a400cb32-7d06-4192-9f30-856a6ea95bd2TrueNewShip19Patriot,_TheAmazonLargeBooksreviewrank5840584159571071Xhttp://www.amazon.com/ECHELON-Somebodys-Listening-Jack-ONeill/dp/159571071X%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D159571071X635783http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AXE0CYRPL._SL75_.jpg7545http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AXE0CYRPL._SL160_.jpg16096http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AXE0CYRPL.jpg500301Jack O'NeillPaperback813.6978159571071087159571071XWord AssociationEnglishEnglishEnglish8271695USD$16.95Word Association1341Book2005-09-26Word Association2005-08-15Word Association1065511068USD$10.68661USD$6.61560011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewhRgKN4kXC%2BnhqdANteZduqeZOIPZBIgmtZwxyaZHmX5EMpHZ0vZzD7Qlwh6xAuyVaDXOwd89bkTMb1GHHakaX4aswj0F4xpX1153USD$11.53Usually ships in 24 hours4.55612159571071X3002009-01-02

Good concept, too predictable

The idea of bouncing to each perspective during the book-long man hunt is interesting and enjoyable. There just isn't much suspense, because it is all so predictable. If you like spy thrillers, you might like this book, but you won't be surprised at any point... except when you spot the few errors and wonder how they weren't caught before it was published.159571071X3112008-10-01

Really? 5 stars?

While the tech and political in-fighting pieces are interesting, the writing is not. I'm sorry, this author is obviously a tech guy who wanted to branch out or show what is happening in the intelligence gathering world by creating a fictional tale, but wow. The writing is stilted, the dialoge is painful and the author doesn't have a grasp (yet?) of relating internal discussions. Just not an easy book to read as the writing keeps getting in the way. <br />Still, the story is good. The characters, for the most part are believable and the pace is decent. <br />I just can't say "run out and buy it". 159571071X5022008-09-23

A new Clancy!

This book reminds me of the first Tom Clancy book I ever read! I couldn't believe that all the details of what must have been highly classified material at one time were actually appearing in a novel. The vivid descriptions and intriguing characters add to the exciting plot in this rich novel. I couldn't put it down, once I started reading. <br /> <br />Jack O'Neill has certainly made his mark on the techno-thriller genre!159571071X3002008-08-20

Interesting, but...

Echelon has a very interesting plot. I picked it up because I am interested about government eavesdropping: echelon, carnivore Magic Lantern, Rapid Start. However, there are too many unnecessary scenes and dialogues (such that in Chapter 14) that took away from what could have been a very good story; too many characters that I didn't care about; too many names to remember. I got to know Carolyn and Janet more than I would like and I thought they are behaving like little girls. Sarah's behavior, the wife of Michael Stone (the main character) just makes me mad. I wish she has more compassion and trust to her CIA husband. Again, this story has a very good and promising plot. But I think I would have enjoyed it better if it is written by David Baldacci or Joseph Finder, Michael Connelly, even David Morrell or Sue Grafton. 159571071X2222008-08-03

Sub par at best/snore fest

I bought this book because Amazon 'suggested' I would like it after looking up Daemon by Leinad Zeraus. As an aside, Daemon is a great/highly entertaining book. This however is not. I am half way through and am forcing myself to swallow the medicine to finish. I may not. The characters are two dimensional/cookie cutters that could be found left on the floors of a choose your own adventure chop shop. The plot had promise, but too many boring character background deviations have pulled away from what seemed interesting - the government's abilities, technologies, and abuses with eavesdropping of any kind. That is sadly a sidenote to a high school level writing exercise. I may be a bit harsh - if I had picked this up out of the blue, it would probably have gotten 3 stars. Since I came off of reading a much better book - and this seemed recommended by like minds, I was let down farther.ECHELON, Somebody's Listening is a factually-based thriller that tells details of recently revealed and formerly highly classified 21st Century eavesdropping methods. The story begins the day the Patriot Act is signed--the first day the CIA and FBI are allowed to sit side-by-side eavesdropping. It is the story of three segments of society--the CIA/FBI, municipal law enforcement and citizens ensnared by CIA/FBI eavesdropping--as they respond to a surprise act of terror at the Miami International Airport. It's a frantic chase that culminates in a stunning conclusion in Washington, D.C. 03854990861400060346081296827103855213240441016073171129Political10134Genre Fiction17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books10129Contemporary17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books713365011General AAS17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books10493Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue10484Thrillers18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books10497Technothrillers10484Thrillers18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books10485General10484Thrillers18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books713463011General AAS10484Thrillers18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155BooksR2469C5SEVJFP4National Security ThrillersR18MJ3IEMLAO4TSuper Mystery NovelsL7ZWGJRSMWC7Romance & Mystery - what a team!B000852XI4http://www.amazon.com/American-pioneers-patriots-Wanda-Ga%C3%8C%C2%81g/dp/B000852XI4%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000852XI4Wanda GágUnknown BindingCoward-McCannEnglishEnglishCoward-McCannBook1928Coward-McCannCoward-McCann0000004.5459B000852XI44002009-01-07

Great book for cat lovers.

I remembered this book from my childhood. It is the cute and sentimental story of an older couple looking for a single cat but millions show up.B000852XI45002008-09-21

Not a great story, but a great refrain

The illustrations are pretty plain, being that they're black and white, and the story even a little lame, but the "chorus" of the book ("Hundreds of cats, Thousands of cats, Millions and billions and trillions of cats"), is what makes the book a standout for me.B000852XI45132008-05-07

Cat's Inhumanity to Cat

A tale of a man who, looking for a cat, finds too many. For any animal-lover, this is a secret dream, an embarrassment of riches. Millions of Cats sends that dream to the glue factory. The laws of nature state that, when a population becomes larger than available resources can support, conflict ensues. In a scene reminiscent of the enormous slaughter at Verdun, acres upon acres of fuzzy, fuzzy kitties flip out switchblade claws and tear each other apart. All for a chance to enter an exclusive Shangri-La: the happy home of the peasant farmer and his sturdy wife. The sole survivor is found hiding under a bush, the last of his race. He is an inverted Jesus, an unblemished lamb for whose sake all of his kind must die. A kitty Anti-Christ, if you will. Who, through his cunning feint, has gained dominion over the feline earth. <br /> <br />And where are the corpses of the slain? How can that hapless peasant keep his shoes dry as he surveys the site of the recent battle? The truth is clear to the careful reader: the Omega Cat has eaten the bodies and drank from the blood. A demonic Eucharist to profane the very soil, the anointing feast for a Dark Prince of Cats. The unwitting peasant knows not what evil he welcomes into his home. And yet, the final scene of domestic bliss offers hope to a world wracked with bloody regional wars: even after death on an incomprehensible scale, life goes on. <br /> <br />Great Christmas gift for your little ones. Goes great with a new puppy.B000852XI45002008-03-05

Wonderful childhood memories

One of my most treasured childhood books, this was one of the first purchases I've made for a new niece and nephew. A wonderful story line, which likely played a part in my love for and respect of all things great and small. B000852XI45002008-02-03

First Page

Once upon a time there was a very old man and a very old woman. They lived in a nice clean house which had flowers all around it, except where the door was. But they couldn't be happy because they were so very lonely.Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman who were very lonely. They decided to get a cat, but when the old man went out searching, he found not one cat, but millions and billions and trillions of cats! Unable to decide which one would be the best pet, he brought them all home. How the old couple came to have just one cat to call their own is a classic tale that has been loved for generations. Winner of a Newbery Honor, this collector’s edition—featuring a heavy interior stock, spot gloss and embossing on the cover, and a thread-sewn binding—will bring this beloved tale to a whole new generation of readers.<I>Millions of Cats</I> is a wonderful tale of vanity versus humility, written and illustrated by the singular Wanda Gag. An old man and his wife decide to get a cat, so the old man goes out in search of the prettiest cat of all. When he is forced to choose from "hundreds, thousands, millions and billions and trillions" of cats, he (naturally) brings them all home. When the wife points out their inability to support the legion of felines, it is left to the cats to decide who among them is the prettiest. Anyone who has ever owned more than a single cat can tell you what happens next. <P> Gag's simple, appealing black ink drawings are perfect for the story, somehow capturing at least the idea of millions of cats in a single page. Repeated lines and the sing-song title refrain make this a read-aloud natural.<I>(Ages 4 to 8)</I>00644314360670674249044842165800644302270395169615713072011General AAS4Children's Books1000Subjects283155Books713392011General AAS10125General17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books713365011General AAS17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books0767928350http://www.amazon.com/Time-Fight-Reclaiming-Fair-America/dp/0767928350%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0767928350128388http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iL77Lr5GL._SL75_.jpg7549http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iL77Lr5GL._SL160_.jpg160105http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iL77Lr5GL.jpg500329Jim WebbHardcover320.6097397807679283591340767928350BroadwayEnglishEnglishEnglish9372495USD$24.95Broadway1272Book2008-05-19Broadway2008-05-19Broadway123622974USD$9.74730USD$7.3048280011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewneweYq0397d5emC%2Bv2DjeOIuog9VxNkc66%2FEsnLOKVXJwzjKV%2FVpk4J2BGlrQNriglsW2NGaA549fEDWvHihU3rSA%3D%3D1647USD$16.47Usually ships in 24 hours4.540807679283503002008-12-26

More of an autobiography

Prior to reading the book, I really didn't know much about Jim Web. Aafter reading the book was quite impressed in how he became a US Senator from Virginia. The book tends to focus more on Jim Web and his background (which is impressive) and to a lesser extent on politics in Washington DC. I recently read "Pennsylvania Avenue: Profiles in Backroom Power" and found that book to be more insightful.07679283505112008-11-30

Stirred but not shaken

With a Houdini-like narrative, A Time to Fight escapes political partisanship and provides a fresh, honest, and independent missive to the American public on the shortcomings of our nation. Weaving personal vignettes with historical lessons, Webb explains, in an articulate and concise fashion, the challenges our government, and US citizens, face in the years to come. Using family experiences (with particular homage paid to Webb's Uncle Tommy), West Point and Marine Corps leadership lessons, journalistic insights, boxing matches, and White House "inside baseball;" Webb tackles three main themes in his work: economic fairness, leadership in government, and prison reform. <br /> <br />He argues convincingly that the upper class in America, the top one percent, have a disproportionate amount of America's wealth and the middle class and lower classes have been left far behind. Noting that the lion share of culpability for the disparity lies with the Republican Party, Webb also explains that former administrations are partly to blame. In short, Webb calls on his peers and the American citizen to press for more accountability from policy makers. <br /> <br />In peripheral contentions, Webb uses Andrew Jackson's presidential leadership against the nascent corporate bank to illustrate that courageous decision-making has been used by American political leaders. In the Jackson example, Webb examines the apolitical nature of the early-nineteenth century president's decision to curtail the power of the US banking system. Moreover, Webb provides ample evidence, via a review of the "broken" prison system, to illuminate the political distance that his peers keep from "hot" issues, such as the one Jackson faced with the banking system. His point, moral dilemmas should be faced head-on without partisanship or political motive. <br /> <br />Webb uses his sources wisely, but a more robust explanation of his sources, through footnote or endnote, would add further clarity to his narrative. <br />07679283503222008-10-03

A New-Found Respect for My VA Senator

My point of view, first of all, is that there is an under-current, of a powerful, select elite who control the market, our politics and news. Most of the media I digest is in the margins. <br /> <br />That being said, I was surprised at the empathy I had for Jim Webb's military perspective. His autobiographical approach to dissecting the time-line of America's political parties gave me a much more human connection to the soldiers who have made history, and who are currently fighting. Webb adds much richness to this work by integrating his own story into his switch from siding with the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. He takes the reader on a journey of how others with his values have changed as the presidency has changed as well. <br /> <br />While I am all-too aware of the corruption of Wall Street and within our justice system, which Webb outlines, there are areas of American (and Middle-Eastern) history in which I have sadly have been ignorant. Webb, if anything, has a strong understanding of the fine points of this history and how it dangerously repeats itself when we are uninformed. <br /> <br />There were many military and political experts with experience who were ignored by the Bush and his cabinet members in regards to the pit-falls of initiating a war in Iraq. Webb, having fought in Vietnam, has visited the darkest places of the psyche and knows that spilling blood comes with great, unseen consequences. It is done only as a last resort. Our occupation over-seas has created more terrorism than his, and others, careful, thoughtful approach. It is more than rhetoric; He has evidence. <br /> <br />It is assuring to see that a Senator can be so openly opposed to a domineering, covertly and overtly aggressive administration. Webb proves the adage that the personal is political and does so with the flow of a gifted writer. Though he offers a general idea to elicit people's passion to demand a change for the better, there could have been so much more. I was left feeling like the book was unfinished. Though the information and the solutions are truthful, it is a somewhat timid truth which only touches the surface a deep ocean of manipulation and anticipated revolution. 07679283504332008-09-22

Challenge to today's Americans

"A Time to Fight" is largely autobiographical, describing Webb's family background, military career (Viet Nam), writing career (several novels), Washington bureaucrat career (Secretary of the Navy), bitterly fought 2006 Senate campaign, and now his Senate career. Very impressive, obviously. <br /> <br />In the midst of all that, Webb also includes numerous historical references and anecdotes, mostly about military history, politics, and economics. <br /> <br />The rest of the book describes some of America's pressing challenges. Some of Webb's figures are shocking. For example, on the issue of the disparity in wealth between rich and poor, Webb says that J.D. Rockefeller made about 7,000 times the average per capita income in 1894, while today's money managers can make 700,000 times the average per capita income. Webb is concerned about whether the social contract that binds us together as a nation can survive that enormous disparity in wealth or the other problems he describes, such as the Iraq War, the rising power of countries like China, our exploding prison population (largely resulting from throwing thousands of urban blacks in jail for selling pot to suburban whites), the influence of special interests on politicians, and the military-industrial complex. <br /> <br />Making those challenges even more difficult to solve, according to Webb, is the poisonous political environment, where neither side seems to be willing to work with the other side, and where politicians pander to their base constituencies about deeply felt, but ultimately trivial, cultural issues, such as abortion, flag burning, and gay marriage, while ignoring issues that may literally threaten our survival as a nation. <br /> <br />I was a bit disappointed with how vague Webb's prescriptions were for dealing with the challenges he listed, but this was still a very interesting book. <br /> <br />And now, I think I'll check the want ads to see if there are any openings for money managers!07679283504112008-09-20

Real Straight Talk from an Actual Maverick

Webb offers some tough policy prescriptions in this well written treatise. These aren't the standard platitudes, and few will agree with everything he says, but he writes with uncommon command for a politician and his call to action is persuasive. There's a lot of biographical insight here, but little self-congratulation. His writes about some topics that simply never get discussed. Indeed, his chapter on criminal justice was probably where his Vice Presidential vetting stopped. <br /><p><i>“I’m the only person in the history of Virginia elected to statewide office with a Union card, two Purple Hearts, and three tattoos."<br></i><br>Jim Webb—the bestselling author and now the celebrated, outspoken U.S. Senator from Virginia—presents a clear-eyed, hard-hitting plan of attack for putting government to work for the people, rather than special interests, and for restoring the country's standing around the world.<br><br>Infused with the intelligence, force, and firebrand style that has earned Senator Jim Webb enormous national attention from his earlest days in office, <i>A Time to Fight</i> offers a thorough and provocative assessment of the thorniest issues Americans face today, along with cogent solutions drawn from Webb's lifetime of experience as a much-decorated Marine, a widely traveled, award-winning journalist and novelist, a highly placed member of the Reagan administration, a Senator with a son who fought as a Marine in Iraq and, perhaps most important, a proud scion of America's vast but frequently ignored working class. <br><br>Webb exposes how America has entered a dangerous, unprecedented cycle of seemingly unsolvable unknowns. Our economic policies, particularly in this age of globalization, have produced widely divergent results leading to a country calcifying along class lines. Our demographic makeup has been altered dramatically and is set to keep on changing, through both legal and illegal immigration. Our editorialists and politicians talk about the American dream, and some urge us to bring democracy to the rest of the world. But more than two million Americans are now in prison, by far the highest incarceration rate in the so-called advanced world. Our foreign policy is confused, without clear direction; increasingly vulnerable to such largely unexamined long-term threats as China's emerging power while it has become bogged down in the never-ending struggles of the Middle East. As this drift toward societal regression has taken place, America's leadership has largely been paralyzed, unable or unwilling to stop the slide. "Where are the leaders?" Webb asks. "Has our political process become so compromised by powerful interest groups and the threat of character assassination that even the best among us will not dare to speak honestly about the solutions that might bring us back to common sense and fundamental fairness?"<br><br>Through vivid personal narratives of the struggles members of his family faced, and citing the courageous actions of presidents ranging from Andrew Jackson to Teddy Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower, <i>A Time to Fight</i> provides specific, viable ideas for restoring fairness to our economic system, correcting the direction of national security efforts, ending America's military occupation of Iraq, and developing greater government accountability. Webb brings a fresh perspective to political dynamics that have shaped our country. His stirring, populist manifesto calls upon voters to make the choices that will change America for the better in this election season.</p>076791689115864855630553583859039306235X0385526393693328011Blue Politics693326011Political Parties44258011Specialty Stores283155Books10757Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies10753Government53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books720030Federal Government10753Government53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books10769Public Policy10753Government53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books11117U.S.11079Politics53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books11083General11079Politics53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books713490011General AAS11079Politics53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books16022931Government16022621Political Science11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books713502011General AAS16022721Systems Of Government16022621Political Science11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books16022631General16022621Political Science11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books713501011General AAS16022621Political Science11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books394181011Hardcover394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155BooksRM9IXT9SQDAO8Books from Guests on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" 10R3QQBM576COTRGThe Role of Family, Religion, and Country in Today's SocietyRCBC72ILUFXRHFather's Day Gifts for Political JunkiesB000CDG888http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Vietnam-War-Remembered-Sides/dp/B000CDG888%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000CDG8881373331http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NPW16K0QL._SL75_.jpg7549http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NPW16K0QL._SL160_.jpg160104http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NPW16K0QL.jpg475310Christian G. AppyPaperbackBargain Price1408201600USD$16.001608Book2004-09-281255501335USD$13.351021USD$10.214800004.5306B000CDG8885002008-10-19

Down from the skies

A number of things jumped out at me reading this book. Westmoreland and Rostow still don't get it. Maybe it's too painful to reevaluate and admit your mistakes caused so much death. Several pilots, who never seem to have gotten to know Vietnam, also don't get it. How could they with all the time they put in drinking? The closer you were to the real world of Vietnam the more likely you were to see what was happening, and the reality changed a number of hawks into doves. I was most impressed by the analyses of both Jonathan Schell and Daniel Ellsberg. Schell for his idea of the US as a kind of domino, the need to show strength in a nuclear world. And Ellsberg for the way he connects Watergate, Nixon's paranoia and Vietnam. Everyone should read this book. It's pretty clear the application of a military solution to Vietnam was a huge mistake. I took the point of view that anyone who disagreed with this idea, so many years later, had some kind of blinders on and it was interesting to figure out what they were.B000CDG8884002008-05-04

Flawed but Brilliant

The scope and richness of this book's personal accounts are breathtaking and unparalleled in prior Vietnam histories. It's based on 350 interviews from around the world over a period of years, 2/3 of which had to be cut to keep the book manageable - on effort alone, Mr. Appy could be applauded. Whatever your viewpoint going in, you'll find yourself reconsidering at least some of it - the book is full of contradictory viewpoints and nuances which defeat the human tendency to try to simplify complex subjects. And the history of Vietnam in the last half of the twentieth century is far more complex than portrayed in movies and most media. <br /> <br />A sincere effort is made to represent multiple viewpoints but Mr. Appy ultimately fails to achieve complete balance. You'll find not only more interviews from Northern soldiers, VC and anti-war protesters, but they're generally longer and more detailed. There's virtually no representation from Southern soldiers, little coverage of Sino-Soviet involvement (leaving the distinct impression it was irrelevant, or exaggerated by the evil Americans), and only brief references to the hardships of post-war Communist "re-education" in Vietnam. The brutality of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia is covered, but in the context of repeatedly blaming US bombings as enabling their rise. This was one factor, but the many others are mentioned only in passing leaving the impression the US was the principal cause of the genocide of 1.5 million Cambodians, rather than Communist fanatics and their financial supporters. That's a bit like blaming Allied bombings for Hitler killing 6 million Jews. <br /> <br />The coverage of anti-war protesters is positive to the point of imbalance. It legitimately describes government abuses but omits the movement's own serious abuses. For example, VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) efforts are discussed in the context of fighting government lies and coverups, without mentioning the fake soldiers they fed to the media citing atrocities in Vietnam, men who'd never served in Vietnam or even in the military in several cases. Appy himself in one of his unattributed intros appears to absolve protester wrongdoings, by mentioning FBI infiltrators encouraging "wild and violent actions that top FBI officials thought would tarnish the movement's reputation...". Yet in contrast, while rightly criticizing the Chicago police's brutal overreactions at the Democratic Party convention, the violent leftist instigators go completely unmentioned, people whose actions led directly to many serious injuries, and who then openly bragged about it. Appy's worldview appears to be that everything bad is the American government's fault. Having said that, the depth of coverage of the anti-war movement is also one of the book's real strengths, capturing the genuine moral and ethical turmoil faced by individuals and families in a way not generally seen before. <br /> <br />None of these qualms should keep you away from this book. No historian is entirely immune from his or her own personal biases, and Chris Appy is human like the rest of us. At the end of the day this book is a masterpiece. It shouldn't be your only source on the Vietnam war, but will be a fantastic contribution to your understanding, especially of the human impacts of war.B000CDG8885002008-04-10

Brilliant!

This wonderful book portrays a truth we don't often hear about. In the words of the people who lived it, Appy gives us the 360 degree portrait of the Vietnam War (or the "American War" if you are Vietnamese). It is the first book you should read as an entry point to the war, and perhaps the only one you will ever need if not an academic. (Next should be Dispatches which hits you on an equally viceral level) <br />This book literally changed my life, and turned a persistent interest in the war into a passion.B000CDG8885012008-02-25

Excellent First-Hand Narratives

This book combines and sorts through the complex history of the Vietnam War by using first-hand narratives. Hearing the voice of the people is sometimes the easiest way to understand the era and the conflict. Many voices from all sides and occupations are given from the more prominent to those who are not so well known. Very interesting and easy to read. Great for research or as a stimulating read.B000CDG8885122007-09-25

Surprised!!

Well, my professor made it a requirement for the class to purchase this book for class discussions. I do not have to tell you that I was HOT, this book is in addition to the 3 books we purchased that the school requires (as we all know school books are not cheap). <br /> <br />Not only was I mad that I had to purchase this book, but the class is called hist 450 (the 1960's), my professor informs us that we would primarily focus on The Vietnam War. I knew the Vietnam War would of course be covered, but so many other things happened in the 60s; assassinations, sit-ins, 68 elections, etc.. Well to my ignorant surprise this book and this class has been the most interesting and entertaining of all my classes throughout my college career. <br /> <br />This book is oral history. The book is a compilation of people who fought, were affected or affected the war. They tell what they did and what they saw. I saw the war from a whole other side. Wonderful book, very well written and a must read.Christian G. Appy’s monumental oral history of the Vietnam War is the first work to probe the war’s path through both the United States and Vietnam. These vivid testimonies of 135 men and women span the entire history of the Vietnam conflict, from its murky origins in the 1940s to the chaotic fall of Saigon in 1975. Sometimes detached and reflective, often raw and emotional, they allow us to see and feel what this war meant to people literally on all sides—Americans and Vietnamese, generals and grunts, policymakers and protesters, guerrillas and CIA operatives, pilots and doctors, artists and journalists, and a variety of ordinary citizens whose lives were swept up in a cataclysm that killed three million people. By turns harrowing, inspiring, and revelatory, <I>Patriots</I> is not a chronicle of facts and figures but a vivid human history of the war.Christian Appy’s <I>Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides</I> is an oral history that serves as a "final public record" from many who have struggled publicly with the war for 20 or 30 years. The book is also a monumental effort to capture voices long unheard and ensure that the words are not lost to a new generation. <p> <p> He includes statements from significant political and military figures from both sides of the conflict, including William Westmoreland, Alexander Haig, Nikita Kruschev's son Sergei, and Vice President Nguyen Thi Bihn. But he tempers these with the voices of a World Airways stewardess who accompanied troops out of the war zone, of the widow of the immolated Norman Morrison, and of numerous Vietnamese and American non-combatants whose lives were torn by the conflagration. These tales, and the contributions from poets, writers, and activists transform the book into a epic dialogue. Indeed, Appy says that he chose the title <I>Patriots</I> not out of a presumed understanding of how that word should be defined, but rather because it served as a locus for so many of the inner struggles of his interviewees: "In what ways might patriotism be a force for good or inspire noble sacrifice, and when does it become a club for stifling dissent and a rallying cry for unjustifiable destruction." <p> <p> <I>Patriots</I> is a book that will reawaken memories--horrific and jubilant--for those who lived through the troubled 1960s and 1970s; and for those just coming to understand the war, it will make vivid the trials of a different time and place. This is a lasting, powerful book that's essential reading for students of the Vietnam conflict. <I>--Patrick O’Kelley</I>006092107207679028900072536187014026547315732254361000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books0689870434http://www.amazon.com/When-Washington-Crossed-Delaware-Wintertime/dp/0689870434%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D068987043427392http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MHWFHRGKL._SL75_.jpg7571http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MHWFHRGKL._SL160_.jpg160151http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MHWFHRGKL.jpg500472Lynne CheneyPeter FioreHardcover973.3329780689870439400689870434Simon & Schuster Children's PublishingEnglishEnglishEnglish10601695USD$16.95Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing140Book2004-10-12Simon & Schuster Children's PublishingAges 4-8Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing1101040695USD$6.95481USD$4.811694USD$16.9434256011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewXJLx%2Bta7PuAV0oPoniwSJFWcpF11KuJQeht6kbJMqWu%2FXetUOVt8h2teO%2F%2BTWCSqkElbRSNRbgRTp3U6azKtbQ%3D%3D1153USD$11.53Usually ships in 24 hours4.528606898704345012008-09-17

A wonderful history we all can learn from

As we enter into another heated political season, it is important to remember our history, to recall where we came from and to reflect on the sacrifices our forefathers made in order for us to sling mud at one another. Mrs. Cheney's new book, "We the People, The Story of our Constitution" gives us the opportunity to explain to our children and refresh our memories on how special our nation is and respect the determination of Washington, Madison and Franklin. <br /> <br />Beautifully written and illustrated -- a truly wonderful book for children, parents and all citizens of our nation!06898704345112007-06-02

WHEN WASHINGTON CROSSED THE DELAWARE: A WINTERTIME STORY FOR YOUNG PATRIOTS

THIS BOOK IS A TRUE TREASURE OF GREAT HISTORY . AN EXCELLENT STORY TO READ FOR HISTORY PURPOSES ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON IN 1776 AND TO READ ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT. A STORY FOR ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ENJOY DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AND THROUGH THE YEAR... FOR ANY YOUNG PATRIOTS AND FAMILIES THAT LIVE WHERE GEORGE WASHINGTON'S HISTORY TOOK PLACE YOU WILL JUST LOVE THIS STORY..........AN EXCELLENT CHRISTMAS GIFT............06898704345112007-05-07

Great story from our beginnings.

A great story told! A very inspiring book for young ones, even older young ones and adults!!! 06898704345112007-05-04

Fabulous book

about George Washington! Would be great for a Revolutionary War unit study. My children and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!06898704344582006-08-10

Great book for your little patriots

Nicely written teachig our children about their heritage and how they can influence their country positively. After they read this book, they will be a proud American."This is the story that I tell my grandchildren at Christmas. I hope that this book will bring the tradition of sharing history to families all across America." -- Lynne Cheney <P>Christmas night, 1776, was a troubled time for our young country. In the six months since the Declaration of Independence had been signed, General George Washington and his troops had suffered defeat after defeat at the hands of the British. It looked as though our struggle for independence might be doomed, when Washington made a bold decision. He would lead the main body of his army across the Delaware River and launch a surprise attack on enemy forces. <P>Washington and his men were going against the odds. It seemed impossible that the ragtag Americans could succeed against the mightiest power in the world. But the men who started across the icy Delaware loved their country and their leader. Under his command they would turn the tide of battle and change the course of history. <P>Best-selling author Lynne Cheney tells the dramatic story of the military campaign that began on Christmas night in 1776. When Washington Crossed the Delaware will teach the young about the heroism, persistence, and patriotism of those who came before them.141695418X0689851928068986717406898581911416909257916994Washington, George916974( W )916928People, A-Z2Biographies & Memoirs1000Subjects283155Books170062General2785Ages 4-84Children's Books1000Subjects283155Books713073011General AAS2785Ages 4-84Children's Books1000Subjects283155Books2943Military & Wars2917History & Historical Fiction4Children's Books1000Subjects283155Books2955Colonial & Revolutionary2947United States2917History & Historical Fiction4Children's Books1000Subjects283155Books69283U. S. Presidents & First Ladies2351Biographies3020People & Places4Children's Books1000Subjects283155Books5039General5035World9History1000Subjects283155Books713323011General AAS5035World9History1000Subjects283155Books713477011General AAS69823Elementary School10605Education53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books394181011Hardcover394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books673422011Ages 4-8673420011Age Range (age_range)388186011Refinements283155BooksRAEL2DX2YEQ89World War II ReadingR1ZKY85APAA0ADThe American Revolution2KYH6L2O09H81Historical ReadsCYT9NN8XATKPMore Very Good Children's Picture Books3J2FVGYV8STZYBooks for Kids to Learn From29N96D1X97R02Great Great Great Books2EJ3DLCMKBNJGReally Great Books1SEAJPN8TZVDKGreat Games and Books for Kids3LFBAJNZDVBW6Teach Kids Good Things2WLRHYQI8UFJDGood, Better, Best Kid's Books (in that order)B000ESSSFMhttp://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Handbook-Stories-Speeches-Celebrating/dp/B000ESSSFM%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000ESSSFM901591http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M7HXZ3W3L._SL75_.jpg7549http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M7HXZ3W3L._SL160_.jpg160105http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M7HXZ3W3L.jpg500329Caroline KennedyPaperbackBargain Price120024001695USD$16.951688Book2005-04-131600612USD$6.12558USD$5.587700004.5266B000ESSSFM5002008-11-09

some of America's greatest spoken and written words

At about 1 7/8" thick in a compact 663 pages, this anthology of great speeches and writings includes something for almost every American it seems. The selections are carefully made, though, and the illustrations are appropriate and occasionally rather poignant. The poems, songs, and selections from literature cover unique and recognizable aspects of sometimes sentimental Americana, while the speeches are like a proud drumroll of American values and ideals, discussing many of the great historical events that have shaped our nation. <br /> <br />Editor Caroline Kennedy's father John, an inspiring orator, has 4 speeches in the book including his amazing Presidential Inaugural Address of 1961; her uncles Robert and Edward also have two speeches each. In fact every U.S. President from the present (published 2003) to FDR and several others have a representative speech included. You will also find John Kerry's speech to Congress regarding the Vietnam War from a soldier's perspective, and John McCain discussing his experiences as a prisoner of war. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is represented three times, including his memorable Address at the March on Washington ("I Have a Dream"). Lyndon Johnson's Special Address to Congress: The American Promise on voting rights in March 1965 is a personal favorite. More historically, you can find Patrick Henry's Address to the 2nd Virginia Convention ("give me liberty, or give me death"), Washington's touching Farewell Address, Jefferson's lofty and idealistic Inaugural Address, and Lincoln's sobering words on the conflict of the Civil War. <br /> <br />The book is easy to read, and easily digested as most entries are only a few pages long, though their content is impressive. As a reference book, it is potentially helpful: both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are printed in their entirety. This is a great book for American patriots, and educational for anyone who would like to learn more about our land, its history, leaders, laws, values, and other things uniquely American. B000ESSSFM4002008-03-02

Homecoming

A must read for every disillusioned patriot. Dispite all of the current negativism in and torwards the current state of affairs, there will always be a brighter day to come and the hopefulness, positivism and true courage that America possesses will come through again. Ours is a rich heritage, thank you Ms Kennedy for organising it so eloquently.B000ESSSFM5112007-04-21

Patriotism, not mindlessness

A Patriot's Handbook celebrates many of the finest moments in American history. Contrary to what a few reviewers have said, however, this is not a mere collection of flag-waving sound-bites. I honestly wonder if they read the same book I did. The version I had contained portions from The Jungle, talking about the unfairness of certain economic systems in place at the time. The version I had contained biting and accurate commentary directed at american racism. Yes, there is (justifiable) pride in some of our most prized cultural notions, from the Statue of Liberty to the seperation of church and state. Never, however, believe that A Patriot's Handbook is all flag-waving. Critical self-examination is also called for by the carefully selected passages, recalling the notion that, at times, dissent is patriotic. The book celebrates what is great in our culture, but does not hesitate to remind us that we are not now, nor have we ever been, perfect. In so doing, it points the way towards perfecting ourselves. An excellent job.B000ESSSFM5112007-01-11

Excellent Book!

This book is an amazing compilation of those things most precious to our heritage. It's so wonderful to get a cup of coffee and sit down and read one passage, or chapter, at a time.....and that being something as wonderful and unique as "Casey at the Bat" or one of John Kennedy's speeches. I gave these as gifts to the partners in our firm and heard overwhelming praise for the book. B000ESSSFM5112006-11-04

Wonderful history reference

When I went looking for a book that had all the famous speeches and quotes throughout history, I had a lot of trouble. Then I found this book. It has everything. Plus it also has background information about each speech or literary piece. I love how it also quotes songs, literature and even movies. We use this book all the time. My son loved reading the transcript from when the first men walked on the moon!! I highly recommend this book.<B>Caroline Kennedy shares an inspiring collection of patriotic poems, song lyrics, historical documents, and speeches.</B> <P><I>The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis</I> was a blockbuster success, remaining on the <I>New York Times bestseller</I> list for 15 weeks with more than 500,000 copies in print. Now, Caroline Kennedy shares with readers an assortment of her own favorite American writings. The works collected here -- which span centuries and styles -- have one thing in common: all are emblematic of our country's patriotism and pride. <P>Caroline Kennedy researched all of the selections included in <I>A Patriot's Handbook</I>, wrote the introduction, and added personal commentary to each section. This elegantly packaged collection is the perfect gift for anyone in search of a reminder of what our country's spirit is made of. <P>"Over the past year we have all thought about what it means to be an American. I realized that I want my own children to know more about the ideals upon which this country was founded and the sacrifices that have been made to pass them on to us. This book is intended to help families explore the foundations of our freedom and to celebrate our heritage."(Caroline Kennedy)078685111214013222711401302483078688678103213163551000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books0979600006http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Gray-Novel-Civil-Virginia/dp/0979600006%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0979600006221839http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pYk8Kc44L._SL75_.jpg7550http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pYk8Kc44L._SL160_.jpg160107http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pYk8Kc44L.jpg500333Jessica JamesPerfect Paperback81397809796000051400979600006Patriot PressEnglishEnglishEnglish8802199USD$21.99Patriot Press1468Book2008-01-19Patriot PressPatriot Press1406001979USD$19.791583USD$15.831350011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewCB0rjcqet9gPgiagInCCIpKAw1NtfuXa8UkMGXl%2FHymf0nUCpFCo5gB%2BoyGz32qDfXpQ0PJ9HORGWQvstVAuhQ%3D%3D1979USD$19.79Usually ships in 24 hours4.524509796000065002008-12-26

Powerful and engaging historical fiction

A powerful, engaging, and totally captivating novel of the War Between the States awaits you in "Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia" by Jessica James. <br /> <br />Andrew Sinclair is a Union spy and the dreaded foe of Confederate calvary officer Alexander Hunter. Both fighting a war based on honor and conviction--one fighting to keep the Union together, the other to preserve a way of life--they vow to fight to the death. <br /> <br />But there is something about Sinclair that Hunter does not know: he's a woman! And not only a woman, but a woman who is haunted by her past and motivated to fight without concern for her welfare to right past wrongs. <br /> <br />Neither could have imagined how their lives would become entwined. Neither could imagine giving up the fight. And neither could imagine life without the other! <br /> <br />"Shades of Gray" is without a doubt the finest historical fiction has to offer. Complex characters, an engaging plot, and historical accuracy, come together to make this novel a must read for any fan of historical and Civil War fiction. <br /> <br />It is a rare book that can pull the reader in so deeply that she is overcome with emotion. I could not contain myself as I read certain passages. A true page-turner, I digested over 400 pages in three days. <br /> <br />A reviewer can be alarmed when she receives a book the size of "Shades of Gray" (524 pages); what if it is like fingernails across a chalkboard that forces you to cover your ears until the painful screeching stops. This reader can attest that you will not find that in this novel. Every page moves the story forward, and so involved will you be with Andrea and Alex's story that you will be unable to break away from it. Not a page is wasted, not a word should be removed. <br /> <br />James has done her research and she has done it well. From the fashions, to the language, to the sense of honor and duty that fills its pages, "Shades of Gray" explores the War Between the States in a way that will touch you like no other work of fiction. If anyone seeks to know more about the reasons brother fought brother in a war that threatened the future of a nation, then she should read this book. <br /> <br />Worth every penny, if you only read one book in 2009, make it this one! <br />09796000061032008-11-20

Deserves only half a star

I can not believe this book has a 4.5 average rating. <br />I can not believe this book has won a single award. <br /> <br />The premise of the book hooked me, just by reading the publisher's blurb. <br />I gave the book a star only because of the potentially interesting plot, plus I truly enjoy civil war fiction. <br />This book is poorly written, with absurdly affected dialogue. There are jumps in the narrative without any logical premise or purpose towards the story line. The two main characters defy reasonably historical accurate portrayals for men and women growing up in the antebellum south. <br /> <br />Don't buy this book. I consider it a total waste of my money. I love to share books with my friends, but I would be almost embarrased to tell anyone I read this. It's going to Good Will, anonymously. <br /> <br /> 09796000065332008-11-06

Loved it ~ start to finish

Loved it ~ start to finish. I didn't just read about the civil war I was there smack dab in the middle of it. The spying, the battles, the raids, the camps. The human drama, the camaraderie, the love, the lives hanging on the edge. This book has it all. The last 100-150 pages were intense, the last 50 pages heartbreaking, the last 20 pages I cried. I mean the tears were running down my face. <br /> <br />The passion between Andrea and Hunter is so explosive that I thought the book was going to catch on fire. The scenes where they argue and fight for their own beliefs and feelings about the war and why each is involved are intense and heated. I felt like I was in the room listening to these two worthy opponents do battle for themselves, their families, their homes and their country. As they slowly come to realize that what they feel for each other is beyond their control they surrender pieces of themselves to the other and cross battle lines. <br /> <br />For the time it took me to read this book I was transported back to those war years. I was there in the thick of it. I was riding my beloved horse across enemy lines to bring dispatches and information back to camp. I shared my days and nights with my fellow soldiers. I fought side by side with them. I stared the enemy in the eye. I worked to save their live and when I couldn't I held them as they died. I shared stories of home and family as they read letters from loved ones. I cleverly played the part of spy whether I was a southern belle or disguised as a young man. <br /> <br />Any book that captivates me, absorbs me, captures my imagination is a good book indeed. Shades of Gray did all that. I recommend this book to any reader as it has something for everyone. Readers of historical fiction should especially enjoy it.09796000065442008-10-30

Outstanding action-packed romance!

Truth be known, I'm not much of a romance reader, but I absolutely could not put this book down. The author does such a tremendous job of developing her characters that I soon found myself either loving or despising them, but turning pages as fast as possible to find out what happens next. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the main story line surrounds the dashing Captain Hunter, a Confederate cavalryman who is forced to look after for an injured Yankee woman to fulfill a promise given to his dying brother. Little does the captain know that this woman has led a double life, and can match wits, words, or anything else the captain throws at her! There's action, heroics, romance, and not a little humor as the two main characters vie for supremacy. Somewhere along the way, they figure out that maybe they don't hate each other all that much, but will it be too late? Ms. James does an excellent job of not only developing her characters, but developing Southern hospitality as well. This is a must read for Civil War fans, and both romance and action fans alike will find plenty to keep them engaged. Very highly recommended!09796000065442008-10-11

Epic Civil War Adventure and Love Story

Winner of the Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction in the Independent Publisher Awards, this is a fast-paced adventure set in battle-torn Virginia during the War for Southern Independence. It pits a determined Northern spy against a larger-than-life Southern cavalry officer, and ups the ante by developing a strong romantic attraction between the two. Fierce enemies in the beginning of the book, each obsessed with destruction of the other, they are overtaken by near-tragedy and find themselves strangely allied. The Yankee spy, though she masquerades as a young man, is most definitely a woman. And the dashing and daring Rebel cavalry officer (and true Southern gentleman) will capture the hearts of lady readers and inspire the admiration of the men. <br /> <br />The story is set against the harsh conditions of this hard-fought period, but does not attempt a battle-by-battle account of the War. Historical events unfold within the context of the story and how the characters react to various victories, defeats, tragedies, etc. Since there are sympathetic characters and villains on both sides, it shows both perspectives; although we Southerners know who was right! Daring exploits, courage and recklessness fill the narrative, and strategy and intrigue keep the reader turning pages. The epic love story of Andrea Evans and Alexander Hunter is bittersweet, but survives against all odds. <br /> <br />Duty - Honor - Country - Courage - Loyalty - Valor - Gallantry. Today's younger generation has no comprehension of the deeply held convictions of particularly, the mid-nineteenth century South that exemplified the highest ideals these words stand for. Ms. James illustrates these concepts through her characters, whose lives reflect their commitment to principle. <br /> <br />Also important to me personally, the book is free of gratuitous vulgarity and pornographic scenes, but otherwise graphically depicts the brutality of this war. The love story is tender and thoroughly passionate without being offensive. I highly recommend this book, first in a series planned by the author. <br />Winner of two Best Regional Fiction awards since its release in January 2008, Shades of Gray chronicles the clash of a Confederate cavalry commander with a Union spy as they defend their beliefs, their country, and their honor. The Historical Novel Society called Shades of Gray a sympathetic, loving portrait, while Civil War author Virginia Morton describes it as an incredible achievement and a treasure. Shades of Gray is an epic love story that illuminates the fine line between friends and enemies at a time when traditions and principles were worth defending at all costs. This debut novel by Jessica James continues to receive critical acclaim from Civil War authors and historians, as well as lovers of romance and historical fiction. According to bookpleasures.com, [Emotions] seem to transcend the pages to settle in the very marrow of the reader s bones. Jessica James has produced a tremendous and wonderful saga about love, loyalty and honor for which she must lauded.03122650770425215121B00164EBOU03122542290971679053712990011General AAS468236Literature468206Humanities465600New & Used Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books712982011General AAS465600New & Used Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books713014011General AAS319654011Qualifying Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books10177Historical10134Genre Fiction17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books10195War10134Genre Fiction17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books10129Contemporary17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books713365011General AAS17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books12384Missions & Missionary Work12380Evangelism12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books332930011Romance172806Literature & Fiction12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books12500Romance12489Fiction22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books13381Regency13371Historical23Romance1000Subjects283155Books13372United States13371Historical23Romance1000Subjects283155Books745662General13371Historical23Romance1000Subjects283155Books713673011General AAS13371Historical23Romance1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155BooksR2C4LSJJ91RH7LThe BEST Historical Romance NovelsR11NE94ZR7W8EQBest Books for Christmas Gifts 2008R1QV3TLYUX55NATop gift Ideas for Civil War buffs and enthusiastsR1YFN81RTCS0CDFuture ReadsR2MIXIMP6N9CQHThe Greatest Virginia Fiction Ever Written.R25IYMPY4C5KVUBest Books to Buy for Christmas 2008R1XY6X213YYVUZAbsolute Best Books of 2008RHADJDA84007ZCivil War Novels on My "Keep" ShelfR1Q9H72BIOTOE2Greatest Love Stories of All TimeR9UTAH4S4WTHSThe Greatest Civil War Fiction of All TimeB0011ZRNMGhttp://www.amazon.com/The-Cattle/dp/B0011ZRNMG%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0011ZRNMG102126http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r9lw8NmdL._SL75_.jpg7550http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r9lw8NmdL._SL160_.jpg160107http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r9lw8NmdL.jpg500333Greg M. SarwaKindle EditionKindle BookAmpolEnglish499USD$4.99AmpoleBooks2006-03-31AmpolAmpol399USD$3.99100011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewSl0muDJzFOhQiN4GaricSulNzD6OE43TdBUlRVb2HsaahYnngEQiF7p2i1dGQGes9brvL2LRq0BkFvaXRFuFZw%3D%3D399USD$3.99Usually ships in 24 hours4.5174B0011ZRNMG5012007-02-04

Good quick read....edge of your seat !!

Under the guise of National Security we are slowly giving up our freedoms. Certain rights that we let carelessly, steathly slip away..until now, when the disappear! Overnight...This is only fiction...right?B0011ZRNMG5222006-09-05

Scared the heck out of me

The War on Terror, launched immediately after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, has certainly had one unintended consequence: it has forced writers of contemporary thrillers to stay on their toes. You can't, for example, remain relevant if you're still writing a story about a smallpox plague unleashed on America's cities by Al-Qaeda sympathizers. That time came and went with the anthrax scare back in 2001 (if you still want to read a great fiction novel about terrorism and smallpox, however, check out Thomas Hopp's "The Jihad Virus".) Now the latest sensation revolves around invasion of privacy concerns, thanks in no small part to the NSA telephone records debacle. Our government is spying on you, American citizen! Well, not really--they're targeting terrorists despite all the blather to the contrary pumped out by the media. But that time may well come if the elites feel that their privileged position in our society is in danger. Then you'll likely see the most draconian measures enacted against both terrorists and "internal subversives," with the full backing of the national security organs, Congress, and the Supreme Court. Perhaps then what we see in Greg M. Sarwa's "The Cattle" will become a frightening reality. <br /> <br />"The Cattle" takes the reader to a disturbing place, a place in which the American government has passed "The Real ID Act of 2005" in an effort to provide greater security for the populace. What's it mean? Simple: everyone in the country must receive a Radio Frequency Identification microchip in order to move around in society. The chip will store personal information and act as a fraud proof identity card. Neat. One hopes they have ironed out all the kinks or else a lot of those annoying beepers will go off at department stores and libraries around the country. Seriously, the idea sounds good on the surface, and the technology and agencies exist to implant and monitor the chips. What a minute--IMPLANT? Yep, that's the catch. The RFID chips are implanted in the user's skin. Hmmm. There is sure going to be a lot of talk about the mark of the devil and all that nonsense. Also on the menu for discussion should be concerns about invasion of privacy. Too late. In Sarwa's book, the act has already passed and the process is just hours away from full implementation. The fat lady has, sadly, already sung. It's all over except for the totalitarianism. <br /> <br />The warning bells go off when a worker at O'Hare airport in Chicago accidentally stumbles over several highly classified government documents detailing some sinister goings on over at the Department of Homeland Security. He copies the files onto a CD and, before he perishes from a very convenient stroke, manages to stick the disc in the luggage of one Anna Tabor, a Polish immigrant just arriving in the United States. Also involved in the mix is Jacob Reed, a big shot reporter who learns about the odd event at the airport from a local cop. Soon, the cop dies in a similar way. Reed's investigation eventually leads him to Anna and the race is on to figure out exactly why government agents are dropping out of trees all over Chicago. Trevor Clifton, a high level bureaucrat working out of Homeland Security, understands the full implications of what's on that CD, and he'll stop at nothing to plug all the leaks before the truth shows up on the front page of the evening newspaper. You see, the RFID chip is more than an identification marker. It's more than a storage site for personal information. It's far, FAR more sinister than we can ever imagine. <br /> <br />I loved this book, but I always love stories full of conspiracy, action, and evil government bureaucracies run amok. Sarwa's book delivers on every cylinder in this respect, and he gives us the goods in a short read full of lean prose that gets to the point in a hurry. The best part of the novel is its overall plausibility. It's not difficult at all to believe this could happen. The technology exists, as any visit to a department store that uses RFID chips to track and protect merchandise will attest. You don't think the American public would ever endorse the implantation of a chip for "security" reasons? Think again, especially if the terrorists hit us hard with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in the near future. Two towers fell in New York and they were already trotting out plans for a national identification card. Heck, I've heard stories about some employers wanting to implant chips in workers for various reasons. Believe me, when you see people around you dropping like flies from dirty bomb fallout or smallpox, most of your fellow citizens will willingly go along with the chip implants if they think doing so might prevent further carnage. <br /> <br />"The Cattle" will have you thinking long and hard about what the future may hold for us if further attacks occur. The novel will also make you question just how much we ought to rely on our friendly big brother, the government, to save us from the world's ills. Lastly--and I just have to throw something in about this--Sarwa's little gem of a story will leave you gasping for breath thanks to its nihilistic conclusion. Have you ever seen the films "My Little Eye" or "Fallen"? If you have, you know that both pictures end on a downbeat note where no hope for salvation exists from an all-encompassing and powerful evil. The reader will find something very similar at the conclusion of "The Cattle." Sarwa obviously believes the country has already gone too far down the path to ultimate servitude. Perhaps he's right. In my darker moments, I agree with him. I hope and pray we're both wrong. <br />B0011ZRNMG1682006-07-31

Big hope. Bigger letdown

I had big hopes for this book. It sounded like it would be a great story. However, it fell flat quickly and never got up. <br />It is obvious that English is not Mr. Sarwa's first language. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but the dialog suffers because of it. To say that the dialog comes across as cheesy would be an understatement. The dialog is just too forced and unnatural. <br />The book is too short and everything happens before you even get a chance to know your characters. <br /> <br />I don't know where all these 4 and 5 star reviews came from. Did they read the same book? Maybe I got shipped only half of the book? <br /> <br />I think had Mr. Sarwa spent more time on this book it would have been a great read.B0011ZRNMG4112006-07-14

Gives new meaning to "ripped from today's headlines"

As part of the Real ID Act of 2005, the National Identification System is created for American citizens as an anti-terrorism measure. The government goes into overdrive, collecting personal information to be stored in a highly secured database. Another part of the law mandates the injection of a RFID (radio frequency identification) chip in all American citizens, and all visitors to America, where that information will be stored. There are all sorts of safeguards in place to prevent misuse of the system, headquartered in a secure portion of O'Hare Airport in Chicago. <br /> <br />The system also has a much more evil, and extremely Classified, purpose, one which is accidentally discovered by mid-level systems analyst Brian Warburton. He copies the information on to a CD-ROM, and manages to get rid of it, just before he dies of a "stroke." This happens on the day before the law, and the mandatory RFID injection, is supposed to take effect. It falls into the hands of Jacob Reed, local TV reporter. Along with Anna Tabor, a young woman who flew in that day from Poland, and into whose luggage Warburton put the CD-ROM, he keeps one step ahead of police and federal agents looking for them. Can Jacob and Anna get this information on TV to warn the American people in time? <br /> <br />This book certainly gives new meaning to the phrase "ripped from today's headlines." It's a very spooky, and very well-done, story that will give the reader plenty to think about. It is recommended for everyone, but especially for those who think that implanting people with RFIDs, as an anti-terrorism measure, or as the next step in personal information storage, is a good thing. <br /> <br />B0011ZRNMG5112006-05-21

riveting thriller

Rebeccasreads highly recommends THE CATTLE as a disturbing tech thriller for anyone who has pondered the issue of a national identity sytem. <br /> <br />Even though this book is badly in need of an editor whose first language is English, the premise of THE CATTLE overcomes any & all its shortcomings. <br /> <br />As with all good science fiction, it may only be fiction, but the truths within it cannot be denied.Shortly after implementation of the ”Real ID Act of 2005”, the United States National Identification System is created and an intense period of information gathering is begun. Detailed personal data about all U.S. residents is stored in a registered, highly secured database controlled by an enigmatic government agency. The governmental grip tightens with new laws requiring standardized state documents that comply with federal guidelines. And this is only the beginning! Following exhaustive and flawless testing of the fledgling National Identification System, the government forces the issue of microprocessor implants for verification purposes. Every person in the United States of America will be implanted with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip to authenticate identity and store personal information. Yet, one question remains unanswered: Is identity verification the only reason for signifying us with the “Mark of the Beast”?l1000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books618073011Kindle Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books157055011Action & Adventure157028011Fiction154606011Kindle Books133141011Categories133140011Kindle Store157052011Contemporary Fiction157028011Fiction154606011Kindle Books133141011Categories133140011Kindle Store