Fighting Books

As I have watched the news on TV or read about it in the morning papers I have often felt that you really have no idea what's going on behind the fancy hair-dos and the giggling laughter. It's only when you read the books some years later that you begin to understand what really went on.

I had presumed that this was a fairly recent phenomena -- I was clearly wrong.

This book shows that it existed at least as far back as the Civil War. In reading news stories from both northern and southern papers you sometimes have to wonder if the two papers are talking about the same events. It is further interesting in that in most conflicts we don't have access to both sides. What, for instance, were the North Vietnamese papers saying?

An absolutely fascinating book. I'd recommend that anyone thinking of journalism as a career read it. But that probably wouldn't do any good, you'd have to get their managers to read it and they only think about ratings, i.e. 'if it bleeds it leads.'

But the world has changed. I think I'll go see what al Jazeera is saying today.

This book is both beautifully written and illustrated, with a fascinating selection of newspaper articles linked elegantly by Coopersmith's crisp and informative prose.

I was really impressed with this book. I think it will appeal to a broad range of people; those with general curiosity about war, and those "history buffs" who want to delve even deeper into fascinating documents they probably have never seen before. Not only are the illustrations interesting and unique, but they are beautifully presented. As a middle school teacher, I would encourage students to use Dr. Coopersmith's book as a resource mostly because it is timely, complete and compelling. Moreover, his coverage of both the Union and of Confederacy is thorough and accurate. An excellent book, indeed.

This book is indispensable for understanding the Civil War. Fortunately, it is also a joy to read. It helps demonstrate how battlefield and home front blended in the nation's most transformative conflict: what happened at home influenced what happened in the field and vice versa, and this book helps readers understand exactly how the two touched each other. Moreover, the book offers readers a glimpse of what it was like to live through the war. What would it be like to have a loved one in the Army and scan newspaper pages anxiously for any word of his regiment? What would it be like to be a soldier in camp, desperate to know what is going on outside the often chaotic confines of army life? More than any other, this book offers insight into those questions. It also helps show how the conflict changed over time. Students respond beautifully to the book. Scholars learn from it. General readers enjoy it. For any audience, this book is a real gem.

Andrew Coopersmith's Fighting Words is an eminent work of exquisite scholarship. The book is beautifully presented and a welcome addition to my personal library. I recommend it to the general reader for its unique approach to difficult subject. There are many books on the market which tell the story of the Civil War over and over again. They tend to look alike. This book is like no other in the field. The average reader will enjoy the read far more than he may have expected and will quite simply be amazed at the presentation and encouraged toward further reading and understanding of the conflict.

Serious students of the Civil War will find ample material for their own research. History Departments at all levels will find it an excellent text. My highest recommendation, however, is that every School of Journalism should incorporate Fighting Words as a prime text in the study of the impact of journalism on society. The NEWSEUM should look into a presentation of Fighting Words when it opens its new headquarters in Washington, D.C.

A book of this sort is good insofar as it is technically accurate, and also if it zeroes in on your especial situation. As a non-scientist I am unble to judge the former, and my situation is that I was recently diagnosed with early emphysema. But I quit smoking 13 years ago, so all the pages devoted to quitting smoking were irrelevant to me. I have, however, spent a lifetime with heavy smokers, starting before my birth -- not that I can do anything about that now. Thanks, Mom and Dad, colleagues, friends, and current and former husbands!

There is a lot in this book about COPD, its causes, its course, varieties of treatment, & strateies for living with it. It is easy to understand and has a glosary, bibliography for further research, and good index.

Fortunately my condition has been arrested with the use of Spireva [mentioned in the book],but I will keep my copy just in case.

This is an excellent book for anyone suffering from or who has just acquired a breathing disorder. I bought it after coming down with a case of bronchitis that would not go away after several weeks. The book helped me realize the dangers of not getting the proper treatment for COPD. It also helped me be a partner with my doctor in the treatment of it. I understand the treatment decisions, the drugs used (and not used) and what to do to prevent a recurrance. The cost of the book is a small price to pay for being a knowledgeable patient.

I first saw Dr. Schacter being interviewed on the Today Show in April while I was home recouperating from my third round of pneumonia in about 15 years. I ordered the book immediately and read it within a day of receiving it.

The information contained in the book was extremely helpful in educating me about how serious a chronic cough can be and how important it is to get appropriate treatment for anything that is related to your lungs on a timely basis. My sister is a severe asthmatic and I ordered a copy for her and sent it to her in California.

Following my bout of pneumonia, I have learned that I have a pulmonary nodule and again found the information in the book helpful as I have begun to navigate the ramifications of that health issue. When I was first diagnosed, I also emailed Dr. Schacter some questions and he responded to me personally which was certainly "above and beyond."

I highly recommend this book to anyone anyone with any pulmonary issues.

I picked this book up because I was concerned about my husband, who has had a morning cough for about 2 years. The book was the catalyst to a whole lifestyle change for him! We went to his doctor, had him tested for COPD (he is in the early stages), he quit smoking, we ripped out our carpet, we've changed our diet.... I can't say enough about the value of this book. Read it!!!

Finally, a book to help patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The families of people suffering from COPD will have a better understanding of the disease after reading this book.

At the present time, COPD is not curable. However, by reading Life and Breath, it will help those suffering from COPD live longer, happier and healthier lives. The book will teach us how to better control COPD.

One is taught and is given a better understanding of the complete chest workup. Eating habits are gone over extensively, and we learn that by changing our diet we can breath easier and more normally.

Pulmonary protection and physical work outs will allow us to breath easier and realize it is never too late to give up bad habits. Treatment strategies for both asthma and COPD are outlined in the book and are extremely important.

I recommend this bood to doctors, COPD patients and their families.

Daniel J. Colona, NY

I really liked this book, aspecially since,to my knowledge, this is the only work of its kind on Malaysian silat, as opposed to Indonesian, which has been presented in the West trhoguh couple of books and several videos, though I'd like to see more written material on that as well. Book is done in a beautiful layout, and I also like the format. Author's presentation of techniques is good and the overview of the system is qute good, too. You may like the style itself or not, but there's no arguing that the books tiself is very well done.
My only concern, however, is that while pointing several times to the importance if inner practices in Sialt Gayong, Cikgu Sam has chosen to do just brief introduction on kebatinan practices. On the other hand he has a chapter on the Malasyan tourism several pages long, and would most certainly like to see the things reversed, since that would without doubt give a better picture of the subject of the book, i.e. Silat Gayong.

reading this work it is immediately obvious that the writer is not only well versed in the martial art of Seni Gayong Silat- but that he has the capasity to produce a well written and concise book explaining the history, technical application, and philosophy of his art. I am impressed with the depth the author goes to in giving the reader a look into this Malaysian cultural art form, and system of combat. Though not as well known as some of the other more publicised martial arts, Seni Gayong Silat as shown by this book, is as rich and as profound as any of the more popular forms of Asian combat. Thank you for this great book!

I highly recommend this book as an excellent reference work in the martial arts library of all people interested in Silat Seni Gayong. This book is well written with not only the technique aspect of the art; but it also provides good history, cultural background, and philosophy.

It's about time someone wrote a comprehensive book on this subject. If you're interested in both the history and how-to of silat or even simply self defense, then you need to buy this book. Wonderfully written, with a unique look into the culture of Malaysia and the history of silat. Insightful imagery and explanations of many techniques further clarify this instructional work of art.

this book covers an incredible overview of Malay Silat with an emphasis on Silat Seni Gayong in particular. The techniques shown are a perfect start to anyone interested in this art that is rare in the western world. The author translates the real aspects of Malay Silat and the raw essence that makes it well known throughout southeast asia as one of the deadliest forms of combat and intricate forms of art and spiritual culture. a BIG congradulations to Cikgu Shamsuddin Salim for his contribution to the propogation of Silat Seni Gayong around the world as envisioned by the late Mahaguru Dato Meor Abdul Rahman.
This is REAL Silat with additional works on culture,and traditions that make for a well rounded knowledge rarely shared in the west.
thank you for this work!

For the student of Western martial arts and the scholar of arms, the "Manual of the Baratero" is an essential reference. Originally published in 1849, this is an English translation of that manual - the first half of the book being the translation, and the last half of the book containing the original Spanish text.

Manual of the Baratero is not a beginner's book designed for those looking to learn a couple of knife fighting tricks. It is a manual for the true scholar of arms, for one who already has a strong foundation in the basic techniques. Having a practical understanding of such things as the Spanish Circle is essential to understanding the secrets hidden in the Manual of the Baratero.

There are four main sections to the book, followed by the Spanish version and appendices:

Section 1 - Instruction on the Navaja
Section 2 - Various Tactics Performed When Fighting with the Navaja
Section 3 - The Proper Way to Handle the Cuchillo
Section 4 - The Way the Gypsies Handle the Scissors

In this text are hidden gems to be found by the scholar of arms.

Highly Recommended!

James Loriega is a master at the arts of fighting with a steel blade. His translation from the original Spanish of the Manual Of The Baratero Or The Art Of Handling The Navaja, The Knife, And The Scissors Of The Gypsies is an instruction book for the non-specialist general reader in the basic techniques of fighting with knives which was originally published in Madrid, Spain, in 1849. There are occasional woodblock illustrations but they are decorative, not instructional. It is the text itself that provides an informed and informative "how to" manual for defending against attackers or robbers with a blade in your hand. A long recognized and appreciated contribution to Spain's historic martial arts culture, Manual Of The Baratero has never before been available to English readers. Here is an invaluable and enduringly impressive addition to personal and professional reference collections for historians, edged-weapons enthusiasts, and students of diverse martial arts legacies from around the world.

James Loriega is a master at the arts of fighting with a steel blade. His translation from the original Spanish of the Manual Of The Baratero Or The Art Of Handling The Navaja, The Knife, And The Scissors Of The Gypsies is an instruction book for the non-specialist general reader in the basic techniques of fighting with knives which was originally published in Madrid, Spain, in 1849. There are occasional woodblock illustrations but they are decorative, not instructional. It is the text itself that provides an informed and informative "how to" manual for defending against attackers or robbers with a blade in your hand. A long recognized and appreciated contribution to Spain's historic martial arts culture, Manual Of The Baratero has never before been available to English readers. Here is an invaluable and enduringly impressive addition to personal and professional reference collections for historians, edged-weapons enthusiasts, and students of diverse martial arts legacies from around the world.

Any serious scholar of the knife has undoubtedly heard of the "Manual del Baratero." However, while many have heard of it, few details have been available in regard to what exactly is contained within those ancient pages. Every once in a while whispers in the wind could be heard, hinting at its content. It was said to be a mid-19th century text written by the mysterious M.d.R. The techniques and tactics were supposed to be based on the use of the navaja, a large Spanish folding knife. Partial manuscripts and even rough (and not highly regarded) translations would occasionally appear, yet always the "Manual del Baratero" was shrouded in mystery from the English speaking world.

Thankfully, author and martial arts expert James Loriega has removed the veil of secrecy and published the first official translation of the manual in English. Upon reviewing Mr. Loriega's credentials, it is quite clear that he is the right man for the job. A fluent Spanish speaker, Loriega is also a scholar of old Spanish dialect and literature. Translations are never an easy task, and this is all the more true when dealing with centuries old texts. Loriega spent years translating, proofreading, and critiquing his work before he was satisfied enough to take the finished product to the publisher. Continuing with the theme of scholastic honesty, a transcription of the original Spanish is included for anyone who wishes to check the translation themselves. However, the most impressive aspect of Loriega's background is his martial arts training. An expert in Filipino and Japanese bladed arts, Loriega also had the unique privilege to train with one of the few surviving and authentic teachers of the knife in Spain. Throughout the 1990's Loriega traveled to Seville, Spain, to train under Don Santiago Rivera, an instructor in the use of the navaja and other traditional Spanish weaponry. It is this expertise that Loriega brought with him when he set out to complete his translation of the "Manual del Baratero."

Starting with some brief background information on the navaja and the regions of Spain where the navaja and all its variants may be found, the manual then presents thirty short lessons on various aspects of knife fighting. As with all Western knife arts, much of the navaja techniques were adapted from European fencing. A few techniques found within the book will be very familiar to students of the sword, including the passata baja, a low thrust found in both Spanish and Italian fencing. Throughout the manual, the author often compares knife fighting to the art of fencing, though as the author disparagingly points out, by this time the sword was mostly restricted for use as a tool in duels between gentlemen. The navaja, however, was a weapon intended for street survival and therefore was not restricted to gentlemanly notions of honor and etiquette. As such, the knife was not the weapon of the gentleman, but rather the commoner.

As the word baratero implies, the knife was also the preferred weapon of the street thug; one whose martial education would have been learned under the harsh tutelage of the street rather than an actual Maestro de Armas. Therefore, the manual is not structured quite as well as many of the surviving European fencing treatises. Also, while most of the tactical advice found in the manual is quite practical, some of the advice that author of the manual gives makes you wonder if he had ever actually seen combat. Loriega acknowledges this fact and discusses this in detail in the footnotes found throughout his translation. These footnotes are absolutely priceless, where Loriega covers a variety of topics, including technique analysis, alternate techniques, historical context, and more. This is where Loriega's knowledge of Spanish fighting techniques really makes the manual come alive and adds to the book's overall value.

While the knife has played a pivotal roll in European fencing going back to Medieval times, of all the known historical treatises, the "Manual del Baratero" is the only one dedicated solely to the knife. It is a fantastic, and even mandatory, resource for anyone interested in Western knife fighting. The time and effort Loriega put into this book is quite evident and the finished product is fantastic. Loriega has truly done a great service to students of the blade everywhere and I do not hesitate in recommending this book.

Once in a blue moon a true gem of a knife-fighting book appears on the market, and James Loriega's translation of this cult classic certainly fits that bill. For years, I've heard of the Manual Del Baratero in hushed tones as if it contained the "Holy Grail" of knife-fighting secrets. (Usually by knife instructors who not only could not read Spanish but certainly had no clue as to the idioms of the language 150 years ago. ) The fact that the author chose to attach only his initials-M.d. R.-to this work added yet another level of mystery.

Loriega spent 20 years searching for this book and finally obtained a copy from a navaja collector in Madrid. Being fluent in modern Spanish, he began researching the nuances of that language in mid-19th century Spain before producing his translation. In doing so, he has dispelled the mystery.

The bottom line: Baratero itself contains both useful and nonsensical information. Many of the techniques described by M.d. R. (Mariano de Rementeria y Fica -- a prolific manual-writer of the era but not a knife-fighter himself) are sound while others are downright silly. You might compare it to our own Wild West dime novelists who wrote about Wyatt Earp or Wild Bill Hickock. They got some of it right and some of it wrong, and were at the mercy of their subjects when it came to separating the truth from tall tales.

So why do I call Loriega's translation a true gem? Because he is a knife-fighter, and he has added footnotes and Translator's Comments to each chapter in order to point out "the good, the bad, and the ugly." The overall package is true gold, and I suspect I'll reread it many times, high-lighting parts and adding notes to the margin, like I did Loriega's earlier navaja book, Sevillian Steel.

And lest I forget, the Foreword is by Maestro Ramon Martinez, another true blademaster who understands the difference between reality, sport and downright foolishness.

This truly is one of the greatest books I have ever read. This book has not only taught me about arts that I do not have to much formal training in but it has also expanded my knowledge on the arts that I am trained in. I am a Nidan(second degree black belt) and as a martial artist I recomend this book to any other martial artist especially those who study Japanese or Okinawan arts. I also recomend this book to anyone even remotely inteerested in matial arts or ancient warfare. This book just makes me more eager to go to Japan to study martial arts. Read this book, study it, and aborb it.

This is my best book about samurai swordsmanship so far. I've bought a lot of books and dvd's over the years about the subject but this one is outstanding. It's not an A to Z practice book of a Ryu but it gives a very good historic view, not to mention the making of the katana thru many techniques described and very well made pictures to them. So it's just the BEST on the subject so far.

This book is a unique blend of the physical and mental skills of the samurai. While most books are one or the other, this one is both. This book also contains the history and culture of feudal Japan.
This book is about sword-fighting, two sword-fighting, defending yourself from an opponent with a sword when you have no weapon, and defending yourself with a sword from an opponent with a yari, naginata, bo, or shuriken.
This book was very helpful to me in the ways of the samurai, both in spirit and in practice. I recommend it to anyone interested in swordsmanship, and I write this review in hopes that the author will write more books concerning the martial arts of Japan.

Worth every dollar I've spent. Detailed chapters on all aspects of samurai fighting arts; such as Kobuto, Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, and classical and modern Budo. This book also contains information on the sword against other weapons, such as the Yari, bo staff and Naginata. Includes information on Japanese medieval historical eras. This book is also includes detailed illustration for all chapters. Best Samurai book out on the market, a must own for all sword enthusiasts.

Fumon Tanaka sensei's mastery of kobudo, iaijutsu, and jujitsu is well articulated in this excellent work. The writing is much clearer than many Asian master's first works in English. The layout is extraordinarily well done with outstanding photos and illustrations that really augment the text. Content includes budo (martial arts) history, jujutsu, kenjutsu, and samurai tradition. The nito-ken (two-sword) techniques included herein are not widely taught and rarely described in other texts. Basic, intermediate, and advanced Honmon Enshin Ryu applications are well laid out, with many okuden (secret) mastry level techniques portrayed. The focus is primarily on sword to sword applications though there is also a small section on sword vs. yari (spear), naginata (halberd), bo (staff), and shuriken (throwing star) as well. There is also a bit of muto dori (no sword) techniques covered as well.

The author really knows his stuff and communicates it effectively. Tanaka sensei has been studying martial arts since 1956, achieving an 8th dan black belt in kobudo, 7th dan in jujutsu and kyoshi iai suemonogiri kenpo, 5th dan in Bojutsu, and 4th dan in kendo among other accomplishments. While you cannot learn any martial art solely from a book, this work is an excellent place to learn about these systems or augment your dojo training. Highly recommended!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Leo Stapleton captures the true spirit of the Boston firefighter...he is a man who knows what he writes about and should be respected by all of his peers

One of the best books I have ever read A book I did not want to put down once I started reading. I have read three of Mr. Stapletons books and all three have given me many hours of enjoyable reading.

First of all, Amazon lists this book as being out of print. It is in fact not. I've just ordered a copy by calling the publisher @ 800.563.5318.

dmc associates has this book in print along with Commissioner Stapleton's other five books. Which are Commish:1990, Fire and Water:1992, Jakes:1994, Ffops:1996 and Lufts:1998. dmc has also informed me that another book from the Commissioner will be published in May of 2000. Each of these books is a true "must read" for everyone in the fire service or everyone interested in the profession.

Several years after it's publication, this book continues to be pulled off our livingroom bookshelf by adults and young readers alike. The pictures and accounts command respect from anyone reading it! Glad to hear there are more books by Leo!

A must read for anyone with an interest in Fire Fighting and the personalities behind the characters who work in this heroic line of business. Stapleton's wit and acute observational sense taught me much more than I imagined possible. Bravo!!!

Although Amazon states it is out of print, I got my copy through the publisher (dmc associates) and they tell me it is NOT out of print. Stapleton has written 5 other books. Although the characters are ficticious the fire house situations and fire fighting battles will fill you with suspense, laughter and tears. Many lessons to be learned.

My family is a Notre Dame Family so I purchased this book for my mom. She loved it! It is also an excellent coffee table book!

This is the fourth book written by Mr. Garner that I have read. The first three were awesome and this book comes close to matching the standard set by them. For the most part this is a very enjoyable book: an easy-reading text detailing legendary moments in Irish football history, accompanied by tons of great pictures. The CDs are a bonus, but there is too much Regis and not enough actual game audio. My only other complaint regards the choice of what was included (or excluded) from this project. Can anyone really believe that the '92 Sugar Bowl (Cheerios Bowl) or the '92 Penn St. game are more defining moments in ND football lore than the '46 Army game (the most famous 0-0 tie in college football history and included 4 Heisman trophy winners in the lineups) or the '87 Michigan State game, featuring Tim Brown's back-to-back punt returns for TD's (I still get chills listening to this) and the fastest score in NCAA history (ND awarded a safety on the opening kick-off), or even the '75 Orange Bowl win over 'Bama in Ara's last game? And as for including "Rudy", well, the movie should have been enough, OK?

Just got the new "ECHOES" book for an early Christmas present while visiting family up north. AWESOME!

We listened to the CD's the whole way home - it was almost like we were really there. Regis was a good pick for the narrator. After your reader from Galesburg listens to the CDs, he'll realize that all of the events not in the book are ALL on the CDs. Now I remember why I'm such a huge Rocket fan.

I've only had time skim through the book, but I can already tell that it will be hard to put down once I get the time to get into it. Garner has hit another home run...or should I say "touchdown"? What a great Christmas present. I almost forgot about what a lousy season the Irish are having this year.

I confess...I'm a woman who loves football. Not to mention an Irish-Catholic. So when a football-fanatic friend of mine told me about Echoes of Notre Dame Football, I had to check it out. I read it, I listened to the CDs, and I have to say--this book has it all! Lots of stats for the serious football fan, tons of incredible photographs spanning over 100 years and compelling stories of football legends that will keep you up late into the night reading "just one more" chapter. And the CDs are great! Going back in time and hearing the broadcasters' excitement as Notre Dame football history unfurled on the field before them actually gave me goosebumps. I will admit that it was hard at first to listen to Regis without picturing him on the set of "Millionaire", which was distracting. More of the original play-by-play broadcasts would have been a plus. But any fan of the noble tradition of college football will enjoy this book.

"Echoes of Notre Dame Football," with its superb collection of Fighting Irish football memorabilia, hits on the high points of a storied football tradition. In additon to having a fine text with plenty of stories on the great Irish football hereoes, including a full chapter on the school's 7 Heisman Trophy winners, along with the memorable games, the book also includes CD disks with audio material involving the likes of ND super fan Regis Philbin and memorable coach Ara Parseghian.

The big games are covered in fascinating detail, making them come live again. The disks include audio portions from those great contests with announcers like Keith Jackson and Van Patrick calling play by play. Among the memorable contests covered are the 1935 classic when the Irish upended Ohio State 18-13 in the closing seconds, the famous 10-10 tie at Michigan State in 1966, and the great comeback in the 1979 Cotton Bowl, when a dehydrated Joe Montana, fortified by chicken soup, returned after the second half had already begun, leading the previously overwhelmed Irish from a 34-7 deficit against Houston to win 35-34 as the clock expired, giving football fans a preview of what to expect from the great quarterback when he joined the Forty-Niners in the NFL.

Having formerly lived in Los Angeles, I was fortunate to see many of Notre Dame's class games at the Coliseum against arch-rival USC. This book has a chapter which covers that famous series, which began in Los Angeles in 1926,in comprehensive and exciting detail.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome-Fighting the Devil with the Patience of Job is one of the best books that I have ever read or purchased regarding living with chronic pain and fibromyalgia. I have the paperback version of the book and recommend it highly

This author did her homework and has set everything out in laymen's terms so it is easy to understand and refer to time and time again. Also, she certainly does not mind "walking on a few toes" when talking about health care and disability issues. It is a "must read" for people who live in chronic pain and for those who have fibromyalgia (and especially those newly diagnosed with the disorder or think they have it).

I highly recommend this book, particularly for someone who is just beginning to experience fibromyalgia. This book has very good resources and is very concise. Even though I have been diagnosed with this for many years, I gained new information from it. I wish that this book had been published when I was first diagnosed. I have read almost every book out and I truly believe that this has the best information in a fairly short, very easy to read book. I have even had my local library buy a copy and I have loaned the book to friends who have then decided to buy it!

Excellent reading!! This book certainly helped me identify with and understand what people with this disorder have to go through. Several people I know have fibromyalgia and I simply had "no clue" as to what they were experiencing until I read this book.

Being a facilitator of a support group for 13 years and publishing a monthly fibromyalgia and lupus newsletter for the last 10 years, I feel I can give an accurate and educated review of this book. And I plan to review it in an upcoming newsletter.

There were parts of the book that I found would be extremely helpful especially to newly diagnosed people, I enjoyed the easy readability of it, some medical books are hard to keep going through even for me when I understand so much about fibro. There is a good section on prescription drugs and side effects along with OTC supplements. One of the best chapters had to do with various laboratory tests that are used to diagnose other chronic illnesses that may mimic fibromyalgia, or vise versa. Very thorough.

Marilyn is a bit tough on doctor's LOL, & I can understand that from someone who had problems getting the right one and I know there are many medical professionals that do not recognize fibromyalgia even today when they have proof that something in our brains do not function normally when it comes to pain receptors. She did a great job and I admire her for tackling the job of being an author on a topic that has touched her life and turned it around completely. Give this book a try, it's worth a try.

A Victim's Point of View and Survivor's Guide IS exactly what this book is all about. It gives an accounting of the author's personal history and makes a wonderful desk reference book. The information I got from reading the book helped me to understand and be more compassionate towards the people I know that have it.

This book is great for parents of children with fibromyalgia or other people that they know that have it because it is so complete. It takes you through the entire process of the disease and gives many "tried and true" methods that either help or have not helped (from the author's point of view). Actually, I could not put the book down once I started to read it.

I can see how many people waste a lot of money on purchasing items that they do not need, or perhaps do not work and fall into financial difficulty. The author puts a great deal of emphasis on this as well.

This book is a great tool for people who think they have fibromyalgia, or have been diagnosed with it, and/or for those that know people that have it.

I heard that The National CFIDS Foundation is doing a very favorable write-up of this book in one of their upcoming 2003 newsletter. I rate this book a 5 star! I also noticed that there were more reviews of this book under the hardbound copy. Look there and see those reviews.

This book is well worth the time. It is different from the usual story of the fate of Jews in eastern Europe. While we have available many memoirs from these times, there are few that are as well written, edited, and detailed. The initial part is devoted to the author's life in prewar Poland and makes for a very useful background for understanding peoples' reactions to subsequent events. The complex relationships between the author and the Polish farmers and villagers illustrate the moral ambiguities inherent in actions of some, as well as the heroism of others. Names are named and places documented. The book was difficult to put down. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject and especially to those that teach it.

This book is a must read. The author shares his gripping story of fighting both the Nazis and the anti-semitic Polish as a Jewish resistance fighter during the Holocaust. It is an inspiration how during the darkest hours of human misery, man's will to survive, protect the unprotected, and fight back against an enemy committed to their destruction propels them forward despite the odds. Harold Werner and the men and women who fought (and sometimes died) beside him should be remembered as heroes for generations to come.

Fighting Back, by Harold Werner, is the well told story of a group of Jewish partisans, who instead of quietly submitting to the will of their Nazi oppressors, and those anti-semitic villagers, and there seemed to be many, who collaborated with the Nazis in their quest to destroy the Jews of Poland, decided to fight back. The author was one of those partisans. These people had all lost family members and friends to both the Nazis and to many of their neighbors who had once been their friends, and all they wanted was a chance to fight back, an opportunity for revenge. After reading many holocaust books about the camps, or about Jews in hiding, it was a pleasure to finally read one where the Jews actually defended themselves, and if they had to die, they died "Fighting Back." This is a must read.

Thanks to Harold Werner for retelling these events from his deathbed. I read the book in an evening and could not put it down. I am very proud to know that people such as Mr. Werner fought back no matter what the odds. Not only does he write about battles and suffering, but he also writes of the community he grew up with, the people he loved, how people made their living, and how they related to their neighbors.

This true story takes place in Poland during the late 1930s thru 1946.The main character is a young man named Harold.The trials he experiences prior to WW2 are nothing compaired to the radical changes his life undergoes during the Nazi occupation.There were several things that I enjoyed most about this book.It is scary to realise how treacherous people can be to each other but it is encouraging to see how the human spirit rises to such adverse circumstances.You will follow his life from living in the city to hiding in the forests of Poland while being hunted by villagers and Nazis.Fear and hunger were common among this group of partsians.I found this story easy to read and relate to. This story can parallel any group of people who are oppressed.

I see children fight cancer day in and day out, as a pediatric oncology nurse. I picked this book up one day at the book store because of the pictures. However, once getting it home and reading it...it depicts a very realistic look into childhood cancer. It is currently on my bookshelf, however, I have read and reread it many times.

I am one of Eli Kahn's sister's best friends, and as someone who carpooled with the Kahns' every day for three years straight, I got to find out just what it was like to go through. Nowadays, when I go over the Kahns' house, Eli has no signs of anything happening to him - and he always beats me at Nintendo 64!

I am friends with Eli Kahn and his sister, and ever since kindergarten, I have liked Eli and have experienced what this happens. I remember going to his house in the morning and seeing Eli. It made me worried what would happen to him. Now, just seven years later, I sometimes go over their house, and Eli's just a normal eight-year-old. This book is very touching, and it's a good one too.

Being a mother of a son who died from childhood cancer who was treated at John Hopkins, I was drawn to the book for the topic only. I was hoping to see some familiar faces and certain settings that would keep my son in the forefront of my memories. I was suprised that the emotions were captured very realistically, through pictures and words. I felt many of the same feelings and emotions. Remembering how the first few day until the end felt. I recommend this book to anyone that has been touched by childhood illness, especially those who have experienced cancer.

This book explains the "ups" and "downs" of childhood cancer.Three children were followed along "their journey" and, luckily all of them survived. Although people may not know that childhood cancer is a big part of life, today-IT IS. Many more kids are being cured because of new medicines, but it's still a big problem, and children are still dying from it. If you don't read this book, you're missing out on three children's important, breath-taking stories of childhood cancer.