Nebraska Books

Good English-language materials on the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) in World War II are disappointingly rare. With the passing of Alvin Coox, Edward Drea is definitely the foremost Western authority. This volume collects a number of very valuable articles that he published in the 1980s and early 1990s. While recent work has brought clarification and amendment in some details, the value of his judgments and perspectives remains undimmed.

A unique and very valuable feature is the many direct comparisons between the U.S. Army and IJA, which do a great deal to illuminate both forces.

The articles are: "Tradition and Circumstances: The Imperial Japanese Army's Tactical Response to Khalkhin-Gol, 1939"; "The Development of Imperial Japanese Army Amphibious Warfare Doctrine"; "Imperial Japanese Army Strategy and the Pacific War (1941-1945)"; "An Allied Interpretation of the Pacific War"; "U.S. Army and Imperial Japanese Army Doctrine during World War II"; "'Trained in the Hardest School'"; "Adachi Hatazo: A Soldier of His Emperor"; "A Signals Intercept Site at War"; "Leyte: Unanswered Questions"; "Japanese Preparations for the Defense of the Homeland"; "Intelligence Forecasting for the Invasion of Japan: Previews of Hell"; "Chasing a Decisive Victory: Emperor Hirohito and Japan's War with the West (1941-1945)". Every one is very worthwhile.

This book is all but indispensable to a clear understanding of the Pacific War. The publishing of a more affordable paperback edition is very welcome.

Will O'Neil

PS. Virtually the only other comprehensive work in English on the Japanese Army in World War II is _Kogun: The Japanese Army in the Pacific War_, by Saburo Hayashi and Alvin Coox. (It is out of print and hard to find, but a text file is available on the Web.) Virtually anything written by Alvin Coox on the subject is well worth reading, and particularly his article "The Pacific War" in Vol. 6 of _The Cambridge History of Japan_. For an understanding of the Japanese Army as an institution, see Leonard Humphreys, _The Way of the Heavenly Sword: The Japanese Army in the 1920's_ (available from Amazon) as well as Shin'ichi Kitaoka, "The Army as a Bureaucracy: Japanese Militarism Revisited," _J. Mil. Hist._, 57/5: 67-86.

This book is a welcome addition to anybody's library on WW2 Japan but as always, the information is not quite up to date. That has always been the problem with books on the Japanese Army because only a limited number of wetern historians can actually understand Japanese. The book says, for example, that only 60 type 3 tanks were built during the war when the newest research suggests that over 200 rolled off the production lines. Also the photo of Lieut.General Adachi does not show him as a General but as a Colonel. Still, better than what usually hits the market with "The author has read the Japanese official history" on this or that battle with the author thanking his Japanese interpreters elsewhere in the book.

Good English-language materials on the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) in World War II are disappointingly rare. With the passing of Alvin Coox, Edward Drea is definitely the foremost Western authority. This volume collects a number of very valuable articles that he published in the 1980s and early 1990s. While recent work has brought clarification and amendment in some details, the value of his judgments and perspectives remains undimmed.

A unique and very valuable feature is the many direct comparisons between the U.S. Army and IJA, which do a great deal to illuminate both forces.

The articles are: "Tradition and Circumstances: The Imperial Japanese Army's Tactical Response to Khalkhin-Gol, 1939"; "The Development of Imperial Japanese Army Amphibious Warfare Doctrine"; "Imperial Japanese Army Strategy and the Pacific War (1941-1945)"; "An Allied Interpretation of the Pacific War"; "U.S. Army and Imperial Japanese Army Doctrine during World War II"; "'Trained in the Hardest School'"; "Adachi Hatazo: A Soldier of His Emperor"; "A Signals Intercept Site at War"; "Leyte: Unanswered Questions"; "Japanese Preparations for the Defense of the Homeland"; "Intelligence Forecasting for the Invasion of Japan: Previews of Hell"; "Chasing a Decisive Victory: Emperor Hirohito and Japan's War with the West (1941-1945)". Every one is very worthwhile.

This book is all but indispensable to a clear understanding of the Pacific War. The publishing of a more affordable paperback edition is very welcome.

Will O'Neil

PS. Virtually the only other comprehensive work in English on the Japanese Army in World War II is _Kogun: The Japanese Army in the Pacific War_, by Saburo Hayashi and Alvin Coox. (It is out of print and hard to find, but a text file is available on the Web.) Virtually anything written by Alvin Coox on the subject is well worth reading, and particularly his article "The Pacific War" in Vol. 6 of _The Cambridge History of Japan_, and of course his masterful book, _Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939_ (available from Amazon). For an understanding of the Japanese Army as an institution, see Leonard Humphreys, _The Way of the Heavenly Sword: The Japanese Army in the 1920's_ (also available from Amazon) as well as Shin'ichi Kitaoka, "The Army as a Bureaucracy: Japanese Militarism Revisited," _J. Mil. Hist._, 57/5: 67-86. And by all means be sure to remain on the lookout for further work by Edward Drea.

While there has been quite a few histories of individual battles of the Pacific War, there have been few studies of the Imperial Japanese Army. This is not only in striking contrast to the various studies of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS, but even in comparison with the Imperial Japanese Navy (Evans and Peattie's Kaigun comes to mind).

Drea's book is an admirable effort to start filling in some of those blanks. His essay on General Adachi, for example, provides interesting background into how a typical Japanese officer's career went; in this case, an officer who was not heavily politicized.

Similarly, his discussion of how Japanese recruits underwent training provides important background into the mindset of soldiers. This is indispensable in understanding the IJA as an institution and organization.

This book is a welcome addition to anybody's library on WW2 Japan but as always, the information is not quite up to date. That has always been the problem with books on the Japanese Army because only a limited number of wetern historians can actually understand Japanese. The book says, for example, that only 60 type 3 tanks were built during the war when the newest research suggests that over 200 rolled off the production lines. Also the photo of Lieut.General Adachi does not show him as a General but as a Colonel. Still, better than what usually hits the market with "The author has read the Japanese official history" on this or that battle with the author thanking his Japanese interpreters elsewhere in the book.

This is an interesting read for a history buff.
Written by a friend from Carson's oral reminiscenses.

Excellent read Milo Milton Quaife did a nice job on filling many facts, the only problem I had was with Mr. Carson wish he would of writtn more. Good read on airline flight.

Disclaimer: Kit Carson is my first cousin, five times removed! And that's why I read this book.

It took a while to sink in, but the compelling feature about Kit's autobiography is the editing. There are extensive footnotes throughout that put Kit's text in historical perspective, point out errors in his memory, and round out the story.

He describes his 16-year life as a Mountain Man in almost monosyllabic terms. In other words, he compresses a whole year into a single paragraph. A short paragraph!

But it gets better when he has something to say about his scouting and Indian relations roles.

Why does it explain it all? Because I have this wanderlust locked up inside me, and I've always wondered where it came from!

Kit Carson was a man of few words in life and in his own autobiography. It is unfortunate that such a dynamic individual didn't write down more! Quaife does a terrific job with the notes. Explaining everything that Carson failed to include. This is a common problem as, for example, Kit Carson will say something to the effect: Fought indians today, and Quaife will fill in all of the details about what tribe, how many, who was killed or wounded in both parties, etc. I am fascinated by how much detail is known of Carson's time. Very readable, my only complaint was that it was too short! The editor has included a nicely laid out index. I found the book well worth the purchase price! BTW, for those of you looking for information on William F. Drannon, he is not mentioned anywhere in Carson's autobiography.

Kit Carson was everywhere and did just about everything. I must agree with other reviewers and Milo Milton Quaife in his introduction, that because of Carson's nature, the book seems somewhat curtailed of descriptive events. What may have taken a few months to happen, Kit says it all in a paragraph. That aside, he came out west at the age of sixteen to become a mountain man. As time went by he was involved with trapping adventures, expeditions with Fremont, the Mexican War and as an Indian agent. Maybe it was a sign of the times, but Carson certainly does not hesitate to boast about how many Indians he killed during his day to day adventures. This may have been brought about by his upbringing as a young child. The settlers in his part of Missouri where he was living at the time had to "fort" themselves against the activities of hostile Indians. This may have carried on into adulthood. Nevertheless, this was a good book on an extraordinary and remarkable man of the early American west.

Not since Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions" have I felt so...connected to a fellow mother - and the mother part doesn't even really get rolling till the final part of the book!
I loved reading about Michelle's process of 'getting there'... all the relationships we form, for better or for worse; the friends we make and lose; the loneliness and love... all that stuff we go through as women before we enter the most challenging relationship of all - that we have with our children. Thank you Michelle for baring your soul - I feel like I've found a friend.

There's so much in this book that should be thought & talked about that I've put it on my book group's list for this winter--we're a bunch of new or new-ish mothers and usually we DON'T read motherhood books or parenting books because the point of our reading group is to take a BREAK from thinking about being moms. But this book raises so many important issues, I think we have to break our own "rule." And it doesn't JUST talk about parenting issues, either. It also talks about what it means to be a girl and a woman in our world without, what friendship is FOR, and what it feels like to go through menopause--its like a one-volume encyclopedia of femaleness. Plus Herman writes about the one huge issue all new mothers have to deal with, which is how do you know what the right thing to do IS? She doesn't have answers but she asks all the right questions. As a mom of a bright and kind of challenging 4-yr old, I found every page interesting (and I am going to lend MY copy to my mom). My only complaint is that its kind of expensive. Wish it were in paperback!

I just read this book and I feel like I have to point out that (for me, anyway) what was great about it WASN'T the whole mother-daughter thing that the publisher and the reviews I've read concentrate on. There's stuff in this book about friendship, about BEST FRIENDS, that I've never read anywhere else. No one talks about this! I felt this jolt, like, FINALLY! My best friends have been my mainstay since I was little (and I'm 38 now!). I love my husband, I love my son, but it's my best friend Joanna and my second-best friends (they won't mind being called that, I'm their second or maybe even third-best friend too) who keep me sane. (I also think that Herman says some things about motherhood in general, in the last part of the book, that needed to be said and that NOBODY EVER HAS. Read it! I should be ashamed to say that I didn't buy it, I got it from my library, but I just ordered a copy for Joanna!)

I almost had a nervous breakdown just reading this book. Herman's writing for three quarters of the book is about herself and "restless" does not begin to describe the way she analyzes relationships. It's tedious and self-indulgent. The most interesting parts of the book is when she describes her daughter and the "breakdown". I will give her credit for being brutally honest about herself. As a mother, the most interesting thing said in the book is the criteria the doctor recommended when deciding what actions to take: "Is this for you or for her?" So in using this guideline, how wise is it to publish a book on your own child's psychological problems? A child who is probably still under 18 and cannot consent? How will she feel having such personal issues being aired out by the mother that actually caused them? How is this benefiting the child?

Extraordinary, highly recommended, poignant, powerful, entertaining, insightful, playful and profound. May provoke laughter and tears. An amazing frank, disarming and charming collection of essays on daughterhood, motherhood, adolescence, the artist as a middle-aged mother, romance, puppy love, the Beatles, need and want, and on the joys and sorrows, successes and failures, fears and hopes, pleasures and pains of being a mother, a daughter, and a hopelessly idealistic and romantic seeker of perfect love, perfect friendship and perfect communion. Through four interwoven essays spun around the author's relationship with her daughter from womb to eight years old, and the author's own lonely adolescence, a rich tale of yearning and discerning females from Brooklyn to the Midwest casts its spell with amusing anecdotes about growing up, about the phenomenon and need of best friends, about boys (answering her daughter's questions about all her old boyfriends, even the first loves who never knew) and men and pop songs and talking snakes and childhood dreams of stardom. Inspired by the author's all-abiding love and devotion to her daughter, the ultimate irony of this powerful book is revealed in the heart-wrenching episode of the daughter's near breakdown at age 6, when a conflict of needs--the mother's and the daughter's--grows out of the mother's overprotective love and provokes the daughter's crisis of individuation--her social and emotional adaptation to the world beyond her mother's orbit. Thankfully, all ends well, with the daughter gaining her own highly individual selfhood and the mother learning to let go and still support the neverending dream. And the reader learning about the heart in conflict with itself, and the courage it takes to be a parent and to admit faults, to forgive and to find yourself in your darkest fears. A moving tribute to the perils and ultimate power of love. Bravo.

It's not often that I can honestly say I enjoyed a collection of short stories. Ms Jeffrey was able to succinctly capture her characters' emotions and the complex relationships between people. I particularly enjoyed the last three stories.

This is a great read even if you are not a huge short story fan.

Great stories. Loved how each story delved into a particular aspect of the main charactor's past or caused them to question the life choices they made.They all had regrets and wished they has done certain things differently. As we all do! The stories were enteraining and made you think about your own past and the choices you have made. Can't wait until the next collection comes out.

Wonderfully fleshed out characters, moving stories and excellent writing combine to make this one of my favorite reads. Many of the characters and situations reminded me of events that took place in my own life. Good gift for the discerning reader.

Well-written collection with great character development. My favorite of the bunch was "Trail's End," followed by "Catch and Release." I look forward to reading more in the future by Erica Olson Jeffrey.

The short stories in Omaha Beach felt to me like messages from a writer well-acquainted with joy and regret, love and loss, anger and wonder. The stories reveal what is going on under the masks we wear in our everyday lives, hiding the ugly truths we don't want anyone else to see. Whether or not I've experienced exactly what the characters in Omaha Beach have lived through, I know their emotions because I've felt them too. In addition, her description of the 1970s resonated so much with me, I can actually see the off-color, grainy, instamatic photos we all took to chronicle that time. I contacted the author, Erica Olsen Jeffrey and she has offered to write discussion questions on these stories for my book group, or any other book groups or literature classes.

I discovered this book by accident many years ago, and have since purchased several more copies to share with friends (some fellow quilters and some not). I started quilting as part of my treatment for depression so it was deeply satisfying and encouraging to read of Janet's ongoing journey through fabrics. SO much to consider and feel. I've returned to this volume time and again and portions of it have even inspired some of my own quilting (notably Thirty Years Later, a quilt created along the lines of one essay titled "Smashing Those Dresden Plates").

This book didn't quite grab me the way it seems to have grabbed other reviewers. I can appreciate it, reading about her life and historical aspects of quilting were interesting, but it just wasn't my style. For me, having a visual reference would have helped. I would have loved for her to have added photos of the quilts she was making and writing about and/or photos of the historical figures and quilts she wrote about.

Although this is not a long book, I found myself spacing out my reading to enjoy each and every tidbit that Ms. Berlo had to offer. I didn't want it to end and savored each scrap. She is a wonderful writer that captures what it is to be a woman entreanched in family issues, life in general and how crafting can lift you up and out of a "funk". My only regret is that I can't see her beautiful quilts that she describes so poetically. That would complete the circle.

Berlo describes the way a sudden depression turned her from a highly esteemed, publishing professor to an almost obsessive quilter overnight.
She talks movingly about finding balance, and the way that "playing" with colors, patterns and fabric helped her find that, both in her work, and with friends and family.
In a society that undervalues "women's art" (especially textile arts), Berlo makes an interesting case that it is both therapeutic and historically significant.

I am PASSIONATE about this book! It's written as a mix between a journal and an autobiography and lays bare a lot of the feelings that I thought only I had about the importance of quilting. I love the way that the passion for quilting is woven into Janet's love for her sisters and her sometimes difficult relationship with her mother. As you read, you begin to see her working her way out of the depression that imobilised her, and it shows how she re-chanelled her creativity after her writing "avenue" of expression was blocked. This is a book for anyone interested in the stresses of 21st century woman, and even if you don't quilt yourself, you will still enjoy the sharing of emotions. I defy anyone not to say at some point "I have felt exactly like that!", whatever your interests or background!

I really liked this book. It only took me about 5 days to read it (and that was with my time being limited by life being busy!!) I liked how it started, it caught my attention. I liked the end too, a little surprising. I thought the characters were realistic and interesting. I love this time period too, historical fiction is always fun! I think the book was easy to read and very enjoyable. If you like this book you would probably also like Treasures of the North by Tracie Peterson (also about the gold rush - but only in Canada).

Stephanie Grace Whitson has done it again with this one! Indians play a part, the Army an even larger part-- as well as various and sundry "orphans and abused victims" all of which sway the reader one way or the other.

She portrays Laina in a positive light in spite of her infamous and horrible past. Boone is a leader in the Army who just cannot move on past the death of his wife 2 years earlier. The reader gets geared for a relationship that keeps you guessing, wondering and finally letting out a big sigh of surprise. Everyone's hero is Granny Max, her faith,healing touch and counsel and patience never waver. Tears will spill over Granny in this book, trust me.

Another "little lamb" who is running is Jackson, a young soldier with a past. He has a temper and some habits that make you want to alternately shake him and hug him. Good job, Stephanie!

When Laina feels she has done it all, borne it all and is finally is on her way to recovery from her dugout ordeal and her earlier past, she finds out she is NOT disconnected yet, and will be asked to bear the ultimate humiliation. Can she-- in this small, close-knit community? She has a plan. Is it God's plan, though?

Whitson definitely has another winning series and I am out the door to purchase book number 2, thanks again Steph, for your courage and determination to keep love, history, Indians and Christ all woven throughout this book and most likely the rest of the series if I know you!

Laina Gray is an ex-showboat singer sold into slavery by her unscrupulous father. Rescued by army officer Nathan Boone, she discovers a new life at the fort under the watchful eye of faithful Christian Granny Max. Will Laina escape her past or is it doomed to haunt her?

I enjoyed the first half of secrets of the wind. Laina is a truly likeable character and so is Granny max. Granny Max is the soul of the book, and so is Laina, and any scene with those two in it was heartwarming...

However, the preaching became quite heavy in the second half of the book, almost to the point where it was unenjoyable for this reader. I can handle it when it seems natural, but in many cases it seemed forced. Long discussions of characters faith or (lack therof) do not particularly excite me.

I also felt the author's depiction of male characters was pretty bland. Neither of the male characters (Beau or Nate) were particularly thrilling. Nate was a bit of a mary sue and Beau seemed like a loser to me. I found the romance between Laina and her chosen beau to be quite tepid. It seemed almost as though the last few chapters the author remembered it was a romance and tacked it on. The issue of rape recovery, childbirth, loss, and death are not particularly romantic subjects and these issues are being dealt with during the heroine's very brief 'courtship,' was a bit of a downer. I'd like to see Laina get a romance, but so soon after her ordeal didn't work out for me somehow.

3 stars. A little too much preaching and unappealing male characters, sloppy romance.

This is the first Christian "romance" book I have ever read, and was pleased that the Word of God was shared repeatedly throughout the book (KUDOS Stephanie) without sounding "preachy" or forced. A+ and how 'bout the hot girl on the cover!

Capturing a slice of history set in an outback U.S military post, the first book in the Pine Ridge Portraits series tells the story of three very different people who all want to make a new start in their lives. Saved from certain death, Laina struggles to overcome her hideous past and all the nightmares that resulted, with the gentle wisdom and support of Granny Max. Still reeling from the death of his wife two years earlier, Sergeant Nathan Boone endeavours to help Laina regain her footing, all the while unsure of how to move forward with his own life. And then someone who figured in both Laina and Nathan's past re-emerges with a new identity...
Stephanie Grace Whitson tells a story of hope and redemptive grace in the midst of 1870's Nebraska, bringing to life characters with heartache and determination. SECRETS ON THE WIND sets the pace for a gripping new series by this award-winning author. Recommended for fans of Janette Oke, Stephen Bly, Al and Joanna Lacy, Alan Morris and Gilbert Morris. ~~Ellie Schroder, owner of The Christian Fiction Site

More than a century later, it is still a classic detailed study of irregular warfare. It is interesting and instructive with insights into modern warfare years ahead of the 4th generation warfare proving grounds of the 20th and 21st century. For the case study approach to real conflicts, this book is worth the price and worth keeping to re-read on later occasions.

Long before the term "insurgent" entered the military vocabulary the British had developed a long experience in fighting them during much of the 19th century. Colonel Callwell's book is an excellent source if you want to understand the roots of counterinsurgent warfare in the 20th and 21st centuries. Callwell covers the topic completely from strategy to tactics used against different fighting styles e.g. mounted troops, fanatics, etc. hill and bush warfare, the use of infantry and mounted troops as well as night operations. Callwell supplies good examples accompanied by nice action maps for his subjects. Before reading this book I found it helpful to read "Queen Victoria's Little Wars" by Byron Farwell which gave me a much better appreciation of entire small wars from which Callwell takes his examples. If you are doing an indepth study of insurgent warfare this is a must, but if your time is limited you might want to come back to it and move on to more contemporary readings first.

The author is one of the earliest and most influential writers on counter-insurgency. He was a British military officer writing to teach junior officers on how to defeat non-European forces. While many of his tactics seem rather tough and barbaric, one must be careful to judge him by the standards of his time (early 20th century), not by the whims of today. If one is able to look past many of tougher stances, like destroying the food and water sources of uncooperative local citizens, there is quite a bit worth learning. The Marine Corps Small Wars Manual of 1940 owes much to this work. While more modern counter-insurgency writers have overshadowed Caldwell's teachings, he still deserves credit for being one of the first to record the lessons and basic tenets of counter-insurgency. It is amazing the see how little has changed and how well this book holds up. I understand why this book is still required reading at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

Colonel Callwell's book is a "must" for any student of military history and also practicing members of the armed forces. The wealth of detail and the numerous references to actual events and the ability to clearly convey the concept of how to manage such operations. I return to this volume constantly.

I bought this book because it appeared to fill in the void of my knowledge on colonial wars. The author has clearly stated that all of his examples used to illustrate his principles will be that of properly formed armies versus irregular native troops (the Boers are an exception). Thus, the American War of Independence is excluded but surprisingly, several examples from the European Vendee rebellion are also included. The author's style is to state principles, followed by a litany of examples to illustrate his point. He cites many unknown engagements as examples but many of these examples lack firm details. A textual description apparently suffices as examples. The same examples could be used to illustrate other points. I found this approach rather boring and it began to read like a manual to me. On the plus side, there were some examples with more details given, including a sketch map which livened the proceedings somewhat. Douglas Porch provides a neat introduction into the background of Col Callwell, including the fact that he had numerous entries selected for the Encyc. Brittanica. Except for the one on Guerrilla warfare for which the editors selected TE Lawrence. I can see why - Callwell wrote from the perspective of the formed troops - Lawrence wrote from that of the guerrillas.

Very interesting book,although my favorite by this author is still "The Earth Abides". This book obviously pre-dates today's doppler radar systems, and deals with the evolving art of weather forecasting. The fact remains that George R. Stewart was a very accomplished writer, and could be counted as a very creative storyteller.

For most, weather happens! It affects our lives in countless ways and sometimes wreaks havoc on them. Unless one personally experiences the sheer violence of weather like a tornado or a hurricane, we go along just being inconvenienced by it and muttering how it forced cancellation of the picnic or the golf game. Stewart's novel is a wonderful story of the seeming innocence of an obscure storm system developing far, far away that eventually will dramatically impact men's and women's lives in western United States. The people stories are poignant and suspensful as each is tied to this relentless and powerful storm as it develops and makes it's way to our shores. One gains tremendous appreciation and respect for the patterns, intensity and often times the unpredictable nature of weather -

The book was written in 1940. I read it in February 1943 at the U. of Wisconsin. Unaware that I needed glasses, I had been rejected by the Army Air Corps as a possible fighter pilot. I stumbled into weather forecasting as a bad second choice, having no interest at all in weather. This small book, given to me by the Army, instantly converted me into an avid, aspiring meteorologist. I am so glad Amazon.com recently found a used copy for me.

The novel is unusual in its construction. The storm called Maria (this book started the custom of giving storms feminine names) is the all imposing, domineering character in the story. There are 12 chapters, one for each day in the life of the storm. Each chapter has 6-12 subchapters that tell of the two or three dozen human characters who are in the plot. We know most of them by job title, not by name. Maria connects them all together in an ever rising crescendo that reminds me of Ravel's Bolero.

This is a unique book, as there are no real characters other than the storm of the title. The story traces the birth, approach and impact of a storm, and the effect on persons and communities in its path. It is the literary equivalent of the disaster movies of the 1970's and 1980's (presaging them by several decades). Tightly written with the irresistable forward movement of a storm front, it an interesting, and surprisingly educational story. Although a bit dated, weather itself (the main character) has not changed, thus it remains current. Truly a novel novel.

A must read for anyone who knows and loves the big california storms- you know who you are. For the rest of you, it chronicles the lifespan of one of the big pacific storms.

Instead of depending on the foolish politically correct hollywood movies to learn history about this country and the people involved, read about history from those closest to the actual events. This book appears to be generally unbiased and fair about the events surrounding the Apachie and Geronimo. Of course there is always some bias because people are influenced by their own perspectives and feelings, but on the whole it was a pretty good book.

This book is one of the true historically significant accounts of events that have been forever shrouded in lies and fiction. If you are interested in historically accurate accounts of the late Apache wars, this is one of the must-read books. Davis just wanted the truth told, so he did it himself after watching glory-seeking sycophants take credit for, and be lauded for the heroic actions of others. Davis's views on his enemy Apaches, as well as the Apache scouts, show the wisdom and respect only a true and sage adversary can attest to. You won't be sorry you bought this book. Another must read is "On The Border With Crook" by John G. Bourke.

For any one interested in the real facts of the Apache campains this is for you. It may take a little patience to get through the early reading, Davis is very detailed in names and dates but he has real first hand accounts of things that acctually occured. This is a man I think saw and admired the native people and did his duty in a fair and just manner. Davis is an admiral person and does a great justice to the Indian and the attrocities they endured but at the same time points out that just like in every culture a few bad apples can spoil the lot. He also points out that the government did far more decieving to the Indian they ever did to the government. I always respected the Native Americans and even more so after this book.

Here is the point of view concerning a particular portion of the late Apache/Euro conflict involving the last rag-tag remnants of the Apache tribes and the United States Army units involved in trying to keep them subdued. Its an enjoyable read because the author gives a first-hand, eye-witness account of the series of incidents known as "The Geronimo Campaigns" and he does so without injecting the slobbering Politically Correct dogma that has become so common in present day literature dealing with frontier history (of course, Davis lived at a time when Political Correctness didn't exist, so naturally his book wouldn't contain any!)

A book like this easily destroys the sky-pie nonsense found in sob-story exercises such as Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and blatantly absurd and Politically Correct motion pictures like "Dances With Wolves" and "Geronimo, An American Legend". In fact, its a very nice counter weight to the drivel out there that seeks to leave unaware people with the impression that the American Indian was some sort of Red Aristocrat or Feathered Philosopher/Sage who was unfairly victimized by unreasonable invaders.

However, I have even better works to offer you if you are sincerely interested in FACT and Truth concerning the White/Indian conflicts. These are all available right here at amazon.com, and the titles to look for are; THREE YEARS AMONG THE COMANCHES ( a first-hand narrative by a Texas Ranger who was captured by Comanches and how he was brutally and sadistically treated, how he escaped, and how he evaded re-capture.) LIFE AMONG THE APACHES ( a first-hand narrative by John Cremony of the famed California Volunteers, who dealt with Apache, Comanche, Kaddo and other hostiles at a time BEFORE the United States Army had even a small force in the southwestern region of North America.) and lastly, SCALP DANCE ( a book consisting of detailed military and civilian/settler accounts of the chilling, blood-curdling wars with Southern Cheyenne, Comanche, Arapaho, Sioux, and Kiowa on the high plains). These three books will serve to provide you with an excellent AND HISTORICALLY ACCURATE overview of frontier history, and an antidote to all the Politically Correct dogma out there that is being passed off as "fact" by glib leftist "educators", self-proclaimed "experts" and psuedo-historians. Read them all, none are dry or boring, and all are of the "couldn't put it down" type of literature.

After you've finished THREE YEARS AMONG THE COMANCHES, LIFE AMONG THE APACHES, and SCALP DANCE, get "Indian Wars" by Robert Utley. By reading these books in this order, you'll grasp the gravity of the incidents that Utley superbly, but only generally deals with, and you'll not only appreciate Utley's work even more, you'll also appreciate the fine line a genuine historian like Utley has to walk while trying to make a living within the Politically Correct jungle that surrounds the academic slums of so-called "modern education".

Britton Davis's reason for writing this book in the 1920's was to set straight some outlandish tales that were being published about who "captured" Geronimo, and some even more fictitious writings on the "Indian Wars."
This is an excellent book, as an adventure tale, as a look at the 'civilized' persons' outlook toward "the Indians" of the day, as a look at the horrific way our government tried to solve the 'indian problem' with a one-size-fits-all method (sound familiar?), and a look at Apaches as individuals rather than all-bad or all-good.
For a tremendous balance of outlooks, read this book along with Eve Ball's "Indeh".

I have been writing for over forty years, and it seems to me I might have done better with it all had I paid more attention to one central piece of advice given in this book, the advice about listening to the reader, caring to communicate with the reader, learning from the reader's reaction.
This book is a very friendly guide to the writer and would - be- writer. It is written with a clearness and common sense and real concern for helping out 'others'. Its spirit, its unpretentiousness, clarity are all in its favor.
The authors teach the value of writing every day, of concentrating on communicating with the reader. They also have a section on the business of getting oneself published. They advise against trying to go over the head of the reader with dazzling displays of knowledge or virtuosity, and instead communicating to the reader. They suggest that much good writing comes from everyday life, and is about telling stories of everyday life in a winning way. They go into details of the writing process to show how to make it more effective.
This is a small book with much in it.

This book is excellent for someone who may have inhibitions when it comes to expressing themselves in their writing...someone who just needs a slight push to feel less apprehensive. I felt it was more for someone who just started writing or who wants to write, but has been too afraid vs. someone whose seriously looking to improve their craft.

Good book to get beyond those vague fears about expressing oneself with the written word. Encouraging and helpful, I would recommend this book to any new writer who just needs a little boost.

This is not your every day how-to book about writing. Nor is it a writing text book. It's a solid, easy to follow guide to get you writing after all the years of saying you wish you could. It won't guarantee you'll be published. But it will give you realistic suggestions that if followed will help you improve your writing.
Co-author Ted Kooser follows his own advice: he communicates. To Kooser, all writing is communication and if it's poorly written communication fails. Kooser is a former Poet Laureate and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. He is a professor of English at the University of Nebraska--Lincoln. Joining Kooser is Steve Cox who is an editor, publisher, freelance writer and director emeritus of the University of Arizona Press.
The 177 pages of the book are full of useable information for any writer--published or unpublished. Nine sections cover every aspect of writing from "What Do You Know?" to "Copyright, Libel and Invasion of Privacy."
Composition teachers will shudder at the section entitled: "Rules? We Don' Need No Stinkin' Rules!" Kooser and Cox quote author Elmore Leonard: "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow what we learned in English to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative."
Aaagh! Miss Spencer who taught Comp 101 would have a coronary!
"Many writers have been tempted to tell you everything they have learned about writing...Writing is a capacious activity that allows for a lot of individuality. Nobody's wrong, and nobody's necessarily right," the authors write.
Most new writers don't grasp the importance of revising. Kooser and Cox write: "It's a rare first draft that can be published or even read in public. Almost every piece of writing needs some rewriting, rethinking, and polishing before it is ready to take center stage." Their suggestion on the importance of revising is to "let it [draft] cool" a while before revising.
Stephen King, the authors point out, sets the first draft of his books aside for six weeks before writing the second draft.
The personality of your writing can determine your own personality, they write: "Expressing yourself positively will have a remarkable effect on your life...It turns out that writing positively leads you into the habit of thinking positively, and thinking positively leads you to behaving positively in other areas of your life."
The focus of the book is how to get started writing, how to keep going and how to get publicity. It does a good job of meeting that goal.

Imagine sitting down for coffee (or tea) with the U.S. Poet Laureate (who just won a Pulitzer) and a well respected author, editor and publisher and having them tell you how you can write better. This book does it. Conversational, fun, and full of wisdom and encouragement. Will you snag your Pulitzer? Probably not. But, if you take these guys' advice and start writing, there's a good chance that you'll have some words on paper that other people might just treasure long into the future.

Jay Rochlin