Reviews (1)

Rife with errors, nothing short of propaganda
Here is a review by a student who had the misfortune of reading this book for a class:
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Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. World - General    6. History / General    7. World history   

Subjects:  1. 476-1492    2. Europe    3. Europe - General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Medieval    8. Medieval World History (Circa 450 - Circa 1450)    9. European history: c 500 to c 1500    10. History / Europe / General   

Reviews (12)

I completely agree
I completely agree, which is why tomorrow, I suggest every african-american basketball player leave their 40,000,000 contracts behind and exit the game....you know, to make a statement.And then you can ask Kobe the next time you see him drive up in his lambourghini mercielago how he feels about it.:)Is this guy serious?

Reflective of Black America's Generational Divide
Overall, this is a very good book. As a bookworm since childhood, I've never been a big sports fan (Ali aisde as I'm a 70s child), but I am a historian by profession so I enjoyed that aspect of the book.
Must read for blacks under the age of 40
This is one of the best books I've read.I am almost 50 years old and I learned a lot from this book.I have not heard of Flood and Foster.Foster should be more famous than Jackie Robinson.This book has references to the facts mentioned in this book.
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Subjects:  1. African American athletes    2. Blacks And Sports    3. Discrimination in sports    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. General    6. History    7. Sociology of Sports    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. United States    11. Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (6)

It actually works.
So often Books which claim that by reading them you will be able to achieve this or that, fall far,far short of their claims. "Healing with Ki-Kou:" does what it say's and Dr. Li Xiuling is to be congratulated on her book. I have recently been told I have angina, so I bought the book. I practised the breathing exercises and angina pains I get shortly after getting up in the morning, no longer occur. Thats after 4 days practice. Similarly, the angiogram I had recently went so much better because as the procedure was carried out I practiced the breathing exercise and was totally relaxed. The book is easy to follow and the diagrammes are quite adequate for the purpose.I can only say that by breathing as she recommends your health will be improved and that must be a bonus to anyone. I recommend the book whole heartily, no pun intended.Old Bill

Actually works.
Was somewhat leary at first, decided to give it a go.
Healing Secrets
Healing with Ki-Kou is another piece in the puzzle for me. Breathing techniques work wonders and this book is chock full. Highly recomended for the health concious. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. General    3. History    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Photography & Photographs    7. Photography / History    8. Social history   

Reviews (48)

New insights to an old story
This book destroys several myths about the battle of Midway. It was refreshing to have a new perspective but I didn't expect to see such obvious evidence against so many so called facts of the battle. From misperceptions like: the numerical superiority of the Japanese forces, decoy of the Aleutian Islands, the reasons for the delay of the stike against the American carriers, to even the importance of the radio trouble of Japan's scout #4, this author employ's simple logic with japanese logbook data from the sunken carriers to debunk many of these myths. Its surprising to see so much of what I thought to be true to be so easily dismissed.
A Big Book and a Fascinating Read
I usually avoid lengthy books but the subject matter is intriguing and the authors have extensive knowledge of the Imperial Japanese Navy of WWII. Their work is so engrossing and detailed that I was actually left wanting more after completing the book, but they've covered it all and then some. A wonderful read for those interested in this fascinating and critical encounter between the USN anf the IJN. The backstory and the countless details add such a richness and meaning to the well known history that I sincerely hope that the authors are planning additional works on related subjects in the future.

Best read in a long time.
As an avid reader of history, specifically military history, I purchased this book based on a review in Air and Space. The reviewer's only complaint was that the book was too Japanese in its outlook. Valid complaint on the surface, however, I found that the authors' detailed examination of the battle from the Japanese perspective using voluminous original documents and other resources opened up new avenues and made me understand the Battle of Midway and its importance even more. The book is a complex read with many footnotes, but the overwhelming reason for this is that the author's are explaining to lay readers complex under-reported facts and new discoveries about military operations conducted by a foreign country in a completely different language. I found the footnotes and appendices helpful and a good read also. This will stay in my permanent library.Purchase and savor this text.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Midway, Battle of, 1942    5. Military    6. Military - World War II    7. Naval operations, American    8. Naval operations, Japanese    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. History / Japan    11. Japan    12. World history: Second World War   

Editorial Review

John Berendt's Read more

Reviews (440)

Sit back and read this book
This is my favorite book and I believe anyone could read it.You'll be recommending this book to your friends.You won't want to put down the book!

The Games People Play
This was an entertaining study of the games people play in a smallish southern city. Berendt's descriptions of Savannah's atmosphere and the real character's he met there are excellent. Berendt has a great grasp of local Savannah politics. His initial enthusiasm for the place became tempered toward the end of the book as languid Savannah's also a provincial place that tolerates a certain amount of violence and mumbo jumbo, depending on who the perpetrators and targets of both are. The book's end came rather quickly and perhaps a bit incompletely, what happened to Danny Hansford's mom and her lawsuit? Berendt's description of his attending Savannah's African American debutante's ball was hilarious. The main point of this book seemed to be in real life the truth is often hard to find and when it's found it's often awful, but that money often buys the alternate truths that make it into the papers, and that's the truth that people buy.

Don't Ever Believe the Hype
I've read great reviews about this book so I finally bought it because I could not get it at my local library. Never ever finished the book - it was god-awful. Badly written, incoherent story - it jumped around - JUST PLAIN BAD... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American    2. Celebrities    3. Current Affairs    4. Georgia    5. History    6. Murder - General    7. Savannah    8. Savannah (Ga.)    9. Sociology    10. Tours    11. True Crime / Espionage    12. True Crime / Murder   

Reviews (12)

If you miss the exhibit , buy the book
I will see the Exhibit in Chicago and have visited the Cairo Museum, but this book is like revisiting the exhibit or the next best thing to seeing it!

Zahi Hawass brings it all to life with fascinating detail
King Tut died around 1350 BC. and theories on the cause of death range from a hunting accident to murder. X-rays revealed signs of a blow to the back of his head, however. After his tomb was found in 1922, his death mask and golden coffin became among the most famous Egyptian artifacts in the world. The teenage king of ancient Egypt is best-known by his golden death mask. But a fiberglass reconstruction of Tutankhamen based on computer models generated X-rays in 1969 of his mummified corpse bear little resemblance to the golden funeral mask found in the pharaoh's tomb. But Tut's mummified head was too dried and sunken to give life-like dimensions for the reconstruction team said National Geographic.
The Original King of Bling
Tutankhamen makes the Crown Jewels look like costume jewelry.I saw the exhibit in Fort Lauderdale, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.Everywhere you look there's another 3500-year-old masterpiece crusted with gold and jewels, and Tut was just one of many Pharaohs - they all received this kind of treatment.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Antiquities    3. Archaeological Museums And Collections    4. Archaeology    5. Egypt    6. Eighteenth dynasty, ca. 1570-1    7. Eighteenth dynasty, ca. 1570-1320 B.C.    8. Exhibitions    9. Historical Archaeology    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. King of Egypt    14. Middle East - Egypt    15. Tutankhamen,    16. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    17. Ancient Egypt    18. Egyptian archaeology    19. History / Ancient / Egypt   

Reviews (1)

A great read!
An interesting and compelling read, providing great insight to the complications of Earl Warren. A must for anyone who enjoys American or California history, or the Law. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1891-1974    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Judges    5. Law    6. Lawyers & Judges    7. Legal History    8. Political    9. Supreme Court    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. United States.    13. Warren, Earl,    14. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges   

Reviews (59)

An Insightful Look at Religion in US politics and History
Jon Meacham has written yet another fine book that gives some real meaning to the phrase "Seperation of Church and state.His look at the Institutional religion of the Founders is very insightful and full of meaning in the current religious/ political controversies.Recommended.

Great - quick overview of religous thought in American politics
Well balanced with sources well referenced. Great glimpse into the thoughts of many of the people that of have shaped our Democracy. Very brief discussions covering the pre-Revolution thinking through the Reagan era.
American Gospel:God, the Founding Fathers, and the aking of a Nation
Intelligent,informed, and intelectually honest ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity and politics    2. History    3. History - U.S.    4. History Of Religion (General)    5. National characteristics, American    6. Religion    7. Religion and politics    8. Religion, Politics & State    9. U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789)    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. United States - Revolutionary War    13. History / United States / General   

Reviews (153)

An Extraordinary African Childhood
Alexandra Fuller's "Don't Let's Go To the Dogs Tonight" will bring you into her world of a childhood spent in the wilds of Africa.Hers is a colorful memoir that you won't soon forget.While reading this book, I literally carried it with me everywhere I went so that I could read it during any spare moments I had during the day.Run, don't walk, to purchase this book and buy a spare to share with everyone you know!

Great Book
I like this book a lot I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed her stories . For anyone who wants to know about growing up in Africa. A must read

Being born in an interesting part of the world should not be an excuse for just anybody to write
Alright, so her childhood was a bit different than your average white middle-income childhood.
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Subjects:  1. 1969-    2. Africa - General    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Childhood Memoir    8. Childhood and youth    9. Fuller, Alexandra,    10. Girls    11. Historical - General    12. Literary    13. Zimbabwe    14. Biography & Autobiography / General    15. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (95)

Captivating and Proficient Historical Account ...
David Fromkin's "A Peace to End All Peace" is a wondefully researched and well-written account that covers the political creation of the modern Middle East from the period starting during World War I and the years immediately subsequent to it.Although Fromkin tackles the project in a somewhat predictable, chronological manner, his book is supremely researched and engaging thanks in part to the book's prescient subject matter.
Just the facts
This book is actual history.There is little agenda or argument that does not rise directly out of the facts presented.Only the introduction and the conclusion put forth speculation as to cause and effect.Given that, this book is likely too detailed for many, but the personalities of Churchill, Lloyd George, Ener, Talaat, Kitchener, Sykes, T.E. Lawrence are drawn through their documented action, and the history really moves.It's a fascinating story and essential as the details of WWI are not as clearly understood as are those of WWII.However, this book seems to suggest the opposite of its stated case.It turns out that the Middle East lands were largely ignored prior to WWI, and without the knowledge of or appetite for oil, it is easy to understand why.
wrong-headed
This is not a book for the general reader.It'stoo long, too detailed, and it requires too much knowledge of history, geography and politics.I give it two stars because Fromkin has labored mightily to produce an argument about the most volatile,yet from the West's perspective, strategic region in the world.
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Subjects:  1. 1914-1945    2. Foreign relations    3. General    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. International Relations - General    9. Jewish - General    10. Middle East    11. Middle East - General    12. Politics and government   

Reviews (123)

Excellent read but disappointing view of our government
The book is divided much like many war films.There is a training half, followed then the action half. The training half is by far the most interesting, allowing you to vicariously live through an amazing athlete who made the cut.
A great work describing these warrior soldiers
This book is by far one of if not the best book that I have read in the past year.Haney writing style is great and you don't want to put the book down til you reach the end.Which you will dread coming to, because you wish the book would go on and on since it is so good.This is a definite must buy!Just read it and you'll believe it.
Good read...quick read
I found the book interesting.With opsec as it is, i take the info published as it is.I wouldnt add to nor discredit the facts...just have to take it as it is and make your own judgement of the reality of it all.Also noted, the book states that Haney was a founding member...in the book he is recruited/volunteered thus not making him necessarily a founding, but one of the earlier recruits.
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Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. Military    3. Military - United States    4. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    5. Political Science    6. Political Terrorism    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Special Forces    9. History / Military / General   

Editorial Review

Bestselling historian Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Tulane University, lived through the destruction of Hurricane Katrina with his fellow New Orleans residents, and now in Read more

Reviews (73)

The Great Deluge--Great but tragic
Having becoming acquainted with Mr. Brinkley via the tv interview--I knew I must read this book. Having read of the overwhelming sorrows and heartbreaks of this storm, I am now very disallusioned with many of our higher ranking government officials, the first being Michael Chertoff and not stopping at his level either. To really get an accurate fix on what happened with katrina, this book is a must read.

Too opinionated!
If you hate President Bush, you'll love this book.But if you are seeking a true historical account (which the book does not contain unfortunately) of a major disaster without all the left-wing editorial padding, skip this book.

CRESENT CITY
Douglas Brinkley loves New Orleans and you can feel his pain for his beloved city in every page.This is a man who wants New Orleans to come back better, as a city that works and where corruption is not rampant and he spells out what went wrong and what can be done to make New Orleans whole again.It is a well written, tough love letter to the city and I hope everyone in New Orleans reads this.I am very familiar with the city and I am very skeptical, especially when they reelected Mayor Nagin, that is old New Orleans, it's really up to the city because if they are not willing to change the culture of corruption and institutional poverty, then the city will end up a Savannah..a quaint strange town of no real national importance..what a fate for one of the great American cities.Come on, New Orleans..look to Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas..those cities work and that is where your middle and upper middle class live now..if you want them back you'll have to change if not..your looking at Galveston, Louisiana... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Disaster relief    2. Gulf Coast (U.S.)    3. History - U.S.    4. Hurricane Katrina, 2005    5. Hurricanes    6. Louisiana - Local History    7. Natural Disasters    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Rescue work    11. United States - 21st Century    12. United States - State & Local - South    13. History / United States / State & Local / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)   

Editorial Review

You probably enjoy eating codfish, but reading about them? Mark Kurlansky has written a fabulous book--well worth your time--about a fish that probably has mattered more in human history than any other. The cod helped inspire the discovery and exploration of North America. It had a profound impact upon the economic development of New England and eastern Canada from the earliest times. Today, however, overfishing is a constant threat. Kurlansky sprinkles his well-written and occasionally humorous history with interesting asides on the possible origin of the word codpiece and dozens of fish recipes.Sometimes a book on an offbeat or neglected subject really makes the grade. This is one of them. ... Read more

Reviews (88)

Cod, who would have thunk it?
This book was utterly full of suprises.Man, how one little fish has altered and played a role in so much political and economic attitudes towards the sea and its treasures.The book also stands as a cautionary tale of what can happen when a natural resource such as cod are recklessly exploited to the point of having the inability to recover their numbers.As a marine biology teacher I was faascinated with this book and plan on having my classes read it to see how the ocean world affects life on land.

A real keeper!!
I just finished reading a borrowed autographed copy of Kurlansky's Cod and decided that this is a book that I must have in my shelf to read it over again. I like fish and I like history. This book has the perfect match to gain my favor. I purchased my own copy.
Cod
This book is better than great. The older I get, it never ceases to amaze me how little I know and how much I have to learn.
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Subjects:  1. Cod fisheries    2. Codfish    3. Cookery (Codfish)    4. Fish    5. History    6. Literary collections    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. World - General    10. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (13)

Brings the politics and lives to the foreground as no professional politician's words could achieve.
The Prince of the Marshes And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraqprovides an unusual survey of Stewart's time as an interim and deputy governor in Iraq's marsh regions. His THE PLACES IN BETWEEN became a best seller and told of his walk across Afghanistan and encounters with the region's people; here he describes nearly a year in a remote, improvised marsh region in southern Iraq negotiating hostage releases, holding elections, and developing an uncertain government leadership. Any who would understand the peoples and politics of Iraq must read The Prince of Marshes: it brings the politics and lives to the foreground as no professional politician's words could achieve.
Wow*****Now I Understand
I am so glad that I brought this book. I wanted to understand some of the conditions and situations from an unbias view. Mr Stewart tells his story and does it well.If you truly want to learn more about Iraq, prepare yourselves and read this book. I would loved to meet this unique person just to shake his hand and say "well done".

Middle East in a Nutshell!
Rory, just so you know, your book is now a required reading in my conflict analysis and resolution course, at a graduate peace program in Washington DC. Your point well made! THANK YOU! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. British    7. Description and travel    8. Iraq    9. Iraq - History    10. Middle East - General    11. Military - General    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Social life and customs    14. Travel / Middle East / General   

Reviews (45)

When The Flag Had 52 Stars
Nov. 4, 1979 dawned wet and chill on the streets of Tehran, Iran. Life would get much hotter before the day was out. The American embassy would be stormed by hundreds of students, and it would take 444 days before 52 of those captured inside saw freedom again. For them, and many of their countrymen, days went by slowly as the concept of Islamo-fascist terrorism was forcibly introduced upon the global stage.
Bowden nails it
I like to read Mark Bowden for his clear prose and his ablity to to tell a tale.
Meticulous As Always
Mark Bowden delivers his excellent work at another crucial point in the relations between Iran and the wider world.Iran somehow identifies itself primarily in its opposition to the United States, whether it bethe Olympic loss of the US basketball team or the one-term presidency of Jimmy Carter."Guests of the Ayatollah" is mostly composed of the experiences of the hostages, but by placing the events in a larger global context Mark Bowden creates an extremely relevant and compelling work.Bowden's recent visits to Iran to interview some of the hostage-takers reveal a rainbow of opinion, some are embarassed by their youthful enthusiasm, and others who have parlayed the eventsof 1979 into political careers.Dropping the dramatic movie-script style of Black Hawk Down, Bowden still delivers a taut, interesting, and as usual, insightful book.
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Subjects:  1. Chronology    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Hostages    6. International Relations - General    7. Iran    8. Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981    9. Middle East - General    10. Middle East - Iran    11. Personal narratives    12. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    13. U.S. Foreign Relations    14. U.S. History - 1970s    15. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    16. History / Middle East   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. General    3. History    4. Inventions    5. Modern - 20th Century    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technological forecasting    10. Technology    11. Popular science    12. Science / General   

Reviews (23)

All warfighters should read this
This book should be read by a variety of folks that desire to understand even a little bit more about what is happening and happening to US in the middle east. It is not a book that spends countless pages complaining about the state of union. This book will enable the tip of the spear as we are so fond of refering to our fighting forces, concise and credible information with regard to the mindset of thier opposing forces. I have been told over and over, that you cannot defeat an opponent unless you understand how he/she thinks. It does shed some light on how the military-industrial complex is steering the people of many countries wrong by proposing extensive, expensive weapon systems that separate the men from the battle and advertise a zero loss of life war for our side. (Both sides should just throw rocks, it'll be simpler) And above all it mentions the one issue that is generating higher and higher turnover rates, ARMCHAIR warfighters, and the military personnel system, that rewards compliance and not innovation, that condones indivualist and fails to properly reward teamwork. Battles should be fought from front to back and not the reverse as we are doing. I reccomend this book to all, and not just to those in uniform.

Good read
The book was very informative though appeared padded by newspaper accounts of terrorist activities which made the book longer than it really needed to be. Excellent historical background which linked the past with the present, providing a how and why of our present circumstances.

Peering Into the Shadows
H. John Poole takes up the banner he flies in his earlier work The Tiger's Way.He addresses the challenges of what he calls Eastern-style light infantry fighting a Western-style force with the added wrinkle of Middle Eastern guerilla/insurgency.Poole's work in Crescent Moon is needed.Westerners look down our collective noses at Middle Eastern military capability.Poole attempts to shake us out of our arrogant torpor by analyzing just how the Afghans defeated the Soviets, how the Chechens are defeating the Russians, and how the Iraqi insurgency is making progress in Iraq.Unfortunately, Poole does not offer many specific solutions.However, I can overlook this shortcoming because I believe Poole's real focus is on convincing his readers that there is a problem.No solution will be palatable to Westerners until Westerners believe a solution might be needed.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. History / Middle East    4. Military    5. Military - General    6. Military - Strategy    7. Technology / Military Science   

Reviews (9)

can't put it down
i sat in barnes and noble and read about two or three chapters from this book. it easily kept me captivated.
A must for music enthusiasts
"Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood" is an interesting book in which one learns about the origins of pop-rock music in that there were a great number of bands and musicians that started their careers in a residential area in Los Angeles, California. The book is devoted to contributions of such artists as Frank Zappa, the band known as the Eagles, the band known as the Byrds, and Jimmy Webb, to the genre of music that is known as American rock, and with some artists/bands, there are even interviews in whic