Book Description
An unprecedented account of life in Baghdad’s Green Zone, a walled-off enclave of towering plants, posh villas, and sparkling swimming pools that was the headquarters for the American occupation of Iraq.
The Washington Post’s former Baghdad bureau chief Rajiv Chandrasekaran takes us with him into the Zone: into a bubble, cut off from wartime realities, where the task of reconstructing a devastated nation competed with the distractions of a Little America—a half-dozen bars stocked with cold beer, a disco where women showed up in hot pants, a movie theater that screened shoot-’em-up films, an all-you-could-eat buffet piled high with pork, a shopping mall that sold pornographic movies, a parking lot filled with shiny new SUVs, and a snappy dry-cleaning service—much of it run by Halliburton. Most Iraqis were barred from entering the Emerald City for fear they would blow it up.
Drawing on hundreds of interviews and internal documents, Chandrasekaran tells the story of the people and ideas that inhabited the Green Zone during the occupation, from the imperial viceroy L. Paul Bremer III to the fleet of twentysomethings hired to implement the idea that Americans could build a Jeffersonian democracy in an embattled Middle Eastern country.
In the vacuum of postwar planning, Bremer ignores what Iraqis tell him they want or need and instead pursues irrelevant neoconservative solutions—a flat tax, a sell-off of Iraqi government assets, and an end to food rationing. His underlings spend their days drawing up pie-in-the-sky policies, among them a new traffic code and a law protecting microchip designs, instead of rebuilding looted buildings and restoring electricity production. His almost comic initiatives anger the locals and help fuel the insurgency.
Chandrasekaran details Bernard Kerik’s ludicrous attempt to train the Iraqi police and brings to light lesser known but typical travesties: the case of the twenty-four-year-old who had never worked in finance put in charge of reestablishing Baghdad’s stock exchange; a contractor with no previous experience paid millions to guard a closed airport; a State Department employee forced to bribe Americans to enlist their help in preventing Iraqi weapons scientists from defecting to Iran; Americans willing to serve in Iraq screened by White House officials for their views on Roe v. Wade; people with prior expertise in the Middle East excluded in favor of lesser-qualified Republican Party loyalists. Finally, he describes Bremer’s ignominious departure in 2004, fleeing secretly in a helicopter two days ahead of schedule.
This is a startling portrait of an Oz-like place where a vital aspect of our government’s folly in Iraq played out. It is a book certain to be talked about for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
How could we have let this happen?.......2007-10-22
Though my Amazon-ordered, newly-released paperback edition of 'Imperial Life' was missing pages 191 - 194 (thanks, Vintage Books), I thoroughly enjoyed Rajiv Chandrasekaran's book. As others have noted, it's seminal reading in terms of understanding just how badly the US bollixed things up over there. All the professional review snippets in the paperback version rightly acclaim Chandrasekaran effort. As the NYT Book Review puts it, "it is eyewitness history of the first order." The late Molly Ivins sums up what every reader's reaction ought to be, regardless of political stripe: "How could we have let this happen? How could we have been that stupid?"
Everyone will have their favorite tale in here. Here's mine, which involves a business privatization effort...
-----
When the trio met with a team of Germans to discuss how factories in the former East Germany had been privatized, the CPA team was told that the Germans had eight thousand people working on the project. "How many guys do you have?" one of the Germans asked.
"You're looking at them," Corlis responded.
The German laughed and asked again. "No, how many people work for you?"
"No, this is it. Three people," Corliss said.
"Don't bother starting," the German said.
-----
That's the tone of the entire book.
Worth noting: though the reporting is set almost entirely in the bubble of the Green Zone, the author's feet are firmly planted in the Red Zone, i.e., which is basically _everything but_ the Green Zone. It's a courageous piece of work that will stand on its own legs for years to come. Kudos also to the editors at Knopf, who - as the author graciously acknowledges - pieced this reporting into a very compelling narrative.
Necessary reading .......2007-10-22
I recommend this to my students. It is scarier than anything from the pen of Steven King, and more honest than anything from the mouths of the Bush Admin. If you want to see where trillions of your tax dollars are being wasted by greedy, incompetent ideolgues, this is a good place to start.
More Than A "Mistake".......2007-10-21
This is good journalism, and persuasively conveys the tunnel vision, arrogance, and ignorance that together form the stew known as American foreign policy. Iraq is a "good" example of all these elements, abundantly displayed.
The weaknesses of the book--and the reason I give it only four stars--are two: first, it tells its story primarily by focusing on personalities, giving anecdotal illustrations both of the person's role and experiences in Iraq. This is very good for providing the reader with believable, understandable stories; however, it does not provide any kind of coherent "bigger picture." The author does mention surrounding events from time to time, but only as a way of providing backdrop to the anecdote or personality currently under examination.
The other problem with this book is that it presents the Coalition attack upon Iraq as simply a mistake: a series of mistakes, a patchwork of mistakes, a sad comedy of chances gone a' glimmering...but never what it was and fundamentally remains to this day: a war crime of the first order, an unprovoked attack upon a sovereign nation. Whether the author intended it or not, this view gives Americans (and others) pause only to the extent that *next time* we have to be smarter--not that there should *be* no "next time" when the US attacks another nation.
Arrogance is not Wise.......2007-10-17
This book is quite well written, and shows the folly of arrogantly trying to rebuild Iraq after the war without having done the necessary homework on that country and with very selfish and dubious motives on the part of the Bush Administration. Nicely written book, informative and objective to the last page.
An outstanding book about the incompetence we have shown in Iraq.......2007-10-11
Any book has bias and I do not doubt that Rajiv Chandrasekaran, a journalist for the Washington Post, saw some things in Iraq in a bias way. Still, this book is a MUST read for anyone to better understand just where we went wrong in Iraq. At times, I felt I was reading a PJ O'Rourke or Carl Hiaasen book about government bureaucrats ruining yet another program. At other times, I just shook my head in disbelief and some of the arrogance and absurdity of the people put in positions of power in Baghdad. As I read the book I realized that it is no wonder that the Iraqi people are tired of us.
The author points out that many Americans were put in positions of power and authority with no real expertise or understanding of Iraqi culture or Islamic culture. Resumes from neoconservatives were all that was needed to head up programs so loyalty meant everything. The drawback, of course, was that people with no real idea of what the heck they were doing ended up bungling up everything they touched.
This book reminds me that our nation needs to stop and think of what our role is supposed to be. George Marshall, creator of the genius Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, is spinning around in his grave right now as the incompetence in Iraq makes me wonder what happened to real leaders in our nation. Bremer? Rumsfeld? Cheney? Clueless. This book points that out with the evidence and it's a chilling reality of the mistakes we are making on an hourly basis in that nation.
Book Description
A master spy's memoir of playing the game in the most strategically influential country in 1960s Africa.
Larry Devlin arrived as the new chief of station for the CIA in the Congo five days after the country had declared its independence, the army had mutinied, and governmental authority had collapsed. As he crossed the Congo River in an almost empty ferry boat, all he could see were lines of people trying to travel the other way--out of the Congo. Within his first two weeks he found himself on the wrong end of a revolver as militiamen played Russian-roulette, Congo style, with him.
During his first year, the charismatic and reckless political leader, Patrice Lumumba, was murdered and Devlin was widely thought to have been entrusted with (he was) and to have carried out (he didn't) the assassination. Then he saved the life of Joseph Desire Mobutu, who carried out the military coup that presaged his own rise to political power. Devlin found himself at the heart of Africa, fighting for the future of perhaps the most strategically influential country on the continent, its borders shared with eight other nations. He met every significant political figure, from presidents to mercenaries, as he took the Cold War to one of the world's hottest zones. This is a classic political memoir from a master spy who lived in wildly dramatic times.
Customer Reviews:
CoS Congo.......2007-08-09
An excellent biography, discusses what happened during the Cold War in the Congo from his point of view. I found it an enjoyable read.
Exciting times.......2007-07-05
A good book giving an overall flavor of the Congo in the early 60's. It would be nice if Devlin had filled in more details however perhaps this is proscribed in his publishing agreement (I presume that he had to run this through the CIA before publishing it). You do get an idea of just what a CIA COS does to try to guide events to follow US policy. He's rather blase about the physical risks of operating in an unstable environment although maybe this is because he survived to tell the tale. I don't think that I would have my family at my side in such an environment.
Charts his many encounters and is a top pick.......2007-06-17
Author Larry Devlin arrived as the new chief of station for the CIA in the Congo five days after the country declared its independence, the army mutinied, and the government had collapsed: as he entered the country, streams of residents were fleeing. During his first year he was accused of murdering a charismatic political leader, saved the life of the man who carried out the military coup, and found himself confronting unheard-of challenges in Africa. CHIEF OF STATION, CONGO charts his many encounters and is a top pick especially recommended for college-level and military holdings strong in African culture and history.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
-.......2007-06-12
A little too general, very maddening that he left out so many details. But a necessary read for those interested in the Congo in the 60's
History Lessons.......2007-06-07
This book rewards its readers with good deal of information on a variety of subjects. It undoubtedly provides a very accurate account of the struggle of the former Belgium Congo to become a variable nation state. In the course of doing this, its author provides a plausible description of the chaotic condition of an imploding nation state and its leading political players of the period, including the controversial Patrice Lumumba and the man who turned out to be his chief rival Sese Seko Mobutu. Finally the book opens a window on how the U.S -Soviet Union Clod War rivalry played out in an newly independent African state like the Congo.
On a rather different level, Larry Devlin provides a good explanation of what a pro-active CIA Station Chief (COS) of 1960 did to earn his keep. One can carry away a good deal of information about good `tradecraft', the use of non-official cover (NOC) agents, and the vital need for a close relationship between the COS and the U.S. Ambassador. For a long period Devlin was not only COS Kinshasa (Leopoldville), but also the only CIA representative in the Congo. As a result, he discloses quite a bit about the art and craft of recruiting and maintaining `agents' in the field. Although virtually all memoirs written by former intelligence folks tend to be somewhat self-serving, from this book it is clear that Devlin really was good at his job and did his best to protect the national security interests of U.S. and equally important to help the Congolese build a viable and independent nation state. That in the end the Congo continues to be a near failed state was due to factors well beyond Devlin's control.
The problem then as now of course is that a really good CIA operative like Devlin and a really poor operatives are treated pretty much the same way by CIA. The system is really designed to homogenize everyone into the same bland blend. Also it is clear that CIA of 2007 would never allow a COS the kind of freedom of action that Devlin had in 1960.
Anyone with an interest in Africa or the CIA or both ought to find this well written and informative book fascinating.
Book Description
Vision and Purpose: Dream It, Live It, Attain It
Do you wake up each day motivated by knowing exactly why you were created? Guided by intention in every step? Enter: Chazown. Hebrew for “vision,” God wants to give His for you, and this book will reveal it! Living God’s dream will rock your world and align every area of your life, from your relationships to your finances and health. Chazown is packed with storytelling graphics, in-your-face honesty, bite-sized chapterettes, step-by-step guidance, surprising self-assessments, and scarcely containable energy in a fast-paced style that will drive you forward with purpose! Craig Groeschel cowrote this book, but he’s waiting for his partner—you. Because only you can discover how the book ends and the rest of your life begins…
Chazown
(pronounced khaw-ZONE)
from the Hebrew, meaning a dream, revelation, or vision.
You were born with your own Chazown. Do you know what it is?
INSIDE LEFT FLAP OF BOOK
Chazown
A Different Way to See Your Life
You’re invited on a most unusual odyssey—to find, name, and live out your Chazown. It’s a journey you’ll never forget because it’s impossible to return unchanged.
Practical, surprising, visually fresh, and biblically sound, the Chazown experience helps you clearly understand what you’ve always suspected: You’re not an accident. You have been created and put on earth for a unique and important purpose…a Chazown . And God intends for you to live it with passion and fulfillment for His glory.
But where to start your search? As Craig Groeschel will show, your own Chazown is hiding just under the surface of your life in three often overlooked areas: your core values, your spiritual gifts, and your past experiences. Once you discover your personal Chazown , you’ll turn it into a highly motivating credo—complete with short-term goals, action steps, and an accountability network to make your big dream a reality.
Pursue your Chazown and simultaneously improve five critical aspects of your life. These “small ‘c’ chazowns ” are your relationship with God, your relationships with people, your finances, your health and fitness, and your work life.
Are you living someone else’s dream for your life, or no dream at all?
Get ready for Chazown.
Story Behind the Book
Craig Groeschel started LifeChurch.tv, now attended by more than twelve thousand people each weekend on five different campuses, in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, area in 1996. From that point on, he has been empowered by the knowledge that he is following God’s chazown (vision) for his life. Craig’s cutting-edge teaching style—including honest, uncomfortable teaching of God’s truth and ubiquitous use of in-your-face video and other imagery—has challenged and changed thousands of lives. His messages are simulcast live to each of the church’s campuses, and his ministry continues to explode. This book stems from a two-message series that he gave; its premise is the bedrock for all teaching and ministry at LifeChurch.tv.
Customer Reviews:
Are you on target for God's purpose?.......2007-10-06
This book presents a great way to evaluate if you are seeking out God's purpose in your life and if you understand what his purpose is for your life. I'm not yet through with the book but so far it's great. I noticed it even comes with a cool DVD in the back.
I guess if you have no direction.......2007-08-22
in your life then this book is a God send. I found it interesting and was able to glean a few nuggets. I have no real negatives but wish it was a bit deeper and more profound. The Author does a good job at motivating through his stories and life experiences. What it lacks in BIG BANG it makes up for in sincerity.
Excellent outline for growth without relying on the outline itself.......2007-01-22
It is very difficult for an "outline" or "set of disciplines" book to not become a formula for growth work, which almost always results in the reader relying on the formula for growth instead of God and their love of and desire for God.
Groeschel avoids this mistake and has written a wonderfully clear and concise approach to achieving what you really want out of your life with the amazing thought that, wait for it, it might actually entail you taking this stuff seriously and making it a priority. What's amusing is that despite the fact that deep down we all know this, we either forget or disregard it. But Groeschel won't let you any longer.
The writing style is very conversational and light, which is why some individuals can correctly criticize the book for being a bit "surface-level" however this is not a book aimed at getting you to really contemplate and assess your beliefs but is more focused on equipping you to achieve an active growth through doing and planning.
In fact, planning for growth is the key message of this book, as the book's key verse echoes, if not screams, "Where there is no vision, the people perish (are unrestrained in other translations)," - Proverbs 29:18. I actually prefer the unrestrained translation because it hits closer to Groeschel's message, "Growth rarely, if never, happens by accident."
Great, Practical Advice!.......2007-01-02
I love the applications this book has. The quizzes and charts were really helpful in learning more about myself and where I best fit in. Definitely check this out.
Out of college whats next?.......2006-12-04
As a 27 year old collge graduate in the 3rd year of my profession, my thoughts began to wonder to what is next? Is my job all there is? Is there more to life? Is there more to the life I have been given? Chazown in simple yet profound language has given me a reason to look forward to each new day, and to not get bogged down in the monotony of everyday life, but to see life with a purpose, my OWN individual purpose that only I was created and put on this earth for.
Pastor Craig has delivered an awesome book on vision and purpose in life, but also has the tools nevessary to help us whether it is the online journal, or DVDs' that help us in finances, physical fitness, or relationships, this is one book that covers it all. I had read the Purpose Driven Life and thought it was alot of fluff, but Chazown not only had spiritual insight into the purpose God has for me, but also has the tools ( Life Development Plan found at [...] ) to help me determine and fullfill God's chazown for MY life.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic.......2007-07-30
Another great work by Nancie Atwell. So inspiring and logical. Filled with practical suggestions. I wish my teachers had read this when I was in school. Will challenge all teachers of reading and literature.
Should be required reading for all language arts teachers.......2007-07-27
Although Ms. Atwell teaches middle school students, this book applies to grades K-12. She devotes a chapter to high school teachers. The Reading Zone occurs when a reader becomes completely immersed in and engaged with a text. Atwell is convinced that this can happen only when students are given time to read and choice of books. She provides compelling evidence that "the only delivery system for reading comprehension is reading" from published research as well as her many years' experience in the classroom. There is healthy controversy for discussion to be found here, as Atwell argues that the place for reading strategy instruction is in the content area classrooms. With the plethora of reading strategy books out there, this is A MUST READ!
Reading Zone is important. Atwell sends message to all teachers........2007-07-12
I wish every LA/English/Reading teacher would read this book. Atwell, in her experience and wisdom continues to advocate an independent reading, reading workshop approach as the single most important element of any English classroom. Her language is more blunt and direct than in any of her previous books. Her argument here is that, like most things, if you want to learn to read, you read. All other "related" strategy, vocabulary, grammar, worksheet, book report type activities are a waste of time. Notice the title, though, if that sounds wrong to you. She clearly explains how having students read in a workshop along with teacher conversation, whole group sharing, and a written response in the form of a "letter-essay" are all that is required to create "skilled, passionate, habitual, critical readers." Also includes an excellent chapter on what reading/writing instruction should look like in high school. The book is written with clear, direct, concise language. It is a quick and important read. I agree with her position and her approach. Buy this book!
The Empire Strikes Back: Student Choice in Reading Redux.......2007-06-29
I teach middle school English, read and profusely highlighted Nancie Atwell's seminal work IN THE MIDDLE, and once served as an intern at her Center for Teaching and Learning one snowy February in Edgecomb, Maine (a class act, Atwell came in on a snow day to meet with a group of teachers who expected the day to be a complete loss due to the school closing). Under her influence, I built an in-class library at considerable cost, launched a full-steam-ahead reading workshop, and spent countless weekends poring over kids' reading journals so I could write back encouragement and questions. Still, there were always questions and concerns about the workshop method (not to mention the time-intensive journals), plus new reading strategies to reckon with as the years rolled by. This new book deals with both issues - concerns related to workshop methodology as well as the latest reading strategy fads.
For instance, in recent years our school has jumped on the "Sticky-Note Bandwagon" and English teachers were like flies to flypaper following its prescriptions to create better student readers. Under this "Reading Strategies That Work" spell, we began to isolate readings, stop our readers mid-page, and teach kids how to make connections, determine importance, ask questions, make inferences, visualize, and synthesize.
You can imagine my pleasure, then, when I read Atwell's words in a chapter called "Comprehension." She writes, "In the 1990's, I jumped -- VAULTED is a more accurate verb -- onto the comprehension-strategy bandwagon.... In I plunged. I explained proficient reader research and schema theory to my students. I prepared, rehearsed, and modeled a connection-packed read-aloud of a short story by Robert Cormier. Then I passed out individual pads of self-sticking notes and invited kids to activate their existing schema, connect these to the new schema that emerged as they read, and capture it all on sticky notes" (pp. 51-53).
If misery loves company, then you know why I found comfort in these words. You see, I, too, had followed the pied piper. I, too, had sensed something was wrong as my students dutifully parroted my words and terms while playing a game whose rules I spelled out. And yes -- I, too, had sticky-noted my way to reading perdition, wondering all along why so sound a theory was striking such a strident note with my increasingly restive 8th-grade readers.
Enter THE READING ZONE, where the Empire Strikes Back in the form of Atwell reaffirming her original tenets, built on the work of countless researchers such as Frank Smith and Louise Rosenblatt. Turns out, all that stopping to think about reading was interfering with... reading; and all that stopping to write on a sticky note was interfering with... the zone. In the words of Atwell via Rosenblatt, it's a case of efferent reading vs. aesthetic -- reading for knowledge (as in, from a textbook or article) vs. reading for pleasure (as in, from a novel, short story, or poem). Must the "fun" be gutted from reading with a coroner's report of "Death by Sticky Note"? Atwell thinks not.
And when you think about it, it's common sense. As teenagers, how many of us -- while we secretly continued to read THE OUTSIDERS by flashlight under the covers long after Mom had insisted we go to sleep -- remember pausing Ponyboy to write down a connection, detaining Dally to determine importance, or stopping the Socs to synthesize? Not this guy. In a world far away from the sheets and blanket that tented my head, I was in the zone, flipping pages without realizing they were pages, wondering if Johnny would pull through and live or if Dally would ever get to "see" stuff like sunrises. Isn't that what reading was supposed to be? Isn't that what made reading such a vicarious delight?
A satisfying return to sanity, THE READING ZONE came as a needed refresher for me and a reaffirmation of the vows I once took. Having read it, I feel as though I have strayed, become lost, and found my way back again.
For new readers to Atwell, this book will serve as a clarion call to the ramparts. It is an eloquent plea for pleasure reading, for kids, and for sanity in English instruction. In addition to practical "how to" type information, Atwell explains her philosophy with support and includes a special chapter addressing high school English teachers -- those keepers of ancient traditions that often perpetuate the sins of our pedagogical fathers. For anyone who remembers reading MOBY DICK chapter by chapter and pop quiz by pop quiz, it is a whale of an eye-opener.
As for workshop-related concerns, Atwell admits that she, too, struggled under the workload of carrying boxes of reading journals home each weekend. First she broke it up by having kids write to each other for 3 weeks, then her for 3 weeks. And now she's come to having kids write a "letter essay" every 3 weeks (the kids' letters can be staggered) ONLY about a book that they have completed. This reduces the number of letters and allows the kids a greater range of topics to address (Atwell provides prompts) as they look back. It also hones the literary criticism skills in such demand during high school and college.
Overall, the book serves as both long-awaited updating to IN THE MIDDLE and bracing read for teachers and parents who are new to Atwell's teachings and beliefs. As for me, it was proof that Thomas Wolfe was right. You CAN go home again... and I feel like I have. For that, I tip my metaphorical hat to Atwell. As is the case with hers, my workshop classroom will continue to be a work in progress, always built on a bedrock of principles based on choice.
Get Into The ZONE!.......2007-06-18
I first thought I loved this because Nancie talked about everything I already passionately believe and practice....then she pushed my thinking about a few things and I got really excited. I am not exaggerating when I say that I called, e-mailed, or text messaged a different colleague after every chapter saying, "You have got to read this book because I can't wait to talk to someone about it!" I finished it tonight and asked my husband if he would move to Maine with me so we could teach at Nancie Atwell's school. I am giving it to my principal tomorrow for his summer reading homework.
Average customer rating:
- A True Story
- It CAN happen here
- Outstanding, Scary, Gripping - Must Read!!
- As a Biology Teacher, I recommend this EVERY semester!
- This will keep you up at night
|
The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story
Richard Preston
Manufacturer: Anchor
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The Andromeda Strain
ASIN: 0385479565
Release Date: 1995-07-20 |
Amazon.com
The dramatic and chilling story of an Ebola virus outbreak in a surburban Washington, D.C. laboratory, with descriptions of frightening historical epidemics of rare and lethal viruses. More hair-raising than anything Hollywood could think of, because it's all
true.
Book Description
A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the
appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is scarier than fiction.
Customer Reviews:
A True Story .......2007-08-15
I purchased this book for my granddaughter. She is in Nursing School and was told by one of her teachers this book would be of special interest to anyone in the medical field as well as anyone else. She said it was easy to read and held her attention very well. She was glad to have the opportunity to read this terrifying true story about an Ebola outbreak in Africa.
It CAN happen here.......2007-08-14
Marburg. Ebola. Two names that mean nothing to most laymen, but scare the hell out of virologists. You see, Marburg and Ebola are exotic viruses which, when introduced into the human population, kill nine out of ten in a ghastly and painful manner, literally dissolving their insides. So far, outbreaks of these viruses have been rare, usually occurring in remote African villages. Once, however, an Ebola virus surfaced in the United States. The Hot Zone tells the story of its arrival and the steps the military took to take prevent its spread.
Preston takes great pains to tell the stories of these killer viruses, documenting their origins and the human cost of their spread. He takes readers to Kitum Cave in Kenya, where many believe the viruses originated. Then he takes them to Germany and Africa, where outbreaks of the viruses have ravaged local populations. Finally, he brings them to a suburb of Washington, DC, where a sister virus manifests itself, threatening the safety of millions. Frightening because it's true, this story will have you nervously turning pages until the happy, but unsettling, conclusion.
Most of us live with blinders on, not realizing that death can take us any time it wants. Can't happen here you say? It already did, but the good news is we all dodged a bullet. The bad news is that it could happen again, with far more disastrous results.
Outstanding, Scary, Gripping - Must Read!! .......2007-08-06
As soon as I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Reading about Ebola-Z/R/S, sent chills down my spine. I was so scared, that I was afraid to touch the book next morning. I couldn't sleep through the night wondering what was going to happen next. I have lived less than two miles from the "Monkey house" and have eaten several times at the Taco Bell and McDonald's mentioned in the book. Fully understanding that the building no longer exists and that area is extremely safe, I am unsure about my reaction when I am in that area next time. One thing is certain - I have a whole lot of new appreciation for CDC,USAMRIID, and Pathologists. I am thankful to them for their altruistic service to the well being of mankind.
As a Biology Teacher, I recommend this EVERY semester!.......2007-07-24
This book, and its sequel, Demon in the Freezer, are two of the few books that have kept me up at night. If they don't scare you to death, if you can actually put the book down, then you aren't actually reading these books. The Hot Zone is the basis for the movie Outbreak but 100 time better. It is a true story and written in a way that grips you from the first page to the very last. I teach college biology for non-science majors and I have recommended this book every semester for five years. It is easy to read and understand. Hard to beat!
This will keep you up at night.......2007-07-23
I read this book while living only a few hours from Reston, VA where the US ebola outbreak took place, which made it all the more horrifying to read.
As much as we love to believe we live in a world made safe by science, it is unnerving to read about a virus, so tiny and so primative, that can have such devastating effects on humanity. As we continue to transform our landscape and become more and more relient on technology, we place ourselves at enormous risk of new and emerging diseases.
This book's recounting of the handling of this outbreak, and others shows the progress of science and the limitations people and governments interests put on our very survival.
Average customer rating:
- Diet For Life Guide
- A comparison of Diet Books
- Good idea, but too complicated
- The hard road to physical excellence (as if there is an easy one).
- Dr. Sears, the Zone and Fish Oil
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The Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently : Reset Your Genetic Code : Prevent Disease : Achieve Maximum Physical Performance
Barry Sears
Manufacturer: Collins
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 0060391502 |
Amazon.com
Barry Sears looks at why Americans still have dietary problems in spite of following the advice of experts. Challenging the current recommendations for a high carbohydrate diet, Sears looks into man's history as well as the diets athletes succeed best on, to build a new dietary picture. Anyone looking for better health through an improved relationship to what they eat should put this book on their list.
Book Description
For years experts have been telling Americans what to eat and what not to eat. Fat, they told us, was the enemy. Then it was salt, then sugar, then cholesterol... and on it goes.
Americans listened and they lost -- but not their excess fat. What they lost was their health and waistlines. Americans are the fattest people on earth... and why? Mainly because of the food they eat.
In this scientific and revolutionary book, based on Nobel Prize-winning research, medical visionary and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Dr. Barry Sears makes peak physical and mental performance, as well as permanent fat loss, simple for you to understand and achieve.
With lists of good and bad carbohydrates, easy-to-follow food blocks and delicious recipes, The Zone provides all you need to begin your journey toward permanent fat loss, great health and all-round peak performance. In balance, your body will not only burn fat, but you'll fight heart disease, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue, depression and cancer, as well as alleviate the painful symptoms of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and HIV.
This Zone state of exceptional health is well-known to champion athletes. Your own journey toward it can begin with your next meal. You will no longer think of food as merely an item of pleasure or a means to appease hunger. Food is your medicine and your ticket to that state of ultimate body balance, strength and great health: the Zone.
Download Description
For years experts have been telling Americans what to eat and what not to eat. Fat, they told us, was the enemy. Then it was salt, then sugar, then cholesterol... and on it goes.
Americans listened and they lost -- but not their excess fat. What they lost was their health and waistlines. Americans are the fattest people on earth... and why? Mainly because of the food they eat.
In this scientific and revolutionary book, based on Nobel Prize-winning research, medical visionary and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Dr. Barry Sears makes peak physical and mental performance, as well as permanent fat loss, simple for you to understand and achieve.
With lists of good and bad carbohydrates, easy-to-follow food blocks and delicious recipes, The Zone provides all you need to begin your journey toward permanent fat loss, great health and all-round peak performance. In balance, your body will not only burn fat, but you'll fight heart disease, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue, depression and cancer, as well as alleviate the painful symptoms of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and HIV.
This Zone state of exceptional health is well-known to champion athletes. Your own journey toward it can begin with your next meal. You will no longer think of food as merely an item of pleasure or a means to appease hunger. Food is your medicine and your ticket to that state of ultimate body balance, strength and great health: the Zone.
Customer Reviews:
Diet For Life Guide.......2007-08-31
This is probably the simplest way to eat. It makes sense, and it works. I have already lost about 6lbs in 2 weeks time. The meals are easy to fix and the ingredients are simple. Once you are in the "zone" you will never go back.
A comparison of Diet Books.......2007-06-03
Like many of you, I found myself wondering what the differences were between the various diet programs. What I discovered is that all of the major diet books are well written and share many similarities. None of them offered an "silver bullet" to weight loss - it primarily comes down to keeping your calories burned greater than your calories eaten. There are theories presented about glycemic index, good vs. bad carbs, etc., but at the end of the day it's about calories and exercise.
In this review, I've tried to offer brief summaries of each diet book/program in hopes that it might help you pick out the one that would work best for you. Don't pay too much attention to the number of stars, as it's my own subjective rating based on effectiveness, ease of use, and ability to stick with the diet. Instead, try to discern which diet might fit your lifestyle better.
The Abs Diet, ****
This book is written by David Zinczenko, the editor of Men's Health Magazine. The diet likes the number 6 - promising "6 pack abs in 6 weeks," by eating 6 meals a day. Each meal is built around the "power 12" foods. There is a strong emphasis on whey supplements. The fitness program was easy to follow but perhaps too strenuous for beginners and seemed better suited to men. Strong points are excellent nutritional content and strong exercise. Weak points are questionable claims about rapid weight loss and "6 pack" abs, and mediocre meal plans. Average recommended daily calories are 1,890, with 7 fruits and vegetable servings.
The South Beach Diet ****
The SB Diet is a slightly more permissive version of the Atkins low-carb diet. It is based on the premise that eating low-glycemic foods (foods that don't raise blood sugar) decreases cravings for sugar and refined carbs. Like many of the diets, there are two phases. In the first phase, fruits, sugar, and grains are banned outright. Phase 2 allows some fruit, high-fiber grains, and dark chocolate. The simplicity of the diet might appeal to many busy dieters. However the emphasis on the glycemic index and insufficient exercise sections are a drawback. Recipes are easy to prepare, but some called for unusual ingredients (a clever cook could make substitutions). Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,340, with 13 fruits and vegetable servings (mostly veggies).
The Sonoma Diet ****
The Sonoma Diet is an updated low-carb diet with a Mediterranean theme. Again, it is broken into two phases, called "waves." In "Wave 1," the dieter is banned from eating most sweet or refined foods. The much longer "Wave 2" permits fruits and wine. It has a unique method of calculating portions by filling sectors of small plates with specified food categories. The diet is healthy but complex. It is also very restrictive, which makes it more difficult to stay on. Also, the book doesn't offer enough on exercise. The recipes were tasty but elaborate to prepare. Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,390, with 10 fruits and vegetable servings.
Ultra-Metabolism ***
The Ultra-Metabolism Diet is designed around the assertion that people get fat because their body's systems become toxic, inflamed, and imbalanced. Again, this is a two phase diet. Phase 1 is an initial "detox" period. The longer Phase 2 is a "rebalancing" period. Overall, the dieter must eliminate white rice, refined grains, most red meats, and caffeinated beverages. The theory of your body requiring detoxification goes beyond any scientific evidence and rings a bit of late night television "miracle detox bowel-cleansing pills." The diet is fairly restrictive and complicated. The exercise section was brief but practical. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 12 fruits and vegetable servings.
Volumetrics, ****
The Volumetrics Diet is based on Penn State research. It aims to maximize the amount of food you can eat for a given caloric intake. This is done primarily by eating reduced-fat products, adding in lots of vegetables, and using low-fat cooking techniques. It encourages eating a first course of broth-based soup or low-calorie salad (not heavily laden with dressing, cheese or bacon) to take the edge off your appetite. Recent clinical studies have shown this diet to be very effective. The recipes are appetizing but time consuming. Average recommended daily calories are 1,500, with 14 fruits and vegetable servings.
The Zone Diet, ****
The Zone Diet was designed to keep your blood sugar and hormones at optimal levels so that you can better fight obesity and diseases. It requires that each meal consist of 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs (based on calories). The diet allows many fruits, but almost no grains except oatmeal. The meals are simple to prepare and nutritionally balanced. But having to keep to the 30/30/40 balance is very tedious and requires lots of preplanning. Recent studies showed that the overall weight loss was below average. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.
Eat More, Weigh Less, ***
The Eat More, Weigh Less (Ornish) Diet is a low-fat vegetarian diet that bans all meat, fish, oils, alcohol, sugar, and white flour. Their clinical studies suggest that strictly following the diet can prevent or reverse some diseases. Ornish argues that it is easier to make drastic changes to diet rather than small ones. The diet offers the most food per calorie of any of the diets. It is actually lower in fat than current USDA guidelines recommend. Studies have shown good long term weight loss, but a relatively high drop-out rate. Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.
Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, ***
The Atkins Diet is the grand daddy of them all. As with many of the other diets, it is divided into two phases. The first phase is a two week induction period that bans nearly all carbs. The second phase is only slightly less restrictive, but does slowly add more vegetables, fruit, and wine. Research has suggested that Atkins' dieters are less hungry than on many other diets. But the diet is difficult to adhere to and has a high drop-out rate. Long term weight loss has been shown to be average. The single most glaring concern with the Atkins diet is that the nutritional profile is far outside conventional dietary guidelines. (We've all known people eating handfuls of bacon, eggs, and cheese for breakfast, claiming they were on a diet). Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 6 fruits and vegetable servings.
Again, please don't worry too much about my ranking of the diet books - it's completely subjective. My suggestion is to simply find a program that seems to fit your lifestyle best.
Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.
Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - an intense thriller in which a martial artist, a greedy corporate attorney, and a sexy conspiracy theorist team up to stop a world-class sniper from killing presidential candidates.
Good idea, but too complicated.......2007-05-27
I purchased The Zone diet book a few years ago in many an attempt to loose weight. While it was part of the "low carb" diet craze and does provide some good insights, it's too complicated. Everything has to be eaten in percentages, and your diet has to be limited from the bad carbs (bread, pasta, sweets, etc.). You need to limit portions, eat fruit and vegetables, and not live so strictly, otherwise you will be unhappy.
The hard road to physical excellence (as if there is an easy one)........2007-05-24
No diet like it! It's difficult at first but once you begin to see results it becomes almost addictive. I went from a fat 225 pounds with a 37% body fat percentage to a ripped 187 pounds with a 13% body fat in about 4 months. The food is great, it just requires more shopping and more cooking than what most people are used to. I strongly suggest pairing this book with any "Cro-Magnon" diet books as well as the excersises on the crossfit[...] website to get maximum results.
This plan has also helped people in my family with different goals than mine. My girlfriend went on this plan and slimmed down greatly with no exercise. My mother was able to drop some anti-depressants off her prescribed medication list, i guess eating right makes people happier.
Wether you want to gain or lose this is the book! Just be prepaired for an incredibly expensive grocery bill.
Dr. Sears, the Zone and Fish Oil.......2007-04-30
After reading the older version of this book years ago, I used Dr. Sears program and lost some weight, but I began feeling unwell after about 6 weeks and stopped following it regularly and subsequently felt better. I maintained some adherence to the general principles of the program for years, so I believed it had validity. Since we are all different, I just didn't think that the strict program was for me.
I bought this book recently and started with the program again, and found it too complicated and frankly, too much work. I eat simple food, vegetables and fish or chicken, and I really eat too few food varieties to manage this rigid formula. So again, not for me.
However, the BEST part of this book was his mention of Pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and how beneficial it is. He referenced a man who had very high BP, and who took pharmaceutical grade fish oil for 2 weeks and brought his pressure down to normal. My BP was too high, so I ordered the fish oil and within 2-3 weeks, my BP was much lower. Naturally, that alone made this book more than worthwhile for me, and the reason I gave it 4 stars. The fish oil addresses lots of human nutritional needs and corrects quite a few imbalances, so if you're not feeling up to snuff, you might consider searching fish oil online and checking it out.
If you want to lose weight or you are a candidate for heart disease, I think giving Dr. Sears' program a shot is a good idea since the Zone principles make a lot of sense. It might do exactly what you want it to.
Book Description
From one of the most celebrated travel writers at work today—a vibrantly observant, witty, utterly captivating account of a lifetime’s worth of travel between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Part memoir, part travelogue, all passionate appreciation, Tales from the Torrid Zone begins in Iririki, Alexander Frater’s birthplace. On this tiny island in the South Seas republic of Vanuatu, his grandfather, a Presbyterian missionary from Scotland, converted the inhabitants, his father ran the hospital and his mother built its first schoolhouse in their front garden. And it was on Iririki where, on the eve of his sixth birthday, Frater fell victim to “le coup de bamboo . . . a mild form of tropical madness for which, luckily, there is no cure,” and which has compelled him, again and again, to return to the “seeding, breeding, buzzing, barking, fluttering, squawking, germinating, growing” deep tropics.
His travels take him to nearly all of the eighty-eight countries encompassed by this remarkable, steamy swath of the world. He delves deeply into the history and politics of each nation he visits, and into the lives of the inhabitants, and of the flora and fauna. He is, at once, tourist, explorer and adventurer, as fascinated with—and fascinating about—the quotidian as he is with the extraordinary. But certainly, he does not lack for the extraordinary: dining with the Queen of Tonga in a leper colony; making his way across tropical Africa—and two civil wars—in a forty-four-year-old flying boat; delivering a new church bell to a remote Oceanian island.
From Fiji to Laos, Mexico to Peru, Senegal to Uganda, Taiwan to Indonesia, Frater gives us a richly described, wonderfully anecdotal, endlessly surprising picture of this diverse, feverish, languorously beautiful world—as much a state of mind as it is a geographical phenomenon.
Customer Reviews:
Didn't like .......2007-05-26
Somehow this book simply didn't appeal to me. It meanders all over the place, with no dates so you're often left to guess the chronology. Occasional reminiscences about bygone missionaries, their wives, church bells and so on. Not a travel book by any means. Although to be fair, the parts about flying boats and tropical diseases were quite interesting. If you are interested in the South Pacific, I'd reccomend as light fare "The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific" by J. Maarten Troost and the best I've ever read "The Fatal Impact: The Invasion of the South Pacific, 1767-1840"
Wandering through the tropics.......2007-05-07
My first reaction to Frater's "Tales" was mildly negative. He offers digressions within digressions, often jump cutting from place to place with only the mildest narrative logic. After a while, though, I adjusted to the pace and style and became thoroughly engrossed with his account of a life-long passion for the tropics. The book is filled with interesting detail, and thoughtful musings on a wide variety of subjects. I would love to travel with Frater, and reading this book is the next best thing.
Deep Tropics.......2007-04-27
The ellipical structure of the anecdotes will either enchant you or drive you batty trying to figure out when and where he is at any given moment. If you like Paul Theroux's travel books you may like this. It is more ephemeral, but in the end there is a linear tale with somewhat of an arc. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more by him. You will want to visit most of the places when you put down the book. Just bring mosquito repellent and a wry sense of humor.
So Many Fascinating Stories ... But When Did They Happen?.......2007-04-10
The structure of Frater's book is built around his birth to a missionary family in the South Pacific, the love of the tropics that never left him despite many years in rainy England, and his purchase of a new bell for the church founded by his grandfather. A long time travel writer for a British newspaper, Frater has many good stories to tell, and they surface in this book in strange ways; a moment in, say, Fiji, wil remind him of a previous moment, in Mozambique for example, which will remind him of yet another story. Although this is certainly a change from itinerary-based travel writing, I would have liked to at least have footnotes saying when exactly a set of events took place. I often had to re-read paragraphs and sections after I realized that he was in Vanuatu, reminiscing about someplace like Burma.
Average customer rating:
- An informative memoir on the Vietnam War
- The first step
- A Good Time To Revisit the Vietnam Experience
- Good, but not his best
- A good book
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If I Die in a Combat Zone : Box Me Up and Ship Me Home
Tim O'Brien
Manufacturer: Broadway
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Over time, Tim O'Brien has used both art and artifice to shape his fictional accounts of Vietnam. Award-winning novels such as Going After Cacciato and The Things They Carried offer up a surreal view of the war: a soldier who decides to walk to Paris, leaving only a trail of M&M's in his wake; a young man who imports his high-school girlfriend to his base camp high in the jungled mountains, only to lose her to a shadowy squad of Special Forces Green Berets and to "that mix of unnamed terror and unnamed pleasure" that was Vietnam. O'Brien's first account of the war, however, was written in the raw, unfiltered months following his return from Southeast Asia in 1969. If I Die in a Combat Zone has all of the eloquence and attention to language and detail that are a mark of the author's work; what is different about it is its straightforward, unembellished depiction of his personal experience of hell.
"When you are ordered to march through areas such as Pinkville--GI slang for Song My, parent village of My Lai ... you do some thinking. You hallucinate. You look ahead a few paces and wonder what your legs will resemble if there is more to the earth in that spot than silicates and nitrogen. Will the pain be unbearable? Will you scream or fall silent? Will you be afraid to look at your own body, afraid of the sight of your own red flesh and white bone? You wonder if the medic remembered his morphine."
O'Brien paints an unvarnished portrait of the infantry soldier's life that is at once mundane and terrifying--the endless days of patrolling punctuated by firefights that end as suddenly and inconclusively as they begin; the mind-numbing brutality of burned villages and trampled rice patties; the terror of tunnels, minefields, and the ever-present threat of death. Powerful as these scenes are, perhaps the most memorable chapter in the book concerns his decision to desert just a few weeks before he was sent to Vietnam. "The AWOL bag was ready to go, but I wasn't.... I burned the letters to my family. I read the others and burned them, too. It was over. I simply couldn't bring myself to flee. Family, the home town, friends, history, tradition, fear, confusion, exile: I could not run." Tim O'Brien went into the war opposing it and came out knowing exactly why. If I Die in a Combat Zone is more than just a memoir of a disastrous war; it is also a meditation on heroism and cowardice, on the mutability of truth and morality in a war zone and, most of all, on the simple, human capacity to endure the unendurable. --Alix Wilber
Book Description
Before writing his award-winning
Going After Cacciato, Tim O'Brien gave us this intensely personal account of his year as a foot soldier in Vietnam. The author takes us with him to experience combat from behind an infantryman's rifle, to walk the minefields of My Lai, to crawl into the ghostly tunnels, and to explore the ambiguities of manhood and morality in a war gone terribly wrong. Beautifully written and searingly heartfelt,
If I Die in a Combat Zone is a masterwork of its genre.
Customer Reviews:
An informative memoir on the Vietnam War.......2007-08-30
This memoir brought me closer than I had been before to the Vietnam War..it was interesting. Another perspective on the Vietnam War.
The first step.......2007-08-09
If I Die...is Tim O'Brien's first book, and his first of many inspired by his tour of duty as an infantryman in Vietnam, 1969-70. Later, more successful books, like Going After Cacciato and The Things They Carried, deliberately smudge the line between reportage and invented story (and, in GAC, he takes it all the way to outright fantasy) but this debut is intended as a soldier's field memoir, the facts as O'Brien saw and remembers them, although with much brooding personal commentary added.
More than 30 years after its publication, the book is still quite powerful, reviving the sights and sounds of a war that America decided a while ago not to forget, but rather to remember in a way it finds most convenient. There are still too many people who believe we could easily have "won" Vietnam if we hadn't been "stabbed in the back" by politicians and hippie protestors at home; that is nonsense, much of which O'Brien's book helps disprove. Indispensible works like The Best and the Brightest, and of course The Pentagon Papers, prove how various US administrations allowed themselves to be deluded about the progress the US military might make in solving the political problems of a small SE Asian country. By the time O'Brien arrived as a foot soldier in early 1969, the war had reached a high-level stalemate, was essentially over, and the Vietnamese simply had to wait us out. LBJ and Nixon knew this but they continued to send our soldiers over to be killed and mangled; too precipitous a withdrawal would have hurt their administrations politically.
What O'Brien does so well is dramatize this fatal stall at the personal level. His book is loaded with stories of ranking officers, brave men with Army careers, allowing their commands to ease off in the field, avoid pointless enemy engagements, even file fake patrol reports, especially at night. O'Brien's tour commenced a year after Tet and My Lai occurred, and in their aftermath, as O'Brien tells it, Army morale at even the officer level had sunk so low, and the failure of US goals was so evident, that few Americans wanted to get killed for a misadventure.
What lingers most in my mind is O'Brien's struggle with his own self-loathing: he believed even before being drafted that the war was wrong, and made serious plans to desert the Army, but found himself unable to make that great break, fearful of the reaction he would eventually encounter from parents and the small Minnesota town of his birth. He gave in to tradition, rather than do what he felt to be right, and it seems he has never forgiven himself.
A Good Time To Revisit the Vietnam Experience .......2007-08-02
Tim O'Brien is one of our more gifted, living writers in the genre of war literature, and although IF I DIE IN A COMBAT zone isn't his strongest book, it is certainly worthy reading, especially in the echoing din of George Bush's Iraqi adventure.
A straightforward account from a soldier's point of view, O'Brien's book includes the before, during, and after of his Vietnam experience -- especially the daily grind of soldiering (during) and the soul-searching and debate about fleeing (before) instead of answering the call of the draft. He had a rather quixotic escape plan to Sweden (of all places), but ultimately did his "duty," all along meditating on the nature of sanity, obligation, and patriotism. There are frequent excerpts from Plato, even, as O'Brien explores that ancient philosopher's take on "courage." As his fellow soldiers are killed, O'Brien details the nature of fate and chance, along with the more realistic details of the many ways "Charlie" (the VC) could arrange for you to die.
Here is a typical excerpt in which O'Brien compares Vietnam to the Trojan War:
"But losing [Captain Johansen] was like the Trojans losing Hector. He gave some amount of reason to fight. Certainly there were never any political reasons. The war, like Hector's own war, was silly and stupid. Troy was besieged for the sake of a pretty woman. And Helen, for God's sake, was a woman most of the grubby, warted Trojans could never have. Vietnam was under siege in pursuit of a pretty, tantalizing, promiscuous, particularly American brand of government and style. And most of Alpha Company would have preferred a likable whore to self-determination. So Captain Johansen helped to mitigate and melt the silliness, showing the grace and poise a man can have under the worst of circumstances, a wrong war. We clung to him." -- (p. 145)
Philosophical riffs like this are frequent -- as are accounts of the soldiers' lives (and deaths), their nicknames for killer devices, their fear and superstitions, and their ways of surviving in a strange land where even women and children could, and often did, mean death. The literary weave of abstractions on war and history with specifics on Vietnam itself make for a potent read. You will come out of it not only feeling better educated about what Vietnam was like, but sensing that many of the arguments of the American government and the officers in charge ring as familiarly hollow now (in Iraq) as they did then (in Vietnam). If I could, I'd buy a copy for the President. But I know he wouldn't read it or, if he did, seek meaning from it.
Pro or anti-war, Vietnam or Iraq, you, however, can glean something from this early effort of Tim O'Brien's. Check it out.
Good, but not his best.......2007-04-28
Having read O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" first, this book seemed a bit dry and journalistic in comparison. It started out slow, and never really pulled me in the way the other did. In this book there are flashes of O'Brien's lyrical, dream-like brilliance, but never as consistent or as seemingly tangible as in "The Things They Carried."
In this book, O'Brien brings the reader along with him from the moment he first learns that he is to be drafted until he is on a plane heading home from Viet Nam. He shares his fears, doubts and political views of the war. The book is mostly about O'Brien's experience in the war, and how it changed him and matured him.
Overall, a good book. Probably of particular interest to anyone interested in a personal, almost documentary-style account of O'Brien's experience in Viet Nam. In a purely literary sense, however, the stories in "The Things They Carried" are far better examples of Tim O'Brien's skill as a writer.
A good book.......2007-01-11
A little too in depth for me. But i do recommend that it be read. A good book.
Book Description
This book describes the underlying water conditions and geologies that support viable riparia, illustrates the ecological characteristics of riparia, and discusses how riparia are used by human cultures as well as how riparia can be used to sustain environmental quality. In recent years riparian management has been widely implemented as a means of improving fisheries, water quality, and habitat for endangered species. This book provides the basic knowledge necessary to implement successful, long-term management and rehabilitation programs.
* Treats riparian patterns & processes in a holistic perspective, from ecological components to societal activities
* Contains over 130 illustrations and photos that summarize this complex ecological system
* Synthesizes the information from more than 6,000 professional articles
* Sidebars provide a look into ongoing research that is at the frontiers of riparian ecology and management
Average customer rating:
- Good basic info
- How I am becomming the person I used to be
- A good introduction to the Zone Diet
- Highly recommend for newly diagnosed Type II Diabetics
- This is really all you need to learn The Zone
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A Week in the Zone: A Quick Course in the Healthiest Diet for You
Barry Sears , and
Deborah Kotz
Manufacturer: Collins
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What to Eat in the Zone: The Quick & Easy, Mix & Match Counter for Staying in the Zone
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Zone Meals in Seconds: 150 Fast and Delicious Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Zone (Regan))
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The Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently : Reset Your Genetic Code : Prevent Disease : Achieve Maximum Physical Performance
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Mastering the Zone: The Next Step in Achieving SuperHealth and Permanent Fat Loss
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Zone Perfect Meals in Minutes: 150 Fast and Simple Healthy Recipes from the Bestselling Authorof the Zone and Mastering the Zone
Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 0060741902
Release Date: 2004-06-29 |
Book Description
The gateway to the Zone: the fastest, easiest way and a comprehensive, accessible guide to the revolutionary diet sweeping America, with an easy–to–follow plan for losing weight, increasing mental and physical performance, and living a longer, healthier life.
Millions of people worldwide have discovered the power of the Zone. A breakthrough approach to dieting based on Nobel Prize–winning research, the Zone treats food as the most powerful drug available. Used wisely, food will take you into the Zone, a state of exceptional health where you'll not only burn body fat, you'll keep it off. You'll also fight heart disease, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue, depression, and cancer. Discover the benefits of this revolutionary program in just 7 days with A Week in the Zone:
㟗hat the Zone is
㟈ow to eat in the Zone
㟈ow to shop in the Zone
㟁 week's worth of healthy, satisfying recipes including quick and easy Zone breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
㟔he Zone for vegetarians
㟈ow to order in and dine out in the Zone
䇯w to achieve maximum success in the Zone.
Customer Reviews:
Good basic info.......2007-09-06
The book does a good job of covering the basics of the Zone diet. I needed to supplement the info with some items off the web, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.
How I am becomming the person I used to be.......2007-08-27
Reading and applying this book to my life helped me change dramatically my lifestyle. I am a different person after reading Dr. Sear's book. My doctor had highly recommended I read this book and she was not wrong. I have the cure of my hormone unbalance. I have no mood swings and feel younger. If you are overweight and have tried everything you will find the help you need with this book. Try it....it really works!
A good introduction to the Zone Diet.......2007-06-17
I was reading bits and pieces of the Zone Diet on the net, and decided the best way to move ahead was order this book. The book covers everything you need to get started and explains the core concepts of the diet without getting too technical.
Out of all the dieting/health books I've read the Zone Diet makes the most sense to me. The book covers the core concepts, and provides a one week plan to get started. Thereafter there are too many resources on the net to mention that provide support for the diet especially the wide array of recipes.
As long as you do your shopping and have your meals prepared - following this eating 'lifestyle' will be a breeze.
Highly recommend for newly diagnosed Type II Diabetics.......2007-04-22
When I found out I had Type II diabetes, I was completely baffled and lost. Then, an Australian nutritional counselor I met told me to follow this diet. I figured instead of buying the full-blown version of the big book, I would start small and buy this condensed version. It was an easy read - took a few hours - and it made so much sense. In the first six days, I lost 13 lbs. and felt AMAZING. It was the first time in 5 years I had felt this good.
I have continued to refer to it and refine my dietary plan. In the past 90 days, I have lowered my blood sugar - without medication - by 30 points and dropped my A1C number from 6.9 to 6.6. Even my doctor was amazed.
Diabetes can be a confusing and scary illness. So, start small, and change what you can. Consider this book your first step towards successful management of your health!
This is really all you need to learn The Zone.......2006-08-16
Don't bother with the longer books unless you want to get down and into the scientific data behind the Zone. And don't bother with the cookbook because it's absolutely horrible. This book explains the Zone and how to get there, has a few sample menu's (that should be used as guide's only) and a list of food 'blocks' in the back. It's all you need to get going. I highly recommend this book, and the Zone diet in general. I have lost 15 lbs in the past 7 weeks. It has been 7 easy weeks with 100% contentment and 0% hunger & struggles. I could not be happier.
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