California Books

This is a book full of plot twists and turns. I love the style of the narration. The narration is mostly third person, but every so often, the narrator offers an explitive that seems to come right from the gut of the main character, Art.

Schow includes a good deal of wit and attention to detail in the plot. Art's dog, Blitz is a german shepherd, who flunked out of police K-9 school, and now serves as Art's main companion. Schow's description of everyday dog behavior, intimating at the dog's underlying motives, is something any dog owner will instantly recognize and laugh along with.

But the real thrill in this book is in trying to unravel Art's story. Art is a recluse, living in a custom designed home on the northern California coast. The loss of Art's spouse figures prominently into Art's near total detatchment from the outside world. Art has vitually no human contact. Schow considers the possiblity that human contact for many is limited to a trip to the mall.

The book is a fairly quick read. Schow seems to have threaded the needle of keeping a fast-paced plot moving, while at times describing places and events in exquisite detail. He captures the vertigo feeling of drunken, drugged, and schizophrenic confusion in few words, yet the reader completely "gets it."

Like a drive along the northern coastal California roads near where the story occurs, you should buckle up, pay attention, and hang on--this book is a heck of a ride.

I seem to fall into this trap a lot: I pick up a book expecting one thing, and get another. Usually, I knock off at least one star when this happens, because the "preview" on the back of a book, coupled with the first chapter or two is (in my opinion) a promise to deliver something. Often, it does NOT deliver. The only reason I expected gore and such in Bullets of Rain is simply because I've read Black Leather Required, also by Schow. However, Bullets of Rain does not promise to include such, and so: my bad. Let me just say that Bullets of Rain is one of the most exciting novels I've read in a long time. It has great character development, and you THINK that you know the characters. But as you soon will find, nothing is always what it seems. I will not spoil the book, and thus, will take it no further than that. Something that the previews do advertise is suspense. And let me tell you this; this book has some serious suspense. It's very complex, yet very easy to read. Confused? It isn't easy trying to articulate what this book is all about without giving away too much. You like gore? You won't find it here. You like extremely talented writing with suspense that will keep you up way past your bedtime? Do yourself a favor and pick this book up at the first chance you get. You won't regret it.

Every now and then I'll let myself be led to a writer by way of another writer's reviews. I had seen David Schow's name several times before, mostly in horror anthologies, but I had never read any of his works. Schow is billed as the father of splatterpunk, but don't let that deceive you. He may be the father of that sub-genre, but let me tell ya, he's a lot better--and a lot smarter--than any of that. I last encountered Schow's name in S.T. Joshi's "The Evolution of the Weird Tale," where Joshi (another of my favorite authors) wrote admiringly of Schow's work. So, based on Joshi's recommendation, I went looking for Schow's works. The only book of Schow's that I could find in the local used/new bookstore was Bullets of Rain, so this became my introduction to him. Bullets of Rain is billed as suspense, and that it is. Schow kept me locked in with his highly charged, action-packed story line. There's more here than meets the eye, though; much of the book is slam bang, but there's more going on beneath the surface. For one thing, the characters have some very interesting and poignant things to say about human relationships--so much so, in fact, that I took out my notebook and wrote down a few key phrases. What more can I say? Schow is a very bright light in what is often a dim field of literature. Check him out.

First off, David is a major talent with a vicious intelligence. With that in mind, do yourself a favor and pick up Bullets of Rain. The expanse of this novel is mindblowing, whether it be the complexities and intimacies of his characters, the atomic action, or the jaw dropping denouement. Imagine a literary Palahniuk, a violent and depraved Delillo...California's answer to Harry Crews. Drugs, guns, sex, and storms! And that's only the beginning of this face-punching novel. David's the real deal, the original Bad Guy Hat. So lock the doors, crack the seal on that fifth of whiskey, put on some Slayer, and jump into Bullets of Rain.

As a selective reader of dark fiction, I was looking forward to Schow's return to the full length novel. I normally nurse his prose, absorb the characters, and take the time to speculate where this dark path goes. I've never been disappointed, and rejoice in his logical twists.

With BULLETS OF RAIN, I was captivated by the rich detail, character complexity, and storyline. Adding yet another facet to the scope of his expertise (a suspense novel), Schow skillfully transcends his genre reputation and hopefully will attract a broader audience with this offering.

I found myself reading this novel at a frantic pace.Unfortunately, the one break I took was to see if any reviews were posted on Amazon.

Lo and behold, the sole review (Elliott Swanson/Booklist), blew the twist while summing it up as a trite attempt only to be possibly appreciated by Schow's loyal following. I call it RETARD STRENGTH from a reviewer who just wants to drop something into a little slot, with the obligatory cross reference. Perhaps he should consider pitching sit-coms, or maybe he was frightened at a young age by an original idea.

Read the book, not the review.

An outstanding resource for the home chef. Every recipe receives raves from the diners. A must on your shelf.

It is extremely easy to offer guests ( or yourself) a magnificent meal that looks like you are a great chef with very little work. Easy techniques and ingredients allow you to enjoy cooking. You will reach for this book repeatedly!

What a great cookbook! I use it frequently, particularly for the roast chicken (my family's personal favorite), shrimp salsa, the marinades and salad dressings, the chocolate truffle brownies, and an UNBELIEVABLY sinful chocolate cake! The format is attractive, the recipes are easy to follow, and the results have been uniformly consistent. If you enjoy flavorful, creative cuisine, this is for you!

I have many cookbooks, but this is one of my favorites. Every recipe that I made from this book has turned out well, which is, I think, a sign of a good cookbook. I particularly like the notes at the bottom of the recipe that tell you how far ahead and through what step you can make the dish. This is a big plus when entertaining. All of the dishes that I have made from this book have been crowd pleasers.

From salsa to chicken to rack of lamb to corn cakes to lasanga -- these recipes are fantastic. The flavors will remind you of dining out at a gourmet restaurant, although many of the dishes have a laid-back flair. One thing to remember, especially if you are a beginner cook, most of these recipes take some time to put together. If you start at 6, you may be sitting down to eat at 10! The time is well worth it -- you tastebuds, and your dinner companions, will thank you! The author also makes excellent wine suggestions.

A beautiful book. This book is fairly thin; about a half-inch, but not at all skimpy. It includes a very nice range of gorgeous cottage style homes against a sunny California theme. The homes are a nice range of styles from near-log cabin to rustic stone. Landscaping is also shown to good effect. The California title suggests a bit of Disneyland, but much of the architecture and terrain reminded me more of northern California around say, Big Sur country. A very nice book.

I never thought a design book would become one of my all-time favorites...but this book is the exception. If you're ready to curl up with a warm cup of tea, a lap blanket and an exceptionally good book, filled with wonderful photographs of charming cottages...this is your ticket. I could not put it down until well past midnight, when I had read it cover-to-cover. Even now I go back to it once a week for enjoyment and inspiration. It makes you really think about the kind of home you want to live in with the people you love most and the kind of home you want your children to remember their childhood in. [Warning: It will make the big, boxy, look-alike, "I've finally made it!", homes you see now even uglier!]

Nine different California communities of well-loved cottages through photographs are accompanied by text to reflect a time, a place, and a need for shelter, as well as available building materials, traditions and collective memories of their builders and owners in this charming 144 page book. You can understand the duel forces of the charm and challenges of cottage living from brilliant photography and text with intense vibrant historic detail.

Great coverage on all of the cottage styles.

Superb descriptive writing, delicate exposure of photography, this book is a must for those articulately inbued with historic archectural dignity. Nine prominent California style cottages are revealed with discriminating taste.

Patrick Mallon's writing style is direct, informative and entertaining. He writes with the confidence of a knowledgeable truth seeker. I found this book compelling on every level. Reading it stirred emotions from angst to disbelief. What is California thinking? It's all there, recalls; corruptive protocols; political pitfalls; soaring debt; heterosexism? I hope that Arnold has read California Dictatorship from cover to cover. This book is energizing.

I originally came across Mallon's work in the form of contributions to NewsMax.com. I was hooked. This book is a must read for everyone concerned about the future of our Nation. As Patrick so eloquently points out, "As California goes, so goes the nation".

Patrick Mallon has written a superb book on California politics. This is the book to read to understand the Gray Davis recall and the state of the State. It was a pleasure to have Patrick on my program on KGO Newstalk 810. Whenever we talk California politics, I will call Patrick Mallon.

John F. Rothmann

KGO Newstalk 810 Radio
San Francisco, CA
www.kgo.com

As the voters increasingly prefer the conservative message to the liberal one that proved so successful for so many years, the most dramatic rejection of a political figure in recent times has to be the election that removed the former liberal, Democrat Governor of California, Gray Davis, from office and replaced him with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Patrick Mallon has documented why Californians took this dramatic step in California Dictatorship: How Liberal Extremism Destroyed Gray Davis [...]. As the title suggests, the author is highly critical of the liberal approach to governing, but he backs it up with a clear-eyed look at the way California legislators failed to serve citizens. A classic polemic, this book should be read by every Californian and political junky who wants to understand how the electricity crisis, immigration, the gay agenda, and other social issues undermined the tone-deaf, arrogant Davis and the crony politics that underwrote his administration. Mallon reveals that the largest "party" in California were people who didn't vote! One result, in Davis' hands was the destruction of its economy and a huge migration of people out of California. The other result was his recall by a lot of people who decided to vote to save the State. -- [...]

Patrick Mallon's "California Dictatorship" is book that shows the danger of politicians (Davis in this case) that are so beholden to extremist groups that they can't even govern. In Davis' case, Mr. Mallon explains that on several matters (English-only and immigration specifically) Davis thumbed his nose at the voters. Remember, in California, people get to vote on such things, and it's binding. But that didn't matter to Davis. This book is a perfect library item (after you've read it) because it contains the details of these and other factors leading up to Davis' demise and you will want to revisit those stories before debating your liberal friends. The lesson? Ingore the voters at your peril. Other governors should read this book, although my Governor, Rick Perry of Texas, seems to be much more in tune with voters these days. Maybe he's read Mallon.

This book is great! Patrick Mallon says it as it is. He put together a highly entertaining and very interesting read for those on the right and on the left. No matter what political party you associate yourself with, you have to read it and draw conclusions about how not to govern California.
Even if you don't agree with author's views, his writing style is great, and it's well worth the read. Anyone with a strong opinion should check it out. Thank you Mr. Mallon. Highly recommend.

The use of digital photography and the Hexachrome printing process results in a visually stunning book. The essays are insightful and thought provoking. This book is enjoyable regardless of how familiar you are with the artist's work.

This book is a must for lovers of art, especially those who are interested in the California artists! Stunning photographs show Rollin Pickfords progression of style from his early days until now. These are interwoven with an account of his personal life and the influences contributing to those styles. This combination makes for a fascinating story as well as a beautiful book for the coffee table. Uniquely beautiful!!

Nowhere in the history of our planet has one place given the world's population such a bounty of harvest like the San Joaquin Valley has. Rollin Pickfords paintings are a historical record of this place; a place where beauty may not always be apparent, but nonetheless, exists. This is not only the work of an artist, but the work of someone who truly sees the world around him. A true lesson.

Mark Arax and Joel Pickford capture the spirit of Rollin Pickford's work and the connection with that great valley. The technical information on Pickford's work is interesting, but I find the biographical and background info on the valley and how Pickford's paintings and life are intertwined with it the most fascinating. It is a life lived well. Not only is it a wonderful treat for the eyes, but a good read as well. The valley is a hard sell; this book makes me want to go back.

This astonishing book contains 120 watercolors selected from more than 12,000 Pickford works spanning 60 years, creating a painter's workshop of styles and experiments. A collaboration of owners, art lovers and even commercial photographers and printers (using digital techniques), it is professionally edited by the artist's son, Joel, himself a photographer, writer and filmmaker. The quality could not be higher. I wish I had had this book open in my house when my children were growing up.

As an organizational psychologist or consultant this book must be added to your book collection. It really does become a handbook that you begin to depend on.

Personnel Psychology, 2003: As you would expect in a comprehensive handbook, there is something for everyone: perspective, techniques, guidelines, conceptual frameworks, research findings, and comprehensive reference lists. It is a genuine portal into the vast interdisciplinary world of consulting psychology for practitioners, academics, researchers, and students. Bon appetit! Stephen Hrop, Personnel Psychology, 2003, p. 785.

NOTE TO EDITORS: DO NOT LIST STARS WITH THIS REVIEW EXCERPT. THE REVIEW DID NOT USE A STAR RATING SYSTEM AND IT WOULD BE MISLEADING TO DO SO ON LINE.

Wow! Incredibly comprehensive coverage of topics in organizational consulting. Destined to be a "classic" for years to come. Shows what works and doesn't in organizational consulting. Assessment, interventions, ethics, outcomes--it's all here!

The 31 chapters organized into 8 sections are a treasure for any one who serves in a consulting role. The text is written for psychologist but is of extraordinary value for consultants in all domains. Of broad interest are the chapters on "Assessing Candidates for Leadership Positions," "Individual Level Variables," "The Effectiveness of Executive Coaching," "Integrating Individual Assessment, Position Requirements, Team-Based Competencies, and Organizational Vision," "Successfully Implementing Teams," "Proactive Ways to Improve Leadership Performance," and two areas on Organizational Performance. Well worth both the price and the time to read it.

The value of The California School of Organizational Studies Handbook of Organizational Consulting Psychology goes far beyond what the title might indicate. This is a must read for anyone who works in the realm of organizational transformation or who works in a consulting capacity.

We have selected it as the November 2002 Featured Selection for Transforming Education Bookstore and highly recommend it.

This book is very well researched, which pays off in the fun trivia department. The author has done all the hard work here. All you have to do is enjoy the fruits -- and California is full of them! This book takes you on a fantastic journey of a place you only think you know! Great for those who live there or dream of going there. This is one for the ages -- don't miss out!

I am a buff of California facts and trivia, but this book has unusual, fun, and quirky things about the state I never knew. I send it to my friends that are not from Califoria because they love reading about Hollywood and there's lots of great informaiton about movie stars. This book is fun to read, in fact, I leave it out on my coffee table and play trivia games from it with my friends.

Calling California Home is an absolute delight! It's full of fun and interesting facts about the great state, written with a wonderful, quirky sense of humor!

This book is so very cleverly written! It is loaded with tons of fun and informative historical facts about this great state that I am lucky enough to call home. I would love to read books about other states that were this much fun! Well done!

really fun! filled with lots of trivia that was interesting, and neat personal essays.

My husband bought this book a few years back and it has been the best cookbook ever, I use it ALL THE TIME it's inexpensive to make the things in the book, my children love the things I make and I have one son who is a picky eater and he likes most everything I make, I really enjoy the cookbook. Many thanks to you for this GREAT Book

I work full time, have three small children, and a husband that works nights. These recipes are so easy, my children (ages 7, 4, and 2) help me make them--and they will actually eat them!

My teen age boys love to use this book. It is simple, they can fix meals they like, and it is a good way to start them cooking on their own.

Speaking as a non-cook who is forever looking for short cuts, this collection of recipes using Campbell's soups is ideal--and although the idea of using canned soup as a primary ingredient may cause some to roll their eyes in gastronomic superiority, the recipes in this particular collection are both easy and surprisingly successful.

The book breaks down into seven sections: appetizers and snacks, soups and stews, main dishes (with sections for poultry, beef, pork, lamb, veal, fish and seafood, and eggs and cheese) side dishes, and "Campbell's Classics." Recipes range from the extremely simple to the slightly more complicated but still extremely accesible, and few will be intimidated.

While some of the recipes harken back to the sort of thing your mother might have stepped into the kitchen to whip up as a quick meal for the kids, there are also quite a few more sophistocated recipes with international flair designed for modern tastes, including several with an Asian tone. While I doubt these dishes will ever compete with truly made-from-scratch cooking, they are surprisingly successful, quite a bit of fun to make, and offer a result that most will enjoy--particularly when you open the cabinet and are at a bit of a loss as to what to cook for that unexpected guest.

My youngest daughter owns this book and loaned it to me, I'm an experienced 'scratch' cook and this book has amazed me with it's simplicity, the recipes are easy enough for novices and presentable enough to fix for company. I highly recommend it to new brides, college kids, experienced cooks and gourmets - you just can't lose and the presentation is wonderful. Just ordered 4 for gifts. If you have an up coming wedding to buy for, add this inside a lovely covered casserole dish and the bride will thank you forever.

The book is trully great.... very well written and thoroughly analized...My only problem with it was the lack of colour plates (understanding that the study of his technique is concentrated on the orchestration of planes and volumes). I believe the study of this master requires colours... in order to fully appreciate his methods but also becuse of the pleasure of merely being a spectator and enjoying his art for what it really is...a ballet of fantasy and life!
Appart from that I do believe it is a must for any lover of art.

When I first read this book, over twenty-five years ago, I thought it was the most remarkable book ever written on how an artist composes and organizes his or her creative process. Over the years, I've returned to it many times. Having recently re-read the book I find I am still thrilled by Loran's ability to illuminate the special qualities within Cézanne's canvases. As an artist and art educator, Loran was in a unique position to comprehend how this artist balanced the formal, intuitive, and experiential aspects of composition. All of this comes through admirably and clearly. Although I imagine some people might find the graphic diagrams cold and remote from the vitality of Cézanne's painting, I think a close reading of the book demonstrates that an illustrative graphic can help us reach a deeper understanding of the artist at work, in this case Cézanne. If you are a fan of Cézanne, definitely read this book! If you are interested in understanding the artistic mind, definitely read this book.

Many of Cézanne's paintings are essentially composed of flat, homogenous planes. He has no interest in textures and takes great freedom in choosing colours and distributing them patchwise. He also disregards proportions and perspective, making receding objects such as roads, mountains and hills stand up straight, so to speak, to the picture plane. Thus each plane in the painting "remains comparatively flat and parallel to the picture plane", but still the painting has a definite feeling of depth because of "the three-dimensional effect that a sequence of the same planes creates through overlapping" (plate XIII). "Cézanne's genius in organizing three-dimensional space is the basic foundation of his composition" and doing so by the plane colour patch approach agrees with the principle that a painting "must remain faithful to its own structure, to its fundamental two dimensions" (section XV). The organisation of space is achieved by the "tension" or "movement" created where planes overlap, and this is Loran's main framework for analysing Cézanne's paintings. With some imagination and many useful geometrical diagrams we can sum up the effects of the overlaps to a general movement; usually some sort of circular movement, always staying within the picture frame. Loran is very faithful to this point of view, even blaming Cézanne when it doesn't apply. In his analysis of a Sainte Victoire painting (plate X) he finds such a circular movement and concludes: "It is this circular movement that gives the painting it ultimate 'closed' effect. Actually, this canvas has many elements of open form ... personally, I find these latter elements insufficiently resolved and somewhat disturbing." Besides this analytic framework, Loran also makes more traditional analyses in terms of balance, dynamics, etc., and he also spends far too much time nagging about two pet topics: Cézanne's famous colour modulations are in fact of incidental importance and Cézanne anticipated Picasso and Braque.

Pages 17 to 24 are a so called "Illustrated Glossary" and are worth buying the book for. The classic rules of space and depth and planes are explained in most of their complexity. Then he discusses many many examples of Cezanne's work and how they use the principles of space, planes, and depth. A masterpiece and extensive in its scope. If you really want this type of abstract picture understanding you will not be disappointed. Very highly recommended.

This book is a must read not only for students of Cezanne and Cubism, but for anyone who would like to understand how a composition is put together. By comparing photographs of subjects painted by Cezanne, to the paintings created, one can see what interested the master in his own work. Cezanne's classic remark about Monet ("He is only an eye. But what an eye!")is clearly relevant here: Cezanne is not only an eye function, but a meditation on the process of visual construction per se. A stimulating and important book.

I came to this book after reading several books on the Caucusus -- Yo'av Karny's 'Highlanders' (2001) being the best -- and a couple on Chechnya -- Khassan Baiev's memoir 'The Oath' (2004) the most profound of those. Admittedly, I came to Tishkov's work skeptical: he is Russian, after all. For those of us perhaps a little too eager to see local resistances to 'imperial' power and statehood as liberatory struggles, Tishkov engages us in a real marvel of anthropology, teasing apart threads, and questioning assumptions. Like Baiev, albeit in a very different way, Tishkov's professionalism, his belief in the rationalism of the anthropological method, carries this book. It is certainly possible he may have carefully selected and then edited his informants' words, but to what end? Throughout the book I was successively impressed by his unwillingness to engage in "a debate over the truths of who did what during the Chechen war." This is not to say that Tishkov avoids pointed commentaries about either Russian hubris or Chechen entrepreneurial violence, but it is to say that he does a profound job in helping his readers understand the precarious nature of war and peace, especially in a cultural climate where "even the slightest of differences can be used to justify violence."

Tishkov presents a blanced, well researched account of the two Russian-Chechnyan conflicts. Filled with interviews of both Chechnyns and Russians, the book gives a factual account of the war mixed with personal stories of the survivors. Highly reccomended if you want a down the middle view.

This is a very good book about the Chechen War written from the viewpoint of the fighters. Most books on this topic are written by Liberals apologists for terrorism, who sympathise with the rebels and blame Russia for the terrorist acts committed by Chechens. Others are by extreme Conservative Christians who just hate all Muslims. Chechnya went from being a struggle for independence to a Holy Jihad. If you want to hear the real story from the voices of the Chechens, here it is! This book is easier to read then Wolves of Islam, and I reccommend reading both!

Following the tide of change that resulted in the breakup of the Soviet Union, the people of Chechnya proclaimed their independence in November 1991. Inevitably, many events took place between the newly formed nation and the Russian Federation, leading to the invasion of Chechnya by Russian troops in early December of 1994. A conflict that Anatol Lieven, the author of Chechnya: Tombstone Of Russian Power, has referred to as "the greatest epics of colonial resistance of the past century". Thus, for the next ten years, one bloody war after another reduced a thriving country to rubble; the Chechens enduring unimaginable suffering with no end in sight. To date, the struggle for self-determination has somehow, develop into an "Islamic" guerrilla war. Chechnya: Life In A War-Torn Society is not an account of the war; rather it is a reflection on a Chechen society forced into a never-ending, cruel and traumatizing war. The author of this scholarly text, Valery Tishkov, is currently the director of the Institute of Ethnography and Anthropology at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Therefore, his views on the conflict can be deemed authoritative and to some extent, biased.
In the first five chapters, the author seeks for the answer by explaining the historical context of events such as Stalin's atrocious deportation of the Chechens to the lifeless steppes of Kazakhstan during World War II, which the Chechens suffered in silence, undoubtedly created bitterness in their memories. Yet he asserts that it is not a reason for the unending conflict. Nor, according to Tishkov, do ethnic, tribal, or religious disparities explain the tragedy of this war. Tishkov however places the core of the problem in the early stage of Boris Yeltsin's presidency when rivalries between factions paralyzed the operations of the government in dealing with the Chechen crisis. He perceives the bloodshed as the result of unresponsiveness and puzzlements on the Russian leaders when the Chechen crisis first emerged and the reluctance to deal with General Dzhokhar Dudayev, whom the author introduces in chapter six, while the situation is still in control. All through the book, Tishkov observes the first war and its aftermath through the eyes of fifty-four Chechens whom he and his associates interviewed at length. These "informers" have infused his account of the war with an exclusive directness and subtlety. Their recollections offer a distinctive ethnographic description and analysis of the war, the outcome, and what precipitated it.
According to the survivors and Tishkov, the Chechens success in the first war can be attributed to the use of "guerrilla warfare", with tactics such as ambushes and attacks on the enemy's lines of communication which the author of Resisting Rebellion, Anthony J. Joes, stated as one of the vital strategy for insurgents to succeed. Tishkov goes on to express his admiration for the Chechen fighters' ability to overcome the psychological fear and intimidation and master the techniques of guerrilla warfare. Nevertheless, in chapter seven, when they staged and recorded their attacks, Tishkov portrays the exhibitionist behavior of the Chechen fighters as acts of terrorism. The author fails to realize that it is one of the ways that terrorists can get their objectives across to a wider audience. In his book Terror In The Mind Of God: The Global Rise Of Religious Violence, Mark Juergensmeyer, the noted sociologist and the Director of Global and International Studies, explains it as a theater that terrorists use to conduct terror for their audiences whom they are trying to terrorize. Yet, Tishkov fails to mention the atrocities that Russian troops committed on the Chechens that provoked the situation in the first place. On the aspect of religious, from chapter eleven to the rest of the book, Tishkov emphasizes the negative influences of Arab outsiders in the conflict, such as the al-Qaeda terrorist's network, whom he feels is using Chechnya as a stage determined to turn it into another Islamic state similar to the Taliban of Afghanistan. Tishkov's Chechnya: Life In A War-Torn Society is a recommended book since it does not try to venerate or condemn either side of the conflict but to expose how the war-monger parties in both Moscow and Grozny have made the erroneous political decisions that brought war to the Chechens and terrors to the citizens of Russia. Last but not least, the reader of this book must approach it with an open mind and not to form their judgments prematurely. Such as, in the view of some Westerners, the conflict is being about a small brave nation fighting against an imperial monster, or, in the view of Russia, an armed coup d'etat in Chechnya led by General Dudayev, resulting in the rise of an aggressive paramilitary regime that challenged both the Russian state and its armed forces. Nevertheless, it is a conflict that for Russia, according to Joes, who ranks it as one of the most disastrous counterinsurgent experiences on record, with the full implications of which have yet to manifest themselves.

Unlike many other books on Chechnya, this one offers a unique ethnographic account and analysis of this war and of what preceded it. Although very academic, it offers 'direct voices' of Chechens (mostly) that either suffered the war or have escaped it and now live elsewhere. The book does not attempt to glorify or condemn either side but, on the contrary, demonstrates how hawkish parties in both Moscow and Grozny have committed acts of political shortsightedness that dragged the country into war.

While this book is not going to satisfy anyone whose opinion has already been formed, especially anyone who views this conflict in terms of a small brave nation fighting against an imperial monster, it is more scientific and balanced than any other book that exists on this subject in English. It also takes a stab at Western preconcieved notions such as a failure to recognize ethnic cleansing of Chechnya in 1991-94 when the city of Grozny has been cleansed of non-Chechens who were forced to leave the republic or killed, their appartnments having been taken by the militants.

In short, this book will please you if you are looking for a balanced account or if you have an open mind and are not already set in condemning the Russians. After all, these are Chechen voices too.