Customer Reviews:
EXCELLANT.......2007-06-14
Only for those willing to change their lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For all the those who don't want to.......stay where you are.......and suffer.
Diassapointment.......2007-06-05
I hate to write such a negative review but i read the first 5 volumes before giving up on the sixth. I broke a cardinal personal rule of never giving up on books. The first volume was OK and each slowly got worst. I wanted to learn about Buddhism, not how a young man the author met was actually 1000 years old and other nonsense.
Please read any books by the Dalai Lama or Thich Nhat Han.
1000% better
The Masters Speak for Themselves.......2007-05-20
If you have ever thought that there were masters o this Earth who can perform the kinds of miracles you read about in the Bible, then this book is for you. First hand accounts reveal not only the miracles, but the wisdom behind them.
Read, and RE-Read.......2007-05-13
A good book to instill in myself the difference between reading and STUDYING. The good student STUDIES. And this is an excellent teaching. I'm excited to go back and read (STUDY)it some more. These are certainly the kind of teachings that work through your spiritual digestive system.
6 Vol. Book Set.......2007-04-05
This book set was exactly what I had been looking for. The price was very reasonable.
Book Description
Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler's doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes readers on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people.
Fighting at 25,000 feet in thin, freezing air that no warriors had ever encountered before, bomber crews battled new kinds of assaults on body and mind. Air combat was deadly but intermittent: periods of inactivity and anxiety were followed by short bursts of fire and fear. Unlike infantrymen, bomber boys slept on clean sheets, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of Glenn Miller's Air Force band, which toured U.S. air bases in England. But they had a much greater chance of dying than ground soldiers. In 1943, an American bomber crewman stood only a one-in-five chance of surviving his tour of duty, twenty-five missions. The Eighth Air Force lost more men in the war than the U.S. Marine Corps.
The bomber crews were an elite group of warriors who were a microcosm of America -- white America, anyway. (African-Americans could not serve in the Eighth Air Force except in a support capacity.) The actor Jimmy Stewart was a bomber boy, and so was the "King of Hollywood," Clark Gable. And the air war was filmed by Oscar-winning director William Wyler and covered by reporters like Andy Rooney and Walter Cronkite, all of whom flew combat missions with the men.
The Anglo-American bombing campaign against Nazi Germany was the longest military campaign of World War II, a war within a war. Until Allied soldiers crossed into Germany in the final months of the war, it was the only battle fought inside the German homeland.
Strategic bombing did not win the war, but the war could not have been won without it. American
airpower destroyed the rail facilities and oil refineries that supplied the German war machine. The bombing campaign was a shared enterprise: the British flew under the cover of night while American bombers attacked by day, a technique that British commanders thought was suicidal.
Masters of the Air is a story, as well, of life in wartime England and in the German prison camps, where tens of thousands of airmen spent part of the war. It ends with a vivid description of the grisly hunger marches captured airmen were forced to make near the end of the war through the country their bombs destroyed.
Drawn from recent interviews, oral histories, and American, British, German, and other archives, Masters of the Air is an authoritative, deeply moving account of the world's first and only bomber war.
Customer Reviews:
A "must read" for all those interested in WW II........2007-10-10
This monumental work covers the bomber war in Europe in a more complete way than any other book I have read including anything the great Martin Caidin has written. Mr. Miller tells the story from the perspectives of the tail gunners, waist gunners, radiomen, bombadiers, navigators, co-pilots and pilots as well as the generals who devised the strategys. All aspects of the war are covered from the original construction of the air bases to airplane maintenance to training to missions to time-off at local village pubs. Unlike other books, this one covers the POWs and their horrendous plight especially as the war is winding down and the Nazis more them from location to location ahead of the advancing Allies. Miller also includes stories about Capt. Tibbets of Hiroshima fame and a fascinating story of Chuck Yeager's escape from occupied Europe through Spain and his subsequent return to combat, something almost never allowed because re-patriated flyers knew too much about the french underground that would jeapordize lives if they were shot down a second time. Also of interest was information about what happened to crewmen who elected to land in "neutral" Switzerland in wounded ships. I recommend this book highly.
Masters of the Air.......2007-09-11
A marvelous story about the WW II air war over Europe. Full of interesting details and descriptions. I have shared it with friends that did their 35 missions, and they concur.
The Story of the "Mighty Eighth".......2007-09-08
This well-written and exhaustively researched book chronicles the rise of the American Eighth Air Force from its early days in England to VE Day in 1945.
At the outset of the war, the British believed that night bombing was the best way to attack German cities and industry. However, once America entered the war, they chose a philosophy different from that of the British. The Americans believed that daylight precision strategic bombing was the only way to defeat the Germans. The British, on the other hand, still favored nighttime area bombing. This difference of opinion between the Americans and British was never really settled, but by combining the "round the clock" attacks of American planes during the day and British planes at night, the Germans faced an unending stream of planes and bombs.
When the Eighth flew their first mission in the fall of 1942, they could barely muster thirty planes, but at the end of the war, they were putting up well over one thousand, with several hundred fighter escorts as well. The German Luftwaffe could not match these incredible numbers of planes, and, despite such tactics as underground production and introducing the world's first jet fighter, there was little they could do to stop the Allied bombing.
Differences also existed between the British and Americans regarding target selection. The British favored carpet bombing Germany's cities with little or no regard for civilian casualties. The Americans favored targeting German industry (synthetic oil production, ball bearings, and transportation hubs). The Americans believed that the systematic destruction of the German economy would bring about surrender quicker than the British belief of "terror attacks" designed to break the will of the German people.
An interesting point made by the author is whether or not strategic bombing was effective against the Germans. A preponderance of the evidence would suggest that the answer to this question is "yes", but there are some compelling counter-points made in the book.
This is a fine work of aviation history. The book is well-researched and is easy to read and understand. Every aspect of the Allied bomber offensive in Europe is covered in great detail. The author also includes many personal testimonials from the men who flew the B-17s and B-24s against the Germans. An interesting chapter is also devoted to the Swiss government and how they treated "captured" Allied fliers. The terrifying incendiary raid on Dresden as well as the horrific destruction of Berlin is also told in vivid detail.
I give this fine book my highest recommendation. If you're looking for information on the Eighth Air Force and the air war over Europe, this is the book to read.
Does anyone at Simon & Schuster proofread?.......2007-09-04
Mr. Miller's book includes not only substantial research into prior publications but very interesting research based on letters and interviews he's found on his own. It's a good book. But if you're a member of the word police you'll be annoyed by the many proofreading errors. Here's a sample: "In the heavily defended Ruhr, with its permanent cloud of industrial smoke, the number was only in ten." (p.54) Should have been "within ten miles." Some errors are so simple a spell checker would have caught them: (p.199) "spining" for spinning. And there are some factual errors as well. Miller attributes contrails to wingtips. They're created by engines. It's much easier to criticize than to write. Still, S&S should have, with the several editors listed in the acknowledgments, caught the errors. I have no idea whether they have been corrected in the paperback.
The Unsung Heroes of The Eighth Air Force.......2007-08-26
This is an overdue tribute to those young men who gave their lives, in great numbers, fighting the air war over Germany in WWII.To those who think WWII was fought without major tatical errors, this book will be a revelation. In tribute to the kids who lost their lives in this bloody effort, everyone should be required to read this story. If you thought that service in the Air Force was a cake walk read this book.
Book Description
BradyGames’ World of Warcraft Master Guide, Second Edition includes the following:
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Class strategies, abilities and talents.
-
Essential stats and updated strategies for each of the 8 races and 9 classes for both the Horde and Alliance.
-
Updated must-have quest data--contacts, objectives, item rewards and more.
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Updated profession sections provide data on created items, requirements and item components.
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Weapon, armor and item tables, ability and spell lists, and bestiary.
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Updated maps of each city and region, with call outs for characters, quest locations, dungeons, and more.
Platform: PC
Genre: Role-Playing Game
This product is available for sale worldwide.
Customer Reviews:
World of Warcraft Master Guide, Second Edition (World of Warcraft) .......2007-09-23
Amazaing book to start out with, includes everything you need to now about the game and even things that you dont. The book is so finley detailed with everything from your first dagger to level 60(70 if burning crusade) and soon to be 80
Good Start.......2007-08-12
The book helps you in the early stages of the game. Does not have anything on the two new expansion set that the only problem.
A great guide with tiny print!.......2007-07-07
A very useful refence - but we older gamers might need a magnifying glass to read!
WOW Guide.......2007-06-27
After using the burning crusade guide, this guide is getting me a lot of info on the other areas
Very helpful!.......2007-06-26
Very helpful book, both for reference and reading. All you need to know to play WoW is in this book.
Amazon.com
Everyone loves soup, the world's most versatile dish. James Peterson's Splendid Soups, first published in 1993 and now updated, celebrates that fact with stunning comprehensiveness. Offering almost 300 tantalizing recipes ranging from the most pristine consommés to the heartiest peasant stews, the book also provides extensive technical information, tips, and serving suggestions that make it a true soup tutorial. The book's "ultimate goal," says Peterson, "is to give the reader the tools with which to invent," an aim he realizes with clarity, warmth, and precision. It's hard to imagine a cook who wouldn't embrace this authoritative yet companionable work.
The recipe range is vast. In 10 chapters that cover all the soup bases, including yogurt, bread, and fruit mixtures, Peterson offers an encyclopedic dish array. Among the entries new to this edition are Roast Garlic and Acorn Squash Soup, Thai-Style Hot and Sour Blue Crab Soup, and Dried Fruit Soup, a traditional Swedish specialty. Especially noteworthy is Peterson's introductory section on ethnic soups; a section offering strategies for reducing a soup's fat content (don't let meat broths boil, which homogenizes fat and liquid); and advice on what to drink with soup. With 40 color photos taken by the author, an equipment guide, and a useful chart for soup improvisation, the book is better than ever and a must-have for any kitchen library. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
Praise for the fully revised and updated Splendid Soups
"Jim Peterson's Splendid Soups is a comprehensive and mouthwatering atlas of the world of soup. It not only covers soups of all nationalities and every garnish, but provides a handy list of sources for every hard-to-find ingredient and kitchen tool, too. More importantly though, through his gargantuan world tour Jim empowers home cooks to strike out on their own and invent new soups. It just makes me want to get into the kitchen and start cooking!" -SARA MOULTON Host, The Food Network's Cooking Live; Executive Chef, Gourmet magazine; Food Editor, Good Morning America
"We love James Peterson. Splendid Soups is a bountiful source of enticing ideas!"-the moosewood collective Authors of the Moosewood Restaurant Cookbooks
Customer Reviews:
Learn to Make Stocks.......2006-08-18
The most useful thing about this book is that it teaches you how to make a good stock. I can't tell you how much it has made a difference in my cooking. I do like the recipes in the book, but more often his techniques are being applied to other recipes vastly improved by my new ability to make a good stock. Once you get into the habit of making stock, you will be horrified at the thought of throwing away bones! Use them to make stock now, or freeze them and make stock later. The recipes are loose, but if you read the opening chapters you will not need absolute precision because you will know what you are doing!
Good compilation of recipies, but poor quality of each recipe.........2006-03-11
First of all I have to say that I am spanish and I am not writing in my mother tongue. So I have to apologise in advance for my poor English skills.
When I read a review I like to know who write it in order to guess what he expected to find in the book and what sort of judgment he is going to give us.
I am an Spanish Food Engineer. I am not a professional chef but, I dare say, I am an advanced amateur cook.
I read the cookbooks form cover to cover at least twice. I underlain it and even it compare the recipies with other books.
I dont want a compilation of recipies that I left in my shelves for checking a recipe from time to time.
What I expected to find in this book was:
1-A classification of soups.
2-A correct description of the techniques for cooking the soups.
3-A collection of really splendid soups. I dont mind how many recipies the book has, but I mind the quality of each recipe.
I want a perfect recipe for each soup. Whether I like or not the soup, once I have cooked it, it depends on my personal taste.
So with this in mind, here is my review.
1-The book is organized by ingredientes (meat soups, fish soups, vegetable soups..). It makes easier to find a recipe if you have some ingredientes in the refrigerator and you wants to know what to do with them. But it should be arranged by technique as the book "Professional Chef" (CIA) does (consommes, hearty broths, cream soups, puree soups and bisques).You cant remember all the recipies but you can remember the techniques. This is the most didactic way of organize the book if you want to read it from cover to cover.
2-The general description of the techniques are omitted. The author goes straight to the description of the preparation of each recipe. What it is good if you want a compilation of recipies, but it isnt very useful if you really want to learn how to cook soups at your will.
By the other hand, the description of the preparation of the recipies are detailed and correct. Neither it is "over-detailed" nor ambiguous.
3-At first sight, the number of recipies seems to be huge. But once you have read some chapters you will realise that some recipies are almost the same. Organizing the book by ingredients its easy to repeat recipes because you only need to change an ingredient.For example, "Miso Soup" and "Miso soup with egg plant", the first one appears in the chapter of broths and the second one appears in the chapter of vegetables. But both are the same .Another example "Puree of Artichoke", "Puree of Asparagus", "Puree of Cauliflower"...etc.
The number of recipies has been falsely increased
4-I cant say the recipies doesnt works, but I cant say the recipies are excellent.In some cases I am sure the recipe is wrong. As I said I am spanish, and I cant assure that Gazpacho doesnt contain neither chicken broth nor lime. I understand the author wants to transform/interpret some exotic/ethnic soups. But the changes should not become the dish into another thing. Another example is the Bisque. He uses vegetable puree to thick the soup. By definition a Bisque is a soup that only contains crustaceans and the vegetables are only use for give a subtle taste and it should not distort the crustacean taste.
I wouldnt say that from the 400 soups all of them are "splendid". On the contrary, only few ones are good (but not excellent). He should be more concentrated on the quality rather than in the quantity.
5-There are few photographs (8 pages). The "soups" showed by these photos has got so many solids and so few liquid that you would need a fork and a knife for eating it. So it isnt soups, because you dont use a spoon for eating it.
6-The style of writing is a bit arrogant. I agree with other review. He uses a lot the word "I". I think he is too worry about demostrating that he has cooked each soup, because he repeat many times "Each time I cook it..." "I like to eat it.." "I cant image a summer without it.." and so on.
I dont think he has cooked all the recipies, or at least, I dont think he cook the soups with frequency he try to show.
The book contains 400 recipies, really do you think that he eats so often all them during the 365 days of the year?.
On the other hand, he is too precise with very tiny details (add the parsley just 1 minute before serving, for example) but he is too loose with other matters.
Does he pretend to be exquisite? an epicurean?
7-This book has got some good points. The chapter of ethnic soups is excellent. He describes some ethnic and exotic ingredients and also incorporate soups from Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, China, India Morocco, Mexico etc...
After reading the book you will be able to prepare a soup freely just watching what you have got in the refrigerator.
All in all, I doesnt believe its a masterpiece as other reviewers does. The recipies arent totaly perfect and if you are purist the book will disappoint you.
But if you arent a purist, if you doesnt look for the perfect soup, and if you only want to find a recipe and cook it from time to time, this is your book.
Best Soup Cookbook Ever.......2006-02-18
Every recipe was easy to follow and came with set-by-step instructions. All of my favorite soups are from the Splendid Soup cookbook. Everytime I make a soup from this cookbook (which is once a week) I get a thumbs up from my family, especially from the hard to please little ones!!!
A fantastic book, but not for beginners.......2002-10-12
I am a self-described soup addict. I make soups at least once a week year round, even when the weather in my hometown is well above 100 degrees! This book is an excellent book, great for someone who has spent a lot of time making soups and is willing to put the time and effort into getting the ingredients, and doing the chopping and cooking that is required. It has nearly every soup imaginable in it and is great for coming up with great ideas for your own new recipes. However, the reason I can't give it 5 stars is that, as others have mentioned before, it does not go into intimate detail in the instructions, it includes some hard-to-find or largely unfamiliar ingredients, and some of the recipes are difficult. If you are a beginner, you should probably stay away from this book. If you are soup obsessed like me, this book is well worth buying and will become an invaluable source of information for you.
great book.......2001-12-01
great book. i tend to use it as a base for creating soups (e.g., a turkey soup that was based on 3 different veggy soup recipes). i've bought a copy for a buddy and for my brother-in-law and they both love the book (for some reason, men in my family do the cooking!!)
Book Description
Whether because of changing lifestyles or simply because houses are becoming outdated, millions of North Americans are renovating their homes every year, spending more money annually on renovation than on new home construction. But renovations can be fraught with unintended consequences like indoor air pollution. How do you remodel in a healthy, environmentally friendly way?
Green Remodeling is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodeling. Buildings are responsible for 40% of worldwide energy flow and material use; so how you remodel can make a difference. Upgrading furnaces, cabinets and toilets means less fossil fuel pollution, reduced resource depletion, and fewer health risks. Green remodeling is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and more affordable to create, operate and maintain.
The book then discusses simple green renovation solutions for homeowners, focusing on key aspects of the building including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Room by room, it outlines the intricate connections that make the house work as a system. For example, how new windows may affect the structure and mechanical systems of the rooms below, the health of the family, and the future of old-growth forests. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it covers easy ways to save energy, conserve natural resources, and protect the health of loved ones. Addressing all climates, this is a perfect resource for conventional homeowners, as well as architects and remodeling contractors.
Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series
Customer Reviews:
Green Builders.......2007-09-14
As a recent Interior Design graduate I was looking for books to remodel the interiors of homes in a "green", sustainable way. I ordered this book but upon inspection found it to be more suited for an owner/builder. I ordered "Good Green Homes", by Jennifer Roberts as well and found it to be similar in that it would appeal more to owner/builders/architects.
For the "Green" remodler.......2007-08-18
A good reference book for any contractor new to green building.
Explains the basics of indoor air pollution and how to choose different building materials that are both "green" and healthy. Broken down into different sections, i.e., the kitchen and bathroom for example makes it an easy to follow guide. The check-lists at the end of each chapter offer an easy way to make sure you've considered everything with the project.
Dan Stih, author of Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health.
decent but commercial and expensive.......2007-06-01
this book was well written and fairly clear, even to me as a building novice. i was fairly disappointed, though, at how many of the green approaches seemed to focus on expensive, high-tech commercial green materials. i was hoping for a lot more on how to integrate traditional and very basic do-it-yourself techniques such as recycling used materials, mud plastering, simple greywater systems, and so on into existing buildings. in the end, i could hardly use any of the information in this book because i couldn't afford the materials. if you have the money, though, and are hoping for a very polished and professional look, you will probably enjoy this book.
Good book but could be condensed .......2007-03-09
I read the book from start to finish but found myself skipping over many passages of repeated information. Although the information provided was useful, the same exact info. is rehashed many times in the same chapter and throughout the book. The book format may have something to do with that with it's many recaps and review.
Good basic introduction to the green industry with much information.
Great way to think about green remodelling.......2007-01-21
This book really shaped how I went about renovating my house. Although I wasn't able to incorporate as much as I had hope, due to budget constraints, this book opened my eyes to considerations I didn't know existed. It's easy to look at solar or wind power, bamboo flooring and recycled tiles to go green; this book goes through a house piecemeal to explain concerns on every level for a much more thorough discussion of renovating green. Extremely helpful.
Average customer rating:
- With a Letter From The Author
- An enjoyable action novel about the closing days of World War II
- ss sniper
- Alright....
- Good but not his best
|
The Master Sniper
Stephen Hunter
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ASIN: 0440221870
Release Date: 1996-06-02 |
Book Description
It is the spring of 1945, and the Nazis are eliminating all the witnesses to their horrible crimes, including Jews and foreigners remaining in the prison camps. Kommandant Repp, who is known as a master sniper, decides to hone his sniping abilities by taking a little target practice at the remaining laborers in his own prison camp. But one man escapes and becomes the key to solving the mystery of the cold, calculating Kommandmant Repp and his plans for ending the war.
Repp was the master sniper whose deadly talent had come to the notice of British Intelligence as the linchpin of a desperate Nazi plot to reverse the fortunes of the Third Reich at the eleventh hour. But what was the nature of the weapon that Repp was to aim--and who was to be his last target? Allied Intelligence officers Leets, from the U.S., and Outhwaite from England are dispatched to identify and abort his lethal mission. And when they finally learn the truth, the Second World War's deadliest race against time is on....
Customer Reviews:
With a Letter From The Author .......2007-08-13
I first read this book back in 1983 and found it one of the strangest but certainly more interesting novels I have read set in WW II. The style of writing is remarkable with well drawn characters. Set within the closing weeks of WWII the book invokes a deeply mystical aura supported with a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary German weaponry and organisation. I was so intrigued by the book that I wrote to the author. His reply illuminates the thoughts behind the book and, having re-read the book recently I feel sure his letter will be of similar interest to other readers:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Stephen Hunter, April 1983.
Thanks for your kind note concerning "The Master Sniper"; it encourages an author to know that his book is still being read. I shall try to answer your questions.
In Repp, I was trying to represent authentically the German point of view viz a viz the Holocaust. I felt that too many popular novels had portrayed the Nazis as slithering fiends, cowards, bullies, molesters; in other words, so safely distanced from the human condition as to let all the rest of us off the hook. In Repp I tried to build a man in many ways honourable, even heroic, quite decent. Except that he murdered people and believed in it ; I felt that what no book had quite caught was the zeal, the missionary passion, the Nazis had for their self-appointed mission; I felt that they weren't cynics at all, but rather idealists and for this reason were far more terrifying a moral phenomenon. And naturally a part of this view (was) the conviction that the Jews caused the war and were responsible for their own death...my idea was that this, in its utter self delusion, was far more terrifying than the more conventional theatrical evil that the movies seem to insist on giving us.
As for "Vampir" yes, such a device existed, much as I described it; I took the liberty however, of developing the "solar assist" unit, because I needed an artificial device to hold the Germans in that camp (Anlage Elf simply means installation 11, although I liked the pun in the word elf, because it suggested goblins and children, which are, of course, two other themes in the book) while Leets and his team tried to locate it.
As for Vollmerhausen, no, he's not based on anybody specific (although I did use the Giepel team for some background) ; I simply borrowed the name from a road that runs near my house. And, in fact, other readers, when they pass under it on the super highway, have been compelled to call and find out if that's where I got the name. And all the organisatons of the Third Reich -- from WVHA to Amt IV-b-4 -- all existed.
And thanks for your suggestion for another book on Repp, but in all honesty, I don't think it's in the cards -- although I almost wrote a book in which Leets and Evans got involved in the MacLean-Burgess-Philby espionage case. But at least for now, I've spent my obsessive interest in World War II and particularly the Third Reich. But I haven't given up history; my next book is set in 1937 in Spain, during the Civil War and I'm having a great time.
Thanks and best
Stephen Hunter
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
An enjoyable action novel about the closing days of World War II.......2007-07-17
An enjoyable action novel about the closing days of World War II. Hunter's plot strains credibility a bit in the end - not so much the secret weapon cooked up by the Germans but the use to which it is put. Still, he is a good writer, with a cool, sardonic tone just right for the tale. The technical detail about a next generation sniper weapon is absorbing, is consistent with the historical one-step-ahead state of Nazi science, and is unfolded well to drive the plot.
Hunter also does a good job drawing German sniper Repp - modest, fearless, invincible in battle, seemingly an all-purpose war hero until you learn more about him. He is tracked doggedly by Leets, an out-of-shape, underrespected, mostly ignored American intelligence desk jockey who must glean the tiniest of clues to determine what's up. Hunter's depiction of concentration camp survivor Shmuel, a lone witness to the plot, is touching and a cut above what I expected in this sort of military novel.
Quibbles: The text could use a decent copy-editing; there were numerous errors involving quote marks. And Hunter allows himself an indulgence- a twenty-page passage on Leets' annoying college-boy assistant who plays an exhibition tennis match with no plot connection. It's just an excuse for Hunter to write about a sport he apparently loves.
This is still a pretty good book. It keeps moving, it's paced right and it's absorbing.
ss sniper.......2007-07-12
This was the first of Hunter's books that I read and it is probably my favourite, despite the implausible plot, because of the character Repp. I know that we are supposed to despise this killer but he is one of the most absorbing characters I have met in fiction. Men with such single-minded commitment to an ideal are very rare today, but in the 1930s and 1940s and during the Crusades or perhaps as Janissaries for the Ottomans they were more common. Hunter was still learning his trade at this stage but he manages to create some riveting battle scenes, especially the description of Repp's sniping battle in Demyansk in Russia. He has also obviously done some research on weapons from the period which gives a realistic feel to the story. It's an entertaining read for sure.
Alright...........2006-09-27
This book is not bad but it was not as good as I thought it would be. For one thing it left you hanging as far as some of the characters went. Even though it was a WW2 story. It really did not seem like one to me. It lacked the feel of one.
The plot was very unique as far as who the final target was. But otherwise it is the same old cat and mouse chase.
Bottom line is I was very excited about this book because I like WW2 history. But this was kinda a let down
Good but not his best.......2006-02-26
As many of the other reviewers have stated, this book feels like a first-time author testing the waters. It's worth reading for sure but I personally enjoy some of the later titles a little more.
After reading the first hundred pages or so I set this down for a while and came back to it. It picks up in the second half of the story when the plot is actually starting to become somewhat clear. And when the full scope of the assassinaion plot is revealed it is quite unique. My main problem is with certain characters that seem to pop up and then go nowhere. There's a love story thrown in here for awhile that just kind of...disappears. Hmmm.
I would recommend this to those who've read other Hunter books but, for the first-timer, check out Dirty White Boys or another title in the Swagger series.
Book Description
If the experts could point to any single book as a starting point for understanding the subject of intelligence from the late twentieth century to today, that single book would be Allen W. Dulles's The Craft of Intelligence. This classic of spycraft is based on Allen Dulles's incomparable experience as a diplomat, international lawyer, and America's premier intelligence officer. Dulles was a high-ranking officer of the CIA's predecessor-the Office of Strategic Services-and was present at the inception of the CIA, where he served eight of his ten years there as director. Here he sums up what he learned about intelligence from nearly a half-century of experience in foreign affairs.
In World War II his OSS agents penetrated the German Foreign Office, worked with the anti-Nazi underground resistance, and established contacts that brought about the Nazi military surrender in North Italy. Under his direction the CIA developed both a dedicated corps of specialists and a whole range of new intelligence devices, from the U-2 high-altitude photographic plane to minute electronic listening and transmitting equipment.
Dulles reveals much about how intelligence is collected and processed, and how the resulting estimates contribute to the formation of national policy. He discusses methods of surveillance, and the usefulness of defectors from hostile nations. His knowledge of Soviet espionage techniques is unrivaled, and he explains how the Soviet State Security Service recruited operatives and planted "illegals" in foreign countries. He spells out not only the techniques of modern espionage but also the philosophy and role of intelligence in a free society threatened by global conspiracies.
Dulles also addresses the Bay of Pigs incident, denying that the 1961 invasion was based on a CIA estimate that a popular Cuban uprising would ensue. This account is enlivened with a wealth of personal anecdotes. It is a book for readers who seek wider understanding of the contribution of intelligence to our national security.
Customer Reviews:
WAS ALLEN DULLES OUR BEST SPYMASTER? .......2006-11-06
Allen Dulles was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1953 to 1961 during the eight-year term of Dwight Eisenhower and first ten months of John Kennedy's administration. His historical memoir `The Craft of Intelligence' has been re-published by The Lyons Press.
This re-issue of Dulles' book makes one take a new examination of the function of the DCI when the CIA started all of the things it's known for today and presumed to still be doing. Even though four DCI's served under Harry Truman the tenure of Dulles for Eisenhower best typifies what the CIA has now become known for.
Dulles was the ultimate `remain in the shadows, behind the scenes, backroom negotiator' that was so prevalent in the first half of the 20th Century political world. He must have been inspired to be that way by the antics of Colonel Thomas House who was the inside advisor to President Woodrow Wilson when Dulles' own uncle Robert Lansing was the nation's Secretary of State. And Dulles was in government work when politicians were still trusted by the public yet doing the nation's dirty work that was generally not revealed to the masses at that time.
The first four DCI's to President Truman in the years 1946-1953 came directly from military service when the agency was getting started and was only seen as an intelligence gathering entity. It was when Eisenhower took over and appointed Dulles as DCI that the CIA began covert operations and inserting itself into the matters of foreign governments for America's benefit.
Dulles had his followers as he attempted to implement Ike's plan of containing the spread of communism. But he also had his detractors as he put forth America's intelligence presence throughout the world during his tenure. He was obviously well thought of by Eisenhower since he served as DCI for the entire eight years of the 34th president's term. But his career ended in forced retirement when newcomer chief executive Kennedy blamed the CIA for the April, 1961 `Bay of Pigs' fiasco after Cuban freedom fighters launched from Florida were defeated on the beaches of Cuba by Fidel Castro's Army.
Dulles never made derogatory comments about JFK after his removal even though he must have had an opinion about it. So isn't it ironic that three years later he served on a commission to investigate the assassination of the very man who fired him!
Anyway, to get a read on the real Dulles as the holder of the nation's secrets you must look at every photo of him. You will observe that he always has a smug look on his face as if he knew he wasn't telling the whole truth to the American people but recognized he was still getting away with it.
Everyone in the spy business read the book when it came out in 1963. Even 007 himself, James Bond, studied the work while on an assignment in Japan in Ian Fleming's classic novel `You Only Live Twice' so he could pick up tips on how to be a better spy!
But it's apparent from forty years of hindsight and the declassification of many CIA files from that era that Dulles wrote this book in a matter that presumed us naive citizens still believed and trusted their leaders in what was being told to them was actually true. So his tome now comes off in a somewhat condescending manner with the revelations that most of what the CIA presumed about the threat from the Soviet Union and the state of the world for the last sixty years have been proven wrong or were grossly inaccurate to justify excessive and unneeded military expenditures for our side.
It's still arguable whether Allen Dulles was the best DCI we will ever have. But he knew how to brag when necessary and stay in the shadows when needed to keep his president happy.
How information is gathered, processed, and used in the formation of national policy.......2006-06-22
If you seek a single source reference to the history of modern espionage, it should be THE CRAFT OF INTELLIGENCE: AMERICA'S LEGENDARY SPY MASTER ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF INTELLIGENCE GATHERING FOR A FREE WORLD. Details on how intelligence is collected and processed, and how it contributes to the formation of national policy, makes for a thorough and fine review of the craft and policies of military intelligence efforts, surveying how information is gathered, processed, and used in the formation of national policy. While others could've presented the facts, it's his insider position peppered with personal anecdotes from his intelligence career - he was a high-ranking officer of the CIA's predecessor and served eight years when the CIA was created - which makes CRAFT OF INTELLIGENCE unique.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Core reading requirement for students of intelligence.......2001-10-10
As I began researching the modern intelligence community, several books (e.g. "The Night Watch" by David Atlee Philips) pointed back to "The Craft of Intelligence" as a fundamental starting point. Because this book deals with the basic intelligence methods and objectives, it maintains its relevance well into the present. In some sections Dulles also addresses the ethical implications of deceptive or clandestine intelligence collection, providing valuable thought or discussion material for individuals scrutinizing this unique, and arguably disdainful, function of government. Dulles' writing style is thoughtful, refined, yet straightforward, revealing some of those traits which earned him the moniker "The Gentleman Spy".
One of two required readings on intelligence for anyone.......2000-04-08
This is the other required reading. This gem sits on my desk with my dictionary of difficult words and my synonym dictionary. We still do not have an equal to this book. Since Dulles testified to Congress that 80% of the raw material for finished intelligence came from public sources including diplomatic reporting, this book provides an interesting benchmark for understanding the rather pathological impact of technical collection on the larger process of all-source collection and analysis.
Strategic intelligence for American world policy
Strategic Intelligence & Statecraft: Selected Essays (Brassey's Intelligence and National Security Library)
The New Craft of Intelligence: Personal, Public, & Political--Citizen's Action Handbook for Fighting Terrorism, Genocide, Disease, Toxic Bombs, & Corruption
Book Description
A work of humanity on a universal scale, a work of reconciliation between nature and culture, Indian Wisdom celebrates those who live in harmony with the forces of earth and sky, who aspire to nirvana-the highest level of heart-, body-, and mind-consciousness. This remarkable book by Danielle and Olivier Föllmi, authors of 15 previous books on Buddhism, presents the wise words of a great master, philosopher, or poet for every day of the year, accompanied by Olivier's beautiful, moving photographs of Indian people and places. The effect is transformative, awakening our senses and preparing our souls to receive these simple yet profound teachings.
Contemporary specialists on Indian culture have contributed to Indian Wisdom, which draws on such ancient yet timeless sources as poems by Rabindranath Tagore and Krishnamurti; the longest epic in world literature, the Mahabharata; and the most significant of the Hindu sacred writings, the Vedas. A treasure in both content and form, this inspirational book artfully conveys the essence of India. AUTHOR BIO: Danielle and Olivier Föllmi have written 15 books about Buddhism, including Abrams' Buddhist Himalayas. They are the official photographers of the Dalai Lama and recipients of the World Press award. The Föllmis divide their time between the Alps and the Himalayas.
Customer Reviews:
Thoughtful daily gems, if you are willing to think a little........2007-02-16
This is a lovely book, with breathtaking photos that accompany equally powerful daily written words of "wisdom." The book is great as a gift for a special person because it is smart, priced well, and very pretty, but it functions on a more meaningful level for those ready to receive its message. Personally, I think the writings are strong selections of some of the best ideas of the humanities, and I find the book inspiring each and every day.
Another daily treasure!.......2007-02-16
My wife and I have a special time each day where we sit together and read to each from our library of inspiration literature. We have two of the Follmi's books, this one, Wisdom, and Offerings. Our inspirational and meditative reading time is not complete until we read the passages for the day from each of these books. I especiall like their selections and the references to the photographs which are exquisitly beautiful. The Follmi's books will nourish your heart, mind, and soul.
Wisdom.......2006-07-10
A beautiful book that is inspirational in both its pictures and pearls of wisdom.
as wise as it is beautiful.......2006-03-04
The authors have chosen the quotations well and matched them with beautiful pictures. I am an American and have lived in India for over 22 years in an ashram. Many attempts to capture the spirit of India, especially by foreigners, seem to ring false, but this one combines a range of moods in the pictures and a range of depth in the written selections. It is a joy to read every day.
sheer wisdom.......2006-01-31
absolutely breathtaking pictures which capture the very essence of india and convey incredible peace. the thoughts are just what we need everyday to remind us of the "big picture" and look around, above and beyond ourselves to get a little wiser...
Book Description
This third volume in the new Modern Masters series spotlights the artist Bruce Timm's career, with his most comprehensive interview to date, discussing his influences, how his style evolved, and what it takes to succeed in both comics and animation. It also showcases page after page of rare and unseen artwork, including a gallery of his best commissioned work, as well as behind the scenes animation concepts! Often imitated but never equaled, he blends the cartoony and the realistic in such a way that is undeniably appealing, and this book is the ultimate look at the work of a true Modern Master: Bruce Timm!
Customer Reviews:
For the hardcore Bruce Timm fan..........2007-06-04
As other reviews have stated, this is basically a book-length interview with "Batman: The Animated Series" co-creator Bruce Timm. It's a quick, conversational read detailing Timm's somewhat reluctant entry into the world of animation through the production of "Justice League".
What'll you get: Lots of great Timm line art fleshes out the pages, showing his progression from toy-insert mini-comics to extremely influential animator/comic penciler. Those curious about the history of Timm's various animation projects will enjoy some behind the scenes info. If you're interested in breaking into comics or animation, you'll learn how Bruce did it (decades ago), though it's not likely to be vary relevent to your endeavors.
What you won't get: There's not a lot of time spent on Timm's techniques or methods - this isn't a very technical interview. Also, any of his recent projects (like Justice League: Unlimited) fall after the making of this book.
If you're a hardcore Bruce Timm fan, you'll definitely want this in your collection. It's a very enjoyable read. However, if you're looking for insight on "making it" in the comis/cartoon world, move along...
Excellent.......2007-01-15
You don't know Bruce Timm unless you've read this indepth interview. Passionnate, accurate, detailed, this is another welcome one in Modern masters Series. I won't give it a 5 stars rating as iconography unfortunately falls behind text (you can find much more on the internet). There are manys pics and drawings anyway, some unveiled for the first time. Comments accompanying those reveal a lot, kind of behind the scenes stuff about one of the greatest all time artist. A must have for Bruce Timm fans, comics books fans and animation fans alike!!
A story of He-Man and naked ladies.......2006-08-26
I have always been a fan of Bruce Timm so this book seemed like a no brainer. This book covers his life up to the end of the Justice League cartoon (and has a few of his early JLU designs). It is an interesting book when he is talking about his early years in animation and his comic work, but anyone who has watched the special features on his DVDs already knows most of the story.
However, like a comic itself the story is only half the battle. This book is filled with tons of Bruce Timm art and if you like his style this is a real treat. There are pictures of monsters, marvel characters, DC characters and of course lots of sexy women. The end of the book has a color art gallery, which looks great.
If you want to learn more about Bruce Timm's life and style you should pick up this book.
Bruce is a Master... not the book.......2006-07-19
Bruce's work is masterful in it's simplicity and emotion, a second coming of Jack Kirby. Although many argue, myself included, that "the King" can never be equalled. Mr Timm has come close. There are a few artists, comic books may it be, that can show emotions for their characters without going overboard. I can only wish that the book could have provided a more elegant way of presenting that talent.
A good follow up buy to Batman Animated.......2006-01-20
If you're a fan of the art from the series, pick this up- but only after getting the book Batman Animated.
Either way, this has some nice exclusive artwork, plus some full color art at the back of the book.
Book Description
An intimate glimpse into the world of ancient Peruvian spiritual practice and cosmology
• Reveals the mysteries of the world of living energy (kawsay pacha) through intensive in-depth interviews with six Q’ero mystics
• Explores the energetics, spirits, tools, and practices of Andean mysticism--the real story behind the fictionalized accounts in The Celestine Prophecy
Known as the “keepers of the ancient knowledge,” the Q’ero Indians of Peru are the most respected mystics of the south-central Andes. In 1996 Joan Parisi Wilcox traveled to the Andes and was able to record the mysteries of
kawsay pacha, the multidimensional world of living energy, through more than 40 hours of intensive interviews with six Q’ero paqos, masters of the ancient spiritual traditions of Peru.
The Q’ero are known for having preserved the Inca spiritual tradition more purely than any other indigenous population in the Andes. The in-depth interviews presented in this book recount the direct words of these masters so readers can discover for themselves the mind and heart space of these people. Four new chapters of this revised edition focus on the work of the mesa, the Andean form of a spiritual medicine bundle, and its use as a conduit for the healing energies of nature. The mesa is called the “heart’s fire” because it represents the finest energy--the energy of compassion--that a paqo cultivates while walking the sacred path. Wilcox provides instructions on how to make, activate, and work with a mesa, as well as other practical exercises showing how we can use the power of the Andean spiritual tradition in our own lives.
Customer Reviews:
Masters of the Living Energy.......2007-10-10
This is an awesome book containing information that is very timely and much needed to save our planet. - Only one criticism - this is an updated version of Keepers of the Ancient Knowledge but the only way to find out is by reading the introduction. Unfortunately I ordered both books and had to return Keepers. It would be awesome if Amazon had a way of letting customers know about updates with different names.
Thank you.
Masters of the Living Energy: The Mystical World of the Q'ero of Peru.......2007-05-07
Was exactly what Iwas looking for. Book is in perfect shape and was shipped on time. Very pleased
Light work .......2007-03-06
Having recieved rites from the Q'ero I found Joan's book to be an impressive body of work.
Her intention to share the teachings of the shaman in an unbiased informative way felt impeccable to me. The work is devotional in presenting their truths as she struggled through two language translations. Her pointed questions allowed these masters to convey their wisdom within our frame of reference.
Her book is a reminder of our deep connection to the divine, at once a resource and a tool for our own work. I feel grateful to her for putting this divine mystery into words. I have not found any other resource to be as detailed reguarding the message the Q'ero wish to convey to us.
I recommend this book to anyone on the path of seeking more light for this universe.
A Book of Integrity - Reviewed by John M. Weiskopf.......2006-12-18
Over the last half of the 20th Century, alternative religions and spiritual practices have found increasing numbers of followers in Europe and North America. The practices of Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Meditation and Yoga have spread rapidly giving millions of people, who were once socialized in a more traditional Christian or Judaic philosophy, a new way to "connect" to the spiritual, find answers within themselves, and ultimately find meaning in today's world. Some people, whose religious philosophy and practice were rooted in European based religions, even found a preferred spiritual expression in the Native American traditions of the medicine wheel, spirit guides, ceremonial rituals, and dream prophecy.
However, this religious force has moved predominately from the East to the West. It has been only in the last few years that there has been a growing interest in spiritual healing and shamanic practices from below the equator, namely from the Amazon and the villages of the Andes in South America.
In her exceptional book Masters of the Living Energy, Joan Parisi Wilcox captures the ancient and sacred traditions of the Andes, namely the mystical world of the Q'ero of Peru. Of all of the Andean communities, the Q'ero Inca seemed to have been singled out to be, what Wilcox calls "the keepers of the ancient knowledge." What is extraordinary about her book is, by writing this book in a purist and painstaking way, that she too has become a keeper of this ancient knowledge. Through dozens of persistent and careful interviews with the most powerful Q'ero shaman, she has preserved not just the core of the Q'ero healing practices, but every detail of their rituals, the hierarchy of Q'ero paqos (shaman), the comprehensive energy body, the levels of Apus, the meaning and gift of the mesa, the despacho, and a comprehensive semantic which explains the intricate architecture of the Q'ero's spiritual cosmological system.
Masters of the Living Energy is a work of enormous integrity. You feel it on every page. The glossary in the back of the book emphasizes the meticulous detail and discipline of the Q'ero mystic ideology. The traditions of the Q'ero have been passed down by word-of-mouth for centuries from generation to generation. No book, no written record, has recorded this ancient oral tradition so well. The pure ancient Q'ero traditions have been unspoiled in the modern world's search for quick spiritual meaning in the name of healing, unlike offshoots of pure Buddhism, Yoga, and other spiritual practices, which have become popularized to appeal to a more universal following. Joan Parisi Wilcox has recorded the authenticity and complex sacred traditions of the Q'ero Inca. To her enormous credit, she has captured the Q'ero as they were centuries ago and as they struggle to remain.
John M. Weiskopf
Author of "The Ascendancy"
A Reader.......2006-07-25
Whatever you think of the content of this book, you can't fault the author for poor scholarship. One reviewer who does is so wrong on so many fronts that I feel compelled to correct several false and unfair charges. That reviewer obviously hasn't read the book, or he or she would know that Wilcox makes it a point in her text to discuss her choices for transcribing the Quechua. She tells the reader outright that she is using an English convention for plurals instead of the Quechua "-kuna" ending. Quechua is not a "sacred language" as the reviewer suggests. It is among the most widely spoken languages in South America, the language of the indigenous Andean peoples, and was adopted by the Inca during their rule as their administrative language. To claim it is some kind of "sacred language" is not only naive, but is wrong. However, Quechua wasn't a written language until after the Spanish conquest, and so there are various schools of spelling. The author even tells us which academic dictionary she is relying on for her spelling choices, so she covers that aspect of her scholarship, too! Wilcox also mentions why she calls "outsiders" to the indigenous culture "Westerners," which is a catchall term used by some in the Andes to refer to mestizos and to lump together others from the developed, non-rural world who come to work with the indigenous paqos. What is more, Wilcox hired a world expert on gathering Andean oral histories, Ricardo Valderrama, as her Quechua translator, so you can't fault her for the translations. And just to educate the reviewer about his or her own errors, the Spanish word "don" (which means something like "Mr." in English and is a sign of respect) is always lowercased except at the beginning of a sentence, as is the word "indigenous." Again, you may not like Wilcox's views on things, but if you are going to trash her scholarship you should at least be accurate and informed! In my view, if you want a carefully researched and respectful approach to the Andean spiritual tradition, and not some New Age sentimental interpretation, this is a book you can trust in both its scholarship and its respect for the tradition and the paqos she interviewed.
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The Impersonal Life
