Events Books

After the Bush years are over and those Congressmen and lobbyists who have benefited from their party's patronage go to jail, (1994 was the real year of inception with the GOP takeover of Congress) it will be interesting to see who is left standing. Certainly not among them is Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the pride of the air war in Vietnam. Pin a medal to his chest and watch his life unfold.

Duke Cunningham should never have gotten even remotely high up in power as he did. Author Seth Hettena paints a "not so glorious" view of the man who came to represent the beginning of the downfall of ethics problems in Congress over the past years. Cunningham was neither cunning so much as he was a ham. His mouth got him into constant trouble and the author points out how easily a man with war hero credentials, given to emotion rather than reason and easily bought, is otherwise reduced to pulp on a national scene. At least retiring Senator Larry Craig makes Cunningham look good.

Hettena's narrative is better at the ends. The initial sting operation to get Cunningham bookended by the eventual outcome is told in gripping manner. The author knows how to write. Yet, the middle of the book sags under the weight of facts and figures. The case against Cunningham is made, but to say that he is the "most corrupt Congressman" in Washington? Ever? Certainly Tom DeLay will receive that mantle. Or others about whom we don't know. It's still early.

Seth Hettena's book is good, but not great. It fills in some pieces along the corruption puzzle line and a title less blaring would have made for a more solid read. I hope this talented author writes another book about Congressional life in Washington before long. Go higher up, this time!

Our country is in trouble. Big trouble. The amount of greed and corruption that is being allowed to run amuck these past seven years is staggering. With all of the terror mongering going on, many will turn the other way not wanting any more bad news. Do not make that mistake.

Hettena has masterfully taken a complex, convoluted and just plain confusing history and woven a fascinating and comprehensible story which helps us understand not only what happened in the case of Randy "Duke" Cunningham and his contractor cronies, Wade and Wilkes, but skillfully illuminates the reasons why.

Perhaps some of you will say they're unethical - so what? The amount of corruption and the web of complicity throughout our government and industry have reached record breadth and depth. It will not improve until the American public pays attention, understands, and demands that it be stopped. Each of us has a part in this drama. A good place to start is reading this book.

"Spoils" paints not only an amazing story of corruption but a fascinating character study in how the sense of entitlement and greed can take over the human spirit. You really can't make this "cast of characters " up and the story reads like an unbelievable true-crime novel.

The other scary part is, Duke and his "friends" really didn't try to hide any of their corrupt actions and it went unchecked for years. It makes you think what our "smart" politicians are doing to keep their secrets from coming out?

The author, in a very vivid language, tells us a lot about what is happening in Washington.
I wish every American could read this book to realize what really is happening to our tax dollars because of all the political corruption that exists.

Great work Seth Hettena! I really enjoyed reading this book. I lived in San Diego during the "Duke" era and was shocked when all of this corruption scandal unfolded. Seth did a great job in describing the events of this crime. He also paints a very different picture of the "Duke" we all knew. The great Vietnam fighter ace was able to defeat his enemy, but was not able to fight off his own addiction to fame, money and status.

It was very clear to me after reading this book how our culture of materialism and consumerism has gotten out of control. The "Duke" got caught up in this and loses site of what is important in life and his purpose as a father, husband and congressional representative. Seth paints a very clear picture of a man caught up in his own ego unable to distinguish right from wrong. This book reminded me about the frailty of human beings and the necessity to show how bad it can get when we lose site of our purpose. This timely book should not only be a must read for every politician....but everyone.

Like most people that lived through the JFK assassination I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news of his death like time stoped. I never believed what the United States government passed off as factual rationale, for the cause of this tragedy. The Warren Commission report did not make sense. I read it in the 1965 and could sense that something was not right. A friend of mine recommended this book to me she knew I was like a majority of people alive, thinking that we would go to our grave not knowing what really happened to JFK. It was her husband a career law enforcement official that convinced me to read this story; it was the best documentation surrounding the crime he claimed. Mr. Hemingway takes you on a trek that only he and JFK traveled while presenting new facts that I have never heard and would have never thought of. I would have never imagined that murdering someone over a political mistake could have caused the turmoil it did. So much of the story sounds like what is going in the United States today, it borders on surreal. The book made me livid. When I was finished; there was a lot of corruption exposed. Truly I can accept this research as fact and this gives me a sense of closure to this grave incident in United States history. Some minor editing changes could be made but it did not overshadow the ground breaking content and earthshaking ideas made this incredible.

MR. HEMINGWAY SHOULD FIRE HIS PROOFREADER!!! ASIDE FROM THE TYPIGRATHICAL ERRORS THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!FINALLY SOMEONE IS GIVING IT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC STRAIGHT. THANK YOU MR. HEMINGWAY IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW. THIS IS A MUST READ.

This is a whole new twist on the JFK assisination. The writer presented some very interesting facts which I think should be looked into further. Possible movie plot???

It is becoming more and more clear that the US Government has not be honest with the masses. This book helps the reader draw a FACTUAL conclusion of what the US Government has been up to using strong and organized evidence. While the first edition has some typographical errors, it remains that Hemingway delivers a strong case.

This book reveals a highly plausible theory as to why JFK was eliminated. It is a fascinating theory full of detail and research on why JFK was killed. A must read for anyone who doubted the Warren Commission findings. This book belongs in our Universities and all JFK buffs' collections.

I was lost. I had just read Al Gore's book, Earth in the Balance, and, of course, I was shocked at what we are doing to the earth, and how it is being destructed. I decided that I wanted to start an advocacy organization. But where to start? I was troubled. In a Las Vegas, Nevada bookstore I found answers to my problems. A book on how to cope with the woes of starting an advocacy organization, that gave tips on anything ranging from student rights to lobbying. This book is highly informative, yet Seo talks about everything with such a great blend of comic satire, that the hard facts never became lectures. All of these tips coming from a master protester and veteran of the business. As a thirteen year old who is highly concerned about the environment I would give this book five stars. As a learned scholar who has read many texts, the rating remains five stars. Whether kid or adult, you are sure to love this Seo "thriller".

Rarely do you find a book that talks about ACTION instead of PROBLEMS. Danny Seo's "Generation React" provides inspring ideas and practical information on how to change the world around you, whether you are an activist or not. The author shows that everyone can make a difference, no matter how old you are. The amazing truth is, what Danny has done can be and could have been done by anyone else. To quote Danny's description of starting Earth 2000 at age 12, "Sure, we couldn't drive -- heck, we couldn't even cross the street -- but we had the three things every great activit group needs: dedication, enthusiasm, and tenacity." It's simple. Everyone can do it. So read it, be inspired, take action, and make the world a better place.

This book is for anybody who wants to make a change in their global or local world, not just teens. Though Danny's only 20, he knows more from his time as an activist than most people three times his age. If you are unhappy about anything from a problem with your town or school to the nation's environmental policies, this book gives the nuts and bolts of how you personally can make a change. It's wonderful to see someone who cares and is doing something about it. Danny should be a role model for any concerned citizen of any age - and his book should go on to become THE reference guide for a generation.

I was lost. I had just read Al Gore's book, Earth in the Balance, and, of course, I was shocked at what we are doing to the earth, and how it is being destructed. I decided that I wanted to start an advocacy organization. But where to start? I was troubled. In a Las Vegas, Nevada bookstore I found answers to my problems. A book on how to cope with the woes of starting an advocacy organization, that gave tips on anything ranging from student rights to lobbying. This book is highly informative, yet Seo talks about everything with such a great blend of comic satire, that the hard facts never became lectures. All of these tips coming from a master protester and veteran of the business. As a thirteen year old who is highly concerned about the environment I would give this book five stars. As a learned scholar who has read many texts, the rating remains five stars. Whether kid or adult, you are sure to love this Seo "thriller".

I saw Danny Seo on an old re-run of Leeza during a summer-camp break. (We never watch day time TV) & called my daughter to come listen. We then bought the book & read it together. Reading of this book should be a school project or requirement...it will produce softer, gentler more caring kids & transform them into bright young active citizens. I will send this book to school for her second grade class teacher to have a peak at & hopefully she can do something & perhaps create a "learning-sharing project" for the kids....maybe near Thanksgiving or Earth Day??

This plan or movement by Tim Cox is one of those things you think to yourself, "why didn't someone do this before?". This book makes you think about all of the important issues that we, as Americans are facing today and what we can do about them. It makes you believe that you don't have to sit on the sidelines any longer but that you can actually do something about the career politicians who are ruining our country. Our United States of America can go back to being 'by the people, and for the people", we just have to act. Great book, great read! Buy this book!

Of couse we want change! Thank you to Tim Cox for doing something about it. In this book, he came up with a very workable plan and tells you how easy it is to follow it. It's not about what your political beliefs are, it's about giving the House back to the people, where it was always intended to be. With this plan, the people, not the politicians, have the platform they need to make the changes in policy that do actually benefit the people, not government or corporations. It's as easy or easier than just doing whatever your currently doing, and it makes so much sense, it is a shame not to read this book, even if politics do not interest you. It's about politics, but it's not political, and you don't have to understand politics to understand this book and learn how to help our country be as it should-in the hands of the people.

Computer scientist Tim Cox has devised a revolutionary plan for putting ordinary patriots like you and me in every seat in the House of Representatives, taking control from the two political parties which currently run our country. He knows his history (the founding fathers are repeatedly cited), he's got his statistics down straight (95% of all elections are won by an incumbent - that's how often the outcome of a race is known), and he's got a plan in Get Out of Our House (GOOOH, which is pronounced simply "go").

His book makes a powerful impact by first outlining his plan at a high level. It is a reasonable call to action, asking all of us to find trustworthy candidates in our everyday life. He outlines the steps for sweeping November with grassroots action, and both the enthusiast and the skeptic can find plenty of details on the website named for the plan's acronym. Only after describing the movement at a high level does Cox make his case for the imperative need to evict the current legislature, sever special interest ties, and obliterate the restrictive two-party system. True to his scientific background, the plan centers on a 100-point candidate questionnaire, to which GOOOH's politicians would be held accountable in office. He has designed a democratic, self-funded system for electing leaders from among the many qualified citizens of our country.

Tim Cox's GOOOH plan has opened my mind, and I'll be passing my copy of the book along to friends and family in the next few months. He has made a compelling case for a revolution which is conducted entirely WITHIN the our Constitutional system.

This is an outstanding book about a process to change the way US Representatives are elected. It will help bring about a way for ordinary Americans to make a positive difference in our government. This is an innovative plan and I encourage all to read it and become involved.

Let me assure you that this is the most compelling political book you will ever read. It will get you to stand up and say "Yes! I too can make a difference!"

The book asks the following questions and provides a way to address all of them:

* Could you do a better job than the politicians in Washington today?
* Are you fed up with partisan politics?
* Are you tired of the corruption?
* Have you had it with the influence of special interest money?
* Do you want to be the one to make a difference but don't know how?

If you answered yes to at least one of the above questions you must read this book!

Hi, everyone. I'm the author of The Hangman's Knot. I'd like you to know that "remaindered" copies of the book (those with a small mark along one end of the pages) probably have a faulty index. A press run of these was released by mistake. If buying a used copy, please check that the index entries send you to the right page. Thanks to those who have bought the book, and special thanks to those reviewed it or sent thoughtful questions and responses to my website!

Eliza Steelwater writes clearly, consisely and not without humour on a subject that most people choose not to think about, providing us with the historical context which allows us to understand how Europe and America came to be divided on whether legal execution is the most appropriate action to be taken as a response to a serious crime. As Ms Steelwater confirms, execution has never been proved to be a deterrent. More worringly it is a punishment which is almost exclusively meted out to minorities and to the poorest in society. As the history of legal execution and lynchings in the US unfolds the case against the death sentence is strengthened. However, this is not the main purpose of the book, rather that we understand the context for and the discrepancies in applying the death sentence in the USA. Whether you are interested in history or in social justice, this book is an excellent read that will keep you thinking long after you have finished turning the pages.

This book is well researched so that the reader can have a high level of confidence in the facts presented. You can be assured that the facts are startling and shocking. The book points out that half of the prisoners in the world are in the prisons and jails of the USA. It just gets worse from there. There are too many errors and too much lack of justice in our justice system.

John Lamb killed one person and was executed for his crime. Sammy "The Bull" Gravano killed 19 persons and was given a soft sentance. In the USA there are about 22,000 homicides each year and only about 300 defendants are advanced to death row. They are almost all poor, have bad attorneys and are 99% male. Getting the death penalty is kind of a backwards lottery. If everything goes wrong, much of it out of the defendants control, such as your lawyer falling asleep in the courthouse, eyewitnesses lying (very common occurance), being born poor and being born the wrong gender, then the defendant may very well end up on death row. In order to "win" this horrific backwards lottery it helps to be on trial in Texas which has the most executions of any State. The law in texas is so punitive toward the defendant that at least one person was executed after he was found to be innocent by new evidence not allowed to be even considered due to an arbitrary 30 day time limit on bringing in new evidence.

Excellent book, but not a book that is easy to read. Facing our country's history in this area makes us look at our past and often gives a different slant on what we have accepted as history. The information in the book is so well researched and documented. The author does not rely on personal opinion to make her points, but cites numerous sources. She presents evidence and allows the reader to form their own opinion. Anyone with an interest in history and the social conscience of America would find this a worthwhile read.

This book's importance reaches beyond the debate over the death penalty as it demonstrates and explains the relationship between power, money and punishment in America. It is a fascinating story, representing years of research by one of the best and most original minds in the country. Dr. Steelwater's examples brilliantly illustrate communities' and the State's involvement with capital punishment within the context of the contemporary events that shaped American attitudes toward community vigilantism and State supported and regulated legal execution. From the frontier experience to industrial labor unrest, from the racial violence of the Deep South to the mayhem of Western boom towns (and much more), violent historical events have shaped our attitudes about the need for and right of the community and the State to take life as retribution and/or deterrent. The Hangman's Knot is immensely readable with a bibliographic essay for each chapter. It should be included in the library of anyone who has an opinion about capital punishment. American history, social theory and economic geography are elegantly merged in this deeply intelligent and humane book.

Kids love dogs, no doubt. But I do doubt that most kids know anything about this facet of the dog world -- what a guide dog does, how it's trained, how a stranger should interact with it, the special relationship between guide dog and owner. I admit that I didn't know much about these things before I read Finke's book.

Her tone is warm, friendly and educational. The illustrations are beautifully done with a warmth that echoes the author's voice. It's a refreshing take on the dog-as-hero book, of which there are many, and of which too few are as truly unique as this one.

Hanni and Beth Safe & Sound is a children's picturebook about the daily life of seeing eye dog Hanni and her owner. Based on the real-life experience of author, Hanni and Beth Safe and Sound is a wonderful introduction for young people to the rules in how to treat a seeing eye dog; for example, a dog is working when its harness is on, and a working dog should not be petted or distracted. Told from Hanni's point of view, and beautifully illustrated by professional artist Anthony Alex LeTourneau, Hanni and Beth Safe & Sound is enthusiastically recommended for children's library collections.

My son, 7 yrs, got this book for Christmas and he simply loves it. The subject matter is different and interesting and it has created an opportunity for us to talk about all kinds of things (and people) we never thought about. Plus it is fun and sweet! I've already ordered a copy as a birthday present for a friend of his. I could give this book to every child I know. It's well written and illustrated and fun for parents to read (and learn from) as well.

Hanni and Beth: Safe and Sound by Beth Finke is a delightful book about a Seeing Eye dog and her owner, the author, as told by the dog. In warm and straightforward language children (as well as adults) learn about the training, daily responsibilities, and activities of service animals for the blind. Many people don't know it is not okay to pet a working dog.

This book is a must for any houshold with children so that they may grow in knowledge of working dogs and the challenges of people who depend on them to function more independently. The richly colored illustrations by Anthony Alex Letourneau create an inviting atmosphere to share the story with young children; and as the children grow, they will return to enjoy it again and again.

Review of Hanni and Beth Safe and Sound

Hanni and Beth Safe & Sound is a splendid story of friendship, loyalty, and courage.
Hanni, a Seeing Eye dog, recounts her day as a companion to Beth. Author Beth Finke's blindness occurred in adulthood as a result of diabetes.

Faithful animal stories are not unique. What makes Hanni's story special is the determination and confidence that both characters exhibit as a result of this special relationship. "Blind trust," a cliché that totally describes this relationship, is apparent on each page. Whether Hanni and Beth are dodging garbage cans or traffic, Beth knows that Hanni will do her best to keep them safe.

Anthony Letourneau's illustrations are so life-like that as soon as my students saw the cover of the book they knew immediately it was a book about Beth and Hanni. Beth visited our school last year for an assembly and told her story. The students couldn't wait for her book to come out and were thrilled to see the final copy.

The students were amazed that Beth could lead such a normal life despite her blindness. I think tales where adults are vulnerable (not bumbling fools) help children relate to their own vulnerability in the world. Certainly, if Beth can make it with Hanni's help and her own tenacity, then they can make it too.

Hurray Hanni! Bravo Beth! Thank you for showing us anything is possible.

Thanks Barack Obama!
I was really impressed by the analytic capacity of the author and as I am usually not reading books about economic affairs and also not about politics I am even more astounded to find it fascinating and suspense driven. Honestly, if it was not for Barack Obama to get me interested in politics I probably had never read a book like this.

The author managed to prove President Sarkozy wrong in every single aspect of his agenda, so far. In an astounding collection of facts Niemeyer demonstrates why the French economy is suffering so terribly under this Hollywood-President.

"History repeats itself" is a famous phrase and although it may not be 100% true there is yet something to it as the author pointed out citing similar developments in the 1920ies and today. Like 80 years ago there are `analysts' working for investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch speaking of "market irritations" while a depression is lingering around the next corner. And, it seems that what we call today `Globalisation' should rather be called `Imperialism', and I am glad that the author uses the accurate terms rather than any of the more fashionable expressions the Anti-Globalisation groups fancy. It is quite right to speak of Capitalism making majorities poorer in order to make rich ever richer as exactly this is happening as we all can feel when we see our standard of living constantly decline amid "economic good times" as media never gets tired to hammer into our heads. Why create a new term for that only because the phrase may sound old fashioned when, indeed, the strategies employed by the ruling class apparently are also old fashioned but still seem to work quite well for them?!

Fascism, Stalinism, Euro-Maniacism

It is really worthwhile not only to know the political and military history of the 20th century but also it's financial history. Especially the latter provides for explanations of the inexplicable, the World Wars, the rise of Fascism, Stalinism and now Euro-Maniacsim. Ralph T. Niemeyer must be a genius to be able to combine mathematical, statistical and political facts and make the read of normally dry matters exciting! Congratulations on a superb and unbeatable analysis. I wished our political leaders knew about it.

Ralph T. Niemeyer said: "Where only profit maximization reigns there is no room for Democracy" and he is damned right with that. The "survival - of - the - fittest - credo" of the economically more powerful is the opposite of Freedom and Equality. I admire his sober way of analyzing our system's flaws and I appreciate it a lot that he doesn't become indulgent about Marx or Communism which most people who have the same insight he has would probably would be in danger of as looking for the gene for a `brave new world' can lead into a trap as we have seen in Stalinism. Socialism has tried to break it's opponent's pride. Capitalism strips people off their pride.

Interesting to know how Congress has evolved. The book is more than just about Congress though, for Congress is a body somewhat representative of the people. So Polsby offers some interesting explanations for why the South became a Republican stronghold. Also, the various changes in leadership control is interesting and important for understanding changing dynamics in America's political system. Lots of helpful footnotes, bordering on obsenely excessive. The case studies into various personalities is really interesting: Wilbur Mills was a nut!

From the Publisher: "Nelson Polsby has been studying, reading about and hanging around the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 40 years. In "How Congress Evolves", he provides the definitive--and often witty-account of how the House has changed over time, and why." Michael Barone, coauthor, "The Almanac of American Politics"

"How Congress Evolves" is elegantly written, cogently argued, and politically astute. Nelson Polsby gives his readers the benefit of four decades and more of immersion in and observation of Congress, along with his penetrating insights into politics, people, and institutions, and a writing style that is at once accessible and sophisticated. Novices and experts, students and practitioners, scholars and journalists, all will learn immensely about how the House of Representatives works and how it changes."--Norman Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute

From the Publisher:
"How Congress Evolves" is Nelson Polsby's magnum opus. Polsby is an institution among congressional scholars and this book will be a classic work on Congress along with the writings of Woodrow Wilson and Richard Fenno. Polsby's wonderful observations from his interviews and deft use of data about stability and change in Congress combined with his humor make the book hard to put down once you start reading it. --James A. Thurber, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University

This book provides an elegant description of one of the most important transformations of American politics: the end of the Dixiecrats and the transformation of the Solid South from the Democrats to the Republicans. He importantly connects this with the rise of the power of the caucus and leadership. It also has implications for the crisis of partisanship in Congress.

The book basically concerns several interwoven phenomena, the House Democratic Caucus exerting political control on its conservative southern members and the rise of the Republican South. Polsby demonstrates how demographic and sociological phenomena weakened the grip of the South on Democratic Party machinery, pulling the Democratic Party to the left. This increased the pressure on Dixiecrats to switch parties, once it became acceptable to be a Southern Democrat.

Polsby also discusses the rise of contemporary partisanship. As the Caucus got the power to discipline its chairman, it demanded an end to bipartisanship. This weakened Republican moderates who called for cooperation and working with the Democrats. This led to the rise in power of Newt Gingrich (an Amazon reviewer!) who advocated a different strategy that eventually led to the 1994 election.

Excellent book, and excellent insights. In several ways, this book will help me do my job better as a staffer in the House of Representatives.

Jimmy Carter was arguably the worst President in American history and not only that, he was also responsible for giving Islamism a place to call home in Iran. But Carter didn't stop there, he also has supported anti-semitism and neo-nazism in many places and today allies himself with the likes of Iran's president Ahmadinjed in his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Jimmy Carter helped cause the Iranian revolution and also worked to help the Ayatollahs take power and then sacrificed American lives after the fact, for absolutely no reason. Unfortunatly this book exposes the truth about Carter and Islamism and his responsibility for 9/11.

Seth J. Frantzman

Great Read !! Was Carter a noble humanitarian? The author has presented with precision, a different perspective; In dealing with Iran, Carter's views were at best naive, or perhaps worse, a deliberate detachment for self aggrandizement. A must read for any one doubting the threat of militant Islam or Carter's ill conceived appeasement to its incubation.

I thought the book covered in excellent detail the events that led to the Islamic takeover in Iran, without making a personal attack on Carter or his administration. He lays out the historical facts and political background of the time period very well. I like a book that does not try to take you to a place, but allows you to get there by yourself.

The book lays out the dedication to a policy and theory within the Carter administration that ignored the reality of the political and theological culture in Iran. Carter, like many liberals, set a policy that made him feel good about himself and his administration. It has cost many US lives over the decades since. Pilevsky says what few others are saying, but many have thought it. This "Terrorist Thing" starts with Carter.

Loved it. Used it as a good source for my Diplomacy Class 2nd and 3rd major essays. This book is a must read!

Simply put: the best book I've ever read! Pilevsky brings back the Carter years in full technicolor - the blinders and gloves are off. His writing is smooth, strong and punchy. If this book came out before 2002, Carter might not have won the Nobel Peace price. It's actually that powerful and relevant.

I can't wait for Philip Pilevsky's next book!!

There are so few books out there that give a realistic look at a professional groom's life. If you've ever considered becoming a groom or even going into the pro-horse world, this book is an amazing investment. Nusser gives almost every type of information you could want, including typical pay, benefits, housing, and insights into the personalities and habits of the grooms. It follows three pro grooms: a woman who just wants to learn everything she can, a woman who is wishes she was winning the medals, not grooming the horses, and a man who works for the money. Though it's non-fiction, it's written like a story and you can't help but be draw in. This is one of my top five favorite books - I can't impress on you how much you should buy it.

Follows the grooms in 3 areas of horse sport: eventing (grooms of the O'Connors), show jumping (of Anne Kursinski), and racing (of the breeding stallions at Lane's End). Very interesting, and for the most part not too dumbed down or inaccurate.

The stuff about Parelli got to be very annoying-this was back when the O'Connors were actually fans of him. The author seemed to be a bit too impressed with the man.

Some history of the horse was mixed in, as well as plenty of stuff about each discipline. It was very interesting to see how the horses were treated by each group of grooms. For example, the race horse grooms didn't seem to have a ton of affection for their charges and were very pragmatic. The O'Connor's grooms thought of "their" horses almost as if they were their pets or kids. Also enjoyed seeing the true lives of these people: long days, hard work, little pay, not much time for other people in your life.

Don't recommend this book for young kids: Some bad language, references to drugs and sex. Also some graphic scenes in the breeding shed of Lane's End. But for adults, this is an informative, entertaining read that doesn't make riding and horses out to be glamorous (unlike many horse books today). Nice book for the 99% of horse owners who do their own work, and for those that want to see what goes on in high-caliber equestrian operations. And it really makes you respect these incredibly hard-working people who get relatively little credit for any wins.

This book will certainly give you an appreciation for the hard work grooms put into caring for "their" horses, as well as the difficulty proffessionals have in finding and keeping gooms. Grooming is often a thankless job (more often than not, unfortunately!), with long hours and hard work, as well as little to no time off, but most people are unaware of this fact, even many horse enthusiasts. It's nice to see the grooms get the attention they deserve, as well as being an enlightening look into the world of professional riding.

My only qualm is that the book reads like a 200 page newspaper article, not like a novel. The writing (especially the tense of the writing), distances the reader from getting into the "story". Nonetheless, it's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in horse care or professional riding. Those with only a casual interest in horses or without any real experience in showing or stable management may want to look elsewhere for a book, but those with a working knowlegde of horse care and terminology will find this an interesting read.

This book left me thinking about grooming and a grooms life for days after I read it. Straight forward, with lovely descriptive passages about the things grooms do and are, it reads easily and quickly--and is over too soon. Nice too, that it parallels three types of grooms: racing, jumper, and three day. Well done.

What more can you ask of a book? When first I picked out this book, it was with the intention of learning about the world of a professional horse groom. What I did not count on was learning all about that and so very much more. I would not have given the equine sport called Three Day Eventing a second thought before reading this book. This author describes it so brilliantly & colorfully, I could not wait to turn each page to, as they say, "find out what happens next". It is the true account of this groom's daily life in the professional stables of World Olympic Champions David & Karen O'Conner. Many other well-recognized names at the top of the horse world are featured as well, as this skilled writer takes you on an intimate journey few spectators are ever privey to. This honest & intrigueing portrait of life at the top of the equine world is one that no horse enthusiast should miss. However you feel about the sport of Three Day Eventing, this honest & compassionate portrait will engross you page after page. The sheer strength & beauty of the writing made this book a joy to read.