United States Books

I am only halfway through this book, but I already know I will recommend this book to my family and friends. I was not excited to read it as an assignment - I thought it would be another boring book on eating right. It is much more than that and very interesting to read. The author has done us a favor by reading through hundreds of studies completed on different aspects of health. He presents the results of these studies in an honest, unbias, meaningful way. I thought I knew all about what to do and not do, eat and not eat, but reading this I am understanding how a body reacts to foods and the environment. It is full of information that the marketing departments of food producers will not tell you and would rather you not know. A main theme of the book is that all of these health-related items are directly related to the amount of serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes that cause most of the deaths in our country. As a society, we focus on the symptoms, rather than the causes of health problems. While we are pouring billions of dollars into finding a cure for these diseases, they are in many cases symptoms of our unhealthy lifestyles. By eating and living healthy, we can prevent the risks of most of these diseases. And you have to start now. As he points out, most people wait until they start seeing symptoms which in many cases, it may be too late. This is a must read for everyone interested in living a long, healthy life.

I really enjoyed this book! My friend sells corporate health benefit packages for a major insurance company and gives this book to his clients, so he gave me a copy.

What's so refreshing about this book is that it is NOT a diet book and is NOT about weight loss. Weight loss is just a happy side effect of a healthy lifestyle. The focus of the book is improving your health by making what really are pretty simple lifestyle changes. When you learn about what healthy and unhealthy foods do to your body, it really motivates you to improve the way you are eating. The same is true for the discussion of exercise and what it does for the cardiovascular and other systems.

Yes, we all know fruits and veggies are good for us, but I look at them in a whole new way now and you will too if you read this book!

This book is extreemly jam packed with information. I enjoyed the authors' sense of humor. Be warned this is deffinately not meant for a quick read. Slow and steady will win the race here. I found the book very motivating because the evidence was taken from actual studies performed.

This book was referred to me by my dietician after I tried to find that 'perfect motivational type book'. Let's just say I couldn't put it down the second I opened the cover. This book is amazing. I can't tell you how much it has changed my life, my perception of food and most importantly, the motivation it gave me to make the change forever. It's educational, realistic and not filled with gimmicks. I highly recommend this book to anybody looking for the motivation to get off the couch and moving! I'll never live the life I had before this book. I am up off the couch and getting healthy because now I understand the benefits of eating right and having an active lifestyle. This one is a must have in anyone's library!!!

The Culprit and the Cure is an all inclusive guide to healthy living. The premise of this book is that poor health is the primary cause of disease and early death. The author states that poor health is generally caused by improper diet, inadequate exercise, and the use of tobacco products. Thus, in order to become healthier, individuals must address these deficiencies and make permanent lifestyle changes.

To this end, this book examines various aspects of healthy living as studied in various nutrition, physical fitness, and psychological case studies as well as through real life examples. The author then translates this information into simple, inexpensive, realistic solutions for real people wanting to undertake permanent healthy lifestyle changes. This book also features many easy to understand charts and various interactive exercises to help the reader tailor his or her current lifestyle to become healthier.

The Culprit and the Cure is a unique guide to health as it examines the need for healthy lifestyle changes in nutrition and exercise. This book does not promote fast weight loss by undertaking fad diets. Instead, this book looks at the greater benefits of healthy living and more realistic aspects of making lifestyle changes to achieve a healthier way of life.

dominique moceanu is the best gymnast anyone could ever know.i'm a gymnast my self,and reading about her,seeing her on tv,seeing her smile,makes me wan't to go out there and do the same.and i do!saying this,you probubly won't believe me,but being a fan of hers,seeing her doing the things she does(smile)has inproved my skills in gymnastics!i hope she has done the same for you,cause if you don't know her.you better know her to day,cause she is the best you'll ever love!i used to hate gymnastics some times,and till i saw dominique moceanu with that beatiful smile.i've loved gymnastics ever since then.every time i compete.i act like her,smile,and show that i love doing what i'm doing,cause i know dominique moceanu~and you gotta know her too!thanks dominique,for making me win my first silver(on floor),cause seeing you smile all the time,and always being happy,has made me do the same,and it improved only because i love you!

You will find this book to give many details on the young gymnast at a professional view point. If you are looking to get more personal information such as characteristics, personality, etc.. Get another book. This is about her and the sport of gymnastics from the time she started up to late '96. I enjoyed the book a great deal and was amazed to find out how very succesful she is in every day living at such a young age. That is much to be said for our day and age!

Also recommended: Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion: An Autobiography Dominique Moceanu

The book was fully detailed and was a very easy to read book. I read it in a matter of hours, and I am 11 years old. I love gymnastics and Dominique. Since the first time I saw her on T.V. I wanted to be just like her. Now I am taking acrobatics at a great little studio. even though we only do floor excersises, I still someday would like to be just like Dominique! The book has really encouraged me too succeed, and I really hope that anyone that wants to be something, jumps on it, you only live once!

This book is perfect for any fan of Dominique Moceanu. You learn so much about her, starting from her birth all the way up to the 1996 Olympics. This was a very vivid and detailed biography. I really thought it was cool to read about the gymnastics school she used to train at before she went to Karolyi's. It tells about all her early compititions and experiences. It felt like I really knew Dominique Moceanu! I learned so much from this book, and like Krista Quiner's other gymnastics biographys, this was a great one!

This book was truly awesome. Krista did an excellent job writing this book. You feel that you actually know Dominique. I reccomend this book for ALL Dominique fans. A must read book!!

Also recommended: Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion: An Autobiography Dominique Moceanu

I've read a fair number of stories about substance abuse by people both unknown and famous (rock star biographies are nothing if not diaries of substance abuse), and I gotta hand it to Callahan: I have never encountered more addicts of every stripe and variety than on the pages of his autobiography, "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot." His assistants, friends, helpers, caseworkers- all drunks and junkies, the whole lot of them. Kudos to the cartoonist for escaping that poisonous environment and getting sober, particularly in view of a tragically gained quadriplegia that is a greater justification for drinking than most.

Don't Worry is a hard-core, politically incorrect, and unsympathetic look at disability and substance abuse. It's a no frills presentation, just like Callahan's artwork; it cuts to the message, without flowery language or pretentious literary devices. Callahan has a casual, down-homey style that makes this a quick and easy read, in spite of the heavy subject matter. He exhibits very little self-pity, and instead clinically and factually recounts even his most personal travails (with government funding, changing his waste bag, intimacy with women, etc.), injecting his caustic wit and black humor. He recognizes his injury as due to drinking (as well as the converse), but doesn't spend a lot of pages searching for deeper meanings. I was curious about what he thought made him a big drinker in the first place (i.e., before the accident)- was it boredom and the freedom of the 70s, or deeply held fears of abandonment due to his adoption and inability to meet his birth parents?

This book was written in 1989, when Callahan was 38. Looking back at some of the achievements he's had by now (his own cartoon TV show, more extensive circulation of his comics, screen rights to Don't Worry purchased by Robin Williams), it's clear he was on the cusp of success when he wrote his autobiography. It's a cool perspective to read about now, particularly in light of how Callahan details his struggles trying to eke out a living in the cartoon world. His professional accomplishments and development of a fan base are hard fought and well deserved.

John Callahan tells a funny and honest story about a man who put himself into a wheelchair (drunk driving) and then continued to drink for years after he became a quadriplegic. His story of personal redemption is a hilarious and thoughtful ride that is well worth reading.

Full disclosure: My brother is married to John's sister. I recommend this book to all of my friends who have never heard of John. How can anyone say anything against a book that is both pornographic and inspirational at the same time?

Callahan is where it's at. Wonderful story of strength, grit, perserversance, and recovery. Of course the belly laughs along the way were fun also. Some of those cartoons ! Geez, Calahan, thanks. P.S. Write another story about you. Sharon L.

John Callahan is my favorite crippled cartoonist! He's honest and hilarious! I've been a fan for years and have most of his cartoon books. I'm glad I added this to my collection!

A wildly creative/artistic romp through Cuban Miami's Calle Ocho festival in Little Havana. Feisty, strong Cubanita tumbadora player's drum sounds leap off the pages. Your children (and you)will fall in love with Chavi and want to start speaking Spanish, drumming, and dancing merengue! Tender, heart-felt bilingual story (written in Spanish and English) about a drummer girl who shows the world that unlike what her teacher, family and barrio friends think, Cuban girls CAN and SHOULD be able to play tumbadoras!

A must buy for kids who love fun stories that inspires them to think critically, create, and perform. For Latino/Cuban book collectors, parents who want to teach their children Spanish or English, libraries, teachers of ESL, music teachers, performance art teachers, and for anyone interested in Latino cultures, particularly the Miami Cuban working-class culture.

FUNTASTIC!

Finally, a book about two dynamic Latino girl characters. The determination of Chavi, against all odds, to play the congas in the Little Havana Calle Ocho Festival will have you rooting for her. You can practically feel, smell and touch everything in her barrio; this is due to the vibrant, lively writing and the wild colorful artwork. Your kids will love Chavi and view her as a little barrio heroine.

Mayra Dole's character, Chavi, is a touching, vibrant, young female character you will want to introduce to your children. In fact, Chavi is so "touching" that she can't keep her hands from tap-tap-tapping everything that she comes in contact with. Chavi is a drummer in a culture where girls are not supposed to drum. Despite the strong forces trying to stop her, Chavi perseveres and lives out her dream. This book will give you a taste of Miami and its unique blends of cultures. Beautifully illustrated and written in both Spanish and English, this is a story that will most certainly...touch you.

Rhythmic as a conga beat. Highly entertaining, motivates critical thinking, strong/fun girl characters, jam-packed with Cuban culture, and my 2nd grade class loves it! 10 stars! A++

Cuban-American Chavi has such character and spunk. Your children will fall in love with her conga sounds/passion for perseverance/spunky attitude/and the cartoon-like, wild illustrations. A must buy for anyone interested in exposing children to ethnic cultures set in US communities/barrios and Spanish & English language.

The following is the commentary from WRITER'S DIGEST on Mr. Murphy's book:

"EDGE OF ALLEGIANCE contains all the elements expected in a great spy thriller. There are plenty of exotic locations, well-described. All the characters are three dimensional and believable--as well as being unusual and developed in such a way that they seem real.

"The plot is multi-layered with one intriguing complication after another with plenty of action and excitement. Definitely a page-turner. Great job!"

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "poor" and 5 meaning "excellent," the book rates 5.

I highly recommend this book! It's got all the suspense and excitement of any great thriller and Mr. Murphy has put quite a bit into it! Well written, the book has all the makings of a commonly read spy novel. Mr. Murphy is accurate to a "T", without a doubt, an authority on this subject. I look forward to his next work!

Thomas Murphy's "Edge of Allegiance" is a fascinating journey into the intruiging world of international espionage. The story is dramatic, informative, and appropriately deceptive, and is brought to life by the well-researched, vivid detail of each exotic setting and the development of each complex, yet realistic character. Murphy allows the reader an opportunity to delve into the intense and furtive lives of the intelligence operatives of the era. The brilliant culmination neatly ties each intertwined plotline together, but leaves adequate room for a much anticipated sequel. This is an absolute must read!

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (6/07)

Thomas Murphy's experience in the CIA gives authenticity to his cold war novel "Edge of Allegiance." This is evidenced in the well-developed details of his writing. Murphy understands the predicable cycle of espionage, the hours of surveillance and counter surveillance, the adrenaline rush of danger, the fear of discovery, the suspicion of peers, the drive for promotion and a desire to excel to please the agency brass.

Frank Manion, a newly trained CIA agent, is assigned as a case officer to recruit a Russian diplomat to provide classified information to the CIA. Adept and quick thinking Frank soon learns the danger involved in espionage work as he confronts KGB members as well as an undermining current of deceit within the office of CIA headquarters. The mission takes him to countries on three continents before final resolution and closure is reached in the case.

It is also obvious that Murphy has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of human nature. His carefully-developed, authentic characters make it easy for the reader to identify with, relate to, despise, or embrace them. His characters include highly intelligent, dedicated, focused agents who are committed to take risks, idealists, willing to sacrifice, and those genuinely concerned for the citizens of our country.

Other characters are susceptible to greed, deceit, and misuse of position and power. He allows his characters to become vulnerable, to show their fear, loneliness, boredom, rejection, and the need for affirmation.

This careful introduction of his characters sets in motion a complex plot including, interpersonal relationships, suspense, romance, mystery, and drama. Murphy's fast-paced action plot holds the readers attention right up the dramatic, climactic end. The book is both exciting entertainment and an informative narrative, filled with insights into the behind the scenes inner workings of the CIA.

"Edge of Allegiance" is going to establish Thomas F. Murphy as a best selling author in the genre of espionage adventure thrillers. I look forward to reading more of CIA Agent Frank Manion.

Thomas F. Murphy's novel has it all. "Edge of Allegiance" is packed with thrilling action and a great romance story while being entertaining throughout its entirety. Mr. Murphy makes it easy to get into the main character's (Frank Manion) shoes as he begins his journey with the CIA.

The plot is very well thought out and all the characters come together at the end making it an excellent story. "Edge of Allegiance" was an easy but very exciting read. It was difficult to put the book down, as I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. The accurate description of the many locations make it even easier to picture yourself right there with the characters. I should also mention that the author is also quite funny at times.

I highly recommend this book not just to anyone who is curious as to how the CIA works, but also to readers who would enjoy a great thriller and love story. You will be pleasantly amazed at how ingenious the plot and characters come together and operate. I very much hope the author writes a sequel to this book.

As author of Eldercare for Dummies, I would like to point you to a new film "The Savages" released in December 2007 staring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney. "Eldercare for Dummies" is actually reviewed in a scene in which a support group leader talks to her group members about the book endorsing it as "terrific." Great to see my book on the big screen, but more important, this is a film everyone needs to see -- especially children with elderly parents.

From the first page to the last, this guide offers practical, hands-on tips for navigating the maze of eldercare. As our population ages, more and more people find themselves thrust into the role of caregiver for aging relatives--often parents---usually with little or no background to prepare them for this role.

Eldercare for Dummies is easy-to-understand, engaging and witty, not overly technical or bogged down with research. Targeted directly to readers who face caring for an aging loved one, it guides them through assessing the current needs of the senior, choosing and arranging for appropriate care, ensuring safety, and helping to maintain happiness and quality of life.

I am so thankful I found this book! Being the child of older parents, I did not grow up with grandparents. Now my parents are becoming my grandparents. Dr. Zuckerman's book has helped me communicate and understand my parents with a plethora of easy to find information.

I recently met Rachelle at a healthcare meeting and was fasinated after hearing she had written her book. As an owner of a "free" senior placement service, I was anxious to read it and see how else I could advise my clients on such tough matters as eldercare. The book is with me wherever I go. Over the holidays I found myself counseling my own family members on how to talk to their in-laws when they begin to notice the ever changing physical events in their lives. I've only started, so there is so much more to learn. In the meantime, I never open the book without a highlighter in hand. Many thanks Rachelle!

I made my holiday trip to the bookstore last week. I purchased a copy of Eldercare for Dummies, by Rachelle Zukerman, PhD. The book is packed with light humor and also great tips. I especially liked Chapter 2 with the section on how to help when help is refused.It's great.

Elia Kazan was arguably one of the most influential people that theatre has ever produced. He had an amazing life through his art, and outside of it.

Here, at the age of 77, past the point of modesty, conceit and pride, he tells his remarkable story of learning his craft, harnessing his incredible God-given talent, and channelling his drive into success.

We learn about his trysts and liasons with other icons, his marriages, his faults and missteps.

He owns up to many things that have not made him proud, including naming names during the deplorable McCarthy communist witch hunts of the 1950's.

He talks openly of his failures as a parent and a husband, his infidelity, and his loss of faith.

He also recounts his many astounding successes in film and theatre, including the many great actors and actresses he worked with.

His honest self-assessment is a breath of resh air.

This is one of the greatest autobiographies I have ever read.

This is the best show-biz biography I have ever read. Poor, Greek immigrant, Kazan fought his way up the entertainment ladder to direct my favorite movie (On The Waterfront) and my favorite play (Death of A Salesman). Along the way to these achievements he was an original member of the Group Theater; he relates his experiences there including an in-depth retelling of his relationship with Lee Strasburg. He met prectically everyone in the business from an aspiring Marylin Monroe, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Arthur Miller and what seems thousands of others in the theater and movie world. His antecdotes are fresh and revealing, even those that may be common knowledge. Of particular note are the chapters devoted to the making of Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront. His work with Brando, who was seldom better than when he worked with Kazan, is discussed. Along with his great movies and plays, Kazan tells his side of the House On Unamerican Affairs controversy that swirled about him until his death. While the book is massive at 864 pages, it is over too soon. It is a rare, literate portrait of the man Kazan, who changed American movies and theater forever-- and for the better.

One of the most honest, compelling, brilliant, wise, stunning books I've ever read. Kazan's life was awe-inspring, and to have it retold with such lucidness and unflattering candour is a gift for the ages. Not only was he one of the greatest theatre directors and film directors of the 20th Century, he writes like a blessed demon. This was a spellbinding, page-turning read. Immersed in its pages, I learnt so much about life, America, directing, theatre/cinema history, and myself. I also learnt more than I've ever known about how men think (wish I'd read this years ago).

It's such a pity Kazan's life has become simplistically defined by one act, and his artistry overshadowed - ironic, too, considering he made films with a deep, compassionate, liberal humanity. You can look at his life through through the prism of that one act, or read this for a much richer, fuller, deeper understanding of Kazan - the good, the bad, the ugly. And the genius.

This book made me want to live my life more fully, view myself less vainly, and create my work more honestly. Can't ask for more than that.

I was truly surprised by this book when I read it some years ago. I was surprised by how engrossing and powerful it was , all the way through. This man lived a tremendously interesting life, rich in great creative challenges and triumphs, rich in meetings and experience with remarkable people, rich in sexual adventures and complex human relationships. The story of how the child of Greek immigrants came to become the director of two of the classics of the American Theatre "Death of a Salesman" and a 'Streetcar Named Desire" and of two of the great American movies, "On the Waterfront" and " East of Eden" is told with remarkable frankness and perceptiveness.
Kazan does not come across in this work as a saint, but rather as a truly strong person who took what he wanted from life, even if this meant hurting others. His personal and inner torments however too make up an interesting part of this story.
One more point. His writing follows the rule of Henry James and is always interesting. This is a work whose richness in anecdote and event are so great that it fits into the 'couldn't put it down' category.

With a former Supreme Court Justice warning the USA today (March 10, 2006) about starting down the road toward a dictatorship, it seemes fitting to re-visit the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in the 1950s when the right-wing was trying to scare our citizens into giving the government supreme power, just as neocons are trying now.

Elia Kazan defends his decision to name names during the Hollywood Hearings of the 1950s, saying that his ideas toward the Communist Party had changed and he thought the higher ups (maybe from Russia) were dictating policies to the American communists in the movie business.

Maybe so, but he also admits the Hearings already had all the communists' names and admits they were only showing their power to control people here in Hollywood,using intimidation to instigate the blacklist. In real life, the USA government was the bully, not the old, tired communists of the 1930s.

If so, then why did he ever think the movie he directed, "On The Waterfront," was a good analogy for what he faced? The USA government caused the black list and precipated suicides and family break-ups in their Hollywood investigation.

It was the mob who caused the deaths and intimidation in "On The Waterfront." Is Kazan saying that Congress behaved like the mob? Or that the mob behaved like Congress?

Granted, Kazan was a great director, brilliant at times. But to him the bottom line was the bottom line, and to keep his position as an all-star director, he had to name names. While he tries to seem noble, the reader can see his 'reel' motivation was money and his career. So what if he named names! He was working.

Today, we see the right wing using similar tactics in the Bush administration: questioning people's patriotism, using smears and mud-slinging against opponents, trying to get people fired if they disagree with neocon policies, keeping a blacklist of university professors who oppose them, and most recently, equating the AARP group of loving gays instead of our troops.

After reading Kazan's book, I did gain a firm insight into right-wing politics, and these politicians use juxtaposition of images to label their opponents. Right-wingers still don't care if they distort the record. To them, winning is everything.

I managed to get a copy of the Entrepreneurial Connection, and found it Enlightening. It fills in some of the holes and answers the questions entreprenuers are seeking everyday.

The author promised me what I was looking for was in this book. For the most part, He was right.

This Book offers Insights from a collection of infamous Entreprenuers. They are truly Words Of Wisdom.

-Deep

I bought this book from Gurmeet (Gurmeet graciously autographed my copy - Thanks GS) at TiECon 2001, and when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I've read it twice, and I received different insights each time. It's immaterial that this book is exclusively about entrepreneurs of South Asian origin. This book is ideally suited for ANYONE who wants to try to understand the deeper spirit of entrepreneurship, the sacrifices, the pain, and most of all the gratification of success. This book will inspire and it will prod the reader to reflect. TEC illustrates true grit and determination, and it will leave the reader with a deeper appreciation of American capitalism.

One insight gained from my readings: Immigrant values coupled with American capitalism/rugged-individualism/opportunity is an unbeatable combination.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

This book gives a very crispy insight into the mindset of a successful enterpreneur

After having read this well captured compilation of successful entrepreneurs, it has helped charge my entrepreneurship ambitions to a whole new degree! It is a 'must read' for all those considering an entrepreneurial life or live one!

Cheers Gurmeet

Ben Nagrani

the book throws light on the hardships successful people faced to reach the pinnacle of success which a comman man may not understand. it really gives inspiration to new starters like me to face the tough times with enthusiasm and not loose hope. Discussions are very well handled. very good questions which goes on to cover a lot of aspects. Overall a very good book for learning with amazing messages.

With all of the current claims by people of what the Founding Fathers intended for our country I decided to begin reading them for myself to achieve a personal perspective on what the Founders intended. This book and the writings contained are an excellent source of information and insight as to what Thomas Paine's intentions were.

Thomas Paine is an important figure in the founding of the United States. Although he was later ignored by the United States (when he was a prisoner in France...).

The book is a good compilation of the works of Thomas Paine. Paine was a smart man and his writings were influential in the American Revolution (Common Sense) and the French Revolution (Rights of Man). This book combines the writings into one book.

Common Sense is a short phamplet that greatly influenced the United States foundation. The sensical arguments seem obvious to readers in the 21st Century but in the late 18th century they were ideas that people needed to hear, and was a kickoff to the drive for independence. Common sense was read by a lot of Americans at the time and would do students of American History well to get the feelings of the Revolutionary period.

In today's politically heated atmosphere, people seem to have forgotten what this great nation was founded on. Reading this book is enlightening, awakening, and reminds us of what it took to make America. Sadly, it's also a pretty sharp reminder of how more and more of our rights are being stripped away from us. I think this book should be required reading in school, and certainly before any political discussion. I recommend this book to ANYONE of ANY AGE. Absolutely amazing.

every american should have a copy to see how the american goverment has taken away every liberty that was so hard to get!

Great book by one of our greatest patriots. Should be required reading for all American citizens.

I read this book about three years ago, and enjoyed learning more about Elliot See, Ted Freeman, C.C. Williams, Ed Givens, Charlie Bassett, and Roger Chaffee. I didn't know that Freeman graduated from Annapolis in the same class as Ross Perot (1953), and I didn't know that both See and Chaffee were both Eagle Scouts. See is often noted as a "civilian", but he was a Navy Reservist, and stayed that way throughout his time in the Astronaut Corps.

It was nice to learn about the Russian Cosmonauts, since I was familar with the deaths of Vladmir Komarov and the Soyuz 11 crew only. However, I was disappointed that Robert Lawrence was omitted. Lawrence was a MOL astronaut who was killed in a plane crash in October 1967. MOL was cancelled around the end of 1968. There were two other former MOL astronauts who were killed in plane crashes, but not while they were part of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) project.

The gravesites of Freeman, Williams, Chaffee, See, and Bassett can be found at Arlington National Cemetery. A few years ago, I found them and put flags on their graves. There's also a section of the Electrical Engineering Building at Texas Tech University named for Charlie Bassett. The library in Clear Lake is named for Ted Freeman. Colleagues of Freeman and Bassett have said that these men would most likely have had moon missions if they had not succumbed to early deaths. Buzz Aldrin dedicated his first book Return to Earth to Charlie Bassett, saying "to Charlie..whose place I took."

Another excellent book from Mr. Burgess. I especially enjoyed the great level of detail in this book. Mr. Burgess even provides the astronauts' mothers' and wives' maiden names, their childhood addresses and many obscure yet interesting facts about their early careers. It was also interesting to learn how many of the astronauts had interacted with each other in the years before they joined NASA. While you know the eventual outcome of each chapter, I still found myself hoping it would somehow turn out differently.

I had just started working for McDonnell Aircraft on Gemini 9 a few months before the crash of See and Bassett into the Gemini manufacturing building in St. Louis. This book clarified several details of the accident that had become fuzzy over the years.

The epilogue was of interest to learn how many of the relatives and colleagues have moved on.

If you grew up in the 1960s and could name every astronaut and recount the details of each Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo mission (or, if you didn't), this outstanding work is a very important milestone and accurate record that enables us to remember the sacrifices made to reach the Moon. In great detail from the impressive research conducted by the authors, this book provides very rare insights into the lives of Astronauts Freeman, See, Bassett, Grissom, White, Chaffee, Givens, Williams, and the cosmonauts from the former Soviet Union. The book also dispels some rumors with respect to the accidents that took the lives of these skilled pilots and astronauts, as many of those rumors have been reported, merely repeated, and accepted in other accounts unfortunately as facts.

Thank you for reminding us of a time when America tackled a monumental challenge, and allowing us to be more fully grateful for the lives lived and lost so that we could meet that national challenge and extend the spirit of exploration to the heavens.

As a keen observer of the space program from Mercury through Apollo, I was very impressed by the scholarship and professionalism of this book. Although I have researched many of these incidents, this book provided details that I had never seen. Congratulations on an excellent tribute to these brave individuals.

I'm keeping it short and sweet - If you want to know about the "unsung heroes" of the early space programs in the USA and former USSR, pick this book up and read it - you will see who these men really were, and how any one of them (Americans) could have been first on the moon, instead of Neil Armstrong.