Average customer rating:
- Force Dynamic Life Drawings for Anomators
- Helpful, but needs more...
- most important book i ever read
- This is what I was missing..
- Big, Awesome.
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Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators, Second Edition
Mike Mattesi
Manufacturer: Focal Press
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ASIN: 0240808452 |
Book Description
Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators
Capture the force in your life drawing subjects with this practical guide to dynamic drawing techniques - packed with superb, powerfully drawn examples that show you how to:
* Bring your work to life with rhythmic drawing techniques
* Create appealing and dynamic poses in your drawings
* Experience the figure's energy in three dimensional space
* Use the asymmetry of straight and curved lines to clarify the direction of force in the body
* Build on your foundational anatomy and figure drawing skills to animate your drawings
*Apply the theory of force to your on-location and animal drawing observations
Whether you are an animator, comic book artist, illustrator or fine arts' student you'll learn to use rhythm, shape, and line to bring out the life in any subject while Mike Mattesis infectious enthusiasm will have you reaching for your pencils!
Mike Mattesi is the owner and founder of Entertainment Art Academy (www.enterartacad.com) based in Southern California. He has been a professional production artist and instructor for the last fifteen years with clients including Disney, Marvel Comics, Hasbro Toys, ABC, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, DreamWorks and Nickelodeon.
Audience level: Intermediate to advanced
* Discover and master the techniques of rhythmic drawing and bring your work to life
* Learn from a professional production artist who has successfully taught his unique techniques for the last fifteen years
* Written in an accessible, enthusiastic style which will have you reaching for your pencils!
Download Description
Prepare to experience a brand new thought process on the drawing of life and the expression of energy. This important concept is also the least talked about subject in figure drawing classes today. Artist Michael Mattesi is your guide on an exciting and provocative journey through multiple methods of thinking using easy to understand critiques of dynamic drawings. Learn to approach drawing through Michael
Customer Reviews:
Force Dynamic Life Drawings for Anomators.......2007-09-12
This book is a very practical source for animators to bring life and drama into their work. Excellent renderings and examples for developing each concept presented in the chapters. The book is intended to be used in sequence in order to build from one concept to the next. Easy read and approach for students that already have some background in drawing.
Helpful, but needs more..........2007-08-28
As a comics creator, I applaud how this book reminds me about injecting more dynamism into the forms I draw, whether they be human, animal, or environmental. I would have given this book five stars if the author had included final art versions of the framework drawings. Or, to take finished illustrations and make some kind of commentary or diagram overlay. As the book stands now, it needs more interesting content given the cover price.
most important book i ever read.......2007-08-13
been drawing all my life, and this book taught me everything i've been looking to know but couldn't teach myself. simplified everything to the point where i feel like i'm weilding the most powerful tools in the world, and even a child could use them.
This is what I was missing.........2007-08-05
I have been illustrating professionally for 15 years. I am self taught, meaning I rely on books and the advice of my peers.
I've always noticed there was some elusive thing that was usually missing from my figure drawings that made them less dynamic. Burne Hogarth's books were very helpful, as in Dynamic Figure Drawing (Practical Art Books). But they didn't teach me how to get into the flow. How to make them go POW!!
Remember those John Buscema roughs in How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way? I used to think that his talent was the ONLY thing that made his work so forceful. This book gives you the direction to feel out these forces and shapes. I used to think that these things couldn't be taught.
When Mr. Mattesi's lessons click in your brain, you are truly feeling this power.
For me it makes all the difference in the world.
Brian LeBlanc
Big, Awesome........2007-03-03
The way the examples are drawn in the book is through beautiful sweeping gestures, all of them very full of motion. The book contains very little analysis of the body's physical presence, but this is not a downside at all. Mattesi emphasizes the balance and weight and volume of the form instead of going back to the dreary analysis of human biology (completely necessary to know)that is in so many of my other books.
I wouldn't recommend it for the FIRST life drawing or figure drawing book, but perhaps after a year or so of study of muscular structure.
For the price, this book is huge, and an amazing deal. A must-have for any figurative artist or animator.
Book Description
Phantom Soldier: The Enemy's Answer to U.S. Firepower may be the best treatise on Oriental warfare ever produced in the West. Well researched and illustrated, it sheds new light on what an Eastern infantry unit can do in combat: (1) alternate between guerrilla, mobile, and positional warfare; (2) use “ordinary forces” to engage and “extraordinary forces” to beat an opponent; and then (3) run away when fighting holds no more strategic import. While what occurred in history does not change, one's perception of it does — as he comes to better understand his former adversary. Well versed in the Asian arts of deception and delay, the author explains in detail what really occurred at Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, Hue City, and other Vietnam battlefields. It would seem that former adversaries have used strategic retreat and tactical withdrawal not only to save their soldiers, but also to undermine U.S. resolve. By revealing how Eastern soldiers could hold their own without resupply, tanks, or air support, Phantom Soldier shows what U.S. infantrymen must do to survive the more lethal weaponry of the 21st century. This is must reading for any combat leader or concerned citizen.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding Explanation of Effective Small Unit Tactis.......2007-10-01
Excellent book, but I am not sure the distinction is between Western and Oriental tactics. I suspect that American Indians, frontier scouts, the British SAS, U.S. Special Operations community, etc...would be very familiar with, and skilled at, these tactics.
A classic dilemma that resurfaces every time we go to war. Militaries, at least in the West, prepare to fight the last war and not the next one. As a free society, the public tends to forget the hard lessons learned and shuns warriors during times of peace. The end result is that we constantly are reinventing the wheel after every war/generation.
Victor Davis Hanson, in a recent editorial in the City Journal called Why Study War, gave a perfect example from the Post-Vietnam era; "The public perception in the Carter years was that America had lost a war that for moral and practical reasons it should never have fought--a catastrophe, for many in the universities, that it must never repeat. The necessary corrective wasn't to learn how such wars started, went forward, and were lost. Better to ignore anything that had to do with such odious business in the first place"...."A wartime public illiterate about the conflicts of the past can easily find itself paralyzed in the acrimony of the present. Without standards of historical comparison, it will prove ill equipped to make informed judgments."
A well-written and important book that provides an in-depth analysis of small unit tactics.
Great Wisdom Simplified .......2007-08-21
A sure test of talent and knowledge is the challenge of taking a very complex subject, explaining it in understandable terms and then offering solutions along with the understanding. My very brief stint in the Army ended long before Vietnam called the younger brothers of my generation. From the news reports it appeared that we suffered so many casualties only because the enemy was "sneaky" and prepared to die. How could the US lose to people who could not afford shoes?
Poole does a great job of bridging the gap from Sun Tzu to the muddy jungles of Vietnam and the significance of the lessons to our maneuver warfare. It is no accident that Boyd associate Willian Lind wrote the preface.
Poole finished the book just before 9/11. Our experience in Iraq and the Israeli experience during the past year show that we have much to learn. After 50 plus years of victories over various armies, the Israelis lost to what most consider a rag-tag army. Other than their heritage, they are as unlikely to defeat the Israelis as the sandal clod Vietnamese.
Poole's book is a gift to the small unit soldier and perhaps a greater gift to those in higher command who will order soldiers to assault targets with little understanding of what they may be facing. It may be at a distant command post or in the case of Somalia the commander flying overhead at 2,000 feet but unable to understand the river of lead flying down the street as he instructs troops to consolidate their positions.
This is a great aid to understanding current events and history from the comfort of your easy chair while balancing a martini on the arm. However, my sense is that it is far more valuable as a gift to a young trooper. In addition it should be mandatory reading ( along with Sun Tzu and Boyd's briefing slides) for every reporter who covers wars and "low intensity" conflicts.
Reading the book makes you appreciate Poole but feel uncomfortable with the contents. A great contribution.
Excellent Analysis on the Eastern Warfighter.......2006-11-24
As with all of Poole's works, we are treated here to an excellent analysis of the tactical sphere of war. This time, from the eastern fighter's perspective. Written, I believe, pre-9/11, the work itself is a thorough offering of actual techniques and wartime practices used by small units against western forces, but it is most remarkable in that it outlines in a concise and friendly manner what most analysts still fumble over on MSNBC.
In the world of tactical operations and small unit tactics, we can not ask for a better teacher than John Poole. Keep a close eye out for any and all of his works, for they have a lot to say about how and what western forces will fight for the next fifty years.
NOTE: This work makes a perfect companion to the author's "The Tiger Way," which outlines the ideal western method for combating such tactics.
DANGER, DANGER, WILL ROBINSON.......2006-01-22
Danger, danger, is very much the message put forth in this book and it should be heeded before it is too late. Some reviewers have mentioned Sun Tzu and his rules of warfare. Sun Tzu puts forth a very reasoned and systematic set of rules that define a nations path to victory or defeat. By definition, our present leadership has us solidly on the path of defeat. Our people in the field have to both fight our Eastern enemies as well as carry a great weight of poor leadership at the highest levels. This book is very informative and is for the most part, completely accurate and frightening.
The idea that hardware superiority alone can replace common sense is ludicrous and this book digs deeply into this. I remember seeing news footage of our troops in Afganistan heading up into steep mountainous terrain encumbered with huge heavy packs and body armor. They could barely move. They should have had only their clothes, rifles, ammunition and food and water and some good lightweight footwear. If you are going to fight an Apache you have to be an Apache. It seems at times to me that our soldiers are forced simply to carry as much weight in useless (and expensive) contractor equipment as a mule. Small unit combat and the tactics that win in this arena will be the deciding factor. Something also needs to be done about our so called free press. This game is for blood not for profitable commercial air time and these people should be subjected to the sort of censorship that our country used in WWII and the sooner the better.
I feel also that some of the opinions voiced on China are a bit over the top. The Chinese wish to better themselves and are not necessarily motivated by a desire to hurt us per se. It is very possible that in future that the Chinese could help us. They should not be blindly antagonized. They think and plan in a fashion that is very, very, long term. Our own leadership is cripplingly shortsighted in strategic planning.
I have lived and worked in the Mid East for a number of years and my personal opinion of the Iraq war can be summed up as follows:
1. The US leaves Iraq now and the country will dissolve into a bloody civil war.
2. The US leaves later and Iraq dissolves into a bloody civil war.
This book documents many of the reasons why this is so. Anyone who cares about the future of our country and indeed the world (China included) should read this book.
Inside Out.......2006-01-17
I read all these reviews and in the main agree with them. However, the real "way of western combat" is exemplified right here: we -- AT THE BOTTOM LEVEL -- are discussing all this and implementing it as we go. And as another reviewer mentioned, our soldiers are getting at it and learning from this NOW. Here's the clincher: does the oriental soldier or citizen do this. No way. It's not in their culture. Hasn't been for thousands of years. Unlikely to be unless huge changes occur in their citizenry. West = democracy / more free / BOTTOM-UP APPROACH. East = tyrrany / less free / TOP-DOWN APPROACH.
SUMMARY: I'd much rather be in the West facing the Eastern way of war rather than be in the East facing the Western way of war. Let's be data-driven: what is the kill ratio of WW2, Korea, and Vietnam? 40-1? 10-1? And yet, Poole's talk about Japan in WW2 making "infantry the most valued weapon". What?! Americans (and all European armies before them all the way back to Alexander) don't line up rows of infantry and charge across open fields to be mowed down. Doubt it? Guadacanal. Korea. etc. That's the "cultural" difference highlighted here: we value life, even a single soldiers.
Further reading: Carnage & Culture, by Victor Davis Hanson.
Product Description
This book gauges America's progress in Iraq and Afghanistan from a unique perspective (that of East-Asian battlefield deception). As both countries were part of the Mongol Empire for over 200 years, they are a perfect breeding ground for every sort of ancient Chinese trick (any one of the famous 36 Strategems.) In combination, those stratagems can make a losing adversary think he is winning. They have done so to America before. To see past the militant Muslim's false face, one must look for the hidden intent behind his every initiative, whether martial or otherwise. Between September 2004 and September 2005, this book does just that for both theaters of war. For some readers, it will serve as an intelligence reference manual and be read a few paragraphs at a time. For others, it will provide an in-depth solution to the enemy's so-far-successful formula and be read cover to cover. Militant Tricks reveals enemy information that active-duty Americans seldom see--that which is contained in the regional media and literature. When properly interpretted by the author (a student of Eastern tactics and mindset), that information may shed enough light on ongoing events to still win both wars.
Customer Reviews:
A Field Guide To 4th Generation Warfare.......2007-06-30
Would you go hiking without a map? Would you work on your car without a manual? Then why would you even think about going to the Middle East without this book? Poole once again sets the standard in the industry for explaining the tactics, history, and mindset of the Islamic Extremist. From military commander to field grunt to civilian contractor, if you're headed to a desert combat zone do yourself a favor and BUY this book! I also suggest you read this book with a highlighter in hand...but you may just end up highlighting everything. This book undoubtedly has saved lives and will save more in the future!
Al Queda explained.......2007-05-25
Once again H. John Poole has pulled aside the Middle East veil of mystery to show us how the Muslim militants go about their business. Known as the "War on Terror" aka "4th Generation warfare", radical Muslim militants have worked out the ways to challenge the West collectively, on - and off the battlefield. Thus far, their efforts have cost the U.S.of A., not only lives, but billions of dollars, sowing anxiety and terror. How have they accomplished this with slender resources? Against the most technologically advanced armed forces in the world? Poole tells us how.
The book is divided into three parts:
The initial part updates the reader on the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan to the summer of 2005. How the Muslim militants have survived and continue to succeed against coalition armed forces without tactical victory, hi-tech resources or heavy arms; all the while they suffer heavy casualties and continue to burn through the resources - and resolve of the West - are addressed.
The next part examines, through the lense of ancient oriental texts on the principles of warfare, the stratagems employed by the militants. These are the most illuminating chapters: now the daily events in Iraq and Afghanistan make sense if one understands the militants' operational philosophy. Poole's explanations of tactical actions clarifies how these militants are playing "the Game" against coalition forces. What makes no sense militarily in Western understanding of warfare are perfectly acceptable to furthering these militants' ends.
The final section's chapters provide approaches to dealing with "4th Generation Warfare" situations, which Western military forces are more and more wont to encounter. Many of Poole's recommendations reflect the U.S. Marines' experience with the Combined Action Program (CAP)used in Vietnam during the 1960s. Essentially, special Marine units operated with Vietnamese local forces at the village level to root out and undermine the Viet Cong insurgency. He contrasts this approach to the reliance on hi-tech and heavy fire power, the preferred operational mode of U.S. forces. Further, Poole (pp 278-294) describes the changes in tactical philosophy that must come about if U.S. ground forces are to prevail against their current enemy. This, to my mind, is the best part of the book.
Poole's views on training and tactics in the last chapter, come closer to dealing with military cultural reform than in his previous wotks. While he addresses these subjects in other books, these last pages in MILITANT TRICKS come the furthest to combining these previous discussions into a coherent whole which reflects the grunt's eye-level ground view.
Hopefully, the powers-that-be are reading his works - effecting the necessary changes.
A must read for depolying servicemembers.......2007-04-23
This book was kindly donated to my unit by the publishers when I was a Company Commander before I deployed. Everyone over here should read it. Regardless of how much money our government spends on high-tech equipment and contracts, until we gain a better understanding of our opponents sociological and theological motivations we will continue to waste a lot of our military resources. LTC Poole's emphasis on taking a humanistic approach and integrating our forces with the locals is sound, provided that the local forces are properly vetted and aren't infiltrated by insurgents.
Understanding OEF/OIF True Enemies.......2007-03-23
This is the best book I have read so far on where and who the real enemy is and who is behind and against the U.S. supporting democracy and the liberation of the people of Iraq.
Breaks down in detail who is Sunni and who is Shiite.
How they work and how they are fighting U.S. Forces together.
How the real enemy is Iran with many proxies to gain control of Iraq.
How the U.S. must change to deal with fighting in Irregular Warfare now and for decades to come.
How the enemy is capitalizing on U.S. democratically controlled Congress to gain victory.
Heading over to OIF II in a few months, active duty CDR O5 who will be working in support of the bravest of the brave (EOD Forces defeating IED's). This book was instrumental in developing a understanding of what is really going on.
I would recommend this book for all Officers and enlisted personnel heading to fight this fight from E1 up.
CDR Bill Noel (Navy EOD Officer)
Good explanation of a confusing subject.......2006-07-14
The book gives a good acccount of the various Islamic militant factions and their interactions. The opinions seemed a bit "armchair general" and opinionated at times, but they made several good points. I'd recommend the book although it had the following drawbacks for me:
-The insertion of outside material to back up the author's words made for a sometimes disjointed read
-The sprinkling of "God (Christian) & country", stereotyping, etc. seemed unnecessary
-20% of the material was a repetition/reiteration of a particular point (not sure if this was to beef up the number of pages or to compensate for a shakey arguement)
Book Description
A fully-illustrated account of the status and role of Special Forces today and what the future holds in view of dramatic advances in technology, their increasing use as political enforcers and the changing face of the battlefield. Including histories of individual units, selection and training procedures, tactics and equipment, The Operators is an extraordinary insight into Special Forces. World-renowned units such as the SAS, Delta Force, French Foreign Legion and Germany's GSG-9 are all covered in detail with personal accounts of recent operations, as are lesser-known specialist outfits including Spain's anti-terrorist Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI) and Japan's Special Assault Team. Every unit, tactic and weapon is backed up with photographs of it in action, as well as testimony from operators in the field and a full analysis of its effectiveness.
Customer Reviews:
A VERY INFORMATIVE READ.......2007-07-22
When generally buying books on special forces, I usually set the bar lower than normal - as I really don't expect to learn much that is not in the public domain already.
This book however is an exeception and has proved me wrong - by a long way.
It contains detailed information on special forces selection, tactics,techniques and procedures that I have not read before - which is always a good sign in a book of this category.
I particularly liked the mission planning element of the book - something I have never seen anywhere else before, and worth the purchase alone.
Photos and graphics are of a high standard, with many not seen in print before.
In summary "Operators" is a very informative read.
poor stuff.......2007-06-19
All the infos are dated and in some cases completely wrong , all the pix are downloaded from internet so there is not nothing new or cool to be known , do not buy this book , period .
Excellent read, great photos & mission accounts.......2005-12-26
Well researched book, excellent structure and flow throughout. It includes sections on recent conflicts, such as the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. I enjoyed, the straight from the horse's mouth accounts of operations,along with some great photos, some I've seen published before but lots of unpublished ones.
Some chapters covered details of the selection process for both Delta and the SAS. Some great mission planning information and a good section on Worldwide Special Forces, along with the equipment they use. The book finishes off with good chapter on future operations & equipment.
Overall an excellent book, although the main focus is on US, UK and Australian Special Forces.
Download Description
Riding Rockets is a story of life in all its fateful uncertainty, of the impact of a family tragedy on a nine-year-old boy, of the revelatory effect of a machine called Sputnik, and of the life-steering powers of lust, love, and marriage. It is a story of the human experience that will resonate long after the call of "Wheel stop."
Customer Reviews:
Buy it.......2007-10-08
What an incredible book. A real page turner. An honest and personal account of the shuttle program.
Simply Outstanding - Wonderful Read!.......2007-10-06
This was an amazing book! Extremely entertaining from start to finish. An honest, in-depth account of the early space shuttle program is overdue and Mike created just that. With 3 flights under his belt, Mike is more than qualifed to tell this story. I highly recommend this book.
Riding Rockets Rocks.......2007-08-31
This not the normal book about space adventure; it tells the real story with true humor. Enjoy!
A true inside look at the STS program.......2007-08-11
WOW!!!!!!!!!! Want to know what it's really like to be inside the Shuttle astronaut program... this is your book!! Col. Mullane gives us a true inside feel for what it's like to be an STS astronaut. Hardly a page went by that I didn't laugh out loud!! Oh dear... I also found out that I too am from Plant AD!!
Riding Rockets takes you on an incredible journey!.......2007-06-29
Your blood pressure will boil as you read Mike's detailed descriptions on his three Space Shuttle assignments. There is so much more, however, and all of his stories from beginning to end are simply amazing, funny, witty, and tear-jerking. A boring page does not exist and you'll be sad when you realize you've read the last page.
Customer Reviews:
Find 'Em Chase 'Em Sink 'Em;The Mysterious Loss of the WWII Submarine USS Gudgeon .......2007-06-28
In the words of 'Moose' Hornkohl,..."the submarine's graceful lines and lethality an alluring combination."
Mikes writing of WWII events and memoirs of former crew recounting the consumption of torpedo juice and the terror of depth charging by the Japanese leads the reader sadly to the tragic mysterious loss of USS Gudgeon and her officers and crew.
Peter Mutton,Brisbane,Australia
USS GUDGEON SS 211.......2007-06-19
I have read almost every sub book written. This book has the right personal touch. The emotion and the action bring the reader back to a time when we fought wars the right way. Integrity and courage are abound. Join one mans quest to find his uncles past, and uncover the story behind one of the best world war II submarines to sail the south pacific. From enlisted to Officer this book covers it all. In this book the GREAT GENERATION LIVES ON !!! THANKS MIKE
Capt. Brian Koschak
Rowlett Fire Rescue
The real WW!! submarine story.......2007-05-14
Having made 6 war patrols aboard the Gudgeon, and 3 war patrols on other boats, I am well aware of what constitutes excellence in a fighting submarine than one without the aggressiveness and resolve found in Gudgeon and her crew.We were a team, and in my estimation no one, without exception, was more important than another. This was made clear to the author who followed our description of events to the "T". This is the true
story,without embellishments, or aggrandizements, of one of the fightingest submarines that ever existed.I am proud to have been part of this history, and even more proud of it's excellent narration by the author, Mike Ostlund
YAWN..........2007-05-06
Historically, it seems to be an accurate accounting. A mysterious loss? Hardly...it was a wartime loss pure and simple, as were many. The writing is VERY dry, read more like an encyclopedia. I you are a war nut, it's OK, but not revealing in the least, and tends to wander.
Inspiring.......2007-05-05
Incredible. I expected yet another historical account of military action and was completely consumed by the personal stories of the Gudgeon's crew. The research and interviews that rounded out this book gave me a better understanding of the times they lived in and, more importantly, a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices. I would recommend this book to anyone. I stand in awe of these men and I applaud the author for telling their story in such a conversational way.
Book Description
Wednesday 22 January 1879 was one of the most dramatic days in the annals of military history. In the morning, a modern British army was swept aside by the onset of a seemingly unstoppable Zulu host at Isandlwana. Nearby, at a remote border outpost on the Buffalo River, a single company of the 24th Regiment and a few dozen recuperating hospital patients were passing another hot, monotonous day. News of the disaster across the river came like a bolt from the blue. Retreat was not an option. It seemed certain that the Rorke's Drift detachment would share the terrible fate of their comrades. Following on from How Can Man Die Better, Colonel Snook brings the insights of a military professional to bear in this strikingly original account. It is an extraordinary tale a victory largely achieved by the sheer bloody-mindedness in adversity of the British infantryman, fighting at the remarkable odds of over thirty to one. The heroics of all eleven VC winners are recounted in detail, and we are offered new insights into how the Zulu attack unfolded and how 150 men achieved their improbable victory. The author describes the remainder of the war, from the recovery of the lost Queen's Colour of the 24th to the climactic charge of the 17th Lancers at Ulundi. We return to Isandlwana to consider culpability, and learn of the often tragic fates of many of the war's participants. Like Wolves is a remarkable work, and the author's unbridled respect for the fighting qualities of British soldier and his abiding affection for the Zulu people shines through.
Customer Reviews:
A great book on a great tale ..........2007-10-15
I can't really say more than what has already been said. The book is just a wonderful text to read through. It's easy to read, and the author is great with giving details and weaving them into the story without losing the reader attention. Very much recommended.
You Mean They Didn't Really Sing 'Men of Harlech'?.......2007-08-08
Rorke's Drift was a heroically fought but pointless battle in a savagely waged but peripheral war, the ill-conceived invasion in 1879 of Zululand by a small British Army under Lord Chelmsford, known to history as the Anglo-Zulu War. Snook, a serving officer in the modern regiment descended from the 1st / 24th regiment that defended Rorke's Drift, provides an exhaustive and detailed monograph on the battle.
Though as a general reader I would not know if Snook made factual or interpretive errors, his study seems impressively and meticulously researched and he writes well, sometimes stirringly. Indeed, the middle third of the book, which tells the almost incredible story of how a group of 139+ British soldiers, a quarter of them sick, successfully fought off repeated attacks by approximately 3,000 - 4,500 Zulus, makes for compelling and absorbing reading. Although writing exclusively from the British viewpoint (there are no Zulu written sources, after all), he tells a little about the Zulu command structure and commanders and shows admiration for the fighting qualities of Zulu warriors. I also liked that he decries war rather than glorifies it: ultimately, this tribute to the bravery of the heroes of Rorke's Drift concludes by making the timely point that their story 'epitomise[s] the folly of waging war except as a genuine measure of last resort.' I agree.
The book has lovely color plates, and good maps of the Rorke's Drift mission itself. One other great feature of the book is its extensive appendices, which include rosters of the soldiers who fought at Rorke's Drift and some firsthand accounts, as well as Chard's report to Queen Victoria, and an analysis of the battlefield. Good stuff for the research historian.
The main reason I even knew anything, prior to reading this book, about Rorke's Drift was Stanley Baker's great 1964 movie about it, which of course contains numerous instances of artistic license (e.g., sadly there was no inspiring rendition of 'Men of Harlech,' no 'saluting of fellow braves,' etc.); indeed I was surprised to learn that the movie gets a few things quite wrong (Harry Hook was not a dissolute malingerer, but a clean-living teetotaler, for instance). In contrast to the film which depicts mass charges of Zulu impis wielding assegais and cowhide shields, Snook shows that many of the Zulus had muskets, though they didn't know how to sight them well, and jumped from cover to cover. In addition, the movie shows the British soldiers often using mass volleys of rifle fire, which Snook argues was ahistorical.
Why not 5 stars? I found it a little irritating that, despite the subtitle, much of the book focuses on the Battle of Isandlwana, the disaster that took place earlier on Jan.22 of which Rorke's Drift was the aftermath. Snook even devotes much of his post-mortem discussion to allocating blame for the Isandlwana debacle.
I also found the discussion of blame somewhat beside the point: Chelmsford was not even at Isandlwana, and the subsequent imperial government inquiry that fixed blame on him obviously needed a scapegoat for the disaster. Ultimately, Chelmsford's error was to have a mindset -- underestimating the Zulus' fighting abilities -- that was probably shared by much of the British leadership. Moreover, Chelmsford was the victor at the battle (Ulundi) that ended the war, and neither his peers nor Snook give him much credit for this achievement. Steeped as he is in the ethos of the British military establishment, Snook agrees with the verdict of the government inquiry. I think there is some room at least for disagreement.
I made the mistake of tackling this book without reading Snook's earlier volume on Isandlwana, How Can Men Die Better, and consequently found the substantial portion of this book that treats Isandlwana and its aftermath difficult to follow. I believe I would have enjoyed and understood more if I had read that volume first, so I would recommend doing that before reading this book if you are not already knowledgeable about the Battle of Isandlwana.
Overall, though, there is no denying that Snook has written an essential book for anyone who wants to understand this sanguinary episode in the history of British arms. Snook's study is probably destined to be a definitive treatment of Rorke's Drift.
a nice follow-up...........2007-07-04
This book proves to be a nice follow-up to Snook's previous effort, How Can Man Die Better which covers the Battle of Isandlwana. This book covers the Defense of Rorke's Defense where a single company of the 24th Regiment held off the Zulu forces many times their strength.
Rorke's Drift is one of these battles of which many books have already been written about and this one proves to be quite readable, very well researched and in a typical style of the author, you feel at times that you are in there with the troops. It doesn't say anything truly new here but it does add fresh perception to the battle and the author enjoyed on few occasions to compared the real account with the film account, Zulu, starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine. The book also gives a great insight into the soldiers who fought with such desperation. The narrative was often "hero oriented" in telling. Zulu side was also present but limited in form. The heart and soul of this book lies in the retelling of the Rorke's Drift from the Anglo-centric point of view. Although the account of the battle proves to be bit on the short side, it was clearly written and easy to follow. Unlike one of the previous reviewers, I thought the author's prose was quite good and passage flows very nicely.
The book come well illustrated with diagrams of Rorke's Drift that reflects very nicely on the battle. There are quite a few photographs and color paintings that also proves to be quite good.
But in all honesty, if I had to choose one book on Rorke's Drift, it probably won't be this one. I would choose Adrian Greaves' Rorke's Drift book which is far more detailed, superior in-depth book on the subject. Snook's book is good and worthy of the four stars but it been done before. I think one of the main weaknesses of the book lies with the fact that Snook didn't spend that much on battle itself. There are considerable amount of material in the book that dealt with Isandlwana, rest of the Zulu Wars and so forth. Personally, I would prefer a book about Rorke's Drift to be about Rorke's Drift.
In conclusion, I would recommended this book to any reader interested in the early stages of the Zulu War even if it may not be the best book on the subject.
Excellent book...highly recommended.......2007-05-16
This book should be required reading for anyone interested in the Anglo-Zulu War. Not only does Lt. Col. Snook explain in great detail the events of the defense of Rorke's Drift in great detail but he also brings to life the men who were involved in this climactic battle. This is a ground breaking book which sheds light on a little known yet amazing occurence in military history. Unlike the other historians who have written on this battle Lt. Col. Snook has researched The Battle of Rorke's Drift in depth and his work over the years shows itself on every page. 'Like Wolves on the Fold' builds upon Snook's other book 'How Can Man Die Better' and both when read one after the other form an excellent and essential history on the AZW. As a military historian I highly recommend them both.
Not for the general reader.......2007-02-17
LWotF is an almost minute-by-minute account of the battle of Rorke's Drift. While militarily insignificant, the story of this small battle was much popularized by the 1964 movie "Zulu" (which is still pretty good, even in light of the special effects of today's big-battle productions).
The extent of the research is impressive but the book is a dry read. I suppose one can only do so much with so narrow a topic. I believe the author is the official historian of the particular British regiment involved, so he has a pretty targeted audience. Personally, I would have prefered a more complete discussion, placing the battle in its wider historical context.
If you're looking to understand the Zulu Wars or British colonial history in Africa, look elsewhere. If, for some reason, you have a particularized interest in this specific historical footnote of an event (or if you're interested in knowing how accurate the movie was), then this is the book for you.
Book Description
Brassey's Modern Fighters examines what makes a fighter successful. Using more than 240 detailed photographs and diagrams, Mike Spick gives the reader a detailed technical analysis of some of today's most potent military aircraft. From the Panavia Tornado F.3 to the new F-22 Joint Strike Fighter, explore the present and future of the modern fighter.
Customer Reviews:
On Brassey's Modern Fighters.......2005-06-10
Awesome!!!! Though I'm only 10, accurate photos and easy- to- read text allowed me to learn a lot about fighters.
Good info and photos; sloppy editing.......2002-07-26
This is a worthwhile book for those interested in modern military aviation. Covered here are 16 modern fighters in service - China's J-7 and J-8, Tornado, Mirage 2000, Su-27/35 family, Mig 29, Mig 31, Harrier/AV-8, Eurofighter, Rafael, F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18, Sweden's SAAB-39 Grippen, and Taiwan's IDF, and 4 aircraft in development stage: Sukhoi's S-37 Berkut, JSF's, and F-22. Curiously, among the more fascinating fighters still in development, 3 are not covered here: India's LCA, Japan's F-2, and Russia's Mig 1.44/MFI.
It discusses some newer technologies like stealth, unmanned combat vehicles, laser weapons, and thrust-vectoring (mentioning X-31). Fighter maneuvers and tactics are also covered. Mike Spick does a good job describing each integral part of a modern fighter plane, like the propulsion system, wing aspect ratio, ejection seats, radar, etc. There are nice photos. The charts comparing performances of aircraft are interesting.
The most obvious flaw of this book is very sloppy editing. Typos are abundant. There are some errors, some obviously accidental (e.g., it mentions that Taiwan started IDF development in 1992 -- but it should be 1982 -- in 1992 IDF was well in production and Taiwan had ordered F-16 and Mirage 2000).
Also I wished that Mike Spick could give more subjective views of the aircraft. For example, how is F-16 compared to F-18? Why would an airforce choose one over the other (e.g. Spain, Canada, and Australia all chose F-18 and no F-16). Although he dose give good opinions and comparisons when talking about the Su-27 family.
Overall, still a pretty good book.
Its not bad.......2002-03-30
The book gives you a quick "brief" overview (and I stress brief) in how to read the fighter aircraft specifications; after that you are giving a brief history of "modern" fighter aircraft. There are some errors in the book and the one that really standsout is the image of the F15E in which the caption calls it a F15C as there's a WSO seat back there. F15E are known to fly solo on occassion as the only time when the WSO comes onboard is for A/G training or a real life sortie.
The F-14 or aicraft in the same layout (SU27, Mig29) wing loading isn't correct as even states that the pancake section even lower this data even more but doesn't continue on explaining by how much, which throws the graph in the early chapters out the window.
The top speed data isn't correct as the F-15C has practically the same limit as the F-14.
It's a good book though if you just want to learn something quickly but if you want to learn more, you'll have to look elsewhere. I wasn't pleased with the book as I was hoping to learn more.
Great text and photographs........2001-10-25
The book was absolutely well worth reading. The
photos are great with lots of aerial shots. Text
is easy to read and comprehend, especially for
those who do not know anything about military
aircraft. Anyone interested in fast-jets should
purchase this book as a starter.
A very good book for the starters in the jetfighter world........2001-08-21
A very good book for the ones who want to know more than the basic specification of a fighter.This book will teach you to look at the spec of an aircraft and know what it can and what he cannot do.After reading the first chapters, you'll be able to compare fighter between them.
I again insist on the first chapters since they are the most enlightening on the fighter world.Every basic and more advanced principle is thoroughfully explained with clear illustrations and schematics.However, you don't need the illustrations to understand what the author tries to say, the text is clear and well written.Truly the best book that talks about the overall modern fighter technology.
The only glitch is that it's a bit dated and that fighter technology like computers evolves at great speed.Main trends take more time to change and that's basically the subject of this book.What is date however is the tech datas and deployment history available in the last chapter dealing on each modern jetfighter.Pictures are not very good also and you won't find a non-partial analysis in Spick's words.It's his opinion and he always tend to compare less favourably other designs to their US counterpart.
Still it's almost unnoticeable and eventhough the book is best beginners guide to modern fighter technology.
Book Description
This massive volume presents the most accurate, up-to-date, and highly illustrated descriptions of todays warplanes. The majority of the aircraft featured have been battle-tested in the skies over Iraq and the Balkans. The remainder are either currently being flight-tested or are ready for production.
Customer Reviews:
This book is a winner.......2006-04-19
I got this book for my birhtday. and i was amazed that there was so much info.The book covers todays combat aircraft it hase a contents of most modern fighting planes.You get info of aveonics powerplant's and armerment history and devopment info for all planes.it shows how alot of old planes from the 1970s are upgraded into modern version's for example the F-15 eagle came out as a air seperorty fighter 30 year's ago it was then rebult in into a modern strike fighter.Those are alot of things the book well cover.It tells you about the migs both in develupment and in servece.The book also gives you some of the most intresting info about combat expernce in recent wars and operations.I say you should by this book it is worht it.
OK refference.......2004-05-10
I got this book for what I thought was a good deal in the bargain books section at a Walden Books. I found it to be somewhat disappointing. Overall, the book's coverage of American aircraft is fairly decent, and extremely detailed. However, when it comes to discussing more recent American projects, including stealth aircraft, the book does poorly. The chapters covering these are too short and need to be updated like the chapters on less modern American aircraft. Another problem is the book's coverage of foreign war planes. These sections of the book seem to suffer from the same problems as the sections on American stealth, along with having poor photographs of Soviet era and Russian aircraft. Overall, the book is an OK refference for Gulf War era American warplanes, but badly needs updating on its other topics.
A Great Read for Buffs.......2001-01-24
I am not an entirely experienced Aviation reader, so for a starter reference for buffs, this is a great book. It is very detailed and goes well in-depth on the American warplanes. While some better coverage of foreign warplanes would be nice, I am personally most enthralled by American warplanes, so it's fine. A great coffee table book, great for anyone who wants to be able to learn about their favorite jet well enough to talk about it, but not too detailed to be cryptic.
Interesting, but with a few BIG errors.......2000-12-15
This book scores big points with me, as it has a lot of interesing reading & great pictures. On the other hand, it sports a couple of glaring errors in the writing which undermines one's confidence in the rest of the book. The author who covers the chapter on the F-14 Tomcat for example, seems to have made up the section on deployment. In big, bold letters at the beginning of the chapter, and again on a table of squadrons, he announces that all but eight F-14 squadrons have been decommissioned. A quick check with the Navy (I highly recommend their web site) confirms that no less than 13 squadrons presently exist. Is this a "nitpicky" detail? Possibly, but the people who publish these books are supposedly aviation experts....I'm glad they're not writing medical references... Creative writing notwithstanding, this is still an interesting book.
Coffee table reading for air enthusiasts.......2000-12-10
This volume is a good mix of detailed history and other information on USAF fighter and attack aircraft of the 1960s thorugh 1980s (A-10, F-15, F-16, F-18, etc.) along with some rather sketchy data on late-model Soviet craft and stealth craft. The photos of the Soviet craft are particularly disappointing; most of them look like long-range surveillance photos shot in the Soviet era rather than the clear views seen at major air shows in the last decade.
As a definitive reference it falls short, but as an enjoyable read for buffs, it's a good value. I bought a copy for an aviation-obsessed nephew, and he's mad about it. Owners of more complete and detailed libraries might be more subdued in their enthusiasm.
Book Description
Lt. General Mike DeLong, deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, was second only to General Tommy Franks in the war on terror. At the center of discussions between President Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, and Tommy Franks, General DeLong offers the frankest and most authoritative look inside the wars-how we prepared for battle, how we fought, how we toppled two regimes-and what's happening now on these two crucial fronts.
Customer Reviews:
Inside CENTCOM.......2006-08-21
Simplistic, lacking in real substance and on several occasions purports to speak for all involved. Not a serious reference. The co-writer should be ashamed.
The Military History of 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq .......2006-01-05
This short, easily readable book concerns itself -as the title aptly implies- only with the view of those running the U.S. Central Command during the USS Cole, 9/11, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq. If you are looking for more breadth you will be disappointed, but taken for what it is the book is lucid, concise, and always straight to the point.
What is useful about this book is the chance to see how our U.S. commanders responsible for military actions in the Middle East, Horn of Africa, and Central Asia see the world and how they act. They are blunt, dedicated, capable, and surprisingly innovative. Although they may not wrap themselves up in nuances the way many people who are only concerned about intelligence, or diplomacy, or some other single discipline tend to, neither do they take a simplistic view of the world. They maintain the ability to see simple truths in a complex world, and use those truths to guide them in a highly stressful, highly demanding, and highly risky endeavour.
The book chronologically accounts Lt. Gen. De Long's extended three year tenure as deputy commander of CentCom during the most important events in the war on terror. You will see how CentCom concerned itself (and still does) with building and maintaing coalitions that are determined by the mission at hand (not the other way around) and with all the military strategy, planning, intelligence, diplomacy, logistics, and support needed to fight the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. This book is good military history of how we pulled off those operations, what we did right, and what we did wrong. It also shows the transformation our military is going through towards becoming a fully joint force, and the payoffs this is having in the current theaters of operation. It is also encouraging to see that the U.S. military is indeed reacting to the Al-Qaeda threat with innovative new ways of conducting military operations. There are a small handful of historical gems that did not get wide media coverage and can help explain the current military situation to the lay person.
Certainly a book that is worth reading, but limited in scope. You won't find any explanation of the root causes of Al-Qaeda, any real insight or analysis on Al-Qaeda's strategy and tactics, nor any grand strategy for defeating them. You will see how CentCom got things done and why they did it the way they did. The teaser of where Iraq's WMD are fizzles a bit in the actual telling though. They certainly may be in Syria, Lebanon or still hidden, but conventional wisdom seems to have concluded they don't exist and there's not enough evidence presented here to suggest that this is incorrect. There are also several appendices with official documentation regarding the current U.S. defense strategy which are interesting.
A good read, but is detracted by the hubris.......2005-08-18
This book is a quick and interesting read, in which the author points out some interesting facts that might not be apparent to the reader. Unfortunately, the book is a little short, and I couldn't help but feel that the author isn't sharing nearly enough of his experiences at CentCom as he should. On the negative side, there does seem to be a small amount of hubris in the book.
The Inside Story.......2005-02-04
You don't really know what's happening in the world until the books come out. The news suppliers certainly make little or no attempt at going beyond the death of the day.
In this book one of the insiders of the war on terror speaks. General DeLong was in on the conferences, in on the decisions, central in the formation of the Coalition of countries in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is able to separate out the daily flak and put what happened in a perspective that certainly wasn't covered in the sound bytes of the election. This is one central player's view of what really happened in a story that will be analyzed for years just like Pearl Harbour.
In my opinion this is a mandatory book, required reading.
Disappointing Account.......2005-01-24
Lt Gen DeLong's account of his time at CENTCOM was not at all the unbiased account he claims to provide. It is, at its root, an effort to convince people (and perhaps himself) that he was a relevant player in the Afghan and Iraq campaigns. I cannot say to what extent GEN Franks and other decision makers relied on DeLong, but after reading several accounts of this period of time, I'd guess DeLong exaggerates his relevance.
This book is also inaccurate. DeLong claims that Afghan Warlord Rashid Dostam freed Kabul from the Taliban. In reality it was Fahim Khan that entered Kabul after the Taliban left the city out of fear of Coalition air power. DeLong also refers to Hamid Karzai, later to become President of Afghanistan, as General Karzai. Karzai never held a military post and was never called "General" by any Afghan natives or non-Afghans familiar with Afghanistan.
If you want to read an unbiased and accurate accord of the Afghan and Iraq Wars, I would suggest waiting 50 years until a real historian turns his/her attention to this time period. In the interim, read Woodward's Bush at War or Plan of Attack. I wouldn't normally support Woodward, but if you must read something now, those are as good as it gets.
Books:
- Forest Mage (The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 2)
- Forever (Firstborn Series #5)
- Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis: An Introduction
- Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War
- Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
- Gideon Lincecum's Sword: Civil War Letters from the Texas Home Front
- Give a Boy a Gun
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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