Butler Books

"The Phantom's Opera" is book 3 in Sadie Montgomery's "The Phoenix of the Opera" series. This book is as good as the first 2 and I was unable to put it down once I started it. Once again, we follow the adventures of Erik and Meg, Raoul and Christine, and those moving in and out of their lives. As with the other 2 books, the story is told from shifting perspectives, which give us a glimpse of each character's motivation, emotions and thoughts.

Erik and Meg are living in Italy, working in the new opera house built with Erik's participation. During a suspicious fire, Erik is presumed dead after rescuing those trapped within. But, he isn't dead! Having sustained a serious head injury, he awakens with no memory of who he is. Thinking that he is married to the woman who rescues him, he takes up what he thinks is his previous life. But he keeps having nightmares, about a beautiful blonde woman, and music that weaves in and out of his dreams. A woman he loves but cannot remember. A woman who isn't his wife! Feeling a restlessness he doesn't understand he returns to Rome, only to discover that his dream woman is the star of the Teatro dell'Opera. He is torn between what he feels is his duty to his wife, and his love for the beautiful diva.

I have become addicted to this series and cannot wait to see how the whole thing ends. It was so easy for me to feel the pain, love and frustration of these characters. I have begun to think of them as close friends. Ms. Montgomery has done a fantastic job of creating individuals that seem real, warm, haunted. I don't know if I will be satisfied with just 4 books in this series!

I loved the Phantom of the Opera movie and I feel that Sadie Montgomery's book closely follows the tone and imagery I would have if I had read the movie screenplay starring Gerard Butler. The phantom characteristics of seductive darkness and sexy duality of strong yet repentant villain/misunderstood victim of an abusive history really pull you into the plot. There is plenty of action in the book and personal character development to keep things moving, and I found myself unable to put the book down and eager to read the sequels as quickly as possible. It was nice to have the image of the piercing eyes of Gerard Butler constantly described and his amazing body finally finding some sexual tension and release--plenty of surprises and twists. Highly recommended reading for the romantic woman who enjoys the tragic love stories...

I just finished reading The Phantom's Opera...the third book in Sadie Montgomery's wonderful series! She really outdid herself with The Phantom's Opera. She finally pulled me in with Erik and Meg's relationship. I found that hard to accept and she did it in this one...for me! They were so suited for one another...just beautiful! What strength Meg had to be with him and not let on that she was married to him.......during his bout with amnesia! Erik was so passionate and loving....such a wonderful father and husband! I loved that Erik and Raoul became such wonderful friends....and the humor between the two was precious! I loved this book and cannot wait for the 4th one.....I don't know how it could be any better than The Phantom's Opera! You will love this one! What a fantastic writer Sadie is!

After a lengthy wait for my book to be shipped from the USA, I savoured every word in the continuing saga of the Phantom's journey in 'The Phantom Opera'.
I admit that I felt heart wrenched for Erik as he tried to come to terms with the past history invented for him by Lucianna as he began to mingle fact with fiction after hearing overheard the servants conversations. His horror of what he assumed had been his nature, that of a depraved sexual pervert, a monster. And sweet Meg, how she longed to hold him and remind him of their love...And when Erik begins to dream of the faithful sweet innocence of Meg as his subconcious mind struggles to drag him back into the truth of his true identity....brilliantly written. Another winner Miss Sadie!
.I was reminded of the words from a poem of Alexander Pushkin .............
'And here you once again appear
Before me like a vision fleeting,
A beauty's Angel pure and clear'

Meg proved once again she is Eriks Angel.

Having just finished Sadie's fourth installment, which I might add is as wonderful as the rest and Kleenex necessary, I find that this third intallment is my favorite of them all. Sadie brings Erik to an unforgetable innocence, taking a man with a violent past and making him a marshmellow in the presence of a diva he is deeply attracted to -- Meg. But you say, he's married to Meg already! Oui! How he is brought to that position, you'll have to read for yourself, suffice to say, it's an innocent endearing love he feels for her, untainted by the past. Sadie explores the depths of Erik's personality even more so in such a wonderful way, that you can't help falling in love with this character through every page. It also challenges each of us with the question what would you do for love. I highly recommend it.

Diana Butler Bass chronicles both her own journey and the journey of recent protestantism all in this one book, where each chapter describes a particular Episcopal parish in which she was a parishoner. The book is authentic and certainly interesting. Clearly, Bass' faith decisions were hard to make and the background information she gives both on the parishes and on the movements behind them add a lot to her story. Still, one wonders whether Bass' journey is truly faith-based--she makes decisions more on what's comfortable to her, not necessairly where God is leading her and might just be enamored with the institution of the Church, rather than God himself. In other words, she seems a bit too mechanical and well it works somewhat, this spiritual journey lacks a little spirit and a little heart.

Diana Butler Bass offers herself as a cherished and cherishing companion to the many souls whose journeys of faith have been erratic, halting, tentative, exuberant, and unorthodox. Her honesty as she shares her own sometimes limping, sometimes soaring travels (from a childhood Methodism through an evangelical path that she began to perceive as more and more restrictive, into the Episcopal church in several of its many manifestations), gives each reader permission to admit their own disappointments and dead ends, to grieve their losses and sorrows, and to celebrate their continually renewing and awakening relationship with the Living God who is Love Incarnate.
But this is more than an autobiography; it is a reflection on the anxious and hopeful state of the Christian church in the time and place of the 21st century United States. The diversity of faithful witness is heartening. The honesty of mistakes is not only comforting and amusing, but encouraging as transitions unfold from seeming tombs to radiant hope.
Diana Butler Bass is not only a highly trained observer, but a deeply skilled theologian. She is not content with simple answers or trite generalizations. She admits that she is a fallible witness, but that doesn't stop her from sharing the truth as she sees it.
You may not agree with everything she says, but you will be challenged and informed to deepen in your own reflections.
Well worth reading by anyone on a spiritual journey, including clergy, lay leaders, lifelong church-goers, brand-new converts, and anyone who wonders, "Who would ever want to go to church, anyway?"

As the daughter of a retired Episcopal priest and a "cradle Episcopalian," I was glad to see the term "Protestant" jettisoned along the way during my spiritual development in the Episcopal Church (when it was called the Protestant Episcopal Church until my late adolesence.) While not leaning to the "high church" (Roman Catholic format) of some Episcopal parishes, my father wasn't "low church," (Protestant) either--which to me is nearly synonomous with "evangelical". I saw him as one who leaned more toward the "catholic" side of the Episcopal church than the "protestant." He served in areas (i.e. towns and cities) very much influenced by protestant religious majorities, as well as where Roman Catholicism was the predominant religion, but retained his views throughout. He wore a clerical collar, not a coat and tie, at work. In some towns, my father was also my primary Episcopal priest, which can give an interesting perspective, as any clergy child can tell. Relocating to various areas of the country with him gave me a wide view of the Episcopal Church, including my father's attendance at an Episcopal seminary when I was an elementary school child. I was looking for a similar broad view in Bass' book, and it seems she rebelled for a very long time against anything but Evangelical worship practices which I found frustrating about her book. But to each his/her own in terms of what they like or don't like about the Episcopal Church. I miss the 1928 prayebook liturgy now as a forty-something year old, though I initially liked the modern language of the current prayerbook. Looking at the modern language now makes me miss the beautiful Elizabethan/Shakespearean language of the former liturgy.

Bass' book was an OK overview of how broad the spectrum individual congregations of the Episcopal Church can be, but I'd recommend Nora Gallagher's two books over this one.

Diana Butler Bass has done a wonderful job of describing her faith journey. It is witty, intelligently written, well documented, and compelling. It probably helps to be an Episcopalian to enjoy it and to see one's self in parts of the book. Bass is a churchgoer. Always has been. Always will be. I understand where she is coming from. However, her education and experience at eight different parish churches from Massachusetts to California makes very entertaining reading as well as giving the reader much to reflect on and ponder. There is nothing flip about this book. It is serious stuff and it is also uplifting. Her path in the church does not mirror mine, but that just makes the twists and turns in her faith life more interesting. It also explains why the Episcopal Church can be so frustrating to many and misunderstood by others. It is a journey worth reading about and who knows, you may find strength for yours there also.

Diana Butler Bass is a church goer. Always has been. Always will be. However her faith journey has been long and sometimes difficult. This is a very personal and compelling recounting of one woman's travels in the faith and also an interesting and thought provoking discourse on the condition of the Episcopal Church. Her church attendance has spanned the country. From Massachusetts to California and several places in between. She brings to the recounting of it, not only her description of her faith journey, but a scholar's understanding of the dynamics of the Faith. It is personal, it is uplifting and it is instructive. This is a wonderful book to read and reread.

I must admit I was a little disappointed by this book, a lot of the stories I had already read and the new ones were okay. All in all if buying this make sure you haven't read the stories already then it would probably be a good buy

As with any compilation there is good and bad. More good than bad, and the bad is based on my personal taste. if you enjoy end of the world, or post end of the world stories, this is a must. My only solid compliant is that some of these stories would have made excellent full length novels.

The individual stories that make up this collection are very good. Tastes differ from reader to reader, but there's something for everyone in this long, varied collection. The best thing about this book, as others have mentioned, is the range of stories included.

Most of us come to post-apocalyptic literature from one angle or another, and Adams provides a good mix of the range of ideas that have swirled around the sub-genre since its inception. If you're new to the sub-genre, this is a great place to start. If you're familiar with it, these stories (and the appended bibliography) tell you where to go among today's authors for contemporary visions of Life After.

What an excellent anthology! I believe it takes a great effort and definitely talent and experience to create good anthologies. There are thousands of excellent short stories out there of post-apocalyptic nature. I am sure it takes an enormous amount of time to select few that encompass this greatly dramatic subject. John Joseph Adams has done an incredible job. Wastelands is definitely worth reading.
The stories collected here are hopeful, hopeless, romantic, dramatic, and in some cases even comedic. The range of emotions I felt while reading these stories is incredible. Honestly, I am a bit too emotional sometimes, so reading "The People of Sand and Slag" by P. Bacigalupi has truly saddened me, I wish I skipped this one. However, there are other stories that are in some ways more optimistic and positive, for example "Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus" by N. Barrett and even "Judgment Passed" by J. Oltion (although I don't think many will agree with me on this one). And of course there are really scary stories like " Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels" by G. Martin and "Episode Seven" by John Langan. I think every person will feel a bit differently about each story.
I really like reading post-apocalyptic books, so maybe I am a bit biased when it comes to this subject. However, I do believe that even for people who've never read any "end of the world" books before, this one would be an excellent first read. So, again Wastelands is a great anthology, and I 100% recommend it!

I have long enjoyed apocalyptical fiction. What happens after the final disaster or war? Will mankind survive? How? How will he adjust to a changed world? What qualities will help him to survive? You will find answers to those questions and more in the pages of this well written book. Each story is a new world... a new adventure... a new beginning - after the end.

This book was recommended to me by a co-worker who had dealt with the illness and eventual death of her father-in-law. It provided so much excellent practical information that I used immediately in caring for my parents. An added bonus is the reassurance it gives to me and my siblings as caretakers for the ones who once cared for us. Highly recommended!

A friend recommended this book--excellent resource on a variety of subjects. I've referred to it several times, finding a topic and reading that chapter. I bought one for me and a second one for my sister. I'll continue to refer to it through the weeks, months and years ago. I'd recommend this book.

This is exactly what I needed. All the answers to questions I hadn't even thought of! GREAT BOOK!!

As part of my research for building caring.com, I read six eldercare handbooks and found Virginia's one of the very best. The tone is practical and compassionate, and every subject is covered in depth. She knows firsthand about the challenges of taking care of a sick parent, and her book will help you get through them.

We have given this book to several of our clients, many of whom are long distance caregivers. They've all called to say "thank you". The book is detailed, and provides a step by step guide for caregivers. Extremely helpful for those new to caregiving.

So I finally finished the patternmaster series. Not really a series, as there's no big finale but all the books are linked. I have heard that Butler didn't like this book and didn't want it to be printed again. I'm not sure why.

The only problem I had with it was the changing narrator. She went from 1st person with a human, to 1st person with an alien, and then to 3rd person. It was a bit jarring at times. Sometimes she would label the chapter with the narrators name but then she would change to 3rd person with just a couple lines of space.

As with her other books, this is sturdy work, well written and harsh. No hi-tech gadgets but some pretty cool aliens with a fully developed culture that reminded me of -Speaker for the Dead- in their alien-ness. The difference is that she writes shorter stories so her characters aren't as well developed as Card. So I like her stuff but it hasn't blown me away yet. Maybe the Xenogenisis trilogy will, I'm going to try to read that later this year.

Please Ms. Butler! I'm sure the publishers would jump at the chance. How about a limited edition release? People (like myself) are scavenging for any copy they can find, paying upwards of a hundred bucks just to get a worn out old copy of this book!

Ms. Butler has said that she's sorry this book was ever released. She knows what she's doing. This is a great story for any other SF writer. But it's mediocre coming from Ms. Butler. It's more shallow than her other stuff. Since it was out-of-print, I thought it would be the only story of hers that I would never read. I felt tortured until I found a library with a copy. I feel better now. But if you can't find one, don't torture yourself wishing you could.

I read this book several years ago and loved it so much that I bought it again when I misplaced the first copy. I can't believe the current price.

This book was straightforward and easier to read and understand than the other books I read by Ms. Butler. It was definitely worth reading!

It seems mrs Butler regrets that this book ever found its way into print. I guess I can understand this as "Survivor" is a much more straightforward and action-directed story than the rest of her work. Nevertheless I found this to be mrs Butler's most readable book. It has plenty of depth and lacks the bitterness that apparently always is present in her other work, and alway seems to be on the verge of spoiling it.

"Survivor" should definitely be reprinted!

I'm sure the Royal Family would not apporve of Paul Burrell's "cashing in" on his relationship with Princess Diana. Having said that, people in the USA love this kind of thing. We can hold our noses in the air if we read this book, we feel priviliged. We are special. Burrell, however, may be a nicer version of Martha Stewart. She wins the prize for cold psycho-perfection. Paul Burrell, like Martha, has now gone on to merchandize furniture, wine, rugs, and just about anything else in this world. I am waiting for him to open a "royal theme park" in Florida. I must add a post-script to this review as I just recently purchased a copy of this book from E-bay that was signed by Paul Burrell. I too am now guilty of joining the curiosity seekers who want to have an inside look at the so-called "royal life". So hit me with a large blancmange and call me snobby.

This lovely little book discusses the many aspects of elegant entertaining -- from perfect table setting, to eye-catching flower arrangements. Burrell's passages on entertaining and party planning are peppered with touching stories about his employment as former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales.

Burrell demonstrates his knowledge and class on each beautifully photographed page. No wonder he was held in such high regard by the royals!

A Few Notes:
- I would not call this an "Etiquette" book, as it deals much more with proper table setting and party planning. As such, I think it would be better labeled as an "Entertaining" book.

- The range of party/theme ideas is impressive. Some of Burrell's examples include a sit-down dinner, afternoon tea, and childrens' party.

- For those interested in the life of Princess Diana, this gives you a tasteful and telling behind-the-scenes look. Frankly, some of Burrell's Diana anecdotes were some of the best parts of the book...

Enjoy!

If you recognize the name, then you know this was the butler who almost went to jail for supposedly stealing personal items belonging to the late Diana. He was saved by a timely intervention from the Queen, who suddenly recalled being told that he was intended to have the stash. Speculation on why she waited until he was on trial abounds; especially since he immediately walked off the stand and over to the tabloids and sold his story there.

But if you can overlook that blatant act - it's simply Not Done to expose your employer, even if she is dead - this book is a pleasent and colorful glimpse into serving royalty. But it is just a glimpse - nothing very substantial, nothing complete. The pictures of food served at a few different social occasions are delicious by themselves, but any coffee table cookbook will offer more of the same with more recipies as well. This one might be a good second hand purchase, if you like this sort of thing.

Move over, Miss Manners and Emily Post! Mr. Burrell's devotion to his princess and her reliance on him are well known, which only adds to his credibility as a new author of etiquette and entertaining! Mr. Burrell tells we commoners how to set a table with style and entertain our guests with elegance and ease. He also includes tasty recipes, some of which were favored by the late Princess of Wales. Highly recommend to any hostess or anyone wanting to learn more about real etiquette.

I have to say that at the beginning I didn't want to get the book but now I think that is one of the best books about etiquette I've ever bought, and I have lots of them.
The recipes are incredible and very easy to prepare.
The elegance and the exquisite taste is really unique, and the flower's centrepieces awesome, is something that anybody can do without a professional training.
I think is a MUST TO HAVE BOOK.

Meditation Express is wonderfully simple and simply wonderful! It's deceptively quick and easy, insightful and witty, and every single page holds a gem. In fact, it's a perfect volume to pick up and flip open any time you need to destress. The tips and techniques enable you to take a nourishing breath, get to your center, and move forward into the day with clarity, vitality, and grace. It's powerful and empowering, it's pleasurable and fun, and it works!

This book is nice, concise, and filled with spice. It's excellent for the person who would like to meditate, but doesn't seem to have the time. It's easy to pick and choose among the many suggestions given. The authors (Mike & Nancy) are right on!

This book is excellent for helping people to destress themselves quickly. It is easy to read and understand.

This book is not a introduction to meditation. It contains some seperate ideas that could be used to meditate upon, but I found the title "Meditation Express" misleading.
This is a book for meditating people who like to have some more ideas to meditate upon. I suggest you look in the excerpts of the book, this is all the book contains for the rest of the pages.

Meditation Express is a great resource for novice and experienced meditators alike. The authors have many creative ideas that teach meditation techniques for people who really want to meditate but always somehow find a way to not have the time. The book is great because you can pick it up when you have only a few minutes and get a useful exercise in just a short time, and even have time leftover to do the meditation. I gave copies to several of my friends and family who I know are stressed out with too much to do, and need ways to decompress. It makes a sweet gift!!
Nancy and Michael have a great career ahead of them as teachers and writers. Thanks for the book!

I have been looking for a book like this. It was an excellent choice of subject matter. However, unlike the magazine articles that tell the story of success, these stories lack flavor.

This book gave me a good look at the process (in short) that many of these individuals had to go through in order to achieve their goals. There were some key similarities among many. One, they did what they loved to do, or what they could do well. Two, they seriously worked HARD at it. Three, there were no short cuts. These three aspects will ring true again and again when you read about successful businesspeople. This book just focuses on those that have done it and are African Americans.

I give it a gold star (4 of them).

Absolutely outstanding piece of literary work. It is rare, even with the likes of Black Enterprise Magazine, that we get to see the wealthy Black Americans that exist in this country. Besides being an eye opening book, I also found it to be motivational for one who might contemplate starting ones own business one day. Some of the person's profiled in this book started with very little capital in some very non-traditional fields with the odds against them. Through perserverance and determination they became successful. I strongly recommend this book as one you must have in your library. Hopefully, this will inspire Mr. Graves to document the 400 wealthiest Black Americans.

The book writes about a Mr. Alvin Rice as a "Young Black Millionaire" but he is definetly NOT one. Unfortunately, this gentlemen has pretty much "charmed" the author into believing what ever he can come up with. D&R Recovery (his supposed fortune in the making) is now under and owes back taxes from what I read.

I really think the author should have verified her sources before publishing the book and making the rest us look bad! It's hard enough to find an uplifting book about our people, then to have the information be tarnished.

AWESOME! Thank you Ms. Niki Butler Mitchell for showcasing people of color. I know they exist in my environment, but there are others in the world that are not surrounded by such images of success.

The theme throughout this book is faith, perseverance, hard work, family, helping others, not MONEY! I could not put this book down. It lead to my insomnia!

Why should you purchase this book? Parents to encourage your child; multicultural professionals to show there are a multitude of successful people of color that are not in the entertainment industry or playing supports that encounter racism; entrepenuers to refer to as a source of encouragement.

Bottomline this is not just a book for people of color, but for people who have persevered. These individuals have definitely reinforced my motto, "all you can tell me is no, but if I don't ask the answer is already N-O!"

Thanks to the individuals represented in the pages of 'The New Color Of Success' I have been encouraged to continue focusing on my passion.

So, Ms. Mitchell when are you planning on writing the next one?

Marie Curate

Reiffen's Choice by S.C. Butler is the first book of the new young adult fantasy series, The Stoneways Trilogy.
In a world filled with so much wonder that the presence of talking animals, dwarves, and shape shifters seems mundane, twelve-year-olds Reiffen, Avender, and Ferris desire the good-natured fun of young people everywhere--sneaking extra candy, visiting friends, and complaining about school--all the while enjoying a safe home among adults who love them so that mortal dangers remain the stuff of myth.
When Reiffen, the heir to a great throne, is kidnapped, Avender and Ferris must put away the comfort and security of home in order to rescue him. But they are running out of time. Will Reiffen succumb to the temptation of wielding the power of magic--a power so great that his soul and self will be forfeit and death and destruction will follow in his wake?
Mr. Butler wields the power of words like a delicate knife. I was entranced by the first paragraph of his book.


One warm spring day in Valing, a large, fat bear sunned himself on the gray stone of the Neck. His russet coat gleamed, sleek as a nokken's: the long mountain winter didn't seem to have bothered him at all. Half-asleep or half-awake, he lay comfortably between the orchard and the top of the cliff, where the scent of the apple blossoms was almost as lovely as the hum of the bees. Behind him the lake glistened a deep and sparkling blue. Except for a long plume of spray from the falls to the west, there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Valing? The Neck? Nokkens? Three unknown things in the first paragraph and I didn't care--the charm of the description carried me along.
Mr. Butler has written an innovative creation mythos to anchor his story, much the way J.R.R. Tolkein created a founding mythos to secure his world in The Lord of the Rings. While I could find logical nitpicks because of my technical background (training that I rue at times), in general, I found his mythos enchanting.
Though the character development of Reiffen, Avender, and Ferris fell flat at times because of a wandering viewpoint, Mr. Butler told their stories with an empathy and affection that drew me throughout the book, and, at the end, I knew that I would purchase (and have done so) the sequel--Queen Ferris.

Reiffen is the heir to both the thrones of Banking and Wayland, but b/c his parents' marriage was not officially recognized his uncle is king. Living in exile Reiffen is treated much like the other children living in the isolated community of Valing. Life is good at the Manor with this mother and his friends Avender and Ferris, until Reiffen is kidnapped by three evil Wizards who want to use him in their plans to spread chaos among the kingdoms of the world. Reiffen is thrust into a world where nothing is as it seems and choices are not what they seem. Meanwhile, his friends, with the help of Redburr the Shaper and Nolo the Dwarf, won't stand by to let him rot in the Wizards' dungeon.

Reiffen's choice is the rare bit of young adult fiction that not only spins a great yarn, but also takes us into fantastic situations that make us think about what happens when our deepest held convictions are tested to their limits. It is well written, fast paced, with memorable characters, and a twist you won't see coming. Very enjoyable for all ages.

As a fantasy writer myself, I often have trouble really getting engaged with someone else's work. It's hard to turn off the internal editor and just discover a new world, but this book did it for me.

It begins right away in a well-realized world, full of believable characters. The plot turns are startling and delightful to follow. For me, it's the voyage through the Stoneways that made the book take flight. Butler let me see things I'd never imagined. It reminded me of reading Tolkein for the first time, because my eyes were opened, my senses alert to the fascinating world around me.

My only complaint, in fact, is that Butler's Brydden are so intriguing as a people, and so different from the stereo-typical "dwarf" of fantasy, that I wish he had used his own terminology exclusively, in the way that he invented other perfect words for the things they made. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

Fantasy fiction is not my usual choice in a novel. However, my daughter encouraged me (actually she challenged me) to read at least a bit of Reiffen's Choice, which she insisted was an outstanding example of this genre. What a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am delighted that there will be two more. Is the book targeted to 'young' readers? Perhaps. But as an 'old' reader I'm convinced that anyone, of any age, who has a modicum of imagination will be fascinated by the world and the characters the author has created.

This book, in a word, is charming. The characters are lovable, and their struggles are real. The world is detailed and described in a way easy for all ages to understand. While the book is aimed at younger readers, and the characters are young, Butler does not pull punches. Over and over, the characters endure trials that will test their friendships, and change them forever.

A complete and excellent book explaining the development of the Gestapo from the 1920's to its final destruction with the end of the war.The book shows that the Gestapo was led by anything but powerful and smart characters. Himmler,Heydrich,and other leaders in the Gestapo were low level bureaucrats who had no military training,not skilled in law enforcement or particularly adept in organizational abilities,and would, never have advanced in any military or government organizations during normal times.Thet were pretty much misfits,who happened to be in the right place at the right time. When given a little bit of power ,they rapidly became obsessed with it .They became Megomaniacs when Hither took power and when they found that there were no limits placed on their operations. They operated in a despicable and ruthless manner and destroyed anyone and anything that got in the way of their madness. They had no redeeming values,no guiding principles,nor any characteristics other than suspicion,driven by self promoting power and hate.Their actions show how evil men can become when they have no conscience,no remorse no accountability,and no respect for anything except a despot.
The effect created by these evil characters was awsome and resulted in the murder of millions of innocent men,women and childern.The book even shows how weak these Gestapo leaders were during the final days of WWII. They couldn't even face those who were bringing them to account for their murderous actions. They took the coward's way out and committed suicide.
This book is not only important in that it shows how a organization as evil as the Gestapo can get started and how far it can get out of control and how difficult it is to destroy it.
As we proceed into the 21st Century,we once again see evil forces developing with the same characteristics that spawned the Nazis and their Gestapo ,namely a climate of obedience,conformity and denounciation .All this combined with the hate we see with worldwide Terrorism,should be a clear warning ;that what happened in Europe in the 1920's is happening today in the Middle East.
The pattern is easily recognizable. The question is ,what is going to be done about it?

Another fine book by Rupert Butler, this book will take the reader from the earliest days of the GEheimeSTaatsPOlizie, or Secret State Police, through to the end of the war. Starting from when it was just another professional plain-clothes police department, the Prussian Secret Police, to the rivalry of Göring and Himmler, which saw the control of the Gestapo pass from Göring to Himmler, to accommodate both mens larger agendas. Good clear descriptions of the key personnel involved in the Gestapo and the Reich's other security agencies, such as Himmler's deputy and head of the SD Reinhard 'Hangman' Heydrich, Heinrich 'Gestapo' Müller, Dr Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Arthur Nebe, and others. Also covers the other German security agencies, such as the Kripo, the Orpo, and the SD amongst others, and deals with the rivalry between the Gestapo and the SD, to the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, and the consequences for both the SS and the Gestapo in the aftermath. Easy to read for the layman, and a good read for the dedicated student of WWII German Security Agencies.

A top read!

Todoy GESTAPO is a word for tyranny and terror.

It is seen as synonomouse with the SS yet it was never directly parat of that organization. It is seen as Himmler's creation yet truth is that its origens predate the Nazis.

When it first existed during the days of the Weimar Republic it was just an ordinary branch of plain cloths detectives with a set jurisdiction, and; would have remained so had Hitler not become Chanceller and then dictator of Germany and Herman Goering not taken an interest in its use.

This is the well researched story of this instrument of oppression and a warning to all who see no wrong in giving government unlimited power.

This is one of the most excellent books I have ever read on the Nazi formation of the AMT-IV Geheime Staats Polizei and the Einsatz Gruppen. Being of German descent and having family members who immigrated just prior to this time, I have been very interested in this chapter of world history. This book really delivers in a straight reality type of way! If you want some strong but straightforward reporting of the issues that generated the gestapo and where it went from there, this is the book for you. A must for history students or history buffs. A must for anyone who wants to know just how easy it is to fall into the trap of "anti-terrorism" laws. Intrigued? GET THIS BOOK! Always remember Arbeit DOES NOT Macht Frei.

Throughout recorded history, all totalitarian regimes have needed their secret police to do their dirty work. The Catholic Church had its Inquisition in the Middle Ages, the Russian Communists had their NKVD/KGB during the mid-twentieth century, and the German Nazis had theirs in the Geheime Staatz Poliezi, the Gestapo. In AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE GESTAPO, Rupert Butler provides both text and visuals to trace the evolution of a state sanctioned thuggery that was supposed to safeguard the existence of a thousand year Reich, that mercifully went out of business after only 12 years.

After the end of the Great War in 1918,Germany was a beaten nation that nevertheless did not learn that brute aggression must one day cause a bitter price to be paid. Butler suggests that an organization like the Nazi party could never have been allowed to exist were it not for both the political myopia of the victors who insisted on crushing a fragile post-war German economy with heavy reparations and a widespread tendency for an entire nation of Germans to rally around a flag that placed anti-semitism as its motivating force in re-establishing itself as a conquering world power.

To those not familiar with the overlapping structures of the Nazi party, Butler delineates how the Gestapo, the SA, the SS, the SD, and the many branches of the police all interwove to keep a tight lid on the lives of every German and every conquered national. Butler describes the early years of the formation of the Gestapo with Heinrich Himmler at the center. Then he analyzes how the other security organs like the SS and SD sometimes co-operated, sometimes competed for dominance. The infamous names of the leaders are, of course, well-documented both in this book, and in others: Goering, Heydrich, Kaltenbrunner, Borman, Goebbels. What stands out in Butler's mind is the ordinariness of most of the top echelon of the Nazi hierarchy. Most of them, before they became power players, had quite ordinary lives. Himmler himself looked like the pale shopkeeper that he was before he entered the SS. Heydrich was a womanizer who entered the SS only to avoid a scandal. The destruction that the various organs of the Nazi security apparatus were to wreak on both Jew and Slav were largely the result of weak, dull, and drab individuals who prefered to give their orders of death and genocide to a set of truly vicious underlings who were only to glad to carry them out. The world rarely gets a chance to put the originators of genocide in a docket of law to be charged as criminals, but in 1946 in Nuremberg, the collective leadership of the Nazi dream of world conquest was called to account. During their trials, their very ordinariness underscored the true nature of evil. The Gestapo, as the epitome of evil and horror, was run at the top by men who saw their lives through the eyes as the miserable low-ranking bureaucrats that they were once, and claimed to be as their defense from that docket. The dough-faced prisoners sitting in that Nuremberg court in 1946 were living reminders that evil can be spectacularly ordinary. Butler's book says that about as well as anyone can.