Bailey Books

Bob Bailey's Plain Talk about Leadership ought to be required reading for all managers, leaders, students and wannabees! It is chock full of remarkably sound advice from a guy that has been there and done it.
I plan to make it a recommended text in my MBA Leadership class.

Loved Bob Bailey's book, Plain Talk About Leadership. Thought it had info for all endeavors of life. Quick and easy to Read. Loved the Silver Bullets. This book is not only for the business world, but High School students would get value from the book as well. I highly recommend it. Marilyn Bumpus Washington Court House, Ohio

Bob Bailey provides many illustrations from his successful career to "hammer home" his points on Foundation of Leadership Being Great Communications. Mr. Bailey reinforces the importance of open, face to face, frequent and repetitive communications in creating an effective organization. I provided copies of this book to all my managers.

Mr. Bailey is able to describe the components of effective leadership in a way that those already up the corporate ladder, and those just beginning the journey, will find both practical and profound. A look at his real world experiences are as valuable as any classroom work. This is one book that you will find yourself referring back to time and time again. I plan to recommend it to everyone in my organization.

Bob Bailey presents his leadership style in an entertaining fashion with short stories and real world experiences. This method keeps the book moving and each chapter introduces a thought-provoking topic. If you want to make yourself a better professional, regardless of your function, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

In this book, the 15 Rules of White Magic are explained in detail, each relating to a specific plane, each demanding a definite state of mind in order to obtain sought after results. For instance, Rule I requires Recollection leading the way to Concentration. Rule II demands Response leading to Interaction between the Higher and Lower Self. Rule III is Radiation, which is a Sounding forth, etc. Rules I through VI relate to the Mental Plane, Rules VII through XI to the Astral Plane. Rules XII through XV to the Physical Plane. The whole of man is taken into consideration; the whole of man is at work with White Magic.

I usually buy second hand "new" items. This book was deteriorated. Far away from brand new, just like new and so on descriptions.

First off, i would not recommend this book for anyone unfamiliar with Alice Bailey's writing. (Or, if you will, the Tibetian she channels.) I remember the first book of hers i read, was TELEPATHY, which helped me learn many of the theosophical definitions and ontological classifications. Another good first read may be GLAMOUR A WORLD PROBLEM. It's not filled with technical terms. Then again, some people may find that reading other theosophists, or perhaps ISIS UNVEILED is the first step. We are each on individual paths. However, if theosophical terminology isnt new to you, and you have a passing aquaintance with Buddhism, Christianity, hermetism and Hinduism, then you may find information in the book that you could use towards your spiritual evolution, and for the group work of your ray type. Like most spiritual reading, this book will give you what you need for wherever you are, while confusing you about those topics you are not either ready or permited to learn. After all, spiritual insight enters the disciple from the Buddhic plane, the plane of spiritual intuition. This book is both KEY and CURTAIN in its method. As is stated elsewhere in a review, Bailey has many "blinds" in her work, to confuse those who's intentions are not pure. A special caution for those who may be WICCANS, or young adolescents looking for love spells, or any kind of "PERSONAL POWER SEEKERS" in general. This is NOT the book for you. Not because the knowledge is too arcane, too advanced or too empowering for those incapable of handling it. This is not some long lost BOOK OF SPELLS, or anything like that. WHITE MAGIC, as Bailey understands it, is the ability to understand the purpose and goal of the Great Masters, and of the Cosmic Christ, and taking a scientific approach to prayer, to materialize the goal on the material plane. I suppose the real magic, is effective prayer. A final note: the difference between WHITE MAGIC, and BLACK MAGIC, is simple, but of utmost importance. The white magician never uses this information for selfish, materialistic reasons, or to obtain sway over the wills of others. If you EVER use magic, hypnosis, drugs, etc, to controll the wills of others, even if your intentions are good, or you think they are, you are practicing BLACK MAGIC. Because FREE WILL, the practice of HARMLESSNESS, and learning to serve the will of THE FATHER IN HEAVEN, (The GREAT WHITE LODGE in SIRIUS) is the real meaning of white magic. I think of much of her work, as esoteric christianity, since she seems to be working in the second ray group, which she has elsewhere indicated to be lead by CHRIST. For those whom this writing is meant for, you will certainly gain some interesting meditation themes, while sensitizing your intuitive buddhic plane. At the very least, you will be exposing yourself to some great stories. "MAY LOVE, LIGHT AND WILL BRING TO EARTH THE PLAN OF GOD."

I was in a busy phase in my life and was suddenly struck down by a freak dancing accident in a music class I was teaching to children in South Korea. I had to have knee surgery and had a long hospital stay. I ordered the book before I went to the hospital. This book stimulated me on every level: spirtuatally, intellectually, linguistically...I could go on and on. It is the book I've been waiting my whole life for. Strangely, I picked up Alice Bailey's work years ago but didn't understand it. But after two years of Raja Yoga and lots of meditation, I can say that I understood almost every word. This book will only speak to you when you're ready. But when you are, it may change you're life and the lives of others.

A Treatise On White Magic by Alice Bailey is a very special book written for those spiritual seekers who have found the spiritual path within themselves and who require specific and general guidance in moving forward. The book is divided into major sections, where each can be seen to deal with a major aspect and stage upon this path. There are sections that deal with the physical, emotional and mental aspects of ourselves and the books hints at how these aspects are and can be spiritualised.

A Treatise on White Magic, like so many of A.A.B's books, is not intended to be informational. On the whole, they are intended to be inspirational. By that I mean that the reader's intuition and spiritual perception is awakened through studying the book's contents.

This book cannot be rated too highly and will be appreciated by those who have a deep interest in all things spiritual, but not necessarily religious, and by those who can appreciate the spiritual and esoteric aspect of everyday life.

I recently completed seven days of wreck diving in Truk Lagoon in the Federate States of Micronesia. I went to Chuuk (the main island's current name) knowing vitrually nothing about the island, the people or the wrecks located there, except that it was loaded with Japanese ships from WWII. While there I was loaned this book by the dive operator as a reference for planning my dives. The first night I opened the book to peruse it my immediate reaction was that I wish I would have known this book was out there prior to taking the trip.

The book opens with a bit of history of Chuuk, touches on the culture of the people then immediately dives in (no pun) to the details about "Operations Hailstone" in February 1944 which resulted in the sinking of many of the ships that currently lie in Truk Lagoon. All this background makes for great reading to anyone who is interested in the history of WWII as I am. But if you're a diver, and enjoy wreck diving, the true value of the book lies in it's second half.

It is here where the author dissects each ship with its history, its role during the war, and the circumstances surrounding its sinking. Because Bailey has dived these wrecks numerous times he is intimately familiar with their depth, points of interest for each, and the potential hazards of exploring them. It is this information that anyone planning a dive trip to Truk needs to be familiar with.

His research was meticulous, the photos first rate and the information was spot on. If you are planning to dive Truk for the first time, or you have an interest in this subject matter, this is a must read and worth the price.

I'm currently reading "WWII Wrecks of Palau" by Bailey in preparation for my May 2008 dive trip to Palau. I will be much better informed and ready for the Palau trip than I was for my trip to Truk Lagoon.

What an outstanding written document on what happened and on what is below the surface in that special part of the world. It's a must for history lovers and for scuba diving fans. And it's mandatory for individuals that fit both categories.

Bought this book before diving in Truk Lagoon. A must have and a great book to read before one does the actual dives. The authority on dives in Truk Lagoon

I've been reviewing a lot of documentation regarding Truk, and specially about wreckships all over the world. This book is a complete guide to understand all the details and history of the battle in this Chuck Lagoon, doing it as an amazing guide to penetrate into the paradise of Micronesia. Absolutely recommnended for all the scuba divers with high interest in wrecks and the history of the World War II.

A magnificent and definitive work by Dan Bailey. This is the reference book long-time Truk Lagoon divers and liveaboard operators use as a source document. Dan Bailey made over 40 trips to Chuuk, diving the wrecks multiple times. He enlisted the support of some noted underwater photographers to capture images of the ghost ships of Truk. Better yet, in many cases he researched and listed original photgraphs and specfications for the vessels, giving life to the wrecks that now cover the sea floor.

Reviewed by R. J. Brown for RebeccasReads (3/08)

From a Mob hit thirty years ago on the outskirts of Detroit to a fight over a piece of luggage at an airport carousel, "Dead Bang" lopes around the Wolverine State, leaving a trail of bullets, fires, loose cash, kidnappings and bodies.

This is the third Art Hardin Mystery, so there's some catching-up to do, although "Dead Bang" ably stands alone, like the proverbial last man.

I really enjoyed meeting Art and Wendy, longtime married PIs, with their own separate companies and an amusing and familiar repartee. Both being of a certain age, they have history, and in Art's case, something he was working on as a young man, suddenly comes back to bite him.

Art is at a meet with Mark Behler, a local news anchor who's outspokenly anti-gun on his shows and says he has a lead into that long ago Mob hit. When a middle-aged woman comes in and starts shooting, Art, being a concealed weapons carrier and a firm believer in the Second Amendment, shoots back, accurately. Mark rushes to the woman's side with his tape recorder still going. Just as she expires, she says something which makes him very uneasy, and leads him to convince Art to help him legally get a gun, under the guise of showing his TV audience just how easy it is. Turns out it isn't easy, which frustrates the newsman to no end.

Later, when Wendy is driving Art to the airport to pick up Karen Smith, someone Art had been hired to protect a few years back, and whom they had kind of adopted (and whom we might have met in either "Private Heat" or "Dying Embers") returns from a Caribbean vacation towing her latest lover, a comedian of Middle Eastern extract, and a suitcase of lovely new undies. Then Art and lover Manny fight over the bag and it rips open. It's packed with used American money -- the chase is on.

Sometimes it's Art and Wendy doing the chasing, and sometimes it's the bad guys with their arsenal and cell of back-up thugs. All the time "Dead Bang" is fast, lively and surprisingly informative and ingenious. I especially enjoyed the insights into Detroit's past and present, the married with older children focus, and the different perspective that one FBI agent, raised in Egypt and America, brings to the mix.

"Dead Bang" has some things to say about good guys and bad and terrorism, about the sorry state of a once-great industrial region, about gun ownership and misuse, and living long enough to gain some maturity. It also has some great punch-lines.

If you like your mysteries peppered with the bizarre and hilarious, with side dishes of history, then "Dead Bang" is a dead-on read for you!

Retired private detective and Shamus-nominated author Robert E. Bailey presents Dead Bang: An Art Hardin Mystery, featuring the return of hard-boiled gumshoe Art Hardin. When an Islamic terrorist group manipulates and unsuspecting friend of the family to smuggle money into the country - and the money vanishes - Art becomes involved in a murderous, terrorist plot of violence and revenge. An nonstop rush of excitement from cover to cover, Dead Bang is especially recommended for fans of two-fisted intrigue.

When you start reading Dead Bang, you won't stop until the smoke clears on the final page. Robert Bailey's talent for blending non-stop action with interesting plot twists and intriguing characters places him at the top of his craft. Art Hardin is a mystery lover's detective. He's no superman, but he always gets the job done. Bailey's career as a PI guarantees accuracy and detail that other authors just can't deliver. If you like a dose of reality with your thrillers then this is the book for you!

Reviewed by D. H. Brown for Reader Views (3/08)

When a copy of Robert Bailey's new Art Hardin book "Dead Bang" came into my hands, I knew I was in for a thrill-ride. Not many authors since the great Chandler and John D. MacDonald of Travis McGee fame have the ability to write a book I know beforehand will not disappoint.

In the third book in his Art Hardin series, Robert Bailey does not disappoint. "Dead Bang" is filled with the usual thrills and spills that Art and his family get into, seemingly on a routine basis. From a street shooting, to terrorist charging around shooting up the lower-half of Michigan, this tale keeps the reader racing along with howls of laughter and seat of your pants excitement.

Art Hardin is no faint-of-heart PI. When lead comes flying his way, he answers full throttle with fire downrange. Dead-eyed and with the full intention of stopping said lead, he says an emphatic YES to keeping his "Right to Keep and Bear Arms." You shoot at Art and you die.

I hope this author has a long and storied life of writing ahead of him as I want those years to help satisfy my need for speed and good reads!

Dead Bang is the third book in the Art Hardin series by Robert Bailey, and is clearly his best effort to date. Bailey has hit his stride with Dead Bang. This fast-paced book and will keep you on the edge of your seat while you keep turning the pages. The well-developed plot revolves around a friend of the Hardins duped into transporting money for terrorists, with an interesting sub-plot about a 30-year-old mob hit. Art and Wendy Hardin get involved and the bullets, as well as the one-liners, fly.

Robert Bailey has created a cast of characters that are believable, and have become old friends after having read the first two books. For Art Hardin, picture a mixture of Philip Marlowe and Archie Goodwin, married with teenaged children. Throw in a bit of the Continental OP by Dashiell Hammet and you'll find he's a mix of the hard-boiled private eye and the guy next door. In fact, the Hardins are the kind of people you might want to have living next door. Well, you will until the bad guys start shooting up the neighborhood anyway. In this story, Wendy comes into her own and the married couple becomes a team. The dialogue and the way they interact is believable and fun.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast-paced mystery/suspense/thriller and I eagerly await the next in the series.

Barbara Reinhold's latest books is required reading for graduate students in my Management courses. Many of my students are responsible for attracting and retaining employees to corporations and agencies. Free to Succeed provides hiring managers, leaders and organizations with Best Practices from the perspective of current and well as potential employees. It answers the question...what do we need to do to create the best possible environment in a highly competitive marketplace.

I run a mentoring services company, working with corporations to set up online mentoring programs. I recommend this book frequently to program participants. The book is designed to help people think about whether they want to leap into free agency but I think it's equally good as a career development guide for anyone who's feeling stuck or thinking about a change. There are some great exercises to help you assess your current life / career situation and figure out a next step - with free agency being one of many possibilities. I wish I had read this when I was thinking about leaving corporate life and starting a business. I wouldn't have done anything differently but it would have given me better perspective.

A rare combination of practical suggestions with out-of-the-box thinking. I particularly like her categorization of readers as
gamblers, philosophers, desperados, and more.
I also like her list of questions to ask yourself: who are the ghosts hovering over your decision? Nearly every client I work with (see my movinglady.com site) has ghosts and it's not always easy to identify them.

Free to Succeed describes accurately the ever changing work force that is effecting career opportunities. It emphasizes individuals pursuing several rotating career opportunties as opposed to doing the corporate dance as layoffs are becomming more apparent in Big Blue(IBM) and other large corporations.

This book gives some good exercises to give the reader a clear idea of his or her free agent strenghts and weakenesses. Some people have strong imaginations but just lack the nerve. Others may be gamblers with the lack of a strong purpose. To sum it up, this book is a good tool for self evaluation.

The glossary is pretty good and some good resources for web surfers. Some pretty good case studies even if some of them are a bit too repetitive. Its certainly worth a read.

This is an excellent resource for making changes in one's life and work. I found the exercises in the book especially helpful in getting me to think out of the box. The book helped to clarify my own personal working style and what type of work situation would most ensure my success. I highly recommend this book for anyone thinking of making a work change.

A wonderful chronicle of a Jewish family in Belarus beginning in the early 20 th century and culminating in its destruction in Hitlers holocaust A cast of remarkable characters illuminates this novel The fiery Rachel and soft spoken husband Yacov Ivanovsky,Rachels father the respected and tough Abraham Rakhlenko,the colourful Chaim Yagudin.The Ivanovsky children includin the narrator,Boris and the beautiful Dina to name only a few of the cast of characters We grow to know and love the people in this book And it with a profound sense of horror and tragedy that we see their crule destruction at the hands of the Nazis

It is however through the few survivors such as Boris Ivanovskyand his sister Lyuda and the young Olya that we find hope

What took away from the book was as one previous reviewer points out the ommission of the horror of the Bolshevik Revolution Stalin years but due to censorship in the Soviet Union when the book was written in the 1970's the writer could only hint at these things

Where was THIS book hiding? There are very few books that I truly enjoy, but this is one of them. I first read Mr. Rybakov's "Children of the Arbat" and "Fear", books about young adults in 1930s Moscow, and enjoyed both very much. Because I could not immediately find the third book of his trilogy ("Dust and Ashes"), I read "Heavy Sand", which my library just happened to have.

This book about Jews living in the Ukraine from 1910s to 1940s is a great read. The book is more a story about how forthrightness and integrity meant something in the days of yore, rather than a treatise about Soviet Judaism, therefore, it is totally accessable to the gentile, American reader. "Heavy Sand" also does not have the superfluous, melodramatic verbage that plagues much of Russian/Soviet literature, verbage that often obstructs the point being made and makes much of Russian/Soviet literature unpalatable to most Americans.

The one knock on "Heavy Sand" is that it was obviously tailored to pass the censors in 1970 USSR. It doesn't dwell on Stalinist purges or pervasive anti-Semitism, which were more than prevalent at the time. However, knowing this going in, it is an amazing, warm and inspiring book. Find it, get it, read it. I cannot recommend "Heavy Sand" highly enough.

You know, I say this all the time, but I have really got to learn Russian one of these days. This time the reason I wish I knew the language is because I'd like to see if the original of Heavy Sand has the same plainspoken, conversational tone which makes the English translation so engaging. It doesn't take long to get [wrapped up] into the story of the Rakhlenko family and to fall in love with all the characters, from the noble to the scoundrels, with all shades of messy humanity in between. At times you don't even feel as if you're reading a novel but hearing a good friend masterfully tell his story and those of his parents and grandparents. This is perhaps the most unpretentious great novel I've ever read.

The small events of the novel's first half blend seamlessly into the world events of the war and the destruction of the entire village, and in both times and places you feel utterly transfixed by what is happening to the people of this family and their village. And despite its depressing setting, Heavy Sand ends on a relatively uplifting note. There is plenty of horror in the book, but also plenty of hope.

I didn't want this book to be over. Highly recommended!

A wonderful chronicle of a Jewish family in Belarus beginning in the early 20 th century and culminating in its destruction in Hitlers holocaust A cast of remarkable characters illuminates this novel : The fiery Rachel and her soft spoken husband Yacov Ivanovsky,Rachels father the respected and tough Abraham Rakhlenko,the colourful Khaim Yagudin and The Ivanovsky children includin the narrator,Boris and the beautiful Dina. We grow to know and love the characters And it with a profound sense of horror and tragedy that we see their cruel destruction at the hands of the Nazis

It is however through the few survivors such as Boris Ivanovsky and his sister Lyuda and the young Olya that we find hope . I cannot help however being frustrated by the ommission of the horrors of the Bolshevik Revolution and the Stalin years even though it is clear that due to censorship in the Soviet Union when the book was written in the 1970's, the writer could only hint at these things

This novel is based on my grandmother's family history. Anatoly Rybakov was my second cousin. He interviewed my grandmotehr several times, taperecorded her stories, baed the novel on our family's history.This book was published in Russia in 1979 (the year I emigrated from the Soviet Union), and it was the first legally available publication to mention the figure 6 million (estimated number of Jews perished in the Holocaust).
The story is not necessarily girm or frightening, there is quite a bit of humor, a very romantic love story and a pretty uplifitng ending despite all tagedies.

This book was recommended to me by a friend. The book starts off simple enough. You're introduced to the main character Art Hardin, private detective, tough as nails and to the point. Quickly an easy assignment for Art gets complicated. I was always caught off guard for what happened next. It was exciting and fun. Along the way you meet his wife, one of the few people Art fears, and his family. Great characters, the police he interacts with and work mates. Very exciting page turner! When I finished I couldn't wait to get his next book Dying Embers. You won't be disappointed!

Like a good old-fashioned detective story? You know, the kind with a likable Private Eye who reluctantly takes a case, then gets himself into a jam? Do you like the old masters, like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler? Then PRIVATE HEAT is for you.

PRIVATE HEAT is fast paced, and well written. Robert Bailey writes with a realism that shows he has walked the walk as a Private Eye himself. He writes with authority to create a credible story with enough red herrings and plot twists to keep even the most seasoned mystery/thriller reader at the edge of his/her seat. It is also a good example of a book that takes the reader to a new place, in this case Grand Rapids, and shows him around. He also presents us with Art Hardin, a wise cracking PI who seems as real as if he and his wife Wendy could be neighbors of the reader. Hardin is also as hard-boiled as he needs to be, when the occasion arises.

Overall, a good book by a good author. I'll be sure to read the rest in the series.

In this debut novel of a new series, the author has created a multi faceted private investigator, an intriguing cast of characters, and a complex ever changing mystery. Art Hardin is the middle-aged part owner of Ladin Associates, a detective agency. After the sudden death of his partner and the man the company was named for, his newly widowed wife Marg sold Art Hardin her half of the business and then stuck around to take care of the books, the phone and run her own small accounting firm out of the office. Marg pays a third of the rent and Art takes care of everything else as well as dealing with her at times shrew like personality.

A former counterintelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Service, he has had a few clashed with the local government. As a result of being sued for false arrest by Art some time ago, the county government hired the premier attorney firm of Van Pelham and Timmer. The case was ultimately won by Art despite being thoroughly trashed by attorneys representing the firm. Therefore, it is a bit of a surprise when Martin Van Pelham wants to meet with Art and wants to hire him.

Martin Van Pelham wants and needs someone who won't be intimated by the local law enforcement community. His niece is going through a messy divorce with her soon to be ex-husband, a city police officer. He has a history of assaulting her and the simple solution of serving him with divorce papers and a restraining order while she leaves town won't work. Martin Van Pelham grudgingly explains that his nice is the one "Karen Terisa" featured prominently in lurid detail in the local media as being deeply involved in a sex and money laundering scandal that resulted in the finding of her boss dead in a trunk of a car parked at the airport. The money is missing and she knows where it is among other things. At the same time, her soon to be ex is part of a very suddenly made public undercover squad cited in numerous civil suits regarding assault, battery and other less than savory things.

Martin Van Pelham wants Art to guard her and keep her safe from everyone for not more than two days so that he can get his niece into the witness protection program. Art has some financial consideration issues as well as making sure that the firm will pay for his defense should anything go wrong. Then he agrees to do the job and before he has cashed the check, he has walked right into a puzzle house of mirrors where nothing is as it seems and more than one party wants him dead.

Combining dirty cops, crooked feds, and scummy clients, this very enjoyable novel soon turns into a wild ride. Told in first person format, this novel sets up numerous secondary but very important characters in addition to Art Hardin for future books. Within a matter of pages the supporting cast becomes quite familiar as old friends while the overriding mystery becomes more and more complex.

While that is all good, the author also does one small thing, which lowered the book one level in my estimation. I slowly became somewhat annoyed buy his refusal to use the same name for the same person through out the book. Instead, sometimes he uses the first name, sometimes the last, and at other times, apparently the person suddenly sprouted a nickname hence not seen before. The naming issue became annoying, as occasionally I had to flip back to the first part of the book to make sure he was still referring to the same person.

One constant is the fact that action is the primary component of the book. Unlike many novels that are heavily action oriented as this one certainly is, character development and plot are not given short shrift. The book moves forward at a steady fast pace despite Art Hardin's occasional and very amusing wise guy humor. Not a word is wasted in the telling of the tale and the author spins a very complex tale in deed. As the pages fly by, the reader is quickly pulled into the author's world where the real world we all have to deal with does not exist. Simply good stuff.


Book Facts:


Private Heat (An Art Hardin Mystery)
By Robert Bailey
M. Evans and Company, Inc.
2002
ISBN # 0-87131-970-5
Hardback
$21.95 US



Kevin R. Tipple © 2004

Rejoice! The hard-boiled school of mystery fiction is alive and well and roiling over in...Grand Rapids, Michigan? Yep. That's the beat of Art Hardin, tough, smart, wise-cracking PI who takes the kind of unglamorous, gritty cases that pay the rent and put food on the table. Insurance fraud, industrial theft, maybe the odd missing person or philandering spouse are the usual bills of fare.

But not this time. For what begins as an ostensibly simple, straightforward two-day assignment involving protecting a divorcing woman from her potentially violent, soon-to-be ex(who happens to be a vice squad cop), rapidly mushrooms into something very much bigger, nastier and a whole lot deadlier.

In "Private Heat," author Robert Bailey reveals himself to be a writer of exceptional talent and a master storyteller of uncommon skill. He has managed to create a cast of fascinating, 3-dimensional characters with whom the reader immediately identifies, an intriguing plot-line of Chandleresque complexity, and does it all with dead-on, wry social observation, pithy dialogue and occasional side splitting humor.

It's a great read that I recommend wholeheartedly. Can't wait to start "Dying Embers!"

This book was recommended to me by a local independent bookseller who understands my tastes better than a computer program, and who also reads what's in his shop. Even so, I was a trifle leery at first because it's often the case that just because an author was once FBI or CIA or whatever, and can tell some great war stories, doesn't mean that same author can also spin a yarn with story arc, character development, breakneck pacing, and good dialogue. But Robert Bailey CAN do all of these things. Holy cow, can this guy tell a story! The surprises start coming early on and the action is constant. Keep your wits about you when you read this book, because if you think the author is about to throw a left jab, odds are he's gonna catch you with a right hook. One of the things I found fascinating is that with all the action going on, our hero, PI Art Hardin, still finds time to be a family man. And I fell in love with his sons, probably because Bailey captured to perfection the father-son relationships, as well as the brother-brother relationships. He does it in few words, too, creating perfect line sketches of some secondary and tertiary characters that blossom in the reader's mind into full blown portraits. That's a rare gift, and one that added enormously to my enjoyment of this book. I didn't even pause to write a review when I finished the book, I ran right out and got the next book in the series. And yes, it's terrific as well!

This is a book that's hard to put down - the story of Skip and his beautiful Golden Retriever is inspirational and very touching. There are more than a few laughs in this story and (for those of us who aspire to compete in AKC obedience) very inspirational.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a good dog and enjoys the special bond that this relationship offers.

I read this book twice. Then when my dog chewed it up I bought another copy. Lots of great information and an inspiring story. Well worth the money.

I was looking for something that would give me a more practical approach to obdience training and what to expect. The book is helpful, but the story approach wasn't what I was looking for in an obedience guide. I would have preferred more details being in the obedience ring rather than the tale of the author and his dog through their preparation for obedience competition.

I enjoyed this book and found the authors trials and tribulations similar to my own. It was easy to read and had several helpful tips as well. Although it's more of a novel, it can help us novice folks learn some of the ins and outs of dog shows. I doubt if someone who is already a trainer, or who is show wise would find this book helpful. But..for those of us just beginning it's great!

I am a new obedience competitor with my rescue dog. I loved this book! It really tells you the nuts and bolts of training and competing.So much of what he says is exactly my experience so far (only 5 months). I especially liked his description of how his addiction to the sport resembled a user's first rush with cocaine.Dog competition really is addicting and this book will tell you all you wanted to know without being dull and academic about it.

I can't possibly add any comment that wouldn't just echo the praise already heaped upon this excellent novel which I originally read as a teen in the early sixties. With the recent remake of The Manchurian Candidate updated to current events, Seven Days In May has preyed on my mind.

Possible scenario: The U.S. Military, totally disgusted with the Iraq War's civilian leadership and the destruction of a military establishment slowly and systematically put back together after Vietnam, decides to stop the carnage and waste and do SOMETHING about it. Of course, it would only be temporary until the next elections...or maybe not. A chilling possiblity.

This gripping 1962 novel provides a stark reminder of both the Cold War and the fragility of democratic rule. President Jordan Lyman has recently signed (and the Senate approved) a nuclear disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union. But the treaty remains highly unpopular, and has left many in and out of the military establishment frightful of surprise attack and seething with anger. Enter General James Scott, a charismatic leader with political ambitions. President Lyman learns that General Scott may be plotting against him, but the evidence is sketchy, and Lyman doesn't want to act against a possible military coup without something closer to proof. Adding to the President's woes are his current unpopularity, his doubts as to just who is loyal, and his uncertainty as to the correct course of action. As the story unravels, we sense the President's fear as well as the ever-present threats to democratic rule, particularly in times of danger and stress.

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY is an excellent novel as relevant today as it was in the 1960's. This fast-reading book was made into a very good 1964 movie with Frederick March (President Lyman), Burt Lancaster (General Scott), Kirk Douglas, Ava Gardner, and Edmond O'Brien.

Exactly as long as it needs to be--an important thing with books--"Seven Days in May" is a riveting thriller about the totally unthinkable: a military coup d'etat in the United States Goverment. Yet, the author makes it seem possible. A very popular general, a president with the lowest rating since Truman, and a Peace Treaty that has the country and the government divided...could it trigger a popular coup? It does in this book, and it is set forth totally realistically, as if something like this REALLY could happen. We think our country is immune from this kind of Byzantine political intrigue, but it turns out that we really are no less vulnerable from breakdown than your average banana republic...at least in this book. Chilling thought isn't it? Totally awesome book, I recommend it highly.

"Seven Days in May" is an authentic classic political thriller of the first rank. Authors Baily and Knebel present a scenario in which an unpopular President is targeted by America's top military brass for an actual military takeover of the government. The story is complex, but vividly presented with an authenticity that is both disturbing and plausible. The reader is brought to understand that it could happen here, and the story suggests how such a scenario could come about in these United States.

The novel is well-written and fast-paced, never drags, and absolutely holds the reader's interest throughout. The amazing thing about the story is that every bit of it hangs together without straining the reader's sense of credulity. The novel features excellent writing, and the authors weave the plot together towards a conclusion that is startling and believable (no spoiler here).

This was a big budget movie in the 1960s featuring Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster (available on DVD) and I would very much like to see a reprint of the novel become available, as my often-read paperback copy has long since fallen to pieces from frequent readings.

I read this book on a long airplane trip, and the story was so intense it kept me glued from lift off to land down.

As the other reviewers have summarized, the plot centers around "Seven days in May" as the President of the United States and his closest aides secretly scramble to thwart a coup being planned by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The book is very fast paced, and has no "main" character. The point of view shifts from one character to another, often on opposite ends of the country, with lots of action in between. There are numerous twists and turns, but the book is never predictable or cliched.

It's also a very well-researched story, and anyone well versed in National Security and the Pentagon will be impressed at the two authors' attention to detail.

I was really amazed how un-dated this book is, despite being written in the early 60's. The authors wisely never reveal the year the story takes place, but subtle hints indicate it takes place sometime in the 70's (Kennedy is the last "real" President mentioned). When you hear the logic of some of the coup-planners you have to wonder wheter or not such a scheme has ever been secretly plotted in the past- or wheter a similar one will ever be plotted in the future. Complacency in the stability of ANY democracy can be dangerous, and the events in "Seven Days in May" certainly proves that.

This book highlights the independence that exists between the military and civilian branches of the US government, and the careful dance that the president must do to appease both sides. When it comes to matters of national security, the book raises the important question of who is ultimately responsible. Should the constitution always be respected, even when the safety of the nation is in danger? Does the military have the right to surpass the president if he is acting in a manner that will endanger the country? Does the president deserve to have his role as "Commander in Chief"?

In this era of terrorism and uncertainty, these are all very relevant questions to ask. This book, especially the ending, answers these, and many others, brilliantly.

The Water's Edge is a beautifully-written saga . . . reminiscent of the literary classics that have withstood the test of time-a novel as lyrical and mesmerizing as Derek Walcott's Omeros. Parker's words and descriptions, artistically wrought, have shaped a haunting story that lingers with the reader long after the last page is turned."
RAINELLE BURTON, AUTHOR OF THE ROOT WORKER

"The Water's Edge" was definitely one book I could not put down! I felt I knew these people and what they went through. Parker's descriptions of the ship, the crossing, the tending to different baking fires, were all incredibly interesting without getting bogged down with technical aspects. I especially enjoyed Mary Cooper, Abigail and Ruth (what wonderfully good, strong women), as well as watching young Ben's boyhood's dreams develop into reality. Her creative fiction set to the backdrop of historical facts, made for an exciting, interesting and informative tale. Like all great books, I hated to see it come to an end.

I have read the "The Water's Edge" written by Virginia Bailey Parker. It is an excellent story blending fiction with obvious historical information. Providing the family trees was a wonderful way to help keep and sort the cast of characters. Katherine, Mary, Abigail, and Ben were my favorite people. The book ended well, but too soon. I hope Virginia will write a sequel so I can find out where their lives took them.

I passed the book along for others to read. I am hearing that they also have become enthralled with the book.

Place everything you need for personal survival within your reach before you open this book - because you won't be leaving the sofa until you've read the very last page. Masterfully woven, The Water's Edge brings the early days of Salem to life. This is the way History SHOULD be taught in schools, through the passion and courage of "the people" rather than droning lists of dates and laws. I read the entire volume in two days, unable to pull myself away - even ordered pizza for Sunday dinner so I wouldn't have to put it down to cook. My 76 year old mother read it the next weekend and was equally enthralled. I hope we don't have to wait 20 years for Virginia's next book, but even if it takes that long to write another as wonderful as The Water's Edge, I'll be first in line at the checkout counter.

"The Water's Edge" is a historical novel set in the 1600's in England and the fledgling colonies of the New World. For those who enjoy a storyline that follows a family or group of families through their daily life this will be a great read. The book follows three families from England to the American colonies as they seek a better life. Using the vehicle of a historical novel Virginia Parker does a masterful job of showing the complex relationships between the Quakers, the Puritans, the Indians, profit seekers, and those whose primary purpose was religious conversion. The reader comes to understand the difficulties of life in the colonies and many of the problems and triumphs to be had there. Become a part of the families as you live their hopes, their dreams, and their realities. A well-done, recommended book for anyone who enjoys fiction based on historical events.