United States Books

I love Camryn Mannheim and her book. I'd give this a 4.5 if I could, because since she wrote the book, she's lost quite a bit of weight and puts the reasoning for it on being a mother.

I hated it when Carnie Wilson went from being a NAAFA member and spokesperson for loving yourself at any size to being obsessed with being thin. She's admitted to lying about why she had WLS and has made a snootful of money pimping it to others. She has been a major factor in the deaths of hundreds of (mostly) women who didn't make it after the surgery and her recommendation of it.

And I am very saddened by Mannheim's abandonment of her principals of fat-acceptance and the people who have supported her and her book.

Isn't there anyone out there who will stay committed to the cause and not cave in when someone runs some cash under their noses or threatens their career if they don't lose weight?

Ack. Love the book. Disappointed in Mannheim today.

I just happened into a copy of the book when I had a little time to kill, then I could hardly put it down. I enjoyed the book and the many reviews that have been written here. I normally write reviews on obscure books where there are only a few, if any, reviews so this is different for me and I doubt if i have too much to add. Beyond the self acceptance theme that has been much reviewed (I have fat issues and support Camryn's views (mostly)), I liked the book on many other levels. Of course I liked the humor and human interest of growing up in America. The struggle for success story is good too. I especially liked the unconventional approach to the book itself. Frnakly, I did not much the Cammy--fat dialogs, but I liked many of the other, unusual things like asides and notes to herself and others throughout. There were other quirky approaches that I really liked too. I really like the book and recommend it highly.

After reading the past reviews, I wonder if I'm the only man who read this book. The first thing that caught my eyes, I'll be honest, was the cover picture. Camryn is a gorgeous woman with very nice legs. She is also a person of deep character, who has persevered and triumphed despite the prejudices of our shallow society. She relates her struggles in a moving way, but avoids the whining, "why is the world so unfair?" tone that unfortunately characterizes some similiar works. If you want a glimpse into the mind of a powerful, beautiful and intoxicatingly magnificent woman, then you will enjoy this book.

Camryn Manheim is an sassy, award-winning actress and laugh-out-loud funny. This book is a personal account of her experiences of fat-ism and her journey to self-acceptance.

Manheim is a natural storyteller and, being overweight myself, there was a lot here to relate to, but although I enjoyed the book, there were no groundbreaking revelations for me here ... though it does make a pretty strong case against society's obsession with being thin, this book is in no way a "self-help" book (to be fair, it doesn't claim to be) and it didn't help me to "make peace" with my fat. It did however make me laugh a lot and that's reason enough to encourage others to read it!

Thank you Camryn, for speaking out for big women everywhere.

Camryn Manheim is a fat activist. Her experiences in a world where people are literally dying to be thin include getting in to the NYU Masters of Fine Arts program, gracing the cover of "fat" magazines such as Radiance and winning an Emmy for her performance on The Practice. She is a likeable, mature and attractive woman who has fought passionately for what she believes in. But does that make one a good author? In Manheim's case, it damn well does.

"Wake up, I'm fat," is a hilarious, bittersweet page-turner. This socially critical memoir mainly deals with one individual's struggles on growing up in our superficial world. Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, be it because of their race, religion or looks, will immediately be able to relate to the amiable narrator.

Manheim manages to be honest about the ugly underbelly of today's beauty image and her struggles without sounding whiny. She uses dark humor and clever prose to describe how she got to where she is today.

Subjects such as erotic weight gain or personal ads are also dealt with in this book. They may make the reader feel slightly squeamish at first, but ultimately they just make this book a more interesting read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about "the underdog being on top" or who simply likes a good story told well.

...I got a little teary-eyed. This is an excellent book. It's funny and compelling and Wil shows what a great writer he is. I wanted more and I'm upset that I didn't buy "Just A Geek" first. I'll be remedying that as soon as I'm finished writing this review. If you just like a good story whether it be about Star Trek or just being a regualar everyday person, or if you want a good laugh, I recommed this book.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wheaton at a sci-fi convention in 2006. He was really nice and easy going. I picked up a smaller book that he had printed in limited numbers. I love how he spins his tales. It took me a while but I finally grabbed his book Dancing barefoot. His childhood storys and those of his current family are heartfelt and warm. His dealing with the memories of his Trek experience and coming to grips with his "Child Actor" status. If you are a trek fan or not doesn't matter the guy is a great writer and I can't wait for the next book.

I was very pleased with this book. Excellent writing, but it leaves me wanting more.

Whether you are a Star Trek Fan or not, this book is worth reading. As Wil tells his stories, you feel each and every emotion. After you finish the book, you a yearning for more, so go and pick up "Just a Geek". Enjoy it- I sure did!

Dancing Barefoot is one of those books that as your reading, you take a step back and say, "oh my god I totally understand this! This was me."

The book is a collection of stories that Wil had posted on his blog and compiled together. The stories are very inspiring and Wil shows his emotions in one of the most effective ways that humans do: through his writing. I was very touched after having read Dancing Barefoot and even inspirted enough to do some writing of my own.

If you're considering whether or not you want to purchase Wheaton's book, just read his blog and within 10 minutes of reading some of his entries your mind will have been set yourself.

I loved it, and look forward to Wil's next novel.

This is the best book i've read about Iraq. Fascinating and gripping book, i just couldnt stop reading it. A+

Written as only a Sgt. can write. Spot on descriptions of life in a combat zone and the hell that swirls around you minute by minute. This is the stuff of the real patriots that walk amongst us. David's description of his guilt and loneliness after he leaves the Army is exactly how it is. The feeling of being loss, separated from your troops. This book shows you exactly why NCO's are, have been, and always will be the backbone of the military. We don't fight for Mom, the flag, and apple pie. We fight for each other. David explains it as well as anyone has ever done. This should be mandatory reading in every NCO academy in the Army. 4 Silver Stars.

Bellavia's book is simply the best volume on infantry operations in the Iraq war. It fully illustrates the bonds formed between men in combat and the determination, professionalism and commitment of our troops. This is a book that draws intense adrenaline rushes from its readers and equivalent emotional responses when the charaters we have come to "know" are killed. I recommend this book to every young man that is considering a military career - especially those that are looking at the infantry.

'House to House' should be mandatory reading for every single person in the United States. SSG David Bellavia has written a no-nonsense, kick-you in-the-gut memoir to recount his experiences in Iraq; a memoir that once you pick up, you won't be able to put down. I started reading it this morning, and just finished the last page about five minutes ago. Bellavia doesn't pull any punches, and recounts vividly and in detail, everything he and his men saw, said, and did in the battles for Muqdadiyah and Fallujah. He is a true American hero, and his love for his men, his country, and his family shine through in every page. I enthusiastically give this book five stars, and would give it even more if I could. God bless SSG Bellavia, and the rest of our troops that have fought and died for this great country!

A magnificent book. Bellavia offers a clear-eyed, gritty look at battle. I couldn't put it down. More than just a war story, Bellavia offers moving insights into the warrior's soul. Recommended for anyone interested in first person comabt accounts.

This is a comprehensive book about the Apollo space program that does an exceptional job of capturing one of the most incredible times in human history. It was a time when the belief was that we could do just about anything we set our minds to.

Andrew Chaikin does an amazing job of capturing the courage, the commitment, the sacrifices, the driving motives and vision of the astronauts, supporting crews, wives and more. This 600+ page book hardly wastes a word. The book was so good it was turned into a mini series by HBO.

It is clear that Chaikin has a deep passion and respect for the space program and the people in it. He brings the truth to this writing without much dirty laundry being exposed.

This book deserves a place on any space buff's book shelf. It is also a great read for anyone interested in true life adventure of men who dared to sit on the top of rockets and go where no one had gone before. Highly recommended!

Here are a few other great books on the US space program:
Failure is not an Option - Gene Kranz
The Last Man on the Moon - Gene Cernan
The Unbroken Chain - Guenter Wendt

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space

Failure is not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond

The Unbroken Chain: Apogee Books Space Series 20 (Apogee Books Space Series)

I recently took my four year old son to KSC to see the launch of Discovery on its STS-124 mission. While I have always been one to make sure I have the TV on during a launch, I never dove much deeper than the average newspaper coverage. However, after taking the tours at KSC, a fire was ignited.
This book was the perfect fit for me. It covers every apollo mission without losing interest in the later missions. Obviously more time is spent covering Apollo's 1, 11, & 13.
Chaikin introduces the readers to many of the astronauts that while are not as well known as Armstrong, contibuted just as much, if not more to the program.
As it states in the description, the series,From the Earth to the Moon closely follows the book, but puts a more personal touch on the program while still providing enough information for the book to be used as reference for high school papers or a college thesis. It is the perfect mix of technical and entertainment. A Great Read!!

I'd like to be able to say that I like my own Apollo book better, but I can't. Chaikin's work stands alone in my mind as the definitive telling of the Apollo program. This is a book that entertains while informing- never an easy task, especially with science. Chaikin went to great lengths to assure accuracy... he is well-known by the living moonwalkers/Apollo CM pilots, and his work is respected by the few I was privileged to interview. Andy was also gracious enough to be interviewed for my Modern Marvels show, "Apollo 11," which made my interview roster complete. His ability to illuminate the history of Apollo is as dazzling in person as it is on the printed page. Buy it, read it, and re-read it. I do so at least one a year!

I bought this book after seeing ``From the Earth to the Moon,'' and found it to be a very interesting and informative overview of the American manned space program through Apollo. I would highly recommend it to anyone who may have been too young or not born yet to understand the accomplishments of the astronauts and all the men and women of NASA and contractors who were the real heart behind the Apollo space program.A Man on the Moon

The Apollo astronauts accomplished a feat which few thought possible. In a captivating fashion, author Andrew Chaikin offers a version of the Moon flights which most astronauts could not communicate.

The vivid details of the lunar features and the astronauts' private thoughts are brought to life in a way that makes you feel as if you are really there. The astronauts often stumble into "thrust-to-weight ratios" and "angles of trajectory" when they talk about their experiences. This is not what the public wants to hear. This book is the definitive book for mankind's greatest adventure.

Tahir Rahman, author of We Came in Peace for all Mankind
www.silicondisc.com

Bing West did an excellent job! I chose this book because I wanted to better understand both the Battle for Fallujah and the larger War in Iraq from the soldier's point of view. West describes the negotiations and he makes that an essential interplay with the conduct of the War. The US is lucky to have the committment of troops who fought this battle under the political circumstances they faced then and continue to have to contend with.

The only unanswered question I have is: What was the source of the Insurgents' high powered weapons? West implies that they may be the remainder of the Iraq Armys' weapons under Sadam Hussain by describing the former soldiers and officers who fought with the Insurgents. But he does not directly address that.

Jim(Illinois)

the title comes from a comment on The Iliad. a well written book. lots of details on the battle. also gives a broad view of the entire socio-political background. not for the faint of heart.

I picked this up to read on a month long travel trip. I ended up reading it in one sitting! Consequently, Im very glad I had also purchased a few other titles on the same topic. I really good read, disturbing and terrifying at times with a great deal of insight, but a great read.

"No True Glory" written by Bing West.

"No True Glory" chronicles the combat and political events directly relevant to the city of Fallujah from April of 2003 through 2005. Perspective is given from soldiers on the ground all the way up to commanding officers.

The Good: No True Glory provided a wide range of perspective and gave good information from all sides of the Fallujah story. It didn't just given the action and tragedy on the battle field and it didn't completely bog you down with politics or tactics. A good blend of political explanation that helped you to understand what happened and why was combined with thoughts and attitudes of the high ranking officers and mixed with the day to day activities of the guys who were actually kicking in doors and getting shot at. The mix was good and paints a full picture of not just what happened when but also why.

The Bad: I had previously read "Jarhead: a Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles" and "Generation Kill". Both of which were more personal because they focused on individuals or individual groups providing a personal aspect to each. That is the only aspect in which "No True Glory" lacks. The reality is that this couldn't be accomplished in "No True Glory" because the time frame the book covers is longer than any single tour of Duty served.

Overall: If military books interest you then pick up No True Glory and give it a try. A great read!

His account of the fighting in and around Fallujah was very informative. He description of the bravery and determination exhibited by the Marines was very memorable. Yet by ignoring the political ramifications of fighting a trumped up war created by the Bush administration and the large number of civilian casualties that have been subtained, he intentionally created a very distorted overall picture of the conflict. Also, his comparison of the fighting in Iraq with the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War was extremely inaccurate. By blindly accepting the offical version of events, Bing did an injustice to his readers. Amazingly, he pretty much ignored the total incompetence of President Bush, Rice, Rumsfeld, and the political leaders who served there. As a Vietnam Combat veteran myself, I was very disappointed that he didn't recognize the harsh fact that one man's terrorist in another man's freedom fighter. Or rather, the glaring fact that we can't militarily win a war of occupation, unless we literally accept the fact that we are corporate occupiers and not political liberators.

I found that this was an excellent account of Donny Osmond's memoirs of his life and of his enccounters with social anxiety. I recommend this to anyone who is a Donny Osmond fan.

As a life long Osmond fan, I was captivated by this book. Donny really put himself out there, the book was honest, written with feeling,I really understood the grown up Donny and felt the fear he must have felt when he was going through his Social Phobia. I am glad that he wrote it the way he did. People get the wrong impressions and they run with them. I feel that fans and the entertainment industry let Donny down. Everyone wanted the gorgeous teen aged boy, he grew to be a handsome man, a loving husband, a good father and a fantastic artist. This book gave you a true picture of who Donny is and that above all he is human just like the rest of us. I have even read this book again because it was very interesting. We see the glamour and the fun part of being famous, but it has its nightmares and is very hard work. What I admire about Donny the most is that he hasn't let success change who he is, he could have done something drastic to be in the front pages amd he has chosen not to. As of this date he is married to Debbie for 30 years now, how many celebrities can say that.

Am not a big reader but loved to hear how Just like others Donny has not had a perfect life, A must for all Donny fans and those who just want a insight into his life.

LIFE IS JUST WHAT YOU MAKE IT: MY STORY SO FARas I read donny's book, i couldnt help but feel partly responsible for Donny's downfall from super stardom. I was devastated to learn of Donny's marriage to Debbie and felt so betrayed by him that i put my Osmond albums and posters away and turned my back on him for what I vowed would be forever. It made me sad to read how hard it was for him to go from being on top of the world to a has been at the age of 21. And a broke has been as well. At times through out the book, i felt Donny was feeling sorry for himself but then, thats understandable too. Something I was absolutely delighted to read about was the family home. I always pictured the Osmond clan all living in one big giant mansion. As each brother got married, he'd just move his wife in. Well that wasnt quite right. they bought an entire apartment building and knocked out some walls to accomadate them. I also was touched by the story Donny wrote about briefly about the relationship between his mother and Elvis Presley. I am glad i read this book. although i dont listen to or care for his music anymore, I do, from time to time see him on TV and will watch. I was very disappointed in him when i saw him insult Rosie Odonnel about her weight. Totally rude and uncalled for. He explains in his book that he thought her words of praise and love for him was her way of mocking him and he lashed out. I don't buy it. He said too it was a joke. Ask any fat person if they've ever heard a fat joke that was funny. I lost alot of respect for Donny that day. However i was amused at Rosie. She over exaggerated his comment and for weeks, every guest she had on her show, she'd ask them if they saw the show where donny called her a big fat pig. Guess he picked the wrong fat girl to pick on. I would definately recommend this book to Donny fans.

I truly enjoyed reading this book as it showed a side of Donny that I assumed existed but didn't believe until I read his book. The book is honest, truthful and forward about his life, family and how he got where he is now. Eye opening in a lot of personal stories. I got a sense that his father was more of a disciplinarian than was let on and this affected Donny more than we knew. If you really want to know more about Donny and what makes him tick, read this book. I read it in 2 days.

The honest opinions and insider information provided in this book are great, but there are two things that I found rather annoying. First, a lot of time is spent telling people turn-by-turn directions for getting to the various places on the island. It is painful to read all the right and left directions. It's like the way my grandmother used to give directions. Second, noticeably absent are addresses that could be entered into my GPS unit to get me to the destinations worry free. The author goes so far as to complain in the book about how difficult it is to navigate the island. It is even more difficult when there are 10 rights and lefts and no addresses. Good grief! Buy this book for the opinions, but get another guide to give you addresses you can use for your GPS units.

I might look at other guidebooks as well, but if I were limited to just one, this would be it. It covers pretty much everything, covers things in detail, and gives honest opinion. If an attraction, restaurant, or hotel sucks, they tell you. The text, maps, and pictures nimbly steer you toward what's worthwhile and away from what's not. They can't cover everything on Oahu, but we'll definitely be carrying this book with us on our upcoming trip.

We purchased Hawaii Revealed last year & it went with us everywhere. When we were planning our next trip to Oahu, we ordered Oahu Revealed before we left so we could read up and decide what we wanted to do before we arrived. The information provided is accurate, and the opinions are right on.

This book is awesome!!! We brought it on our honeymoon to Oahu and found ourselves never leaving our room without it. At first my husband wanted to explore on our own and not have to worry about what other people had to say about different areas but after 2 days - he made absolutely sure we had the book with us wherever we went! This book not only gives excellent recommendations for dining, hotels, activities, etc., it told us about incredible "hidden treasures" we never would have even known about, as they are off the beaten path. Just to name some examples - a little macadamia nut farm near the north shore and the Maunawilli Trail hike and this beautiful rock formation that had the center blown out of it during a storm years ago. Friends of our who didn't have the book couldn't find it because its hidden in a neighborhood. We found it NO PROBLEM! Incredible! I've bought this book for many other couples going to Oahu and they have thanked us Sooo much for it! Buy it! It's worth 10 stars!

We have the other Andrew Doughty Hawaii travel books and this one did not dissapoint us.

I truly believe this book made our vacation the BEST ever!!!! We never shood in line once!!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend it!!!!

Traveling to Walt Disney World without reading this book is dangerous. Understanding the many facets and choices to be made is critical and this book provides all necessary info. I have been there many times and always obtain the latest edition of this book with fabulous results.

This is a comprehensive guide to the enormous vacation spot known as "Disney world." We were able to check out all the restaurants and make early reservations before our last trip. My principal concerns were the very small print and low color contrast in the print. Anyone with any reading problems (such as myself) would not find it convenient to use.

This book was such a great help! I purchased several other, but this was by far, the most comprehensive and best written!

I bought this book along with the PassPorter, and this book blows the other away by far! The thickness of the book may seem overwhelming, but you only have to read the sections that pertain to you and your trip. The information was extremely helpful, and delivered in an amusing voice. This book was certainly written for any reader - neither over nor under the majority of readers' heads. Also the reviews of rides and dining were just right - not too in-depth but certainly very helpful.

I highly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Disney!

This is one of those classic novels that you could read again and again. I hadn't read it since high school twenty years ago and just re-read Christy last week. I like it even better now than I did then (and I loved it then, too). I would have loved to have had Catherine Marshall's version of a sequel (hopefully it would have consisted of a continuation of Neil & Christy's romance), but I guess we get to imagine the "happily ever after" instead. It's a great read!

Sorry, but the glut of coincidences and melodramatic writing was just too much. I'm going back to my nonfiction now.

I just read this book and what can I say except that it was amazing. I actually prefer Neil to David. David was never very consistent in his faith he was good talker but he had no understanding. I recomend this book to anyone who already has faith or is struggling to find theirs. Read this book! You won't be sorry!

I really enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed the fact that many of the events in the book are in the series released on DVD. I would have preferred if certain subjects had not been discussed in this book so that it would be more appropriate for younger ages. Other than that it was a really enjoyable read.

This is one of my very favorite books! I've read it over so many times and never get tired of it. It's just so interesting, captivating and touching.

this book is a must for all nsync fans! I was a little disapointed because they didn't have a lot of "411" on them as I like (mostly pics) but the pics are great~but It's an awesome book!

This is a book all about the popular band *nsync. they include how they got started, what's an everyday routine for them, bio's and several pages of their life story. they used a lot of qoites from when they where performing in Disney land (which if you have seen as much as I have...nothing new) personally I enjoyed the baby pictures of the guys. they have family pictures and a picture of when Justin was at the tender age of 14 (I laughed because they have changed so much) Several up-to-date pic's as well. you will probably enjoy this book!

I an an obsessed *Nsync fan and bought this book a few years ago.I still read and have read it numerous times.It has baby pictures of the cuties and shows pictures of *Nsync when they just started singing.It has lots of info and is actually written partually by *Nsync,unlike most of the other books.

I expected an official book to be a lenghty chapter book- but this had more information than it looked! plus cool colorful pics on each page. Of course this book covers their lives up to their debut album in '98, so of course its not exactly up-to-date anymore, but its cool to have. It has a section about each member that has some interesting info and old baby pics! Theres a section about their most embarrasing moments, which is always cool, and funny to hear about! Plus much more!

Hello, I think this book is awsome. It is grate. My mommy lic's it tooo. se reeds it to me win i go tu bed at nite. I dont eet meet! I am a vegitran. Well that is wat my mommy says anyway.