Customer Reviews:
Helps Gain Better Understanding of the Physiology of War on Loved Ones.......2007-09-25
This book was a recommended read by a family member to help understand the impact of war on the brave men and women that serve our country. I really enjoyed reading it and could not help to think of my Grandfather during many of the chronicles. If you want to understand your loved one better after returning from war, read this book. I am thankful I did.
If You Want to Understand: A Review of "On Killing".......2007-08-09
Because most of the individuals who know me are aware that I love to read, they often recommend books that they think I would enjoy reading. Many of the books that I have reviewed in The White Rhino Report came to my attention through personal recommendations. "On Killing - The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is no different, except for the fact that at least a half dozen of my friends told me that I needed to read this book. The curious thing about their recommendations was that each individual expressed his feelings about this book in almost identical terms. Each of these warriors, knowing that they were speaking to someone who has not served in the military, used a phrase like: "If you want to understand . . . you need to read `On Killing'!"
They did not say, "If you want to understand me," or "If you want to understand war," or even "If you want to understand the heart of a warrior." They left the statement hanging: "If you want to understand . . ." That truncated expression served as an all-encompassing statement that includes all of the above - and so much more.
Having read, and been captivated by, this singular book, I feel that I have begun to understand in a new way. Grossman, a decorated former Army Ranger, paratrooper and member of the faculty at West Point, has placed on the table for discussion what I would call "The Warrior's Secret." The overarching impression that Grossman left me with is that each warrior who has faced combat secretly struggles for the rest of his life with one of three powerful sets of emotions:
1) If he has been called upon to kill in battle, he wrestles with a haunting guilt over having overcome the basic human instinct not to kill our own kind. That wrestling can often lead to severe PTSD.
2) If he was faced with an opportunity to kill an enemy combatant, but chose not to kill, or found himself incapable of killing, he suffers from the secret shame and humiliation of having failed to carry out that which he was trained to do - that which defines a true warrior.
3) If he served in the military in a role that was not combat arms, or if he never had an opportunity to engage an enemy, he wonders how he would have responded if faced with that life-or-death decision. And he secretly feels like he never truly became a warrior.
For much of history, the warrior code made if difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to speak honestly about these struggles. Our military has come a long way in the past several generations in terms of understanding these psychological and emotional dynamics of warfare, and in terms of giving permission for veterans and active duty military personnel to speak openly and honestly about these formerly taboo topics. Grossman has carved out a second career in publicly and privately offering this explicit permission to those who have served in combat and who wrestle with these persistent struggles.
As soon as I finished reading the book, I placed a call to my friend, Kevin. He was one of those who had told me to read the book. He is a veteran of two deployments to Iraq. I wanted to test out on Kevin the validity of what I describe above as "The Warrior's Secret." Kevin not only confirmed that I was on the right track and was beginning to "Get it," but he also added the following comments:
"Now you need to read Grossman's next book - `On Combat.' It is more comprehensive in scope than `On Killing.' In each unit I have served in, we made sure that there was a copy of each of these books available to us to help us survive. They function as a sort of a psychological survival manual."
(Based on Kevin's recommendation, I immediately ordered "On Combat." I plan to review that book within the next few days. Stay tuned!)
To give you a direct sense of how insightful and revolutionary Grossman's writing is, I will share with you several excerpts. Grossman lays on the table the idea that historically in combat, many warriors have shied away from making a kill when they were given an opportunity to do so.
"The simple fact appears to be that, like S.L.A. Marshall's riflemen of World War II, the vast majority of rifle- and musket-armed soldiers of previous wars were consistent and persistent in their psychological inability to kill their fellow human beings. Their weapons were technologically capable , and they were physically quite able to kill, but at the decisive moment each man became, in his heart, a conscientious objector who could not bring himself to kill the man standing before him" (Page 27)
"There is ample indication of the existence of the resistance to killing and that it appears to have existed at least since the black powder era. This lack of enthusiasm for killing the enemy causes many soldiers to posture, submit, or flee, rather than fight; it represents a powerful psychological force on the battlefield; and it is a force that is discernible throughout the history of man. The application and understanding of this force can lend new insight to military history, the nature of war, and the nature of man." (Page 28)
"That the average man will not kill even at the risk of all he holds dear has been largely ignored by those who attempt to understand the psychological and sociological pressures of the battlefield. Looking another human being in the eye, making an independent decision to kill him, and watching as he dies due to your action combine to form the single most basic, important, primal and potentially traumatic occurrence of war. If we understand this, then we understand the magnitude of the horror of killing in combat. . . Why is this not often discussed? If Johnny can't kill, if the average soldier will not kill unless coerced and conditioned and provided with mechanical and mental leverage, then why has it not been understood before?" (Pages 30-31)
Grossman makes a compelling case that the poor rate at which soldiers in World Wars I and II fired their weapons when called upon to do so led to a revolution in the way in which subsequent generations of soldiers were trained - using operant conditioning techniques introduced by Skinner. As a consequence, firing rates in Korea climbed, and soared even higher in Vietnam. The result was an alarming increase in the incidence of PTSD among returning soldiers and Marines. Grossman argues that we learned to do a better job of turning men into killing machines, but we did not learn how to help them cope with the aftermath of what we had trained them to do.
"In both the Berkun and Shalit studies we see indications that fear of death and injury is not the primary cause of psychiatric casualties on the battlefield. Indeed, Shalit found that even in the face of a society and culture that tells soldiers that selfish fear of death and injury should be their primary concern, it is instead the fear of not being able to meet the terrible obligations of combat that weighs most heavily on the minds of combat soldiers. . . Research in this field has been that of blind men groping at the elephant - one grasps what he thinks is a tree, another finds a wall, and still another discovers a snake. All have a piece of the puzzle, but none is completely correct." (Page 53)
Grossman offers a fascinating look into the theory and practice of inoculating recruits and military cadets against hatred and other psychological factors.
"Combining an understanding of (a) those factors that cause combat trauma with (b) an understanding of the inoculation process permits us to understand that in most of these military schools the inoculation is specifically oriented toward hate.
The drill sergeant who screams into the face of a recruit is manifesting overt interpersonal hostility. Another effective means of inoculating a trainee against the Wind of Hate can be seen in U.S. Army and USMC pugil-stick training during boot camp or at the U.S. Military Academy and the British Airborne Brigade, where boxing matches are a traditional part of the training and initiation process. When in the face of all of this manufactured contempt and overt physical hostility the recruit overcomes the situation to graduate with honor and pride, he realizes at both a conscious and unconscious levels that he can overcome such overt interpersonal hostility. He has become partially inoculated against hate." (Page 82)
In the chapter entitled "The Burden of Killing," Grossman articulates what I see as his primary premise - and thereby offers his primary gift to the warrior community: opening up for discussion - both public and private - the secret burden that each warrior carries within his heart.
"The soldier in combat is trapped within this tragic Catch-22. If he overcomes his resistance to killing and kills an enemy soldier in close combat, he will forever be burdened with blood guilt, and if he elects not to kill, then the blood guilt of his fallen comrades and the shame of his profession, nation, and cause lie upon him. He is damned if he does, and damned it he doesn't." (Page 87)
The feedback I received from my friend, Kevin, reinforced my sense that Grossman's pioneering work has been enormously helpful to those called to serve in fields of fire in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere where our troops are deployed. The book provided me with a glimpse into the mind and heart of those who have been faced with the decision to kill or not to kill - a level of understanding I may not have been able to attain in any other way. Kevin's comment about the book's effectiveness in combat speaks loudly as a recommendation for all warriors to add this book to their arsenal of tools and weapons.
Speaking as one who has not been in combat, but who numbers among my friends many warriors, I recommend this book to anyone who desires to understand and to engage in meaningful conversation those friends and family members who have been called upon to make the awful choice to take a human life. One of the ways that we can show our gratitude to the warriors who bear these burdens that are almost unthinkable is to take a step towards them and make the effort to understand.
"If you want to understand" . . . read this book!
Al
A must read for all.......2007-07-10
A must have for any library. This book is even more important now that all the iraq war vets are returning. even if you are a civilian you should read this book to better understand what they have gone through. No matter what any man says, taking another humans life, even when justified, still changes a person. This book atemps to explain what that change is and why it happens.
A Book for Warriors.......2007-06-27
I believe LtCol Grossman was right on the mark and the book was very well thought out and the content was accurately researched.
This book should be read by all military and police. It gives a great insight into the repercussions of having to take someones life.
It also should be read by all of our elected officials so they can see what our society is turning into and why this is happening.
Amazing book........2007-06-17
This book delves deeply into the psychology of combat and killing and shows the relevency of this information in our everyday lives. The most exhaustive source on this topic that I have found. Very interesting read. Loads of excellent facts and information. Anyone can benefit from reading this book! Excellent overall message. If you have children, this book is a must read! Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Killing Floor
- Much to Recommend Despite the Flaws
- Killing Floor
- Re-Reading Reacher
- Great debut novel introducing a hero for the ages
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Killing Floor
Lee Child
Manufacturer: Jove
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ASIN: 0515141429 |
Amazon.com
When Jack Reacher suddenly decides to ask a Greyhound bus driver to let him off near the town of Margrave, Georgia, he thinks it's because his brother once mentioned that the famed blues guitarist Blind Blake died there. But it doesn't take long for the footloose ex-military policeman to discover that there are plenty of strange--and very dangerous--things going on behind Margrave's manicured lawns and clean streets that demand his attention. This first thriller by a former television writer features some of the best-written scenes of action in recent memory, a crash course in currency and counterfeiting, and a hero who is just begging to be called on for an encore.
Customer Reviews:
Killing Floor.......2007-10-13
If I could give this book 3 1/2 stars I would. I felt like the first 1/2 of the book moved too slow for me. However, I do like how Jack Reacher gets the bad guys in the end. Lots of action and killing throughout the book, of course -- If that is your cup of tea, you'll love the book.
Much to Recommend Despite the Flaws.......2007-09-07
While on a cruise recently I started talking books and authors (especially mysteries) with an Englishwoman who I met one day at the breakfast table. When I mentioned I am a Michael Connelly fan, she suggested Lee Childs. Having heard his name before, I gave him a try. Always on the lookout for a new series, I picked The Killing Floor, the first installment of the Jack Reacher books.
Having finished this book, I am impressed with Lee Childs' writing ability potential. It begins with a great scenario as Jack Reacher, a military police officer, who recently left the service to wander about the country in a hobo-like existence. When a brutal murder is committed in a small Southern town, Reacher finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, hauled into the police station, and then thrown into jail despite what (as the reader knows) his obvious innocence. Things are harrowing there for a while, but he does get out and then puts his experience into action as he joins in on the investigation, finds a romantic interest too and continues his adventures. Jack Reacher is a very unique, interesting, and promising character with a macho, loner, wise-guy, and cerebral persona that always does well in the mystery genre. Terrible things are happening in this town and who is on the good or bad side keeps the reader guessing.
At this point, Childs was off to a great start and I was excited to have found a winner. Unfortunately, this five-star setup does not live up to its promise. As many others reviews have stated, The Killing Floor is full of plot holes, situations, relationships that are not credible, and incomplete character development. These flaws multiply and accelerate as the plot moves on to its conclusion and I felt as if I was being led by the nose and manipulated. However, my time with The Killing Floor was not wasted. Despite all my criticism, I did enjoy it and intend to read the next installment of the Jack Reacher series. Although full of annoyances, The Killing Floor has a spark that may turn into a great series for me. This review has gone on far longer than I originally intended and I find it difficult to find concluding words. I will simply leave it by stating that The Killing Floor was a book that I could not stop enjoying despite its many flaws.
Killing Floor.......2007-08-05
Jack Reacher roams from place to place and this time he's come to a small town in Georgia on a whim. He's eating breakfast when the town's finest blow in and arrest him for murder. It's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a shocker for Jack when he discovers the identity of the guy he's supposed to have killed. People keep dying and it's becoming a blood bath. Jack sticks around to see justice done, but it's a scary ride all the way.
Re-Reading Reacher.......2007-08-03
We walk with Reacher down a new road. No baggage. No hassles. Striding out happily with the big man, who yearns only to be invisible, craves solitude, anonymity, a loner who can fit his possessions into a zip loc bag.
This is the first Lee Child novel, and having read virtually all the Jack Reacher thrillers, I revisited this road again, thinking I would reread the book that turned me on, that excited me to start with, The Killing Floor.
Lee Child weaves action, suspense, mystery, raw power and a killer plot into his debut novel. Still on the Amazon best seller list, which begins as Reacher, a drifter, six months out of an elite military police unit, gets off the bus in Margrave, Georgia with only a vague plan, a whimsical pilgrimage to discover the roots of a long dead guitar player named Blind Blake. He finds an old lady who sang with him. And a whole lot more he didn't bargain for.
An almost dozen books later, I'm more than acquainted with the man who simply calls himself, Reacher. This book is the beginning. Maybe the best in the series, and a good place to start. Maybe years from now, after reading Reacher a couple dozen times, you will reread this first novel too, forgetting how good it was that first time.
Great debut novel introducing a hero for the ages.......2007-08-02
Killing Floor was Lee Child's first book featuring ex-military cop and all-around hero Jack Reacher. Published in 1997, Child's debut novel (and especially his rugged-individualist protagonist) struck a nerve with audiences in the U.S. and in his native England and established him as a new force to be reckoned with in the emerging thriller genre. Even a decade later, anyone reading this book will immediately see why.
Jack Reacher is the consummate thriller hero. He's the ultimate man's man--unflinchingly brave, an unapologetic warrior for justice, street-smart, handsome, and huge (six-five)--and with just enough of a soft, sensitive side to capture any woman's heart. He's John Wayne meets Jack Bauer meets Dirty Harry, a literary hero whose exploits and adventures (and misadventures) are just plain fun to read about.
And the hero is far from the only thing to enjoy about Lee Child's writing. From its opening line ("I was arrested in Eno's diner"), Killing Floor is engaging and intriguing. The first-person narrative with short sentences and a strictly linear plot make for fast, enjoyable reading, and the setting (small-town Georgia) seems familiar enough to put the reader right into the action. In some ways the novel is a formula book (the lone gunman rides into town, identifies injustice, defeats it, gets the girl, and rides off into the sunset), but the writing is good enough that it doesn't matter. Child allows the suspense to build throughout the story and provides a real sense of small-town community, politics, and corruption.
The story opens with Jack Reacher's arrest in Margrave, Georgia, for a crime he knows he didn't commit. Right away the reader is treated to Child's evident research as Reacher silently critiques the arresting officers' mistakes in apprehending a man they believe to be a murderer. As the local authorities rush to put together the pieces of what happened outside of town, Reacher must clear his name and then track down the real criminals. Along the way, he teams up with a veteran detective and a beautiful female police officer to apprehend a villain who turns out to be much closer than anyone could have predicted.
Killing Floor is exceptionally entertaining, and though it does contain some fairly graphic descriptions of brutal violence (the cover art is a bloody handprint) and a few rather modest sex scenes, there is hardly any foul language, and the overall worldview is one of good over evil and justice for all. It is without question an "R-rated" book, but it's more like Die Hard than Quentin Tarantino. There's no spiritual content to speak of, but the underlying morality of the central characters could present opportunities for discussion. Highly recommended for readers who can enjoy a thriller with a conscience, set in a purely secular world.
Average customer rating:
- Best Novel of the Year!
- Killing Che
- Warfare and Love in the Bolivian Jungle
- Vive Killing Che
- Very knowledgable author delivers very impressive debut novel
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Killing Che: A Novel
Chuck Pfarrer
Manufacturer: Random House
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ASIN: 1400063930
Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Book Description
Chuck Pfarrer’s acclaimed Warrior Soul has been called one of the finest memoirs of modern Special Operations Forces. Now the decorated Navy SEAL makes his dazzling fiction debut with this gutsy, riveting thriller about the action-packed hunt for history’s most infamous rebel insurgent: Che Guevara.
The year is 1967. Paul Hoyle, a CIA paramilitary officer, has resigned from the agency an incident in Laos that left one man dead and Hoyle’s face scarred by gunshot. But Hoyle is soon drawn back into the agency’s fold, finding himself a “fallen angel,” an independent contractor the U.S. secretly sends to global hot spots.
Bolivia, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is a nation ripe for Communist infiltration and revolution. So the stage is set for a duel between world ideologies, with players from Washington to Moscow to Havana. After a Bolivian army unit is disastrously ambushed, Hoyle is dispatched to South America by a CIA concerned that another Vietnam may be in the works. With Cuban-sponsored guerrillas afoot and a corrupt Bolivian military opposing them, Hoyle finds the jungle a treacherous place where honor and morality are surrendered to the basic business of survival.
Though Che Guevara, the charismatic revolutionary who helped Castro take hold in Cuba, is believed to have been killed in the Congo–or executed by Fidel himself–a rucksack recovered after a deadly gunfight suggests that the Marxist rebel may be heading up this new, highly effective insurgency.
World-weary Hoyle draws ever nearer to the passionate revolutionary, as a struggle between worldviews is fought with automatic weapons in steamy jungles, veiled threats in government offices, and even exchanged secrets in hotel bedrooms–for at the center of this intense cat-and-mouse game are two captivating women who may hold the keys to these men’s destinies. Tania Vünke is Guevara’s crucial undercover operative and occasional lover, a conflicted woman with secrets entrusted to her by Guevara himself. And beautiful Maria Agular is the elegant mistress of the Bolivian minister of information, a tormented soul whom Hoyle dares to trust with both information and his heart.
Terrorism expert Chuck Pfarrer packs this electrifying plot with insider knowledge of intelligence tradecraft. Populated with powerfully drawn characters, Killing Che is a stunning re-creation of a conflict that sealed the fate of one of the twentieth century’s most controversial and complex political figures–a man whose renown continues to grow decades after his violent end.
Customer Reviews:
Best Novel of the Year!.......2007-08-09
In this masterful first novel, Pfarrer has lifted the doomed revolutionary to heroic proportions, a man who will die for his beliefs. Che's integrity is paralleled by the fictitious character of American spy Hoyle, his alter ego, whose musings tie the story together, and whose final conclusion - war is useless hell! - is shared by most readers.
Che (1928-67) understood this too but his iron-will brooked no retreat. Abandoned by all his allies, including Russia and Cuba, Che still hoped to convince the Bolivian pauper peasants of the necessity of fight. Their stupor is indicative of the axiom: it's better to live in a known hell than the unknown future.
The book is a feast of ideas and history. Subplots include wonderful love stories. Torture scenes are handled extremely well. No gratuitous violence.
This novel will take the reader back to the '60s, an exciting time in the history of the world and light years away from today's disgraceful America under the realm of a president/dictator who, like all dictators, maintains his power through fear. If the 35-year-old Che had triumphed in Bolivia would he have been as ruthless as his predecessors?
Can't wait to read Pfarrer's next novel. In the afterward, he lists a dismantled website for the book. Again, this is an exemplary book of historical fiction and I am a forever fan.
Killing Che.......2007-07-03
An excellent and extremely engaging story of a pure communist presented in a real and understanding way that depicts a man who had true values and used his revolutionary skills to, he thought, overthrow governments that were opressive.
Warfare and Love in the Bolivian Jungle.......2007-06-05
Chuck Pfarrer has written a unique novel, weaving together the facts and fiction of Che Guevara's last mission. The guerilla warfare scenes are breath-taking and real; surely only someone with Pfarrer's military experience could write with such authenticity. Che Guevara was a real person, and the reader often holds her breath wanting a better outcome for him than the one history has already given us. Pfarrer gives the reader a sense of Guevara's nobility and helps us to understand that the motives of those engaged in combat are not always clear cut.
As in real life, there is romance in unlikely places. Doomed love is more like it, making the surrepticious affairs even more poignant. But those moments are still lovely.
This is a compelling story, and the reader won't get much sleep until it's finished. I often woke up in the middle of the night, not unhappy because I could read a few more chapters of Killing Che before turning off the light again. Men will read this book for a lesson in war and learn about love. Women will enjoy the romantic chapters and learn why some men engage in combat. Something for everyone!
Vive Killing Che.......2007-05-23
Chuck Pfarrer has produced a beautifully written and exhaustively researched historical novel that follows a barely fictional CIA contract agent, Paul Hoyle, on his mission to engineer the liquidation of Che Guevara during his ill-fated 1967 insurgency in Bolivia. In Paul Hoyle, Pfarrer has written a noir character worthy of Hammett or Chandler, a good soldier with scant ethical compunctions who, as his time in Bolivia unfolds, learns that the United States is backing a horribly corrupt government and that he has been sent to kill perhaps the most decent man in Bolivia.
The education of Paul Hoyle begins when he falls in love with Maria Agular, the mistress of a Bolivian government official. "[Hoyle] knew he had compromised Maria by becoming her lover; in the trade, this was his handle, the means by which he could control her. ...But he did not control her--yet. Rather, what he had done was to allow her in."
Pfarrer paints a canvas similar to the movie "Syriana" in which unspeakable atrocities are committed and millions of people are robbed of fundamental freedoms because no one has the big picture. The world of espionage is powered by the belief that policy makers understand the long term global effects of their policies. This is what allows functionaries like Paul Hoyle to sacrifice their morals, the lives and reputations of others, and even their own lives in the service of their country. Falling in love with a source is a potentially lethal complication. Hoyle's "affection for [Maria] was a liability; intelligence officers are meant to use people, compromise them, coerce them, exploit them, and discard them... . Maria's life and Hoyle's were nothing. They were...mere flyspecks on a vast, intricate machine... ."
Similarly, Pfarrer portrays Che Guevara as a selfless instrument of worldwide communist revolution. Che's problem is that he is the real thing, a true believer. The Soviets are threatened by his Maoist tendencies, Castro by Che's drive to enact a worldwide revolution that might displace him, while the Bolivian Communist Party is threatened because it is as corrupt as the Bolivian government. Because he is so idealistic, Che can't fathom that the Soviets, Cubans, and the Bolivian Communist Party wouldn't be wholeheartedly behind him. In fact, these forces, together with the Americans, were out to kill him.
Writing an historical novel is a most difficult pursuit. The ending is already known. So why read it?
A first answer involves the force of Pfarrer's prose. He sets up each chapter with some of most stunning prose that can be found in contemporary literature. When introducing a chapter in which Hoyle and his main CIA handler, Neil Smith, try to convince the Bolivian authorities that Che Guevara is operating in Bolivia, we are treated to the following:
"Light slanted through the windows in Colonel Arquero's grand office. The clock ticked slowly, and Lieutenant Castaneda stood by the door, as immobile and unthinking as a piece of furniture. Hoyle and Smith watched the colonel hover over the folder placed before him. He examined each of the three photographic prints, holding them close to his shiny pince-nez spectacles, then checking each photograph against a typed transcript of the microdot. This he did with deliberate and self-conscious care, and the clock ticked through diligence to insolence and finally to absurdity. It was a blessing when Arquero's small hands pushed the photos and papers back into the folder and he squinted up from his blotter."
Still another reason to read Killing Che is because of the extensive historical and technical research that has gone into this book. Pfarrer's experiences as a former Navy SEAL (his memoir of that time is entitled, Warrior Soul, Random House, 2004) and as a former military advisor in South America are evident on almost every tension packed page.
Very knowledgable author delivers very impressive debut novel.......2007-04-08
Former Navy SEAL Chuck Pfarrer's memoir, "Warrior Soul", is one of the most well-written, fascinating, modern military reads out there, and his debut novel is just as enjoyable.
An historical fiction account of the hunting down of revolutionary and guerilla warfare legend Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, "Killing Che" is the type of novel that would make a great movie as well. Pfarrer brings his extensive tradecraft knowledge to bear, and his experience as a longtime SEAL operator helps give the whole book a heightened sense of realism.
Pfarrer's descriptions imerse you right into the heart of the Bolivian jungle-forests, giving you a genuine sense of what it was like for both the guerillas and the agents trying to find them, and his characters - both real and fictional - are very human and rounded out.
It's an intelligent, interesting read that isn't too technical, a well-paced read that has action without being action-packed.
This is the kind of novel you want to read again over time, and I look forward to Pfarrer's next work.
Book Description
When Dr. Ray Strand found himself in a losing battle, unable to successfully treat his wife who had suffered chronically with pain and fatigue, he agreed to try the regimen of nutritional supplements that a neighbor suggested. Much to his surprise, his wife's condition began to improve almost immediately. That amazing turn of events led him to dedicate himself to researching alternative therapies in medicine, particularly in the arena of nutritional supplements.
Dr. Strand's illumination of the body's silent enemy-oxidative stress-will astound you. But, more importantly, his research will equip you to protect or reclaim your nutritional health, possibly reversing disease and preventing illness.
Customer Reviews:
Unhappy.......2007-08-12
This was estimated to be arriving on 31st July 2007 and it is still not arrived so it is very hard to rate a book purchased, paid for and not delivered!!!
Please advise those responsible
Dr Strand's Confessions.......2007-05-17
This book rolls back some of the falacious defensiveness of traditional medical thinking and shows the existing bias against nutritional medicine.
Dr Strand is blunt and forthright about his findings and is careful to give credit to the treatments that were effective, and to identify those that were not. He does not decry pharmaceuticals nor does he promise nutritionals as the end of all cures. Instead, he advocates the use of them in combination when possible. His writing does reveal a competition between pharmaceutically trained physicians and those who dispense and recommend nutritionals.
His case studies are excellent, and he retains a sense of reality and knowledgable insight afforded him by his traditional medical training that has now been tempered by his own experience.
If you want the truth on nutritional medicine, which is sorely lacking in our medical schools who are in some ways subsidized by big pharma, this will please you...and perhaps even make you more healthy.
Awesome read.......2007-05-13
Dr. Strand is absolutely amazing! This book is informative, it will blow your mind. I recommend this to anyone who has ever been to the doctor!
What Your Doctor Does'nt Know About Nutrition Medicine May Be Killing YOU. .......2007-03-14
This book is informative. Makes sense out of everyday occurences in the body and we learn how to help the body work and survive to health. I am sold on taking food supplements for every age. We just can't get all of the nutrients we need by good food alone. Well worth your time in reading.
great book.......2007-03-09
This book is a must read and keep book. There is so much that medical doctors do not know about nutrition---they know medications and disease but physicians have such limited knowledge about prevention and nutrition. (I work in the medical field and see this first hand every day.)
Average customer rating:
- Not Mosley's Best Work
- Disgusting
- Brace Yourself
- Just OK...
- Excellent book, excellent transaction
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Killing Johnny Fry: A Sexistential Novel
Walter Mosley
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
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Binding: Hardcover
Mosley, Walter
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47
ASIN: 159691226X
Release Date: 2006-12-26 |
Book Description
This bold new novel from Walter Mosley startles in both its rawness and its honest portrayal of a man on a quest for sexual redemption in midlife. When Cordell Carmel catches his longtime girlfriend with another man, the act that he witnesses seems to dissolve all the boundaries he knows. In that instant, the calm existence of this middle-aged New York City man becomes something unrecognizable: he wants revenge, but also something more. Killing Johnny Fry is the story of Cordell’s dark, funny, soulful, and outrageously explicit sexual odyssey in search of a new way of life. His guide is a mysterious woman named Sisypha, who leads him deep into the erotic heart of the city.
Killing Johnny Fry marks new territory for Walter Mosley, bestselling author of Devil in a Blue Dress and many other books in different genres: sci-fi, politics, literary fiction. It will surprise, provoke, inspire, and make you blush. Above all, it is about a man questioning the rules we take for granted—and the powerful and sometimes disturbing connections that occur between people when these rules are removed.
Customer Reviews:
Not Mosley's Best Work.......2007-07-17
Walter Mosley describes his latest work, Killing Johnny Fry, as a sexistential novel. The protagonist, Cordell Carmel, a middle aged black man, has a sexual awakening after discovering his girl friend of 8 years having a torrid affair. Seeing his lover and only friend in the arms of another man drives Cordell to places and situations that he never imagined.
Mosley invites readers into Cordell's rapidly changing world to witness his emotional odyssey and subsequent sexual metamorphosis. Cordell is transformed from a mild mannered and straight-laced free-lance translator, to a lustfully, wanton artist's agent. Mosley details every aspect of Cordell's transformation including his nearly uncontrollable desire to kill his girl friend's new lover, Johnny Fry.
True to form, Mosley uses words to weave his intriguing tale; however, unlike his other novels, the graphic nature of the sex is atypical of his style. It's quite raw, gritty and somewhat vulgar. I was able to get past the vast sexual content and concentrate on the characters and their development. Mosley did a great job of filling the back story of the interesting cast of characters, many of whom has some form of sexual dysfunction or abuse in their pasts.
This book is not for the faint of heart. Although the sexual content is a significant part of the story, Mosley seems intent upon achieving maximum shock value. The extreme sexual content makes this an adult only read.
Disgusting.......2007-06-07
I read this book because I was told it's different, maybe "Zanest".
I got more than I expected. To me, it is pure porn. The main character lusts after women just for the sake of lusting - if that makes any sense at all. My book club will read it soon and even though I read it a few months ago, I still have a bad taste in my mouth. I won't be able to attend. I absolutely hated this book.
Brace Yourself.......2007-05-22
Be Warned this isn't your typical Walter Mosley book. I found myself drawn into the main characters pain, i really didn't know what to feel at times i was mad, excited and ultimately pleased with the way this book ended. If you are a long time Mosley reader like I am this book may be a little dark for your taste, but if you are going through a relationship that for some reason is causing you delicious pain and just want a way to escape, buy this book i guarantee you'll read it more than once.
Just OK..........2007-05-14
My husband raves about Walter Mosley and this was my first introduction to one of his books. I didn't care for it much but I'm going to read a couple of his other books and see if I like those better. If it hadn't been for the voracious sex scenes it would have been pretty boring.
Excellent book, excellent transaction.......2007-05-14
this book was chosen by my book club to read for the month of April. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Mosley's departure from his standard mystery fare. I was quite pleased. I didn't consider this erotica as Mr. Mosley used sex primarily to progress the story and give an outward reference to the character's inward state of mind, not in a blatant effort to arouse the reader (or the sex scenes could have gone on for pages and pages). The main character had an existential meltdown that manifested itself through sex. That's it. Although not for the faint of heart...this book was a quality read. Those believing it is porn or erotica need to check their definitions.
Book Description
An authoritative manual that provides valuable insights for turning conflicts in the workplace into productive working relationships. The toughest part of any job is dealing with the people around you. Scratch the surface of any company and you'll uncover a hotbed of emotions -- people feeling anxious about performance, angry at co-workers, and misunderstood by management. Now, in Working With You is Killing Me, readers learn how to "unhook" from these emotional pitfalls and gain valuable strategies for confronting workplace conflicts in a healthy, productive way. Discover how to: - Manage an ill-tempered boss before he or she explodes - Defend yourself against idea-pilfering rivals before they steal all the credit - Detach from those annoying co-workers whose irritating habits ruin the day
Customer Reviews:
Just keeps giving.......2007-07-12
This is a book that just keeps giving. I bought it quite a while ago and really did not read it right away --- but ultimately I read the whole thing -- and I must admit I found myself appearing again and again in the descriptions.
But what really is great about this book is that if you just leave it on the coffee table or something like that, then you will find yourself picking it up and randomly looking at a chapter here and a chapter there -- and guess what -- it will all be relevant (if you are being honest with yourself). You will find yourself, your peers, coworkers, and your life.
Worth having.
Surprisingly helpful from an accidental reader.......2007-05-20
My wife bought the book and I was sceptical when I first saw it. I accidentally left it on a low table and our puppy picked it up and shredded most of the first chapter. I bought another copy from Amazon to replace the damaged copy. As I tried to repair the torn pages a few words caught my attention and after that I could not put it down. Take it from an initial sceptic that this book has very helpful suggestions and practical advice that you can readily apply. I highly recommend this book to anybody who is working.
Pop-Psychology.......2007-05-14
This book was assigned reading for a "Leadership" in business class. The first two chapters set the tone for the rest of the book. Read those, and the rest will be just variations on the same theme. I now use the book as a doorstop.
Smart Advice.......2007-05-12
As a veteran of the corporate world, I found the case studies and recommended solutions to common workplace snafus right on target. Best of all, the authors urge individuals to find out their options and own their decisions. In other words, no need to be the victim of an unhealthly work relationship. Hope is out there for those who can take a step back and not get tangled up in other person's bad behavior!
Disappointed.......2007-04-13
With all the glowing reviews, I thought this book would have something new and innovative, something I hadn't heard before. No such luck. Some interesting strategies and tactics for dealing with difficult people and see how you might be contributing to the problem, but nothing you won't find in other books on the subject.
I eventually gave up before finishing the CD because of the lack of anything new and I got tired of listen to the authors :-(
Download Description
For 6,557 miles, Chuck Klosterman thought about dying. He drove a rental car from New York to Rhode Island to Georgia to Mississippi to Iowa to Minneapolis to Fargo to Seattle, and he chased death and rock 'n' roll all the way. Within the span of twenty-one days, Chuck had three relationships end -- one by choice, one by chance, and one by exhaustion. He snorted cocaine in a graveyard. He walked a half-mile through a bean field. A man in Dickinson, North Dakota, explained to him why we have fewer windmills than we used to. He listened to the KISS solo albums and the Rod Stewart box set. At one point, poisonous snakes became involved. The road is hard. From the Chelsea Hotel to the swampland where Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane went down to the site where Kurt Cobain blew his head off, Chuck explored every brand of rock star demise. He wanted to know why the greatest career move any musician can make is to stop breathing...and what this means for the rest of us.
Customer Reviews:
Klosterman=Hipster Jerk.......2007-09-18
I picked up this book after reading "Fargo Rock City", and I was still undecided about Klosterman as an author. This book cemented my opinion that Chuck Klosterman is an idiot. This book has nothing to do with the title, or even the supposed subject of the book.
This is supposedly about Klosterman's journey to places where famous rock stars died. He goes to these places, but his reaction everytime is the same. He doesn't care, he's unimpressed, he'd rather think, talk, and write about himself.
What this book shoud really be called is "I'm a Hipster Jerk Who Sucks With Women", because that is what you get. 275 pages of Klosterman explaining how he has three women, but can't decide between them, all the while talking about how he hates his life, and ripping on any band that has ever had anything good said about them (and proclaiming that Motley Crue is the best band ever). Don't waste your time unless you like guys who sound like eighth graders who think they know everything about everything.
It's Only Rock and Roll.......2007-09-07
I got this book because it was recommended by a friend, and I have to tell you, it was one great recommendation. I could not put this book down. Chuck Klosterman (a writer for "Spin" magazine) sets off on a cross-country road trip following the pathways of rock and roll death. From the site where Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane crashed to Kurt Cobain's hometown to the site where more than 90 Great White fans died in club inferno, Klosterman's journey is like taking a road trip with your best college friend, playing your favorite tunes and discussing why you love rock music, as well as endlessly analyzing your (all too often) failed relationships, and just seeing what America has to offer.
Klosterman is funny, engaging, witty, and a slightly more upbeat version of Dave Eggers (for those of you who loved his book, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius"). Or maybe he's a slightly more melancholy Dave Eggers...you read the book and decide for yourself. A lot of Klosterman's journey focuses on three relationships, which distracts somewhat from the main rock and roll focus. Still, Klosterman has a great writing style and a depth of music knowledge that are an unbeatable combination. His music tastes may not agree with your own, but with 600 CDs piled into his car for this road trip, you're sure to find something about which you will agree with Klosterman. Despite the morbid theme for this road trip, I assure you, you won't soon forget the journey.
Hilarious..........2007-09-06
I found this book absolutely hysterical! Like another reviewer said, you need to be a part of Klosterman's narrow audience in order to really "get" the humor. For instance, there is a part in the book where he relates each of his ex-girlfriends to a member of KISS. This makes sense completely if you are a KISS fan or are at least vaguely familiar with the members, but makes no sense if you aren't.
If you're a music fan who interprets the entire world through guitar-shaped goggles, Klosterman is for you.
This is a great book IF............2007-07-05
So far I've read two books by Chuck Klosterman: "Fargo Rock City"; this one. And I've noticed that while his books get generally good ratings, here on Amazon, that some reviewers rate them really low. I think there is a reason for this: Chuck writes to a kind of narrow audience, and you're either part of that audience or you're not.
To best understand Chuck Klosterman's books you need to be a male Hard Rock fan, born between roughly 1952 and 1978. You also need to have some high school sports experience, maybe played basketball, football, baseball, hockey, or ran track. And you also need to be a bit of a nerd, at least in the eyes of women, so that you've had some rough dating experiences.
If you fit the mold, Chuck Klosterman is your humorist. I really had to laugh at his humorous take on high school football coaches; the life advice that he got from the old bar patron in Montana; his troubles with the women that he has dated; and the way that he can question and even make fun of the music that it is still obvious that he loves so much.
So if you've never been that much of a smoothy in your relationships with women; have played sports, and been a sports fan, but can still laugh a little at what goes on in the world of sports; and KISS, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam still mean a lot to you, Chuck Klosterman is a genius humorist, and you will totally get what he's talking about. If these conditions don't apply to you, I'm not sure how well you will receive these books.
Another thing, maybe by the blurb on the back of the book jacket, you think this book is about Chuck Klosterman's pilgrimages to Rock N Roll death sites, like: the site of the Buddy Holly crash; Graceland where Elvis died; Kurt Cobain's suicide house; and whatnot... And while he mentions visiting these sites, to write an article for his employer at the time, the Rock magazine Spin, the incidents in this book are more about his journeys between the Rock N Roll death sites, and rememberences of his youth that come back to him during the long drives. So the stories are more about ex-high school/college girlfriends; ex-young adulthood girlfriends; crazy waiters/waitresses; bartenders and bar patrons; motel employees; gas station attendants met along the way; and the memories of school sports; school newspapers; and other things from the past. Then there are the musings on national monuments: "Why does anyone care about seeing the Washington Memorial?"; and wondering about the happenings in tourist towns: "Would you ever come to a Minnesota, lakeside tourist town thinking that you were going to find handmade, Tiawannese silk fabrics, yet this town of 1,500 has three stores that sell that. Imagine that?"
Hope this helps ya'll evaluate whether you want to read them or not.
Snooze.......2007-06-21
"My thoughts are unoriginal," Chuck Klosterman states on page 73 (hardback). That was my conclusion by page 3.
Affecting a Kerouacesque randomness with Bangsian hipness, Klosterman grinds through a passionless, pretentious diary in which nothing of significance occurs. It's possible to write about nothing but oneself (Burroughs sure could) but a unique voice and a lifetime of living, not to mention serious literary skill, is required to pull it off. Not Klosterman. Well, I never cared much for the stuff in Spin, but at least that material, however slight and evanscent, is edited; this book, however, just runs and runs ... like a forgotten motel room faucet.
Oh, yay.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Readers of Black Hawk Down know Mark Bowden can tell an exciting story about as well as any writer at work today. Killing Pablo is further proof. It describes the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, a notorious Colombian drug lord who became one of the narcotic trade's first billionaires. Pablo--Bowden refers to him by his first name throughout the book--started out as a petty thief and wound up running a massive smuggling empire. At his height in the 1980s, he owned fleets of boats and planes, plus 19 separate residences in Medellin, each with its own helipad. Violence marked everything he did: "He wasn't an entrepreneur, and he wasn't even an especially talented businessman. He was just ruthless." He bought off police, politicians, and judges throughout his country, and killed many others who wouldn't cooperate. The Colombian government tried to capture him, but without much luck; he evaded them time after time. "Now and then the police achieved enough surprise to catch him, literally, with his pants down. In [1988], about one thousand national police raided one of his mansions," writes Bowden. "Pablo fled in his underwear, avoiding the police cordon on foot." He got away, again, but his days were numbered. He was making powerful enemies in both Colombia and the United States. The final straw probably came when Pablo's men murdered a popular politician and, three months later, planted a bomb on a plane, killing 110 people, including two Americans.
The bulk of Killing Pablo describes what happened when the U.S. government put its resources behind the hunt for Pablo. Bowden describes the search in gripping detail, from the massive electronic-surveillance effort to bureaucratic infighting between rival U.S. agencies. This is an outstanding work of reportorial journalism, too: in the epilogue, Bowden drops tantalizing hints that it was an American--not a Colombian--who delivered the killing shot to Pablo in 1993. Readers looking for a real-life thriller--or any kind of thriller, for that matter--won't do much better than Killing Pablo.
Book Description
A tour de force of investigative journalism-this is the story of the violent rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, the head of the Colombian Medellin cocaine cartel. Escobar's criminal empire held a nation of thirty million hostage in a reign of terror that would only end with his death. In an intense, up-close account, award-winning journalist Mark Bowden exposes details never before revealed about the U.S.-led covert sixteen-month manhunt. With unprecedented access to important players-including Colombian president César Gaviria and the incorruptible head of the special police unit that pursued Escobar, Colonel Hugo Martinez-as well as top-secret documents and transcripts of Escobar's intercepted phone conversations, Bowden has produced a gripping narrative that is a stark portrayal of rough justice in the real world.
"The story of how the U.S. Army Intelligence and Delta Force commandos helped Colombian police track down and kill Pablo Escobar is a compelling, almost Shakespearean tale." (Los Angeles Times)
"Absolutely riveting. . . . Mark Bowden has a way of making modern nonfiction read like the best of novels." (The Denver Post)
Customer Reviews:
Too long.......2007-08-25
Mark Bowden wrote Black Hawk Down, as everybody knows. I was looking forward to any book by Mr. Bowden, but this one is too much. If there was ever a guy who needed to be killed it was Pablo Escobar. However, reading the endless corruption and stupidity of Columbians was depressing, and furthered my low opinions of them. There is hardly a living soul in this sorry country who is not vile or evil. Anyway, the book runs on too long and I finally just turned to the page where he was finally shot, almost by accident.
A decent true-life thriller, but that's all........2007-08-21
If you want a vivid portrait of Pablo Escobar, his personality, and his methods, this book does the job. Halfway through the volume, though, it just becomes another thriller, the story of a chase that could have taken place anywhere on earth (with of course lots of detail on surveillance gizmos, military hardware, and the colorful individuals involved--a bit like Tom Clancy). But there is virtually no backbround, nothing that helps explain why Colombia became such a huge supplier of drugs. (If it hadn't been Pablo, it would've been some other guy.) Moreover, Bowden takes for granted the notion that the cause of the drug problems is the evil men in Colombia, while never considering the fact of enormous drug demand in the U.S. Without the vast gringo appetite for drugs, there would have been no Pablo. Supply and demand is a two-way street!
On another note, Bowden's referring to the Contras in Nicaragua as "pro-democracy" forces is questionable. Those people were terrorists who killed some 50,000 people.
Runs Too Long.......2007-07-16
Black Hawk Down is one of my favorite books. From page 2 onward, there's not one dull moment. I wish the same could be said for Killing Pablo. This book really drags and at about the halfway point you're wishing that they'd cut to the chase already and kill the SOB.
A gripping account of one of the greatest out-laws and the country he lived in .......2007-04-28
Despite the apparent flaws the previous reader and reviewer points out, this is still a well researched book and these flaws do not take away from this thrilling and appalling story of Pablo Escobar. What I really liked was the description not only of Escobar but also of the country he grew up in and that let him live such a violent life and have such a horrific career. A very good read!
finding Pablo.......2007-02-22
Killing Pablo was alot easier then finding Pablo...go behind the scenes of the drug war as Pablo is hunted down with all the latest eletronic gadgetry and eventually located..Mark Bowden writes a compelling, page turner...Pablo Escobar rises to the top of the drug cartel much like Scarface only this is a true story just as compelling..
Book Description
For more than two decades, Dr. John Hoover has written books on leadership, creativity, and organizational performance, extolling the virtues of flattened organizations, collaborative leadership, and shared responsibility. His clients welcomed him, praised him...yet (he felt) completely ignored his advice! This book contains the confession of a recovering "I-Boss" (Idiot Boss). After decades of writing and consulting, Dr. John finally realized that the vast majority of people he kept trying to "energize," "motivate," and "enlighten" were, well, idiots. Also he was an idiot for trying to change them. Instead, he has decided to enlighten you, who actually have to continue working for difficult and demanding bosses. You cannot change them. You cannot challenge them. Yet, you can survive them, even thrive under them, if you learn how to deal with them using this book. It offers hope for the spirit and strategy for the mind to help you deal with your work place situation.
Customer Reviews:
Thrive and keep your sense of humor.......2007-06-13
This book is a quick and easy read that kept me laughing while providing solid practical advice about how to handle a difficult boss. There were a few silly parts that I breezed over. But overall, the tone is light, and the tips are useful. The author helps you reel in your rage by reminding you how unproductive anger is. And he helps you realize that making your boss comfortable around you is the best way to get what you want. If you're a person who's passionate about your work and you just want to figure out how to get around the brick wall of incompetence and idiocy that exists in so many workplaces, check out this book. Save yourself an ulcer and years in therapy and learn how to put your passion to good use.
THANK YOU, DR. HOOVER.......2007-04-03
I would like to thank Dr.Hoover. He came to help me at the right moment...Well I almost became a serial killer who is after I-bosses. His friendly and humorous style makes the reading fun while teaching you to keep your anger at bay.
Turn the other cheek.......2007-03-01
I guess I had expected a bit more practical advice than to simply accept the fact that life isn't fair and to let my boss take credit for all of my accomplishments. Funny thing though, I DID feel better after reading the book as it made me realize how incompetent leaders can survive and even thrive despite all their shortcomings.
if you don't see the value through the humor, might want to check your inner idiot.......2006-12-20
I, like others, picked up this book while waiting in a kinkos for the latest i-boss crisis to print. The value of the laugh I got when I shared it with several co-workers and consultants was worth the price of the book right there. But it wasn't until a couple weeks later that I picked up the book in utter desperation to talk me out of killing my boss that I realized its true value: the advice cleverly packaged inside the sarcastic humor (is there any better way to proffer advice?)
I know if I say this it will sound like I'm exaggerating for effect, but I'm not kidding when I say that this book saved my job. I've always been the one in the room willing to call attention to the white elephant in the room...not something most idiot bosses particularly appreciate. Dr John's book allowed me the ability to let go of my mission to "state the truth with humor and sarcasm" without feeling that I've completely surrendered to the corporate suck-up rules. Okay, so maybe John simply speaks my language, but I really do need to know how to be a teensy bit more political (aka telling my boss that his stupid ideas really have value so that I can get back to work and maybe even get ahead someday) in my job without feeling that I'm cooperating with the evil empire.
Even a comment like, "wear a large suit to make it look to your boss like you don't make enough money" has a hidden message that indirect, nonverbal clues might be a better way to make a subliminal statement because some bosses just can't handle direct communication.
Thank you, Dr John, for your insight, humor, and liferope. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to look inside to their own inner stupidity and find grace there to deal with others'.
Pretty mediocre.......2006-06-04
This book wobbles between weak attempts at humor, brief examples of Idiot Bosses which aren't used to demonstrate any points, and inane advice on how to get along with "idiot" bosses. The author doesn't succeed in any of these areas.
I'll save you the money: His advice on how to deal with "idiot" bosses is to not get upset about their idiocy, which I think is better summed up by the Serenity Prayer:
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."
Of course, he doesn't really give any advice on how to actually DO this. I think anyone who is really having problems at work dealing with a difficult boss look at another book, since this one won't help them at all.
Book Description
This literal survival guide for new pilots identifies "the killing zone," the 40-250 flight hours during which unseasoned aviators are likely to commit lethal mistakes. Presents the statistics of how many pilots will die in the zone within a year; calls attention to the eight top pilot killers (such as "VFR into IFR," "Takeoff and Climb"); and maps strategies for avoiding, diverting, correcting, and managing the dangers. Includes a Pilot Personality Self-Assessment Exercise that identifies pilot "types" and how each type can best react to survive the killing zone.
Customer Reviews:
Great knowledge for aspiring pilots .......2007-08-10
Paul Craig's book is also excellent for pilots who may be doing a lot of flying to attain the hours needed to advance their career. This book is essential for the main reason in that it dispels some myths about why planes go down. Most of the time when a plane crashes, it is due to pilot error and very, very seldom is it something mechanical related. Weather is always a factor but you will get more knowledge of that from an instructor as well as other reading material geared more towards that suject in concerns with flying.
Your own car, new or old will have more mechanical issues that keep you from getting from point A to point B than an airplane will. Definitely great education on the topic at hand, and although there may be others out there, this is not a bad place to start!
Fly safer.......2007-02-15
This book contains detailed review of pilot induced errors through many NTSB accident reports categorized by cause and commented by author. Many typical cases of pilot errors are selected to describe possible cause-effect scenarios. Author also presents statistical charts whose purpose is to warn students and low time pilots. Since I am PPL pilot student, I found this book a good source of information on GA pilot mistakes. If you are also low timer (50-350 hours) read it and fly quite a bit safer.
On down side I must mention it would be useful to see more photos and drawings from actual accidents.
Important knowledge for any pilot.......2006-12-23
Craig's research reveals weak spots in the planning and experience of many pilots, describing both intentional and inadvertent actions which commonly lead to accidents. Knowledge is power, but overconfidence can be fatal; nothing makes this more clear than The Killing Zone. Many, if not all, of the accidents Craig cites could have been avoided with proper planning or decisionmaking.
Outsiders might find it morbid, but a good pilot learns from others' mistakes and passes that knowledge on. Craig has done a great service to the aviation community with this important read - even pilots outside the Killing Zone (50 to 350 hours of experience) can benefit.
The Killing Zone.......2006-11-10
As a pilot in training I found the book to be quite informative and an exceptional resource for recognizing and avoiding some of the obvious and not so obvious reasons why pilots die or rather are killed in airplane crashes.
The book is fairly heavy on statistics, which I suppose is good for some, but for me, it kept me from giving it 5-stars as it slowed the "read" down a little too often for my likes. The book is laid out nicely and the accidents are catagorized to make it easy to follow and focus on each category in turn. I would highly recommend it to anyone who flys general aviaition aircraft regardless of your experience level, from student to CFI. (as a side note, us "new" pilots are in the "safest" category, at least for a little while.
Anyway, the book is a good read, a valuable training resource and good safety awareness refresher for any pilot!
Save your own life.......2006-11-07
this book is a very good read for any new pilot - if you just received your rating then I highly recommend reading this book before you become a statistic for the next edition - JFK Jr. , Cory Lidle etc. each of their mistakes was easily predictable from reading the book - I expect that reading this has made me a safer pilot - I will get through the zone safely!!
Books:
- Peach Girl: Change of Heart, Vol. 1
- Professional ASP.NET.2.0, Special Edition w/ CD-ROM and Online (Wrox Professional Guides)
- Promise Me (Myron Bolitar Mysteries)
- Ready or Not: An All-American Girl Novel
- Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together
- Scavenger
- Schaum's Outline of Heat Transfer
- Shadowed Lives: Undocumented Immigrants in American Society (Case Studies in Cultural Anthropology)
- Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche
- Starstruck (Thoroughbred Series #63)
Books Index
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