained under Friedman's direction but supplies no information what so ever regarding the nature of the training. This is the case throughout the book as it relates to how every issue of importance was analyzed. The section of the book which describes the construction of the device to decode Purple is excellent in recreating the intensity of the event. One can almost smell the odor of burning electrial equipment when the contacts on the first version of the device melt and then fuse. Rowlett was obviously acutely aware of the importance of protecting the technical information related to the activities he was engaged in ; however, in doing so he produced a document which although descriptive is not at all informative. It is highly unlikely, because of antiquated security considerations, that the full story of this remarkable accomplishment will ever be presented at a level of granularity it deserves.

A fascinating book on World War II secert communications.
This book by a pioneer cryptanalyst gives a fascinating insight into how Army cryptanalysts developed the skills and techniques that lead to the breaking of the high level Japanese Diplomatic code "Purple". It describes how the team lead by Rowlett duplicated the complex Japanese Purple cipher machine from manually broken intercepted messages - a feat that astonished Navy cryptanalysts. It describes how Rowlett developed the concepts for a code machine used by the United States during World War II that was never broken by enemy cryptanalysts. The overall account is exciting. It gives the reader a behind the scene look at the numerous obstacles American cryptanalysts faced both internally and externally - and how they overcame them. It is written by a man who for security reasons remained in the shadows for years but in the world of secret communications stood as a giant. After reading The Story of Magic one should read Hitler's Japanese Confidant by Carl Boyd. The reader can then begin to fully appreciate how reading Japanese diplomatic messages contributed to the United States diplomatic and military successes.

Fascinating reading for anyone interested in cryptography
Truly a great American hero -- Rowlett provides an abundance of detailed history and information regarding U.S. cryptography during WWII.

His book demonstrates how he applied his genius in extremely high stakes military situations involving the development and application of code breaking and encryption technology.

The author is able to keep the reader's interest in dealing with a complex subject.

An intriguing disclosure of highly secret activities that moves one from the days of the "Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Pin" to the ultimate in the use of electronic machines in the 1940's. ... Read more

Book Description

On his first combat assignment, Cornett accompanied the Vietnamese Rangers on a search-and-destroy mission near Khe Sang. There he gained entree into a culture that he would ultimately respect greatly and admire deeply. Cornett's most challenging military duty began when he joined the Phoenix Program. As part of AK squad, he dressed in enemy uniform and roamed the deadly Central Highlands, capturing high-ranking VC officers in hot firefights and ambushes. It was there, deep in enemy territory, where the smallest mistake meant sudden death, that the Vietnamese fighting men earned his utmost respect.

While offering rare glimpses of an aspect of the war most of the military and media never saw, Cornett tells the full, gut-wrenching story of his Vietnam. He also gives an unsparing view of himself - telling a no-holds-barred story of an American soldier who made sacrifices far beyond the call of duty . . . a soldier who, in defiance of the U.S. government, refused to turn his back on the Vietnamese.
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Reviews (10)

Educational, and a Good Read
I was born in 1958, and so I remember the Vietnam War as something that was omnipresent, since it had been going on for as long as I could remember. However, being young and female, and not knowing anyone who was involved in the war, I never had access to the details. They certainly weren't being taught in History class, or surprisingly, even in Current Events. It became very easy to scorn anything or anyone related to the war. Reading of Alan Cornett's experiences with hostile civilians in airports and bars was painful, because although I was never outwardly disdainful, I remember regarding soldiers I encountered as being somehow alien. Books like "Gone Native" should be required reading for students, so that they have the opportunity to understand the harsh realities of, and reasons for, war on a tangible level as they form the opinions they will hold as adults.

lurch the legend????
well in my mind he is.. read it and i would care to wager that you won't disagree...read kregg jorgenson's review for a great explanation.. i believe that after i read this book i became addicted to the special forces and infantry vietnam genre but have not since found an equal to this awesome memoir having read 80 or 90 percent of the other very good authors out there. THE QUALITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS THAT SERVED AND DIED IN VIETNAM POSITIONS THEM WITH HISTORY'S ELITE!

Gone Native: An NCO's Story
My dad who is a Vietnam Vet, gave me the the book. He said it was an excellent read. I agreed wholeheartedly. On the last page of the book, the author, Alan Cornett promo's a book about perhaps the most interesting character in the book, Captain Phong. That book is supposed to be called, 'The Gray Tiger', would love to read that as well. Gone Native was an excellent read. With seven years in Vietnam, Alan Cornett is qualified to write. The book was a great read.

The end of black and white
What happens when a soldier learns the language of the people he is living amongst, and paid to kill? What happens when he learns the culture, and decides to adopt it as his own? Gone Native tells the story of a NCO who went too far - at least in the eyes of his own government. Instead of ending up as the most valuable policy-maker in Washington we could have ever had, the author ends up in a stockade. Thank goodness he wrote his book anyway, despite his mistakes, admissions of recreational drug use, etc. Anyone who wants to know what Vietnam was like should read this tome. It's among the ten best books ever written about the Vietnam conflict. It offers valuable lessons for future warriors, like LEARN THE LANGUAGE / STUDY THE CULTURE before you go pointing a gun at someone who may or may not be your enemy. I respect author Cornet more than any other Vietnam warrior I have read. He became a true gentleperson with ethics after starting out as a nineteen year old with a license to kill.

Great Book
I do not like to read all that much but this book I could not put down. I only like watching movies about vietnam but this book isa definatly worth while. Its is wrtting so good that you can not put the book down. It goes from war to lust to love to hatrent and attepted murder. It is a well written book and any one who is intrested in war will ove this book ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Very inspiring but too detailed for the average reader.
The quality of this book was undoubtedly superb, however, I would not recommend it to all audiences.. It is a very detailed account of Sgt. Alvin York's life before and after the war. The author did a wonderful job pulling together a vast amount of information into a readable 320 pages. But for someone who just wants a general account on the life of America's greatest World War 1 hero, it is much too in depth and almost boring. The book in itself was very well written, but like every book, the audience needs to be decided before reading it.

A DETAILED account of an amazing mans life!
John Perry does an exceptional job writing this book on a very remarkable mans life. He writes of his war experience and of his devout, uncompromising faith in God. This book is however; a little to detailed in the last half. It can become quite tiresome in certain sections. Despite this I highly recommend it as a good book and as an accurate account of SGT. Alvin C. York's life. It is obvious that John Perry put forth an incredible amount of research to write this book and make it as accurate as possible.

Boring!
I'm going to do what the author couldn't seem to do "get to the point" This book was very dry and I hope that Sgt York had a more
exciting life (other than his war experience) than this book makes it sound. I had a hard time getting through it.

Sgt. Alvin York, a true American hero.
After traveling to Pall Mall Tennesse and meeting the son of Sgt. York, seeing his home and visting his final resting place.I had to learn more about this amazing man. John Perry's book did an outstanding job of introducing this great man. This is not a blood and guts account of the horrors of WWI. While it is detailed at times it is through those details you learn what a true hero is. If you are looking for books about an Americans we should never forget this should be one of them.

Just read the first half, then skip to the end.
I would have given this book 2.5 stars if I could have, because only half of it is good. The first half is basically about Yorks life before, duing, then after WW1. It's intertaining, I looked forward to reading it, and it is well written. The author uncovers a facinating history, but after that the book goes down hill. Now the second half begins to go deeply, actually more than deeply - intensely, deeply, deep into his life after the war. The author puts in tons of information, some in which I can't imagine anyone would be intetrested in. The only way I could see this whole book being good would be if one had to do an in depth research papper on a specific factor of Sgt. York's life after the war. So skipping the second half would make this book great. ... Read more

Book Description

Pat Tillman never backed down from a challenge; in fact, he sought them out his entire life. That life ended tragically and heroically in Afghanistan in April 2004, after Tillman quit the National Football League to join the elite Army Rangers and serve his country in its war against terrorism. I’ve Got Things to Do with My Life is the inspirational story of Tillman’s incredible, heroic journey. ... Read more

Book Description

New York Times bestseller, now adapted for young readers, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.
Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima–and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island’s highest peak. And there, they raised a flag. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Smedley Butler - All American
This book is about an American patriot and career Marine Corps officer who had the ability to see through the motivation of many of the U.S. military adventures in which he played a leading role. It would be interesting if he were still living and able to share his insights and convictions about our current military entanglements beyond our nation's borders. His views are reminiscent of the warnings our first President, George Washington, gave in his Farewell Address.

Pros and Cons of Military Use

It's somewhat ironic that someone as plain-spoken and hard-headed as Old Gimlet Eye would have a book written about him by an intellectual like Dr. Schmidt, but it says a lot about the relevance of Butler, his life in the Marines and in politics.

The book displays how Butler served as both a Marine in endless campaigns for the United States, and how he later came, not to renounce the military or the Marines, but the use of US Military forces overseas as, what he believed them to be, tools of Big Business, and not serving in either the interest of the United States Constitution or its citizens.

This book lead me to Butler's own small book "War is a Racket," which was highly influential in my own opinions about use of military force outside our country's borders. Butler would never consider himself an intellectual, but he had heaps of common sense - a quality which is sometimes lacking from those with sky-high IQs. Marines are sworn to the duty of protecting the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and they take this duty to heart. Once Butler realized that some of his fighting may not have served this interest, he became a very politically charged and controversial figure and speaker. How the hell could the former Commandant of the United States Marine Corps declare himself against war? Well, he didn't go against war, but advocated the prudent use of our military strength in the defense of the homeland. Sometimes he went a little far in supporting his points, but his intentions - to look out for both our country and those who serve it - are admirable traits in any career politician or general (there's little difference between the two once someone picks up that first star).

The other things you'll pick up from this book are that Butler was one tough son-of-a-gun. He's one of the most fearless fighting men this country has ever had. I hope they kept some DNA from this guy so we can clone him enough times to fill the manpower requirements of at least one Marine Expeditionary Unit.

I get the feeling that the author admired Butler's political career more than his military one. But, he successfully shows how Butler's intellect benefits from civilian life. In Butler's own book he said that, as a military man, he didn't have the capacity to question the ethics or motivations of his missions overseas. This is true, as the military's communal, self-sufficient environment isn't good for expanding one's intellectual sphere. Anyway, this is a good book about an American legend.

-- JJ Timmins

Maverick Marine
The book has a scholarly flavor and is well researched. I felt the author, at times, utilized a somewhat stilted approach to describe the life of a plain spoken Marine. One who "set himself apart from his better-educated peers and aligned instead with uneducated, roughneck tendencies within the marines." We read on as the author qualifies General Butler as "a ranking major general manque'." He next challenges the reader with such descriptive terms as "unctious Babbitry," and "presidential apotheosis." Still, the book is informative, and will appeal to the serious reader of military history.

Be Careful; There is More to "Old Gimlet Eye"
Most Marines know that Major General Smedley Darlington Butler was the only officer in the Corps to win two Medals of Honor. Most non-Marines, like Dr. Hans Schmidt, identify Butler with his 1935 diatribe of Wall Street and Big Business:

"I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long.... Looking back on it, I feel I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. We Marines operated on three CONTINENTS" [p. 231].

Dr. Schmidt is a fan of Butler--the "patriotic warrior hero whose courage, physical command presence, and vernacular coarseness epitomized the popular ideal of a soldier's general" (p. 1). This is easily understandable; Butler's distinguished combat record and blunt, extroverted style of leadership endeared him to the mass media and earned him a legion of followers. Schmidt became a Butler disciple after writing the UNITED STATES OCCUPATION OF HAITI, 1915-1934 (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1971).

MAVERICK MARINE uses sixteen chapters to interweave two subjects: (1) The life and times of Smedley Butler and (2) The Marine Corps's role as the strong arm of American foreign policy in the early twentieth century. Schmidt's coverage of the former is nonpareil; his treatment of the latter, however, does not hold up as well under scrutiny.

Butler's career in the Marine Corps began in 1898 at age sixteen. During the war with Spain, Second Lieutenant Butler deployed with the 1st Marine Battalion to the Caribbean. There, he found his niche in life fighting along side the men of the "Old Corps"; after the war, Butler opted to align himself with the "uneducated, roughneck tendencies within the marines" (p. 10) rather than return to civilian life and school.

During the next thirty years, Butler battled bandits and insurrectionists around the globe in a series of armed interventions. He served under Major Littleton W. T. "Tony" Waller during the Philippine Insurrection of 1899 and came to idolize the racist, bombastic, hard-nosed campaigner--calling Waller "the greatest soldier" he ever knew (p. 12). Waller, incidentally, earned the nickname "Butcher of Samar" for his exploits in the Philippines. Years later, in 1910 and 1914, Waller was in line for the commandancy; and Butler, of course, was one of his most vociferous supporters. Unfortunately, Waller's alleged atrocities in the Philippines tarnished his reputation; both times, he failed to rise to Corps's top position. Both times, Butler grew incensed at the "highbrow professionalism and Annapolis elitism" he perceived to be responsible for Waller's slighting (p. 121).

In 1900, Smedley marched on Tientsin and Peking to relieve the Legation Quarter during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. After distinguishing himself in China (and being wounded), Butler transferred to Panama to command one of the companies in the newly formed Advance Base Force battalion. Butler won both his Medals of Honor serving in subsequent expeditions to Nicaragua (1910-1912), Veracruz (1914), and Haiti (1915-1917). It was during Nicaragua, Schmidt asserts, that Butler "clearly established his preeminence in the tactics of colonial warfare--bold imperious leadership of small units so as to bluff the natives into submission, thereby avoiding the escalating costs, perils, and embitterments attendant to massive violence" (p. 47).

Towards the end of his Marine career, Butler led a brigade to Shanghai in response to the Nanking Incident of March 1927. His most successful and least controversial mission, Butler returned from China in 1929 to his formerly held position as commander of Quantico. Now one of the ranking generals in the Corps, he was in line for the commandancy--but it was not to be. After Commandant Wendell C. Neville died in office, the low-key Ben Fuller ascended to the Corps's top post over Butler. In 1931, Butler retired from the Corps after an off-color anecdote about Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini landed him a court-martial (later reduced to a reprimand; see pp. 208-212).

Butler made one last appearance in Marine Corps circles four years after retirement. In 1935, he contested General John Russell's confirmation as Commandant. Russell stood for everything Butler opposed: He was an intellectual, graduating the Naval Academy and War College; he embraced reform; and he saw little combat during his career, serving a long stint in Haiti--where, while on a diplomatic mission for the State Department, he befriended Franklin D. Roosevelt. Schmidt clearly sides with Butler by calling the occasion "a last hurrah for warrior standards that were diminishing in importance at marine headquarters and as a factor in congressional politics" (p. 214). Yet, Russell was able to reform officer promotions, create the Fleet Marine Force (still the backbone of the operating forces today), and nurture the development of amphibious doctrine--the mission that would elevate the Marine Corps to elite status in the Pacific during World War II. This begs the question: If Butler had his way, would the Marines ever have grown from international policemen to the six-division amphibious assault force of the Pacific during the 1940s? Sadly, this question is beyond Schmidt's grasp. Simply put, Butler was an anachronism.

In sum, approach this book with caution. As simply a chronicle of Butler's life, Schmidt succeeds. However, MAVERICK MARINE has limited utility as an operational history of the "Colonial Infantry" Marine Corps. Although amply footnoted and richly illustrated, MAVERICK MARINE lacks depth and perspective. For example, there are no maps. How can you write of campaigns in half a dozen countries without one map? Likewise, there is a difference between a marine and a Marine; pedantic, to be sure, but irritating for the educated reader. Although I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it, it is not the final word on Smedley Butler. As a counterbalance to MAVERICK MARINE, I recommend reading Bartlett's "Old Gimlet Eye." The truth lies somewhere in between.

An outstanding book about a forgotten patriot
This is a compelling story about a forgotten and fascinating patriot. A much decorated hero, when he retired, he supported the bonus marchers and was there at their rally when the marchers were dispersed by General MacArthur, with whom General Butler shared an intense mutual dislike. Butler was also notable for expressing his regrets over his leadingtroops into the "Banana Republics" at the behest of banks and the United Fruit Company. At the end of his life, he urged AMericans not to enter the war in Europe. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Close To Definitive
Carlos Baker is generally known as the founding father of Hemingway biographical studies. His 1969 biography, "Ernest Hemingway: A Life Story" is the so-called "authorized" Hemingway bio and it was the first book of its kind to explore the author's life. All subsequent biographers owe a great deal to Baker and the seven years he spent producing "Ernest Hemingway: A Life Story."

Calling Baker's bio the definitive bio of Ernest Hemingway is difficult though for several reasons. First of all, being published in 1969, the book is now outdated to a great degree. Second of all, a slew of other biographies have been published since 1969 and some are very formidable. Baker's book, in my humble opinion, is probably the most tediously researched biography of Hemingway. His "Notes" section is just over 100 pages.

If I had to recommend one standard Hemingway biography, I would likely choose "Hemingway: A Biography" by Jeffrey Meyers. I have read many Hemingway biographies and in comparing them, the work of Meyers does stand out. He offers details not present in other bios and provides fine commentary on EH's literature. Meyers gets as close to definitive as I think one can come in a single book. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

In 1982, one month after graduating from high school, Florida native Mike Yon joined the Army to earn tuition money for college.At that time, President Reagan had begun channeling massive amounts of funds into Special Operations units such as the Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, and Special Forces in response to the calamitous failure of a U.S. Special Ops attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran.For a brief time, writes Yon, "the Army allowed kids straight out of their initial military training to try out for Special Forces"--and Yon jumped at the chance. By July of 1983, at the remarkable age of 19, Yon had survived rounds of grueling training and graduated into the Green Berets.One day later, a bizarre encounter in a Maryland bar landed Yon in jail, accused of murdering a fellow patron with his bare hands.

At first glance, Danger Close reads like an adventure story, one that begins with the fateful bar scene, flashes back through a guts-and-glory retelling of what it takes to be accepted into one of the country's elite unconventional warfare units, and ends with Yon's acquittal of the charges.Yet Yon's self-published memoir simultaneously proves to be a coming-of-age story of a fiercely unique sort. Yon's mother died when he was only seven, and that irreparable loss, combined with the neglect that he later suffered at the hands of his father and the refuge he found with his grandparents and his friends, creates the emotional anchor of the book.Yon handles such a complex combination of subject matter in a free-form, associative style, juxtaposing scenes of intensive weapons training, for example, with stories of life lessons he learned from his grandfather.The result is winningly rough around the edges: Danger Close is exuberant and thoughtful, tender and violent, and, for the most part, it works. Writing, for Yon, like joining the Army, was about having "demons to slay.Big, mean demons that haunted and chased me.I was going to kill them." --Svenja Soldovieri ... Read more