Montana Books

Mr. Stiller has completed a formidable task in combining the corporate, regulatory, and environmental viewpoints of Montana's mining history. This book provides a solid technical understanding of hard-rock mining (and its environmental aftermath) in Western Montana, yet it covers the historical development, operation, and degradation of the area in human terms as well. If you like the style of John McPhee, you'll appreciate this read. Just about anyone with a general interest in Western U.S. history, economic geology, or environmental policy as it applies to federal mining law, state regulation, or environmental remediation should appreciate Stiller's prose. I imagine that many similar texts could be written about numerous localities in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, etc. But, as a geologist myself, I also hope that this book will bring home some of the reality of mining's impacts in a country that so voraciously demands (and wastes) the finite resources of our earth.

Author Dave Stiller's book about hard-rock mining in Montana is a story full of the history of men's migration to the west to find their fortune in the elusive mountains and hills of mineral ores. At the same time it is well tempered to lead us through the often colorful federal and state political scene that played such an important part in mining development. It is also about mining's true risks, rewards, frustrations, and as well about good old-fashioned work ethic. It is one fine read.

Stiller's description is clear, easy to understand and most educational for the uninitiated in mining terminology. Those looking for a human story will not be disappointed. His character analysis of George and "Rosie" Kornec penetrates deeply into our desires and emotions to see them gain an upper hand in their struggle. Stiller's delivery stays fair and impartial as he explores the drives and motivations of the environmentalists versus the major mining corporations. His style touches on that of John McPhee with a little Colin Fletcher thrown in from time to time. In the end, after all the ups and downs at the Mike Horse Mine, after the clean-up appears to be in order, the reader realizes just how well Stiller has brought us through this complex subject and how well he stayed focused. Certainly we leave this book with our own hope that considerably more attention will be paid on a continuous basis to the other 500,000 neglected mines in the west needing similar action.

The map is beautiful and (reasonably) accurate, but its small scale limits its use for hiking. Many of the contours are so closely spaced, faint, or interrupted by text that they are nearly useless. The publishers tried to squeeze the entire national monument onto one map sheet, which makes for a good overview and planning map, but a poor hiking map.
Unfortunately, you have rather limited options, at least when it comes to paper maps: The USGS 7.5 minute topo sheets are great, but they don't show the trails, local hiking maps are hit and miss (some can be great). State-wide mapping software that lets you print customized hiking maps might be the way to go, but I haven't tried them yet.

This map is part of the Trails Illustrated series covering many national parks. These are all sturdy and convenient.

Your map choices are essentially this one, the National Park Service map, and USGS topos. The NPS map is fine if you're staying at Rock Harbor Lodge and doing light day activities from that base.

If you're backpacking, or doing long day hikes, the Trails Illustrated map is absolutely essential because the USGS topographic maps are outdated. For example, the topo shows a no-longer-existent East Feldtmann trail on the southwest part of the island.

The topo also shows inaccurately the trail that goes over White Oak Ridge in the same area. The Trails Illustrated map shows the trails correctly.

This map also shows (1) group and individual campsites and (2) distances between trail junctions that accord with the NPS signage. Both features make it useful for planning your trip.

I really, really wanted to like this as I love religious fiction and those titles dealing with end times in particular though. There is no getting around it, however - this is one of the most poorly written books to have ever been published, period.

I love this book. I had to force myself to but it down so I don't read though it all at once. I find that the characters are very real, and other than the initial event (the Rapture) all of the following events sound realistically possible (in a novel). I have read many negative reviews from Christians denouncing that it doesn't exactly follow the Bible. And from others saying that it's nothing but religious evangelicalism. To all of those I say "It's a novel". It's fiction. It doesn't have to follow other sources and the writers can say what they want.
To me it is a perfect mix, not too far out there and not too much preaching.
I would recommend it to anyone interested. If you don't like the first book then don't read the rest.

If you want soap opera-style melodrama with a "Christian" twist, then maybe this series is for you. If you want the truth, then keep right on walking. I have studied Bible prophecy for the past 40 years, and though I do lean toward a belief in a "catching away" of believers (rapture) and a seven year tribulation on earth, this book is about 10 percent truth and 90 percent total balderdash. There is no reason to get so wrapped up in something that will not happen the way the authors describe. What we as Christian believers are to do is to live our lives loving the Lord and our fellow man and leave the rest to Him. I'm sorry I read this book, it was a waste of my precious time that could have been spent doing something productive.

The Rapture and biblical prophecy are fascinating subjects that could be the basis for a roller coaster modern story. Unfortunately the authors dilute the potential with long, boring, inconsequential text. I trudged through the first 2 books, then finally threw in the towel on the 3rd after reading a *chapter* describing a traffic jam! The best of this series could be distilled to just a few books but, keeping with the theme, it's already too late...

I have no idea why this book has been acclaimed by so many people-- even by many Christians-- as a great work of literature. The plot is weak and chock-full of bland, superfluous details. Buck's part of the story is particularly uninteresting. There are just too many things going on all at once. His part of the story gives us the specifics of how he plugged in his computer to an outlet and how his subconscious waking system didn't work one day when he wanted to get up at 8 and instead woke up 45 minutes later.

I also believe that the end-times view this book supports has no biblical backing, though this is not the reason why I gave this book only one star. I hold to the Postmillenialist viewpoint and would love to have a discussion if you have any questions/arguments about this particular viewpoint or end-times in general. (In the comment section, I have posted a short paper about end times.)

What I enjoyed most about this novel was Mr. Guterson's facility with descriptive language. I just loved the snow storm--though I also thought he had his characters moving around in it entirely too much--and I liked his casually elegant way of getting into his characters' heads and hearts to explain their histories.

So why only 3 stars? Because I was ultimately unconvinced by the book. By that, I mean that he wasn't as successful as he should have been in intertwining the book's themes of war, family, and racism (especially the latter). By the time the book ended, I didn't much care about the outcome. That's why I wasn't bothered by its truncated, too easy ending. The event that facilitates the ending was extremely contrived, and even drawn out too much.

Mr. Guterson has some serious talent, though. This book just didn't awe me as much as I thought (based on other reviews) that it would.

The clearest thing I'll take away from my reading experience of "Snow Falling on Cedars" is simply how fast it took me to race through it. I like to take my time reading books - especially if I find them enjoyable - but I found myself speeding through the chapters of David Guterson's debut novel at an alarming rate. It was nearly impossible to put down thanks to the clear yet sophisticated prose, the intriguing and well-paced "whodunit" aspect of the story and the slow unraveling of both the minds and motivations of the characters, which is exceptionally well done. So yes, I definitely recommend this book!

When the novel first opens, we are introduced to a range of people living on San Piedro, an isolated island in the Pacific South-West. All somewhat enigmatic at first - to the reader, as well as each other - we are gradually drawn into their lives, childhoods, relationships and personalities, as the community is drawn together over a particularly controversial murder case. Kabuo Miyamoto is on trial for the murder of the well-respected fisherman and war veteran Carl Heine, due to bad-blood between the two men, and the fact that Miyamoto was (by his own admission) the last man to see Heine alive, out on his fishing boat.

But it soon becomes clear that there is more to this trial than first appears: it is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and there is an unspoken assumption that Miyamoto's Japanese heritage jeopardizes his chances of being acquitted. A large pile of evidence speaks out against Miyamoto, and his stoic demeanor does not help matters either, despite fighting on the side of the Allies in the War. From this starting point, Guterson draws in a wide range of characters related to the case: wives and family members of both the accused and the deceased, lawyers, witnesses, community members and figures from the past. Most prominently is the character of Ismael Chambers, a journalist investigating the case, who has his own particular link to Miyamoto - or rather, Miyamoto's wife Hatsue, a young woman who in her teenage years chose duty to her people and culture over a love affair with Ishmael. Embittered by her rejection and his experiences in the war, Ishmael cuts himself off from the people around him. Yet Ishmael discovers certain facts pertaining to the case that have a tremendous bearing on its outcome - should he choose to share them.

Guterson draws on the racial hysteria against Japanese-Americans during World War II, and the American government's decision to force Japanese citizens into interment camps for the duration of the War as the historical background for this novel. All over the island of San Pierdro runs distrust and suspicion, as well as bitterness in many Japanese families for the lack of support shown by their neighbours during their deportation to the mainland, and the fact that when they returned home, their lands and jobs had been lost. The main irony of the piece is of course that Carl Heine himself is of German descent, and therefore just as worthy (or rather, unworthy) of suspicion and prejudice as any Japanese citizen on the island.

It seems a shame to give away too much of the tapestry of relationships, prejudices and intrigues that go on in the small island community, as most of the enjoyment derived from this novel is discovering and sorting them out by yourself. There's always more than meets the eye to every single character, and no one is entirely faultless, nor entirely innocent during their lifetimes. Most poignantly of all is the theme of `chance versus choice' that runs throughout the story. Whether it be the war, a particularly nasty snow-storm or other impersonal forces, all of the characters are seemingly thrown to the winds of fate. When entities like prejudice and racism become so large that they cloud judgment and become a way of life, what hope do individuals have to overcome them? Guterson attempts to answer this question through the use of the courtroom drama and the personal lives of his protagonists, and manages to make the answer both optimistic and bittersweet, particularly in his final paragraph.

There are only two more things I need to note: first that San Piedro itself is brought to life through Guterson's poetic-prose, which is as beautiful as you'd expect from a book titled "Snow Falling on Cedars." The island becomes a character in its own right, in all its natural beauty: the scent of the cedar trees, the vast strawberry fields, the markets and enclosed houses - it's all there. Second is the characterization of Hatsue Miyamoto, who is potentially the most intriguing and important figure in the entire book. Guterson has no trouble characterizing a member of the opposite sex, and Hatsue holds a fascinating place within the novel, as a young woman caught between her regard for the white Ishmael and her loyalty to her own culture and upbringing. As a young girl she struggles with her appearance and her restlessness, and even though she manages to find a sense of serenity in her adulthood, we get the sense that she will always be striving between her desire to be an individual, and to take what is deemed her rightful place in her culture's society. Even though she does breaks Ishmael's heart during the course of the story (disrupting what many would consider a classic "star-crossed" romance), yet we are never led to despise her for this - in fact, we sympathize with her decision and understand it. In short: she's wonderfully complex and layered - much like the rest of this novel.

A very powerful book, the kind you remember. A fascinating study of the tragedy that is racism. Brilliant.

Compelling and hard to summarize, this book struck me most for its amazing organization and its beautiful prose. Set on a fictitious Island, this book examines post WWII prejudice against Japanese Americans, covers a murder trial, and examines love and passion. The only fault I had with it is that at some times the descriptions of the things going on in the book struck me as a bit perverse.

What amazed me about this book was the way the story was told. It's kind of a courtroom drama, kind of a romance, and very much a commentary on the state of a torn and divided nation after World War II. On the North end of Puget Sound there was a murder and the accused, Kabuo Miyamoto is a friend turned enemy of Carl Heine, now deceased.

The way it's told is the magic, as I alluded to earlier. It's like peeling layers on the silent man, Miyamoto and the entire island of San Piedro. Each person involved in the trial reveals their history and their secrets as uncovered by the narrator, newspaperman Ishmael Chambers. At first these secrets are far from the murder and the accused, but they throw a wide net and it tightens masterfully as David Guterson weaves a beautiful story. The two families go back, way back. Their stories are difficult and run through Japanese interment camps and bloody battlefields to end up on fishing boats and in strawberry fields.

Besides a tight, intricate plot, the setting is described perfectly - the smells, the tastes, the sounds of the Washington Coast. It's hard to believe that this is a first novel, it's that good.

- CV Rick, March 2008

Has there ever been a person who did not wish For One More Day with a deceased loved one? This little book is a bit of wish fulfillment that is filled with hope and love. Charley Benetto is fortunate enough to get one more day with his deceased mother, as he lay dying in the grass after a botched suicide attempt. His mother teaches him lessons that help him to turn his broken life around, allowing him to reconcile with his daughter and begin leading a productive life. This is a wonderfully-intriguing story that is cleverly fashioned and highly recommended.

I would recommend this seller to anyone. This book was in great shape and it came in no time.

This book was so wonderful! I read it in one sitting and then cried when it was over. I am no basketcase; it is just that good. I recommend it to anyone with a mother and a heart.

Writers love books that inspire and force them to write, but certain books do more than inspire. These force you to study what the novelist did and train your eye for technique. For One More Day does all this.

The plot tells a universal tale about family and regrets--about the things you wish you did and those things and words you wish you could take back. Minor themes in the work became major insight that surprises and delights readers.

I wish I wrote this book. I will buy this Mitch Albom's other works because writing like this makes you a fan for life. Buy it and get ready to call your mother so you can tell her you love and appreciate her while you can.

I did. No regrets.

Wolfe

I read this book for a book club meeting and must say that our group discussion turned out to be more interesting than the book itself. I read this book and couldn't help but see this grown man's attachment to his mother as a little abnormal. It seemed as if he contstantly pined for her as if he were still a little child. Although this story was told from his point of view, I actually related more with the mother - her pain, struggles and fears that he never saw while he was growing up. It was an okay read but may be a bit more interesting if you have people to discuss it after.

This is interesting, especially now that Bush has stated a desire to once again kill off wolves that have been reintroduced. This book gives me a desire to visit this area. Living in the Northeast the ranching world is so different from what I am used to.

This book was not very deep but it was interesting and I got involved in the story.

This is a good book but so sad. Almost sad enough to say that I didn't like it. But I did like it but being a wolf lover it was so hard to read. It's so sad to know that there are people that would really want to destroy wolves.

Helen Ross is a wolf biologist that is called in to track and tag several wolves near an area of Hope, Montana. Dealing with her own inner demons (dumped by her boyfriend who ran away to volunteer in Africa, torn that her father is marrying a younger woman)

Evans brings a great cast of characters into the world of Hope. Anti-wolf rancher (and aged romantic rogue) Buck Calder and his introverted 18 year old stuttering Luke.

These characters are set against the current controversy about reintroducing wolves into the West.

I could *feel* the Montana wilderness in Evans prose. The characters all had depth, even the 'villans.' Scenes are well detailed and pictured.

You will get lost in this book. I have already lent it out.

Highly recommended.

This is a must-read, and also I found it very educational as well about the lives of wolves.

The story begins with Helen Ross, just turning 29 years old and is a wolf biologist. She has a sister Celia who is married, and Helen herself is on the verge of a big break-up with Joel, her current lover. Her father who is divorced from her mom, is 56-years-old, and fell madly in love with a young woman of only 25 years of age. Helen is livid about this whole situation, and can't see having a stepmom younger than she is.

When Helen's new assignment comes up, of traveling to Montana to tag and collar the wolves, she gladly accepts it along with her colleague Dan Prior. She is assigned to stay in a cabin while completing her assignment of tracking the wolves, and there on that ranch meets up with Buck Calder, of whom is nothing but a womanizer and anxious to get rid of the wolves, along with Abe Harding, a very sadistic man, and Lovelace, who created what is called, the "loop," where the wolves are trapped by a method of ensnaring them so that they die. This is against the law in Montana. But since the ranchers are tired of these wolves killing their farm animals, they will stop at nothing to put an end to it-and even the collared ones-which when killed leave a track back to Helen. There are neighborhood fights over this during the whole book, and Abe Harding gets sentenced to jail for a long time. Lovelace hasn't yet been discovered-at least not until later on.

Buck Calder is very sadistic-especially with Luke, his 18-year-old-son with a severe stuttering problem. He and his wife Eleanor tragically lost his favored son Henry in a car accident with his grandfather, and Henry always came up on the short end of the stick. Buck is also having affairs with Ruth, Helen's friend, along with other women. Eleanor knows about this secretly.

Helen and Luke form a very special bond in the story, and the two actually fall in love. But of course, since Luke is only 18, this is cause for a lot of talk within their community there. He is her partner in wolving, and reguardless of what anyone else says, their relationship continues. Luke's father though, confronts him with it at the supper table one night, and Luke stands up to his dad for the first time ever. He is kicked out of the house, but then at that point, Eleanor is sick and tired of Buck's abuse and unfaithfulness, and leaves with her son too. Eleanor is totally on Luke's side, and though there is a difference in age of course between Helen and Luke, she completely supports their romantic intentions.

I highly recommend this book, and found it hard to lay down.

Nicholas Evans has more than redeemed himself with this novel as I hated the Horse Whisperer. This book involves a likeable protagonist in Helen Ross who is a wolf biologist that gets called by her exboyfriend to help him save endangered wolves in Hope, Montana, and she finds more adventure and danger than she'd ever anticipated in her wildest dreams.

A wolf has killed a labrador retriever on Clyde Hicks' property, probably never intending to hurt his baby son, but it starts a community war in the destroying or preservation of all the wolves in the area. More threatening than Clyde is his father-in-law, politically active and philandering egotist Buck Calder. He and his friends are as passionate to destroy the wolves over things their guilt can't be proven as Helen is to save them from the local ranchers' ignorance. Meanwhile, Helen also becomes involved with Calder's son Luke, who has a stuttering problem, but proves himself to be ten times the man his father is.

This time, Evans' female protagonist Helen is smart, empathetic, resourceful, witty, and extremely likeable as is young, gentle Luke who falls for her. Calder's long suffering wife Eleanor and his mistress Ruth, who become good friends, are very likeable characters as well.

There are many layers and stories inside the main story, all told with acute sensitivity and rapturous, if sometimes violent, beauty. This time I'm also pleased to see Evans give lots of attention and detail to the wolves and their real behavior as opposed to the ranchers' superstitious beliefs. He often discribes some brutal scenes, but they are always factual rather than gored up or painted over with pleasant colors. Highly and emotionally charged, this is a book that will change your views about wolves and also about human nature. I cried a few times, and that doesn't happen very often when I read a book, save for Roseanne Bittner's Song of the Wolf. From the beginning, I couldn't put this one down and, if you like very well written books of this style, neither will you. This one is now a new favorite!

Very thought-out book. I believe the author may have posted new thought to B.S psychology. No real new discoveries except for his interpretations of the complexity of the human mind, some ideas I question.

I gave Mr. Goleman only one star due his lack of composition skills ... give this text to the commom layman would only produce boredom. His writing is riddled with technical jargon and complex analysis (some which have no scientific preface). I nearly fell asleep reading the book, myself. His writing style wins no awards for appeal, dynamic, or readability; otherwise, his idea and analysis are interpretations which really does not proof emotional human output - every human response differently to different situations in life.

In this book the author manages to shine some light on an interesting topic which, unfortunately, is not getting enough attention especially in schools and universities. The best thing about the book is that every claim the author makes is backed up with a scientific experiment or a practical example from the real world. The bottom line is that if you have enough experience and knowledge, you may get the job, but in order to advance, or even keep your job, you should have emotional intelligence. Some of the things in the book are common sense, but the author shows us how much they really affect our performance.

Daniel Goleman strikes again with this interesting book about Emotional Intelligence. Ever wondered why Einstein could discover e=mc² but couldn't organize his own family? This book has the answers for you.

Emotional intelligence is probably a very deciding factor in success. It is however by far more difficult to measure someone's EQ instead of IQ so you just have to trust the writings and go ahead with the knowledge. There's a lot being offered within the book and if you want to get ahead of the crowd there's even another book 'Emotional Intelligence in Action'.

The reason why I deducted one star is because something else is missing as well. There are certain people with average IQ and EQ who still excell at something because they are just 'streetwise'. Put that in the mix and you will have a very good understanding of what intelligence does.

Daniel Goleman's book Emotional Intelligence (1995) is a well written and researched study of the role emotions play in people's personal lives, and the effect that incompetent emotional management has on society. Goleman uses many individual examples to illustrate his point that emotional illiteracy (the inability to read emotions and respond appropriately) is both devastating and costly. Broken marriages, depression, domestic abuse, isolation, eating disorders, crime, alcoholism, and drug abuse are all in some way the end result of people's emotions gone awry. How can anyone possibly maintain a healthy outlook on life if their emotions are constantly getting the best of them? Goleman uses terms like:

Emotional flooding: When someone is overwhelmed by another's negativity and their own reaction to it. They become swamped with dreadful and out-of-control feelings. Their perception becomes negative and distorted. They find it hard to organize their thoughts and fall back on primitive reactions like striking back or running away.

Emotional hijacking: a neural takeover by a rush of emotions causing an outburst. "Blinded by rage", "a slave to passion", "scared to death", and "uncontrollable laughter" are examples of emotional hijackings. A person in this state loses their sense of reason, and emotions build on emotions causing a loss of control.

Misattunement: The misattuned person doesn't read his own or other's emotions effectively. They don't recognize or acknowledge their own feelings, and they're oblivious to other's emotional states. It's as if another person's feelings don't exist at all. We all know people like this. The lonely genius who only cares about others when they benefit him or mentally challenge him. The aggressive smart aleck who thrives on making others feel uncomfortable. The distracted mother whose children have become unwanted responsibilities. The driven workaholic who denies himself and represses his emotions. The misattuned person doesn't make a lot of effort to get in touch with what others are feeling, and he just isn't much fun to be with. It is possible, however, for him to make adjustments to increase his EQ, improve his social skills, and get in touch with his own emotions through emotional relearning.

Empathy is the key to Emotional Intelligence. Knowing how others feel unlocks the doors to compassion, self-control, adept social skills, and to becoming a well-adjusted and happier person. Without empathy there is no real love, and life is lived purely for self-gratification. Empathy allows us to care for others and to live with a certain degree of morality.

Being in touch with our own emotions is also an important part of Emotional Intelligence. Understanding our own intentions and feelings helps us to focus on what's really important to us, keep expectations realistic, and prevent negative emotions from controlling our point of view and destroying our lives.

Even though Emotinal Intelligence isn't a self-help instructional manual, it certainly can be helpful to learn new strategies for self-control, getting to know yourself better, improving your relationships, becoming more successful, and learning to be a little more understanding of others. All of which make the world a better place.

This is an inspirational and informative book on emotional intelligence; on our rational and emotional minds and why it is very important to our careers, our relationships and our destiny.

This insightful book examines emotional intelligence in an easy to follow and understand format which makes the book useful to a wide readership. The book pragmatically examines what emotional intelligence is all about and what it can achieve for individuals and organisations. The author methodically explains how the rational and emotional minds can effectively work productively together. As I go up the corporate ladder, it is critical to know how to manage my emotions so that I can relate better with others.

Dr Goleman is both a good writer and an original thinker. This is not just an academic book but also one that looks at the whole aspect of emotional intelligence to see how it "fits in" with all aspects of life. The book examines all the relevant issues and provides sound, sensible advice succinctly.

The book changed the way I look at life and relate with people. As an engineer, I used to believe in the power of logic and reasoning in all my dealings with people, be it at work, in the home and in relationships. I considered emotions as irrelevant or for those that are intellectually challenged. How wrong was I. Now that I am a bit more enlightened, from lessons learnt in this wonderful book, I am a better self. I realise that emotional issues affect the way people work, their motivation, satisfaction and productivity and affect the quality of relationships among spouses or friends. I am now a much happier and more effective manager and therefore recommend this book strongly to anyone who wants to live a happier and successful life.

This book seems a little less dramatic. Perhaps because politicians are a target of terrorists? Harvesting the fruits of bad labors if you ask me. Otherwise, a truly enjoyable book. The storyline is just a little less punchy.

Vince Flynn pens another thriller starring Mitch Rapp, something of a superhero type of CIA clandestine agent. In this case, Rapp and his crew take down international financiers, corrupt politicians and other movers and shakers. The story is stimulating and is a page-turner, even though it has a predictable course from begining to end. Everything seems to work out a bit too smoothly for Rapp who does it all with ease. This is an entertaining book but lacks the element of suprise or mystery.

I'll explain the review's title in a minute. First, having finished all of Lee Child's books, I was looking for something to keep me occupied until "superman" Jack Reacher emerges again from Child's imagination. I found
Vince Flynn and Reacher's counterpart, Mitch Rapp. The difference is that Child deals in a broader arena of crime while Flynn is political.

Normally, I don't like political novels. I get enough politics in 2008 from the news. But Flynn has tapped into the depths of my willingness to accept conspiracy theories, and he's got me! While I highly recommend "Act of Treason," I would suggest you start with earlier books - though I admit that I haven't read any yet. However, there is a distinct feeling that this is an "interim" book, one that is begging for a sequel. As enjoyable a read as this was, I was a little disappointed with the end and had the feeling that I was in the middle of a serial, waiting for the final chapters. Still, this was, not to be trite, a page-turner and in 2008 enough to give one a sense of foreboding.

The best thing is that there is now a continuation of my reading history from Saunders and Sanders to WEB Griffin to Child to Flynn with a few Parker thrown in for bad measure.

I've already ordered three more Flynn novels. I haven't enjoyed Grisham since his second novel; I never cared for Dan Brown. Anybody have other recommendations knowing now that Saunders, Sanders, Child and Flynn are at the top of my reading lists?

(Warning to conservatives with no sense of humor: this review contains satirical material and irony, however bald and slimy. Get over yourselves. And yes, I did read it!)

This wet dream for the right wing is just plain silly. Another Good Guy with a name that sounds like a cough. He's so tough, he's even tougher than that hot female secret service agent who whips all the NORMAL secret service wimpy guys in martial arts. Now, that's tough!

The bad guys are Democrats, one of which had the philandering wife of his running mate rubbed out (good riddance -- she's as bad as that woman who messed around with Newt Gingrich! Oh, wait -- he divorced his wife and married that woman!). This Dem is so unbelievably nefarious that he leaks secrets (Just like that . . . that . . . that treasonous JERK who leaked CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity to that liberal commie at CNN) to the incredibly biased New York Times (almost as bad as that pinko outfit Fox News that reported on Obama's energy plan that urges people to save energy by keeping their tires full of air, then immediately after the story advertised how to get an "Obama's goofy energy plan" tire gauge for a $25 donation to the Republicans! Alert!! Media bias!!)!!!

Fortunately for the free world, our hero manages to convince the American people that torture is OK, having put together a really convincing Power Point presentation that his boss at the CIA shows on TV. After that, he's free to just kill most of the rest of the bad guys, you know, just kind of walk up and shoot them. Woo hoo! America rocks! And he's a good shot, too! Kind of wish we'd done that to that evil nefarious guy who spread anthrax around after 9/11, what was his name, Steve Hatfill -- no, wait, he didn't do it! Shoot! Or wait, DON'T shoot!

Don't read this. This is a ridiculous book. Read John LeCarre instead -- oh, wait, Liberals aren't supposed to read LeCarre, so only read him if you're a Conservative. OK?

I just finished this novel. The storyline is good & well played out. I like the ending. It comes together well with no loose threads. The Mitch Rapp character is always entertaining in Flynn's books. The only negative I have is the characters are the absolute best in everything they do. A bit over the top in that respect. All in all, it's a good solid novel

I read it years ago but would totally recommend it. if you like this, try Mary McGarry Morris & Larry Brown.

A twelve-year-old boy recounts a tragedy involving an uncle and a Native American woman in this story about racism, family loyalty and the quest for justice. Wes, an attorney by schooling, is the sheriff of a small town situated near an Indian reservation. He lives under the shadow of his controlling father who favors the sheriff's brother, a war hero and doctor. Their Native American nanny and housekeeper's fearful reaction to a house call leads to an informal investigation into allegations that come to light because of it. Family relationships become increasingly strained following the woman's suspicious death as the actions and intentions of the sheriff, his wife, brother, father, recovering alcoholic neighbor deputy, and other community members conflict. How far is one willing to go to protect family, defy loved ones, obtain justice? The book is short, the writing, plain and to the point, the plot, mostly believable, but putting it in the same league as To Kill a Mockingbird is an unjustified. Although a good choice for book club discussions, otherwise average. Better: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I read this book in one sitting. His characters were fascinating and his depiction of a the small Montana community was excellent... and almost 60 years after this story takes place, some things are still the same.

This is a beautiful and concise novel which you will want to read in one sitting. From the first sentence the narrator engages the reader in a timeless story in which family allegiances and social justice are in conflict. It is gratifying to read a book which is at the same time spare and rich. It is written with skill and economy of words. The story and characters ring true and remain with the reader. Highly recommended.

This short novel joins the ranks of a number of other fine books about adult dilemmas told from the point of view of a young protagonist. In this case, it is a 12-year-old boy whose father, the sheriff in a small Montana town, must make a moral choice that will either see justice done or allow the guilty party, a member of their family, to go free and unpunished. As I read this book, I was reminded of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Both set in a bygone era in a small town, where the law is different for whites and non-whites, each story follows a similar course of action with rising tension and conflicts that leave a man standing alone, guided only by his own sense of the right thing to do.

Watson writes with a gentle hand, as in his other stories ("Justice" and "White Crosses"), and you come to care very much for his characters. He captures a time and place and the social life of people leading ordinary lives on a windswept prairie. It's also about a kind of loss of innocence, as the young narrator learns dark secrets about good and evil in an adult world he is about to enter himself.

I've read several "for Dummies" books, and in general the entire series is well written, concise, and gives you what you really need. However, I was very disappointed in this one. The book is really dedicated to the three methods of building wealth: equity (stocks, mutual funds, etc.), real estate, and small business. But there isn't enough info on any of the three subjects to do much with. You're better off getting a separate book on real estate if you plan on pursuing that. And nothing he says regarding small business is of much use to accomplish anything. That leaves stocks, bonds and mutual funds, which is what most users would purchase this book for. Regarding that, if you are completely new to mutual funds then this is the book for you as it will explain the basics. However, if you are beyond the very basics (i.e.; "What is a mutual fund?"), and are looking to seriously invest, then I think you'll be disappointed. And if you are looking to get into buying stocks directly, then this book seriously falls short. The entire section on stocks really just explains a canned stock report from a given company. Utterly useless unless you plan on subscribing to that service. No talk of forward PE's, valuation, etc.. Also, the author's continual insistence that you should stay in mutual funds because you "can't beat the market" since there are so many pros out there is utterly ridiculous. There are many gurus out there that have proven track records of generating higher than average returns. Just emulating Warren Buffet's portfolio will do that.

I was looking for a book to dig more into stock valuation, company analysis, etc. and this book barely even touched on any of that beyond definitions. I wouldn't even call it Finance 101, since there is very little about monetary policy, bonds, interest rates, etc.. If you've picked out at least one mutual fund in your life (or purchased a stock directly), then this book is way too simple. If you tremble at the thought of picking a mutual fund and have no financial sense whatsoever, then this is your book.

I bought this for my daughter, who is taking this a college course.
She seems to be happy with it. She asked for this book it as the instructor told her she needed it for the class. Sorry I can't give you more info but I am sure it's a good book.

Kathy in Las Vegas

Great service. Condition of book was stellar and it was delivered in a very timely manner.

I wanted to start investing and read somewhere you should first do some studies. That's when I came across this book. Very well written, and in simple to understand language. I used to dread 401K, IRA, Mutual Funds, Bonds. Now I am confident I know about them and what I am investing into.
Showed new ways to look at debts, as to if I clear my debt sooner, I am investing in something which gives be interest equal to the interest I pay the bank.

I would recommend this book to all who want to get into investing but are hesitant or don't know where to get information from.

This is a clear and concise book for people like myself who are starting to look closely at investing and it gives very good advice and assumes that the reader has no knowledge of investing (true in my case). It warns of the pitfalls as well and can be read straight thru, or by any chapter that you wish to know more about. I would recommend this book to the beginner.