Personal Books

The Vietnam War produced some of the greatest, yet unsung, heroes in American history, Franklin "Doug" Miller was one of them. This book is not so much an autobiography as it is an oral reflection that makes you feel that you are there as he tells his story, with Miller moving to topic to topic as it occurs to him. And what a great story it is. Miller is sometimes vague on details, not going into how he went from being a PFC in a line company to being assigned to Special Forces. Miller's first combat experience was truly unique, more like a company of mountain men in the far west fighting the Blackfeet than a modern army that we think of in Vietnam. "We're going to go across the river and attack a village, do you want to go along?" His platoon sgt asks.

The book's relaxed style does not distrack from the horrors that combat can be and the titled sub-chapters such as-Silver Star, or Bronze Star are helpful as the reader is fully informed on what actions the author was decorated for. It becomes apparent that decorations in Special Forces were hard to come by. The authors discribe day to day life in the S.O.G. unit and provides some insight into the legendary "Mad-Dog" Shirver. The action in which SSGT Miller earned the Medal Of Honor is told in edge of your seat intensity-I wasn't sure if he would come out alive, even though he was telling the story! It's a story that goes from bad, to worse, to hopeless, to acceptance that all's lost.

After nearly six years in the combat zone Miller starts to get a little battle rattled and is sent home. Forunatly the army helped him recover and as a Sergeant Major became an inspiration to a new generation of soldiers. "Doug" Miller became a Special Forces legend, he deserves to be an American legend. I'm glad that his story has been told.

This book is phenomenal. I have been interested in military history, tradition, battles, operations, and training since I was a young kid and have read many books about this genre. I have to say that this one was the best I have read so far. Frank Miller's adventures are beyond compare. Miller often had luck on his side, but what really mattered was that he was good at gathering intelligence and killing the enemy. He didn't enjoy killing, but he understood that it was either him or them and he did what he had to do without dwelling on it.

This book puts you right on the battlefront and makes you feel part of the brotherhood and loyalty that men share when confronted with life and death. There are many humorous stories scattered in the book of more relaxing times away from battle which Miller shares.

I have to give much praise to the author, Elwood Kureth, because he was able to write about Miller's exploits in a way that really made you identify with Frank Miller. A very well written book and very entertaining.

I'm not opposed to all wars but I was very much against our involvement in Vietnam. I thought then and still think that we should have been helping the other side. I bought this book wanting to hear what combat was like there from a special forces soldier. Fortunately, the book didn't get into the politics but simply told about his life and job, which was to collect intelligence and kill the enemy. His bravery and what he went through is mind boggeling and the descripions of battles are riviting. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading it.

WOW, this is one of the most gripping and moving accounts of personal combat and experiences in Vietnam that I have ever read. I had great difficulty putting this gem down, as it is directly related in first-person and the author does a magnificent job of making you feel as if you're right there alongside the subject of the book (Franklin Miller).

Nothing is held back, and if you've ever served in the military, you'll fall right into step with the narration. Everything is presented in all its gory detail, so if you're a little squeamish, you might want to skim across a few sections. The ending is particularly heart-wrenching, especially the afterword by the author's widow.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the up-close and personal views of combat in Vietnam.

As Command Chaplain For US Special Operations Command I had the profound honor of presiding at This hero's funeral. During the months before he died, I spent some days at his home in St Petersburg to offer some spiritual care.

Even to the very end he was a man of strength and courage. He had an abiding faith in Christ that comforted him and allowed him to spend his final days encouraging and supporting his children. As we prayed he would ask me to pray for his children first becuase they were his greatest concern.

He gave me a copy of his book which I read immediately. It is an amazing story that captures the true heart of a warrior. It is a "must read."

Chaplain Lee M. Thompson
Colonel, USAF (Ret)

Terry writes in a way that is easy to understand and provides advice that you can put into action. Money can be stressful for many people - The Savage Number will show you how to plan and reduce the fear around retirement planning. I appreciated all the resources and practical guidance in this book. This is a book that everyone should have in their financial planning library -

I have found this book to be very helpful for me and friends concerning retirement planning. It is easy to read, factual and provides good information. I have given several copies of this book to friends who are nearing retirement and I have yet to hear anything negative about the book. It doesn't answer all the questions about a very tough topic but it is a very good retirement planning tool to have.

Book publishers know a good thing when they see it. That explains why there is yet another book on Baby Boomer retirement planning. But, fear not, "Savage" isn't the description of a fierce retirement savings program that will bite you in the wallet; it's the name of the author: Terry Savage, a personal finance newspaper columnist. In this case, she seems to have linked many of her columns together to form a basic book for novice investors who are planning for retirement. While much of the content may seem very familiar to anyone who reads mainstream financial publications, having it in book form is convenient. We recommend Savage's nuts-and-bolts information to people who are just entering the workforce, novice investors, financial planners and human resource people concerned about issues affecting retirees. It is also a handy quick reference for questions about Medicare, reverse mortgages, long-term health insurance or estate planning. If you are on the verge of retirement, it's a good refresher, although you needed to know most of this some time ago.

I have purchased and read more than a dozen books resently on personal finance. Almost everyone will get something helpful out of this book. I would say for at least 80% of the Baby Boomers this should be a must read book. The link to Financial Engines is worth more that ten times the price of the book.

I also like All About Asset Allocation by Richard Ferri, and all of Ben Stein's books!

My plan is to retire in five years. I have been reading and studying several books to make sure that I am on the right track. I would recommend this book because it gives you a pretty clear picture of what you need to be considering prior to your actual retirement.

We are currently doing Seeking Him in 2 small groups at our church. The second session we had a hard time getting the session started due to everyone wanting to share how they were impacted by the Holy Spirit this week through this study. Bible Study can't get any better than that! My prayer is that God speaks mightily to you through this study and that are able to put these truths into action through the power of Jesus Christ.

If you are ready and willing to examine yourself and let God do the work in you that needs to be done, then this study is the study for you. You must be willing to be honest with yourself. God already knows, but you have to find it out and then be willing to change. After doing this study God began a work in me and brought me to such a higher place in Him. I did this study about 2 years ago and am still reaping the fruit of it. I praise Him for this book and highly recommend it.

This was is great shape! I just thought I was ordering a book...not a workbook. My mistake.

This is the most amazing study and will get you closer to God. We have been all sharing and getting closer together also. It is great for personal revival. I have had experience with Life Action Ministries in a real life revival and it changed my life. Do it! God Bless.

My husband and I are doing this Bible study along with our church. This study encourages believers to really examine our faith walk! This study is challenging and a tremendous blessing in refining our walk with Jesus!

This book is awesome and very readable. Being so clearly written and straight to the point, it makes for a quick read and serves as a great reference.

While geared towards a business environment, the survival guide is written from a unique perspective which gives deep insight into the psychology of managers and coworkers.

I truly wish I had "Sink or Swim" for my first job. That would have helped me to avoid so many small mistakes which I was totaly oblivious to. It's just jam packed full of useful tips which coworkers usually won't tell you.

Even after two years in my current position, I found that reading this book gave ideas to naturally improve my professional image without any major effort or changes!

Definitely recommended for any professional employee - regardless of rank.

Within the first week of starting my new job at a startup internet company, I came across this book and it made all the difference. Working at a startup can often be disjointed, especially since we didn't have an office to call our own. By incorporating some of the advice in my weekly routines, I created a structure for myself that I continue to follow. The advice was clear, concise and right on.

This is definitely a must-read for anyone starting a new job.

Pay no attention to Jeffnc, the bitter reviewer from SC! I live in SF and have no idea who the Sidells are, but this book is fascinating! Follow everything they say week by week,a nd you'll get that "This is going very well" at your 90-day review just like me! What's more, you look not only super organized with this book on your desk, but also super-conscientious....I brought this book into a one on one with the boss, and I cracked the book and said "I'd like to talk about my career goals.." she asked me what the book was...she was impressed!

"Sink or Swim" is the book that I wish I had when I started in the working world over 18 years ago! It is a simple, step-by-step tool that shows new hires how to "get it right in 12 weeks". The week-by-week approach gives individuals the opportunity to set good habits and strategies that can be applied throughout one's career. This book has been very helpful to me as an HR professional in getting my recent college graduate new hires to better engage with the company and job they accepted within it! I would highly recommend this book.

This book is perfect for new college graduates or inexperienced employees starting new jobs. Milo and Thuy Sindell provide a wealth of information about proper business conduct and etiquette, including a checklist for recommended activities during your first 12 weeks on the job. Although the material is basic and somewhat repetitive (just like a start-up job), we think the book would make a great gift for anyone who is just beginning to learn the workplace ropes.

First of, this is my wife's amazon account (Amazon.com only let people that order from the site to write reviews. She bought it for me) and that's how good this book is! I was compelled to write a review and help others make a good choice. I wanted to get this book, because I wanted to try to open my own storefront for PC parts. However I haven't a clue where to start. A friend of mine suggested this book and boy does this book open your eyes! The book is about 160 pages, but every single page is worth at least a hundred bucks. I really like the author's writing style. To the point and precise. Also if you can, use the links that he he has posted in the book (ESPECIALLY SCORE). To summarize, if you are thinking of owning a PC business (regardless if its a home business to a store front to consulting) GET THIS BOOK!

This book was well worth my purchase; for the price I had been expecting less but this book really made some good points. Very straight forward to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who has considered starting their own computer repair business.

I read this book from cover to cover. Morris offers real practical advice for the beginning want-a-be computer repair person. My favorite being the who's who of suppliers. He also has another book of flowcharts that's a must have for your computer support library. Sign up for the Yahoo Computer Repair Business online to get feedback from others in the industry.

The author provides some pretty good practical advice. The book does a pretty nice job of laying things out the way it is in the real world. The author is down to earth and this makes the book easier to read. Overall if you are looking for an easy informational read this is a good place to start, however if you are looking for complex details and specific situations you might want to look for a more complex (and probably larger book... this one only has 160 pages). All things considered, this was a pretty good read.

Great book, reading it now and almost done with it!!

Definitely worth the money, so far the only book that I've found that details the steps of starting your own business!

Larry Swedroe's newest: "WISE INVESTING MADE SIMPLE", imparts both knowledge and valued advice, in a series of easy-to-read tales (i.e., chapters), each ending with a morale aptly emphasizing the point of his tale for both the novice as well as the quite-well-informed investor. Swedroe is a persuasive advocate championing passive asset-class investing (buy-and-hold but re-balancing annually to restore target asset-class allocations) in a diversified portfolio of index funds and ETFs. He makes a compelling case--with outstanding clarity--just how this strategy advantages any long-term investor compared with any of the "hot methods de jur" that periodically (constantly?) are found being touted by the financial media and-- sadly for investors--much of the financial industry. (How this latter barrage of media-driven "picks" of one kind or another serves the interests of the promulgators themselves, and only secondarily-- if at all--serves the interests of the investor whose money is being rolled-around in brokerage and fund-accounts, is another eye-opening highlight of insight that the careful reader gets to see.....(the Emperor's clothes get removed, so to speak, and the Emperor is found to be unflatteringly avaricious!) And Swedroe arms his reader with the fortitude to withstand the occasional market downturns that come along every decade or so, and come out ahead when it's over! Although this book is the most recent of Swedroe's excellent series, I specially want to mention how excellent I feel a set of five chapters--Chapters 7-11 in Larry Swedroe's earlier published book, "The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need"-- are. Few investments, in my opinion, are as likely to reward the investor with a higher reward-to-cost ratio, than the purchase of these two books! Thanks, Larry, for a terrific job for all of us!

Wise Investing Made Simple: Larry Swedroe's Tales to Enrich Your Future (Focused Investor)[ASIN:0312339879 The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need: The Way Smart Money Preserves Wealth Today]]The Only Guide to a Winning Bond Strategy You'll Ever Need: The Way Smart Money Preserves Wealth Today

I have really benefitted from Mr. Swedroe's earlier books on Winning Investment Strategies for equity and bond portfolios. This book's common sense interpretation of the important research on investing is great for an individual investor like me.

The new book uses examples of typical investor thinking and behavior to illustrate key elements of planning and discipline. I have passed the book on to two friends of mine who have been switching strategies mid-stream, paying high commissions, etc. I know that this book's approach to explaining how professionals view investing will be more accessible for new investors like them.

Excellent book on investing. It's all perfectly clear to me now. This really lays out what is going on in the investment community and how to have your own self interest in the forefront.
Can be a little dry reading (to be expected), but well worth the time.

This is a really good book if you want insight in how to invest your money.It speaks to investing in a way that is understandable even if you aren't a financial genius, or should I say especially if you aren't. And it's fun to read.

I'll admit, I'm a very neophyte investor. I found Swedroe's description of how the market works to make a lot of sense and the first few chapters alone gave me high hopes for the rest of the book. Instead, those few chapters are the only part I found very helpful. The rest was a combination of rehashing the same points over and over, or introducing some pretty generic pieces of advice.

When Swedroe used 'concrete' examples to make his points, the statistician in me felt his spidey sense tingling. Almost all of his examples involved someone trying to outcompete the market using an investment method that Swedroe obviously doesn't like. Often, the first person is contrasted with someone who uses the passive investment method that Swedroe does like. The problem is, a lot of these examples use the setup that the first investment method did well the previous few years, but at exactly the moment these people chose their respective methods, the market changed, thus 'proving' that the passive method was really the better one to choose and therefore since it was better to choose in the 'story' presented, it must be better now.

The problem, as anyone who knows statistics can tell you, is one of 'cherry picking'. If Swedroe had instead set the two investment methods against each other and chosen a decent number of random starting points to make his case, and they had indeed shown that the passive method of i nvesting works better in a significant number of those cases, I would have given a lot more credence to his arguments. Instead, I had the impression he kept looking for starting dates that would make his case, which is a very misleading way to present a case.

Now, I'm not saying he's not right, nor am I saying that he intended to mislead, but the evidence he gives doesn't convince me.

I think this is a great little book. I am a Christian... where as some Christians think reading a buddhist book goes away from Christ, many of the topics and practices of the buddhist are very Christ like. Where the author may speak about the energy of the universe, I just see that as God. Great reminders here to remove our focus off ourselves and think of our neighbors... and isn't that also what Christ taught! Great book for anyone trying to grow in who they are... I will read this one over and over.

Once in a while, along comes a book that simply 'blow's your mind'and at the same time increases your understanding about life like nothing else does. The Zen art of happiness is just such a book.
Before I read it I used to wonder why adverse occurances in my life happened. In fact I used to dwell constantly about them making myself unhappy into the bargain.
The author, Chris Prentiss asks the reader to start off by accepting the premise that these so-called 'adverse events' are perfect for us and exactly what we need to work on in order to strengthen our weaknesses.
Not only that, he maintains that 'the Universe' (some would say God) knows our every word, thought and deed and responds by sending these occurances to us.
He maintains that we constantly contravene 'Universal Laws'(example is the law of cause and effect)that are as real as gravity and unlike man-made laws, never change and are applicable to everyone no matter where they live on the earth.
The book is only 160 pages long, but is packed with information that feels 'intuitively true'.
I am now into my fourth time of reading and I am still as excited by his work as I was the first time.
If you want to become happier by making sense of life, then get this book that I rate as one of the best I have ever read.

I purchased this book as I was begining treatment for Depression and even though it may have "nothing to do with zen", the message of the book does bring a zen-like peace when I read it. I would recomend this book to anyone going through tough times.

This book is a great example of good things coming in small packages. At only 142 pages, it can easily be read over a long weekend and the only reason you'll stop reading is when you stop and reflect on what's inside. Prentiss presents some great elemental concepts of thinking and perspective in a clear, easy to read manner.

I will admit some of the descriptions and anecdotes were a bit tough to grasp at first, but when Prentiss tells the story of his reaction when his new car got scratched everything in the book seemed to fall into place for me. When that happened, I actually went back to page one and it was as if I was seeing through some kind of fog for the first time.

For me, this book is a great first step - I've since picked up several other books on Zen thought and Buddhism and I hope I'm as happy with learning from them as I am with this great little book. Prentiss' book has also inspired me to act on a daily basis - to create good habits and to stop playing the victim card so often. This book will stay in my permanent collection and I will be purchasing copies for my friends and family soon.

I love this book! It's small, yet profound. One of the best books I've ever read and I read a lot! I've bought several more to give to others. If you are thinking about getting a copy - get one and then once you read it, you'll probably want to get more for your friends/family. I also recommend Thich Nhat Hanh's books- very very good.

Remarkably unflinching - Kimberly Dozier's narrative voice in "Breathing the Fire" describes her road to recovery after being seriously injured on Memorial Day 2006 by a horrific car bombing in Iraq which killed four others, including the CBS cameraman and soundman she worked alongside. In meticulous detail, Dozier dissects the details of the bombing and day-to-day decisions around her medical care and rehabilitation, and punctuates them with her observations and feelings, allowing a rare peek into the mind of someone who has survived an extremely traumatic experience. Even after she learns how to walk again and returns to the newsroom - the author learns that there is no textbook for adjusting to a "new normal" and how to respond to people as they react to seeing a walking miracle. The book sheds light on the experiences of many struggling to recover from the wounds of war. You also learn what drew her to journalism and led her to be a foreign correspondent in a war zone. Readers are introduced to a wealth of supportive people who played pivotal roles in her recovery - from Iowa National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Jeremy Coke who tied the tourniquet on her leg after the bombing that saved her life, to her friends at CBS, innumberable medical and rehab personnel, her parents, and her boyfriend, Pete. Destined to become one of the critical memoirs chronicling the Iraq War.

I started reading this book and could not put it down. It is an inspiring work. Ms. Dozier has given the reader an honest appraisal of her experience to heal herself and heal the many others broken by the ravages of this war. Her story is told in a bipartisan manner, not at all political and should be read by all soldiers and all who care about our soldiers.

We all know war is not pretty and people get injured and killed. This book really brings home the reality of how those catastrophic injuries affect the lives of the injured. It also shows the incredible courage of Kimberly and her family as she recovers from her injuries and made me think we are not doing enough for our injured vets.

I would not have read this book had my husband not seen an interview on TV and bought it for me. What a loss that would have been. Kimberly puts you in Iraq, in the hospitals and therapy plus shares exactly what it was like for her both mentally and emotionally. I am definitely passing this book along to friends.

I read this book thinking, "I am not sure if I can relate to this". War stories are not my reading genre of choice. But, I had met Kim over the phone one day and so received an e-mail from her letting me and all her address book addressees that her book had been published. So, I ordered one from Amazon not quite knowing what to expect. This book is so NOT a war story. It is the courageous story of a woman with a goal who achieved that goal, a goal which led her into combat where a life-changing event changed her life forever, as well as so many other lives. I was drawn in the moment I started reading. Kim's writing is clear, concise, factual, with just the right amount of emotion and personality. She lets people in to her very personal yet very public experience without a hint of self pity or any reference to a "poor me" attitude. The book is an inspiring one about a woman of intelligence, bravery, dedication, and love who dared to follow her dream, went through a nightmare, and is today a source of strength to people chasing a dream or living with their own struggle.

It's always encouraging when someone beats cancer. And non-Hodgkins lymphoma is especially tough to overcome. Robert Schimmel had the advantage of age, good health, and caring support in his battle. And no doubt his determined sense of humor helped a lot too, besides bringing a welcome uplift to his fellow chemo patients. His book demonstrates that humor grows out of even the direst situation and that horniness survives all assaults.

There are no profound lessons in this volume beyond illustrating that mental attitude can make a bad time a little better. And whether attitude influences healing or not, it usually just feels better to be positive than negative.

I started reading after lunch today, and couldn't put it down. The writing is compelling and real, and inspiring in so many ways.
I am grateful that Mr. Schimmel lived through it all, and even more grateful that his book enriches our lives by reminding us about what really matters. As a survivor myself, and having lost many relatives to cancer, the book had my emotions all over the place...but through it all, the humor prevails. I can't remember ever reading a book that had me laughing and crying at the same time.

This book is in my collection after seeing him on Conan, and it's going to get a lot more readings from here on out. It's a keeper.

Humor is a gift, and Robert Schimmel has the gift.

While some readers might think: "Cancer is no laughing matter", Schimmel's story shows how the use of laughter can lead a patient through the terror of cancer diagnosis and the devastating effects of treatment.

If you or someone you know has heard the dreaded words: "You have cancer", get this book. It's absolutely inspiring, and will help you to laugh through your tears.

Robert has been one of my favorite comedians since the mid 80s. This is a very touching book. It sounds cliche, but it'll make you laugh and it'll make you cry. Being one of the worlds top comedians he is really able to tackle such heavy topics in a amusing way.

Definitely a must read for anyone experiencing something similar or for any of his fans.

I remember Robert from the mid eighties and he has been my favorite stand-up since then. Robert keeps you rolling with laughter from cover to cover, and kept alot of people involved rolling throughout his ordeal.

Save your money, buy a Hallmark Card or a bag of fortune cookies, either of which will dig as deep as this book.

GREAT book! Puts a different spin on personal growth that is very understandable and yet fun to read. Everyone should read this one.

Frank has the style to teach you how to move forward with your dreams step by step. It is a wonderful compliment to his first endeavors in Stack the Logs. Thank you Frank for sharing your insights.

I love the surfing terms in Frank Lunn's book, "Carpe Aqualis! Seize the Wave." Two chapters in particular -- "Your Competition is Not Other Surfers, Its Only You" and "Go Big or Go Home! To Be Great, You Have to be Willing to Wipe Out!" -- are gems.

This book is about your personal success journey. It's both fun and serious at the same time. Frank's surfing skills will revolutionize your business and personal life. Read it today and get ready for your big wave. It's coming.

Barbara Keddy, President, www.BeGreatMarketing.com

Frank Lunn, a very successful young man in every way has written a wonderful book in Carpe Aqualis! It is an excellent, strategy- and information-packed book on riding the waves to success. And, Frank is living proof that it works.I met Frank at a private infopreneur's meeting in Philadelphia late last year and he gave me a copy of his book. I was completely engaged by this young man and father who has lived every word he's written, achieved remarkable success and maintains a wonderfully warm, presence for every person he meets. I enjoyed him so much that I invited him to be an Associate on my team at Your Spiritual Home and he accepted!It's an excellent book and I highly recommend you buy it. Give it to young people just starting out and shortcut their journeys to success as well!