Battlefields Books

As soon as I got Silent Battlefields, my teenage daughter took it from me. She is a history buff, and she thought this looked like a book she would enjoy. Actually, she loved it. The way the author brings together the son of holocaust survivors and the son of a former Hitler youth is well done, and really makes the reader think. Highly recommended.

Two unlikely friends realize that they have more in common with each other than most people would believe. Matthew Eisenstadt is the only son of two Holocaust survivors. His mother's parents had been murdered by the Nazis but her life had been spared by a young soldier who suddenly had second thoughts about what his role in the situation. His father had been the family's lone survivor of Treblinka.

Matthews's new friend, Thomas Kruger is the only son of a German couple. His mother had had Nazi sympathizer parents and his father had been one of Hitler's youth.

Both boys know almost nothing about their respective parents' life during the war. It is a subject that is just not broached. Yet both individuals feel that without knowing what really happened that they can't understand a piece of their own history, a piece of themselves.

Silent Battlefields craftfully illustrates both sides of survivor's guilt from the war. I was pleased that the different experiences actually had a great deal of similarities in the feelings and reactions after the fact. However, I really didn't like the direction that the book took in the last hundred pages or so. I felt that these events were out of sync with the rest of the story taking it in a whole different type of story.

Like all German teens when Hitler was in power, Selig Kruger was indoctrinated into the "Hitler Youth", a mandatory program to train and screen the country's next generation of German soldiers. While he enjoyed the comradeship and pagentry, he was disturbed by the blanket hatred of Jews and the violence directed toward them. On his first assignment in the German Army, he and two other soldiers were assigned to expose German families who were hiding Jews in their homes. In searching a home, he saw a terrified young Jewish girl hiding in a closet, but spared her life by keeping silent about her. Shortly thereafter, sickened by the reality of the violence he had been trained to inflict, he fled the scene, and had to kill the other two soldiers who would have shot him as a deserter.

Fast forward about 25 years, and Selig is a physician in a Philadelphia hospital, married to a German woman who knows his secret. Their son Thomas, whom they have not told about his father's past, strikes up a friendship with a young Jewish man, Matthew, whom he meets at a college discussion and reconcilation group about the Holocaust. Matthew invites Thomas home to have dinner with him and his parents, Nathan and Eva, who are both Holocaust survivors. Eva is stunned by a flash of recognition in meeting Thomas, who bears an erie resemblance to the German soldier who spared her life so many years before. The boys become very close, and Eva takes it upon herself to meet Selig. Their reconcilation is complicated by the appearance of a Nazi hunter, a former patient of psychologist Eva, who targets Selig due to his assumed atrocities committed while in the German army.

"Silent Battlefields" is a highly original, riveting, well-written and thought-provoking debut novel, one which not only raises significant issues about that period in history, but exposes how dangerous bigotry and blind hate can be in any context. I give it a full five stars out of five.

"Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone."

As it happens, Hugh Rosen, author of Silent Battlefields, A Novel, has written a wide-ranging novel that explores this ancient quotation from the New Testament, though it seems a contradiction. This book is set in our modern day and the protagonists are progeny of Germans and Jews who still suffer from the holocaust.

Rosen probably didn't set out to examine the concept from this quote; it turns out he did, though, and for the benefit of all who read it, I might add. For these readers are the lucky ones, the ones who will be exposed again--may in fact re-learn--the concept that as humans, we are all one.

What better time to come to a novel like this? Like Steven Spielberg did with Munich and George Clooney did with Good Night and Good Luck, Rosen has chosen to tackle a gigantic theme with a specific and heartfelt story. Would that his book finds the same kind of audience.

For, in this novel, there are no angels, no devils. Only hard-core people made of blood, bones and heart. Rosen updates the ancient themes of tolerance, acceptance and blame to a modern-day mystery with elements of horror that genre fans might find more edifying than their usual fare. By doing so, he makes subjects that some might avoid not only palatable but must-absolutely-must-reading.

Battlefields is a first novel from a newly minted MFA graduate. With small improvements in craft, Hugh Rosen will be one of our greats and, it is fervently hoped, one of our nation's most read. Hear, hear Rosen! Here's to a bestselling future!
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of the award-winning books This is the Place and Harkening. Leora Krygier, author of the acclaimed When She Sleeps, says "these books paint us a picture of Utah, love, family and intolerance in beautiful strokes." The reviewer is also the author of THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T, USA Book News' pick for "Best Professional Book 2004, and a book of nostalgic, personal poetry, Tracings from Finishing Line Press. Her FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOU BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS will be issued in spring of 2007.

Imposing cover graphics at once drew me to this novel, the story of Selig Kruger, one of Hitler's Youth, and Eva, the girl he saved. But this poignant tale captures more than just the scars and hopes of these two people, more than principle and duplicity; it weaves around their relationships and those of their offspring, each individual invariably affected by a gruesome past.

Silent Battlefields awakens a difficult history, from the Nazi youth to the Holocaust survivor, from the hapless victim to the deranged vigilante who seeks his own justice, and how all these lives interconnect to make the past, the present and the future. Each account is written judiciously, perceptively, sometimes with a daintiness that encapsulates emotion. Sometimes that fragility crumbles to jolt one into a raw harshness, the kind that invades spaces not ready to be filled. Doors open that would rather remain shut. Refined masks are suddenly uncloaked in elaborate, disturbing accounts: boy soldiers on grave missions; men defined by the numbers they killed; others shaped by the degree of suffering endured. Dialogue flows easy, at times somewhat philosophical.

A part of me wanted to gobble each haunting truth, each staggering concept, yet another piece of me felt drawn into a place I did not wish to explore, the findings too unsettling to visit. Parallels, contrasts - Hugh Rosen draws them well. As an author, he has a commanding flow that understands how to keep a story alive and curiosity aflame. Silent Battlefields, an iUniverse Editor's Choice, carries deep insight into the complexities of fear, relationships and conflicts. It peels like an onion into the innermost layers of each sentiment to cloister them in a work of fiction that redefines history.

What a powerful read!
Eugen M. Bacon,
Amazon Shorts Author, The Hybrid

I enjoy historical fiction, especially that of the Civil War era, and was not disappointed by Lynn Austin's tale of drama and romance during the 1860s. The characters Julia and Phoebe are human and likeable, and most importantly, believable. I could not put this novel down, and bought it soon afterwards in a complete set (with books one and three). It was well worth it and highly recommended.

If you only have money for one book from this series, I would recommend this one. It is definitely the better of the three stories.

I never had read historical fiction regarding the civil war before this book. This was such an interesting book, and so full of information. I loved the characters. It was really neat to see how some of the women of the time helped in the war. Men made many sacrifices during this war, but so did the women. You will not be disappointed in this book if you love the civil war era. I accidentally got this one first over the first book in the series (Candle in the Darkness), I liked this one much better.

I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days! I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a great book.

This book was better than the first one, I enjoyed reading it very much! I really liked how Julia's character developed and Phoebe was such a likeable character. Lynn Austin is a great writer, she really knows how to keep your interest. Highly recommend this book!

Would you go hiking without a map? Would you work on your car without a manual? Then why would you even think about going to the Middle East without this book? Poole once again sets the standard in the industry for explaining the tactics, history, and mindset of the Islamic Extremist. From military commander to field grunt to civilian contractor, if you're headed to a desert combat zone do yourself a favor and BUY this book! I also suggest you read this book with a highlighter in hand...but you may just end up highlighting everything. This book undoubtedly has saved lives and will save more in the future!

The book gives a good acccount of the various Islamic militant factions and their interactions. The opinions seemed a bit "armchair general" and opinionated at times, but they made several good points. I'd recommend the book although it had the following drawbacks for me:
-The insertion of outside material to back up the author's words made for a sometimes disjointed read
-The sprinkling of "God (Christian) & country", stereotyping, etc. seemed unnecessary
-20% of the material was a repetition/reiteration of a particular point (not sure if this was to beef up the number of pages or to compensate for a shakey arguement)

This book was kindly donated to my unit by the publishers when I was a Company Commander before I deployed. Everyone over here should read it. Regardless of how much money our government spends on high-tech equipment and contracts, until we gain a better understanding of our opponents sociological and theological motivations we will continue to waste a lot of our military resources. LTC Poole's emphasis on taking a humanistic approach and integrating our forces with the locals is sound, provided that the local forces are properly vetted and aren't infiltrated by insurgents.

Once again H. John Poole has pulled aside the Middle East veil of mystery to show us how the Muslim militants go about their business. Known as the "War on Terror" aka "4th Generation warfare", radical Muslim militants have worked out the ways to challenge the West collectively, on - and off the battlefield. Thus far, their efforts have cost the U.S.of A., not only lives, but billions of dollars, sowing anxiety and terror. How have they accomplished this with slender resources? Against the most technologically advanced armed forces in the world? Poole tells us how.
The book is divided into three parts:
The initial part updates the reader on the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan to the summer of 2005. How the Muslim militants have survived and continue to succeed against coalition armed forces without tactical victory, hi-tech resources or heavy arms; all the while they suffer heavy casualties and continue to burn through the resources - and resolve of the West - are addressed.
The next part examines, through the lense of ancient oriental texts on the principles of warfare, the stratagems employed by the militants. These are the most illuminating chapters: now the daily events in Iraq and Afghanistan make sense if one understands the militants' operational philosophy. Poole's explanations of tactical actions clarifies how these militants are playing "the Game" against coalition forces. What makes no sense militarily in Western understanding of warfare are perfectly acceptable to furthering these militants' ends.
The final section's chapters provide approaches to dealing with "4th Generation Warfare" situations, which Western military forces are more and more wont to encounter. Many of Poole's recommendations reflect the U.S. Marines' experience with the Combined Action Program (CAP)used in Vietnam during the 1960s. Essentially, special Marine units operated with Vietnamese local forces at the village level to root out and undermine the Viet Cong insurgency. He contrasts this approach to the reliance on hi-tech and heavy fire power, the preferred operational mode of U.S. forces. Further, Poole (pp 278-294) describes the changes in tactical philosophy that must come about if U.S. ground forces are to prevail against their current enemy. This, to my mind, is the best part of the book.
Poole's views on training and tactics in the last chapter, come closer to dealing with military cultural reform than in his previous wotks. While he addresses these subjects in other books, these last pages in MILITANT TRICKS come the furthest to combining these previous discussions into a coherent whole which reflects the grunt's eye-level ground view.
Hopefully, the powers-that-be are reading his works - effecting the necessary changes.

This is the best book I have read so far on where and who the real enemy is and who is behind and against the U.S. supporting democracy and the liberation of the people of Iraq.
Breaks down in detail who is Sunni and who is Shiite.
How they work and how they are fighting U.S. Forces together.
How the real enemy is Iran with many proxies to gain control of Iraq.
How the U.S. must change to deal with fighting in Irregular Warfare now and for decades to come.
How the enemy is capitalizing on U.S. democratically controlled Congress to gain victory.

Heading over to OIF II in a few months, active duty CDR O5 who will be working in support of the bravest of the brave (EOD Forces defeating IED's). This book was instrumental in developing a understanding of what is really going on.

I would recommend this book for all Officers and enlisted personnel heading to fight this fight from E1 up.

CDR Bill Noel (Navy EOD Officer)

My biggest problem with Wings to the Kingdom is that after going back to Four and Twenty Blackbirds, I have to find something worthy to read until Oct 2, when Not Flesh Nor Feathers comes out. I loved Eden. The combat boots, the Death Nugget, the whole thing. And every time Benny nearly pees in his pants from glee or horror, I have to laugh, because he reminds me of that classic dork in all of us, the one who lights up like a six year old at the thought of ghosthunting, no matter who's in the room who might argue. The characters are spelled out just like all Southern literary characters should be- colorful, lovable, and with screws popping loose all over the place.

cherie priest is slowly replacing donna tartt as my favorite american female novelist of our time. *wings to the kingdom* is a somewhat slower story than *four and twenty blackbirds*, but every word is heavy with seduction, pulling the reader in with such force that it is hard to stop reading.

in brief, things have happened since *four and twenty blackbirds*. the protagonist eden moore is somewhat older, but still in every aspect a fascinating and multi-dimensional character. the setting is the same as in *four and twenty blackbirds*. new characters are introduced, old characters resurface. eyes glitter in moonlight and the mist grows heavy over chattanooga as the story progresses in a labyrinth of excitement and allure.

cherie priest is a wizard with words, and *wings to the kingdom* is a rich testimony of her magic. read it. I am very glad I did.

Pardon the pun.
One might worry whether CPriest's follow-up to _Four and Twenty Blackbirds_ might suffer the notorious "sophomore slump", but that would be needless suffering.

_Wings to the Kingdom_ builds on the foundations laid in the first novel, yet works on its own for readers who missed the first book (though, really, you're missing out on a good story if you haven't read it).

_Wings_ is engaging and dynamic. The storytelling is solid, the setting and the characters are real, and the mystery/tension is a treat.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series

If you enjoyed Four and Twenty Blackbirds, you will love Wings to the Kingdom. Cherie Priest's tale of ghosts at a Civil War battlefield grabbed me from the very first page. Taking an actual legend and weaving it into a spine-tingling story with believable characters, Priest just keeps getting better and better. The main character, Eden Moore, is likeable and interesting, as well as sympathetic. The rest of the characters are also well-rounded, even the publicity-seeking professional psychic investigator, who could easily have become a cliche. A very enjoyable read, and I eagerly look forward to the next installment!

Phenomenal follow-up to debut novel Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Eden Moore is dragged into a supernatural mystery at the Chickamauga battleground, and must deal with the public reaction to her ability to speak with the dead. Incredibly written, with a fast-paced storyline that still takes time to fully develop character. Priest cements her place in the Southern Gothic canon. Highly recommended.

David Homsher's book made me want to explore the AEF's battlegrounds around Chateau-Thierry. He has created a very tidy scrapbook of personal accounts and period photographs that provide snapshots of the doughboy's world. His organization is geographically shrewd: he begins at the Paris airport, and identifies AEF and Great War landmarks as a traveler would encounter them along the route to Chateau-Thierry. Through an eclectic treasure of first-hand accounts, you see the towns and fields as the doughboys and leathernecks did in 1918. The progession of accounts builds a sense of impending drama, recreating the essence of the unfolding crisis of the Chateau-Thierry fighting. The book culminates in a highly detailed description of a small but significant engagement between the 7th Machine Gun Battalion and the German attackers in and around Chateau-Thierry. For serious historians of the AEF, Mr Homsher's guidebook neatly complements the crusty but important military histories of the these battles. To get the most from Mr Homsher's book, plop down in a French cafe the evening before you visit the battlefield and let the wine & words bring you back to 1918.

Subtitled: Chateau Thierry--Then & Now

It is unfortunate that many of us fail to remember the efforts put forward by the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in bring the Great War of Civilization, better known as World War I, to a close.

Without much doubt, France and Britain were on their last legs. Germany had what proved to be better tactics and a slightly stronger will to see the conflict thru to the end.

It wasn't until General John "Blackjack" Pershing and the men of the AEF landed in France in 1918, and finally made their way to the front, that the conflict slowly began to swing in the allies favor.

Chateau Thierry was what could be considered the linchpin of the Germ salient that was moving inexorably toward Paris and the ultimate capitulation of the French Army.

Davis Homsher has produced a welcome addition into the current library of non-fiction accounts of what took place in and around Chateau Thierry and how the AEF was able to move into the line. With fresh troops and fresh momentum, the allies pushed the German lines back to not only the spring front lines of 1918, but ultimately handed them such a thorough thrashing as to make the cessation of hostilities a reality.

This book is replete with maps, photographs and personal account from the men that were there. American Battlefields of WWI Chateau Thierry--Then & Now is what I hope is the first volume in what should be many and a necessary addition to any Great War Library.

Armchair Interviews says: This book will prove to be a wondrous testament to the men and woman that saved the world from the first German aggression of the past century.

This is a book about fighting men, infantry men whose world was often limited to the view from a hole in the ground, told in their own words.
This is the story, told by those who were there, of the men of the American Expeditionary Force of 1917-1918.
It is the clear and engrossing story of the first battle in America's first European War. It is also an illustration in prose and pictures of life as it was then; a world that is long gone both for the French and the "Sammies".
The "then and now" photos are useful and interesting, as are the town and street maps. Altogether, this a book that will be very useful in exploring the battlefield of Chateau Thierry. It will tell present-day Americans very clearly what Grandfather did in France nearly 100 years ago.

Christina Holstein, author and battlefield guide.

Reviewed by Joe Graham for Reader Views (8/06)

David Homsher has created a guide book for the American battlefields of World War I around the village of Chateau-Thierry. The book is a remarkable accomplishment and it operates on several levels.

First, if the reader is interesting in actually visiting the battlefield sites, Homsher gives the reader detailed instructions on how to reach each location up to how to find the location, where to park, and what precautions to take and what to do once the reader is on the site. And his directions start with the arrival at Charles De Gaulle airport and how to get out of the airport and onto the correct road.

Secondly, if the reader is an armchair traveler, they can enjoy the written text along with a wonderful collection of photographs of the area with pictures of the same buildings or locations before and after the war. The photographic collection also contains many pictures of the German and Allied forces, French refugees and other pictures taken during the war. Homsher also includes maps so the reader can accurately pinpoint the locations of the area in France.

Finally, Homsher has included first hand accounts from the participants in the war. The accounts range from descriptions of field hospitals and battle formations to diaries of the combatants. This material lifts the book above just the casual guidebook. Reading first hand accounts of an event brings an immediacy to the reader that can not be achieved any other way.

A good example is this quote from Pvt. Leo J. Bailey, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division, who wrote in his diary:
"Eighteen hours of marching hip to hip with a seventy-two pound pack, dry
throated in a cloud of dust, had wearied them. Most men lay in full equipment on the cobbles and slept, but some scroungers with keener nose smelled brandy."

This book should appeal to a wide range of readers. Scholars and teachers will appreciate the first person accounts that give a more complete picture of the action than is typically given in the dry accounts of battles that relate who attacked who, and with what results.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the battles of World War I. The book is in a coffee table book format that the reader can pick up and refer to easily. This is a wonderful book because Homsher gives you an actual guidebook to the area, then pictures and maps of the area both before and after the war and then finally the first hand accounts that bring the action of the war to life through the words of the participants.

I want to express my feelings about this book. It has been many years since I read a book so compelling. I took it from the mailbox a little after noon yesterday and save for the time I took to eat dinner, read straight through till 12:30 am, then finished it the next day.
I don't anticipate that I will ever travel to France, but David Homsher's book makes it seem that I have been there already. It has been really an emotional experience - running the gamut from humor, to sorrow to anger and to bursting with pride at the actions of the American troops there. The many descriptions put forth by various people "in their own words" results in a more thorough understanding than could ever be given by just a straight narrative from any single author. I also found so many little "nuggets" of information in Homsher's book that I was unaware of before. By the time I finished the book, I felt that I not only had a thorough picture in my mind of exactly what took place, but that I understood it well enough to explain it to others in detail. I congratulate David on doing such a fine job and highly recommend his book. As a former schoolteacher, I wish it could be a part of the education of every American so that they could truly appreciate what was done by this country in World War I.

Excellent writing, the content is very interesting. If you have been to the Huertgen, you can understand what a challenge it would be to recover these soldiers. Great work, Bill Warnock, and even greater that you mentioned Will Cavanagh. Terrific tour guide and writer!

I collect information and write about local servicemen who died in World War II. That's how I came across this book, just typed in the name of our town and the book came up as a reference. Just the title was intriguing. Little did I know I was going to discover what may be the best book concerning WW II that I've read, and we're talking hundreds! Bill Warnock is an excellent writer. I found myself feeling, smelling and hearing the sounds of the Belgium forests as the group went about their searches. He was able to introduce us to these men who had been lost, put a face on them if you will, the way I've tried to do with our local boys over the years so that the youngsters of today will see them as real people. His passion and devotion to "the cause" as well as the other men involved in this endeavor is overwhelming. I also was fascinated by the forensic information and about how the Henri-Chappelle cemetery was built and maintained . . . I had no idea how they kept the crosses so straight! I've ordered two more of the books for others, one for a friend and another for my son who's a history teacher. I wish every high school student in the U.S. was required to read this book, to see these fallen soldiers as like themselves but also understand that sometimes our government does do something right. I was pleased at the expense and respect that was expended even 60 years after the fact.

Bill:
Great book and a great testament to the members of the greatest generation who gave all during the battle of the bulge. A easy read and very informative. Known Bill since we were both kids but it has been a long time since I seen him. Your tireless pursuit of closure to the families of the MIAs from the Bulge is commendable. Your portrayel of the compassion that many locals still feel for for the American GI in Europe is very neat. Keep it up and write another book.

"The Dead Of Winter" by Bill Warnock, Subtitled: "How Battlefield Investigators, WWII Veterans, And Forensic Scientists Solved The Mystery Of The Bulge's Lost Soldiers". Chamberlain Bros. Penguin books, New York, 2005.

The subtitle sums up the entire book. Bill Warnock, however, has written a book that combines History with story-telling, with the science of forensics, with the lives of Americans and Belgians, and with the honor of being World War II veterans who had fought and bled in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. The book is excellent.

While serving with the United States Air Force, the author opts for an assignment in a small corner of Europe, near some of the more important battlefields of the Second World War. His life has not been the same since. His initial curiosity becomes what appears to be a life-long obsession, as Warnock and his Belgian friends search for the remains of those soldiers long since dead on the battlefield. But, it is not enough just to find the remains, Mr. Warnock follows through with modern techniques of identification of the deceased, and documents the entire process in an interesting and understandable fashion. While working on each individual solider, Warnock develops a story-book tale of how that individual lived prior to the war, how he entered the U.S. Army, and the probable cause of his death. It is surprising to me how many of the subjects of this book were members of ASTP, Army specialized Training Program. Further, I was surprised to see that my alma mater, Manhattan College (see page 238) had ASTP training. (Manhattan College is in the Bronx.)

Warnock's book is enjoyable and well documented. For example, Appendix B, entitled, "U.S. Army Dog Tags In world War II", had me pulling out my Navy dog tag (now fifty years old) for comparison. The dog tag had "...corners rounded and edges smooth" (page 286), with blood type and religion and service number, as in the appendix, but, in the left corner, mine had the term, "USN".

One little issue: page 118 had "... Camp Myles Standish near Taunton, Massachusetts." Myles Standish is about 30 miles, or so, from Taunton. The camp, now Myles Standish State Forest, IS located in the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, best known, I would think, for being the place where the Pilgrims came ashore in 1620.

This brilliantly written story follows the efforts of a group of people who dedicated themselves to locating the lost remains of the men who served with the 99th Infantry Division at the Battle of the bulge. THE DEAD OF WINTER begins with an introduction of two Belgian artifact hunters, Jean-Louis Seel and Jean-Philippe Speder who, in 1988, stumbled upon the remains and dog tags of an American soldier.

Readers will gain a true respect for the difficulty involved in researching, reconstructing and execution of actual artifact hunting undertaken by the dedicate group to find and identify the remains of American soldiers lost for half a century. For each of the soldiers that the team finds, Warnock gives the reader a detailed synopsis of his life (including excellent pictures of the soldiers and their surviving family members). Next he recreates how the soldier died on the battlefield and how he paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country. It is certainly a fitting tribute to these men and their accomplishments.

The author also gives an excellent overview of the contributions of the 99th Infantry to the Battle of the Bulge. The overview is supported by numerous first hand accounts. This covers the Bulge from the tactical, logistical and personal levels. Thanks to Warnock and his teams efforts, many lost members of the 99th Infantry have found their rightful place and final tribute.

The book is exceptionally well written and will be greatly appreciated by history lovers.

I teach a Christian Studies class and purchased this book as a possible recommended reading for my students. It's a book that is worth every penny. It's both captivating and inspiring. My students will be better equipped to fight the battle for their minds!

This is a wonderful book. I discovered Joyce Meyer recently. I found this book to be helpful and encouraging. Changing your thoughts is very important for anyone who is self critical, discouraged, depressed, etc...It's a choice and encouraging to know there is a choice instead of just listening to negative internal dialogue. God is the best choice. Love, Truth and Light...
JER 29:11

I have had many problems with anxiety through out my life. I can honestly say that no amount of therapy helped more than this book! I would recommend this book to everyone! I loved this book and it brought me closer to who I want to be! ....Read it!

This book helped me to get to a better place in my life, and I would reccommend it to any teenager trying to get close to God but feels conflicted about how they should conduct thier life. The language and ideas are geared for teens and there's no way that you can be a new Christian and not read this book. It's a must read! Be blessed.

I received a teaching once that basicly said that when you get right down to it the Devil really only has two methods for tempting us: 1. Pressure 2. Pleasure. The Devil has three maxims which allows him to pull this off : 1. You (your own thoughts, bad habits, exc.) 2. The environment (Government, religious oppression, the systems of the world, exc.), and 3. Other people. Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield Of The Mind" is mostly geared at the one maxim each of us have the most control over (You, yourself, your thoughts, and YOU).

Joyce masterfully explains how that old Advesary The Devil works by waiting for the right moment (he`s not only a parasite but he`s also a predator). He waits to see where your weak, when your most vulnerable moment is, and he waits for that moment to attack. The Bible says "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you." Perfect example is Luke chapter 6, The devil waits for Jesus to be 40 days and nights in the wilderness before he attacks. He didn't come the first day to attack him when our Lord was at his strongest. Oh no, our advesary doesn't play fair; he bides his time and waits for your weakest moment and attacks. Jesus resisted him and the devil fled from him (for awhile). Best thing is we have victory through our risen Lord this very day if we claim it. Joyce does a great job of illustrating this in this book(though I don't know if she used the Luke example I used above or not).

I really got a lot of insight from this book. For example, one of the concepts in the book (in my own words) was "what comes out of your mouth had to originate in your brain." Sounds simple enough , but Joyce had a masterful way of describing every thought we commonly have today and referring it to biblical passages. About half way through the book I began to realize that the grumbling, griping, complaining, and various other human emotions and thoughts I have are not uncommon to our time. The children of Israel went through these same emotions and they are all recorded in Gods Word. I used to ponder how stupid these people must have been, but now I can see myself in them. It really was a humbling experience! Many of us make the same mistake over and over again and ask God, "Why don't you do something?" Truth is God has always been willing to help us. We are the ones who get in God's way by not bringing our thoughts into the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Read this book and find out how you can change and train your mind to shut the door on The Devil and how to allow God to do what he's always been willing to do. BLESS YOU!!!

Hebrews 13:5b "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

P.S. This book comes in many formats. There's the traditional version, teen version, devotional version, exc. It doesn't matter which one you use. Just read one of them. You will be blessed.

It is unfortunate that it has become a battlefield to get our children their Free Appropriate Public Education. But since it has, this book is a must read for any parent who has any doubts that their child is not getting the education they are entitled to. Andy gives you a good overview of what it is really like out there for parents who learn they cannot just leave it to the "educational professionals." It is an eye openner for those who are new to the system and advocating for their child's education. It would help prepare them for the real battlefield one experiences as you advocate for your child to receive the education they are entitled to.
The experiences he shares sometimes seem incredible, but unfortunately they are real. The Special Education Battlefield is an easy read of what parents, advocates and children do face in the system which is suppose to protect their right to their FAPE. Whether new to the system or a veteran, you should read this book.
I would gladly encourage Mr. Cuddy to write a sequel and cover this important issue in even greater detail for those families who have had to devote their lives to obtaining a FAPE for their children. His vast experience is extremely valuable.

This is the first book penned by Andrew Cuddy, an attorney based in New York state. After a legal career focusing on criminal law, Cuddy swung over to spec ed after realizing just how poor the outcome for people with disabilities can be without Pre K - 12 intervention. (Think "juvenile justice system.") Cuddy is in a position to offer a unique perspective and parents, advocates, and attorneys who represent children with special needs would do well to "Listen up!"

Cuddy knows school culture inside and out, and confronts it with knowledge and unique experience. For example, the author may be the first to significantly focus on the "Mad Buffalo Syndrome," a term coined by the author to describe parents and advocates who use special education to seek attention--similar to Munchausen Syndrome, except with an education spin. And while you may feel he spends an inordinate amount of bandwidth on the topic, it's not something to dismiss. When an advocate's behavior descends to the extreme, using the child's disability for attention, it is problematic to a child's well being and education.

In The Special Education Battlefield, Cuddy shares personal stories, which enhance your understanding of the twists and turns of the special education and due process experience. This book will benefit parents, lay advocates, and attorneys as well, as the author explores diverse topics in a professional manner.

Do you know the Lodestar Formula and the parameters surrounding recovery of attorney fees? Are you familiar with compensatory services? Do you know the importance of keeping accurate records? Can you dissect an IEP? Are you familiar with the variety of disabilities that can affect your child's education? Should you be concerned about Child Protective Services?

He then swings fully into the nuts and bolts of the hearing itself, discussing mediation and resolution and settlement agreements along the way. Whether or not an attorney is onboard, you, the reader would do well to read this material more than once if due process is on the horizon (or even if it isn't), as you'll learn about the requirements and the powers of hearing officers, timelines, pre-hearing conferences, the hearing process, writing the closing brief, and appeals. Cuddy also devotes a section to describe the five types of attorneys. (Which one is more effective?)

When I review a book, I first look at the Table of Contents, then I focus on a book's Index. I was mildly disappointed to find it missing. I encourage the author to include one in a future edition, as it's helpful for people like me who have an insatiable, driving need to dive into a book's content before reading the first chapter. Also, the price of $40 may deter advocates and parents with limited incomes. But these points are minor compared with the information, resources, and expertise Cuddy includes. And an appointment with an attorney would definitely cost more than the price of this book. If you can't afford the cost, my suggestion would be to check with your local library, or pool your resources with others, and read this book to learn how the system works before you venture into the due process arena.

In closing, Cuddy is an experienced, knowledgeable attorney and strong advocate for children with special needs. The Special Education Battlefield fills a void in special education literature. This book is written in such a way that you actually feel his commitment to children with special needs. So before you step into the due process battleground, grab this book and spend a few hours digesting it. Better yet, grab a second copy for your attorney to read before he stands in front of a hearing officer on your child's behalf.

This is an exceptional book dealing with special ed issues. Andy writes in a friendly, relaxed manner that makes this book very easy to read and understand. My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner! At times I felt as if I was reading my own story. It helps to know, as parents dealing with difficult school districts, we are not alone.

This book is an excellent guide for parents that are dealing with difficult school districts. Cuddy walks through the due process procedures step-by-step and provides a great deal of insight into the characters involved. I particularly enjoyed his classifications of school district attorneys, which included fixers, manipulators, fee churners, mouthpieces and dopes. Perhaps in a future addition he will include a similar chapter on Directors of Special Education. I could not help but think of how our own district's attorney fit so neatly into a particular classification. As times, it felt as if Cuddy was writing specifically about our district. This is a "must read" for any parent dealing with a difficult school district.

Andrew Cuddy is a very experienced practitioner of special education law who really knows his stuff. As I am a special education attorney myself, most of the material in the book is not news to me, but most parents of disabled children will find the ample and accurate information very helpful. Mr. Cuddy definitely has strong opinions, and he pulls no punches in displaying his contempt for many school district attorneys and administrators. Even some parents of disabled children do not escape his trenchant wit, as Cuddy coins the term "Mad Buffalo Syndrome" to describe parents who have not made Peter Wright's transition from emotions to advocacy. I highly recommend this book for parents of disabled children: Cuddy's aggressive approach to the field has helped many parents and their children, and this book should help a parent understand the remedies and procedures available on behalf of disabled children.

Bullies and Victims gives an encyclopedia of information, written in a captivating style. You get the inside view of all the types and perspectives of bullying in eye-opening stories of both the bullies and their victims from age three on up. The authors have really done their homework - the research is factual and thorough. They take you inside the minds and souls of the bullies and the victims and show how bullying impacts children in the moment, and also how the effects reverberate through the victims' lives well into adulthood. This book doesn't just lay out the problems, but delineates pathways to solutions and how parents, schools, communities and cultures can help. It's a must-read for parents, educators, counselors and anyone who cares what happens to children on the playground, at achool and in their social groups. Joanne Stern,Ph.D. author of Parenting Is a Contact Sport

This is a pretty good book. I also recommend Helen Smith's "The Scarred Heart: Understanding and Identifying Kids Who Kill," which has a lot to say about the way bullying can lead to serious violence when schools don't take it seriously -- and some examples from schools that have dealt with bullying well, along with some that have dealt with it badly.

This is a must-read for today's parents and educators. Buy one for yourself, and one as a donation to your school's resource library--that's what I did. This book helps us empower our children, awaken ourselves to the ongoing crisis on the playground, and break the cycle of abuse. Many victims become bullies...and many more children are silent witnesses to a secret code of intimidation that can lead to horrific violence over time. This book is an excellent tool to break the cycle. We owe it to our children to give them skills with which to break out of the typical victim/bully/witness trap. They will be better for it, and safer. Buy two now.

Every parent, grandparent or just adults in general should read this wonderful book. After reading what todays children are going though please pass this on to a friend. I have purchased copies of these books and passed them on to our school district. They not only read them, but have had SuEllen Fried come and work with our children, teachers and parents. Please keep up the writing and your love for our children. Connie Cincinnati, Ohio

I am working on a seminary doctoral project on bully prevention. This book was an invaluable resource for the project. Parents need to understand the difficulties and hardships that today's children must endure.

My Father (a WWII veteran) and I made an extraordinary trip with Cavanagh through the Ardennes in 2005 and we both have re-lived our trip with the aid of this book many times since then.

No one knows the Ardennes battlefields like Will Cavanagh ... No one. "A Tour of the Bulge Battlefield" makes that very evident.

If you have any interest at all in the Battle of the Bulge, I would highly recommend allowing Will Cavanagh to guide you, either in person or by way of this book.

I was a battlefield tour guide in Europe for over three years. One of our most popular tours was the Ardennes Offensive aka "The Battle of the Bulge". Since we only had a day, we would drive up from Luxembourg City, paralleling the 3rd Army's relief route, and tour the Bastogne perimeter. If I had this book, I would've recommended this to my customers who wished to visit other sites of the battle. "A Tour of the Bulge Battlefield" is designed for the tourist who wishes to tour the battlefield(s) for himself/herself. Well researched and written, one could almost use this book as a secondary source in itself. The six chapters cover the entire battle, from the north around Stavelot, to the south in the Ettlebruch/Diekirch area. Each chapter is in itself an excellent capsulation of the battle and movements, both German and American. However, this is not a guidebook in the traditional sense, there is nothing about lodging, and very little regarding food, and other questions most tourists have. Also, what few maps there are inadequate, surprising considering this book is designed for auto-touring.

If you get several maps, the excellent Michelin series comes to mind, plus a traditional guidebook, and some `net research regarding transport, renting a car in Belgium/Luxembourg/Germany, this book would make for an outstanding historical vacation.

In 1985, I journeyed from Aachen to Namur, Liege, Dinant, and Libramont on the way to Bastogne. I made the journey without a guide book and so spent considerable time just wandering around Bastogne and sort of stumbling upon things in that area. What a boon it would have been to have had Cavanagh's outstanding book for reference.

This little gem is full of outstanding text and some really great photographs not found in other books on the subject. This book deftly combines period photos with contemporary ones to bring the reader in. Appropriate and detailed unit maps accompany the text and make this book a bit more than just a tour book.

In fact, this book is really one of the better overall texts on the Battle of the Bulge. It is truly one of those books that you enjoy poring over again and again, as you learn something new each time.

Really, can't sing it's praises enough. Sure wish I had had it back in '85.

I recently followed the trail of the well-known 'Kampfgruppe Peiper', with the help of this amply illustrated guide, from the then frontline in December 1944 at the German border to La Gleize/Stoumont in the Belgian Ardennes, about 60 kilometers from its point of departure. With the help of this guide it turned out to be a fascinating experience. The reader gets a very good picture, by surveying the terrain and reading this text, of the heavy fighting which took place in this area in this fateful period that took its toll on civilians and military alike. This guide provides not only an excellent description of the route Peiper and his men took but also contains much interesting background information. It also provides descriptions of the routes taken by the main German formations in other sectors of the front during their failed push to the west. A plus of the book is definitely that it pays lots of attention to the German perspective on what happened. This aspect is often neglected in other English language literature on the subject, e.g. in the Toland volume on the Battle of the Bulge. A minor point of criticism on this book in my view concerns the maps. The book contains maps, but as the author himself says in the introduction, the reader needs the relevant Michelin maps of the area as well to complete this otherwise very useful battlefield guide.

This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the Battle of The Bulge. Will Cavanagh's latest book is a fascinating account of the battle. Take a ride in the Tiger Tanks of Kampfgruppe Pieper, feel the enthusiasm as they go on the counter offensive. Stand with the exhausted Americans, feel their terror and dread as they defend against the onslaught. All this is accomplished through numerous first hand accounts, told by the participants. The book is complete with many maps and numerous photographs of the participants. Most of the photos are from the authors personal collection.

I have traveled with Will Cavanagh and listened to his lectures. No one knows this history better.