Book Description
With motherhood comes one of the toughest decisions of a woman’s life: Stay at home or pursue a career? The dilemma not only divides mothers into hostile, defensive camps but pits individual mothers against themselves. Leslie Morgan Steiner has been there. As an executive at The Washington Post, a writer, and mother of three, she has lived and breathed every side of the “mommy wars.” Rather than just watch the battles rage, Steiner decided to do something about it. She commissioned twenty-six outspoken mothers to write about their lives, their families, and the choices that have worked for them. The result is a frank, surprising, and utterly refreshing look at American motherhood.
Ranging in age from twenty-five to seventy-two and scattered across the country from New Hampshire to California, these mothers reflect the full spectrum of lifestyle choices. Women who have been home with the kids from day one, moms who shuttle from full-time office jobs to part-time at-home work, hard-driving executives who put in seventy-hour-plus weeks: they all get a turn. The one thing these women have in common, aside from having kids, is that they’re all terrific writers.
Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley vividly recounts how her generation stormed the American workplace–only to take refuge at home when the workplace drove them out. Lizzie McGuire creator Terri Minsky describes what it felt like to hear her kids scream “I hope you never come back!” when she flew to L.A. to launch the show that made her career. Susan Cheever, novelist, biographer, and New York Newsday columnist, reports on the furious battles between the stroller pushers and the briefcase bearers on the streets of Manhattan. Lois R. Shea traded the journalistic fast track for a house in the country where she could raise her daughter in peace. Ann Misiaszek Sarnoff, chief operating officer of the Women’s National Basketball Association, argues fiercely that you can combine ambition and motherhood–and have a blast in the process.
Candid, engaging, by turns unflinchingly honest and painfully funny, the essays collected here offer an astonishingly intimate portrait of the state of motherhood today.
Mommy Wars is a book by and for and about the real experts on motherhood and hard work: the women at home, in the office, on the job every day of their lives.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Great concept .......2007-07-16
But it got a bit repetitive after awhile as all of the excerpts were from writers, many who attended ivy league and lived on the east coast. What happened to the single mom from Deluth who had to work her way though business school or the mom of twins from Seattle who gave up her career as an nurse to be at home for her kids? I think the concept for this book is a good one but I think it needed more of a variety of women, both economically, geographically and education wise.
Unfortunate Title Masks a Book that Has So Much Heart.......2007-05-08
Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families is a gut-wrenching collection of 26 essays that go far beyond the usual tirades of working versus stay-at-home moms. The authors in this collection shine a spotlight on the essence of motherhood in chapters that will have you nodding your head, rolling your eyes, even shedding tears.
The writers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley and Lizzie McGuire creator Terri Minksy, run the gamut in their approach to motherhood. One mother wanted to work, but her husband made her feel so guilty that she walked away from a lucrative assignment. Another woman put away her briefcase upon learning her son's diagnosis of autism.
Other women could not imagine not working, including the book's editor, who had an abusive first husband and needed to know she could always provide for herself and her kids.
The stories in this book are fascinating. One black woman, married to a white man, calls herself "bicultural". She writes that historically, black women have worked to augment their husband's salaries. Her black friends never ask her about being a working mother; her white friends constantly discuss it. Another writer says that affluence contributes to the "mommy wars", because the working class, well, work, without so much handwringing.
The essays carry many common themes. Was your own mother happy, or not? Was your childhood happy, or not? Would you want you as your own mother? Are your choices working for you? Because if so, then it doesn't matter if another's choices are different.
This is a book that drives home how hard women are on one another, when they should be compassionate. It also stresses the fleeting years we have with young children, and how we need to be prepared for our lives post-kids.
Iris Krasnow, who is credited for kicking off the stay-at-home trend in 1997, writes about having older kids, kids heading off to college, and how time has mellowed her views.
"Who will I be when they're gone?" she writes. "What am I supposed to do with 126 Beanie Babies, including the Princess Diana bear we paid fifty bucks for and waited in line three hours to buy? My later book...explores the importance of developing ourselves beyond our families. Children do leave. Parents die. Jobs change. We can count only on ourselves."
This is a book all parents, fathers and mothers, should take to heart.
It Could Have Been Called "Editor Wars".......2007-04-14
This book is really pretty good, both informative and entertaining, but I don't think every essay needed to be written by a high profile professional writer or editor, most of whom wrote for The Washington Post or TV shows at some point in her career. That got old. I mean, how many people would rave about a similar book with mommy essays written by a bunch of lawyers, for example? I wish the author had mixed it up some.
Sensationalized title but solid book.......2007-04-03
Let's face it: the title of this book was chosen to exploit the whole media hype surrounding women at odds with each other-- in this case, a stay-at-home mommy vs. working mommy version of "Mean Girls." Open up the book though and you'll find a completely different message. The essays presented here are unflinchingly honest, no holds barred accounts of how stay-at-home moms and working moms really feel about their choices. There is no cat fight to be found here, which is a refreshing relief.
Some of the criticisms of this book have been that all the women are writers. That's not actually entirely true; while most of the women work or have worked in some form of media/publishing/writing, there are still others represented. The problem is that when looking for women to write essays that are going to be well-written, enlightening and enjoyable, it would be hard to randomly assign essays to women in all different fields-- you just wouldn't know what you would get. When you assign an essay to an established writer, you know you have a much better shot at getting something good. That said, I still felt that although the women represented here were largely writers, their feelings on motherhood and working (full-time and part-time) were completely universal. True, most of the moms represented here were also middle to upper middle class and therefore their decisions to work or not were largely internal and matters of self-esteem rather than financial necessity, but their guilt and/or ennui were just as powerful as anyone's. And several of the stay-at-home mothers did report that the decision to stay home did impact their finances negatively (although not direly) and tough financial decisions had to be made.
As for the essays themselves, most of them were excellent, but the themes did tend to get a bit repetitive at times. The book could have easily been 50-100 pages shorter and not suffered at all. There were several "perpective" essays that I imagine the editor included for variety, but which didn't necessaily belong in the group and only served to make the collection feel too long. For instance, there were two essays by women who don't yet have children which the author set up by asserting that though these two don't have children yet, they have a lot to say. The fact of the matter is that anyone who has kids knows that no matter how you thought you'd feel before having kids, it has little or no bearing on how you feel after having them. You just cannot intellectually prepare yourself for motherhood and how you will feel once you're holding that little baby in your arms. There were also a couple of irritating essays, like one by a working mother who feels so not guilty and is so tickled pink by her mothering skills, that it just doesn't feel honest at the end of the day. Not as compared to the other essays by women who bared their hearts and souls. There was also a "feminist viewpoint" essay by a woman who is now a grandmother which really shed no light on anything. But those essays were the clunkers in a series of wonderful, illuminating essays, where every page turn is another "a-ha! I feel exactly the same way!" moment.
This book does an excellent job of presenting both sides of the equation in a way that both sides can understand and empathize with. The stay-at-home moms can discover that the busy, self-important looking working mom is really torn as she drops her kid off at preschool and can't stay to schmooze with the other moms, and the working mom can discover that the smug seeming, "I'm better than you" stay-at-home mom is often bored out of her skull having to spend all day entertaining a toddler. The book is also enhanced tremendously by the editor's two essays which bookend the rest, wherein she admits to her own insecurities about her choices.
The women in this book stand by their choices, but pass no real judgement on others' choices, preferring to turn the light inwards and explore how being a working or stay-at-home mom makes them really feel. Though most are content with their decisions, they have no problem listing the pitfalls along with the highlights of the consequences of their choices. The Mommy Wars are not with each other, as it turns out, but within each of us.
Sobering, Profound and Moving........2007-03-29
It's a decision all mothers face, at least in theory. For many, of course, staying home is not an option. But even when it is, life doesn't become perfect overnight - especially when one is "working from home," the third reality for mothers.
Steiner's title would have us believe we're going to watch an argument. Instead, we're treated to thoughtful, thought-provoking essays by a wide variety of mothers and journalists. Sobering, profound and very moving.
Book Description
The Sixth Marine Division holds a unique place in U.S. Marine Corps history, because it was retired after one great battle. The division was formed on Guadalcanal in September 1944, its ranks filled with battle-hardened veterans and untested replacement troops. The Sixth Division fought its only action on the island of Okinawa from April to June 1945 but entered the fight with more combat experience overall than any other Marine division in its initial battle. It disappointed no one. The Okinawa campaign involved eight Army and Marine divisions, but the Sixth captured most of the ground in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. Weeks later, atomic attacks on two Japanese cities in early August 1945 swiftly ended the war. "Before Hiroshima there was Okinawa. Because of Okinawa, in considerable part there was Hiroshima," wrote one reporter. With the invasion of Japan canceled, the Sixth Division went to China on occupation duty and, on 1 April 1946, was reorganized out of existence. As it was created overseas, so was it disbanded.
This book tells the story of these Marines in their own words. Historian Laura Lacey - a Marine family member who has lived on Okinawa -sympathetically portrays the men who in 1945 fought a tremendous battle that she contends has not received its full share of attention from historians. Lacey considers the gritty details of close quarters combat and considers the myriad physical and psychological wounds that war wreaks. With Marines now engaged in a tough fight in Iraq, Lacey’s book reminds us that whether or not a war is popular, war is indeed hell.
Customer Reviews:
The 6th Marine Division & The Battle of Okinawa.......2005-12-18
Although as a participant I have a built-in prejudice, I feel compelled to comment on this notable example of the effectiveness of oral history. Ms. Lacey has combined her talent for conducting oral interviews with her ability to weave a most absorbing tale of the 6th Marine Division and its significant contribution to the Battle of Okinawa. She expertly and objectively explains the significance of the Battle of Okinawa and its influence on the decision to drop "the bomb." Her credentials are most impressive and she has gotten into the trenches for this endeavor. It's a MUST read, not only for military historians and history buffs, but those who want to learn what war is really like upfront and personal, with all the glory and hurrahs cast aside.
Down in the Mud at Okinawa.......2005-12-07
Oral histories from the men who where actually at places like Okinawa will soon be a thing of the past. Ms. Lacey has done a supurb job in tracking down and getting their histories from forth men of the Sixth Marine Division. And in the picture section of the book she shows pictures of several of the men, as they were during the war and as they are now. A surprising number of them then say something like 'Died in 2001.'
The Sixth was a division that came about as a result of the tremendous expansion of the Marines during the war. They were formed late in 1944, they were disbanded in 1946. They only had one big battle, but it was Okinawa where virtually all of the original front line riflemen, machine gunners, or anything else was killed or wounded, just about a hundred men per day.
Ms. Lacey is the official historian of the Sixth, and she has indeed done her job well with the publication of this book.
An oral history collecting the testimonies of the Sixth Marine Division in their own words.......2005-12-03
Stay Off The Skyline: The Sixth Marine Division On Okinawa is an oral history collecting the testimonies of the Sixth Marine Division in their own words. The Sixth Marine Division was formed of battle-tested veterans and fought its only action on the island of Okinawa from April to June 1945, capturing most of the ground in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. A gripping compilation that immerses the reader in the experiences of those who laid their lives on the line for their country, Stay Off The Skyline is a primary source enthusiastically recommended for lay readers and military historians alike.
Average customer rating:
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Hats Off: Head Dress of the U.S. Army 1872-1912
John P. Langellier
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
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More Army Blue: The Uniform of Uncle Sam's Regulars 1874-1887
ASIN: 0764309560 |
Book Description
Hats Off offers a concise history of U.S. Army headgear from the immediate post Civil War era to the eve of World War I. In this study historian John P. Langellier shares more than a quarter of a century of research in archives, museums, and private collections throughout the nation. An informative text is supported by nearly 400 illustrations of rare and important military headdress. The volume is destined to become a standard reference for collectors, curators, and those interested in American military uniforms from the Indian Wars through the early 20th century., over 400 color and b/w photographs, 9" x 12"
Book Description
When he wrote The Monkey Wrench Gang in 1975, Edward Abbey became the spokesperson for a generation of Americans angered by the unthinking destruction of our natural heritage. Without consultation, Abbey based the central character of eco-guerilla George Washington Hayduke on his friend Doug Peacock. Since then Peacock has become an articulate environmental individualist writing about the West's abundant wildscapes.
Abbey and Peacock had an at times stormy, almost father and son relationship that was peacefully resolved in Abbey's last days before his death in 1989. This rich recollection of their relationship and the dry places they explored are recalled in Peacock's honest and heartfelt style in this poignant memoir.
Customer Reviews:
"Walk on. The feet will inform the soul".......2007-09-07
A warrior's articulations about his war sickness (PTSD) and his fabled relationship with his mentor Ed Abbey. Plenty of recollections about this tumultuous relationship as it unfolds in their hikes and times together. Mostly though, this is a chronicle of one man's struggle to feel peace in his tortured soul by spending as much time as he can in the wilderness.
In many ways, this is a companion volume to "Grizzly Years" (see review).
It is Peacock's further accounts of his life; but it is also about a mellowing, coming-to-terms middle aged warrior who is struggling to transcend much of his war-originated rage by retreats into the Sonoran desert and a return to "The Grizzly Hilton" of his "Grizzly Years" time.
Peacock also does his best to debunk the Hayduke mythology that he had thrust upon him via Abbey's only partially true charicature; the eco-warrior that was really a composite of others, and not much of himself.
Overcoming his psychic scars by walking them off, Peacock writes from his guts, his soul, the guts of his soul. He is a highly articulate guy; there is very good use of descriptive language and use of adjectives here.
He also is one tough hombre. Anyone who stalks grizzly bears armed only with a knife; who gets nailed by a rattler in the calf and hobbles 15 miles back out through the desert sands to a waiting Ed Abbey; and who survives internal bleeding in his esophagus (as did Abbey) at high altitudes in the Himalayas - this guy's got to be tough.
This line from the end of "Walking it Off" may be a vague summary: "I needed to get out in order to look back in"
Highly recommended for those who know the value of personal growth through seasons of solitude.
Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts
The Cloud Reckoner
Not what I expected unfortunately.......2007-08-02
"Walking it off" dwells too much on Peacock's feelings for Ed Abbey and tells you very little about his Viet Nam experiences or even himself.
It was a very disappointing read for me.
One of the Best!.......2007-01-11
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I am currently on my 3rd year in Iraq, so I find myself relating to this book very strongly. I have read everything that Edward Abbey has ever written and have a strong fascination with the southwest US. It was with great pleasure and sadness to read about his final days here. This book is one that I will continue to read and re-read for the rest of my life, as I believe it will speak to the reader differently depending on where they are in life at that moment. If you are only going to buy one book, this should be it.
Vietnam Vet Takes You on a Rugged Journey.......2006-11-28
Hayduke... I mean Doug Peacock has a few things he wants to get off his chest in his book "Walking It Off." (I love the title of this book!) And like most deep, emotional scars they take the combination of time and solitude to focus light on. Peacock is drawn - more like pulled - into wild places around the world. His journey is less about protraying the surrounding wilderness, but instead using it like a mirror.
A mirror onto himself - a mirror to reflect on the tradegy of the Vietnam War, the loss of his companion and teacher, Ed Abbey, and the fragments of a broken marriage. Certainly not easy stuff to grapple with, much less commit to the pages of a book. But you sense in this book, that Peacock is a warrior. Not the same warrior he started as, but a transformed sort of warrior. Much of his transformation happened while he got to know Abbey. Peacock shares his memories of Abbey.
I got the sense that Abbey's portrayal of Peacock as the character Hayduke in both The Monkey Wrench Gang and Hayduke Lives proved to be a mixed blessing to the author. On the one hand, there's extreme pride in being the first, Eco-warrior, poster-boy. On the other, the popularity of this take-no-prisoner, accept-no-compromise Hayduke character only served to paint Peacock into a much smaller corner. He wanted to be something more than this inspirational character for the new enivronmental movement. What exactly that "something" is for Peacock, he doesn't always know. But he knows what will get him closer -- shoulder a backpack and start walking.
We see Peacock's image of himself steadily change while he shares his encounters with the forces which shaped his life. It's an honest self-portrait softened by time and contrasted against a wonderful and rugged landscape.
A Writer With Integrity.......2006-10-15
Because I am a HUGE Edward Abbey fan, I really enjoyed this book. It gave some wonderful insights into Abbey's personality, but more importantly, showed me the real person behind Abbey's most famous character--George W. Hayduke.
First, the Abbey stuff was very good. Peacock didn't put lipstick and rouge on the warts--he told it like it was, and for that, he gained a lot of credibility with me. (This is opposed to that other guy, Loeffler, who wrote a similar autobiography that I think Abbey would be ashamed of.) He opens his soul to the reader, which is something that I wouldn't have expected of Hayduke, and for this I am very greatful, as I feel that I understand Abbey much better because of it.
Second, because he opens his soul, we get to compare the gruff and verbally challenged Hayduke to the complicated, highly pensive and articulate Doug Peacock. This vantage point shows how perfectly Abbey nailed him in some regard, and yet how different the paint on the canvass is from the subject. Peacock is definetly disturbed, gruff, stoic, self absorbed (ala Hayduke), but he's also highly intelligent, pensive, and well-travelled.
This is a must read for the Abbey fan, although I'm not sure how much anyone else would get out of it. For this reason, and for Peacock's writing style, which at times became too verbose and poetically strained, I'm giving it only four stars. Besides, there are waaayyyy too many 5 star ratings out there, and I must preserve my integrity, too.
Hayduke Lives!!! And I'm very glad to know it!
Book Description
Tuscany is one of the world’s most legendary wine regions—and this is a must-have companion for anyone in search of the area’s top wines. It covers everything from internationally renowned estates to emerging small-boutique producers; explores the multitude of wines and wine styles; and examines the history and complex laws that govern the wines. Plus, it has all a traveler needs to plan a perfect trip: information on visiting the wineries and finding a good tour, advice on choosing comfortable hotels and restaurants that showcase the region’s celebrated cuisine, and suggestions on getting around—whether on foot, bicycle, or by car.
Customer Reviews:
Tuscany revealed.......2006-10-26
Waldin has done it again! A terrific read.
This is a writer that really knows his subject. But his knowledge is conveyed in such a way that he doesn't make the whole subject of wine intimidating. Nor does he patronize his readership.
Monty Waldin is one of the few wine writers out there that both literally and metaphorically is willing to get his hands dirty; he goes to these vineyards, he works on the vines and the soil and he is not beholden to any paymaster.
WARNING: It'll make you want to go to Tuscany.
Book Description
Slaughter at sea—just miles from U.S. soil!
In 1942 German U-boats turned the shipping lanes off Cape Hatteras into a sea of death. Cruising up and down the U.S. eastern seaboard, they sank 259 ships, littering the waters with cargo and bodies. As astonished civilians witnessed explosions from American beaches, fighting men dubbed the area "Torpedo Junction." And while the U.S. Navy failed to react, a handful of Coast Guard sailors scrambled to the front lines. Outgunned and out-maneuvered, they heroically battled the deadliest fleet of submarines ever launched. Never was Germany closer to winning the war.
In a moving ship-by-ship account of terror and rescue at sea, Homer Hickam chronicles a little-known saga of courage, ingenuity, and triumph in the early years of World War II. From nerve-racking sea duels to the dramatic ordeals of sailors and victims on both sides of the battle, Hickam dramatically captures a war we had to win—because this one hit terrifyingly close to home.
Customer Reviews:
I was there...Homer did us justise........2007-06-06
As the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Dione's lead soundman during period of Hickman's book I can attest that he did a wonderful job telling our story about some real hazardous duty. Homer's collaboration with our Radioman 1st, Swede Larson really paints the futility and danger of our sub chasing before and after convoys. I'm so glad Homer wrote about us. Now maybe we won't be forgotten.
Excellent !.......2006-12-27
Reads like a Clancy thriller. I recommend this book along with Michael Gannon's "Operation Drumbeat" so one can understand the havoc wreaked by German U boats along the Eastern seaboard against totally unprepared and in many cases complacent ships in the early days of World War II.
A WW2 HISTORY LESSON THAT FEW KNOW.......2005-07-03
I KNOW NOW FOR SURE THAT I WOULD NEVER WANT TO BE A MILITARY OR MERCHANT SAILOR OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST IN 1942. TORPEDO JUNCTION WAS EXTREMELY WELL DOCCUMENTED AND RESEARCHED, BUT ALSO DESCRIPIBED BY SURVIVORS FROM U-BOATS, NAVY AND COASTGUARD SHIPS AS WELL AS MERCHANTMARINES. MY LOWER RATEING COMES FROM THE FACT THAT IT MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THE U S WAS ALMOST HELPLESS AGAINST THE STEALTHY GERMAN U-BOATS, AND THAT THE DATA WAS HARD TO STOMACH (I'M NOT A BEAN COUNTER). THE MOST VALUE I SEE HERE IS SOME BASIS FOR HICKAM'S LATER BOOKS, ESPECIALLY "THE KEEPER'S SON".
Another Grand Slam for Homer Hickam!.......2004-11-22
In the 1940's, an entire war was fought within sight of America's East Coast, and most of America never knew it. In `Torpedo Junction,' Homer Hickam brings that war alive. Put out to sea with the men who fought, and bled, and died, defending America from a threat we weren't even aware of. This book is more than a history of America's coastal war with Germany; it's also one hell of a great read.
Jeff Edwards, Author of "Torpedo: A Surface Warfare Thriller"
This is the true story behind The Keeper's Son.......2003-11-12
I read Hickam's The Keeper's Son first then noticed in the back where he mentioned writing this book, too. It is the true story behind The Keeper's Son and what a story it is! Like the other reviewers, I never realized the tremendous damage the u-boats caused along our shores. The book, Hickam's first, is written with such skill, it seems like you're right there on those little cutters or the con of the u-boats. High recommended for all those interested in World War II or true sea tales.
Book Description
Native Americans have thrown themselves into filmmaking since the mid-1970s, producing hundreds of films and videos, and their body of work has had great impact on Native cultures and filmmaking itself. With their cameras, they capture the lives of Native people, celebrating community, ancestral lifeways, and identity. Not only artistic statements, the films are archives that document rich and complex Native communities and counter mainstream media portrayals.
Wiping the War Paint off the Lens traces the history of Native experiences as subjects, actors, and creators, and develops a critical framework for approaching Native work. Singer positions Native media as part of a larger struggle for "cultural sovereignty"-the right to maintain and protect cultures and traditions. Taking it out of a European-American context, she reframes the discourse of filmmaking, exploring oral histories and ancient lifeways inform Native filmmaking and how it seeks to heal the devastation of the past. Singer's approach is both cultural and personal, provides both historical views and close textual readings, and may well set the terms of the critical debate on Native filmmaking.
Beverly R. Singer is a filmmaker and director of the Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies at the University of New Mexico.
Average customer rating:
- Probably all there is to say about this event
- Seemingly well researched up until he blows his credibility
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Black Night Off Finisterre: The Tragic Tale of an Early British Ironclad
Arthur Hawkey
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1557501882 |
Book Description
HMS Captain was the first sea-going turret warship built in unprecedented circumstances to provide all-around firepower. But in only four months it capsized and sank. This definitive account of the Captain's loss details the decade-long public controversy that led to the building of the warship.
Customer Reviews:
Probably all there is to say about this event.......2000-02-06
I'm not sorry I bought this book, although it does have its weak spots. Basically this volume pulls together material from a small set of 19th century sources and presents the modern reader with a full set of information about the loss of HMS Captain and the controversy surrounding the reason for the loss - certainly a very specialized subject. This obscure event is important because historically the construction of wooden warships had been largely a matter of following time-honored rules of thumb, but with the advent of iron warships and new types of armament in the 1860s, it was not fully appreciated how these rules needed to be changed to avoid tragedies such as that described in this book. That the design of the Captain was fatally flawed due to the lack of understanding of technology changes at the time is a case perhaps similar to that of the British Comet airliner, which failed because its design occurred during a time of significant technology change (to pressurized jets), but its designers failed to realize fully the consequences of that change.
Besides filling in this little piece of naval history, another good part of the book was the author's semi-technical explanation of some of the basics of naval architecture, such as metacentric height and what it means in terms of a ship's stability and suitability as a gun platform. I've never come across a book which described this so well.
Apart from this, the book had its lesser moments as well. I suspect that these all derive from the author's attempt to fill a certain number of pages with material related to the main subject (because a 50-page book would have been a waste of time). The lengthy passages recounting or quoting from the court martial and exchanges of official communication following the loss are difficult to plow through, especially since they are written in the stilted and convoluted version of English used by upper-class Britons of the 19th century. And I suspect that the complaints voiced by another reviewer also are a result of the author's desire to fill pages, while almost entirely relying upon source material published over a century ago.
I know more now that before I read the book, so in the end, it was a worthwhile read for me.
Seemingly well researched up until he blows his credibility.......1999-07-07
The book seems at first glance well researched, and it reads well, although the writing style seems a tad tabloidish. I was quite impressed, and would have given this 5 stars, but for for two sections in the chapter, "Why Didn't They Ask Kernan?". This chapter almost seems to be trying to make a mountainous mystery out of a very small puzzle (how did the ship's boat float away so readily?), as if trying to make a big headline to attract more passersby. Then the coup de grace -- he throws in some psychic premonitions, taken with as much gullibility as the rest of the book demands hard evidence, even going so far as to claim that a few kinfolk back in England were disturbed in their sleep that very night. Out of 470 or so crew, this is hardly amazing, and the lack of anything more than second or third hand story telling is in stark contrast to the rest of the book.
I began to read with a much more critical eye after that. I have no doubt as to his general conclusions being correct, but I wonder how much of his evidence is hand picked out of context merely to support a conclusion reached before he began his book.
I still recommend reading this book, but I would suggest from a library before buying. It's not the kind of book I will go back to for good analysis, but only for the odd facts.
Book Description
"So That Others May Live"
In December 1994, two gargantuan rogue waves struck the Salvador Allende, knocking down the 450-foot cargo ship in the mid-Atlantic. In the darkness and howling winds, in the midst of a horrific, impenetrable storm, the terrified survivors clung to their lives by the thinnest of threads-out of contact and out of the reach of any ship afloat.
A thousand miles away, one of the world's most elite rescue teams scrambled into action...
This is the gripping and unforgettable true adventure of an astonishing rescue at sea -- a tale of the unparalleled courage and skill of men who endured a record-breaking fifteen-hour, non-stop helicopter ride through bone-jarring turbulence to carry out a mission on the ragged edge of impossibility. It is the story of a unit of the New York Air National Guard, the 106th Rescue Wing, which includes the famed PJs, the Pararescuemen, whose training is so rigorous and standards so high that only a dedicated handful qualify to join; heroes without peer who were willing to brave a maelstrom of forty-foot waves and schools of killer sharks, to risk their own lives "so that others may live."
Includes 16 pages of authentic photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Great story, poorly written.......2007-01-30
Pararescue has all the elements of a great true-life rescue adventure: Painstaking research reveals a story of real heros working in impossible conditons against an implaccable natural foe, who face overwhelming odds in attempting to rescue merchant seamen in peril.
Unfortunately, the account is written in a droning first-person narrative that is a chore to read. What could have been a bestseller reads more like the voice-over script for a television documentary.
Only the fact that the true story is itself gripping enabled me to slog through the clumsy writing to experience this tale of bravery and heroism.
An Inspirational Pararescue.......2001-07-26
The book really gave me an idea of the training and gratification that goes along with military rescue forces. Perhaps if you are not very interested in military, you will not find the same respect as I did for "Pararescue." If you are a military buff, read it!! I've been on the phones with the 106th talking about a flight slot!
Gripping true adventure superbly told.......2001-03-10
This true story of a single adventure raised my concepts of courage and heroism to new levels. As a former journalist myself, I marveled at the author's attention to detail in exposing the gritty work of a group of men who dedicate themselves to saving lives through airborne rescue missions. The description of their elite training is worth the price of admission alone. But the tale of the rescue that is the focus of this book takes it over the top; it rivals the best adventure fiction you'll ever experience.
Another reviewer said Clint Eastwood will have a starring role in the movie they make from this book. My bet is that Harrison Ford will buy the rights to this All-American five-star thriller. Anyhow, read it now. Hollywood can't make the story any better.
Sunken Ship - Culture Clash.......2001-02-18
Great Read!
Pararescue, by Michael Hirsh, is one of the most thoroughly researched contemporary military history novels I have read. As a Marine officer, I am critical of books, movies, and articles about the military when they don't "get it right." I couldn't find one obvious inaccuracy in this book, which tells me Mr. Hirsh was very careful in his examination of the Air Force Pararescue community, and of the little-known USMC KC-130 aerial refueling tanker community.
Most interesting to me was the comparison of the philosophies of the helicopter crews of the 102nd Rescue Squadron, and that of the Marines of Yanky 03 - the Marine tanker crew from VMGR-452. Their attitudes and beliefs seemed to be identical - "Whatever it takes to get the job done." By contrast, the mind-set of the Air Force C-130 tanker crews seemed to be "Whatever excuse we can find to get out of this dangerous mission" and "What about our crew rest?" Strange that the "factions" mentioned in this story would be Air Force Helicopter crews and Marine on one side, and Air Force C-130 crews on the other.
Air Force LtCol Fleming, the Flight-lead of the 102 Rescue Squadron's H-60 Blackhawk rescue team, and the true hero of the book, should have been a Marine. Coming from a Marine, that is the ultimate compliment. Clint Eastwood should play his part in the movie version of this book.
The Perfect Story.......2001-01-17
If the story of PJs have captured your interest, this is the perfect book to read after reading/watching "The Perfect Storm". Unlike Jack Brehm's autobio "That Others May Live" which was a difficult read as it was slow and a tad boring, "Pararescue" presents the rescue operation in it's entirety, not just from the perspective of one person. The planing, skill and efforts are all brought to life in a well written book. I would love to see a factual book written about PJs on a Special Operations mission along with Delta Forces or Rangers.
Book Description
The Battle of Savo Island is the story of the opening engagement of the Solomon Islands campaign, a unique chapter in naval history. It was the first surface encounter for a coordinated American force in nearly half a century and a very bad start. Courage and will were never lacking, but the Imperial Japanese Navy was about to hand the U.S. Navy the bitterest defeat in its history.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book-- but who did the cover?.......2004-12-17
This is a well-written, insightful book on one of the most interesting naval battles of World War II. You've got to wonder about the publisher of the paperback edition, though, since the cover has a picture of some Marines making a landing. They sure didn't land on Savo Island, and the battle relates only tangentially to the landings at Guadalcanal. Ignore the cover art and buy the book.
The 2nd Greatest Disaster in the History of the U.S. Navy.......2004-11-15
On the evening of August 9, 1942, a Japanese force of cruisers and destroyers steamed down "the slot" toward the American beachhead at Guadalcanal. Despite being spotted on four different occasions by Allied forces, these Japanese ships managed to achieve complete surprise on the unsuspecting Allied forces covering the entrance to Savo Sound. In the span of eight minutes, four Allied heavy cruisers (USS Astoria, USS Vincennes, USS Quincy, and HMAS Canberra) were sunk by the Japanese, whose expertise at night fighting and the use of torpedoes became painfully clear to the Allies on this night.
Why were the Japanese so successful and why were the Allies caught so completely by surprise? There are several factors. First, the Japanese cruisers carried torpedo tubes while the Allied cruisers did not. The Japanese used their torpedoes with deadly accuracy, while the Allies had to rely on guns alone. Second, the ultimate failure of the command structure of the Allied forces played a large part in the defeat. The Japanese force was spotted on its approach at least four times. Each time, the sughting was inaccurately described, or the message never reached those in charge of the ships. Also, the overall commander of the Allied forces, Admiral Crutchley, failed to notify the commanders of the other ships that he was removing his flagship, the HMAS Australia, from the group. This left no one in overall command. The cruiser captains were forced to fend for themselves. These factors, plus an overwhelming desire by the Japanese to succeed, led to the disaster at Savo Island. Had the Japanese continued the fight and attacked the American transports which were unloading off of Guadalcanal, the disaster would have been much worse for the Allies.
Author Richard F. Newcomb does a very good job describing this great loss for the Allies. He describes the intrepid Japanese Admiral Mikawa, who decided to attack the Americans, as well as all of the sightings of his force by the Allies. Perhaps his best work in this book is how he describes the action on each Allied cruiser, devoting a separate chapter to the Astoria, Vincennes, Quincy, and Canberra. A good follow-up to the battle is also provided at the end of the book.
I recommend this book. It does a good job of describing one of the darkest days of the United States Navy and the lessons which were learned from the defeat. These lessons led ultimaely to the defeat of Japan.
Briskly told.......2002-05-08
Just finished this work. I have not read any other books dedicated to this battle alone; my searches indicate, however, that this is still the definitive account of the battle, 60 years later.
Plusses: Clear, lucid style. Prominent featuring of eyewitness accounts. Strikes balanced level of detail, rendering the work readable and valuable to readers of varying familiarity with naval terminology. And perhaps biggest plus of all; if you want to read something specifically about Savo, well, this is pretty much all there is (to my knowledge).
Minuses: "Ship by Ship" narrative style sometimes leads to repeating relatively minor anecdotes, without apparent need. After a superb introduction, detailing Japanese operations up to the first salvo, the author almost completely ignores the Japanese perspective during the battle itself. Newcomb obviously had access to Japanese participants in order to write the opening chapters; why did he not include their accounts of what happened during the battle?
Overall, well worth reading.
Newcomb repeatedly emphasizes the shortcoming of a fractured chain of command, and divided forces (so too, did the investigating admiral after the fact). I would wholly agree that these were deep shortcomings in the Allied force. I suspect, however, that these specific factors may not have been decisive. ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, if all 6 cruisers had been together in one group, under positive command of one flag officer, I personally believe that the outcome would have been similar. Horrifically poor long-range reconnaissance, poor communications, superior Japanese night tactics and weapon (an outstanding torpedo), and an early-war complacent atmosphere were more pertinent to the case at hand. The biggest SINGLE factor, I believe, was the complete breakdown of reconnaissance.
These guys simply had no situational awareness. The most ably led, superbly trained force will still get bushwacked if they simply don't know what their environment is.
The precursor of ýThe Bode Testamentý.......2002-04-20
In the fall of 1961, I read the original version of this work. Upon completion, I was troubled and puzzled. I reviewed the entire work finding no answers to my many questions. This has little to do with the brilliant writing of Mr. Newcomb. In a highly interesting style, Mr. Newcomb wrote what history had to offer. It was the history itself that caused the quandaries. This is a fascinating battle with many questions yet today, and it represents the worst naval battle defeat of our Navy, which few know about. The many unanswered questions were taken up 35 years later, in 1996, when I commenced research for "The Bode Testament," which appears on this site. Is there any higher compliment to a book that it becomes the basis for another? That the subject matter and the excellent writing of Mr. Newcomb were so pervasive that it was recalled 3 ½ decades later. I think not...
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