Reviews (12)

Should Be A Required Reference
I sincerely feel that the NOAA Diving Manual should be a required text for anybody who is a diving professional.The information presented is valuable to all divers:recreational, technical, scientific, and commercial.I refer to this text often and bring it to all classes I work.

Best dive related book in print today.
If there's only one dive related book you ever buy, it should be the NOAA Diving Manual. This is THE Diving Bible!
This is by far the most comprehensive publication on Dive related topics I have ever seen. It is a well organized manual that goes into great detail on every topic. The manual itself is a work of art. Each page is high quality glossy paper full of excellent diagrams and illustrations. I started reading it and can't put it down. A great addition to your dive library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Oceanography    2. Scuba & Snorkeling    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Water Sports    6. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    7. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (2)

Disappointing
I waited thirty years for this book to be written. After experiencing Anatomy of a Ship's H.M.S. Pandora and Victory I was beside myself with excitment in anticipation of an in-depth disection of Constitution. Woa, was I ever disapointed. Anatomy of a Ship series hit a nadir with this publication. Compared to Victory and Pandora the scope of the drawings is limited and are not to a constant scale. Details are bunched and difficult to seperate when searching the adjacent captioning. Several drawing legends were arranged backwards, the numbers ascended from from one side of the page but the actual legends ascended from the opposite side, lots of hunting. Spelling is inconsistant "Mizzen" being the most frequent error. How much faith can one place in the natutical background, and hence, accuracy of a document when the author lables ladders as "Stairs" the ship's wheel as a "Steering Wheel" and mis-spells "Mizzen" as "Mizen"? Two photographs are grossly mis-captioned too. The history of the ship represents the typical "sanitized" version generated by government agencies, great for a dim public entralled by a steady diet of reality TV programs but not much accurate substance is presented. All in all this book is a typical example of what you can accomplish with a computer and the desire to make a quick buck over providing a product whose quality is consistent with the previous efforts of this series. Stairs, geesch.

Excellent Detailed History of "Old Ironsides"- A Difinitive Anatomy...
...NOT a novel.If you're looking for a romantic history--this is not the book you want.If you want a factual historical account with highly detailed drawings about all the many "restorations" of this ship--this book isexcellent.I just purchased a 3.5 foot long model of the USS Constitution and I was curious as to it's accuracy--that's why I purchased this book.I'm not a nautical expert--but after seeing the many changes this ship (see? I said "ship" not BOAT:) has gone through,it made me want to find out more about the naval history of our country---and others.Did you know that the USS Constituion was not the first naval frigatelaunched by our young nation? It was actuallythe third (see page 8 of this book and verified in other books I've since read as well).I'm wondering if I should tell you the name of our country's first REAL fighting frigate (the largest fighting ship (44 guns)we had as a young nation).Read the book for the answer!This book containsmany diagrams, photos, and makes you appreciate just how precious this wonderful real bit of history to us as a nation.The USS Constitution is STILL the oldest official ship of any nationwhich can still sail on it's own .The USS Constellation in Baltimore is NOT the same Constellation launchedas the 5th of 6 completed vessels in 1797.The Constellation, although still a wonderful part of our heritage, was actually launched in 1851 after the other ship was dismantled.It is a much smaller vessel andhas no parts of the original frigate of 1797.The HMS Victory, which I also have a large model of, is largerbut it is in permanent 'drydock' (meaning it is kept out of water) and belongs to our former "enemy" of the AmericanRevolution-- now our closest partner andfriend,Great Britain (UK).
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Naval    5. Military - United States    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - History   

Reviews (10)

Torn
I'm torn on this review.I'm a new student to the ACW, but new enough to still know that NBF is one of the more intriquing characters of the war.I thought I did my research well and picked the right book to read about him by choosing "That Devil Forrest." The Civil War you're looking for...
I've read the dry memoirs of a few Civil war heroes. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan. They're fine. But if you want the real guts'n'drive factor of this war, this doctor's story of Forrest is what you're after. As another reviewer has mentioned, when you get into other major characters you actually find less good action, more weakness, time-wasting. Forrest has his flaws, but more along the lines of all of ours. Hold a grudge if you like, but give the story its due. This has it all, in spades. Excellent!
Nathan Bedford Forrest was one interesting character. A self made millionaire, most definitely an entrepreneur by today's standards, he was a maverick in every facet of his life. Shelby Foote called him the only genius, other than Abraham Lincoln, that the Civil War produced: High praise indeed.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1821-1877    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Civil War, 1861-1865    6. Forrest, Nathan Bedford,    7. General    8. Generals    9. History    10. Military History - U.S. Civil War    11. U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877)    12. United States    13. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    14. Civil war    15. Forrest, Nathan Bedford    16. USA    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (5)

Wonderful Picture Book
A very interesting Picture book with never seen photos of best quality before. Ideal for modellers.

Operation Citadel
If you are a fan of these Fedorowicz photo albums then this is another one that will be of interest.This volume concentrates on the conflict in the Southern sector of the Kursk/Orel area.
Indispensable; brings Citadel to life
This is an outstanding book.The authors have developed an excellent account of the southern half of the Kursk battle.That said, potential readers should be aware that this book is not an exhaustive text-based description of the battle.Rather, the main purpose of the book is to use an extensive collection of photographs to provide a visual account of the fighting.
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Subjects:  1. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (44)

A solid historic book
This is one of the rare historic books reflecting the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict from both sides. It is reach in historic and political facts, and also reflects the author's own eyewitness of the war.
A must read on Azerbaijan
Thomas Goltz's book on Azerbaijan is unique, for many reasons. First, he was among the few western journalists to be and actually live in the Caucasus when hellbroke loose in the conflicts of the region. Secondly, He speaks the language, bringing him across cultural barriers that even Russian-speakers encounter though they seldom know they do in the non-Russian partso the former USSR. Third, Goltz has a smell for the events of the country and understands the backdoor politics.
Great book on caucasus region
This a a great source of informaiton for those who are interested to learn more about Azzerbaijan and it's relations with the neighbouring countries. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    2. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Political History    7. Azerbaijan    8. Biography: general    9. Civil war    10. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    11. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    12. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (86)

very disappointing...
I have been reading a series of autobiographical accounts of modern day warriors and had high hopes for this title.As others have pointed out, Coughlin's ego can be suffocating at times.This could be forgiven if it were the books only flaw.Alas it is not.The writing is amateurish at best and the author's overuse of adjective and hyperbole is very distracting.The language is disjointed and unnatural as if it were written with the heavy use of a thesaurus.Again this could be forgiven as we're reading this book for a soldier's account, not that of an English grad student.
Outstanding!
This is an Outstanding book!I am a former Marine and bought the book after seeing a friend who was reading it.After reading a few pages, I couldn't put it down.It's an easy read, filled with stories of the Marine Corps and Jack's assignments.
Right on Target
This is an excellent account of the early days of the Iraq war and the fascinating role a professional sniper played in it.Reading it not only made me proud of the dedicated men who go to war on our behalf, but also showed me that the noble warrior ethic is alive and well today.These Marines are heirs to the proud warrior traditions of the Round Table, the Japanese Samurai and the Spartans -- men who liveby the Spartan dictum:"Come home with your shield or on it.""Shooter" has given me new insights into the war in Iraq, the dedication of our people fighting it, and the sheer professionalism of someone who, for 20 years, had one of the most unusual jobs on earth. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Coughlin, Jack    4. General    5. Historical - U.S.    6. History    7. History - Military / War    8. Iraq War, 2003-    9. Marine Corps    10. Military    11. Military - United States    12. Personal narratives, American    13. Snipers    14. Sniping (Military science)    15. United States    16. History / Military / United States   

Reviews (12)

Excellent Book Brings Home the Facts and Feeling of Battle
Author does an excellent job of moving from the tactical level of the company,platoon, squad and even team to the divisional operational level (to be a pain and nitpick with other reviews the two-division sized op on Peleliu is operational warfare, the strategic level in the Pacific is mentioned only in passing).It is such a good book that I actually had to put the book down and take a break.The description of the deadly, never ending days of battle is almost too intense. I came away with a good integrated feel for the battle.That's a tribute to the author's skill and military knowledge. Also the fact that the battle was fought by one Marine division backed up by one Army division on a small island means the reader feels in control of the subject matter. There are not many maps but the one's used are good. As with any military book they need to be referred to often.America is lucky to always have men such as the Marines described in the book when we need them.

Eyewitness accounts in tactical and strategic context
In late 1944 the Marines invaded a small island within an archipelago that had been "owned" by Japan since the end of World War 1, the Japanese having been ceded the territory by the Germans as part of the WWI Armistice (possession, in this case, being 100% of ownership). The island was fortified by the Japanese as part of one of several concentric fortification rings rippling out from the home islands.
An unknown story of great valor
Being the son of a veteran of Peleliu,( my father was a forward observer with the 11th Marines assigned to K Company, Third Battalion, First Marines, and was one of the survivors from the Point.), I am always looking for new material on Peleliu. Like many other veterans, my father spoke very little of his experiences. Though Mr. Sloan's book read well, you can get the same information from reading George Hunt's book, Coral Comes High, or Russell Davis' book Marine at War, or Eugene Sledges book, With the Old breed. Especially Sledges book, I was somewhat disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Marine Corps    6. Military - United States    7. Military - World War II    8. Peleliu, Battle of, Palau, 194    9. Peleliu, Battle of, Palau, 1944    10. United States    11. United States.    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / Military / World War II    14. Warfare & Defence    15. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (3)

Technology alone just doesn't cut it....
This book contains an awful lot of wisdom for such a slim volume (it clocks in at just under 200 pages). Concise overview of military revolutions
This book is the volume one should buy if he or she is searching for the best, consise overvue of the history and processes involved in the military innovations of the Western world.

The Heart of Asymmetric Advantage is NOT Technology
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Subjects:  1. Europe    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - General    6. Military Science    7. Military art and science    8. Modern - General    9. Renaissance    10. Revolutions    11. Strategy    12. History / Renaissance    13. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    14. Revolutions & coups    15. Strategy--History    16. Warfare & Defence    17. World history    18. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Editorial Review

Counterfactuals--what-if scenarios--fueled countless bull sessions in smoke-filled dorm rooms in the 1960s. What if Sitting Bull had had a machine gun at Little Big Horn? What if Attila the Hun had had a time machine? What if Columbus had landed in India after all?Some of those dorm-room speculators grew up to be historians, and their generation (along with a few younger and older scholars) makes a strong showing in this anthology of essays, in which the what-ifs are substantially more plausible. What if Hitler had not attacked Russia when he did? He might have moved into the Middle East and secured the oil supplies the Third Reich so badly needed, helping it retain its power in Europe. What if D-Day had been a failure? The Soviet Union might have controlled all of Europe. What if Sennacherib had pressed the siege of Jerusalem in 701 B.C.? Then the nascent, monotheistic Jewish religion might never have taken hold among the people of Judah--and the daughter religions of Christianity and Islam would never have been born.Read more

Reviews (108)

Thoroughly Entertaining, if Flawed, Speculation
What if Charles Martel lost and the Moors over-ran France? What if Robert E. Lee had won at Chancellorsville? These are a few of the outcomes considered by some of the best historians of a generation. I found these projections of unfulfilled history fascinating. It is only a few years later that I realized that the perspectives of these historians are somewhat tainted by their middle-class, Anglo-American roots. What, may I ask, did the Moors feel after their defeat in the battle of Tours? Were the peasants better off under the Franks or under the Moors? As for Chancellorsville, did a dirt-farmer from South Carolina, fooled into thinking he was fighting for states-rights, really benefit if the South won the war? These questions find no answers in this anthology. The historians present here a fascinating story in the vein that larger-than-life individuals make history and they do so by making a particular choice at a particular time. This perspective belies that fact that while Eisenhower sat in a conference room in England, privates, sergeants, and lieutenants made history on the beaches of Normandy.
Great book but AMAZON SHIPPING SUCKS!!!
I've had a number of experiences with amazon in which I ordered and paid for express (next or 2nd day delivery) shipping and, invariably, they can't get my orders to me when promised. I recently ordered a DVD set for my husband's birthday and they didn't deliver. By noon the following day, even though DHL promised first thing in the morning delivery, I am still waiting. The last time this happened, my package didn't arrive until almost 9 pm on the day AFTER delivery should have occurred. Take my advice and don't buy from Amazon unless you are under no time restrictions. As for me, since amazon won't tell me who they're shipping with before I place my order and they won't let me chose the shipper as well as the speed, I just won't be buying from them any more and neither will my friends or family. Caveat Emptor!!!
What if my Dad hadn't met my Mom?
In this interesting book, many of the best military historians of the English language take up some of the crucial moments in history and analyze the way in which apparently irrelevant changes in the development of events could have brought up radically different outcomes in the Fate of humankind. It gives you the creeps to think about how weather, the personality of protagonists, or hair-splitting decision-making could have changed history forever. If Senacherib's army hadn't suffered a plague in 701 B.C., right before taking Jerusalem, there would haveb been no Judaism and no Christianism. If Greece had lost the battle of Salamis, no Greek culture would have developed. If Hernan Cortez had been killed by the Aztecs, there would have been no Mexico (and I would had never been born). If only Napoleon had known his limits after Tilsit... If Hitler had given up on conquering the Soviet Union...
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. History - Military / War    3. Imaginary histories    4. Imaginary wars and battles    5. Military - General    6. Speculative    7. War    8. History / General   

Reviews (4)

Now that we are this book, here's what I say:
Everything is bad news if it comes with a deadline that isn't met.This book, THE SOLDIER AND THE STATE:THE THEORY AND POLITICS OF CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS by Samuel P. Huntington, a young Harvard professor in 1957, when the book first appeared, attempted to establish assumptions that would allow respectable consideration of policies that, in our world, might be used to define who we have become.My differences with this book might be ascribed to a theological framework in which this book is seen as having assumed the existence of hell on earth as the situation which people who voiced political aspirations that did not coincide with the prevailing superpower mentality would have to put up with.The famous Winston Churchill once said something about assumptions up with which he would not put, and the success of this book might be measured by how its views are assumed to be the American views in those parts of the world where America as a superpower is most unpopular. The best book ever written on civil-military relations
At the time of its original publication in 1957, Samuel Huntington's The Soldier and the State reflected a new age in American history--the Cold War era.Huntington, a young Harvard professor of government, focused on policy problems concerning civilian direction of the military under the terms of the Cold War.Basically, he contended that traditional American liberalism was outdated and in fact had begun to pose a national security danger.Until this era, the absence of an overt military threat to American security allowed for a policy of civilian control of the military compatible with liberal democratic values.Traditionally, liberal solutions to domestic problems had likewise been applied to military problems, frequently resulting in failure. Seminal Treatise on the role of the Military in society
Incisive and remarkably relevant.Huntington delves into the role of the military in shaping and protecting a society.A MUST read for anyone who is in, or deals with the military. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil supremacy over the milit    2. Constitutional    3. General    4. Militarism    5. Military-Political Relationships    6. Politics / Current Events    7. United States    8. Political Science / General    9. Warfare & Defence   

Editorial Review

This bold and important book strives to be a practical "strategy for a Second American Century." In this brilliantly argued work, Thomas Barnett calls globalization "this country’s gift to history" and explains why its wide dissemination is critical to the security of not only America but the entire world. As a senior military analyst for the U.S. Naval War College, Barnett is intimately familiar with the culture of the Pentagon and the State Department (both of which he believes are due for significant overhauls). He explains how the Pentagon, still in shock at the rapid dissolution of the once evil empire, spent the 1990s grasping for a long-term strategy to replace containment. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Barnett argues, revealed the gap between an outdated Cold War-era military and a radically different one needed to deal with emerging threats. He believes that America is the prime mover in developing a "future worth creating" not because of its unrivaled capacity to wage war, but due to its ability to ensure security around the world. Further, he believes that the U.S. has a moral responsibility to create a better world and the way he proposes to do that is by bringing all nations into the fold of globalization, or what he calls connectedness. Eradicating disconnectedness, therefore, is "the defining security task of our age." His stunning predictions of a U.S. annexation of much of Latin America and Canada within 50 years as well as an end to war in the foreseeable future guarantee that the book will be controversial. And that's good. Read more

Reviews (105)

Globalization Groupie
This is an interesting and insightful analysis of the current (as of January 2004)geopolitical environmennt with a particular focus on globalization and its projected overwhelming importance (in Barnett's opinion) in structuring the globe for the next several generations.Readers will be fascinated to read that the Pentagon and by extension, the Bush Administration and at least one major multi-national investment/financial service firm (Cantor Fitzgerald), are apparently presuming that the future will be characterized by unrestricted global flows of capital, information, labor, and "security services"."Security services" refers to US military intervention, as needed to insure the stability of the "Core" nations that participate in the aforementioned flow of capital, information and labor (yes, that means unrestricted immigration!).Nations not qualifying as members of the "Core" are characterized as "Gap" nations, who will suffer from the absense of the information, capital, and labor enjoyed by the "Core".They apparently will not miss out completely though, because those "security services" are likely to come their way.Written for the most part in late 2003, the strength of the author's analysis is significantly undermined by his enthusiasm for the invasion of Iraq.He seems to be willing to assume the success of that intervention, despite the fact that the criminal incompetence demonstrated by the administration was already evident in Iraq prior to publication.I presume this to be evidence of a strong partisan bias.
Global cop
Barnett's main thesis in "The Pentagon's New Map" is that the world is composed of two types of states: those that are part of an integrated and connected "Core," which embrace globalization; and states of the "Gap," which are disconnected from the effects of globalization. Barnett proclaims that globalization will move the world into an era of peace and prosperity, but can only do so with the help of an indispensable United States. He writes that America is the lynchpin to the entire process and he believes that the United States should be midwife to a new world that will one day consist of peaceful democratic states and integrated economies. Barnett is proposing no less than a new grand strategy - the historical successor to the Cold War's strategy of containment.His approach to a future world defined by America's "exportation of security" is almost religious in its fervor and messianic in its language.
Ambitious, pleasantly arrogant, often thought provoking, occasionally convincing.
Barnett is very ambitious in this book, pleasantly arrogant in tone, slightly presumptuous in his conclusions, but often thought provoking and occasionally convincing.
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Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. History    4. International Relations (General)    5. Military    6. Military - General    7. Military Science    8. Military policy    9. Military-Political Relationships    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Politics / Current Events    12. United States    13. World politics    14. History / Military / General   

Reviews (42)

Unlike anything ever recorded
I had studied Greek history for quite some time before I finally did myself the greatest favor thus far in my life and purchased Thucydides' account of the Peloponnesian War for my collection.At the time I had already read Herodotus at least 3 or 4 times in full, along with all sorts of other Greek texts available.I was in love with Herodotus, enjoying with skepticism his regaling of myths as fact, particularly the presense of oracles and their relation to the events he described, which still fascinates me in spite of the doubt I feel towards divine intervention.At that point I had known of Thucydides at some time, but it was not until I had exhausted almost every available source of Spartan knowledge did I at last turn to him.
Great book, cruddy translation.
Thucydides is a top-notch ancient historian, although he can be a bit dry at times. In fact, this may be part of what makes him such a great historian; he says in the beginning that he's concerned only with the facts and pretty much sticks to that for the whole history. Whatever the case, it's important for a translation of his history to not end up sounding too dry and provide the reader with some geographical and historical background.
A non-scholarly review.
I really have the feeling that I am not knowledgable enough about the period in question in the Thucydides to provide any kind of reasonable context for the work. Instead, this review will focus on some reading tips and reactions aimed at the more generalist reader who may be attempting to get through the text.