Electronics Books

A great, fun, and easy bot to build. Good customer service.

I would recommend it for everyone.

This is a great bot. I recommend it for everyone. Easy to put together and lots of fun.

I should start off by saying that I'm not a kid, nor did I buy this and give it to a kid. I am 22 and I'm working on a completely hand-built robot. Since nobody else has written a review from this perspective - the adult hobbyist - I thought I would

First, however, for the sake of parents and uncles and aunts who read this. I think this is a good kit for 12-16 year olds, provided they are really computer savvy and have a long attention span. If your kid is fixing your computer more often than you, he might like this. If already knows how to program, this kit is for him. In any case, you probably need a knowledgable adult to get past the basics with this kit. The kit itself is a little on the cheap side, I'm not sure its worth the price above. (I found it on sale for less than half , but I've seen it advertised for 3 times as much too.) It took me 30 minutes to build it, but I was doing it real carefully. Any kid can probably do it in the same amount of time, although some of the instructions are probably going to be confusing for a kid. (How many 12 year olds know the difference between a worm gear and a spur gear?) Luckily, there are plenty of photos, which make the instructions pretty "kid-friendly". It does require an abnormally small flathead screwdriver that I don't think most houses have lying around. (An eyeglass repair kit would be perfect for assembling this.)

Once you build it and put in the batteries, it starts working right away and you can use the included remote control to play around with it. There's lots of online documenation included on CD. While the documentation is noble in its intent to teach, it covers way more material than a book could practically teach to an early adolescent, and therefore moves a little too fast at times: basic electronics and semiconductors, programming, etc. You might want to supplement this kit with extra books if the child shows interest. The extra project ideas seem like they would be engaging, but except for the most simple they're going to require an adult to help design the circuits unless your child is a whiz kid at electronics.

Okay, now I want to address the "Big Kids", like me, who are interested in intermediate/advanced robotics and buy kits like this to get experience and to later take apart and hack onto other projects. For me, this seemed like a good deal because it includes a BasicStamp 2, which costs more new (~$34)than what I paid for the whole kit. Sadly, its not the same BasicStamp 2. It operates the same electronically, but has a different physical form. This means when you're done with Mr. Sumo, you can't pull his brains out and plug them in to your own breadboard.

Okay, moving along, the engineering uses a smart architecture, where the low level such as PWM for the motors, A/D for the sensors, etc. are handled by their own, dedicated chip, a PIC16C505. Sadly, however, this is an OTP (one-time programmable) chip. This means you can't rewrite any of the low level functions without buying a pin-compatible, surface-mount PIC, reprogramming it, and then surface-mounting it to the PCB. In short, it's a lot of trouble.

The BS2 communicates to this PIC using two I/O lines and sending very basic, 8-bit commands. This is where the robot really limits itself. The control over certain crucial aspects, such as the motor speed, is handled solely by the low-level PIC16C505 and from the BS2 you don't get much access...you can't set the motors to different speeds, for instance, nor redefine what each speed means. (It has speeds 1-4, with 0 being "stopped"). Why would you want to? Because the DC motors weren't matched well when the kit was manufactured, and one overpowers the other, resulting in my robot continually dragging to the right. (Your robot will of course differ.) There's no easy way to fix this, without low-level access to the PWM code.

This is the bad, however. There are a lot of good things about this kit. The software is pretty amazing. The IDE is real easy to use, and it even includes a downloader that is way faster than others I've used (6811 and JStamp downloaders, eg). Plus, it has a "visual" memory map that helps you understand how much of the EEPROM your code is using up...that's a neat feature. Also, the little breadboard, while tiny, has convenient access to 11 I/O lines, as well as +3V from the BS2, +6V from the batteries, and ground.

Communication with the PIC16C505 is easy too, because the author include two convenient serial transmission routines in the program template that you use to build each new program. The sensors and conditioning circuitry and software are designed to eliminate "flutter" that often frustrates me on other projects. There is a bright IR LED, two decent IR sensors, and two CDS light sensors. The motors are small and fast, although geared down to add some much needed torque. With fresh batteries and a little bit of grease on the axles, I would guess this thing can go 60 feet per minute. The machining of the kit is good; everything fits snugly. The bread board has mounting holes for standoffs in case you want to add another deck on top, and the belly has tabs machined for mounting an RC servo. (Although, its a mount I've never seen, and none of my servos fit it.)

Well, this review is so long I ought to bind it and sell it on this site..the long and short: probably good for kids...with the right adult mentor. For adult hobbyists it's arbitrarily limited (as opposed to RoboSapien which is designed to be hacked), but still could be used as a test bed for small circuits. For the price I payed, I'm happy, but I wouldn't have gone much higher. (Then again, I'm a poor college student...)

I have had the original build your own robot kit for a year now and I thought it was pretty good. The concept and price was great, but there were a few rough edges in the original execution. The original wheels [were poor] (and for some reason say "FORD" on them) and it got pretty expensive buying the BS2 to go with it. Using an "acorn nut" as a front "caster" was pretty innovative, unfortunately it didn't work that well on rough surfaces.

The good points about the robot were the remote control and how easily a BS2 could be added to the robot so that I could write my own programs and try them out. Even with the [poor] wheels and "caster" it was probably the best experimenter's robot out there. The information on the CD-ROM was great, although I wish it was available on paper (costs a lot to print out all the information).

Myke seemed to have learned from the first robot and the Sumo Bot is fantastic. It now has a very solid sheet metal chassis (with a front scoop), it runs by 4 "AA" batteries and has a caterpiller bulldozer like track that allows it to run over just about any surface. The robot is really built like a bulldozer, it will last a long time.

Best of all, the optional pieces from the original kit, the BS2 and AppMod are built into the robot. All you have to do is put the CD-ROM into your PC, download the programs and BS2 programming software, conenct the robot to the PC using a serial cable and you can start writing your own programs or adding your own hardware.

This review probably reads like a sales pitch, but I've had my Sumo Bot for a week now and I LOVE IT! It's very robust, easy to use and program and best of all, it's fun.

Brad

this was an awsome robot i got it two weeks ago and im 13this robot has a cool way to be able to be progrmaed i already tried life simulation and many others this is the best robot with the most features its unbelievable i recommened it for beginners and those who love robotics it will be the envey of your block

This book feels like it would be useful for someone starting out in making recordings. It maintains a pretty uniform level over a broad range of topics. It does not deal in detail with any; good for what it tries to do, but it is certainly not encyclopaedic.

If a picture tells a thousand words, a recording clip tells even more when you are dealing with sound.If you want to hear what changing Eq settings, filters, compression, mics and room setups does, get this book; the accompanying CD is mind opening. The descriptions and narratives in the book are excellent. I've read a lot of recording books through the years. This one is a must.

You can tell that this book series is presented by someone who has many years of experience. Anyone could learn from this Smart Guide series very well done.

Duane Gibson
Sally Studios
Memphis, Tn

Let me start out by saying this book and the entire series deserves 6 stars, but the Amazon rating box only went up to 5. Whether you've been doing sound,music,engineering for a week or 20 years these books have something for everyone.The full color artwork is the best i've ever seen in any instructional book period.The companion dvd is fantastic, worth the price alone.Bill gibson does a great job with the subject matter and text,he covers the material thoroughly while making it easily understood. Highly recommend.

If you've taken (or are thinking of taking) the plunge into home recording, this should be the first book you look at. I own a lot of books on recording and therefore have a lot of advanced information beyond the scope of home recording. I've had to filter out what was pertinent for my own needs. I can truly tell you this book will spare you that path. And of course, you can always get the advanced stuff later, but this book will get you up and running very quickly. It has very good explanations, diagrams and examples of pretty much all the audio techniques you'll need to get good recordings at home. Highly recommended.

Michael Jang is now 2 for 2 in my eyes. First linux+ and now this, both books have been great. I read Toby Maginnis book as well, but this one was much easier reading. Read it in 3 days. It is all quick reading, and down to the point. It gives you the information you need to pass the test the first time. Working with linux part time for 6 months, I passed the test in 15 minutes with a 90%. Keep writing books Michael, i'm looking forward to more in the future.

I did the installation and configuration exam once and failed it at 68% without doing any reading but I've been working with linux servers for 6 years now. Then I bought this book and beleive me it's one of the best linux books around even with the fact that it's just an exam cram book. I've learned a lot by reading this book. It's well organized and well written and covers alomst everything that is in the exam. After reading the entire book in 1 week, I did the exam again and passed with 90%!! So if there is 1 book you have to read before doing the exam, it's this book!

This book covered, almost 100 percent of the subjects I encountered on the test. I did the hour long test in about 30 minutes and passed it with points to spare, using this book as my sole study material. Admittedly I've been doing Unix System Admin for a couple of years, but this is the least UNIX like of all the Linux tests. It focuses mostly on Linux specific components lilo, boot order, disaster recoery etc. This book covered it all. The quiz questions can be a little infuriating (tricky), but you calm down when you realize how much they force you to concentrate on the subject matter. Buy it and study it and you'll pass the test.

This book is awesome! I have read the other SAIR Linux Certification test books, but none of them truly let you understand what you're doing like this book, along with a practice test on the end of each chapter, this book really makes sure you understand your stuff! I reccommend this book for novices to the 'LeEt Linux haxor'z.

The exam cram books in general are a great series! I used them to help me study for my MCSE tests. With the help of these books, I passed each test on the first try!

So when I was going to go for my Sair Linux certification, I used the Exam Cram book. This book was great and helped me prepare for the test. The book covered the main topics in more depth than the test requires and the practice test was more difficult than the real thing. If you understand the information given to you in this book, you have a good chance of passing the test. You need a 74% or better to pass.the exam. I was surprised to find out I got 92% on my first try, because I am new to Linux (less than 6 months). This book was a major factor in me passing the exam!

Teach Yourself Acid 3.0 is an excellent resource. Although Acid comes with a manual on PDF, everybody knows that switching between your software and Adobe Acrobat Reader is tedious and a strain on the eyes--which in turn means that you probably won't learn all about Acid's possibilities. With TYA 3.0, you can have the book open while you work with Acid (this alone vastly improves your learning curve); additionally, every chapter (or "hour") of this text has exercises and activities that you can do with the supplied CD-Rom loops. I really recommend doing the exercises--they WILL give you ideas for your own Acid projects.

While it might initially seem a little pricey, the tips, exercises, and CD-Rom make it invaluable.

This book is terrific! I just recently started experimenting with computer music using the ACID 3 programs, and this book makes an already easy to learn program even easier to understand. It is clearly written with the beginner in mind yet will take you as far up the technical ACID 3.0 learning curve as you wish. There is only one change I would make in the contents of Sam's Teach Yourself ACID 3.0 in 24 Hours, and that would be the inclusion of a comprehensive TROUBLESHOOTING section. The book is carefully written in a fashion, that if you follow the instructions to the letter, you should experience no technical problems. But as most will not have the infallibility to successfully follow the instructions without at least a few mistakes, I would wish there be a simple and quick to reference TROUBLESHOOTING section that helps you to easily go back and correct what you may have missed. But with this aside, the book is terrific. Definitely written for actual human beings. Well done.

As a Sonar user, a Sound Forge user, a Vegas Video user, I was completely amazed to discover the power hidden within Acid--whose very name unfortunately causes scornful and undeserved ridicule as with the review below.

Many see Acid as a toy, and it is anything but as anyone who digs beneath the surface will quickly discover.

Acid 3.0 is a professional tool used in professional environments to achieve professional results faster than ever before and where time is money, Acid shines.

For anyone wanting to push this tool past it's apparent limits, using it as the ultimate tool with which to bring together tracks from various sources (including Cubase) this book is essential to understanding its hidden strengths, and workarounds for inherent weaknesses found in some extreme BPM and pitch-shifting tasks. "Acid 3.0 in 24 Hours" is essential to understanding track management, bus usage, FX options, video scoring, and timing adjustments to name but a few.

Do not be fooled. Acid is a most powerful non-destructive digital audio construction tool, although its name may draw prejudice. This book is as worthy a companion and reference as exists for it.

Buy this book. Even the Acid experienced will learn from it.

i got the software and this book on friday, by monday i was making incredible music, i dont know anything about music
i am a flash developer and this works great for flash too.
i only read half of the book and it kicks ...!!!
acid pro 3 is to music what flash is to the internet. it will change everything... the book is excellent, it starts out basic and take you in fast, this book is great for the novice as well as the advanced user. also check out sound forge power book here at amazon, these two programs together and you can do anything.

This is a carefully-written explanation of a complex piece of computer technology. It takes way more hours than the title promises. But it is a wonderful introduction to the fascinating world of audio recording technology. Super Dooper!

The book provides an excellent introduction to logic and then shows how by using the language of logic and mathematics to specify pre-conditions and post-conditions one can develop provably correct programs from these pre-conditions and post-conditions.

I have used the methods in this book to develop advanced algorithms in Computer Graphics which could not have been developed in any other way.

The book is both a tutorial and reference. It is clearly written and organized.

When I first read this book, it was as though a bolt of lightning had struck me. Applying its methods, I became a much better programmer. I went from someone who struggled to get the code right to someone who always got the code right. For the first time I understood what programming was all about. I read the book on vacation while my wife and I were staying at my father's home in Sag Harbor New York and it was one of the most incredible intellectual adventures of my life. I'll never forget the smell of the sea and the sand and the logic going off like lightning flashes inside my brain.

This book makes my top-ten list of best computing books of the decade of the eighties. It certainly changed my outlook on how to write programs. The incorporation of logic into the code to mathematically prove that it works correctly was an ideal in the eighties and to some extent it remains an ideal. Nevertheless, that is not a reflection of the value of program correctness, but a consequence of the slow changes that sometimes take place in computing. Programmers may change their languages easily, but often not their styles.
At the time this book came out, I was in the process of designing and adding a course in computation theory with an emphasis on program correctness at Mount Mercy College. Before I encountered this book, I was having a difficult time pressing my case. However, after this book came out and I could use some of the comments regarding the significance of its' content, the course was easily approved. I also used the book in the class and the student comments were overwhelmingly positive. Ten years later, the book is still used in the class, something that is rare in computing.
The quality of the writing and explanations of the examples in the book are outstanding. Most of the students had no experience in formal logic, and yet they had little difficulty understanding and applying the concepts. The examples of proving the code correct were well chosen and I rarely heard any of the traditional complaints from math students regarding their frustrations over having to work through proofs.
The quality of programs would be dramatically increased if the principles of program correctness in this book were widely adopted. I continue to push for it every chance I get, and this review is one part of that push.

If you want to make a good programmer,you should study it. Many programmers just like programming , but they ignore how to verify their program is whether good enough or not.

The book deals with the way of development of programs using mathematical principles. This line of observation ( mentioned in the preface) " One can not learn to write large programs effectively until one has learned to write small ones effectively" captures the motivation of the book. There are three parts; part I introduces predicate logic; it includes natural deduction system; Part II builds the mathematical treatment of the programming constructs like assignment, alternative, iterative command and procedure call. Part III shows how programs are developed and proved correct using the mathematical principles discussed earlier. Given the nature of the area, the book is written with a lot of attention to instructional impact. The best recommendation for the book is by Dijkstra: The topic deserves no less author... To get the message across requires a scientist that combines his scientific involvement in the subject with the precious gifts of a devoted teacher".

Simply put, a book that re-introduces the idea of program correctness over all else. An excellent source on program design & analysis, checking for correctness using a logic-based approach. A book that builds from the fundamentals. Not for those who are looking for quick fixes.

This book is very helpful when you are trying to learn how to use Second Life.

I love this book!! It rocks!! It really helps you get around in Second Life (SL) as a struggling "Newbie" those first few days and weeks. The book is beautifully presented, with high quality illustrations, great tips, and the author's Avatar; "Ansel Gasparini" is a cool dude : ) It really enhanced my whole SL experience.
After you read the book and get on Second Life, go visit the in-world site where you can see some of the stuff in Brian White's book. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to start their Second Life adventures..! Let's get this party started... let the adventures begin!!

See you in Second Life!! : )

This is an excellent first book for those who have signed on to Second Life, fooled around some, and have lots of questions. My advice is put a few hours into Second Life, then read this book. The presentation level was just right for me as an intro. But start by going on Second Life, THEN read the book.

A good intro that is well illustrated. Almost all the tutorials work like they are supposed to. Much better than the Official Guide.

This is a superbly done, informative, beautifully illustrated (and printed), densely packed yet easy-to-understand, highly informative, tour-de-force introduction to everything you want or need to know about Second Life. They don't get any better than this. If you are interested in SL, you've got to get this book!

All the best,

will

A comprehensive survey which will be useful for Exchange admins, but also allows others (CIO's, CSO's, business folk) to understand the issues and solutions available for Exchange security.

I'm NOT an Exchange admin, I focus more on compliance and security, and found the chapters on this the best summary I've seen. Very valuable to anyone dealing with compliance issues for corporate email.

If you've read the 'Security Operations for Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server' guide from Microsoft, what value can this book possibly add? That's the question I asked myself before digging into this book. Answer: A LOT!

For starters, it's a very well-written book - starts with some great explanations of Security Fundamentals - the buzzwords, the protocols & algorithms, threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. I've read many security books, but seldom have I found just the right balance - as technical as it needs to be, but still interesting enough for the non-techies.

The section on Installing Exchange With Security in Mind is particularly interesting. Everything you want to know about messaging/Exchange security is covered - SMTP Relays, spam, content filtering, antivirus, SSL, MAPI/RPC security, et al. Great coverage of email encryption and Public Key cryptography, Outlook client security, POP/IMAP security. Can never get tired of readng about securing Outlook Web Access.

Overall, a must-read for Exchange admins. The only thing I would've liked to see is: i) this book to be released at least a year ago.. this one's at the tail end of the Exchange 2000 lifecycle - too close to the Titanium (Exchange 2003) release. ii) Perhaps some more coverage of specific vulnerabilities of SMTP and Exchange, and how secure Exchange is compared to other messaging systems - Notes, Sendmail, etc. THE TRADEOFF (or benefit rather) is we have a book that can still be carried with one hand... still under 400 pages without the index. Remarkable! (A round of applause for Paul Robichaux..)

Bharat Suneja
MCT

If you maintain or administer Exchange servers, this book is a must for you. It covers a borad set of security topics specific to Exchange server, secure messaging and even secure IM. Very valuable guide for IT. Does not dive at too low a level for practical use.

This book has enough information about security, both of the messages and the messaging environment, for a good Exchange administrator to build and maintain a rock solid secure messaging environment.

Paul wrote the book, but the people who helped review the book contributed much of their real-world experience to the content. A number of the reviewers are heavy hitters in the Exchange and security fields. What you get is "This works in the real world" solutions to security problems.

A must have book. Without a doubt this is the most comprehensive book available in the industry. Great authors! Experts in telecommunication industry. Check out their other publications, all invaluable resources.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book is pertinent to the library of any Telecommunications Personnel. It's quite thorough and equipped with the most recent information from the telecommunications industry.

I have 32 years in telecommunications. This book is an exceptional resource. Every essential topic is covered and provides specific and detailed information.

Amazing book. Best source in MAN arena. A must have!

Besause they have been written by the same person. Perhaps by friends of the authors or by the publisher (I don't want to blaim the authors because they have may good books published so far and I own most of them). On the other hand these reviews don't change the fact that this is a really good book on MANs with sonet (though it is not the MAN bible). Warmly recommended.

I took adaptive signal processing at Georgia Tech with Dr. Hayers. This book was used as reference for the class. I really enjoyed reading it. It is concise, to the point, with lots of example and matlab source code which acctually worked. I had learned a lot. More importantly I was able to put into practise during my 9 years industry experience after graduation. Good reference book, I recommend to everyone who is serious about this topic.

This book has great material on least squares filtering and spectral estimation techniques. And with Hayes providing the Matlab code to implement the formulas, it is a great help to the student in being able to run the code and see what the outputs should look like. The book reads well and is very easy to use. But it is not a substitute for an intro DSP book like Oppenheim/Schafer or Proakis.

Update - I have changed my score from 4 to 5. The longer I have been working to more I find I use this book and the examples in it to do things. I think this is a really useful book for a practicing engineer.

This book very clearly explains advanced topics in DSP. The notation is consistent and very clean, as well as the book layout and the writing. The examples are useful and the review section is very helpful. This is how a technical book should be written.

Clear examples, clean derivations, and easy to understand style has Monson Hayes' his signature written all over it. I have his schaum's outline on DSP, and its just as good. I haven't finish perusing this book; i am currently on signal modeling (ch.3, i think) where pade, shank and other methods are derived, and i've already found plenty of application to work on.

homework problems include both mathematical and computer (matlab) exercises that help cement understanding the material at the end of each chapter.

applicable, yet theoretically appealing, this book is best for those who has had an introductory DSP course, although it is very much self-contained - the author starts with a comprehensive review of linear algebra and random processes - it will serve the serious student with an interest on statistical description of signals and system very well.

The book is beautiful, really neat. It contains all the essential topics that you will expect in a Spectral Analysis book. I stumbled across it in library and was impressed with the treatment that the author gave this subject. I now have a copy of my own. The topics range from basic to advanced including a few topics on adaptive filter theory.

Each treatment is almost immediately followed by an example, simple but powerful way to introduce you to this topic. I found this one feauture made the topics covered really enjoyable. Linear algebra review captures the essence of the style of this book. It is a welcome addition to this area in DSP. The one by Stocia is too mathematical to be called an introductory book. This one is way much above Stocia's mathematical nightmare.

Stormjammers is a beautifully written and deeply personal look at one man's transformation from a young flyer to a hardened combat veteran and ultimately to a warrior irrevocably changed by his experiences. It's also the highest tribute to the men and women he served with.

From the start of this book, all the way through to the end, I was full of feelings and emotions. Stanek's words were so intense, so powerful, at times I had to put the book down for a few moments to let the feelings and imagery he generated settle in my mind. Every page resonated with the essential truth that words like duty, honor, courage, service, and commitment are not just ideals for men like Stanek and for the men and women he served with, but are in fact words lived by.

This book accomplishes the nearly impossible by seamlessly imparting factual information, and giving a truly unique perspective on the first Gulf War. The books also gives great insight into the mind of a frightened but resilient young man trying to make sense of it all, and the reader is pulled through a chapter, only to find at the end of it he's learned something about modern warfare, gotten a step closer to understanding how such events affect those who fight in them, and unmistakeably gotten a very raw and real look into the life of this remarkable young man. It is the strength of the writing keeps you reading, but also the deeper, all encompassing look at air combat and electronic warfare.

There is a depth and beauty in the way Stanek shares with the reader the bonds of friendship and professional camaraderie which are forged under these extreme circumstances. These rare bonds forged between men and woman under such difficult conditions speak to the individuals strength and character and are so unique to the military and especially the combat experience -- making this a great tribute to all who served.

In it's own way, there is beauty in the way he reveals to the reader his visceral combat experiences: from alerts, to air raids, to fighter encounters, to anti-aircraft artillery strikes, to surface to air missile attacks, to terrorist attacks. There is self doubt, questioning, and honest assessment.

Stanek's writing is clean and the book flows smoothly and entertainingly from peacetime and his training experiences with the heart of the book being his experiences in Iraq and the combat missions flown into Baghdad. Stanek is a rare author who allows the reader to visualize both vibrant imagery and vivid emotions through his words. It is both gripping and enthralling and utterly honest. The gut-wrenching emotional pain he experienced shook me to the core and remained with me for days after reading.

I strongly believe this is a book for everyone, both men and women alike. Anyone interested in the military, our country, and modern warfare will find this book a brilliant addition to the growing selection of "war memoirs." Anyone looking for an intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, and deeply introspective read will also enjoy this book. Ultimately, this is the story of a man as he is irrevocably transformed by his experiences and utterly bares his heart and soul in the telling. His words have stayed with me long after closing the pages.

Stormjammers is an outstanding read. I found the authors uncomplicated style a great fit for a very complex subject. It is hard to over emphasize the importance of EW on today's battlefield, yet there are very few books dedicated to this subject. This is one of the best to be had.

The author's storytelling ability is better-than-average most of the time, and downright page-turning when the story really gets going. I have loaned this book out so often I have two copies! That says a lot.

Author Robert Stanek, a former military flyer, writes a tell-it-like-it-is memoir in his book: "Stormjammers: The Extraordinary Story of Electronic Warfare in the Gulf War." It is a compelling and hard-to-put-down insider's look at the training and making of a military flyer that takes us right into the heart of the combat and the action in the Gulf War. Stanek goes from the green hills of a airbase in Germany to the hard and courageous life of a combat flyer in Iraq.

His story gives us one of the best insider looks at what is happening in the world of electronic warfare. It is written from the point of view of one of those few brave young men who are risking their lives daily to ensure the freedom of others. Not only is this book highly readable, it is destined to become a classic of how we fought this new kind of war. It is also not shy about the truth. He pulls no punches and holds nothing back in his analysis of what happened.

This book shows the best and the worst of people. It is honest prose that evokes the essence of older more classic combat literature -- when courage and compassion were still extremely important to our fellow countrymen. Once you read this book you will be affected in some way. Your emotions and your thinking about the first Gulf War and how it was handled will change. You will also have a much higher regard and respect for those men and women who are serving our country in this war now.

Stanek is a smart, courageous storyteller. His book is a very candid look at his military experiences and should be required reading material for all new military flyers. It is highly recommended.

Stanek's memoir "Stormjammers" is a first-hand account of training and engagements in Iraq. It is refreshingly clean of anti-war or pro-war bias. I found the entire volume well-written and fast reading. Stanek leaves the larger debates about the war to others, and concentrates on depicting the confusion, frustration, readiness, service and heroism. Such descriptions have been missing in the mass media coverage of the war.

Every person in war sees it differently. But there is a core of truth that is common to all war fighters, but not necessarily seen by all who fight. I learned it in Vietnam, my grandfather told me of it in World War II, my father told me of it in Korea, and this book tells it for the Iraq war. His story of the challenges that a military flyer faces in the midst of the chaos of combat and the ties that bind the crew together are fascinating. This is a great book and should be read by those who want to understand what our armed forces are up against in today's world. This will also resonate with those who have served or had similar experiences of war. I give it 5 stars, and this earns all of them.

I listened to this book in audio first, and I liked it so much I bought the printed book too. Stormjammers is a bitingly honest assessment of Stanek's experiences during first Gulf War. The prose is clear, candid, and vivid and provides a gut-wrenching, hands-sweating, feel for life as a military flyer and what it's like to engage in aerial combat. Stanek will take you through his first thoughts on the buildup in Iraq. You will ride along as the war unfolds, sharing his pain as he takes you into places few others have ever written about so well: modern aerial warfare. You will feel the rush of emotion when you ask yourself if you could make the decisions he made and you'll tear up when you finish the book and realize that young men like Stanek will never have a peaceful rest as long as their is terror and evil in the world.

What made the book particularly refreshing was its ability to give a true depiction of the glory, horror, and tragedy that the Iraq war, like all wars, has entailed. On the one hand, the Iraqi war provided someone like Stanek with a chance to test his own character under grim conditions and emerge tougher and more confident as a result. But the heart-wrenching human struggles he describes make the account so personal and so real. And his frank retelling of everything from the initial build up to the after effects of the war only deepen how it affects you. It would be easy for an individual unfamiliar with the military to forget how crucial air power was in the war and easy to remember only the ground battles but the Iraqi war was fought and won from the air long before there were any groundbattles. In summary, this book provides a view into modern warfare unlike any I have not encountered before. No one could read it and fail to come away with a clearer understanding of war and its impact on those who fight.

This book is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.