History Books

Powerful, moving, honest. The best kind of writing is the kind that comes straight from the heart. You can feel the anger, pain and love flow over the pages. A story that takes you inside the heart of one who lost so much on that day and fought so hard to get to the truth of what happened and what culpability level of our government. Gripping, hard to put down, you know you should just read it. You won't regret it.

In "Wake Up Call", Kristin Breitweiser offers poignant, first-hand insight into the grave inadequecies, corrosive power struggles and chilling lack of democracy of our pre-9/11 government, as well as a piercing account of the blatant failures, deception, and exploitation of the Bush administration afterwards. Beautifully written with a generous, sensitive depiction of her personal life both before and after she lost her husband in the Tower 2 calamity (which she witnessed first-hand), Mrs. Breitweiser's thorough depiction of a country still frighteningly vulnerable to Al Quaida and other terrorists will make any reader sit up and take serious notice. The tenacity and determination of "The Jersey Girls" in the face of unspeakable personal tragedy and their ability to take on the enormous flaws of the Bush administration is an inspiration to all of us.

Although the author tends to be repetitive and her alternative energy source argument would bear much more weight if she were to drive something other than a huge SUV, this book is a must for every American citizen. It could easily become an important Political Science college textbook if it hasn't already.

K.V.D. San Jose, California

This lady is certainly to be commended for maintaining her stamina to accomplish what she did with so many things going wrong. Anyone who has the disgusting attribute to slam these ladies when they were working for others as well as themselves needs to sit down in front of a mirror. There are so many reasons and more all the time actually that there should be another REAL investigation into the whole terrible tragedy of 9-11. I fully agree with them and applaud all they have done and are still trying to do. They say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle" and I guess that would seem to be true in this case, however, as I know from my own life, no matter what kind of battle you are fighting it does take its toll on one's body. Good going to all you ladies who participated in this and what a wonderful book that was. Well written to the point I could hardly lay it down!

Kristen Breitweiser gives us a compelling view of our government through the eyes of an average citizen. She takes us on a journey thorough her life with her husband before 9/11, through that awful day and then through the aftermath. Kristen and other 9/11 widows have been fighting for truth and accountability for the attacks since that tragic day and have had to overcome hurdles every step of the way. Kristen's strength and determination is inspiring.

I usually don't go in for biographies and I believe all the attention on 9/11 has been a distraction ... that being said, this booked really rocked me. The author is completely "real" and human. Within a few minutes you are identifying with her life and her hopes and dreams. When the tragic death of her husband and thousands of others occurs, you feel her shock and pain.
This book points out why 9/11 is important. Not only do we need to come to grips with people in the world who want to do harm to Americans - we need to come to grips with a government that utterly failed Kristen, the other 9/11 survivors and victims, and all of us as citizens.
The book is riveting and revealing. I encourage anyone who cares about our country to read this book!

This is a superb introduction to ancient warfare and can serve as a springboard for further studies in ancient history. The artwork depicting the uniforms of various armies of that time is well done and the narratives, diagrams of battles are really helpful and informative.

Loved the book. The sketches and battle tactics illustrated made them come alive for me. Gave me a much better insight into the whole thing. And the delivery was fast, even with free shipping.

As I researched the equipment and modes of Greek warfare while writing the historical novel "Maccabee," I consulted numerous excellent sources, but John Warry's book was without a doubt the best. It became my virtual bible for the staging of the battle sequences between the Jews in the Maccabean Revolt and their Syrian enemies who employed the Greek methods that had worked so well for Alexander the Great. Warry's explanations of military techniques in their historical context as well as the wealth of illustrations makes this a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient warfare.

This is an excellent introduction to ancient warfare. It is lavishly illustrated, and provides excellent diagrams to support some of the concepts such as how a phalanx of Greek infantry manoevered and then moved into combat. The book covers the technology of the times, but also looks at tactics and gives an overview of the politics that lead to the various conflicts. I would higly recommend this book for beginners in the field of ancient warfare such as myself. My only reservation, is that while the primarary authorities are extensively referenced in the text, I would have liked to see a bibliography (although the glossary is great too!) Highly recommended for beginners or those with a general interest in the topic.

I just got this for my son and I ended up reading it first. I am sure during this X'Mas both of us will want to fight for the book. The pictures and the drawings are of the highest qualities. I love the descriptions of major wars. I just wish that the author has given it more explanation of the drawings for the major battles like adding more legends. Also, it is kind of hard to read/understand the numbers and types of soldiers for both sides on the battlefield. But all in all, this is a great book that I suspect I will read and re-read many times.

Jorgenson's writing style grabs you and puts you in the drivers seat as a Ranger in the infrantry, through the heat, humid and rain drenched jungle of Vietnam. Jorgenson has a very unique way of pulling you into the action that gets your blood pumping, ears ringing, and sweat dripping before you realize that your safe at home sitting on the couch reading. The book is hard to put down, your pulled into the relationships that Jorgenson had with his teammates as if they were your own; you feel as if your part of the team, living through the same experiences. And when your done with the book, you feel the same losses, like when a dear friend moves across the country, one that you won't ever see again, its hard to say goodby. Thank you, Kregg Jorgenson for letting me be part of your team!

It is a good book written on the Vietnam war. The author, veteran from the Rangers volunteered for the LRRP engaged in Cambodia in 1969/1970. He succeeds in outliving 54 missions. The book is a a beautiful testimony of a great soldier.

Written with common sense. Factual, but doesn't read like a reference guide. If you like the works of say, Mark Twian or Walter Isaacson, you'll like this writer's style. I believe it might out do "Kill Me If You, You SOB" because of the depth.

I picked up this book by chance at Barnes and Noble looking for new and exciting insight into the Calvary troops in Vietnam. I was not disappointed. Having read another book about Apache Troop, "Apache Sunrise", by Jerry Boyle, a cobra gunship pilot, it was interesting to read about the infantry of the 1st of the 9th Apache troop.

Jorgenson's writing style is very smooth and readable. It makes the reader feel like he/she is right there with him in the jungle. I found myself having to re-read a paragraph from time to time as I was so "white knuckled" at times from being involved in the book. I was reading too fast in anticipation. Mr. Jorgenson also has a knack for weaving in historical descriptions about the units and military involvement in general so the reader has a better understanding of the war going on around his small part of it. I also commend him for the truth behind his writing. His humble descriptions of both traumatic events and the good times are appreciated by this reader. Also, his in-depth descriptions of his fellow troop and friends make the reader seem like he has known them for years.

I recommend Acceptable Loss to anyone interested!

It amazes me the dedication and bravery that the young people showed in serving our country. We owe our veterans a great deal for their service and being able to share their experiences with future generations.

Thank you Mr. Jorgenson!

I have been reading war stories since I was 12 years old (non fiction). My reading has covered all American Wars from the Civil War to Viet Nam. I have a collection of aroud 300 that I kept. This book is at the top of the list on Viet Nam and very high on all war books. The author tells it like it is . Most books on Viet Nam are about the marines with a lot of propaganda about the good old corps. The author tells of all the sensations he goes through, being afraid, the terror of being wounded. the allmost disreguard of the top brass. Should be read by all

Jonathan Waterman travels over 2,200 miles across the roof of the World. He tells us about the people, places, and history of the land he moves over. Sometimes moving by boat and sometimes moving by dog sled he absorbs the culture, good or bad, of the Inuit life. Alone for weeks at a time he has to deal with the cold, the bears and the weather. Along with fear and loneliness. Sometimes sad, something wonderful, always truthful, this is the book for people who love history mixed with travel and adventure.

Who was it who said, "less is more"? That's one truth that stands out in Jonathan Waterman's "Artic Crossing" - a epical solo trip of the Northwest Passage done without fanfare, without oodles of sponsorship dough. I liked the author's cool, understated writing style, the wry observations about his sufferings and about the Inuits. No hyperbole, none of self-inflation that is so common in adventure writing, this book is truly believable. A wonderful read.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author keeps you engrossed in his story through thick and thin. He admits his faults and mistakes and you learn along with him. I doubt anyone will not like this book.

Jon Waterman is a writer who belongs between the hardcovers. His explorations and introspection make for compelling reading.

in Arctic Crossing Jonathan Waterman, Kabloona extraordinaire gives us a a great gift. This guy can write, this guy can listen to the silence, this guy can paddle,hike, take in the wonder and freezing cold andbring it back home to those of us all warm in our living rooms. this guy is amazing.

Company level actions in WWI. Written by Rommel after WWI, there is nothing about tanks in this book but plenty about taking the initiative and aggressive maneuver. The core of Rommel's later style of warfare is on display here. The English translation is very readable.

Another necessary read for the study of the Second World War--this may be one of the most accessible texts for those just beginning to study the period. The maps drawn by Rommel are useful and clearly annotated: a good model to learn from. His analysis of the actions could be longer, however much they may be implied in the accounts; some passages could have deserved more commentary. I suppose he left that to the military-pedagogues whom he assumed would be able to pick up the baton in the classroom. Infantry Attacks is focused and avoids unnecessary didacticism and borderline self-aggrandizement present in some of his other writings. In sum: accessible, concise and engaging. Highly recommended.

Erwin Rommel first learned his trade in the Great War as an Infantry commander. In this work he discusses individual actions he took part in and the lessons he learned regarding modern combat. Most of these lessons are still relevent today, which shows just how observant he was.

The book is illustrated with sketches which were originally published with the book, which is fortunate as the drawings and maps make it possible to follow Rommel's line of thought as he refights these battles. It is not a light read and if you are not interested in military history you probably will not want to put the necessary amount of work into it.

I have no complaints. In response to another review, German troops, specifically those under Rommel's command, are made to look far more competent than most troops of other nationalities Rommel encountered because by all accounts they were. Rommel's men wouldn't have surrendered in the thousands to 3 officers, nor been so lax in sentry and recon duty. When he encounters worthy foes he gives credit where it is due, in one case calling them "men in every way" to paraphrase. But the aggressive fighting spirit and competence of Rommel's men is shown time and time again. Volunteering to run out on a bridge under enemy fire and chop wires leading to bombs with a hand axe (for all that Sergeant knew the wires could have been electric and the bombs could have gone the second he got near one), swim a freezing cold, rapidly moving river alone to infiltrate enemy lines etc, this is what his men would do for him.

The tone is largely a matter of interpretation, I believe that at the time and place the book was written it was not so much braggadocio as it was lack of false modesty, and rightful pride in his and his men's accomplishments. In America many will interpret this as shameless bragging.

I see nothing wrong with the lessons of building fortifications to prevent casualties and conducting constant reconnaissance. However those are not by any means the only lessons in the book. Rommel's use of "supple infantry tactics" against often numerically far superior, and firepower-superior (though as mentioned before inferior in competence, aggression, and bravery) enemies, and his use of diversions, sneak attacks and generally concealed movements are timeless applied lessons of warfare straight out of Sun Tzu's "Art of War".

His use of overwhelming concentrations of pinning fire, combined with the above, helped him limit casualties while flanking the enemy and capturing prisoners in the many thousands in total. He scarcely lost a battle even though he often didn't have the support of artillery during an attack due to materiale shortages. He was a very aggressive commander who always took the initiative when given the chance, something that paid off time and time again. He wasn't incautious, he simply knew an opportunity when he saw one, and was bold enough to exploit these situations.

The principal players of the Second World War paid their dues in the First, and Erwin Rommel was no exception. The man who would later become "the Desert Fox" and win worldwide acclaim as one of the greatest generals of all time began his combat career as a young lieutenant in the army of Wilhelm II, indistinguishable from thousands of others who crossed the French or Belgian frontier in 1914. Four years later he was one of the most decorated soldiers in the Imperial Army, holder of the "Pour le Merite" (the highest Prussian award for bravery) and a firm believer that "positional [i.e. trench] warfare" was for fools. His credo could be summed up in the old Prussian maxim: "Never ask how strong the enemy is, only where he is -- and march to the sound of guns."

Rommel published ATTACKS in 1937, when he was a lieutenant-colonel in the Reichsheer and commandant of the military academy in Weiner Neustadt. At the time he was already famous in the German army for his 1914 - 1918 exploits, but ATTACKS brought him international acclaim, at least in military circles. In Germany the book made him quite wealthy, and in a sense one can see why: compared to the turgid, half-mystical reminiscences of some of his contemporaries, ATTACKS is entirely without introspection. It is simply a recounting of the innumerable small-unit actions in which Rommel participated in during the Great War. The book's methodical, matter-of-fact style reflects the personality of its author, who was not inclined to philosophizing. The "whys" and "wherefores" of war mattered to him not at all. Unlike Ernst Juenger, who also won the Pour le Merite and wrote postwar accounts of his exploits (THE STORM OF STEEL, COPSE 125, WAR AS AN INWARD EXPERIENCE) Rommel wasn't interested in the "inward experience", just the fighting. He was a soldier's soldier.

During the War, Rommel served extensively in France, Rumania and Italy, and ATTACKS recounts in great detail his many offensive exploits, where he distinguished himself not merely with his aggressive style but by his habit (repeated in World War II) of leading from the front. Utterly fearless, possessing unlimited physical stamina and seemingly immune to pain (his gunshot wounds are described merely as events, like losing the sole of a shoe; the only thing that seems to have caused him real discomfort in the whole war was getting a foot smashed by a boulder in the mountains) Rommel was the ideal junior officer under any conditions, and was rightly worshipped by his men - another trait he enjoyed in the '39 - 45 war. He was further distinguished by his nobility and chivalry, qualities which are more responsible than his military genius for making him beloved among his former enemies. Today, Rommel is the only one of the myriad generals who achieved fame in Nazi Germany who is officially honored by the present day German government.

The strength of ATTACKS lies not merely in the nature of what is being described (battle and more battle) but in the fact that Rommel has no artistic pretentions: he simply records what happened without sentimentalizing or succumbing to the Germanic curse of using 1,000 words when two hundred would suffice. This, however, is also the book's great weakness: all these skirmishes, raids, marches, countermarches, midnight conferences, attacks, retirements, hand-grenade fights, machine-gun duels, artillery bombardments, and climbs up mountain slopes in the rain, snow and blazing sun begin to wear down the reader over time. If it is possible for combat to be monotonous, Rommel occasionally manages to make it so, if only by the staggering amount of it he actually experienced. If Juenger was often turgid and romantic, he was also willing to discuss the lighter side of war - the pranks, the drinking, the philosophical bull-sessions and the endless war against rats, boredom and Prussian discipline. Such humanistic moments would have been welcome in ATTACKS, but Rommel was not inclined to dwell on them. (The closest thing he displays to a sense of humor is contemptuous jokes at the expense of the French and the Italians, neither of whom seem to have impressed him with their soldierly ability.)

So, if you are looking for a pure combat memior, penned by one of the greatest soldiers ever, ATTACKS is the very definition of the bill. But if you want a look "under the helmet" into the mind and soul of a great fighting man, I would suggest supplementing ATTACKS with Juenger's more layered STORM OF STEEL. After all, nothing is more Prussian than obtaining a "total view" of a military situation!

This book is a gem of scholarly research. When all the data is pieced together the preterist eschatology is quite compelling. Gentry respectfully reviews the arguments from the late-date scholars and shows that most (but not all) of the evidence comes down to one quotation of Irenaeus. Then Gentry pieces all of Revelation's internal evidence together with the historical record to provide a very convincing case for the a pre-A.D 70 date. When everything comes together, the book of Revelation is far less mysterious. The preterist viewpoint also resolves many problematic prophetic verses from Daniel and the Olivet Discourse.

Whether you agree with preterism or not, this book is a wonderful addition to any Christian's library. This book carefully examines all of the arguments and assumptions of a late date for the orginal manuscript for John's apocolypse and shows the strength of early date arguments.

This book is an excellent defense of a view held by the minority. The book is thoroughly researched and the ideas are fully discussed. The level of detail in this book might bore some of the readers.

Ken Gentry uses internal evidence from the Bible and external evidence to make his case. This is unlike many of those who hold to a late date for Revelation but use mostly external evidence to defend it.

For those people who want a thorough defense of the early date of Revelation, this is an excellent choice. Those who do not wish to wade through such an academic book might wish to look at another of Gentry's books, The Beast of Revelation. This book finishes with a condensed version of the arguments in Before Jerusalem Fell.

The best case yet for when to date the book of Revelation. It would be hard to imagine anyone disputing the case Mr. Gentry makes for a date prior to AD70. Sure to stir up questions and provide answers for not just the date but also why the dating matters to our understanding of the visions it contains.

Gentry prefers to dig into the evidence contained within the Christian Bible before conceeding to the authority of traditions or speculative legends in order to determine the best approximate dates of authorship for the New Testament books. The approximate time in which these books were written has significant impact upon how apocalyptic prophecy can or should be interpreted. Gentry also compares and considers the actual statements of early Church figures which have often been used to promote a later date of authorship for certain books, placing them after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Well organized and full of information for both the newbie and also a more experienced blogger who wants to deepen their effectiveness (or experiment more). I work with synagogues, and found the approach of blogging for "ministry" can be useful and much more broadly defined than for churches alone. Very easy to read, full of practical examples.

I was actually pleasantly surprised with this book. I knew going into this book that I was in for a lot of great information and disciplines in creating and maintaining a blog. I did not expect how creatively it was written. I think we have certain expectations for "how-to" books and this one surpassed my expectations.

If you have started a blog or are just thinking about it, grab this book. There is a lot of focus on churches creating and using blogs, but not to the extent that it leaves the individual out. The writers took time to teach us a little history as well as give us clear detailed info on the how, why and where of the blog world. Chapter 9 & 10 focus on starting a blog and then building a blog well. I love chapter 11 titled "Build A Really Bad Blog". It's kind of the how-to in reverse.

One of the coolest things in the book was hearing from bloggers around the country about their take on blogging and how it has affected their lives or the lives of the businesses/churches they are involved with. I enjoyed hearing the real world ideas.

This book really starts from the beginning by asking 3 questions...
-Is it a tool or a toy?
-What problem are you trying to solve?
-What is the return on ministry?

The writers go on to explain that "Blogs are tools, not toys. Blogs help solve real problems. Blogs deliver a true return on ministry."

I also appreciate the hopeful message from start to finish. As churches and Christ-followers, we have an amazing opportunity to share our story with others. The blog world is open and ready for the taking. This book consistently draws you back to intent. The writers want you to be excited about who God is in your life and they want that to burst out on your blog.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of or already in the blogging world. It's very easy to read. It is not extremely technical. And when it does get technical, they have done a great job of explaining themselves so no one gets left behind. It has real life stories and history. It is a quick read.

I learned a lot that I didn't know about blogging from this book. It would have saved me a lot of problems if I had had something like this when I started blogging a year ago.

If you are looking for some help in defining and establishing a blog for yourself or your ministry you will find this book helpful. It gives some great insight in to establishing a good blog for the right reasons.

This book is awesome. it will make you think about the various was you can reach people. It will make you take a look at yourself and motivate you to reach others in ways you havent thought of before.

My ex-wife is of Chippewa descent and I have attended many pow-wows with her family. To see Native peoples drum, sing traditional songs and "fancy dance" is humbling and wonderful. A people united to reclaim a heritage stolen from them. Stolen by the pursuers of the Nez Perce, as told so purely in Kent Nerburn's book. Some of the examples of the elderly, pregnant and very young Nez Perce being terrified by the U.S. Cavalry's cannons are harrowing and hard to read. The idea of these people leaving their old, blind and mortally wounded alone on the trail to die by themselves with dignity, signing their death songs, is unimaginable. Joseph was never the "Chief" of the Nez Perce, as Nerburn clearly illustrates. That was a role fostered on him by the white press and politicians to create a cunning and evil adversary. Man, how things have not changed. Weapons of Mass Destruction anyone? And to my ex-wife, who inspired me to learn the real history of the Native American people, "I will fight no more forever."

Though I have read a significant amount about the Nez Perce, this was my firt introduction to kent Nerburn. The moment I held the book in my hands I felt the heart it was written with reach out to me and draw me into it. Kent, through his intense dedication and depth of soul brought the story alive. Most writings on the subject are accountings-here I felt the people involved and became part of the story. That depth of unity IS Native American.

This book so reached me I immediately ordered several other books by the same author, as well as more copies of this book to give to friends.

Kent Nerburn's story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce is that of one of histories great, proudest and yet truly humble men. Nerburn writes smoothly and convincingly as he traces the our government reversals and flight of the Nez Perce through bitter winter in an effort to reach and cross the Canadian border.

Chief Joseph's efforts to avoid conflict unless cornered, and how he still tried to lead his people to safety is a story of courage, betrayal and near extinction, written by an author who picks up on the soul and pain of this man--and his people--who must never be forgotten as a truly memorable part of indian courage and dignity. This is a book worth reading--and reading again.

author of THE SWAN: Tales of the Sacramento Valley

This book is divided into 3 parts: 1) background, 2) the war of 1877, 3) the post-war years. Nerburn doesn't get bogged down in details of troop movements and other minutiae, but does a pretty good job of recounting the war. If this is your introduction to the Nez Perce war of 1877, perhaps this will whet your appetite for more in-depth scholarly studies. The real strength of this book is found in part 3 where Nerburn recounts the sad post-war years which generally receive only passing mention in most books that deal with the Nez Perce war. One fact becomes crystal clear in the reading of this part: this was very much a war pitting native religious beliefs against Christianity. Of course the Christians win, but the reader should keep in mind that cultural might does not make right. As Nerburn illustrates, the Nez Perce were cruelly starved, terribly mistreated and lied to -- all in an effort to break their will, weaken them spiritually, with the ultimate goal being conversion to Christianity. I guess some people just need a little extra help "seeing the light." [Please note my sarcasm.] It is very interesting to note that not one of the 23 reviews before mine mentions this Christian aspect of the book. As for Nerburn, he never lets the reader know where he stands on this topic, though I suspect he was against it. In any event, their treatment was truly disgusting.

Continuing, I would like to point out three other details about this book: There is an error/typo on p. 358 (May 1878 should read May 1879) and on pp. 121-122 Nerburn claims a brotherly relationship between two Indians that was new information to me and I am unsure of its accuracy. The last thing I want to point out is that there are no footnotes in this book though he does include a "Notes on the Sources" section which is pretty good. But due to the lack of footnotes, I'm left wondering where he received some of his details. And he frequently states things like "there were numerous deaths on the reservation" but never gives numbers (this is too vague and left me with an empty feeling). All in all, this book is a very good read and satisfactory introduction to the Nez Perces and their tragic war of 1877.

This book is a great choice for those who never read anything about the Nez Perce, as well as for those who thought they already read everything there is to read. The book is written in an easy-to-read, unique narrative style. The last third of the book covers Chief Joseph and the exile of the Nez Perce after the famous surrender, much more thoroughly than any book I encountered previously. As the title indicates, the story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce has not been told as completely or in the manner told in this book, to my knowledge.

When reading this book you will find yourself reticent to put it down and looking forward to your next chance to read it when you do. You will learn a great deal about this proud people and their undoing by Christian missionaries, white settlers and the government. You will probably also learn quite alot about yourself and your own beliefs. I highly recommend it.

This is a good book. I don't agree with all it says but that is ok it still has a lot of thought provoking information

This book is a great resource for any astronomy lover who wants to know more about the background and history of astronomy. It has lots of information on historical people in astronomy as well as great stories about their discoveries. Great book, must have for history of astronomy.

Excellent chronology of physics from Aristotle to the present. I will use it as a reference. Excellent index and other aids to finding what you want in physics and other sciences.

An Excellent exposition of the history of astronomy and astrophysics. Mr. Ferris writes with a lucidity and thouroughness not often found in books on this fascinating subject.

What a story! And yes, I said story because the author has taken subjects most of us take for granted (the size of the heavens, the age of the Earth, the intricacies of the atom) and turned these into a wonderful almost joyous tale of intellectual achievement. I am still stunned at the depth of scholarship, the vast research and the almost magical manner in which Ferris manages to make what appears to be an arcane dry topic into an intriguing saga.

Ok, I admit it. I love science books written for the educated layman - from "The Singularity is Near " to "Wonderful Life" to the philosophical tomes of Pagels and Hardison. But this is more than science - it is also a history of who we are and our physical, mental and dare I say it, spiritual evolution. In this sense it reminds one of "The Discoverers" by Boorstin with its chronological structure, emphasis upon individual genius and captivating storyline. Beginning with the ancients, we see how our ideas fashion our intellectual quests. The overwhelming success of Western culture depended on our ability to break with age-old traditions, to absorb ideas from the outside and most importantly, to challenge the traditional religious beliefs. Very few cultures have been able to accomplish this and their lack of scientific prowess is evidence.

The individual tales could occupy a volume themselves - mind-boggling examples of thought that are so rare we have trouble believing them. Not only are Darwin (Evolution challenged the prevailing age of the Earth) and Newton (the greatest human who ever lived?) are found but all the unknown heroes of the ages are given their due. The author has an uncanny way of simplifying tremendously dense concepts into language for the layman. This was never truer than his discussion on the weird world of quantum physics with its seemingly magical and nonsensical qualities. I would say that this should be required reading for all high school graduates except that a vast number would be bewildered by the concepts presented, unaware that science has a history of more than video games and cars. My grade - A+++

I don't care who you are. Don't care if you support the war, or you don't. Don't care if you "support the troops" whatever that might mean (like me!). This book is about the reality of our soldiers not coming back. And the heart-rending, noble efforts of the military to honor them. If you can read this book without crying, you're a robot. If you can read this book without wanting to reach out, you're heartless. (I recommend Operation Gratitude, you can find many local groups doing the same.)

Jim Sheeler, you're a hero. Just like all the ones you showed us in this book.

"FINAL SALUTE" A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler is perhaps, the most emotionally moving book I have read in my entire 61 years! It is a true modern day version of the old movie: "Gardens of Stone."

Sheeler's literary style and understanding of real life drama will eviscerate you while it drains your soul, all... in one dynamic swoop of the pen.

It is "easy reading", but...a difficult book to "keep reading." It is also, impossible to put down! You can not read this book without stopping to wipe the tear drops off the pages, or to blow your nose. It is a book every American (including those in the White House) "should" read, and a book that every student..."be required" to read!

Here in 280 pages lies the humbling stark reality of life, war, and death as it touches into American families directly involved in the Iraqi war.

This book is a masterpiece of literature, human drama, and spirit.

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK..."IF," YOU DARE!!!

This is a moving book about the soldiers who have died during the Iraq war and the families that they left behind. Sheeler's writing is excellent and he engages the reader from the first page. The book brings you closer to the families who have lost a son/husband/father and helps to tell their story. It also tells the story of the men who had to deliver the casualty notifications to each of the families following the fateful knock at the front door. This book stays with you long after you put it down and you can't help but be inspired by the courage described within its pages.

This book may be the single best I've ever read on the bond created among the youg men who fight for the United States.

Weather you are for or against our going into Iraq you will be so moved by Mr. Sheeler's fine portrayal of Marine Major Steven Beck, (now a Lt. Colonel).

Advising next of kin of the death of their warrior son (or occasionally daughter) is the most difficult assignment.

The word "closure" just does not apply since we all need to never forget those that have died for us.

Mr. Sheeler, who is young and probably a liberal, manages to accurately portray the entire process of the duties of the Marines as they "never leave their fellow Marine," until final interrment.

Great job!

Please, please take the time to read this beautiful tribute to the fallen and their families and friends. We see the photos of soldiers and sailors on the evening news broadcasts every night. We momentarily feel bad and then life again intrudes along with the next TV program. This book should be required reading for every American...but especially for those in the Pentagon, the White House and Congress who send our military in harms way. These are not just numbers...these are people...sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers who are sorely missed. I was so impressed with Col. Beck. Why isn't he being asked to teach others how to do this so difficult job??? A beautiful book but you will have to read it in stages..it's too hard otherwise.