Editorial Review

Stephen E. Ambrose combines history and journalism to describe how American GIs battled their way to the Rhineland. He focuses on the combat experiences of ordinary soldiers, as opposed to the generals who led them, and offers a series of compelling vignettes that read like an enterprising reporter's dispatches from the front lines. The book presents just enough contextual material to help readers understand the big picture, and includes memorable accounts of the Battle of the Bulge and other events as seen through the weary eyes of the men who fought in the foxholes. Highly recommended for fans of Ambrose, as well as all readers interested in understanding the life of a 1940s army grunt. A sort of sequel to Ambrose's bestselling 1994 book Read more

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Reviews (257)

A great survey of the Army that defeated Fascism...
The point of this book is that the United States, after watching the first few years of the war, became, itself, a massive war-power of nearly unparalleled strength.
Comprehensive and Captivating
I thoroughly enjoyed Ambrose collection of stories from GIs who learned soldiering the hard way and returned to civilian life. Ambrose levels a severe criticism, well-deserved, on the US high command: their use of replacements. In this book you will see summary tables of how many men served in each division. This table reflects the quality, or lack of quality, of division commanders and the difficulty of the missions they accomplished. But, most of all, it shows how lack of experience increased casualties. Time and again veterans recount how, as raw replacements, they were sent to divisions in the line --- to watch other replacements quickly become casualties. Not only did the soldiers have to learn their craft --- the officers also learned some hard lessons. I remember a story of a battlelion commander in Normandy warning the green colonel replacing his to have his battlelion dig in before bivoacing. The officer ignored the advice, the Germans figured out where he was and his command became casualties. In this book, Ambrose recounts the experiences, in glory and sometimes humorous detail, of these GIs who fought on the western front.

Ambrose struck a perfect balance
As the title advertised, this book follows the battles right after the allies left the beaches of Normandy, all the way through France into German territory.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Abridged Audio - History    3. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    4. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    5. Audiobooks    6. Campaigns    7. History    8. Military - United States    9. Military - World War II    10. Soldiers    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. Western Front    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. History / General   

Editorial Review

You can make all the plans you will, plot to make a fortune in the commodities market, speculate on developing trends: all will likely come to naught, for "however carefully you plan for the future, someone else's actions will inevitably modify the way your plans turn out." So writes the English scholar and documentary producer James Burke in his sparkling book Read more

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Correlation is interchangeable with Causation
After having consumed the Connections book, television miniseries and audiobook, I would like to comment on the three.
The relationship of history and technology
I used to regularly watch Mr. Burke's "Connections" television series on cable, and I enjoyed his rather unorthodox portrayal of history.However, some of his connections between events struck me as tenuous at best.Perhaps that was a result of the time constraints imposed by a television show, because many of the same examples appear in this book, and the connections are much more adequately explained.
Connecting the dots of human progress
This book is a combination of history, science, and the history of science.It shows how random and often accidental connections between events and individuals have fostered many of the scientific and technological discoveries and advances of mankind around the world.The advances covered include coinage, writing, anesthesia, and modern cities, and the book as a whole is laid out chronologically.The book mirrors the PBS television show of the same name, and hosted by the same person, James Burke; though the book and the show can be enjoyed independently of each other.Both are quite educational in nature, though the TV show is a little more interesting than the book.The book itself is fun to read, with a lot of facts that are well laid out.Overall, this would be a good book to learn about the history of science, and how science has affected history.The way the book is laid out leaves the reader hanging at the end of each chapter.Each new discovery seems to hint to the reader that another one is sure to come, encouraging you to read on.Overall, a good book, but not a great one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audio Adult: Other    3. General    4. History    5. History / General   

Editorial Review

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quick service, book in exceptional shape
not much to say other than the service was prompt and the book arrived in excellent condition.

More of a personal story than clear vision of chaordic orgs
Dee Hock is a man with a rich history. He relates a large part of that personal history in Birth of the Chaordic Age even though, he claims, this is not a story about him, nor about VISA International, although both figure prominently in the tale. The book is not so much a story at all, but a passionate manifesto for the future of business and society as a whole. If almost anyone else had written a book of such grand - perhaps grandiose - pretensions, we would quickly dismiss them. But Hock is known as the founder and former CEO of VISA International. He explains that he founded the organization on "chaordic principles". This business now connects over 20,000 financial institutions, 14 million merchants, and 600 million consumers in 220 countries. That's a compelling argument for allowing the man to speak.
One of the best books on life and business I have read
I have two regrets after reading it.One that I can't give it more than 5 stars, and that I did not read it a long time ago. I read this book to learn more about Hock's views on complexity and organization, what he describes as a "chaordic system." While I met that purpose, I also discovered much more.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Business/Professional    2. Audiobooks    3. Bank credit cards    4. Biography    5. Business & Economics    6. Business/Economics    7. Businessmen    8. Corporate & Business History - General    9. History    10. Infrastructure    11. Management Science    12. Organizational Behavior    13. United States   

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Reviews (51)

Gift from afar
I received this book from a former student who remembered that I had once aspired to be "the human OED". She correctly thought I would enjoy a book that tells the story of another book-crazy person who actually followed through on such an aspiration. I recommend this to anyone who does not break out in hivesbut rather a big grin, when they hear the word "etymology." Cheers!

A Great Book and an Improvement Over His Prior on the OED,
This book describes the story of the original Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and is not to be confused with the small conventional Oxford dictionary found at a modern bookstore. The original OED is a series of volumes that gives many quotes for each and every word to show how the word is used. Starting with the letter "A" it took a remarkable 70 years to complete the final volume that included the letter "Z". It was started from first concept in 1857 and went on until it was completed with the final tenth volume in 1928. It is thought that a modern version would be 40 volumes long. There are similar German and Swedish dictionaries that have taken over 100 years to complete and the Swedish version has yet to be completed.
An Accessible History
Lovers of history and interesting words will adore this book, and even the most casual reader will find it easy to read. I read The Meaning of Everything over the course of three days while on vacation, and although it isn't what I would call "beach reading" it was light and fun.
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Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Audiobooks    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Books & Reading    5. Encyclopedias and dictionaries    6. English language    7. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    8. Historical - General    9. History    10. History and criticism    11. Lexicography    12. Linguistics    13. Literary    14. Unabridged Audio - Literature Classics    15. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

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Highly Readable, Penetrating Look into Hezbollah's U.S. Presence
The leafy suburbs of Charlotte, N.C. seem an unlikely place for a Hezbollah base of operations.Yet it was there that a group of Shia Lebanese emigres gathered in a home to watch videos proclaiming "death to America."
Scare Tactics, Volume 2 million
While I respect the authors and the research which they did in order to complete this book, I feel that it is yet another "Scare Tactic" type book which not only perpetuates this sense of fear and of "demons lurking around every corner" that is so prevalent in America today, but it also demonizes Arabs, Muslims and Arab countries.
Sensationalist Schlock
Are there individuals in the U.S. who sympathize with and support Hizballah? Yes.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    5. Political Science    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Religion, Politics & State    8. History / Military / General   

Editorial Review

An award-winning biography of Martin Luther King Jr., a history of the civil rights movement, and a portrait of an era, Taylor Branch's Read more

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The origins of a revolution
This is the first of a trilogy of books on the civil rights struggle in the USA as centered around the Reverend Martin Luther King Junior. Covering the 1950s and early 1960s, this book lays the groundwork for many of the pivotal events that would take the civil rights movement onto the international stage and eventually legend. All the key characters of this movement would enter the stage of history here... Bayard Rustin, the gay, pacifist communist, would play a key role in organizing the March on D.C. LBJ, the master of the Senate, and then vice president would come to realize the need of the Civil Rights Act, as segregation was intertwined with poverty and to defeat one, he needed to defeat the other. Malcolm X would rise in the Nation of Islam, paving a path to glory and his eventual death. And the central character that bound them together; the Reverend Dr. King himself, would change history by trying to tie together the lunch counter sit-ins, freedom rides, marches, and legal debates into one cogent movement.
A Great one, very very good.
This more than fills in some blanks. Number one book on civil rights, more than a must read.

If I could only recommend one book, this would be it
This book provides incomparable insight into the bowels of the early civil rights movement.While most accounts are only superficial, focusinging only on the "significant" events, Branch takes his readers into the heart of the storm to show how intricate political pressures, ideologies, spiritual upliftings, violence, non-violence, press coverage, rivalaries, and extroardinary courage entangled to "lift a despised minority from oblivion."
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Abridged Audio - History    3. Afro-Americans    4. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    5. Audiobooks    6. Civil rights    7. Civil rights movements    8. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    9. History    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century/50s    12. United States - 20th Century/60s    13. History / General   

Subjects:  1. Audio - Humor    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Comedy programs    4. General    5. History    6. Humor    7. Specimens    8. Talking books    9. United States   

Editorial Review

The full horror as the mighty Read more

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Great story for Entrepreneurs
This is a great story and one that illustrates the determination and innovative mind required to succeed as an entrepreneur. I recommend it to anyone interested in pursuing a dream, starting a business or seeking to find their pot of gold.

Best Shipwreck Book Ever!
I couldn't put it down.The story of BOTH the tragedy of the shipwreck AND the search and salvage operation make this an amazingly interesting read. Don't miss it!

Great Book, with a nagging flaw
This book contains two stories: one of the sinking of a ship laden with gold; the other of its recovery many years later in a different era. It is well written and is all the good things that other reviewers have said. Yet for me there was a growing feeling of discomfort that I could not quite identify at first--a distraction that came close to ruining the second story.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Archaeology    3. Audio - Nonfiction    4. Maritime History    5. North Atlantic Ocean    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    7. Shipwrecks    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Treasure-trove    11. Underwater archaeology    12. History / General   

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Enjoyable read

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Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Audio - Nonfiction    3. Audiobooks    4. Biography    5. Historical - General    6. History    7. History: World    8. Huns    9. Unabridged Audio - Autobiography/Biography   

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Well-written, so one can focus on the controversy!
Bruce's book is well-written and describes the geological processes involved in a clear and simple fashion. One-sided and questionable research methods
I was on Galeras volcano 10 years ago when it erupted. Like most of the other volcanologists at the Pasto, Colombia meeting to study Galeras I did not go into the crater, but was looking at deposits on the outer flanks when the eruption occurred. Stanley Williams had stressed the danger of going inside, and only those making data collections went with him into the crater. The volcano eruptions at Nevado del Ruiz and Galeras.
There are two stories in this book.The first is about the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano that resulted in the deaths of 23,000 people.The second is the death of six scientists and three Columbians in the Galeras eruption.The scientists killed were led by Stan Williams, who also substained very serious injuries.The three Columbians were local hikers in the area.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Audiobooks    5. Colombia    6. Earth Sciences - General    7. General    8. History    9. Lahars    10. Latin America - General    11. Natural Disasters    12. Nevado del Ruiz Region    13. Science    14. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    15. Volcanism    16. Science / General   

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The Hook - Journal of Carrier Aviation Book Review
Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilot�s War; Peter Hunt; Ballantine Books, New York, N.Y., 2002; softcover, 368 pages, illustrated. .... Interesting book about fighting Desert Storm from the air
There aren't a lot of books by former naval avaitors about flying and fighting during Desert Storm.This book is also rarer since the platform he flew, the A-6 Intruder, has been retired despite several advantages over its replacement, the F/A-18.The book describes the working up period prior to deploying to the Arabian Gulf, shipboard life, as well as the buildup and actual fighting done during Desert Storm from his carrier.The wrting isn't as gripping as a professional writer would do, but nonetheless is an authentic account from a unique source.Overall, I was gald to have had the opportunity to learn more about what makes combat and naval aviation so much more different than what land-based forces go through.As a book to throw in your bag for a weekend reading source, this will be fine.

Outstanding "inside" look at a pilot's view of Desert Storm
Title of this review says it all.The only reason I wanted to post another review of this book is to just add another 5 stars-it's that good.Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - History    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. General    4. History    5. Military    6. Military - Aviation    7. Military - Persian Gulf War    8. Military History - Persian Gulf War    9. Military Personal Narratives    10. History / Military / Aviation   

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Interesting!
I enjoyed this audio book. Listened to it in the car in preparation for a field trip to Antietam. It is not an in-depth report but it is interesting and goes by quickly.

Wonderful
This audio book was absolutely brilliant.The characters so aptly described what it was like to be there at that time and place.It was incredibly easy to follow and a great book to listen to! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - History    2. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    3. Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862    4. Audio Adult: Other    5. Audiobooks    6. General    7. History    8. Maryland Campaign, 1862    9. United States - Civil War    10. History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)   

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America As It Was.
This book is filled with short accounts of diverse "American Moments" grouped in ten areas.This is a sampling.Each reader would do a completely different review as there is so much to choose from to make an interesting account.
Good Grief
The editing for 90 seconds of television was too severe for the treasured scenes to work as effectively in book form.Am I just still too sad at our loss to fill in the gaps?Though disappointed I read on and on.No doubtyou will too.Kuralt was a quintessential American treasure himself.

Great Moments of Reading
Great reading! As I read the pages of American Moments I canhear the voice of Charles Kuralt.I recommend it for all ages and it is very uplifting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - History    2. Audio Adult: Other    3. Audiobooks    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. General    6. Historical - General    7. United States - 20th Century    8. Current Events / General   

Reviews (7)

Utter Driviel. Bargain Bin ONLY!!!
For someone who is supposed to be an historian, Burke makes Great Beginnings...
An important, timely & vital point is being made by these authors. I listened intently to their ideas, mostly while jogging. I loved the prehistoric stuff, but after that it all became pretty familiar. I agreed with their thoughts on controlling our technology instead of it controlling us, but there's not much we can do about it when, in so many ways, we *are* our technology. Still, it is good & inspiring & true. Everyone should read it. I just gave it three stars because in the middle sections my running pace slowed considerably, indicating non-involvement.

Axemakers Gift audio
Axemakers Gift is the world's best kept open secret. Very enjoyable sound on only two cassettes is multiply distilled encyclopedic overview of the most significant and interesting things that have happened in the entire history of the world. Each world-changing phenomenon leads naturally to the next and shows their possibly hopeful implications for the futureIf I had my life to live over I would wish very early to hear Axemakers Gift to become instilled with its attitudes of confidence, cheerfulness, fearlessness, compassion, good will, hopefulness and unpretentious incredible erudition. It would give me a sound foundation for facing life instead of trying to think there was something wrong with me because I couldn't see things the way people told me to.I always knew somehow that when I was dying I would figure out what things had been all about but young people who hear this tape can start out from the first with a grounding that will give them enthusiasm for looking for new ideas and, even if they go down the tubes, I guess at least they'll have a sublime understanding of their real part in the great scheme of things.I listen to it again every few weeks to get my fix of sanity and truth and good will in the seeming hopeless of a "gotcha" world. All my thanks for Axemakers Gift, The Day the Universe Changed, and Connections.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Culture    4. History    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Social Aspects    7. Technology   

Editorial Review

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Troubling but crucially important
Strauss and Howe offer an analysis of the past 500 years of Western civilization, through the lens of generational dynamics. They are repeating (and condensing) some of their prior work in Generations, and putting more emphasis on our present reality.The authors posit that there is a four-generation cycle that has repeated itself time and time again over the past five centuries. Every fourth generation, there is a massive upheaval -- the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II being the most recent examples. They argue that we are due for the next massive crisis by about 2020 to 2025, and that all the signs of disintegration of society we see around us are patterns that have existed in the periods prior to the massive upheavals of the past.I found this book to be a page-turner; I found it incredibly difficult to put down.
Family is the only ultimate safety net for both political and economic upheaval
The fourth turning prediction suggests a final abandon of futurist promises of social security, Medicare, and elder benefits.These New Deal projects will lie in the dust bins of history. Today's advice is to prepare for both economic and political upheaval.The federal government will need to simplify and reduce, size and scope. All levels of government need to prune legal, regulatory, and professional thickets that stymie institutional change. Government needs to thin out procedural requirements that could delay or weaken emergence measures in a crisis.Communities should improve their own functional support for schools, housing infrastructure (sewer,power,water,roads), transportation, safety, justice, social service from their own local resources and stop depending upon federal fund assistance.Personal responsibility for the future health care and income means people, today, should begin to save intensely.The saving must be signficant increase reaching 20-25 percent of their incomes.The author believes a consumption tax will benefit the middle class.A consumption tax would not tax income creating a wealth creation sphere.However, money is not the only solution.Bottomline, the family will be the ultimate safety net against disaster because of its never infinite resource capability and flexibility.At the same time, as economic hardship increases, one can expect government subsidies to vanish and new trade barriers to arise.Corporate bailouts caused from consumer spending declines will be less and less likely.