Devil at My Heels: A Heroic Olympian's Astonishing Story of Survival as a Japanese POW in World War II

Book Description

The "inspirational" and "extraordinary" memoir of one of the most courageous of the greatest generation, Louis Zamperini: Olympian, WWII Japanese POW and survivor.

A juvenile delinquent, a world class NCAA miler, a 1936 Olympian, a WWII bombardier: Louis Zamperini had a fuller than most, when it changed in an instant. On May 27, 1943, his B–24 crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Louis and two other survivors found a raft amid the flaming wreckage and waited for rescue. Instead, they drifted two thousand miles for forty–seven days. Their only food: two shark livers and three raw albatross. Their only water: sporadic rainfall. Their only companions: hope and faith–and the ever–present sharks. On the forty–seventh day, mere skeletons close to death, Zamperini and pilot Russell Phillips spotted land–and were captured by the Japanese. Thus began more than two years of torture and humiliation as a prisoner of war.

Zamperini was threatened with beheading, subject to medical experiments, routinely beaten, hidden in a secret interrogation facility, starved and forced into slave labour, and was the constant victim of a brutal prison guard nicknamed the Bird–a man so vicious that the other guards feared him and called him a psychopath. Meanwhile, the Army Air Corps declared Zamperini dead and President Roosevelt sends official condolences to his family, who never gave up hope that he was alive.

Somehow, Zamperini survived and he returned home a hero. The celebration was short–lived. He plunged into drinking and brawling and the depths of rage and despair. Nightly, the Bird's face leered at him in his dreams. It would take years, but with the love of his wife and the power of faith, he was able to stop the nightmares and the drinking.

A stirring memoir from one of the greatest of the "Greatest Generation," DEVIL AT MY HEELS is a living document about the brutality of war, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the power of forgiveness.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't put this one down!.......2007-07-12

This tale reads like Candide or Forest Gump, but of course this isn't fiction. The life of Louis Zamperini is, in a word, incredible; it's no wonder that they know as the Greatest Generation. Anyone who is interested in WWII, military service, or survival tales will enjoy this story. This is a must read!

Worst Book I've Ever Read.......2007-03-16

This book has no plot and constantly repeats itself. He alo takes much of the time to promote the books of his other POW friends. The only touching pat of the book is one passge that lasts about a page. DON'T READ!!! I had to read it for a histroy class, but I had such a hard time staying focused on such a bad book!

Devil at My heels.......2006-01-23

Having received this book as a Christams gift from a buddy of mine , it is an absolutelly astonishing and wonderful read!
A great story of a one of what we now call "The Greatest Generation".
My buddy was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association's crew that travels with a world war two bomber called FUDDY DUDDY, and while at Van Nuys California airport , he met Louis Zamperini personally and told me Mr Zamperini just kind of "hung out" with the FUDDY DUDDY crew in April 2005 for about three days and shared his stories with them.
So my buddy bought two copies from Louis Zamperini and asked him to autograph them, so I received mine for Christmas 2005.
What a great story and hope someday I can meet Louis Zamperini!
He is truly an American Hero!

This review written by
Edward DeBolt
Grabill, Indiana

Testimony to the Apex of Human Forgiveness.......2006-01-20

What More can be said or added to the astonishing account of survival by Louis Zamperini. After enduring forty-seven days in a life raft, being shot down in the middle of the Pacific, he prevailed for two more years as a POW in a Japanese prison camp.
Following his release and being welcomed home as a war hero, Zamperini sank into despair and heavy drinking,only to be rescued from the depths of hopelessness through the ministry of the great evangelist Billy Graham.
His story is at once extraordinary and inspiring-a powerful testimony to the stalwartness of the human spirit, particularly in light of the fact that upon revisiting the site of his tortuous existence he found it in his heart to forgive his brutal captors.
Even if one is only remotely inclined to revisit events that occurred surrounding US POW's in the Pacific during WWII,the reader will find this narrative the best of the best. This reader salutes you, Louis, and others like you for reminding us that the "greatest generation" continues to illuminate and enkindle.

a great story, a mediocre book.......2005-06-06

As you can see from the other reviews, Zamperini's story is absolutely amazing. The book is worth reading to hear it. Still, I couldn't rate the book very highly because it never really felt like Zamperini was the one doing the talking. I guess you'll get that feeling in almost any ghosted autobiography (except maybe Lance's "It's Not About the Bike"), but when Zamperini talks about some of his less-credible emotions, such as his absolute graciousness in defeat when he lost a race to Norman Bright, or his complete forgiveness for the guard, "The Bird", who sadistically tortured him in POW camps, I would find those much easier to believe if I knew I was getting it straight from Zamperini, rather than channeled through a professional writer who makes sure everything is pretty and organized.

There's a lot of great things about this book. As far as I can tell, it pulls no punches and tells the truth. Zamperini is not afraid to speak his mind. He admits his faults. He shares his innermost thoughts. The book paints a very real picture of a man. Even if the book had an ulterior motive, Zamperini goes about spreading his message in a very non-threatening way. I'm an atheist and I don't forsee that changing in the near future, but unlike most proselytizing, this book managed not to tick me off.

With the straightforward manner of storytelling and the "don't mess up your life like I almost did... you can get back on the right track" message, the best audience for the book is probably 14-year olds.

How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe

Average customer rating:

Another Point-of-View
Enjoyable reading
An ok book about the Irish
Heavy reading
Wonderful Book

How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
Thomas Cahill
Manufacturer: Nan A. Talese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels (Hinges of History)
Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter (Hinges of History)
Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe
How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World & Everything in It

ASIN: 0385418485
Release Date: 1995-02-15

Amazon.com

In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells. Here, far from the barbarian despoliation of the continent, monks and scribes laboriously, lovingly, even playfully preserved the West's written treasury. When stability returned in Europe, these Irish scholars were instrumental in spreading learning, becoming not only the conservators of civilization, but also the shapers of the medieval mind, putting their unique stamp on Western culture.

Book Description

The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift, and a book in the best tradition of popular history -- the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe. Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars" -- and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. In this entertaining and compelling narrative, Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Europe evolved from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era. Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization -- copying manuscripts of Greek and Latin writers, both pagan and Christian, while libraries and learning on the continent were forever lost -- they brought their uniquely Irish world-view to the task. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated. In the tradition of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, How The Irish Saved Civilization reconstructs an era that few know about but which is central to understanding our past and our cultural heritage. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization.

Download Description

From the fall of Rome to the rise of Charlemagne--the "dark ages"--learning, scholarship, and culture disappeared from the European continent. The great heritage of western civilization--from the Greek and Roman classics to Jewish and Christian works--would have been utterly lost were it not for the holy men and women of unconquered Ireland.

Customer Reviews:

Another Point-of-View.......2007-10-18

This fascinating, sometimes poetic book, looks at how civilization survived in a backwater of Irish Europe during the Middle Ages while the rest of the continent was exploring its bigotry and superstitions at the cost of any rational thought. If you're Irish with an interest in your own heritage, this book can only make you proud. It's also a good introduction to the authors other books that explore other historical developments that changed us all.

Enjoyable reading.......2007-09-28

I enjoyed this book and am somewhat surprised by the nasty reviews. I wasn't looking for a historical textbook or I would surely have looked elsewhere. As an introduction to the role Ireland played in history, I found it a scratching of the surface that made me want to go out and learn more. And I loved Cahill's rather lighthearted amusing writing style. I'm intrigued enough to want to read more in the hinges of history series and I find myself wanting to study Irish poetry from the middle ages.

An enjoyable read!

An ok book about the Irish.......2007-08-27

An ok book about irish civilization. I cannot say that I loved this book. It was a general read about the Irish. I was not overwhelmed by this.

Heavy reading.......2007-07-18

This book is an interesting intellectual history of the fall of Western classical civilization, and how its literary works and ideas were preserved and then brought back to life through Irish monasteries. Cahill begins with an analysis of why the Roman Empire collapsed, which he supports by drawing heavily on classical writers, from Plato to Cicero. He also examines the state of Irish society at the time, using the Tain as an example. He then traces the history of Saint Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland, and how the new Christian monasteries came to be the institutions that preserved the ancient classical texts and brought them back to mainland Europe in future centuries.

I found Cahill's approach to history quite interesting, in his heavy use of contemporary literary works to exemplify his descriptions. He argues that it was the special nature of Irish intellectual society, in which the monks were interested in reading and preserving all classical works without censoring them, which enabled many classic Greek and Roman texts to be preserved. Without such broad interests in preserving all ancient texts, Cahill argues they would have been lost for good with the looting and burning of the great European libraries, and the ideas in them would not have been available to fuel the renaissance. The book is quite thought-provoking, and would make a good choice for book discussions.

Wonderful Book.......2007-06-14

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Like many of Thomas Cahill's books the author spends the first few chapters on background history (which can be a slow read for some - myself included), but once he sets up the time and place it is a smooth enjoyable ride that leaves you inspired and enriched.

How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking)

Average customer rating:

Mom enjoyed book with 7 and 10 year olds
Hiccup Happy
Wonderfully Fun - Just Like the Previous 3

How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking)
Cressida Cowell
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How to Speak Dragonese (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Be a Pirate (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Train Your Dragon (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Twist a Dragon's Tale (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
Hiccup: The Viking who was Seasick

ASIN: 0316114251

Book Description

In his 4th sidesplitting adventure, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III must rescue his best friend, Fishlegs, from the deadly disease Vorpentitis. The only cure is rare and almost impossible to find...a potato. But where will Hiccup find such a thing? He'll have to dodge the terrible Sharkworms, battle Doomfangs, and outwit crazy Hooligans if he's going to be a Hero...again.

A fast paced plot, slapstick humor, witty dialogue and imaginative black and white illustrations enhance this exciting tale.

Customer Reviews:

Mom enjoyed book with 7 and 10 year olds.......2007-05-31

This book is appropriate reading level for second to fifth graders, although mom enjoyed the story too! The character's names are unusual, Hiccup the Horrendous the Third, Gobber the Belch, Snotlout, but the names appeal to the kids. Hiccup is a Viking who doesn't fit in. He is a small kid who is kind and thoughtful. Most of the Vikings are large, tough, gross and ill mannered brutes. Hiccup's father must come to terms with his son's unusual ways. There are also three important dragons in this story. Character traits of loyalty, self reliance, honesty, persistence, empathy and friendship empower Hiccup to prevail.
We have also enjoyed other books about Hiccup.

Hiccup Happy.......2007-05-12

We have a seven year old who is far from enamoured with reading, but he LOVES to sit and listen to these funny and clever books. There is much in each book that parents will enjoy as well as children, and we often laugh out loud when reading. My advice? Start with book one and get ready for your children to become addicted to these wonderful misadventures.

Wonderfully Fun - Just Like the Previous 3.......2007-04-11

This is the 4th book in this series about Hiccup Horrendous, unlikely heir to the Viking "throne" of the Hooligan tribe. These books were supposedly written as memoirs by Hiccup when he was an old man (and later found and translated by the author). This makes them less scary because readers know he couldn't have died during any of his adventures. Hiccup is not large and scary like the other viking boy bullys, but he has a great brain and is loyal. He is also a "dragon whisperer." As in the previous 3 books, he uses his talents to help his tribe. He ends up "saving the day" and comes one step closer to growing up and becoming chief, like his father. These books are full of dragons, sword play and "elementary boy" humor. For example, in every book something (ie, a monster) blows up or blows its nose, and the characters end up covered in disgusting snot or slime. They are also full of action (ie, running from dragons, being captured by enemies, etc.) My son, 8, LOVED this book as much as he loved the previous 3. He has always enjoyed playing with pirate and knight toys and reading books about them. Now he has added Vikings to this list (they are similar, after all). My son is a "reluctant reader," but he'll sometimes sit and read about Hiccup for 45 minutes (that's a lot for him.) This book is pur fantasy. I recommend it for any child who enjoys fantasy, pirates. and/or vikings.

MIRACLES ON THE WATER: THE HEROIC SURVIVORS OF A WORLD WAR II U-BOAT ATTACK

Average customer rating:

Very Impressive
Couldn't put the book down
Should be Required Reading for History Class!
High Seas Heroism
Moving, Powerful, Thought-Provoking: Non-fiction at its finest

MIRACLES ON THE WATER: THE HEROIC SURVIVORS OF A WORLD WAR II U-BOAT ATTACK
Tom Nagorski
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Reading in the Dark: A Novel
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.)
Intuition
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War

ASIN: 1401308716
Release Date: 2007-03-14

Book Description

Ghost Soldiers meets The Perfect Storm in the remarkable true story of the sinking of the S.S. City of BenaresIn September 1940, ninety lucky English children were placed aboard the S.S. City of Benares by their parents, bound from Liverpool to Canada. They were pioneers in a program designed to spirit British children from their war-ravaged homes to safer shores. But they had no way of knowing that in the darkness of September 17, a German U-boat would sink their ship, tossing them and the other 316 people on board into a rough, gale-driven sea. How any of them survived is a miracle. Journalist Tom Nagorski's stirring account, based on interviews with survivors including his own great-uncle, brings their saga to light for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

Very Impressive.......2007-10-01

I have been delving into WWII books a lot this year, and this is the most impressive story of courage and survival. The narrative is engaging, the book is extremely well-researched and I remained engrossed throughout the read. The book mainly focuses on the plight of 13 people (mostly children)who end up in a lifeboat for over a week. It is a powerful story of courage, humanity and the will to survive. I reads like fiction, so the story is captivating.

Couldn't put the book down.......2007-09-17

I just finished reading "Miracles on the Water" and I'm slightly embarrassed to say I lost three hours of my day today to finishing this book. Once I reached a certain point, I couldn't put it down. I found the stories heartbreaking and couldn't imagine what it would be like to be a survivor or one of the members of the families at home, unaware of what was happening to their family members. The hope and faith that was displayed by the survivors, especially the children, is amazing and a reminder to us how lucky we are in our every day life. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs reminded of situations when the true goodness in people comes out.

Should be Required Reading for History Class! .......2007-07-11

I heard the author interviewed on NPR and had to get this book; from the first page I was not disappointed. It's about a ship carrying British children to Canada to escape the bombings in London that's attacked by a Nazi sub. The anxieties of the war and the dangers in London and the Atlantic are palpable. The bravery of the children is overwhelming and inspirational. Although a tear jerker, this is a great true story that needed to be told.

High Seas Heroism.......2006-12-22

"Miracles on the Water" has all the elements of great adventure stories--a luxury liner torpedoed late at night; young children racing to lifeboats; and survival six hundred miles from land. This is a survival account well worth telling, and Nagorski (a relative to one of the survivors) gives it justice.

In 1940, as World War II settled in for a long dreary fight, families in London faced nightly ings by Hitler's Luftwaffe. Stay and be killed? Or send the children to other countries for safety? These questions faced staunch British souls. Through this book, we understand the drama of their decisions, and the resulting nightmare for numerous families when they discovered that the liner carrying their children across the Atlantic had been sunk. The real story, though, is the heroism and endurance of those who survived the attack--and a few who didn't.

Like previous survival accounts, such as "The Perfect Storm" and "Into Thin Air," this is a story that highlights the strength of the human spirit and the costly effects of muddled bureacracy. Why was the liner left unprotected, for example, when there were reports of a German U-boat in the area? While "Miracles on the Water" never reaches the narrative pace of the fore-mentioned books, it does serve as a reminder to those of us raised in a glutted western culture that we should always count our blessings.

Moving, Powerful, Thought-Provoking: Non-fiction at its finest.......2006-10-16

I've been recommending this book to all my friends, saying it is as engaging (if not more so!) than Junger's "A Perfect Storm" and Krakauer's "Into Thin Air," but minus the show-off testerone. Nagorski's book touched my heart like few non-fiction books ever have--there were times I literally threw my arm out to try to grab one of the children falling overboard or being tossed around by waves! It is so thoughtfully well researched--the mood of the early war years is conveyed so well--yet Nagorski doesn't bog down the story with extraneous details. Only incredibly human, poignant, insightful ones that drive this narrative so masterfully. Bravo!

Wake of the Wahoo: The Heroic Story of America's Most Daring WWII Submarine, USS Wahoo

Average customer rating:

World War Two as seen by a sailor
A Book You Can't Put Down
'Wahoo a Winner'
Compelling true to life narative of war at sea...
Try CRAZY IVAN if you liked this book

Wake of the Wahoo: The Heroic Story of America's Most Daring WWII Submarine, USS Wahoo
Forest J. Sterling
Manufacturer: R a Cline Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Clear the Bridge! : The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang
Thunder Below!: The USS *Barb* Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II
Wahoo: The Patrols of America's Most Famous World War II Submarine
Unrestricted Warfare: How a New Breed of Officers Led the Submarine Force to Victory in World War II
Submarine!

ASIN: 0966323521

Customer Reviews:

World War Two as seen by a sailor.......2007-03-07

It is, perhaps, one of the classic images from World War Two. The sailor sits on his seabag, smoking a cigarette as he looks at the submarine that is about to take him into what will be the defining moment of his generation; World War Two. While he has served on submarines before, this will be the first time he has been on board a sub during a war. And wouldn't you know it, the sub he is assigned to will become a legend, not just for this war but forever.

There have been many books written by officers that served on U.S. submarines during World War Two but Forest Sterling gives us the unique perspective of going to war on a submarine, the perspective of that sailor sitting on the seabag on the pier. Sterling was Wahoo's Yeoman for five war patrols, four of them with the skipper that would become a legend right along with his boat, Mush Morton.

If what you're interested in is what it is like to carry the burden of command you may be a bit disappointed in this particular book. Sterling takes us to a different place. "Yeo" takes us to the crews messroom where we get to experience the obligtory "scuttlebut" that occurs on any navy ship. "So where we going this time Yeo?" "I don't know, Mush hasn't told me yet." "How many ship we gonna get this time?"

We also hear the crew's voice during an attack and a unique voice it is. "Is the old man crazy? Why ain't we runnin' from that destroyer?" Sterling takes us to most of the crew's activities and this is a unique perspective that is interesting. We go on liberty in Brisbane, Pearl Harbor and Midway (which apparently was a bit of a disappointment).

But there is something else here that is special. Sterling is a pretty good writer. Wake of the Wahoo is no dry recitation of procedures. Nope, you are there with the crew and you get to experience what they do and in a witty, well written style. Suffice it to say that from now on if anyone asks me about good submarine books, Wake of the Wahoo will be high on the list. Well done Yeo!

A Book You Can't Put Down.......2004-11-12

Forest Sterling's "Wake Of The Wahoo" gives the perspective of the Enlisted Man's take on Submarine Warfare in WWII. As I titled this review, it's a very hard book to put down once you start reading it. Like Cmdr. I.J. Galatin's "TAKE HER DEEP!", Sterling does not bore the reader with technical terms a non-Navy person would be confused with. He even went so far as to complain about "Fish Making Lots Of Noise" over the Sonar when Wahoo was in water replete with sediment and strong undercurrents---a problem with early Sonar you don't read much about.

"Wake Of The Wahoo" chronicals one of the most Daring Submarine Skippers from WWII and the crew the Author sailed with. "Wake Of The Wahoo" is a terrific story and worth reading over and over.

'Wahoo a Winner'.......2003-09-27

Wake of the Wahoo by Forest Sterling is a great read! Reading this engrossing book is actually more like sitting down with the author, and listening to him as he relates the five patrols he experienced on the Wahoo. We should be thankful that he received his orders for transfer before the 7th and fatal final patrol.

Forest Sterling was an enlisted sailor- the 'yeoman' aboard the Wahoo. His descriptions of long, sometimes very boring days on patrol, broken only by the tense, gut-wrenching episodes of discovering the target, tracking, stalking, and finally attacking, and evading, draws the reader into the clamy, sweaty, smelly, claustrophobic innards of a fleet submarine. No details are left to the imagination; Sterling recounts eating a particular sandwich at a moment in time; he describes his 'yeoman's' shack in minute detail. The yarns he spins on the personalities of his shipmates (including officers), is worth the read alone. His colorful insights of 'Mush' Morton, Dick O'Kane (also author of another Wahoo book, and Skipper of the Tang - the sub that sank the most tonnage in WWII), among others, is just plain fun to read about.

Footnote; Forrest Sterling also served on another sub after Wahoo, along with George Grider, who ALSO wrote a very good book on WWII subs; 'WAR FISH'. Sterling 'mentions' Grider in his book, but I don't recall if Grider ever re-called Sterling.

Anyway; Buy It, Read It, and Enjoy It!

Compelling true to life narative of war at sea..........2003-09-20

This is a deckplate view of submariners at the height of war in the Pacific during WWII. As a Navy Sailor, I found myself drawn into the book simply because of its no frills language and realistic portrayal of heroes that don't know they are heroes, in action.

I reccommend this for anyone looking for an inside view of Navy life in general and submarine Sailors in particular.

Bravo Zulu Chief Sterling for a great story!

Try CRAZY IVAN if you liked this book.......2001-02-25

If you liked this book, be sure to get the new book CRAZY IVAN: A TRUE STORY OF SUBMARINE ESPIONAGE by W. Craig Reed available today on Amazon.com. Type in CRAZY IVAN under Book Search on this page and order your copy today!

How to Train Your Dragon (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)

Average customer rating:

how to train your dragon rocks
Recommended
I wish I had written this. Brilliant
A fun book to read together or for your young reader to read to themselves.
Must have for young boys!

How to Train Your Dragon (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
Cressida Cowell
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How to Be a Pirate (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Speak Dragonese (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking)
Cut & Assemble Paper Dragons That Fly (Models & Toys)
The Book of Dragons

ASIN: 0316737372

Customer Reviews:

how to train your dragon rocks.......2007-05-10

How to Train Your Dragon
is the best book
in the history
of the world
it's got the
best names
ever!!!
Snotface Snotlaut
Fishlegs
Green-Death
Purple-Death

Recommended.......2007-04-18

I recommend this book to you if you like a thrilling humorous book! It's about a boy named Hiccup and a dragon named Toothless. The boy named Hiccup is on a mission to train a dragon that he found in a cave. And you'll want to know that the training is a very bumpy ride. The pictures in this book are poorly drawn on purpose. To find out the end to this read it! And remember keep reading!

I wish I had written this. Brilliant.......2007-04-10

Fantastic children's book which adults will enjoy reading. A whole world to delve into giving good life lessons using humour and not being preachy or politically correct. Hilarious, engaging, did not want it to end.

A fun book to read together or for your young reader to read to themselves. .......2007-01-06

I read this book to my son before he was reading. We both enjoyed the humor and adventure of the story. Now that he is reading on his own he has reread this and enjoyed it just as much the second time.

Must have for young boys!.......2007-01-04

A fun read that makes young (8/9)readers eager for more.

Nothing More Heroic: The Compelling Story of the First Latter=Day Saint Missionaries in India

Average customer rating:

Nothing More Heroic: The Compelling Story of the First Latter=Day Saint Missionaries in India
R. Lanier Britsch
Manufacturer: Deseret Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1573455652

How to Be a Pirate (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)

Average customer rating:

How to be a Pirate
Viking Adventure
Great Book!
It was super, duper great!!! (Kid Review)
Kids Enjoy This Book!

How to Be a Pirate (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
Cressida Cowell
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How to Train Your Dragon (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Speak Dragonese (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking)
Hiccup: The Viking who was Seasick
Cut & Assemble Paper Dragons That Fly (Models & Toys)

ASIN: 0316155985

Customer Reviews:

How to be a Pirate.......2007-03-06

How to be a Pirate

How to be a Pirate is one book you have to read sometime in your life! This book from Cressida Cowell is about pirates dragons and thieves! I recommend this book to people the like adventure and dangerous books. A boy named Hiccup his dad is the chief of the Harry Hooligans Hiccup must become the heir. He must go to the island of the scullions and get the treasure of Grimbeard the Ghastly. But there are a few problems they come acrossed a guy named Alvin the Treacherous. He wants in on the treasure so he says he is "Alvin the poor but honest farmer". They sail to the island of the skullions on the Lucky 13. Alvin stays in the boat Snout Lout finds the fake treasure but Grimbeard booby-trapped it. They almost get killed. Will Hiccup find the treasure first and become the heir? Find out in the book How to be a Pirate.

Viking Adventure.......2007-01-19

How to be a Pirate
By Cressida Cowel

Have you ever been with Vikings? Now you can. This book is very funny and imaginative, recommended for all ages.

The book's point of view is from Hiccup, the main character. The action begins on a pirate ship named the Lucky Thirteen where Hiccup and the Hairy Hooligans are practicing to be pirates. Each boy has a dragon for a pet. They find a coffin floating in the water. They open it and out pops a character named Alvin, the poor but honest farmer. This is an example of this wild, wonderful, heartwarming fiction. Toothless is the name of Hiccups dragon. Although Toothless is very lazy he is also very funny. An example of a funny quote is "He leapt forward and bit that wobbling rear end as hard as he could".

I liked this book because its funny and adventurous. The characters have hilarious names, like Dogs Breath the Duh Brain, Snotlout, Baggy Bum. Hiccup and his best friend, Fish legs are both wimps. This book will show that even wimps can save the day. Don't read this book without reading How to Train Your Dragon, the first book in the series of three. You will find yourself going on an adventure and laughing hysterically.

Great Book!.......2007-01-04

My 9 year old read all three of these books within a few days and giggled his whole way through. Highly recommend!

It was super, duper great!!! (Kid Review).......2006-11-11

My Name is Jack and I'm 8 years old and I love to read. I read this book in three days because I just couldn't stop reading. I loved it because it was funny, surprising, and one of the best books I've read. My favorite part was when the boat sinks and Hiccup ends up in an underwater cave and finds the treasure of Grimbeard the Gastly. It's all about Pirates, Vikings and Dragons which I love. Now I am gong to find the other books in the series too!

Kids Enjoy This Book!.......2006-02-28

I read this book and "How to Train Your Dragon" to my fifth grade class. When I finished they begged me to go on Amazon and look up the next book - which we discovered will be published in May. I ordered it right then and they have circled the anticipated delivery date. The characters are amusing, the writing is fresh, the vocabulary (especially the character's names) is right up an adolescent's alley - and they loved having a grown up having to pronounce names like Snotlout and Baggybum. Practically every one of the kids (average to above average readers) have read both of the books on their own, also.

The Forgotten Heroes: The Heroic Story of the United States Merchant Marine

Average customer rating:

Unfortunetly a poorly written book on a worthy topic
Excellent WW11 Merchant Mariner Book
Good Subject, Bad Book
Interesting but flawed book
UNREWARDED LOYALTY

The Forgotten Heroes: The Heroic Story of the United States Merchant Marine
Brian Herbert
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Heroes in Dungarees: The Story of the American Merchant Marine in World War II
The Last American Sailors: A Wild Ride in the Modern Merchant Marine
The U.S. Merchant Marine at War, 1775-1945
Gallant Ship, Brave Men
Sailing on Friday: The Perilous Voyage of America's Merchant Marine

ASIN: 0765307073
Release Date: 2005-04-21

Book Description

T he United States Merchant Marine has a tradition of beingat the forefront of every American military action and has served with distinction in every conflict. New York Timesbestselling author Brian Herbert chronicles the amazing exploits of these gallant seamen, assembling a fascinating array of data from historical documents, government records, diaries, and interviews with surviving veterans.

Customer Reviews:

Unfortunetly a poorly written book on a worthy topic.......2007-07-26

I admire Brian Herbert's attempt to fill a void in military history. I'm a cadet at one of the Maritime Academies in the U.S. training for my license as a 3rd Assistant Engineer, and no one knows better then I that the history of the U.S. Merchant Marine (USMM) is grossly overlooked. However He could of been well served by having a historian co-write his book. I normally have trouble putting down a history, but this one I struggled through. The chapters and stories are poorly organized. For example, less then half the the chapter on the Russian Gauntlet was actually about the Murmansk Run. He could of used to embellish or give extra detail to the individual narrative he writes, most are only a paragraph long and give the reader nothing more then a taste of what happened. No doubt there were many acts of uncommon bravery on the merchant ships plowing through the North Atlantic and Pacific; however, simply saying does little to validate that. He tells of how a merchant seaman rescued sailors from another ship, sunk by a German U-Boat or Japanese I-Boat, but doesn't tell what the man did to save the desperate sailors or give more information other then the rescue happened. Another time he tells about was a merchant ship ramming a French sub. He mentions essentially no more then that, he doesn't tell how or why the sub was rammed (was there fog, did the sub suddenly surface in front of the ship...), he simply mentions it happened and moves on. Additionally he tells the same story multiple times throughout the book. I constantly found it frustrating that he would begin telling about an incident and then direct the reader to a future or previous chapter where the actual narrative is contained. While it is obvious that he has passion for the story of the USMM, the book reminded me of a high school or college history student trying hastily a paper and give is some weight with few sources and poorly conducted research: rambling, ill-organized and incoherent.

To me it seems that he let his passion cloud his work; good portions of the book are nothing more then rants about how the government hung the merchant sailors out to dry after the war and how merchant sailors were regarded as bums, drunks and draft dodgers. While the first part is true, merchant sailors were denied many of the benefits enjoyed by those serving in the armed forces, he could of easily dedicated the beginning chapter to this subject, and used the rest of the book to show why the sailors deserved them through the story of the USMM in WWII. Instead he keeps coming back to it, and using the same stories, or versions of those, chapter after chapter to try to prove his point. At times his opinion is so vehement that you can picture the frown on his face and feel his blood pressure rise.

He seems so intent on making a connection with those merchant sailors that he gives the example of one, Dean Beaumont who's father was a noted painter of naval images, to his own life, where is father invented the Dune series set in "vast deserts with dunes like the waves of a great sea, and monsters beneath the sand that are worse than anything Ahab ever faced." And says that "Frank Herbert even 'invented' containerized shipping; thus my family had a connection with the Merchant Marine long before I met Dean Beaumont." Unfortunately it is obvious that that "connection," as far stretched as it is, is not enough. His nautical knowledge is sorely lacking, he often refers to a ship's speed as "knots per hour," redundant if nothing else.

Finally, while I don't doubt the accuracy of his research, he notes very few sources throughout the book, such as the tale of the merchant ship noted above that rammed a French sub. Which, besides making it harder to uphold, also gives an interested reader no place to turn for more information on the skimpy narratives he offers.

If your simply looking for a book with lots of small tales of men in the merchant marine, but not a lot of substance, this one would fit the bill. I would not recommend it however to someone looking for a history of the USMM in WWII, either interested persons, historians or students.

Excellent WW11 Merchant Mariner Book.......2007-01-10

This book really opened my eyes to the plight of the US Merchant Mariners and their value to the WW11 effort and how they were treated.

Good Subject, Bad Book.......2006-08-18

This a good subject and I have much respect for the men who served in the Merchant Marine. But this is a badly written book. I'm sorry to have to say it, but it's true.

Interesting but flawed book.......2006-08-14

Brian Herbert's motivation for writing this book is fine. The U S Government treated the merchant marine (which suffered a higher death rate than any military branch) shamefully during and after WW II. Second only to the way it treated the women pilots who were kicked out without even bus fare home. For that reason alone, I hope a lot of people read this book.

But Herbert makes the argument over and over again - seemingly on every second or third page - until you get really sick of reading it. Also the book is an example of awful editing. With typos on nearly every page, the publisher should be ashamed for serving the author so poorly.

And one final complaint: Any author who presumes to write about the sea should know better than to use the phrase "knots per hour." A knot is a measure of nautical miles per hour. To say, "ten knots per hour," is to say, "ten nautical miles per hour per hour." Anyone who uses the term "knots per hour" is immediately and justifiably presumed to know absolutely nothing about the sea.

UNREWARDED LOYALTY.......2006-02-17

In the Introduction, the author, Brian Herbert, writes "Under precarious conditions these merchant seamen performed extraordinary acts of bravery, they were the lifeline of the Allied forces, making victory not only possible, but inevitable." In a strict sense they were not members of the armed forces. However, in World War II, the Merchant Marine suffered 8,380 battle deaths or 3.899 % per-capita; that was greater than the Marine Corps that suffered 2.949% battle deaths per-capita.

A brief account of the buildup of the American Merchant Marine is given. Starting in 1936 with a vigorous ship building program, of which the liberty ship designed for rapid construction, was a key design. The U.S. Merchant Marine grew rapidly. In 1942 the U.S. Navy attempted to take control of the Merchant Marine, which the ship owners and maritime unions successfully defeated only to pay a high post war price for winning.

A somewhat disjointed text narrates the World War II perils and accomplishments of the U.S. Merchant Marine which suffered horrendous losses of men and materials. Several examples of wartime merchant marine engagements are given; many will be familiar to readers of WW-II maritime history. Merchant Marine officer, Dean Beaumont, purser on the liberty ship SS Brander Matthews is one of the WW-II narrative vehicles as the text follows his ship in the Pacific until Dean suffered a nervous break-down and was returned home.

Upon returning home, Dean Beaumont found that he, along with all merchant seamen, was not eligible for any medical benefits nor for the educational and/or financial benefits of the GI Bill. Had they been under the control of the U.S. Navy as proposed in 1942, they would have been eligible. Regardless of their heavy losses and merchant marine participation in all the major invasions including Normandy, the merchant marines in the post war period were treated as noncombatants, not allowed to participate in parades with armed force members, provided no benefits and were often treated as second-class citizens. Consequently, some ex-merchant seamen became homeless and many could not participate in the postwar prosperity. This book is a plea for justice for these men who gave the county their full loyalty, often giving their life.

The text also includes a brief outline of the Merchant Marine history dating back to the Revolutionary War when the Merchant Marine was also the Navy in the form of privateers.

If the reader has access to the DVDs now available of the 1952 TV series titled "Victory at Sea", they will find that viewing the episodes "Sealing the Breach" and "Guadalcanal" while reading the book will make the text more meaningful. Regardless of its somewhat jumbled text, this book is worth reading.

How to Speak Dragonese (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)

Average customer rating:

Awesome Book!!!Two Thubs WAY UP!!!!!!!!
Quick, funny read.
How to speak dragonese
How to Speak Dragonese (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
Enjoyment ONLY if..........

How to Speak Dragonese (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
Cressida Cowell
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How to Train Your Dragon (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Be a Pirate (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)
How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking)
Obscure Spells and Charms of Dragon Origin: A Dragonology Kit
Cut & Assemble Paper Dragons That Fly (Models & Toys)

ASIN: 0316156000

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Book!!!Two Thubs WAY UP!!!!!!!!.......2007-02-17

I liked How to Speak Dragonese for several reasons. It had lots of humor, with that little side of fantasy(both my favorite genres!)I didn't really dislike anything in this book, it was SO GOOD! I think this because whenever there was a "The End," or "And they lived happily ever after," another challenge popped up for the main characters within the next few pages. This creates lots of suspense!
The setting in this book is in the past. They travel by non-motor boat and balloon, not by cars, planes, and steam boats. Once you start reading this, though, you can easily tell that it takes place in the past. It takes mostly takes place in the Barbaric Archipelago, but it also takes place a little in the Sea like a Woden's Bathtub, and the Isle of Berk.
Here's the basic outline of the plot: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third has his dragon, Toothless, stolen by the Roman Empire! He tries to send a search party for Toothless, but before he can, the Romans take him and Fishlegs(Hiccup's best friend)to the Roman Empire,too! They both have to get out of the Empire without getting eaten by dragons!
The main characters in thsi book are:

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third: Hiccup never wants to give up; he is always trying his best in life. He is also somewhat funny.

Fishlegs: Fishlegs is Hiccup's best friend, but he is VERY clumsy, not very good at things, allergic to practically anything, and very scared.

Camicazi: Camicazi thinks she is always better then boys(she is a Bog Buglar, and all Bog Burglars are girls,) an aggressive sword fighter, nad sometimes odd.

Toothless the Dragon: Toothless is a VERY funny and unique dragon. this is becaouse he is so samll, and he has no fangs(that is why he is called Toothless.) He is Hiccup's dragon.
I would recommend How to Speak Dragonese to anyone who likes fantasy and/or adventure. If you like those genres, and you start this book, you wont be able to put it down!(At least I wasn't!)
HAPPY READING!!!!
:);)

Quick, funny read........2007-01-04

My 9 year old loved this book and the other two by Hiccup. He couldn't put them down and finished them in no time.

How to speak dragonese.......2006-09-27

My 9yr. old loved this book. He says it has lots of adventure, not a dull moment and you will love the ending. Any book that can keep a child reading on there own is top notch with me.

How to Speak Dragonese (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III).......2006-08-24

It's always hard to find a book that will keep my 8yrs interested. But from the first chapter to the last he enjoyed the story. The characters and their antics he said where great. He asked me to order the other books in the group even before he finished this one.

Enjoyment ONLY if.................2006-06-25

This latest outing is only enjoyable if you have read the two previous ones. The continuity factor was great, but it felt a little light in content.

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