Montana Books

PRO: Good starting and good ending. The last 50-100 pages were interesting.

CON: It felt like a short story that was forced into becoming a long book. In short, it took too long to get interesting. Also, I never could get into the concept of dragons inhabiting hyperspace (yes, this is my problem, not the author's).

CONCLUSION: This would have made an excellent short story, but 80% of the book felt like filler.

Based on the cover, This Alien Shore is marketed to readers who want to read books about young women in an exotic future. Don't be misled - This Alien Shore is real science fiction, reminiscent of Starfish (Rifters Trilogy), with a dash of River Tam from Firefly - The Complete Series thrown in.

This Alien Shore's apparent story of a young woman in a cyberpunk future, trapped by choices made for her, takes a back seat to a cyberthriller set in that future. That's not a bad thing. Friedman lays out a fascinating future where the humans are the aliens. Earth has cast its spawn far and wide and the journey has changed them. Earth itself holds ten billion plus more on corporation-owned space stations. Every human is given brain-integrate software at birth to enable Innernet connection and monitor his or her health.

Faster than light travel and communications are made possible by wormholes that are controlled by the Guild. The Guild is based on the planet Guera, where the inhabitants are outwardly human, but honor every difference of the human mind. Gueran society has an elaborate system to accommodate and integrate people we'd call crazy or mentally disabled - not only to tolerate them, but tap into the gifts that accompany their differences. Friedman gives us tantalizing glimpses of how this works.

All wormhole pilots belong to the Guild, and someone is targeting them with a lethal, and nasty, brainware virus. It's an exciting rate to the finish to find the rogue programmer and learn his or her agenda before the virus cripples communication to the outer worlds, or broadens its target. Dig in and enjoy!

April and May of this year were the first two months in almost three decades that I didn't manage to read an average of a book a week. I played word puzzles and watched TV and movies for two whole months. I was burnt out on reading series of stories that had lost my interest (see Sword of Truth) and my favorites are at the publisher and not yet released, and couldn't get in to starting a new one. My Dad gave me a couple of stand alone novels that rode around on my back seat for a bit, then a couple of days ago I opened this amazing story.

This Alien Shore is a great warning and promise about the evolution of computing. It is also a great Space Opera full of mutated humans, politics, colonies and pirates. It is also a pretty good look at the subject of diversity inclusion and bigotry.

Ms. Friedman writes with a very readable cadence and has a way of making you care about the characters in the story, both good and bad. And finally, although the concept of Hyper Space is common in Science Fiction, usually it is never really investigated as to what goes on while there. Ms. Friedman gives you just enough to make you ponder without slowing down the main story whatsoever.

So here's the deal,

If you are looking for a well written Space Opera, that is a story all by itself without the need to invest in a 10 book series, you can't go wrong with "This Alien Shore"

This book has my highest praises because it deals with a subject that controls my life, mental disorders. Yet it doesn't preach that pills are bad or that they are needed. It just holds two different societies up side by side and lets you see the benefits and drawbacks of each. Doing this while creating a story which holds my attention and characters who are so well crafted that I can believe they "suffer" different mental aberrations is nothing short of amazing.

I was only sad that my personal aberration is missing from the book.

Since Huxley's Brave New World, Science Fiction has been riddled with stories involving "eugenics." This grim vision of a future when, in extreme cases, human beings are practically manufactured has certainly kept readers interested for decades. Now, in This Alien Shore, C.S. Friedman shows us a very different future, one in which, rather than trying to create the perfect carbon-copy human specimen, humanity at large is promoting and protecting as much genetic diversity as possible. And, thanks to a faulty faster-than-light drive, the "Hausman Effect" has caused branchings of the human genome far more bizarre than any imagineable alien race. Only poor Earth, virtually lost in the mutant-controlled galaxy, refuses to embrace the new diversity of man. Sadly for Terrans, all space travel is controlled by the mutants, or "Variants," and these new humans are still very angry at the homeworld that tried to destroy them once the Hausman mutations were discovered.

This is a wonderfully confusing tale of sci-fi, politics, racism, sexuality, language, and insanity. If you're looking for Heinlein, run away quickly. Friedman herein describes a galaxy packed with slimy, tentacled, freakish humans who would make Starman Jones lose his lunch -- and the only way to travel in this mutant empire is to brave a hyperspace teeming with demonic monsters which feed on the human soul. I found the story both refreshing and highly thought-provoking. After all, what does the racism of skin color or religion amount to when we all have two arms and two legs, and how would I react to a neighbor who looked more like a slug than a human, particularly in the realm of real interaction, like MATING? What if that slug were the most brilliant physician, or violinist, or poet the world had ever known? Friedman makes Earth's racial purity movements (still extant in this oh-so-distant future) seem silly, antiquated, and pathetic -- all against the backdrop of a masterfully crafted sci-fi mystery.

this book was a great bargain considering it just came out for a much higher price in the chain stores. it arrived on time and in excellent condition.

The other reviewers have well detailed the plot in this umpteenth Dave Robicheaux mystery thriller. The "Bobbsey Twins" -- Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux and his sidekick New Orleans P.I. Clete Purcel are at it again. The commercial series that brought author James Lee Burke wide acclaim and commercial success, after a string of several very more "literary" works which failed to hit the charts, continues, if not con brio. And we continue to love to read Dave Robicheaux books, because we're hooked on Burke's inimitable page-burning style. And we're eagerly waiting the release of the movie version of one of Burke's finest Robicheauxs, "In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead" starring Tommy Lee Jones. But lately, as good as they still are, Dave and Clete's antics all seem to blur into one basic story. Burke does do a good job with continuity in his saga, and the locale of his second home in Montana (he also has one in New Iberia) ties one of the characters in "Swan Peak", a retired college professor, to a short story in Burke's recent collection "Jesus Out to Sea", which compares with his earlier and excellent "The Convict" collection. Also, there is a nice tie-in with Burke's third Robicheaux, "A Morning for Flamingos", which used the Montana locale for Clete's retribution against New Orleans gangster Sally Dio, involving the crash of an airplane which had sand poured into its gas tanks. As is not unusual for Burke, there are careless little factual errors here that go beyond artistic license -- in "Swan Peak" he states that former New Orleans mafia don Carlos Marcello was deported to Mexico -- when in fact it was to his native Guatemala. This is forgiveable, just as his post-Hurricane Katrina op-ed for the Los Angeles Times stated that Jack Kerouac for a time lived in "Bridge City" rather than the actual locale of Algiers across the river from New Orleans, some 40 miles away. Despite my tempered enthusiasm of the coninuation of this series, I still wouldn't miss the next Robicheaux, if there is one, for the world. This was by no means a bad book, just not a great one, which can be said of the last half-dozen books in the series. Other readers may be feeling the same way. Maybe it's just due to an imminent paperback release, but yesterday I saw a stack of about 50 or so copies of "Swan Peak" remaindered at $4.98. Perhaps it's not yet time for Dave and Clete to hang up their rock and roll shoes. What I'd really like to see from Burke is the release of his pre-Robicheaux New Orleans gangster novel, written in the wake of Puzo's "Godfather", the still unpublished "Underneath These Hills", which is a source for the later Robicheaux books. Carry on, Mr. Burke -- you're still kicking, and we're still reading. Three and a half stars.

You might think that, like some writers, by the time they get to their 17th novel based on the same characters, that the quality would diminish. However, this is Burke and Robicheaux and Clete as good as ever, if not better. I really enjoyed this book! The Montana location was a nice change of pace also.

Swan Peak finds James Lee Burke playing many of the same notes that he's played before but it's done so well it's hard to mind.

The big change in this book is the setting as we leave the big easy and move to Montana where both Dave and Clete have some history going back to the book "Black Cherry Blues".

Robicheaux and company are just trying to do some fishing but the plot lands on them quickly as both Dave and Clete get mixed up with some no good rich folks and the lackeys that work for them.

The villians are familiar to anyone whose read Burke but one character, a Texas prison guard, takes a path that has more shades of gray than I expected at first.

James Lee Burke is a master at crime fiction and some of his writing is so lyrical and beautiful that I'd make the argument that it expands genere fiction into the land of literature.

If your a fan your going to buy this book and you'll be well rewarded.

I cannot say loudly enough how much I enjoy reading James Lee Burke. Every new novel seems to be better than his last, and Swan Peak is no exception. (And I'm not saying this just because I'm from Louisiana.) In this book, I particularly loved:

- his pacing
- his character development
- his use of similes
- his dialogue
- his interweaving storylines

If you've never read Burke, do yourself a favor and give him a try (especially if you're from the South).

I would imagine if you took any 5 plebes at random one might find similar stories and experiences to one degree or another. Now, when you take these 5 who have made their mark, for better or worse, on the American Scene, things are bound to be somewhat jaded.

Coming from privileged backgrounds as a son of a congressman or of an admiral and grandson of another or from more humble roots, the story plays out pretty much the same.

The difference is in the slant.

Of the 5 main characters, only one would be considered a liberal. Jim Webb. Guess which of the 5 received the most favorable treatment, Jim Webb. To be fair, there were some passages where he is painted in a less than favorable light and his warts, insecurities and drama are exposed, for the most part, he gets a pass and some of his short comings are simply explained away.

While there are some sympathies offered the others, it was more in passing that an effort of parity. The author was kind enough to give his own, about three page review or so it seemed, on one of Webb's books. I am not sure if that was germane to the story.

While probably as factually accurate as any book of this kind, omission in favor of one character at the expense of others diminishes the value of this book.

Essentially, McCain is a flawed man who never grew up, Poindexter is a bookish introvert, McFarlane is a troubled individual and North is a sociopath mendacious loose-cannon. Then, there is St, Webb, A tortured, sensitive soul whose munificence knows no bounds.

Please.

A more ham-handed expose that treated all the same would have been far preferable to this thinly disguised paean to Jim Webb.

My other regret is that the time I spent reading this seemingly never-ending tome is time I will never get back.

amazing must read book.

first the writing is simply beautiful, from the choice of words, to hidden humor and subtle points to the really big ideas that make a life ruined by reading well worthwhile.

second, i have no idea what genre this book falls into. it is unique.
it is the well researched story of 5 men's lives, those most effected by the iran contra hearings. from the day they entered the US Naval Academy to the time of the hearings.

the hearings are just a chapter or so at the very end. it is how they got to where they were and even more importantly --who they are and what they had learned during their time in government service that makes the books both a pleasure for the eye and for the mind. it is very good history with a high level analysis of what is good about these men and what is bad and how choosing each path is important, in these cases not only for the men involved but for the country they serviced.

thanks to the author for a very pleasant and rewarding day spent reading...

This book was important when it was published and remains so today. It describes in detail key members of the Reagan administration and other prominent political figures. Some remain active today, e. g. John McCain, James Webb, Oliver North. Most interesting figure, in my opinion, was Admiral Poindexter. He was a brilliant man with a Ph. D. but commanded at sea and was apparently respected and liked by the sailors. In my opinion, it may be unusual for a CalTech PH. D. to be a down-to-earth commander of troops.

Lots of detail; well-researched; very interesting book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book's insights into these prominent graduates of the U. S. Naval Academy. I gained in-depth information about the subjects which I never saw covered in any other publication.

The "Nightingales's Song" is a remarkable story. I know three of the five characters, (McCain, McFarlane, and Webb), and truly admire them all. This book is a great piece of reporting, and is more relevant today than it was when it was first published. Admiral Jim Stavridis, still on the front lines of history, and a wonderful writer as well, said this book is a, "Greek tragedy," and is, "no more about Iran-Contra than 'Moby Dick' is about whaling." David Mamet who recommended this story to me and I both agree.

Previous reviewers have described this book as "life changing", and I don't know what I'm looking for in a book to change my life but it wasn't here. Yes the writing is beautiful at times, but at others didn't anyone find it sappy? There were white doves flying everywhere for crying out loud! I didn't feel I actually got in touch with any of the characters in a way which made me fond of them, with the possible exception of Sean and the lady at the post office bizarrely enough, and although to be positive I found the ending unique (it never actually ended, which I think may have been the point), this technique didn't do much to reward the reader for investing time and care into the pages. It is stereotyped to presume that novels set in Ireland are depressing, but if this is made a movie there'll be a lot of slow moving landscape shots with people standing alone in blowy jackets. About three letters too many, for mine, and if I was rude I'd say I'll give you four letters. 2.5 stars.

I read a borrowed copy of this book some years ago but never forgot it as I so often do. Recalling it recently, I decided that I must purchase it and see if it still resonated. Not disappointed, I once again devoured the parallel stories of these lovers. (They don't meet until near the end of the book!) The characters are so beautifully drawn and their stories so compellingly written, that the final chapters are deliciously satisfying. The descriptions of the Irish countryside and moody seascapes perfectly enrich this lovely tale.

Ireland forever. Although this story of love and faith has universal appeal, the story could only have happened in Ireland. Niall Williams is a new Irish voice. I want to hear his voice over and over again. I prayed for a happy ending to this story. I think you will too.

Four Letters of Love is not a perfect book - there are points where I, as reader, was a bit bored or thought the point was pushed a bit too far. However, parallel stories of a boy scarred by imperfect parents (first person) and a girl filled with guilt over her brother's illness (third person) are each interesting in their own right. Eventually, how the plot will finally pull the two threads together becomes a sufficient puzzle to keep you reading.

The brilliance of the writing is in what the author does not disclose. The boy's father leaves the family in order to paint - following God's instructions. The author leaves it to the reader and the son to discern what that means - it is presented simply as another fact to place in context. Similarly, the brother's illness (or accident) is never given a cause, diagnosis or prognosis. The sister is left to grapple with her guilt over an unknown without knowledge to justify or assuage the guilt. The boy and girl fall in love - but neither their meeting nor their choice of each other are in the text. Rather the effects of their meeting are shown. And a single paragraph informs the reader of their eventual choice of each other.

The result is a book that mirrors the ambiguities and unknowns of life. A book that allows for the miraculous, the spiritual, the concrete, the insane ... all the while depicting the best and worst life has to offer. The book follows several love stories with all the messiness of real love rather than a romantic, picture-perfect, happily-ever-after, sanitized and insured for life love.

This book is well worth your time.

Rich with metaphor and hyperbole, "The Four Letters of Love" is a poetic novel which explores man's relationship with God, with the creative force within himself, and with a beloved. Most compelling is Williams' portrayal of the narrator's father: does he "hear" God speak, and does this voice compel him to leave his family and create his beautiful artwork, or is he "mad", driven by some darker force? The connection between man's spiritual self and his creative self is a large and meaningful part of this novel, as is William's decision to tell two parallel stories: one as told by the first person narrator, whose father struggles with the voice of God and his own art, and the other a third person narrator who describes the life and struggles of an island family. Masterfully, Williams' weaves together these two stories, in a way that is a tribute to synchronicity and to the power of art.

The love story itself is a metaphor of how people can become enraptured in another and in the power of love itself. To counterbalance the tribute to love, Williams gives us an unforgettable character, Margaret Gore, who sees that her daughter has become the beloved of the narrator, and who knows that love, in her experience, means trouble. She is both good-hearted and cynical at once: will her thwarting of this love prevent the two lovers from connecting? Williams prose is intensely poetic in addressing love, calling to mind jani johe webster's collection of poetry "sound of a shadow" and the philosophical novel "Written on the Body" by Jeanette Winterson.

A most beautiful and powerful example of Williams' prose is this description: "He was burned to the very rim of his soul, his fingers tingled, his hair stood on end, and he moved from teh studios that was already alight with the beckoning of God. At last ther He was again. God had come to him. The immensity of the rapture and vision beggared everything, and momentarily my father flew through the air. He cruised on the immaterial lightness of the spirit world like a moth and arched esaily across the hallway, the thinness of himself now see-through and clear .... The heavenly chariot was stalled outside in midair above the garden, the steeds breathing the August air, their flanks rising and falling in recovery from the speed of the long journey and their swett falling in the form of apple blossoms."

Williams' prose and this novel are unusual: he combines poetry with straightforward prose: "There is no such thing as chance"; he weaves togther two stories and also poses philosophical questions as he writes on. To read this novel is truly to be on a literary and poetic journey.

Of all the parenting books I have, this is the only one I return to again and again. It's excellent counsel through and through, and you can hear the relaxed wisdom from a doctor who has been around a long time. Dr. Brazelton understands the way young children think and learn, and that informs his approach to them- always respectful, yet firm, reasonable, and loving. He addresses every stage of development by the child's age/main doc visits, which is so great. The book helps me to think about why my daughter does what she does, not just trying to stop her. I highly recommend this as part of every parent's parenting library.

indeed, essential reading!! for any parent who wants to understand their child (and most do), this is the book. it tackles this from a behavioral pov, and dr brazelton gives many, many examples found during his practice and clinical trials. very practical, and in many ways, comforting, becuase i go into parenthood feeling like i'm armed with much more understading of how my baby will develop, the touchpoints he/she will hit, why, and how they are best dealt with.

i love this book! it's my favorite of all the parenting books i've read.

Dr. Brazelton's books guided my through the first years of my son's life twenty-six years ago. His books continue to be my top choice as a gift for new moms. His advise is caring and practical and takes into account (broadly) the different types of personalities babies come with and how best to nurture and cope with the unique needs of each child.

I just love brazelton & sears when it comes to parenting advice...those are the two best Docs out there!!! IMHO.

If you need some guidance in child rearing this book is for yoU!!!

I bought this book along with a few others (what to expect when you're expecting, etc.) prior to having our first son. My wife and I have used it many times to help us out with difficult behaviors. When we reach a point with the kids where we're getting the same results no matter what we try -- we look it up in Touchpoints. In most cases, we've used the advice almost word for word (even the touchy-feely stuff) and the results have always been positive. The book always provides perspective from the child's point of view, which is very helpful. This one should be on the book shelf of any young child's parent.

Here's a highly readable account of the big cosmological picture as viewed at the end of a wild astronomical century. We now know that this universe is immensely bigger and almost immeasurably older than anyone remotely imagined back before 1900. Ferris is very good at explaining things. For example he elucidates why Kepler had such a ragged time trying to explain planetary motion -- he had the right concept for years, but persisted in attempting to fit the theory to perfectly circular orbits -- until he finally stumbled on the correct answer, elipses. Ferris points out that Kepler's problem was similar to calculating the bounce of a football by dribbling a basketball. Exactly! This tour is studded with such vernacular explications. Is Omega exactly 1? Do you care? Should you? Ferris reminds us that the cosmology of 1600 led to the American Revolution, among other incidentals. Cosmology matters, dudes. This is a good'un.

Tim Ferris is an accomplished and celebrated science writer; he certainly knows astronomy and cosmology. But I found his style of writing to not suit me well. "Lay" science books must "bring along" readers of all levels so explanation of the basics is de rigeur, but for readers like me who already have a pretty good foundation, Ferris' style is, um, verbose is not the right word. It takes a lot of reading to get to parts that are new and interesting.

Maybe it's not at all the author's fault and I just chose the wrong book? I much prefer John Gribbin's books; and Steven Weinberg's "First Three Minutes" is a much narrower topic whcih I found to be much more compelling.

A very good overview of the current state of cosmology (even if now almost a decade old). The author though puts his philosphy into a number of parts of the book - which can be quite frustrating at times (hence 4 stars and not 5). If you can walk through these or are of similar mindset this book is a very good place to start your education into cosmolgy. It has a very good index, glossary of terms and references at the back of the book, it is just a shame did not also include a list of books to read in short section at the end - rather than having to go through the references. But on the whole recommended.

This is a book on cosmology: the study of the universe, the speculation on its direction and future, what we know and how we know it. Ferris gives us helpful analogies. Well written, good style. Journey through this mind warp; you will shake your head in amazement.

Tim starts with the early thinkers: Aristotle and Eudoxus. He then moves to the obvious: the big bang, origins and creation. He discusses: a collapsing universe, redshifts, distances and ages of stars--the different methods of measuring, shape and makeup of galaxies and the universe, structure of space, and black holes. He ends with prose on the future, the possibility of e.t. life, and God.

Could there be multiple universes or infinite regression? What is dark matter?--what may be 99% of the rest of the universe. Can inflation change rate of expansion? Is the universe isotropic? Enter the weirdness of quantum physics. There are many paradoxes. Tim was doing good until he brought in the theory of cosmic evolution, especially organic. He does caution to what evolution means.

He is an evolutionist--stuck in his faith (which he admits to); and this leads to materialism, relativism and humanism. He will eventually turn full circle--to creation. Timothy finds himself in the same trap he tries to build for creationists. A big mistake is made in thinking that religion and science are not compatible. "The secular explanation also assumes that stars and galaxies can form from regions of high density. But this has never been observed. No galaxy has ever been observed to form at all." What of the second law of thermodynamics? Some knowledge will be left to the unknown--as secrets.

"The big bang today relies on a growing number of hypothetical entities, things that we have never observed--inflation, dark matter and dark energy are the most prominent examples. Without them, there would be a fatal contradiction between the observations made by astronomers and the predictions of the big bang theory. In no other field of physics would this continual recourse to new hypothetical objects be accepted as a way of bridging the gap between theory and observation. It would, at the least, raise serious questions about the validity of the underlying theory." [...]

Wish you well
Scott

Every year I read about 5 books about cosmology and physics. So I know what I'm saying: this book really is great.

Sure, it's about 8 years old, too old in cosmology. In particular, the discovery that the universe is accelerating has changed a lot of the questions that cosmologists contemplate. But even if you read a book that was published yesterday, it'll be out of date next month. So you have to either hang out in the physics lounge at Princeton, or accept that you're gonna be behind a bit. As it goes, I think that this book is so good that it's certainly worth reading even though it's a bit old.

I especially recommend this book if it will be your first book on cosmology.

I bought it because of the discussion of the structure in the universe: superclusters of galaxies, and beyond them to the sheets and bubbles that seem to be the largest structures in the universe. I'd been curious about these things, and never read a good account of them until this book. He covered it all, including reviewing our local intergalactic neighborhood, the Virgo cluster and supercluster, and the mysterious Great Attractor. He discussed the formations of galaxies and stars and planetary systems, including our own solar system. Not since Sagan's "Cosmos" had I read such an enjoyable discussion of this topic--the one that fascinated me so much as a child.

That's high praise.

But I was also surprised by how well other things in cosmology were explained. Of course the question of the geometry of the universe was well explained; even better, the discussions of inflation and Linde's chaotic inlation and multiverse were great. The issue of dark matter was very well covered. Relativity was explained well enough, and the world of quantum physics was explored enough to make the points Ferris wanted to make. (He didn't explain Smolin's black hole based multiverse, probably because it's a lot more speculative than Linde's inflationary multiverse.)

Every pop science writer has to simplify things, and at some point offer explanations that someone will consider inadequate. I thought his discussion of the principles of life on earth and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life were great, but they were probably a bit too brief for someone completely unfamiliar with the topic. I think a first-time reader would not understand several points in his description of quantum theory. But hey, when you're sure you don't understand quantum theory, that's evidently about as close as you'll ever get.

The same goes for his discussion of the anthropic principle and God. Now, actually I basically agree with Ferris' worldview (strong agnosticism), and I think his discussion of it was spot-on. But if I had to write it, I would have gone a bit more slowly, explaining things in a bit more detail. You can find among these reviewers some who criticize Ferris for saying that cosmology doesn't prove God's existence. Well, it doesn't. Ferris also explained that it doesn't disprove God's existence. But Ferris doesn't flatter theists as much as some other writers in the field.

All the same, the general discussion about the universe was great.

Incidently, if you're primarily interested in quantum physics rather than cosmology in particular, I recommend Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe." Not so well-written, but in greater depth is Nick Herbert's "Quantum Reality." If you're primarily interested in multiple universes, look at Smolin's "Life of the Cosmos" but especially at Guth's "The Inflationary Universe." And if you're interested in the end of the universe, I suggest Davies' "Last Three Minutes." And finally, although it's a bit dated in some respects, the best exploration of the theological implications of cosmology (which bothered some reviewers of this book so much) remains Paul Davies' "God and the New Physics."

If you haven't read about cosmology yet, get one of these books and enjoy it. Regardless of which one you choose, scientific cosmology is one of the most fascinating, mind and soul expanding topics in the world.

I read this book way back in 1974 when an old Army buddy Lt. Tom Couch told me to read it.
I am a Veteran of the War in Southeast Asia. I can attest to the happenings during my tour of South Vietnam. I quickly learned that the War as it was being played out during the years of 1971-1972 was a losing proposition. We were wasting all our assets for a Country who in truth wanted to be left alone.
Halberstam has set in cement his views of a conflict that was invented in the minds of the powers to be in Washington. LBJ was the actual catalyst in the venture. In retrospect LBJ reminds me of a fellow Texan George Bush who reacts the same way 30 years later. Think about that, it is a true comparison.
Although JFK had ventured into this Southeast Asian scenario, Halberstam feels that JFK would not have escalated this conflict. Maybe Yes, Maybe No!!
The hubris of McGeorge Bundy and Robert McNamara would rush LBJ into the War to end Communism in Southeast Asia. This is what LBJ wanted to hear. Damn the torpedoes, full ahead!!!!!!
In the meantime General Harkins was perpetuating a fraud on the U.S.A. in stating we controlled all the aspects of the Vietnam Conflict. He indeed did not tell the truth of the happenings in the fields of South Vietnam. We indeed were not winning.
Later General Westmorland continued this masquerade. The U.S. sent over 500,000 troops into the quagmire of Vietnam. These governing Whiz Kids in Washington were indeed wrong. So now Old Friend, please learn from this ignorance. The beat goes on. Do we ever really learn.
Halberstam understood way back in the 1960's, we also should learn that the best and the brightest really knew nothing!! They were wrong!!!
This is a great read and I rate it 5 Stars. If I could I would rate it 6 Stars. Bloody Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An excellent review of the origins and causes of the Vietnam conflict and a must read for the serious historian to understand the liberal, leftist viewpoint. To be fair in one's analysis however, the author's views need to be contrasted to a viewpoint from the right. A good comparative work is Vietnam at War: The History 1946-1975 by Phillip Davidson. Some where in between the views of these authors probably lies the truth.

The author tells us about the Vietnam War. This book is not about the battles or the people in the front lines, but about the people behind the war. Primarily he covers the American political actions that help create and expand the war. The book was completed in the early 1970s, so the war had not ended yet. The Pentagon Papers had been published, and the author uses them to good effect to solidify the understanding of the process put forth in the book.

There's a lot of good information in the book, with many short biographies of significant people in the decisions (as well as some with seemingly peripheral connections). While the general flow of the book is linear with respect to time, the continual interruption of the flow by the biographies (which go back and forth in time without regard to the general flow of the book) is somewhat annoying. The primary source for the book is a large number of interviews the author did with many of the people directly involved in the decisions.

If you enjoy books about politics, or the back office "whys" about how large enterprises come to pass, you will like this book.

This is an important book for anyone interested in how the US became inextricably involved in Vietnam. It holds pertinent lessons for the predicament in which the US now finds itself in Iraq. Unfortunately, the book requires a determined reader to plow through some 650 pages of close-spaced narrative, as the author frequently diverges on tangents that drift away from his main thesis points. A principal thrust of the book is the influence of key players on the decision-making process and their inter-personal relationships. Accordingly, there is substantial biographical information, which is interesting, but distracting. This is not a military history; very little mention is made of the operational and tactical aspects of the conflict.

I read this book for the first time over ten years ago and returned to it for the bitter relevancy it has as I reflect on our situation in Iraq today.

I wil never get sick of reading these things! These are classic stories that have finally been revealed for their cruelty to others... or not. I have to wonder just how serious Mr. Garner is as he writes these. The familiar stories are changed to how things would be if everyone was concerned with doing things with a healthy dash of PC. The result is hilarious, biting, and revealing into our overly PC culture. But if you don't want to do the analysis, read them for their humor.

The era of political correct humor has passed but...

These are still entertaining. If you want to develop a "politically correct" speaking style for humor or career advancement, you will not find a better primer. To learn how to speak without pointing your finger, you will still have to watch politicians. For that, I recommend old campaign debates by Senior and Junior Bush campaign footage.

A very quick read, I had a good laugh. Some of the word combinations are a little difficult even with a college degree. I would say that it deserves a rating of PG13 since there were some words that I would not want young children to read. The humor is dry and more British, some Americans would take offense at several references. I had a serious giggle.

Take some of the most beloved fairy tales and modify them (robotically) such that they can be deemed politically correct and what do you (author James Finn Garner) get: ridiculous, unfunny stories that can best be described as "annoying." Adjective modifications are simple and predictable: replace "poor eyesight" with "optically challenged," "short" with "vertically challenged," "stinky" with "odor-enhanced," "poor" with "economically disadvantaged," "cruel" with "kindness-impaired," and "hot" with "thermally enhanced." Plot changes are unoriginal and boring: the big bad wolf falls dead "from a massive heart attack from eating too many fatty foods;" the pigs "liberate their homeland," the witch and the prince team up to exploit Rapunzel's singing talent, the males at Cinderella's ball get into a fight, and an impotent prince, upon seeing (and thus becoming cured) the seemingly dead Snow White, requests of the "Seven Towering Giants" that he be allowed to "...take the cure..." (read - satisfy an attraction to corpses) with her (p 54). Thankfully, readers will not have to waste much time slogging through its seventy-nine short pages. Equally bad: Once Upon a More Enlightened Time. Many times better: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka, and Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne.

I had the pleasure of reading this one when it was first published in 1994 (now keep in mind, that was not that long ago...this is important). At the time I found the book to be hilarious. The author has taken a collection of some of our favorite bedtime stories, fairy tales, if you will, and rewritten them to make them "politically correct." Some of the stories the author has modified are Little Red Riding Hood, Chicken Little, Rumpelstiltskin, The Billy Goat Gruffs, Cinderella, The Frog Prince and Jack and the Beanstalk. There are more, but this gives you some idea of the content.

I recently reread this work. My, what a difference. While I still enjoyed the stories, I found them to be not quite as funny as I did during my first reading. I also read quite a number of the reviews that are posted here addressing this work, many of which are quite good, several drew different conclusions, and some were written by the clueless. I thought and thought on this matter, wondering why I did not snicker the same as before, then I realized....I, and apparently many others, have become completely or partially desensitized! It is not the author's fault, it is our fault and the fault (if fault it indeed is) of our society! What was simply funny in 1994, the satire used at that time, simply does not work as well today as it did then because so much of what was satirized at that time, has now become reality. We are use to the words "logically challenged" rather than simply "stupid." We actually have become the thing that the author was satirizing! This, for me, makes this book extremely interesting!

The author has done a very nice job of lampooning our politically correct society. As pointed out by several reviewers, yes, the author is indeed trite at times. The thing is, that when this work was first published, what is considered trite now, was not at that time. If you doubt this, then listen closely to the evening news for a few nights running. Now I do agree with a number of reviewers in that these stories should not be read all in one setting. Spread them out. Reading them back to back can be a bit of a chore and they do loose their effect.

Be-that-as-it-may, the book is well written, fun to read, and I think, even more to day than it was when it was first written, a reflection on us as a society. Poking fun at ourselves is healthy, poking fun at the way we act as a society is healthy. On the other hand, taking this work, and most others of this genre too seriously is not really all that good. Recommend this one highly. It is well written, well done and well worth the read.

Don Blankenship

If you're southern,you'll love this book. The characters jump off the page and become part of your life.

A thoushand thanks to Ms. Jackson for her beautiful work on Between, Georgia. It is brilliant and made me light up inside from the luminosity. The characters are endearing and I found them just a little bit scary as I am related to a good half of them. Between is so real I could flat out walk my way from Berneses's house to the Baptist church with my eyes squeezed shut. The story combines the perfect combination of plot and twist as to not make me any crazier than necessary. Ms. Jackson has landed a sharp harpoon right to the tender spot in my heart making me wonder if the copy I hold in my lap just might not be the deux ex machina intended for me! Hmmmmm?
Joshilyn Jackson's other books now sit atop my wish list and I cannot wait to get my hands on them. A. Binson

I read this book first and am so glad I did. Between was so funny and she writes with such a creative style. I so thoroughly enjoyed it, laughed out loud and absolutely could not put it down! People complained it was unrealistic - who cares - it's fiction - it was fun entertainment! She is a very gifted writer. She describes my own world so well - being from the other side of Atlanta from her and now living in Alabama as well!

I'm sure I'll be called a prude, but I don't usually like books with tons of locker-room language. Don't really see the point. Same with movies - they are just as good.......anyway, for anyone who cares, any occasional language didn't effect the story at all.

But when I read god's in Alabama, I had a hard time getting through it for that reason only.

And today, I finished The Girl Who Stopped Swimming. Again, it was so very well written. Not all that much language, but just tough, tough subjects. I applaud her for tackling these subjects. Although she invoked about every emotion that exists, which I guess is what defines a good author, I wish she will stick to the humor side of her giftedness. She is just so good with humor!! I love reading her Acknowledgments as much as the books because you can hear her very descriptive humor as if she were talking directly to you! Thank you for a fun read!

Loved this book! Characters had depth and were insightful! All of her books are GREAT READING!

I didn't want this book to end! I thought it was very well written and all in all a good book!!

I would recommend it!

If you are into self discovery and for thinkers, I got these recommendations from another writer, I read them and highly enjoyed them. These two books are easy to comprehend, and they are one of a kind. Check it out, they are also SKBF Publishing best selling books. Please don't just take my word for them. You can search inside them to see if you like them.
RUMI & SELF PSYCHOLOGY (PSYCHOLOGY OF TRANQUILITY)
and
SARA'S THERAY: THE WAY TO PURITY (A SESSION BY SESSION TALK OF AN ACTUAL THERAPY PROCESS OF SELF GROWTH).

If you haven't read a Chicken Soup book buy one NOW. When you find one that fits your life it is inspirational and comforting to read.

They definitely name this series correctly~It will comfort your soul while your read it.

Bring your Kleenex!

Merna

Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!

I love this book, it's a feel-good book and can be read in short bits and pieces, ideal for someone like me who doesn't get a great deal of spare time.

As CEO Coach, Poet and author of a leadership book that helps leaders unleash their genis, the genius of teams and the genius of corporations, I have found the stories in this book to be inspirational. Story telling preceeds the written word as a form of communication and as I tell my CEO's, is the best way to inspire people. This book is full of masterful stories. Additionally, Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield are doing good work in the world. They help people help themselves. Support them and their work by buying their books. Paul David Walker Unleashing Genius: Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations

Help sort out life's challenges; this book provides a basis for life's everyday choices and decisions and comfort for times of stress.