The Battle of Alamein: Turning Point, World War II

Book Description

In this superb history, two seasoned journalists unfold the decisive campaigns of the desert war that began with the Italian invasion of Egypt in September 1940 and ended with the mass surrender of Axis forces in Tunis in May 1943.

Writing with great verve and style, John Bierman and Colin Smith create a stunning panorama peopled by some of the most glamorous, dangerous and mysterious figures in the war. At the center of this sweeping narrative stand two heroes, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the notorious "Desert Fox," and the British Lieutenant General Bernard "Monty" Montgomery, whose showdown at the little Egyptian railway stop of El Alamein is one of the great moments in military history. Bierman and Smith have interviewed scores of survivors and tracked down hitherto overlooked primary sources to craft a historic narrative that reads like a novel. Here too is the remarkable true story of the shadowy Hungarian adventurer Laszlo Almasy, the prototype for the romantic English patient of Michael Ondaatje's novel.

Triumphant tactical warfare, an exotic backdrop, wrenching personal conflicts both inside and between the armies-The Battle of Alamein has it all. This is military history at its absolute best.

Customer Reviews:

Good literary intro to the desert war.......2004-03-13

Much has been said and written about Alamein and what role this battle in the desert played in the outcome of the Second World War, but The Battle of Alamein (also known by its alternative title - War Without Hate) by John Bierman and Colin Smith is not merely another presentation of the well known story. Bierman and Smith have collaborated to produce a lucid and riveting tale of what has often been called the turning point of WWII for the Western combatants. Whether this belief is strictly true or not, it is clear that the German Army, in this case represented by the Afrika Corps (and its Italian ally), went from a victorious and seemingly unbeatable army to a broken, to a retreating and utterly spent group of soldiers discarded by their leader.

The Battle of Alamein is more than a story of the major engagements so well known and oft told, it is also a story of little known elements that played important, if somewhat side-stage, roles in this first major tactical victory for the British Army (represented by the 8th Army in this case). It is in fact this component of the book that makes it most compelling. Bierman and Smith tell, with considerable literary style, of how the British Long Range Desert Group, founded and initially lead by the 30's desert adventurer Ralph Bagnold, went through several incarnations which ultimately developed many of the most important desert warfare tactics used by the 8th in its victory over Rommel. The reader also learns about a behind the lines sabotage group formed from German Jews that caused considerable havoc to the German forces, despite considerable loss to their own little band. But the victors are not solely presented. The reader is taken down an equal number of paths that explain both well and lesser known exploits of the Afrika Corps and the Italian Desert Army.

As a chronicle of the combat itself The Battle of Alamein quite often falls short. There are a number of errors and misstatements but the background and sidestories larger make up for this deficiency. Thi is a work crafted in a way amateur historians can enjoy and have their interest piqued - professional or more serious amateurs should approach it open minded and willing to accept some "issues". If the reader wants a great one-two punch try Rick Atkinson's Army at Dawn in combination with The Battle of Alamein. The former is a 5 star effort of serious historical value and literary flair, while The Battle of Alamein, while flawed, delivers a sound and fun 4 star read.

Prepare to be entertained!.......2004-01-22

The European title of this book is far more relevant and accurate.

Alamein, war without hate.

This book proves that History can be entertaining. There are no doubt better researched and more detailed accounts of the desert war. I doubt if any come close to being this readable or have its style. Bierman and Smith prove that English belongs to the Englishman.

The authors have been able to give a general history of the whole desert war in what amounts to a "cracking read". For those who desire a concise and highly entertaining account of a very different war than that fought in other theaters, this is a must. This book will certainly fulfill the function of a first read in this sector of operations. I wouldn't take other reviews too seriously when they refer to inaccuracies in this work. It bothers me not that an MP40 is referred to as a Shmeisser etc. There is a definite place in our bookshelves for introductory histories. Once ones interest is fired up by books of this ilk, it will encourage one to seek greater detail in more comprehensive books.

One of the most pleasing aspects of this book are the delightful footnotes that appear on nearly every page that give one fascinating insights into the characters and events in the desert war. The bottom line is that the book is just so damm readable that I could not put it down. It has kindled an interest in a theater of war that has never really engrossed me.

Go out and buy it and be prepared to be entertained!!

Excellent Read.......2003-08-31

Having read numerous Eastern Front narratives recently, I felt as if I needed a change of pace. This book did the trick. The Commonwealth's troops and Rommel's Afrika Corps had somewhat of a chivalry between them. This is in glaring contrast to the hellish Russian steppe battles. As an earlier reviewer states, the authors do not use all 400+ pages to write about the actual Alamein battle. For anybody new to the North African war, this is an excellent primer. The side stories alone are quite interesting... almost Stephen Ambrose-ish. A recommended follow up book would be Rick Atkinson's "An Army at Dawn" which begins with Operation Torch, loosely where "Alamein" breaks off.

Well written, badly researched popular history.......2003-02-21

The Battle of Alamein is actually more than a retelling of that battle (hardly THE turning point of WW2; but in fairness to the authors this is the US title), rather it's an overview of the desert war. As an overview of the British and Italian armies of the period, it's acceptable: as a military history it is less successful. This work suffers from a typical problem authors encounter (usually unwittingly) when they use interviews almost exclusively. This is naturally the fallibities of human memory. After more than 50 years events can become clouded, rearranged or distorted.
Errors of fact especially regarding equipment and tactics, are rife in this work, revealing the authors' lack of research. German tanks are described as diesel-powered and superior to British equivalents-wrong on both accounts. Additionally German ranks and unit designations are flat wrong; and are ascribed to interviews with German veterans. An example: A german veteran supposedly calls his unit's weapons "Schmeissers" and "Spandaus". No German veteran would ever do so. Either he was editing for his audience, or his interview was recast for the book; both are unacceptable for a history. But the most spectacular mistake is that the authors seem to be blissfully unaware that Winston Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty before he became Prime Minister! They also go easy on Montgomery where he is most subject to a dispassionate critique. Namely, his lackluster pursuit of Panzer Armee Afrika as it retreats across Libya. Here we read a version of the "Great Man", where Montgomery is well intentioned but badly served by his subordinate commanders, and a worn-out Eighth Army. Frankly, that IS a commander's job-to drive his forces if required to find, fix and destroy the enemy. If his forces were exhausted, then the under-fueled, under-fed and under-armed Axis forces were the walking dead.
For a casual reader the information on the Italian Army in the desert might be enlightening, however if the authors submitted this as a history paper to me I'd give them a C+. Not recommended.

History of the War in North Africa.......2003-01-30

John Bierman and Colin Smith are semi-retired journalists who live on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. They collaborated on "Fire in the Night", a wonderful biography of Orde Wingate, a few years ago, and this is their second venture together. It's a very good book, with only one real criticism from me: given it's a history of a battle, it spends relatively little space discussing that battle.

The war in Libya was one of the last chivalrous conflicts in history. Almost all commentators agree that the Germans here were much less Nazi-like in the North African desert than anywhere else. The German commander, Erwin Rommel, the famed Desert Fox, wouldn't allow SS troops into the region, and insisted on treating enemy wounded and prisoners fairly and compassionately. The British generally responded in kind, and the army in Egypt was often shocked by the appearance of a soldier who'd been serving in Britain, seen houses bombed, and came out to the theater hating the Germans. The new arrivals were likewise shocked at the admiration the veterans had for the Germans.

The war went on for more than two years, if you count the British campaign against the Italians in the winter of 1940 and the Allied campaign in Tunisia in the spring of 1943. The heart of the campaign, and the book, was the year-and-a-half-or-so-long struggle between the British and their Commonwealth Allies on the one hand and the Germans and their Italian Allies on the other. The book spends a great deal of time dealing with several of the larger battles from the first part of the campaign, notably Crusader and Gazala. When you get to the Battle of Alamein itself, the book is half over.

Strangely, the battle of Alam Halfa, gets only cursory mention. This is odd, given that some people think that this was the first (or second) stage of the actual battle. Instead, the meat of the book describes "Supercharge", the British attack on Rommel's forces which finally, conclusively, defeated the Germans in the North African Desert.

One of the reviews above says that the authors are uncritical of the leadership personalities in the war. I don't think this is particularly fair: the authors spend a considerable amount of time telling you of Rommel's mistakes, and failures, and health problems. They also spend a good deal of time detailing the mistakes made by various British commanders, and Churchill comes in for his share of criticism. When we get to Montgomery, he's relatively gently dealt with, but this *was* the period of his greatest success. I've never completely agreed with the Correlli Barnett theory that Monty was completely a figment of his own fantasies, and a lousy general. Here, vain, self-promoting, and stubborn as he was, he comes across as the man who used all of these characteristics to defeat the Afrika Korps, and win the battle. It's a fair, balanced appraisal, and not that favorable, but it shows why he won the battle.

Like I said, the one criticism is the way the book is structured. The actual portion of the book that deals with the battle in the title is only 80 pages, maybe, of 400. The introduction to the war, and the early campaigns, take up individually almost as much. There are little sidebars with interesting personalities from the war, writers and poets and so forth. You learn of the woman who served in the French Foreign Legion at Bir Hacheim, the Hungarian nobleman adventurer who was the basis for the book The English Patient, and a score of other participants in the war. There is a prologue and an epilogue detailing reunions and commemoration ceremonies that are still being held with veterans from the war. This part is especially well done.

I enjoyed the book a great deal. I just wish they'd spent a little more time on the battle itself.

The Invasion of Poland (Turning Points of World War II)
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The Invasion of Poland (Turning Points of World War II)
Alan Saunders
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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ASIN: 0531048640

Why the Jews Rejected Jesus: The Turning Point in Western History
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Why have Christians persecuted Jews...read book to find out

Heavily Researched

a Good Book history

He proves the subtitle.

A Worthwhile Read

Why the Jews Rejected Jesus: The Turning Point in Western History
David Klinghoffer
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Church History | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0385510217
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Book Description

Why did the Jews reject Jesus? Was he really the son of God? Were the Jews culpable in his death? These ancient questions have been debated for almost two thousand years, most recently with the release of Mel Gibson’s explosive The Passion of the Christ. The controversy was never merely academic. The legal status and security of Jews—often their very lives—depended on the answer.

In WHY THE JEWS REJECTED JESUS, David Klinghoffer reveals that the Jews since ancient times accepted not only the historical existence of Jesus but the role of certain Jews in bringing about his crucifixion and death. But he also argues that they had every reason to be skeptical of claims for his divinity.

For one thing, Palestine under Roman occupation had numerous charismatic would-be messiahs, so Jesus would not have been unique, nor was his following the largest of its kind. For another, the biblical prophecies about the coming of the Messiah were never fulfilled by Jesus, including an ingathering of exiles, the rise of a Davidic king who would defeat Israel’s enemies, the building of a new Temple, and recognition of God by the gentiles. Above all, the Jews understood their biblically commanded way of life, from which Jesus’s followers sought to “free” them, as precious, immutable, and eternal.

Jews have long been blamed for Jesus’s death and stigmatized for rejecting him. But Jesus lived and died a relatively obscure figure at the margins of Jewish society. Indeed, it is difficult to argue that “the Jews” of his day rejected Jesus at all, since most Jews had never heard of him. The figure they really rejected, often violently, was Paul, who convinced the Jerusalem church led by Jesus’s brother to jettison the observance of Jewish law. Paul thus founded a new religion. If not for him, Christianity would likely have remained a Jewish movement, and the course of history itself would have been changed. Had the Jews accepted Jesus, Klinghoffer speculates, Christianity would not have conquered Europe, and there would be no Western civilization as we know it.

WHY THE JEWS REJECTED JESUS tells the story of this long, acrimonious, and occasionally deadly debate between Christians and Jews. It is thoroughly engaging, lucidly written, and in many ways highly original. Though written from a Jewish point of view, it is also profoundly respectful of Christian sensibilities. Coming at a time when Christians and Jews are in some ways moving closer than ever before, this thoughtful and provocative book represents a genuine effort to heal the ancient rift between these two great faith traditions.

Customer Reviews:

Why have Christians persecuted Jews...read book to find out.......2007-06-08

The book certainly delivers on the title. But it is as biased against Christianity as some Christian thinking is and was biased against Jewish ideas. The author is certainly well read in scripture and the Jewish Talmud, but he can "spin" a verse just like Christianity does to prove his point of view, which he has already decided is the absolute truth. And the author does again and again, sometimes repeating his point numerous times in different ways. This book is okay but somehow I expected much more.

Heavily Researched.......2007-05-26

I found this book very heavily researched and presenting a lot of history and detail.I find it a rather interesting and worthy work. I personally feel V'da Mah SheTashiv .V'Da Mah SheTashiv: Know What To Answer (To Missionaries) A Thorough Jewish response To Missionaries , also on Amazon, to be a lot shorter and quicker to the point. The issue simply being if Judaism believes its idolatry to believe a man killed 2000 years ago can be a deity or Messiah, while rejecting more than an "iota" of the Law

a Good Book history.......2007-05-21

Very well written book with a lot of information about Jewish history, in addition to the relationship of Jews to Jesus and Christianity. I recommend the book.

He proves the subtitle. .......2007-03-30

Klinghoffer's thesis that the emergence of Christianity allowed for the west to develop is correct. But the majority of the book deals with numerous points a Jewish person might object to when it comes to Jesus as Messiah.

As with most serious religious debates, "authority" is usually the key element to the disagreement. The book appears to be a response to Mel Gibson's recent movie, "The Passion" and while his arguement might be plausible to Roman Catholics, those in reformed, ie, orthodox Christian denominations, would see otherwise. The Roaman Catholics hold Scripture, Church tradition and Papal infallibility as co-equals when it comes to authority. Similarily, it appears Torah, Mishnah, and Talmud also hold authority, but since Klinghoffer notes the Torah is "coded" and Mishnah and Talmud reveal the hidden meanings, then Talmud must be the prim authority. Orthodox Christians would bristle at that contention, as they do the Roman Catholic's view of authority, in that the Orthodox Christians believe Scripture interprets Scripture.

Numerous other presumptions Klinghoffer makes are essentially incorrect. These are too many to expound upon, but one is that there were many would-be Messiahs around in Jesus' time who were discredited. He implies that Jesus was one, but the size of the Christian church belies that proposition.

One interesting point Klinghoffer makes is that the new-founded spirit of cooperation between Jews and Christians is necessary. The real enemy of both faiths is the emerging secularization of society.

I have great respect for the Jewish faith. They have preserved G-d's mantle for thousands of years in the face of horrific persecutions. Whether there is covenantal pluralism as one rabbi opined, G-d has chosen to preserve the Jews. That must be comprehended and remembered.

A Worthwhile Read.......2007-02-14

David Klinghoffer's book is both thoughtful and thought provoking. His basic thesis, that had the Jews accepted Jesus Christianity would have retained its earliest, most Jewish form and Europe would have remained pagan until the coming of the Muslims, is an interesting one. However, others have theorized that the Roman world was gradually finding the old polytheistic religion essentially meaningless and had Christianity not come along when it did the Roman Empire would have become majority Jewish. As it was, quite a few Romans did convert to Judaism, which had been made an (not the) officially recognized religion of the empire by Julius Caesar.

I did learn quite a bit I never knew before about why the Jews rejected Jesus.

Still, I feel the author left out two basic reasons that come straight from the Torah. IN DEUTERONOMY 13 THE JEWS ARE ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN BY GOD TO FOLLOW A NEW RELIGION. Even if God manifested Himself as flesh and blood and taught a different religion (which by the very act of becoming a human He would have been doing, since it is no longer absolute monotheism) then the Jews would only have been doing what they were commanded by God to do if they killed him.

Deuteronomy 18:22 declares: When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass . . . the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him." In Matthew 24 Jesus describes events he predicted would occur at the end of the world as we know it. He concluded those prophecies by stating "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Verse 34.) Of course that generation, to whom Jesus spoke, did pass from the scene long ago but those events that he prophesied have yet to be fulfilled.

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A good overview of the Normandy Invasion.
DDay from the British Perspective

D-Day (Turning Points in History)
Martin Gilbert
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471423408

Book Description

"The Allied landings in 1944 had all the prospects for disaster. Churchill thought he would be woken up to be told of massive casualties. Eisenhower prepared a somber broadcast announcing that the enterprise had failed.

The specter of failure was always present. After a failed landing the Nazi regime would have regained the ascendant. New, terrifying bombs and rockets were ready to be launched. Long-distance submarines were in the final stage of development. The last million Jews of Europe were listed for deportation and death.

Failure at Normandy could have given Hitler the chance of continuing to rule western Europe, particularly if the United States, bloodied and defeated in Normandy, had decided-after two and a half years of focusing on Europe-to turn all its energies to the ever-growing demands of the Pacific, leaving Europe to its own devices. Had that happened, I doubt if I would have been alive to write this book, or free to express my opinions without fear of arrest."
—Martin Gilbert

Customer Reviews:

A good overview of the Normandy Invasion........2007-10-05

This is a good overview from the British perspective of the Normandy Invasion. Gilbert points out that Churchill prepared the way for a return to France after the defeat in France. He did this by fostering the French Resistance, making guerrilla raids on the coast, and letting the captive population know the real news. When the Americans did enter the war, the British led the way in leadership on the invasion. Gilbert insists that it was not Churchill who was a critic of the French option rather than the soft under belly of Europe.

Gilbert does a good job of portraying the strategy of the invasion, rather than of the actual fighting. The actual invasion is covered in only three of the ten chapters. The rest details the preparation and the end result. As Gilbert reminds us, if the invasion had failed, the population of Europe might have led very different lives. A good read.

DDay from the British Perspective.......2004-06-23

I found this book to be a fast and excellent read. Where Ambrose's DDAY is a minute by minute tactical read of this moment in history, Gilbert focuses on the overall strategy and illuminates key points during the invasion. Gilbert also introduces a novel concept to American readers, Montgomery as an outstanding leader, loved by his men, and not just the prima donna other books and movies have made him out to be. Gilbert also makes a solid effort to accurately account not just for the lives lost by the Allied troops but also by French civilians prior to, during, and after the invasion. This is a well written account of DDay and worth the time to read.

The Right Moment: Ronald Reagan's First Victory and the Decisive Turning Point in American Politics

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Exceeded expectations--a great read
RONALD REAGAN'S FIRST POLITICAL VICTORY
Great book on important story
Important Book
Excellent Information

The Right Moment: Ronald Reagan's First Victory and the Decisive Turning Point in American Politics
Matthew Dallek
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0195174070

Amazon.com

When Ronald Reagan won the Republican nomination for governor of California in 1966, The New York Times called the GOP's decision "against all counsels of common sense and political prudence." That comment probably deserves to go down in history as one of the most spectacularly wrong political assessments ever to appear in a newspaper. As historian Matthew Dallek writes in The Right Moment, his account of Reagan's campaign against Democratic governor Pat Brown, "Ronald Reagan redefined politics like no one since Franklin Roosevelt." The future president's "stunning, out-of-nowhere victory," in which he beat Brown by nearly a million votes, altered the course of American politics for at least a generation: it signaled liberalism's descent into the fatal politics of 1970s McGovernism, announced the rebirth of the conservative movement out of the ashes of Barry Goldwater's crushing defeat two years earlier, and foreshadowed Reagan's greater accomplishments on the national stage.

Before becoming governor, Reagan faced the formidable challenge of persuading mainstream voters that an affable actor could indeed perform effectively as a chief executive. But an even trickier task, in Dallek's telling, was how Reagan rescued the conservative movement from its own extremist elements. There was, for instance, the John Birch Society, a right-wing organization whose thousands of members would form a part of any successful conservative coalition, but whose leaders believed in the plainly absurd idea that President Eisenhower was a Communist agent. Reagan at once had to harness this group's energies and keep his distance from its nuttier beliefs. This he accomplished with a deftly written one-page statement repudiating some of what the group's leaders had alleged and courting their followers at the same time. By zeroing in on this half-forgotten episode of Reagan's career, Dallek shows how the consequences of one election can reverberate throughout the years. This book is almost as much about Pat Brown as it is about Ronald Reagan--fans of Ronald Radosh's Divided They Fell, for instance, will surely enjoy that aspect of it--but most readers will be drawn to The Right Moment for its detailed chronicle of how Reagan got his start in politics. --John J. Miller

Book Description

Ronald Reagan's first great victory in the 1966 California governor's race is one of the pivotal stories of American political history, a victory that seemed to come from nowhere and has long since confounded his critics. Just four years earlier Governor Edmund "Pat" Brown was celebrated as the "Giant Killer" for his 1962 victory over Richard Nixon, and his liberal agenda reigned supreme. Yet in 1966 political neophyte Reagan trounced Brown by almost one million votes, marking not only the coming-of-age of Reagan's new conservatism but also the first serious blow to modern liberalism. Drawing on scores of oral histories, thousands of archival documents, and personal interviews with participants, Dallek offers a gripping new portrait of the 1960s that is far more complicated than our collective memory of that decade.

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Nineteen sixty-six was a pivotal year of national turmoil and change. From the Watts riots the summer before to the burgeoning anti-war protests, America was on the verge of a major revolution. A revolution that would begin with Ronald Reagan's landslide victory in the California gubernatorial race.

Before 1966 Reagan was regarded as a B-movie actor, shrill anti-Communist, and president of the Screen Actor's Guild, not the leader of a major political movement that would forever change American politics. Pat Brown, his rival in the race for California, was a seasoned professional: "The Giant Killer" who had defeated Richard Nixon in 1962 and represented the best of liberal America. How a small time conservative Republican could beat this popular and powerful Democrat by over a million votes is a fascinating story that takes us to the heart of who Ronald Reagan was, as a man and as a politician.

With charm and insight, Matthew Dallek shows how Reagan, through his tremendous political savvy, was able to assess the climate far better than his rival and deliver what people wanted. He chronicles a victory that marked the beginning of a complete shift in politics that would eventually carry Ronald Reagan to the White House.

Customer Reviews:

Exceeded expectations--a great read.......2007-07-29

Not being a fan of the usual election campaign books, I took this up with low expectations. I just wanted to know something about Ronald Reagan's first campaign for governor. I also suspected that it would be something of a hatchet job on RR. To my pleasant surprise, Matthew Dallek has produced an engaging--even exciting--narrative that is very well balanced. Though he does tend to laud the "responsible liberalism" of Edmund "Pat" Brown, the Democratic incumbent that Reagan unseated, he also fairly portrays the new conservatism and "Creative Society" philosophy of Ronald Reagan and his supporters. I highly recommend this work as essential for understanding the beginnings of the Reagan Revolution. After this, a good read that bookends the subject is John Ehrman's 'The Eighties: America in the Age of Reagan.'

RONALD REAGAN'S FIRST POLITICAL VICTORY.......2005-11-03

Ronald Reagan's speech in favor of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign was the starting point of his political career. His successful campaign for governor of California, against incumbent Pat Brown, was the start of the conservative movement.
His ability to bring together the Birch society members, the conservative democrats, Republican moderates and other conservatives proved that Reagan was a political genius. Many believed that a B movie actor, former Roosevelt democrat, GE pitchman, and former union member could never be considered a serious political campaigner. How wrong they were !
Matthew Dallek, in this wonderfully written account goes to great length to describe all the events surrounding that first campaign, the race riots (Watts), the student uprising at Berkeley, the divisions within both the democratic and conservative parties, and all the characters who were directly involved in the campaign. He is fair and allows the reader to really understand how the conservative movement in America really started with Reagan's first successful run in California.
He also tells us that Reagan became a true hero and political mentor to many politicians, as is the case of the current Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzeneger. Both men had many different political beliefs, but they both had great personal charisma. Their foundations are very similar.
This is a great book with many details. Highly recommended and very enjoyable to read.

Great book on important story.......2005-08-07

Matthew Dallek's account of Reagan's victory in California's gubernatorial race of 1966 is a page turner. People interested in political history will learn much about Reagan's character and about the shortcomings of liberalism in the sixties. Great book.

Important Book.......2005-06-13

The Book "The Right Moment" by Matthew Dallek is an important piece of balanced research into the 1966 campaign for Governor of California. The race chronicles one conservative (actor turned politician) verse an old guard liberal who dominated California politics for the last eight years named Pat "The Giant Killer" Brown.

This book makes a few very important cases. One being Reagan benifited from the changing trends in politics nationally as well as in California. There is no doubt there is truth in that but it is also important to note that Reagan did what no other modern conservative had done and that is win big. Dallek understands that it was Reagan's skill plus the right times which brought about a national change. Riots, Vietnam, and the failings of the Great Society turned America into a nation ripe for political change. Reagan was the man who lead the revolution from California and eventually ending with the demise of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Dallek also understands what many authors do not and that is Reagan ran a mainstream conservative campaign from California on into the White House.

It is also important to note that this book chronicles the life, campaigns, and ambition of Pat Brown who was a very able politician who knocked off former Vice President Richard Nixon in 62 who challenged Brown's hold on Sacramento.

Much of the problem with Brown was that he underestimated Reagan (which would not be the last time an incumbent did that) and failed to quell the anarchy in Watts and Berkley.

If you enjoy studying Ca politics, political campaigns, or political history this book is very valuable and brings out a lot of new information on the 66 Governor's race. Another strong quality is the balanced approach "The Right Moment" offers and its obviously well researched. I believe more could have easily been written about the 66 race.

Excellent Information.......2004-08-26

The Right Moment details the governor's race in 1966 with Pat Brown (the incumbent) against a political newcomer, one Ronald Reagan. I thoroughly enjoyed this book for one major fact: It wasn't all about Reagan.

Writing books about Reagan is a cottage industry, and most of them, while not bad, rarely cover new territory. ("God and Reagan" by Paul Kengor being one of the few recent exceptions.) I started this book expecting it to be another cheerleading Reagan-was-great gloss-over.

Thankfully, it's anything but. While it does detail Reagan's ascendancy in the conservative movement (and, not incidentally, his discarding of his liberal past) and his subsequent race for the governorship, it is more about California politics in general and the disintegration of Pat Brown's stewardship.

It has what every election book has: the personality profiles of the political bosses, the attempts of primary challengers to knock out the inevitable winner, the gaffes and "defining" moments that seem ridiculously banal thirty years hence; and the culminating victory.

There are only two disappointments. One is there is very little detailing the mixing of Hollywood and California politics. Many believe that Reagan was the first, and he was the most important. However, George Murphy ("a song-and-dance man") became a hard-right senator before Reagan even "converted" to politics, and he gets scant mention. And Helen Gahagan is ignored as well. This isn't a book about Hollywood and politics, but it was an important enough phenomenon it might have been given a bit more consideration.

The other miss is the "election roundup" common in books of this type; I like them. I would have been interested to know where in California he had pulled his support--both geographically and demographically. There's a little bit at the end but not much.

Thankfully, one thing that is left out is the expected "and this was the start of something big" nonsense. While true, it could degenerate into a love feast with the same platitudes you read in other Reagan books. There is no such section in this book, which increases its quality.

People might dismiss this book as a Reagan book, and in reality it's not. It is an excellent portal into a small fraction of a very influential movement.

Columbus in the Americas (Turning Points in History)

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Columbus - More Than 1492
Columbus..A Place to Begin
A good read...
Columbus in the Americas
As The Way Opened

Columbus in the Americas (Turning Points in History)
William Least Heat-Moon
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471211893

Book Description

A stirring tale of adventure and tragedy

"They brought balls of spun cotton and parrots and javelins and other little things that it would be tiresome to write down, and they gave everything for anything that was given to them. I was attentive and labored to find out if there was any gold."

With these portentous words, Christopher Columbus described one of his first encounters with Native Americans on the island of Guanahani, which he had named San Salvador and claimed for Spain the day before. In Columbus in the Americas, bestselling author William Least Heat-Moon reveals that Columbus's subsequent dealings with the cultures he encountered not only did considerable immediate harm, but also set the pattern of behavior for those who followed him.

Based on the logbook of Columbus and numerous other firsthand accounts of his four voyages to the New World, this vividly detailed history also examines the strengths and weaknesses of Columbus as a navigator, explorer, and leader. It recounts dramatic events such as the destruction of Fortress Navidad, the very first European settlement in the New World; a pitched battle in northern Panama with the native Guaymi people; and an agonizing year Columbus and his men spent marooned on a narrow spit of land in southern Jamaica.

Filled with stories of triumph and tragedy, courage and villainy, Columbus in the Americas offers a balanced yet unflinching portrait of the most famous and controversial explorer in history.

TURNING POINTS features preeminent writers offering fresh, personal perspectives on the defining events of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Columbus - More Than 1492.......2003-10-02

This is a terrific history of Columbus' four trips to the Americas taken mostly from his journals and other contemporary accounts. It is better than good for several reasons.

First, it is novel in that it describes the first voyage beyond the histroy we get in grade school. It describes Columbus' luck as well as his skill which when combined enabled him to make the journey and how he kept the crew thinking that land was always just over the horizon. He establishes every sailor of the time knew the world was round - the fear was the unknown size of the sphere and what lay beyond the horizon.

Next, it describes Columbus' next three voyages. I had seen maps showing them, but never read any accounts.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the book, though, was Mr. Least-Moon's accounts of how Columbus treated and perceived what he named Indians. The author puts these acts and attitudes into the context of the impending slaughter by the Spaniards of the Indians in the name of Christianity. The most remarkable aspect of the author's accounts and comments is that he makes the observations without a hint of political correctness or bias. His nearly emotionless rendition makes the reader's own conclusions more poignant.

This book is a terrific historical account of events about which most of us only have a superficial knowledge. It is strongly recommended.

Columbus..A Place to Begin.......2003-03-30

As an introduction to the voyages of Columbus, this book by William Least Heat-Moon serves the task well. In its brief 180 pages, an overview of where and when Columbus travelled is well chronicled.

There are perhaps too many people who know of Columbus only that "in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue". Yet Columbus did more than just sail. Although he never discovered America and constantly thought he had arrived in Asia, he nonetheless served as the spark to the later journeys that would fully reveal the New World. Unfortunately, both his journeys and those of his followers would do much to injure the indigenous people with the introduction of disease and slavery.

If you are searching for a primer on Columbus and the New World, Least Heat-Moon's book serves that purpose well. If, however, you are looking for something of greater substance, look to other sources.

A good read..........2003-01-08

I received this book "Columbus in the Americas" as a present and enjoyed it very much. I previously read Heat-Moon's Blue Highways as well as River-Horse and this is a quite a departure from those books. Frankly I enjoyed Blue Highways and River-Horse more because Heat-Moon has such a great way of telling stories of his experiences. With Columbus he had to rely upon historical fact and obviously could not put in the first-person details that makes the other books so wonderful.

Considered on its own merits though, Columbus is an excellent interpretation of his voyages. The book has emphasis on the qualities Columbus had that make reading of his accomplishments worthwhile even 500 years after the fact. This book has stirred my interest in learning more about the life and times of Columbus.

Columbus in the Americas.......2002-11-06

Given the recent uproar over traditional accounts of Columbus' "discovery", it is particularly refreshing to read so balanced and unpoliticed a narrative as this, especialy from one who's ancestors were among the "discovered". This story comes as close as I could imagine to taking the reader aboard on all four voyages.

As The Way Opened.......2002-10-18

Least Heat-Moon has turned in a small book about several voyages of discovery that continue to the present. Like the author's own voyages, we are properly briefed in the historical context, brought into the narrative of a 15th Century ocean crossing, shown glimpses of what we as a species believe is real, then are left to discover how we feel about what we are shown and who we are. This timely account of the voyages illustrates the cupidity of the discoverer and includes the author's macabre wit and razor sharp sense of historical irony. Not to be missed, while we wait...

Tobacco in History and Culture: An Encyclopedia Edition 1. (Scribner Turning Points Library)

Average customer rating:

Tobacco in History and Culture: An Encyclopedia Edition 1. (Scribner Turning Points Library)
Jordan, Ed. Goodman
Manufacturer: Charles Scribner's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684314053

Book Description

Tobacco in History and Culture explores how tobacco became one of the most important commodities in the history of world trade and the source of one of the biggest public health concerns in modern history. Originally used by Native Americans for medicinal, religious and social purposes, tobacco quickly became the biggest export from the American colonies. By the mid-1990s, more than 14 billion pounds of tobacco leaf were grown worldwide each year, with international treaties governing its advertising and distribution. It has affected agriculture, religion, social customs, business and trade, government policy and medicine in many countries. The unique and innovative reference work presents entries on all aspects of tobacco and from a global perspective, providing support for assignments at many levels and in a variety of fields, including history, economics, government and health.

Tobacco in History and Culture is the first set in a new reference line, the Scribner Turning Points Library. Future titles will explore other discoveries and historical events that have changed the direction of human societies worldwide, whether through sudden upheavals or gradual evolution.

The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville--Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII)
Average customer rating:

Informative,but...

"In a League of its Own"

The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville--Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII)
William L. McGee
Manufacturer: BMC Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0970167873

Product Description

FROM THE BACK COVER

THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGNS, Volume 2 in William L. McGee's three-part series, AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC IN WWII, follows the new landing craft crews featured in Volume 1, THE AMPHIBIANS ARE COMING!, as they move up the Slot with each new campaign. All the Solomons Campaigns, from Guadalcanal to Bougainville, are described.

THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGNS - The Major Turning Point in the Pacific War. The U.S. halted the Japanese advance at Midway and the Coral Sea. But in the Solomons, the U.S. not only stopped them, they began pushing them back!

Part I, The Southern Solomons covers the bloody six-month struggle for Guadalcanal. The relationship between ground fighting, naval warfare and air combat is described in considerable detail as first one side and then the other gains the advantage. Seven major naval engagements are recounted.

Part II, The Central Solomons chronicles the amphibious operations in the New Georgia Islands group including the five separate landings at Rendova, Segi Point, Viru Harbor, Wickham Anchorage, and Rice Anchorage, plus three more significant naval battles and the occupation of Vella Lavella.

Part III, The Northern Solomons recounts the seizure of the Treasuries, the Choiseul Diversion and the Bougainville campaign, plus two more significant naval battles.

Lessons Learned, Finally, the many valuable lessons learned during the Solomons Campaigns are summarized, ranging from logistic support and force requirements to offshore toeholds and leapfrogging. Most became doctrine in later Pacific campaigns.

Customer Reviews:

Informative,but..........2002-11-07

William L Magee's account of these pivotal and complex series of battles in the Solomon Islands during the Pacific War,is both detailed and informative. His research has obviously been indepth and displays accuracy. I was disappointed, however, at the degree of 'redneck' language. Terms like 'Japs', 'Nipponese', 'sent to their ancestors',and others cheapened the quality of the rest of the text. US dead and injured were treated with respect in the book, why not the Japanese? Surely an historical account written in 2001 doesn't have to sound like the script of a John Wayne movie of the 1950's!

"In a League of its Own".......2002-02-07

Author, WWII Navy veteran and military historian William L. McGee has done it again! His Volume I, "The Amphibians Are Coming!" was a fabulous work, but Volume II, "The Solomons Campaigns" is in a league of its own.

Readers get a firsthand account of the way it was done with LCIs, LCTs and LSTs as they hauled the Marines, Army and Air Force and their tools of war in the Pacific Theater.

Navy and coast guardsmen can more fully appreciate the role they played in those flat-bottomed, hard-riding sand and coral scrappers.

This volume covers Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Gavutu, Savo Island, Cape Esperance, Santa Cruz, Tassafaronga, Rennell Island and the Russells from the beginning to the bitter end.

The part most readers will be enlightened by is Chapter 9, "Lessons Learned in the Solomons" by the Army, Navy and Marines. These lessons were beneficial to later Pacific campaigns.

This is a great source book for abbreviations, acronyms, ship and aircraft designations, code words, map symbols and listings of amphibious ship and craft. The book also provides the best possible use of maps and charts to illustrate the action. Most pages include photos of the event written about--some shown for the first time.

I highly recommend "The Solomons Campaigns" by William L. McGee to those who served in the South Pacific or to those who have a special interest in the Pacific Theater of WWII.

Get your copy now!

Book Description

The development of industrialization in the mid-1700s sparked a surge in technology that changed the world. Chapters in this anthology discuss the great inventions of the industrial revolution and their unprecedented effects -- both beneficial and harmful -- on society.

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