Reviews (1)

Australia
All the reptiles known on the Australian continent is covered. It is rather easy to identify them and it is a landmark for every reptile fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Birds & Birdwatching - General    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Reptiles    6. Reptiles & Amphibians    7. Biological Sciences    8. Birds and Natural History    9. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Australia    3. Australia & New Zealand - Australia    4. Australia & New Zealand - General    5. British    6. Diseases    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Immigrants    11. Maritime History    12. Medical care    13. History of medicine    14. Travel writing   

Reviews (3)

Slightly Flawed But Excellent
Let me first say that both volumes in the Bloody Shambles series are excellent and far superior to ANY other text on the subject of air warfare in the first six months of the Pacific War that I've ever seen.
invaluable for the historian
Christopher Shores is an international treasure, a man who has made it his task to suss out the truth about aerial combats in far corners of the globe, usually with the assistance of a fellow historian or two from the countries most involved. In this particular case, he is one of the few who have accessed Japanese records, and he compares them with Allied accounts on a day-by-day basis. This is great stuff, especially for those of us who already know something about the campaigns. My particular interest is the Flying Tigers of Burma, and I was delighted to have Shores's version, especially since he gives equal time to the RAF squadrons that fought alongside the AVG. But I confess that it took a great deal of concentration for me to slog through the Philippines campaign, about which I knew very little. So my conclusion is this: the more you know already, the more you will learn from this account. -- Dan Ford

Christopher Shores/Brain Cull
This book, yet another in the wonderful series of air war accounts done by Christopher Shores and Brian Cull is a great review of the early air war in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Shores and Mr. Cull use interviews with the participants as well as the actual unit reports to bring an idea of the constant struggle that the air war represented. Rather than being dry, these books are easy to read and a great resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aerial Operations    2. Asia, Southeastern    3. Campaigns    4. History - Military / War    5. History, Military    6. History: World    7. Military - World War II    8. Military History - World War II    9. Southeast Asia    10. World War, 1939-1945    11. Air forces & warfare    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: Second World War    13. Australasian & Pacific history: Second World War    14. Australia    15. Europe    16. European history: Second World War    17. History / Military / Aviation    18. Myanmar (Burma)    19. Philippines    20. Second World War, 1939-1945    21. Sri Lanka    22. War & defence operations   

Reviews (1)

Task Force 58 Deals the Japanese Navy a Fatal Blow
This book keeps up the tradition of other books in this fine series.This volume describes the action which took place in and around the Marianas Islands in the summer of 1944.The islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam were successfully captured and turned into air bases for the big B-29 Superfortresses so they could reach the Japanese homeland.These battles were fought with great savagery on both sides.For example, rather then surrender to the American forces, many Japanese soldiers and civilians threw themselves from cliffs overlooking the Pacific on Saipan.Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II    5. Military Science    6. Naval History - World War II    7. Naval Operations    8. Naval operations, American    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. American history: Second World War    11. Naval forces & warfare    12. USA   

Subjects:  1. Australia & New Zealand - New Zealand    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Reference    6. Anthropology    7. Ethnic studies    8. USA    9. World history: c 1500 to c 1750    10. c 1600 to c 1700    11. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (1)

An interesting Read
In interesting read. The Sambia are a people of a unique and intregueing culture and the insight this book provides is inmatched. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Ethnology And Ethnography    4. Papua New Guinea    5. Rites and ceremonies    6. Sambia (Papua New Guinea peopl    7. Sambia (Papua New Guinea people)    8. Sex customs    9. Sexual behavior    10. Sociology    11. Anthropology    12. Gender studies   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. History - Ancient    4. History - Australia & Oceania    5. Juvenile History    6. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (15)

flawed, but informative
I'm in debate as to the true value of this book. On one hand, it discusses in a some depth the culture and issues of the Australian Aboriginal people. It's quite well researched and informative.
Twaddle!
Early on (p.137 is a good example) Lawlor clearly unveils his "extreme Green" biases.Obviously, he'd like several BILLION human beings to just evaporate (and take their cultural artifacts with them, thank you very much) so that his "dream of regeneration" could come to pass ... with Humanity reverting to "spiritually connected" neo-stone-age hunter-gatherer bands.It's hard to take an anthropological essay seriously if the author repeatedly throws Luddite tantrums, which are a notable "feature" of this book!

At Least it Gets You in the Door
Mr. Lawlor did a lot of research in preparing his book.He manages to extract a lot of anthropological data and present it in an interesting, readable fashion, particularly in the second section of his book on Aboriginal folkways.Perhaps the data is out of date, as some other reviewers have indicated; I really can't say, but the parts of the book dealing with this at least seem reasonable.Read more

Subjects:  1. Aboriginal Australians    2. Australia & New Zealand - General    3. Australian aborigines    4. Comparative Religion    5. History    6. History: World    7. Manners And Customs    8. Mythology, Aboriginal Australi    9. Mythology, Aboriginal Australian    10. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    11. Philosophy    12. Philosophy Of Anthropology    13. Social life and customs    14. Spirituality - General    15. Australia    16. Indigenous peoples    17. Myths & mythology    18. Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural    19. Topics in philosophy   

Subjects:  1. American    2. Antarctica    3. Discovery and exploration    4. History    5. International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958    6. Polar Regions    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. History of science   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (7)

A great insight
Whether you are an Australian City Slicker or from another part of our planet this book will delight. Henderson provides a great intimate look into her life - one not so dissimilar to others in the outback of Australia. You will learn how life really is in a remote and desolate world of outback Australia. You are sure to sympathise with Henderson and the lot of others in a similar situation.

I spent three months in Outback Australia.
Australia is my hobby, and I lived in a half dozen towns between Adelaide and Mackay covering two years. If you like reading Australian authors and stories, this is the book for you. If this is your first Australian book, you'll probably give it about a B-, because although Sara Henderson's life was exciting to her, she left out most of the juicy details which would have made it a compelling read. For example, many times she described her day by naming the cities she visited without giving us the nitty gritty. I've read four of her books. Unless I missed something, Sara Henderson never had a date in the 20 years following her husband's death. I admire her accomplishments in life, but they didn't make her an author. About the Strength series, read one and you've read them all.

From Strength to Strength
Thankfully we get to find out what happens after Strength to Strength in Sara's next two books in this series about her life in the outback, The Strength in Us All, and most recently, The Strength of our Dreams. I loveher stories peppered with humor as she moves through life with such anindomitable spirit. I wish these books were easier to find in the U.S. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1936-    2. Australia    3. Australia - History    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Business    9. Henderson, Sara,    10. Literary    11. Northern Territory    12. Ranch life    13. Ranchers    14. Sociology Of Women    15. Women    16. Women ranchers   

Reviews (2)

Engaging, thoughtful narrative from an Anti-Hero perspective
Back in 1977, Edwards Park published the sparkling "Nanette", a fictionalized account of his days as a neophyte P-39 pilot in New Guinea."Angels Twenty" could almost be considered the non-fictioncompanion volume.There is no shortage of action-packed fighter combatoral histories on today's shelves, and readers interested in combatanecdotes of the P-39 and P-47 may be appeased by this book, if not sated. Yet Mr. Parks offers something more, well, soulful -and wrly humorous. Theauthor is a gifted story-teller, and the perspective he offers may be oneunfamiliar to the public: The anti-hero fighter pilot. The author'sadventurous journey from uncertain tyro to capable veteran isrefreshingand memorable (an underlying theme seems to reflect a great truth: In theflying business, there is little that is more satisfying than earning therespect of your peers). I was completely absorbed by the mirthy andgenuine "Angels Twenty".I was left feeling as though I'd justfinished hearing Mr Parks recount his tale fireside. I was also reminded ofthe closing words to the introduction to "Nanette":"Thatwas the way we were".Mr. Parks' work is eminently enjoyable, andcould perhaps offer insight to my largely untried generation.

Tough recalled memories of a fighter pilot
By Parks own admission, the memories are hazey, and are patched together in this vague account of an American fighter pilot operating out of Port Moresby and later inland New Guinea. Stumbling along, he recalls"soirees" over the hills and mountains, the ocassional dogfightencounter and the bad landings on roughly made airstrips. An easy read,though not truly compulsive, but appealing to anyone interested in thesubject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aerial operations, American    2. Aviation - History    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Campaigns    6. History - Military / War    7. Military    8. Military - Aviation    9. Military - World War II    10. Military Aircraft - World War II    11. New Guinea    12. Park, Edwards    13. Personal narratives, American    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. Air forces & warfare    16. Biography: general    17. Europe    18. European history: Second World War    19. Papua New Guinea    20. Second World War, 1939-1945    21. Transportation / Aviation / General    22. USA    23. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (1)

Welcome Addition to World War I Aviation Literature
The survival time of a new pilot flying for the British in April of 1917 was 17 1/2 hours. Stan Dallas flew in combat from the end of 1915 (there's come confusion about the exact date) to June 1, 1918 after having fifty victories, one of the highest scores on the allied side. (Eddie Rickenbacker, America's top scoring pilot had 26 victories.)
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Military    5. Military - Aviation    6. Military - World War I    7. Air forces & warfare    8. Australasian & Pacific history: First World War    9. Australia    10. Biography: historical    11. First World War, 1914-1918    12. History / Military / World War I   

Subjects:  1. Description    2. Guidebooks    3. Hawaii    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Pacific - Hawaii    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Subjects:  1. 1912-1970    2. 1919-    3. 20th century    4. Asia - Japan    5. Australia    6. Church of England in Australia    7. Coaldrake, Frank William,    8. Coaldrake, Maida,    9. General    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. Japan    14. Missionaries    15. Missions    16. Modern - 20th Century    17. Sources    18. Asian / Middle Eastern history: Second World War    19. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    20. History / Japan    21. Second World War, 1939-1945    22. c 1945 to c 1960   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Ethnology And Ethnography    4. History    5. History: American    6. Oceania    7. United States - General    8. Anthropology    9. USA   

Editorial Review

In the spring of 1854, John Rae, a Scottish immigrant to Canada, led a small party of explorers across the Boothia Peninsula to map the missing link in the fabled Northwest Passage. That signal accomplishment, along with Rae's other contributions to Canadian and world geography, should have earned him glory. Instead, Ken McGoogan tells us, Rae faded from the record.Read more

Reviews (6)

A point well made
After finishing Fatal Passage, I felt perhaps a twinge of the same frustration that John Rae must have felt in his last years. Rae had the misfortune of delivering the disturbing accounts of cannibalism among the members of the Franklin Expedition. The report was so disturbing, especially to the powerful Lady Jane Franklin, that public opinion turned against Rae, who was only reporting accurately what he had learned. The net result was that Rae became a controversial figure in his time, rather than being recognized as the amazingly adaptive explorer that he was. McCoogan helps restore Rae to his rightful place in history and I am grateful for the author's efforts. The book is well-written and looks at the search for the Northwest Passage from a unique angle. It is a shame that the political climate of the time robbed Rae of the recognition he deserved. As a snowshoer who could cover 50-60 miles in a day, he was also perhaps an athlete of incredible stature and this aspect is well documented in the book as well. I am happy I read the book and recommend it to anyone interested in Arctic exploration.

Canada's Greatest Adopted Hero
Ashamed of my ignorance of the history of our great neighbor to the north, Canadaland, I resolved to get this book to learn more of one of its greatest unsung heroes. Who, of course, had actually been born in Scotland. But he got over to Canuckia as soon as he could, and stayed a long time. Before going back to Britain. Well...he was still heroic, if not fully Canadian.
Flawed but informative
A biography of John Rae in more capable hands could have been a fantastic read. This is a mediocre presentation. Informative but annoyingly contrite and difficult to read unless you enjoy reading mattress pad labels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1813-1893    2. Biography    3. British    4. Canada, Northern    5. Discovery and exploration    6. Expeditions & Discoveries    7. Explorers    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Northwest Passage    12. Polar Regions    13. Rae, John,    14. Scotland   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (20)

Interesting story - biological and anthropological
Flannery is the Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum. This book recounts several of his expeditions in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya in the 80s and 90s.
Amazing scientist, unexceptional writer.
Without a doubt Tim Flannery ranks with the world's greatest scientist/explorers.He has a wealth of fascinating and valuable tales to tell from his travels to New Guinea.However, the book has little coherent structure.It's just a series of (mostly) unrelated stories, like he might recount over dinner.The details of his trips are incredible, but by the time I was half way through, I began losing my interest and felt I was re-reading previous passages.

Breathtaking, humorous and poignant
Flannery is one of a kind.He is to New Guinea what Perry and Amundson are to the poles, a first-comer .... one of the first to explore and document the stone age peoples of the mysterious island wilderness in the last days of its age of innocence.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Australia & Oceania - General    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Ethnology    6. Indigenous peoples    7. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    8. Mammals    9. Natural history    10. New Guinea    11. Science    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Australasia, Oceania & Other Land Areas    14. Travel & holiday guides    15. Wild animals    16. Zoology & animal sciences   

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Campaigns    3. History - Military / War    4. History, Military    5. History: World    6. Japan    7. Military - World War II    8. Military History - World War II    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. Australasian & Pacific history    11. Second World War, 1939-1945    12. United Kingdom, Great Britain    13. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (9)

Concept is correct
The concept is correct anyway.These people were led to their demise by three factors:the church, commercialization (HBC), and the Canadian government.Mowat claims he spent two years living among these people.This is doubted by some.I've traveled in some of the areas that this book takes place.Not everyone has great things to say about this author.One person I talked to called him a historical novelist.He has other nicknames.
Theworst book EVER...
What ever you do, do not waste your precious life reading this book...

Yes! A life-afirming wonderous book!
This book is magic. You will never think about a small band of Indians as statistics again. This book does volumes to make people of our society really feel what goes on in traditional societies. To feel jealous of their solidarity. To feel unloved by our own. It's great! READ IT. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arctic Islands And Antarctica - History    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Caribou Eskimos    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies - Tribes    7. Native American    8. Native Americans - History    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Polar Regions    11. Travel - General    12. Biography & Autobiography / Historical