S Books

I bought this book when it first came out in hard cover. I looked forward to reading it, but was stunned by the very first sentence:

"Columbus sailed due east from the Canary Islands in hopes of reaching Japan." Was he headed to Morocco to begin an overland trek? I think the author meant the sentence to read: "Columbus sailed for the East by heading due west from the Canary Islands in hopes of reaching Japan." Or something like that. This kind of problem right at the start lowers one's confidence in the rest of the book. That this error remains in the paperback version is even more troubling. It is such an obvious error that I find myself wondering if I am missing something. However, every time I check the map, there is a great deal of land east of the Canaries and Japan, and Hispaniola is definitely to the west (West Indies and all that.)

However, the rest of the book is pretty decent. There are lots of good source documents that provide very short selections. The author has gone for quantity versus quality. To know any of these topics seriously, you will have to go much beyond the couple of pages provided on it in this book. This would be a good way to find topics that are of interest to you, however.

It covers everything from Columbus, the founding, the expansion west, the Mormon Exodus, the Civil War, the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford, the World Wars, Kennedy's assassination, a very strange way of presenting Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech through by providing an excerpt from James Reston's news article, Vietnam, the moon landing, through AIDS and email. There is a lot more material than I can list here, but you get the drift.

This can be a useful book to read and discuss an excerpt at a time with your children and to help clarify their geographic orientation about East and West.

Reading this book was a treat. Reading first-hand accounts of incidents will give you a picture of how things really were. Notice the chapter on "A Mob Confronts A Stamp Collector". This made me feel like I was seeing exactly what happened. The book can be read from any chapter all of which are independent of one another. One caveat. Make sure you have a weekend to spare because once you get into the text it's goodbye everything else. Excellent history.

I had the unique opportunity to meet Mr. Colbert while working at a TV show. Much like himself, the book is incredibly insiteful into many of the events that shaped this great land. As a New Yorker, I especially enjoyed the description of a late 19th century deli, you could taste the Corned beef!!! When you finish this book you will see a view of American history that the text books you used in school never tried to show. Only Mr. Colbert brings together the first-hand accounts of the Challenger disaster and Curt Flood's personal battles as well as the thoughts of a witness to President Lincoln slipping away after the shooting in Fords theater. I highly recomend this book to all Americans and I (like Charles Kuralt) have kept it and referenced it in many an undertaking. Keep up the good work David, and I made sure that the cameras were kind to you.

What I loved about this particular book is that there isn't a historian in sight - nobody is writing it from the subjective slant of 50 (or 500) years' time - the accounts presented are from the diaries, letters and articles written by the people who actually took part in the events - a person on Columbus' crew, John Adams, the seconds at the Burr/Hamilton duel, etc. Spanning the time from Columbus through Bill Gates and email, this is a sprawling volume, split into short essays that are easy to read and not overwhelming on the eye. What it does best is interest you in a story so that you want to investigate further by reading book-length discussions. Of particular interest were the two wildly diverging viewpoints on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, and how not all who heard it were enthralled at the time. Very clever use of the form.

In addition to being a great collection of primary sources, this book is also incredibly entertaining. Only read this book if you want full absorption. The book would be better if the passages were longer, though!

A fascinating look at the birth and eventual fall of the Group Theatre through the eyes of Harold Clurman, who was the heart and soul of this theatre troupe. The Group Theatre would eventually change the course of American acting through their embrace of the Stanislavsky method of acting. Anyone with a love of theatre and it's rich history would love this book. Any actor should read it. The names that came out of the Group Theatre are like the 'Gods' of American acting and teaching "the Method". Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, Stanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, Clifford Odets.

As an actor this book filled me with a rediscovery of why my work matters and it inspired me to continue in an industry where success is so dificult. Though I am not a method actor i respect the accomplishments of the group theatre immensely and to hear harold clurman tell it is to hear it thorugh the glue of it all. Read this if you love theatre.

What a wonderful book. I've always loved reading history and books of all topics and times of history dominate my shelf. However there is a void that is now apparent of books of the theatre and of the artists working within it. This has been a wonderful introduction to how much can really be said about the formation of a theatre and the ups and downs of its life.

Certainly anyone aspiring to be an actor or anyone in the business looking to see what finding the art in your work is all about, this is a must read. Clurman has an amazing memory, vividly retells all that took place during those turbulent years, and does so with a powerful, strong refreshingly opinionated point of view.

All in all, really a wonderful book in both story telling and lessons that I would love to revisit soon.

The Group Theatre, modeled off of the equally influencial Moscow Art Theatre, was an artistic organization that completely and drastically revolutionized not only American Theatre, but World Theatre as well.

Formed in the 1930's and comprised of what has become a literal who's who of Theatre: Clifford Odets, Elia Kazan, Harold Clurman, Robert Lewis, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, Cheryl Crawford, John Garfield, Sanford Meisner and many others, The Group Theatre sought to create a vibrant and organic native theatre that sought to not only mirror the times but also instigate radical social change.

At no other time in American history has an artistic group been comprised of so many talented individuals focused on one aesthetic and political goal. Despite one's political leanings (make no mistake, The Group Theatre were extreme leftest liberals), The Fervent Years provides and endless and bountiful amount of inspiration and stimulation for any theatre artist.

Clurman writes in a fine dramatic style that boils with passion, wit and insight. The Fervent Years is required reading for all devotees of The Theatre. But don't let that scare you, it is a most entertaining read at the same time.

This book is a beautiful account of the struggles and events surrounding Harold Clurman during his time with the Group Theater. Harold starts off by revealing how his life brought him to establish the Group along with Lee Strasberg and Cheryl Crawford. It then continues and describes the significant struggles and events encountered by the Group and its members along with some beautiful and extremely important observations Harold made, not only regarding the theater community and its participants, but also about our society in general and its effect on art in general.

This book is an absolute must for any serious actor or director. For that matter, anyone serious about life would gain from reading this book. The Group Theater was a wonderful "experiment" fostered by some very passionate people who not only helped to shape theater in America, but they also played a significant role in laying the groundwork from which some of the best acting and directing has emerged as seen in films and theater since that time.

I stand in disbelief when folks in the "business" don't know about Harold Clurman or the Group Theater and it members.

"Fighting to Leave" is a very historically accurate book with lots of action. To synops the inner cover write up of this excellent book:
"Fighting to Leave -- The Final Years of America's War in Vietnam, 1972-1973" covers the Vietnam War during 1972-73, the tumultuous final years of U.S. involvement, as experienced by Colonel Robert E. Stoffe, a Marine Corps aviator who served three combat tours in Vietnam. During his first two tours, 1965-1966 and 1969-1970, Colonel Stoffey flew 440 combat missions out of Da Nang and Marble Mountain Airfields in South Vietnam and was shot down twice!!!
His third combat tour was aboard the USS Oklahoma City, as the Marine Air Officer and Assistant Amphibious Warfare Officer on the staff of the Commander, Seventh FLeet. The crucial and complex last two years of the war - following the 1971 withdrawl of major ground-fighting units under President Nixon's Vietnamezation policy - are explained from the perspective of the Seventh Fleet, as it floated in the Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea.
As the South Vietnamese battled for survival, the U.S. Seventh Fleet was a signficant supporting force; the mining of North Vietnam's waterways, concentrated shore bombardments, and air attacks were instrumental in leading to the negotiated end of America's war in Vietnam and the return of our POWs. In the words of General Walter E. Boomer, USMC(Ret.) and former advisor to South Vietnamese Marines, Colonel Stoffey's engaging recollections make "Fighting to Leave" an "Action-Packed Narrative... The only book that wraps up all the complex events that led to the end of our longest war."
I am sure that you will find this book extremely interesting and fascinating. Sure to be a number one seller !!!

I just received my copy of "Fighting to Leave", which I preordered on Amazon.com, where I purchase most of my military history books. "Fighting to Leave" far exceeded my expectations. This book is both historically accurate as well as exciting.
As a retired Harrier GR7 pilot, I can really relate to this excellent book.
I've read it, all 330 some pages, in just a few hours -- now I'm starting to read it all over again.
You'll enjoy this one !!!!
Cheers, from Across the Pond!!!!

I highly recommend "Fighting to Leave", an extremely well documented account of America's final two years in Vietnam. I am a graduate history student at UCLA and my specialty is Vietnam / Southeast Asia. I found "Fighting to Leave" to be extremely interesting, from a perspective rarely found in most history books. This text is written by one of the US Marine Corps' most decorated fighter pilots, who served three tours in Vietnam flying in 444 combat missions. The book covers military as well as political ins and outs of the Vietnam War.
This is without doubt the most interesting book I have ever read.

Well, once again Zenith Press has published a Great Military Book. "Fighting to Leave" will definitely soon become a number one seller. A blend of both accurate military and political history is wrapped up in this exciting book covering the underreported latter years of the Vietnam War, namely 1972-73.
"Fighting to Leave", written by one of the USMC's most highly decorated military combat pilots, is clearly the finest product that Zenith Press has ever published.
This book will SOON become a number one seller !!!!

"Fighting to Leave" is a very historical account of the final two years of America's involvement in Vietnam. The book is hsitorically accurate to the degree seldom seen in most books, most likely since it was written by a high level Marine Corps Officer assigned to the flag ship of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet.
As a pilot myself, I found "Fighting to Leave" one of the most interesting books I've ever read. It's true history with a great deal of action. Even more so is the intricate detail of accounts detailing the US government's actions, both militarily and politically in Southeast Asia in the early 1970's.
Get this book before all the copies have sold !!!

It never really made sense to me until after I started reading this book. God really does love us. He's the only one that we can always count on and our focus should always be drawn back to him.

"Finding Peace" is yet another great book by Charles Stanley. The book's focus is on realizing that our peace rests on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ instead of circumstances. Dr. Stanley challenges the reader to take responsibility and be proactive in finding peace through a relationship with God instead of fuming and fretting over the situations we find ourselves in.

Among the great points mentioned in the book are:

1. Issues that can cause destructive conflict.
2. God is larger than our challenges.
3. Four clear signs of God's peace.
4. Why we lose our peace.
5. 5 essentials beliefs for a peaceful heart.
6. 7 categories of peace-destroying thoughts.
7. 5 vital questions to ask yourself about regret.
8. Results of anxiety.
9. 7 steps to overcoming fear.
10. 4 keys to living in contentment.

I also appreciated Dr. Stanley describing his own struggles when his wife filed for divorce and yet was able to obtain peace through the trial.

Read and be encouraged to seek peace in the Lord instead of yourself, others, or your circumstances!

Highly recommended.

Dr. Stanley has a wonderful talent for putting such a complicated ideal into laymans terms. He's definitely set me on course towards finding peace. The book isn't about answers, but rather a process.

~Finding Peace : God's Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear~ is a helpful guide to seeking peace and overcoming anxiety in midst of stressful circumstances. Charles Stanley gives practical and sound Scriptural exhortation on facing life's problems. We can find our peace in midst our trials and tribulations by recognizing that God is sovereign. Sometime, it is a lot easier said than done, which is why we need reinforcement from others. We have to continually set our sights on God's promises. Few Christians want to peer into book of Job, much less have their faith tested like Job. Taking a hit professionally or financially, suffering persecution, enduring slander, or relationship friction can strain a person. However, we can come out stronger enduring hardship if we seek peace of mind through God. God's pruning can often be painful, but we have to set our sights on Romans 8:28, and the promises of God. Life is a vapor.

Anyhow, Stanley offers a lot of prudent exhortation on seeking stability, peace of mind, discerning between productive and destructive anxiety, and living at peace with others. Too many Christian pastors these days, miss the mark and neglect addressing that life has its pains, and preach blissful optimism. Turn on Joel Olsteen for example, and he will be rambling about having a "better house, a better car," etc. and preaching the health and wealth non-sense. When life on the flying carpet of bliss doesn't come people get more discouraged and disappointed. Charles Stanley, however, isn't one of those errant teachers... Stanley will be the first to say tough times will come. Likewise, he offers sound advice on enduring those times and finding peace through acknowledging and trusting God. "You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:3). Hardship endured in God's strength produces the peaceable fruit of patience, makes us more dependent on God, and breaks us of our stubborn self-centered thinking.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?."
-Romans 8:31

If you have not read this book by Dr. Stanley, you need to read it. You owe it to yourself. I continue to be amazed at his use of Scripture as it applies to the human soul.

I highly recommend this volume.

This is one of the very best all round books you can own. It has unit break downs, ranks, what regiments are in what divisions, dog tag information, research information, just about anything you would need to know to research most any unit or someone in the family. All the information in it, for the price, is one heck of a deal. All the books I've ever seen by Jonathan Gawne are outstanding, especially his 'Spearheading D-Day' book. This book 'Finding Your Father's War' is outstanding.

Ever ask 'What did you do in the War, daddy?' Ever wonder what all those patches, medals, etc represented? Ever wish you still had them???

I could never get my dad to talk about his experiences while in the US Army during WWII, outside of a comical happening or two. All I knew was that he had served in the retaking of the Philippines and briefly in the occupation of Japan. I'm proud of what my dad/the USA did during the War and very interested in what he did or went thru. Are you in the same situation?

Then this is the book that you need!!!!

Most importantly, it gives the places to search for & to obtain information and how to read the documents.

But wait! That's not all!! (as they say in infomercials on TV. LOL)

It gives an excellent breakdown of the units and their sub-units in size and organization (T/O) and the associated abbreviations for each. As a military history buff, I thought I knew how the Army was organized but boy did I learn a lot more about it.

This book covers campaign dates, T/O, how to identify a vehicle's assignment, badges and just about everything else you could want to know and I highly recommend it. Even if you're just a WWII history buff.

The only thing I've not been able to find in this book is a breakdown on how to read the ribbon bar(s).

"Finding Your Father's War" is a fantastic reference guide! For relatives of U.S. Army veterans, it is a straight forward guide to the resouces you'll need.

This is an amazing resource on the composition and structure of the US Army during WWII. There is detailed information on how the Army was organized at the time, including an appendix on the Army Air Force. There is no information on the Navy or Marine Corps: the focus is fixed on the Army. The book is packed with photos and illustrations of insignia, badges and medals worn or awarded during the war. What this book is not is a reference on the armament, equipment or gear of the period; nor does it discuss battles or unit losses.

Contents

Introduction

The War in a Nutshell

Section 1: Introduction to Army Units
Background information on the composition of the World War II US Army

Section 2: Individual Records
The various Army records pertaining to an individual soldier

Section 3: Organizational Records
The Army's record of what a man did during the war

Section 4: Finding Records
Places around the country where you can find records of your soldier's service

Section 5: Introduction to Army Units
Identifying what you may already have and what it can tell you about your relative's service

Appendices

Appendix A: The Infantry and Airborne Divisions in World War II

Appendix B: The Armored and Cavalry Divisions in World War II

Appendix C: Army Groups, Armies, and Corps in World War II

Appendix D: Major Army Commands of World War II

Appendix E: The Army Air Forces in World War II

Appendix F: Vehicle Markings in World War II

Appendix G: The Campaigns of World War II

Appendix H: Official Abbreviations Used in World War II

Appendix I: The Green Books and Select Bibliography

This is an outstanding book! It brings together information on so many aspects of a search for WWII information it has become invaluable to me. I found the most helpful aspects included the many full color pictures, the charts of organization, and the explanations of the many documents I found in my father's papers. Some of the sample documents and forms were small reproductions and did require a magnifying glass to see clearly but the information was so helpful, I didn't mind. The book also gives clear information on where various documents are located and how best to access those sources. Having this book months ago would have saved me hours of time.

My only disappointment is that there is no index. When I go back to the book to refresh myself on a topic, it is not always easy to find what I am looking for through the Table of Contents. I would hope any future editions would include a good index. That one complaint aside, I think this is an excellent book and I would recommend it highly for anyone searching for records.

Fire and Brimstone is not just about the fire that broke out in the Granite Mountain mine in Butte, Montana on June 8, 1917 and the death of 163 miners, it is also about the mining industry of Montana and its sociopolitical impact on the state in general and the town of Butte in particular. Punke's coverage of Burton K. Wheeler towards the end of the book veers away from the main storyline and is the reason for the dropped star.

The story begins with an accident involving a 1,200 foot, 3-ton cable that would lead to the fire. Like the Cherry Mine (Illinois) disaster covered in the book Trapped by Karen Tintori, there is a story of men attempting to return to the fire-engulfed mine to rescue doomed miners only to be caught in a cage when the hoist signals stopped working (pg. 13). This story is not near as heroic and horrifying as Tintori's, however.

The book skips to give background information on the Montana "Copper Kings" William Clark and Marcus Daly during the latter half of the 19th century later to be joined in competition by Fritz Heinze. The background showed to what extent political corruption shaped the mining industry in Montana controlled by the Anaconda and, later, Standard Amalgamated Oil.

By far, the best part of the book covers the efforts to survive by two separate groups of miners. Each group was organized by a savvy, confident man of strong personality. The group that is more detailed is the one led by a young nipper Manus Duggan. Although he did not have a commanding position in the mine, he understood what was needed for survival and oversaw the careful construction of a bulkhead and the continuous rotation of the other 28 miners in his group to circulate the air. Another group of ten miners was led by shift boss J.D. Moore. Both leaders faced down and prevented challenges to their authority as well as attempts by the other miners to escape the bulkhead too soon. Many of these miners owed their lives to those two men.

The story of the trapped miners was so intriguing it was maddening when the book reverted to more background information. Once the fire and its aftermath was covered, the book shifted focus to the labor union situation in Butte (the AFL vs. the IWW), the brutal demise of IWW executive chairman Frank Little, and quite a bit of information on Senator Burton K. Wheeler (D. A. during the tragedy and the ugly situation brought on by the competing labor unions) who was an important player in FDR's administration. These sidelines (especially the labor unions) have a relation to the Butte mining disaster, of course, but as the book moves into the 1930s and 1940s, the tragedy seems to be left behind save for when Wheeler referenced it in one of his writings. Parts read like a brief history of WWII, over a generation removed from the mining tragedy. Then it is revealed that the Granite Mt./Speculator mines had been closed all that time (since 1923).

The book ends with an update on the town of Butte that makes one wonder why people still live there. There is four pages of photographs included with a few relating directly to the mining disaster. There is only one picture of a miner (a doctored newspaper photo of Duggan) which was disappointing but I guess that's probably the only one that exists or is available.

My grandfather died in the Butte mines decades after the Speculator/Granite Mountain disasters. This is an excellent book interweaving the story of the worst hard rock mining disaster to occur in the US with the story of Butte at its apex. I could not put this down as I quickly turned the pages to learn the fate of Manus Duggan. Read Glasscock's War of the Copper Kings for more details regarding Clark, Daly and Heinze.

I agree with what the other reviewers have said. I'd like to add that I picked this book up on a whim from the library and could not put it down. While it is a heartbreaking page turner, it is also reads like a love letter to a hardscrabble city. The book jacket says that Punke currently lives in Montana. I am not sure if he is a Butte native, but he has served the city well within the pages of this enthralling read.

If you have any ties to Montana, or like history. This is a great telling of the events that happened at this time.
An enjoyable book.

Michael Punke has an incredible ability to make the story jump off the page. Too many non-fiction writers are turgid; Punke is anything but. I highly recommend it.

This is one of those must have items when you're facing a trip with your grandkids (that's TWO generations away from your own days on any wild ride) and I must say this guide to the park was enormously helpful even before we got there. Thanks a lot! Our trip was a huge success and Ms. Wiley's book gets a lot of the credit.

I first read an earlier version of this book several years ago, and Kim's sound advice has stayed with me, several trips on.

If you want to learn which rides to stay away from with young children, and what the must sees are, this is the book to read. And don't ignore Kim's most important tip of all. If you're travelling to Disney World with children, make sure you take that afternoon nap.

Catherine Noble
Webmaster
www.mywdwtrip.com

This is a really useful book, tons of tips, saved me a lot $$ and time. The most valuable thing I learn is to rent a multi-family vacation house with my friends, 16 people for $199 a day. We all enjoy the stay at a luxury emerald island resort. check this out: http://www.cyberrentals.com/index.cfm/property/126687

I purchased this book as a guide to help plan a 5 day trip to WDW with my family. We just got back and let me tell you this book saved us a lot of waiting time for the rides, helped us know what to see and where and how to focus our energy. Ms. Wiley is right on the mark in her descriptions of the attractions and her tips about getting around the parks. The book was so helpful, I tore out the sections about each park and took it with us into the park. This version is missing info that wasn't available at the time of printing about some of the newer shows Disney has put in for its 50th anniversary celebration. The Cinderellabration show is wonderful especially if you have a princess lover in your family and the Wishes fireworks display over the castle in the Magic Kingdom. I would highly recommend this book even if you've been to WDW before.

This book is a must read before and during your trip. It has great money saving ideas and is easy to understand. The scare factors are extremely useful if you have children under 10.

I loved your book. Great motivater!! You hit very close to home several times.
I have joined weight watchers probably 20 times with little or no success. The
instructor always told me that I didn't eat enough. I guess hearing it from you
helped. I workout M-F for 2 hours/day, but I only had one big meal around 3 and
a couple protein bars the rest of the day. I also can't lift weights (which I
love to do) because of a torn rotater cuff. So, I gave up on it all. Sunday I
read your book. Monday I went to the gym, bought a body fat scale, and ate 5
small meals/snacks. It was great! I also drank my water which I normally don't
drink any water!! Thank you!
I do have a couple of questions. I apologize if I missed it in the book, but is
there a total daily consumption of protein, fat, and carbs that you should have?
I think I remember fat should be around 27, right? My other question is milk,
how does it fit in? I know I am geting calcium with cottage cheese, string
cheese and yogurt, but I would also like to have a glass of milk. I do take a
calcium supplement also. Well, thank you again for writing the book. I hope I
can be like one of your success stories in the book.

Dr. Rick has written an easy to understand comprehensive book that illustrates the key things you need to do both nutritionally and with exercise to become and remain fit. As a 43 year old desk jockey struggling with weight, but interested in endurance activities, Dr. Rick taught me two important things that I believe will have a long lasting effect on my current fitness and will allow me to live a longer happier life. First, I need carbohydrates in my body in order to burn fat when I exercise. Second, I need to prevent overtraining in order to run, bike, or swim longer and faster by exercising at a more comfortable pace (lower heart rate). Since meeting Dr. Rick and reading his book, I have already lost over 1% body fat and have started running ten miles. I also recently beat, by a considerable margin, the time I ran a 10k just months ago by running at a more comfortable pace.

These two insights I learned above are analagous to the insight I had when I finally heard a ski instructor, after not listening for many years. In order to ski you have to do what is counter intuitive - you have to lean down the hill. In order to become fit, you have to do what is counter intuitive - you have to eat more often and you have to train more easily. Buy the book and go to Dr. Rick's website.

For me, Forever Fit was about getting my body, mind and soul healthy. The way in whick Rick Kattouf delivers his message about being Forever Fit, in this book, is gentle, powerful, and impactful. Knowing Rick personally as my coach, I can say that Rick and his book have inspired me to make life changes. I have lost 15 pounds in 4 months, toned up, gone down a dress size, and have implemented healthy eating patterns. By reading this book and being open to Rick's wisdom he shares, my life is changed. I know by following Rick's Forever Fit program, I will meet my health and nutrition goal in one year. And I will be Forever Fit.

Dr. Rick is amazing! The wealth of knowledge that this man has in the realm of Fitness, Nutrition, and the Human Body is amazing! Whether you are overweight,and a novice just getting started, competitive athlete, or a person just wanting additional information to add to your own way of Living a Healthy Lifestyle.........this is the book for you. I have personally studied Fitness and Nutrition, and thought that my background was efficient enough to get me to where I wanted to be both physically and mentally.....I am a 37 yr. old female, I eat healthy foods, I workout 4 times a week, and live a healthy active lifestyle.....But I just hit a road block. I was not happy with where I finally ended up with my TOTAL BEING. I needed more. I have known Dr. Rick for almost 8 years now. I know about his background in Health and Fitness and thought I would pick his brain. Since reading his book, he developed a personalized Health and Fitness program for me. I was skeptical at first, but gave it a try. Can i just say that I have never looked better, felt healthier, and get really excited when people think that I am in my 20's. My PHYSICAL BEING is elated!!! My advice....Read the book..... If you still need more personalized attention, contact Dr. Rick. Find out what he can do for you to stay fit for life. His website is www.teamkattouf.com We only have one life so let's make it the very best we can!

Forever Fit will put a smile on your face and fun back into your life. It is a user friendly program based on eating real food - you know the tasty stuff our bodies nutritionally crave, at LEAST FIVE TIMES A DAY! Yes, you read it right...a plan that encourages you to eat to get into shape. That's a pretty good deal and the best part is it works! The plan simply incorporates exercise, diet, and a good mind set. Rick has a fabulous zest for life and you can't help but get caught up in his belief that you can achieve any of the goals you set for yourself because deep inside YOU KNOW YOU CAN. Rick, in his wisdom, is able to unleash the courage you have and need to make the changes you desire. The time to do so is now...rock on with Forever Fit because you deserve to be.

A very good explanation of what is meant by the Glycemic Index, how it works and why.

I bought this book a year or two ago along with another GI book and read them both. It was easy to incorporate the plan into my nutritional activities, even though I did so half-heartedly. Within the past six months, people have been asking me if I was on a diet or if I had lost weight. I personally did not notice; the change of seasons and wardrobe switch precluded my observation from looser fitting clothes. After weighing myself, the scale showed that I lost 13 pounds by simply combining my foods properly and reducing the glycemic index. Unsolicited weight-loss made me feel uneasy, so for one month, I intentially ate high GI foods. This resulted in weight gain of approximately a pound a week; and this calmed my fears regarding a potentially pathologic cause of unsolicted weight loss. My daughter has been diagnosed with PCOS and needs to jump on board a full-blown GI guided nutritional plan. I will join her and it won't be difficult because the concept is simple. The only disadvantage could possibly finding the GI of foods. Huge databases of GI ratings are not yet available since the interest is relatively new. I have been told that the University of Sydney is performing ongoing GI testing of foods, and the database is available to online viewers. I have not tried it yet, but this is what I've been told. [...]

Helpful in understanding the concept of diminished hunger using Glycemic Index as a dietary guide.

I have found this book to be very helpful in understanding the Glycemic Index. It's presented in simple, easy to understand language and concepts, but it's not a dumbed-down version. It's a comprehensive look at the facts behind the glycemic index. It's motivational in tone, upbeat for the outcome, and sits on a foundation of solid science. I'm quite pleased with this purchase and have started feeling better already. GREAT book.

If you told me a month ago I'd be taking tablespoons of flax seed oil to increase my polyunsaturated fat intake, I'd of told you you're nuts, but here I am. What I like most about this book was how it presented information but then leaves the application up to you. I'd much rather learn and then figure out how to apply it to myself, so this was the perfect book for me.

I also just gave this book to my entire family for Christmas and most have already called to thank me. It's a short book and the information is easily digestable. My mom who's the most not technical/science person I know thoroughly enjoyed it.

I looked for this book for many years. I originally ordered GET TOUGH :The U S Special Forces Physical Conditioning Program from a book club. I never received my order because it went out of print. GET TOUGH is a 1985 publication written by Tom Fitzgerald. The program is 3 parts: stretching, total body strength building using your own body weight, and running. The format is actually based on the U S Navy SEALS workout and is not necessarily U S Army Special Forces based. Regardless, this program is a 12 week (5 days a week) workout that requires nothing more of the use of a pull-up/chin-up bar. It is a very challenging workout that involves working muscle groups on a daily basis. A guide chart is included, as well as targeted performance levels from beginning to end. The dietary guide in the introduction is dated and better information is now available. This book is an older version of the newer U S Navy SEALS workout books by Mark De Lisle, but not as intense as the latter. Overall a very solid workout program and well worth the wait. 163 pp hardback

I know why they call this a program you will love, because it is not hard. I enjoy the exercises and will continue to perform them, but I am not making this my primary workout. Instead I will adapt it for use three days a week on my easy days, as this is a perfect complimentary workout. I consider myself in good shape, but not great, and I was easily able to jump in and do the 12th week workouts precisely how Fitzgerald specified, boots and all. There were only several out of the 46 total exercises that I could not perform easily. The only way someone could say that it is deceptively hard is that a few exercises are nearly impossible. I found those are strictly for the abs though however and not any other part of my body feels a workout. I am not sore or exhausted, and the cals are the only valuable part to me as the running in week 12 was not that advanced- anyone can tell you to run for two 20 odd minute intervals with 5 minute walking breaks. The ab work is good, but other than that it is not challenging for someone who has some flexibility and performs cals regularly as I had. I have no doubt that these are valuable exercises, but this is far from the billing that I was reading on everyone else's review about what a workout you'll get from it. If you want a challenging workout buy something from Stew Smith and adapt this workout to include all the exercises for the off, or easy, days. It deserves four stars because this is probably good for most people who don't stretch enough and/or want to ease into a workout. All the supporters of this book must forgive me for making it sound so bad, it is a quality purchase, this just doesn't seem like the ultimate workout.

The workout programme described in this book is deceptively difficult! Having read many of the recent titles which detail Navy SEAL workout regimens, I have found this one to be the most practical and time efficient. Some of the exercises would be considered obsolete by many, but once you get down to the nitty gritty this is a hardcore training programme (As one would expect from a former Navy frogman!). The instructions are very clear and presented with wry humour. The weekly and daily schedules are particularly effective as you can monitor your progress daily which is very motivating. It is also interesting to note that this book was first published in 1985! If you can find a copy, Buy it!

This is the most amazing exercise book I've EVER read. It's literally a crime they don't publish it anymore. Fitzgerald's exercise regimen is guaranteed to give you unbelievably "cut" muscles in a short time. His regimen will also force you to dig deep inside yourself for stamina, willpower, and endurance. Sound familiar? It should: Fitzgerald is ex-UDT.

For lower body conditioning, nothing I've seen compares to Fitzgerald's book. However, readers should add the upper-body and cross-training exercises found in the recent publications by Caracci, Helvenston, DeLisle, Smith, and other Navy SEALs.

This book is designed to put the reader through two workout programmes simultaneously. There is a Calisthenics programme, and a Running programme. This is a 12-week cycle; as Fitzgerald says, special forces are always changing and adapting, so there is no 'official' cycle that remains constant forever. Thus, this is flexible here, too. This book is all the reader needs except his own muscles and desire to succeed. No special equipment to buy or anything else. The back cover says this is not for the timid or the lazy. This is like being in the military. No excuses - just do it!

The author is a former Navy frogman named Tom Fitzgerald. He continues his fitness goals by running in the Boston Marathon and other such events. Fitzgerald promises better self-esteem, better motivation, and better accomplishment for those who will complete this programme.

The conditioning programme targets five different body parts with 46 different exercises. The running involves running and rapid walking with some intervals of sprinting. There is also a good deal of stretching involved. If you cannot give this one or two hours a day every day for 12 weeks then maybe this is not the book for you. But one could still get it and look at the exercises that have good descriptions and are useful, even if not following the programme.

Stretching
There is stretching prior to each session. This helps prevent muscle injury and makes one limber. Stretching after also helps healing faster, too.

Diet
This book does not go too much into diet since there are other books ready for that, but it gives some general rules. Vitamins and supplements are discussed and basic common sense like not drinking alcohol or too much sugar or caffeine before a workout. Their advice is humourous: 'If you're looking around for a mate, consider marrying a nutritionist.'

Other general instructions
This section deals with sore muscles, shoe and foot care (very important for the heavy running schedule). Keeping count and keeping at it is important too! At the end of the book is a record for keeping track of progress.

The Stretching Programme
There are 14 stretches in this, and each of them are done both before and after the calisthenics and running programmes. An important note is that this stretching routine was developed at a university training programme and not by the Navy. The chart at the end of the section shows what you should do, including how much time this should take. The opening stretches should take 5 minutes, and the final stretches should take 2 minutes.

The Calisthenics Programme
There are 46 exercises that are done over the course of the week that will exercise ever muscle in your body. There are five main categories.

General Warm-up
There are 10 exercises in the general warm up, and these exercises work to prepare the whole body for work.

Abdominal Exercises
There are 11 exercises in the abdominal section, and they work to strengthen and stretch the abs and your lower back.

The Side and Obliques
There aren't too many exercises in this part -- only 5, but they are important. These are really tough exercises beyond the usual stuff for sides and obliques.

Leg and Groin Exercises
There are 12 exercises in this section and legs are one of the major muscle groups in the body and often get overlooked. People think of abs and arms for fitness, but the legs carry the body weight all day long.

Arm Chest and Shoulder Exercises
There are 8 exercises in this final section for the upper body. The book said no special equipment is needed, but once will need a place to do pull-ups.

At the end of this section is the 12-week chart for how many exercises need to be done. Out of the 46 exercises you will do about half of them each day. Some things like leg stretchers are done almost every day. Some things like the one-legged push-up are done less often.

SEAL training calls running programmes 'conditioning hikes'. These involve running, walking double-time, and sprints in a programme on varying terrain, mostly on sand, which goes from being soft to hard-packed to ridged to in the water, often done in boots. The book makes recommendations for running in boots, and running with ankle weights or other kinds of terrain variations.

The first week involves running two miles in 15 minutes and makes progress up to eight miles at a maximum for the rest of the programme.

The exercises are described in good form each with pictures of each step. All exercises can be done by males or females. The pictures are basic black-and-white and sometimes a little grainy.

One drawback is that this is a tough workout programme from the very beginnin, and some people not be able to tolerate the stress and muscle effort from the outset. A Week Zero or prep conditioning programme would probably be a good idea to add if the book is ever reprinted.

The last part of this book involves setting out the schedule in a good format. There are also pages are for recording a personal record of progress and that can be motivating.