Barry Williams Books

Having worked for a huge, Fortune 15 company for the past four years, I felt like the book was written about some of my experiences, yet I was laughing or completely jaw dropped for nearly the entire book. I read it completely on the bus for my commute, and got a few of my neighbors on the bus interested in the book just from my laughs.

The only reason I rate it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I think the first surprise in the book (around page 100) was actually more exciting for me than the climax. The book ended exactly how it should have, and it was never clear in my mind until the very end what Jones (the main character) was going to do, but after the bombshell in the beginning of the book, nothing else would surprise me!

Generally speaking, I'm all about anti-corporative works, myself being fortunately able to escape the corporative world and make a decent living by my own.

This book, which is not bad (it's simply highly forgettable), has one major flaw: it's not funny enough. It's advertised as funny, as some kind of Scott Adams, but it's not. It begins funny, then suddenly it's dark (which I can get), but it seems the writer lost the purpose of the book.

Well, anyawy, I didn't feeel I lost precious moments of my life by reading it, so...

If you ever worked for or with a big company, you'll find this book Company hilarious. Things like these will actually make you laugh:

* Endless voicemail forwards: "This is Greg Smith, Gretchen, can you please forward this to my staff. This is Mike Jones, Mary, can you please forward this to my direct reports. This is ..."
* Nobody really knows what the company does or wants to have to explain it to someone else.
* All your "customers" are internal customers. (I remember a big campaign ... nobody was allowed to call a company team a customer even though we made tools for other teams.)

Company is a funny book and a fast read. Good entertainment.

Having worked in and around the corporate world almost my entire life I can tell you that managers and owners do some crazy things to their employees to subtly manipulate them into doing what they actually want them to do. And you know what? It WORKS.

This book explores some of the crazy inner workings of a corporation that is just a little too crazy, but since the writer used to work for HP, it's completely possible that he may have actually experienced some form of the book himself.

What? You don't think corporations sometimes implement programs in small sectors of the business 'just to see if it works'? Well THINK AGAIN!!! Because I've seen it done and I've seen it work.

If you've EVER managed employees, read this book and you'll realize you've probably walked in at least one of the pairs of shoes portrayed in this book.

An EXCELLENT READ that I recommend to ANYONE involved in business.

This would make a great tv show. What if you were in a gerbil in a cage and didn't know it?

BARRY WILLIAMS DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB TELLING WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING ON THE BRADY BUNCH, ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN FAMILY SITCOMS FROM THE 70'S. THE SHOW WAS CORNY, GOODY 2 SHOES AND UNREALISTIC. BUT STILL HAD A NICE HOMEY AND WHOLESOME TOUCH TO IT. I DID WATCH THE SHOW OFF AND ON, BUT MOSTLY TO SEE HOW HOT MAUREEN MCCORMICK AND EVE PLUMB LOOKED. BARRY WILLIAMS REALLY BRINGS BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES AS HE TELLS US SOME GREAT STORIES THAT WENT ON ON CAMERA AND OFF CAMERA. THE MOST INTERESTING WERE, HIS DATE WITH FLO HENDERSON, INFATUATION WITH MO MCCORMCICK AND THE CONSTANT COMPLAINING AND ARGUMENTS CONCERNING ROBERT REED AND THE SHOWS WRITERS AND PRODUCERS. IF YOU WERE A FAN OF THE BRADY BUNCH THIS IS MUST READ.

This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it very much both times. The only downfall to this book was that I really felt that the book did not need the complete list of the all of the brady episodes. The first time I read this book, it was the first edition and did not have the extra chapters, and this one does, so I really liked that. Barry did a great job writing this book. I felt that his stories were very interesting and fun. Each story pretty much had its own chapter. The last thing that I liked about the boook was all of the pictures. Over all the book was far out and groovy!

The fact that there were some laughs in this book and it was interesting and well-written has to be balanced against the reality that tell-alls like this damage the nice fantasy that The Brady Bunch has been for thirty-some years. I don't mean to put Barry Williams down but I sort of wish I'd never read this book with its unhappy revelations and...too much information.

I grew up with the Bradys. I preferred the cooler Partridge Family, but I watched the Brady Bunch almost daily after school when it was in syndication. That said, I haven't spent my days thinking about them and never had a crush on any of the kids, but I liked them. And, after reading about this book, I came upon a used copy which I immediately bought.

Surprisingly, this was a fun read. To be honest, Greg was my least-favorite Brady (sorry, Barry-- I like you best now, though!). But, this book shows that the kids that played the Bradys were definitely multi-layered and fun-- even if their alter egos gave no indication of this.

The writing is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. When I opened the book, I first noticed the episode guide. I wasn't interested in this at all, and thought I'd just read the memoir part and neglect this guide. However, the entire thing was just so well-written and funny that I wound up reading the episode guide, too. Besides summaries of each show, Barry adds his own recollections and thoughts-- often they're hysterical.

Interestingly, although I knew about Robert Reed's displeasure with the show, I didn't realize the lengths he went to to change the show. Included in the book are several multi-page memos Reed wrote to either Sherwood Schwartz and/or the Paramount heads pleading the case for rewrites. Although I'm a fan of Robert Reed's and understand why he went to these lengths, the memos are incredibly analytical and somewhat humorous in their detail. Sometimes Reed would submit the memos in an attempt to get entire shows changed. There was one memo, though-- about three pages typed, that he submitted with the hope of changing a three minute "tag" scene (the end scene after the last commercial and before the credits).

It is obvious that Barry Williams has a lot of fondness for all of the cast and crew and for his years on the Brady Bunch. Even when airing dirty laundry, it's really not that dirty. That is, he does kiss and tell when it comes to little make out sessions with Maureen McCormick, but this is a book that his own kids could read without any alarm. This is a book that nobody who was involved with the show would be angry about. For instance, there's no mention of Reed's sexuality here. Barry shares the sweetness of the show with mild, yet healthy, cynicism. He does talk about Reed's and the Schwartz's ongoing exasperation, Florence Henderson's flirtatious side, and the kids' crushes with eachother and others. But this is really a trip down memory lane that he's sharing with us, rather than a big huge laundry airing.

Added: Some reviewers are calling this an autobiography. It is definitely NOT an autobiography-- as a matter of fact he only mentions his wife once when telling us the Brady cast attended his wedding. This is definitely more of a memoir-- a story of a man reminiscing about good times with people he loved and wanting to share those good times with those who want to hear about it.

I really enjoyed listening to the audio version of Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg by Barry Williams. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed watching the show while growing up. It was nice to hear that the kids were a "normal" group of kids in an abnormal situation-- which is possibly how they avoided many of the problems of other child stars, and also nice to hear that even though there were squabbles, the kids pretty much got along together and that they still think of each other as family. This is a very enjoyable book!

The life of 10 years-old William Thomas Emerson is forever changed when his family is killed when their home is struck by lightening. William eventually ends up at The Seven Stars Inn in Boston where he finds himself amidst the turbulent days leading up to America's Revolutionary War.

Written in the form of William's journal, this historical fiction provides the reader with a glimpse into young Mr. Emerson's life regarding events both mundane and profound. As a border at the Inn, William comes into contact with a committee of Patriots assists them in a number of tasks essential to the survival of liberty in America such as aiding in the defection of a British office to the Colonial side and in ferreting out a spy from the ranks of the committee's own membership.

Crafted as a first person account, Denenberg does not gloss over incidents that would shock our contemporary sensibilities as might be the case in a more detached theoretical account. Neither does he sugarcoat the shortcomings of either side.

For example, not only does Denenberg depict a Redcoat pummeling an innocent bystander to death, but he also portrays a Patriot mob that vandalizes and burns down the house of a Tory sympathizer.

Of America's Founding Fathers, it has been said they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. This truth is movingly emphasized in the book's epilogue where it is revealed what ultimately happens to the characters and one learns some of them were called upon to give the last full measure of devotion.

In addressing the purpose behind the book, Denenberg writes, "The American Revolution, more than any other event in American history, has been presented to young readers as an abstract, artificial, distant, and disembodied occurrence involving old men who wore funny clothes and later became statues and oil paintings...I hoped to accomplish two things: to reveal...what it was like to live in 1774 in Boston. And to bring the revolution to life by showing it affected ordinary people and how they affected it."

The Journal of William Thomas Emerson will help the reader better understand what those living at this period in American history had to endure and to more fully appreciate the gift of liberty those forefathers assisted in passing down to each one of us.

by Frederick Meekins

I used this book for a literature circle group. Before reading you need to do a lot of background building about the conflicts between the British and the colonist that lead up to the revolutionary war. Lots of unfamiliar vocabulary. Good for very experienced readers. Less experienced readers will need more support. Very enjoyable reading and the students are learning a lot about the revolutionary war and colonial era

1 This book The Journal of William Thomas Emerson is about a boy who's parents die when he is young and he is token in by a kind lady. He struggles day by day to keep business whill the British haras him.
2 I thought this book was very boring because it was very stupid.
3 This book has a lot of external conflict. It has a lot of external conflict because he must deal with the harasment of British soldiers.
4 I gave this book one star because it was extremly booring. I do not recommend this book to anybody.

A fourth grade teacher used this book in her class for guided reading/literature circle, based on the age range listed. As a special educator in the classroom, I quickly became concerned for the vast majority of the class who did not grasp 80% of the book. The author requires the reader to draw many inferences, a difficult task for nine to ten-year olds. There is a great deal of historical period vocabulary and prior knowledge of the Revolutionary War and colonialism that needs to be pre-taught for anyone under sixth grade to comprehend, especially as the curriculum standards don't introduce the American Revolution until fifth grade.

In addition, there are pages of illustrations of handbills in Colonial English. If you plan to use this novel in a class lower than seventh grade, you had better create study guides!

Can you imagine being a 14 year old boy and a orphan during the revolutionary war patriot in Boston, Massachusetts, 1774?
I'd like to introduce the Journal of William Thomas Emerson. By Barry DenenBerg a historical fiction.
William runs away so he can get away from the war, and Mrs. Thomason is the person who gives him work as a servant. Paying bills, doing chores, paying taxes. Things boys his age can't do. Usually things 14 year old boys cant do cause there to busy having fun. The setting of this book is in Boston Massachusetts summer of 1774. The setting of the book stays the same except for the year and the season. William is a spy and a run away kid. Mrs. Thomason helps William by giving him work and taking him in. Mr. Wilson brings William to Mrs. Thomason at the begging of the book.
What I liked about this book was that William is only 14, and can do all this stuff. I can't imagine being 14, and already doing all this. Can you? That would be hard. Don't you think?
What I didn't like is that it was confusing and hard to understand. Because, it was set back in 1774. During the Revolutionary War Patriot. The words were hard to say.
I think this book is realistic because, a boy could do bills, and runaway like he did. There was a Revolutionary War, so it's most likely realistic.
Here is two quotes from this book "one of the Fitch sisters is blind I think they should get the same treatment that Mr.Carslie did." This quote is important because, it shows you how they don't like the Fitch sisters. another quote is "Mr.Marsh is a drinking man; he can beat you till your black and blue!" This quote is important because, it shows you how it was back then.
I would recommend this book to other people. It's realistic and interesting. I would especially recommend this book to people who like to read journals about other peoples lives.
That was my book review hope you like it and please read this book.

Senator Barry M. Goldwater, the colossally failed 1964 GOP Presidential nominee, has had more books written about him (and his quest for the White House) than many elected Presidents. This is due largely to the fact that he was the face of the Conservative revolution and because his candidacy gave birth to Ronald Reagan's political career.

A Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater's Presidential Campaign and the Origins of the Conservative Movement by J. William Middendorf II is by far the best inside account of Goldwater's draft and candidacy. Middendorf, who was among the very first persons to participate in the Draft Goldwater movement, later served as treasurer for the candidate's primary and general election campaigns. Middendorf went on to have a successful career in government in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan Administrations including a stint as Secretary of the Navy (1974-1977).

What makes this book different from many of the other Goldwater campaign memoirs is that the author worked closely with both the Citizens for Goldwater-Miller members (Clif White, Rus Walton, et. al.) and the Arizona Mafia (Denison Kitchel, et. al.) during the general election season. There were very few campaign officials who had a foot in both of these camps because of the bitter feelings held by the Citizens team after the Republican Convention in San Francisco (when the Arizona Mafia essentially took over from the Draft team and exiled the remaining members to the Citizens organization). Because of his dual associations within the campaign apparatus, Middendorf is able to offer a more global view of the dysfunction that undermined Goldwater's efforts to unseat President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Middendorf tells his story in a linear fashion from the Draft Goldwater days through Goldwater's defiant November 4, 1964 concession speech and beyond (the author provides a concise aftermath of the election and the broader post-1964 impact of Goldwater). Besides Middendorf's unique insights into campaign bombshells like the `Daisy' spot, he provides entertaining anecdotes like the story behind the stiff `Brunch with Barry' infomercial (try to imagine Barry Goldwater hosting a conservative version of The View). He also reveals what the candidate really thought of the orange-flavored campaign novelty drink named after him ("tastes like warm piss!").

Middendorf has not written a hagiography here. There are plenty of passages in the book that are less than complimentary to Senator Goldwater, but most of these scenes have to do with his campaign abilities and his sometimes brusque temperament. The book is written in an engaging, conversational style that moves right along. One of this reviewer's favorite parts of the memoir is Middenforf's description of the Citizens Committee's plan to change the rapidly sinking game of the campaign by releasing a political advertising film targeted directly at LBJ's perceived morality problems. The film, CHOICE, was vetoed for use by Goldwater days before it was to be broadcast on NBC and it has since become something of a cult collectible for poli-sci nerds.

J. William Middendorf II is retired and resides in Rhode Island.

Before reading A Glorious Disaster my knowledge of the 1964 presidential election was shallow. I knew Lyndon Johnson defeated Goldwater in a landslide, but I never really knew anything about the nuts and bolts of the campaign. The 1964 election is an odd one. Johnson had just become president after the Kennedy assassination (killed by a Marxist; go figure). As senator, Johnson served as a conservative southern Democrat. He voted against every Civil Rights bill while he was in Congress. Johnson only shifted his opinion later because of the popularity of the measure. Johnson's ambitions were much stronger than any ideology. Wishing to leave his mark on history, Johnson moved rapidly to the left as president.

Goldwater become the conservative choice in 1962. The liberal wing of the Republican party was always hostile to a Goldwater nomination. Unable to rally behind the candidate, it was Nelson Rockefeller and George Romney (Mitt Romney's father) who ultimately torpedoed any hope for Goldwater. Early on they branded the Arizona Senator as a tool of the extreme right. It was an absurd accusation, but one that Goldwater was never able to shake during the campaign.

I got the sense reading this book that Goldwater wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy. His campaign was run by a bunch of Arizona loyalists who weren't involved in the draft movement. From the beginning Goldwater was consigned to defeat. He didn't want to run against Johnson, whom he felt would do anything to win the election. Goldwater's fears were indeed founded. LBJ used the CIA and FBI for campaign surveillance. These abuses of power by the executive branch dwarf anything Nixon ever did, and perhaps anything anyone has done who's ever served as president. However, it's not likely it affected the outcome of the election. Goldwater never communicated a clear vision, and was constantly on the defensive. The campaign was run poorly and most of the major newspaper editors throughout the country were adamantly opposed to Goldwater.

Despite the election setback it was the birth of the conservative movement. I don't think Goldwater was ever really the right person for the cause. He didn't communicate well enough, but at that time he was the closest thing to an electable candidate. During that election the former actor Ronald Reagan made his now famous "a Time for Choosing" speech that would ultimately make him the face of the conservative movement. His speech is still relevant today.

The author of the book J. William Middendorf II, served as the treasurer during the campaign and later for the RNC. His meticulousness attention to detail paints a clear portrait of that period. Middendorf later went on to serve as the Ambassador to the Netherlands under Nixon and later became the Secretary of the Navy. The book is a nice little historic insight into the birth of the conservative movement. A movement that ultimately changed our current political landscape and brought us Ronald Reagan.

When I read the title of this book, I expected an in-depth analysis of why the Conservative movement started with Barry Goldwater's failed candidacy for the Presidency in 1964. Unfortunately, that did not turn out to be the case.

The author of this book was a critical player in the Goldwater campaign, and, as such, has tremendously valuable memories of Goldwater's unsuccessful attempt to become President of the United States. This book, however, is nothing more than a political memoir - how this one individual got involved in the Goldwater campaign and what the ride meant to him. It is filled with exciting and fun stories, and is an enjoyable book to read, but most assuredly is not for the historian.

I believe that this book is a good start towards understanding whether or not Goldwater's ascendancy to the head position in the Republican party really did start the Conservative movement that has been so powerful in the last 25 years, but it certainly does not live up to its title.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable political memoir - if the reader is conservative, this book will delight. Even a liberal will enjoy the book, though some of the disparaging remarks about LBJ or Jimmy Carter may not bode well with those who possess a leftist slant.

J. William Middendorff II, A Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater's Presidential Campaign and the origins of the Conservative Movement ( 2006, basic books, new york, 303pp)

This is a fascinating and lively insider report from someone who really was an insider. Ambassador Middendorf played a significant role in the rise of modern conservatism within the Republican Party. As a Connecticut Republican with many friends in the moderate wing of the party he nevertheless early on saw the need for a new approach and a new movement.

Bill was part of the draft Goldwater effort and part of the Goldwater Campaign and then Treasurer for the Republican National Committee as it bounced back from the disaster of 1964. He was in on an amazing number of meetings and worked with virtually every major conservative of that period.

His observations are insightful and in some cases unique.

Even though I had lived through virtually every campaign this book covers I still found myself with new reflections and new insights.

From the perspective of 2007 the most stunning reminder was the level of ruthlessness, dishonesty, and viciousness which characterized the Lyndon Johnson campaign and Johnson's entire behavior. It is worth reading as a reminder of what a 2008 Clinton campaign might be like.

Middendorf repeats a story I first heard from Tim Russert about Goldwater and Kennedy agreeing that in 1964 they would tour the country on Air Force One holding a series of debates and proving that there could be civility and collegiality even in presidential politics. Building on the debates of 1960 and enjoying each other's company a Goldwater-Kennedy contest would have led to a much healthier America.

Middendorf also reminds us that results can shift with remarkable speed. The Goldwater defeat was seen as the beginning of the end for the GOP yet two short years later in 1966 there was a remarkable rebound. The GOP lost 529 legislative seats in 1964 and gained 700 in 1966. The GOP lost 37 house seats and gained 47 in 1966.

One other fascinating reminder about how the world can change is the question of being a frontrunner for the nomination. On the Friday before the 1964 California GOP primary Nelson Rockefeller was ahead by 49 to 40 and on Tuesday Goldwater won the primary and with it the nomination. After the 1966 elections Governor George Romney was the front runner and polls showed him beating President Johnson 54 to 46, After he said "the greatest brainwashing that anybody can get when you go over to Vietnam....they do a very thorough job" his campaign collapsed.

This is a useful book for anyone who would like to understand the rise of modern conservatism and anyone who would like to better understand presidential politics.

Bill Middendorf offers a delightful insider's view of Barry Goldwater's trailblazing 1964 campaign for President.

As a true insider -- he was on the inner circle as campaign treasurer, a key fundraiser, an early Draft Goldwater leader and a seeming voice of seasoned maturity (at age 37) -- he certainly offers a view that is signficantly more robust than most historical accounts.

It's a very enjoyable read.

Of course, Goldwater was utterly shellacked in 1964. But in losing, his principled admirers won by helping establish the foundation for a conservative movement that would build and last for decades.

I am a pilot and picked this book up off the discount rack because I am always interested in learning more about the people who have made my career possible. I thought that the book was clear and well written. There are a few small hiccups that interrupt an otherwise clearly flowing history of the U.S. Air mail.

You pretty much have to be an aero-phile (my word for aviation fanatic), history buff, or have some freakish interest in the U.S. Postal service to enjoy this book, definitely not for a casual reader. A quick, clear history of the U.S. Air Mail and the daring men and woman who have helped make aviation what it is today!

Congratulations are in order to the authors of Mavericks of the Sky. Barry Rosenberg and Catherine Macaulay managed to create a story, almost three hundred pages, about the beginnings of air mail in the United States that could have been all summed up in their thirty page epilogue. Rosenberg and Macaulay, at first, seem to be well proven authors with many successful publications under their belts. Both have published work for publications such as Aviation Week & Space Technology, E/The Environment Magazine, and the Daily Racing Forum. It is important to remember that looks can be deceiving.
Webster's Dictionary defines Maverick as a person or individual that does not get along well with others. It is quite odd that that Rosenberg and Macaulay would title their work and label the founding men of aviation and air mail as "Mavericks", but maybe the name was stolen from Top Gun. The book basically sums up the stories of the early pioneers of aviation that led to the formation of air mail and the airlines as we know them today. It is quite amazing that a topic of such interest could be told in such a confusing and unprofessional manner as Rosenberg and Macaulay demonstrated.
Mavericks of the Sky begins with the ill famous story of Major Reuben Hollis Fleet, and his tedious role in the formation of the air mail service. The book continues with the story of Major Fleet and introduces numerous amounts of characters that some how had a role in early air mail service. The authors present a story that would be quite sufficient for the average 7th grader, but not for anyone who has the slightest inclination about the overwhelming amount of information that should be told about the pioneers of the air mail service.
Rosenberg and Macaulay are successful in telling the story of the air mail service as much like a comedy skit off of Saturday Night Live. Both continually change from the tone of a scholarly author to that of one that seems to be writing an episode of Seinfeld. It is easy to spot numerous examples throughout the book where both authors display a carefree attitude in the telling of an incident, and the average reader loses the historical meaning of the incident, because they become caught up in a joke. The authors may simply be meaning to poke harmlessly at the mishaps of these early pioneers, but it is suggested that they stick to a more serious attitude when discussing men who lost their lives day in and day out to further a dream.
The epilogue of this book was much more beneficial that reading the story itself. Information was presented better and more organized than through the twenty something chapters in Mavericks of the Sky. The epilogue simply shortened all the various stories presented throughout the book and got right to the point instead of a bunch of ad lib.
Rosenberg and Macaulay deserve much credit on the pictures contained in the book, because they give the book much more character. It is easy to gain a lot of understanding of what early aviation was like by flipping through the pictures contained within this book, but it is sad that neither author can take credit for these pictures. Pictures make a book very personnel and these deliver the wide array of attitudes presented by these men and women just be looking into their eyes.
This book is a great recommendation for anyone interested in a quick read with little information. Mavericks of the Sky, is very selective in the stories it tells about the formation and development of the air mail service in the United States. If the reader desires to have a more detailed understanding of these pioneers and their stories, it is recommended that this book be passed up and one chosen by someone who actually can write a historical work of non-fiction!

"Mavericks of the Sky" seems to have generated a small firestorm of debate over whether it is an outstanding book or not even worth the time and effort to read. Having just finished the book, here's my assessment of the pros and cons of this book:

PROS
1) This is a good introductory look at the history of early commercial and air mail aviation. I've never read anything about this subject before, and was captivated by the bare-knuckle drama of the entire enterprise.
2) The book immediately immerses the reader in the danger and unexpected nature of early flight within the first few pages.
3) The authors do a great job of presenting the astounding obstacles of time, money, weather, manpower and resources to the development of a reliable air mail service.
4) The research is documented and footnoted in the back of the book to assist further reading.
5) The photographs are wonderful glimpses into an all-but-forgotten world, where the joie d'vivre and devil-may-care attitude of early flight (as well as the lines of care and constant exposure to danger) are clearly visible in the eyes and faces of the aircrews involved.

CONS
1) There are no maps in a book that talks about developing landing strips and air routes in little-known areas of the country. At least one good map in a book of this nature would have been most useful.
2) A bibliography would have been helpful to those seeking further reading.
3) The bios of the pilots might have been better served as sidebars or separate vignettes entitled "The Airmen" or some such, rather than weaving them with varying effectiveness throughout the story (i.e., "Wild" Bill Hopson).
4) The tone of the book fluctuates unexpectedly between scholarly and popular fiction, and sometimes even goes completely over the top (such as inventing an imaginary shooting script for Douglas Fairbank's war bond air mail promotion).
5) At times, the passage of time is difficult to track as the authors jump forward, then backtrack to tell other portions of the story.

As a popular and easily accessible introduction to the world of early air mail, "Mavericks of the Sky" is a fine read despite the few failings and foibles noted above. The best recommendation that I can give is what I'll do next ... pass it on to a friend who is a pilot and loves the history of early aviation.

A chance purchase at the airport bookstore resulted in an enjoyable flight across the country while immersed in the early days of Flying.

Having already been captivated by this subject after reading Beryl Markham's "West with the Night", this view of flight's maturation and the start of its commercialinzation process was fascinating.

It led to many questions including what lessons might be derived from this experience as NASA attempts to move towards commercialiation efforts of its own. It made me crave more in depth analysis of specific problem solving methods and long for a map of the various fields and distances.

There are intriguiing modern day parallels on how to apply technology and the process via which technology can be deployed to affect improvement, efficiency, and service.

There is no better material than that which entertains, leades to questions, and furthers an interest!

If you already have an interest in the topic or if you never wondered how the whole thing got started but it now sounds intriguing, I strongly recommend this book!

Dear Readers, the co-author and I have been thrilled at the positive response to the publication of MAVERICKS OF THE SKY, and while we understand that not every story is for every taste, we have to take exception with the comments of Mr. Carnett in his review of our book (in his first review on Amazon).

There have been a number of obscure scholarly works on the subject of the founding of the U.S. Air Mail service in which the authors did little more than recite names, dates, and pounds of mail carried. We believed that none of those books did justice to the bravery, tenacity and sacrifice of the air mail pilots and the government officials who organized the service. In MAVERICKS OF THE SKY, it was our intention to tell their stories in a new and exciting way so that the readers are caught up in the danger and adventure and not bogged down by the bureaucratic details. The historian for the U.S. Post Office said no other book ever written on the air mail gives the reader a better "you are there" emotional pull.

We spent years researching their stories and treated the pilots with the utmost respect. They cursed every now and then and we're sorry that the previous reviewer was offended by that. We made light of what was funny and pointed out the absurd, all in the hopes of humanizing the story. Pilots are notorious for gallows humor and often referred to themselves as part a "suicide club".

We also took great pains to place the founding of air mail in the context of the times: World War I, the progressive administration of President Woodrow Wilson, suffrage and the Jazz Age. We're disappointed that the reviewer felt that these asides were distracting but it is that type of detail that brings the story to life.

We've received dozens of positive reviews since publication, and every other reviewer got exactly what it was we were trying to accomplish.

The Associated Press called the book "an enthralling saga, told in a smooth, agile style."

Air & Space magazine wrote that "the authors introduce a succession of fascinating characters who flew the mail" and said the book "is a should read story of forgotten flying pioneers who earned their keep in the hardest way."

Publishers Weekly and Booklist (the publication of the American Library Association) also understood our point of view in their reviews, which are included in the Amazon listing. Also, dozens and dozens of libraries in North America have purchased the book for their collections

MAVERICKS OF THE SKY is both meticulously researched and fun to read. We're proud to have been able to bring to light to forgotten chapter in American history. Thanks for your time. Barry

I am currently in a two year process of training in spiritual direction and have been reading numerous introductions to the subject. I found this one easily the most useful of the lot. It is well organized, especially in its analysis of the opportunities and hazards of the relationship with the directee as it develops. Part of the book's strength is that it is based on the experiences of the authors in running a center devoted to direction and training directors, not on one individual's view of the topic. I suspect that some of the writing is more sophisticated and nuanced than I can yet appreciate, so the book will bear rereading at a later stage. I especially enjoyed this quotation in the Conclusion - "As the dialogue and exploration [of the nature of spiritual direction today] continue, both pastoral care and theological reflection can benefit. The divorce of theology from religious experience has begun to be healed, and spiritual directors who are alive to theological issues and regularly in contact the religious experience of Christians will contribute to further healing."

I found this book written simply and very practical in the advice given to those guiding others in the spiritual journey. This book does not delve into the realm of theory but remains very concrete which is what I needed when I found myself too busy to read long explanations. Starting from everyday experience, the author concentrates on relationships and building up those relationships. He gives us criteria for evaluating our religious experiences while keeping our balance. A great approach and very helpful. thank you.

By spiritual direction here is meant that central and often avoided part of pastoral counseling that deals not so much with people's many problems and struggles as with their experience of and personal relationship to God. It is a specialized and all important area that is easy to side step in normal counseling because of the relative ease with which other problems can be addressed and/or because of an inbuilt fear on everyone's part of a relationship with the almighty. This eminently practical book points out in great detail the paths by which one may help another to foster this all-important relationship which is more basic and prior to resolving other symptomatic difficulties in the individual's life. It describes as well the distractions, pitfalls, avoidances and other problems that beset director and directee along the way. This is probably the best text available in this area. Its strength comes from the massive experience of the authors in doing, teaching, and supervising spiritual direction, in their theological, spiritual and psychotherapeutic background, and in their ability to organize and present the material clearly and cogently. It is a must in the library of any spiritual director, could profitably be read by anyone seeking direction, and is well worth frequent rereading.

For some time now I have been searching for a book on the topic of spiritual direction that is comprehensive enough to serve as a base model for ministry. I've searched through many volumes. I recently stumbled upon this book in the library of a retreat center. This is a must have! The authors serve the reader a balanced diet of spirituality and healthy counseling practices. The chapters are comprehensive. Here is a great starter text on the subject.

E.G. Melillo voiced a concern about the response given concerning a married woman who was having a relationship with a divorced man. I understand E.G. Melillo's concern, however, I interpreted the author's words in a different way.

The authors didn't seem to be saying that the relationship was appropriate in any way. They seemed to be talking about how we "approach" a directee which can affect the listening relationship and working alliance. On page 143, the authors say, "In the first place, the directee usually knows that there is a discrepancy...God has an interest in the quality of the directee's life and that behavior that is seriously inconsistent with God's desires will lead to disturbances in the relationship with him...(Then) the director, whose working agreement has been to help her with prayer, can now begin to probe more deeply into the causes of the disturbance and thus help the directee." If the director strongly points out the "sin" in her actions right away, the directee is likely to tune her out. The authors are encouraging a director to be patient and maintain a relationship with the woman and then the director will be able to help "her" discover this discrepancy for herself. Allowing someone to hear God for themselves is always better than trying to be God for them. We can easily get in the way and interfere with the Spirit's action if we try to jump on a subject before the directee is ready to hear.

I found the book to be good, basic knowledge. It doesn't wander from the main thing, which is a clear understanding and knowledge of spiritual direction. They state over and over again that the motivation for spiritual direction has to be the desire to grow in relationship with the Lord.

This book starts out with a really great idea. A sleasy character involved with the drug community rapes two women, twins, and gets away with it on a technicality. Then, a woman fitting the twins' description shoots him in a restaurant in front of numerous witnesses. Can the prosecution prove beyond a reasonable doubt which ONE of the twins did it?

The problem I had with this is the supposed shocker evidence that pops up (I won't ruin the ending for anyone who has not read this). It was such a shock to the defense and if this high priced lawyer is supposed to be so smart, then why is it that I knew where the prosecution was going with it long before he did? That and the big revelation at the end tying up the loose end as to why the rapist got off in the first place was not really that surprising to me either.

Finally, I really wish that someone (his editor maybe??) had told Mr. Gruenfeld that if someone doesn't care, they COULDN'T care less. His main character must have said five times that he "could care less" and each time I had to cringe. Sorry... real pet peeve of mine.

This book is okay if you're between books or are going to the beach where you can read and not worry about missing any details that will render you unable to solve the big mystery on your own.

This guy just flat out writes well. This is the third book of his that I've read, and although it's not his absolute best, it's still a very good read. The book is actually deserving of 3 1/2 stars.

style is dense, yet compelling. narrator spends half the time on introspection, slowing the pace to explain his thinking. the one-upmanship in legal strategies becomes as tedious as reading commentary on a sports event. the main character's ruminations come off more like polonius than hamlet. still, worthwhile reading.

About 75% of this novel takes place in the courtroom. If you love well done trial scenes this is the book for you. The technical aspects of the trials seemed quite complex at times, but were always interesting. I was amazed that the author, who doesn't seem to have a law degree, was able to write so convincingly about the legal world. The author even varied from the usual protagonist stereotype of "tall, dark and handsome." His hero prosecutor, is short, dumpy and not handsome at all. The first thing I did after reading the book is to come to this website and order all the other Gruenfeld novels.

Gruenfeld is one of those rare writers who achieves a major triumph on his first outing (IRREPARABLE HARM) and then just keeps getting better. THE HALLS OF JUSTICE is a beautifully written, relentlessly compelling and suspenseful tale of the law spinning out of control, peopled with fascinating characters, profound insights and delicious twists and turns. The last chapter is a knockout, and seems to come out of left field, but a quick review reveals that Gruenfeld practically shouted the ending out to us dozens of times throughout the book. To have pulled off this feat is a tribute to the kind stunning skill and craft that comes along all too rarely. Along those lines, I must say that, as a female, I found the description of a rape in the very first chapter difficult to read. But what amazed me was that there is virtually no graphic depiction at all: what is happening is almost completely inside the reader's head, and nothing scares us more than our own imaginations. This brilliant feat of evocative writing is truly remarkable, as is the extraordinary outrage Gruenfeld manages to stir up in us as the rest of the story proceeds. He is probably better at writing about women than any other male writer (and most females, as well), and that ability reaches a major peak in this book. Why Gruenfeld isn't better known is a complete mystery to me; I feel like I found a genuine diamond of a novelist among much of the roughage that passes for literature these days. I can hardly wait until his next book

This book is extremely well written. I didn't want to put it down. The stories, the matches, and the incredible triumph in faith should catapult this to the bestseller list. TWO THUMBS`UP!

Maybe it's my fault I went into this book with high expectations, but I was very disappointed with this book. Not much in the way of inside stories. I've alwas been a fan of Doc, but I think you'd need to be a HUGE fan of Steve Williams to think this book is anything better than OK.

Japanese & Mid South Wrestling Legend "Dr. Death" Steve Williams brings an inspirational story of his life, career, and battle with throat cancer. He tells of his college football career and how he failed to make the jump to the now-defunct USFL. He vowed to a pro wrestling trainer to never play football professionally again, and he emerged on the Mid-South Wrestling circuit, the UWF - two of them no less, and WCW. He regales the reader with his run in Japan, where he gained most of his fame, and why he preferred promotions there over American promotions. And then he speaks of how all his sports achievements ultimately meant nothing, when he was diagnosed with throat cancer and found hope in religion. A heartwarming story of an imperfect man, highly recommended to wrestling fans and wrestling historians alike.

I am a big fan of Dr Death Steve Williams. He is a true wrestler in my eyes, big and tough with excellent wrestling skills. I was really looking forward to reading this book but I found it so-so.

It is nto a bad read but nothing more than an ok read. I thought Steve could have commented a bit more about some of the wrestlers that he had met over the years and perhaps have been less flattering about some of them as he seemed to have gotten on with most of the wrestlers.

The book is good for Dr Death's fans, but there are better wrestling books out there.

Steve "Dr. Death" Williams entered the pro wrestling ranks in 1982 after a legendary two-sport career with the Oklahoma Sooners - an All-American in football, two-time Big 8 freestyle wrestling champion - but his biggest match came only a few years ago.

In 2004, Williams had multiple surgeries and radiation treatments for T4 throat cancer. That type of cancer means it was not only found in the oral cavity (classified in degrees of severity from T1 to T3), but it had spread to adjacent areas to the throat.

Dr. Death - a nickname he received in junior-high school - was declared cancer free in 2005, has wrestled for the WWE & independent promotions and currently trains WWE developmental wrestlers. He truly is Dr. Life and the autobiography - with co-writer Tom Caiazzo - focuses heavily on his spiritual journey and the miracle of climbing out of the ring after having his hand raised in victory over cancer.

Williams - whose finishing moves that became a fan favorite included a shoulder block from a football three-point stance - became a wrestling star in singles and tag-team main events for Bill Watts in his Mid-South Wrestling & Universal Wrestling Federation promotions and the NWA. He has worked for other major promotions in the United States and has held a variety of championship belts.

But it was his work in Japan from 1989-1993 with Terry Gordy - as the tag-team, Miracle Violence Connection - that solidified Williams as a superstar. Along with partners Gordy, Gary Albright and Johnny Ace, Williams has held the All-Japan Wrestling tag-team title eight times.

Though it is the strength in faith and defeating the odds in his battle for life that truly makes this book a very powerful testimony in not giving up. "Number one is to do a lot of praying; God has a plan. Number two is to keep laughing and smiling; it's great medicine for everyone," says Williams, about his advice to cancer patients.

And in this world with so much in technological advances, but seemingly many more question marks than answers, Williams provides a perspective that delivers real meaning to the big picture of life.

This seems to be a good introduction to the life and times of Bill Burroughs. I've read little of Burroughs' works, so I am not one to judge his overall literary merits. I have only read two-thirds of "Cities of the Red Night," which I found to be confusing to the point of being unreadable. I realize, however, that this only touches a tiny bit of Burroughs' output. With difficult authors like Burroughs, I sometimes become more interested in the life of the author, and less interested in his/her works. If this is you, then this book is for you. Here, Miles (Allen Ginsberg) covers Bill Burroughs from birth to death. There's plenty of interesting detail on Burroughs as the sensitive, withdrawn, homosexual youth, more on his years overseas with Ginsberg, Gysin, Kerouac, Bowles, and others, plus a nice wrap up with Burroughs in Kansas. Miles pulls no punches, at once painting Burroughs as a genius, and again as a serious drug addict who would spend hours doing nothing but staring at the tips of his shoes. Miles does a good job of explaining the genesis of many of Burroughs' works, and the odd ways in which they were assembled. Recommended.

This was the first biography of Burroughs I read; I also have the Ted Morgan biography, but I don't think a direct qualitative comparison is possible. While Morgan goes into enormous biographical detail, Miles puts Burroughs' work in central position, and his analyses are really perceptive and thorough, with demonstrative use of passages from the text as well as references to relevant events in Burroughs' life. It is, as other reviewers have said, really the best existing introduction to Burroughs' work - I don't know if I could have made it through the cut-up trilogy without the preparation of reading this book first.

I should also point out that some biographical details are here which are not in Morgan, e.g. the use of real names where Morgan substituted pseudonyms.

Miles' biography is intended for the general reader. There is good background on Burroughs' childhood, a good bit of biographical detail throughout, and the book doesn't delve into the written works all too deeply. Being one of three general biographies written about Burroughs, it bears comparing to the books by Ted Morgan and Graham Caveney. Miles' book is not as scholarly or exhaustive as Morgan's book, Literary Outlaw, but is both more scholarly and more exhaustive than Caveney's, Gentleman Junkie. It was written after Literary Outlaw, so there is more information on the Kansas years here, including a chapter entitled "Shotgun Art".

This is a biography intended for a general readership. Miles' familiarity with his subject may make this of interest even to the Burroughs beginner. There is a bibliography of works written by Burroughs (but none about him), and an index.

Miles seems to be Burroughs' biggest fan. This is not a critical appraisal of Burroughs OR his works. At times the writing is very bad. Still, Miles had the advantage of a fascinating subject.

If you haven't read a book about Burroughs before, read Literary Outlaw, by Ted Morgan, and pass this one up.

ken32

With this book, Father Barry helped me to come to a deeper understanding of God. However, I feel that if this book was taken a step further it would have been a lot more worth the read.

William Barry, SJ is a gifted spiritual writer in the Jesuit tradition. GOD'S PASSIONATE DESIRE AND OUR RESPONSE is one of his strongest works. This book, like Barry's other books, centers around the premise that people want to be in relationship with God, but God also wants to be in relationship with us. Doing the will of God for Barry is not simply doing what God asks of us, but our discovering God's will through discernment. We do not do God's will simply because we have to out of obedience, but rather because God's will is the deepest desire of our heart.

The book is divided into seventeen chapters, and each chapter reads like a mini retreat talk or homily. While the chapters can be read individually, one seems to build upon another so it is best to read the book sequentially. The book starts with our basic relationship with God, our attraction to God as well as our resistance. The book delves briefly into a theology of God (Does God need us, what is our role in God's plan, etc.). The purpose of the theology is to help the reader think about God in both familiar and different ways. Finally the book concludes with what we do with our prayer and discernment, namely how we do God's will in our world. Barry is able to blend the spiritual and contemplative side of our lives and how this spiritual and contemplative side can lead us into action in our world.

Perhaps the reason the reflections Fr. Barry offers in this book can be so helpful is due to his training as a Jesuit and his work as a spiritual director. The Jesuit tradition is evident in his writings, but his chapters also show both his own spiritual progress as well as the insights he has gained as a spiritual director helping others draw closer to God.