Bradley Books

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to learn good old C. And wow, look at how cheap it is! This book teaches EVERYTHING you will need to know. It even goes into a little C++ intro. But if I were you (or if I could go back) I would skip learning C all together - C++ makes C obsolete.

I love this book. Everything is made so clear and easy to understand even though the book moves at a fast pace and is very specific and thorough. If somebody told me they wanted to start learning C I'ld tell them to get a new revision of this book. The book features helpful does and don'ts that seem to read your mind and present to you the answers to your questions. 5/5 hands down. I'm going to add "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 days" to my shelf because I have strong faith in SAMS. Also don't be intimidated by C and buy a book that includes "beginner" in the title because they won't be advanced enough for any inteligent human. Buy thick books and read those.

This is the defunct standard for learning C in the quickest amount of time possible.

If you have any previous programming experience you'll find that you'll learn it even quicker. I read the book in 3 days and was already writing programs equivalent to what I was doing in Pascal only 3 days prior.

This book gives you the very best learners guide and reference book I've ever seen.

This book has captured the perfect method to teach someone the C programming language. Many beginner books are very fluffy, others much to advanced. This book explains everything you need to know in a very simple, and extremely thorough manner. An excellect purchase.

Most of us grew up believing that the Civil War ended the moment Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant at Appomatox Court House in Virginia. One can only assume that this came about as a part of the deification of Lee and the promotion of the 'Lost Cause' doctrine that was so popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Historically, most things regarding the Confederacy have always begun and ended with Lee. Thanks to the scholarship and hard work of Mark Bradley, we now have a much more accurate picture of how the war ended and the major roles played by Joseph Johnston and W. T. Sherman well after Lee's surrender.

'Last Stand in the Carolinas' along with Bradley's later work 'This Astounding Close' combine to create an extremely satisfying description of the last days of Southern resistance. While complimentary to each other, either volume succeeds very well as a stand alone work and each book is a tremendous asset in its own right.

If you want a comprehensive blow-by-blow description of the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville, read 'Last Stand in the Carolinas'. For a valuable capsule summary of the battles, combined with a complete history of the negotiations leading up to the surrender, 'This Astounding Close' fills the bill wonderfully!

Maybe I've read too many of these histories now but it just seems that these guys are using the same book of phrases to get to the required number of pages. It's boring. So many sound the same that if you took the author's name off the cover of a dozen books I bet most of us couldn't match them up with their works. Mr Bearss may find it a "barnburner" but I had trouble finishing it.

I must admit, before I read this book, all I knew about the Battle of Bentonville was that it was fought in North Carolina by Joseph E. Johnston and William T. Sherman. But this great book has opened my eyes on a little-known campaign and filled an empty hole on my book shelf.

Bradley's accounts of the battles at Monroe's Crossroads, Averasboro, and Bentonville are priceless. His writing is quick-paced, yet easy to follow. Another great part of this book are the maps, which are some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to see. Lastly, Appendix A of the book, which contains pictures of the battlefields (Averasboro and Bentonville) today, with captions. I recommend purchasing this book with Mark Moore's guide to the battlefield, which I did.

It is my opinion that no Civil War buff's library is cpmplete without this book. Get it!

Of several accounts I have read about this March 1865 battle, this is definitely the most complete study of the battle to date. Finally a battle narrative with enough detailed maps to follow the action. Unlike many battle studies that toss in a map every hundred pages, Mark L. Bradley includes military movement or troop disposition maps anytime there is a significant movement of troops. At times there are maps every other page.

Bentonville was, in many ways, the Confederacy's "Battle of the Bulge." Southern General Joseph E. Johnston was reinstated to command of scattered Confederate forces in the Carolinas during the last months of the Civil War. That he was able to weld together an army at this late stage is a miracle in itself. Fully realizing that there was no way to stop the inevitable, Johnston and his generals snapped back at Sherman's advancing columns to buy time for the Confederacy.

The Bentonville Battle is not one of the more familiar accounts from the War Between the States. Indeed, many sources summarize or bypass the battle as if it were a mere skirmish. In my case, I knew little more about the battle other than there were one or two highway signs on Interstate 95 for the exit to reach this battlefield. In 1986, while spending several weeks at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, I used one of my free weekends to visit the site. At the time, a majority of the battlefield was located on various private properties. After a trip to the visitor center and some blatant historical trespass through a cornfield or two, I realized that this battle was much bigger than I realized. At the time, the only book available on the subject from Fayetteville's Cross Creek Mall bookstore was a volume titled SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS. Fortunately a good portion of SHERMAN'S MARCH was devoted to Bentonville.

At the time, my only regret (one that has been repeated at other historic sites) was that I read the book after I visited the battlefield and then moved on to another military assignment in a different state.

As fate would have it, fifteen years later I found that I would be back in the neighborhood of Bentonville and began ordering additional books on the subject. Mark L. Bradley's book was one of them. I only wish that his book had been available way back in 1986. The book has a lot of detail, yet it is enjoyable to read. The volume is so meticulously researched that a full 150 pages are devoted to tables of organization, endnotes and indexing.

On the other hand, this is not a book to attempt to read the night before you plan to visit Bentonville. The four hundred plus pages and maps will keep you busy a couple days before you reach the last page. If you are looking for an overview of the battle, this is not the book for you.

However, if you thirst for the detailed events leading up to and including the Bentonville Battle, I recommend you add this book to your collection.

Bradley's book on the last major (and often overlooked) battle in the Civil War is a gem. Although, I am somewhat biased since I am a North Carolinian, the book has an engaging writing style and is full of superb maps.

Some Civil War books I have read were difficult to follow due to either/or the lack of maps or quality of maps depicting troop movements and the theater of operations. Not so with this title! The maps are numerous and easily clarify troop movements and the flow of battle.

Bradley also does an excellent job of describing the little known battles of Averasboro (General Hardee did a commendable job of delaying Sherman's advance) and Monroe's Crossroads (Kilpatrick was almost captured and his force ambushed).

The next time I visit the battlefields I will certainly have Bradley's book with me to serve as the ultimate guide. Bradley's writing style is technical in describing troop movements and engaging in supplying ample anecdotes on the campaign's participants. Overall, a nice balance of not being too technical (and dry) and not too basic.

The book will always be special to me since I spent my early years in Eastern North Carolina close to the battlefields. Visiting these battlefields as a little boy sparked a life-long interest in the Civil War.

Bravo, excellent job! May more such studies be written on other battles!

This is a riveting story about Marine Major John Keith Wells and his Iwo Jima battle experience. More than just a minute-by-minute account of the horrific Pacific battle, Wells takes you into his head as he prepares for, and leads his men into battle. His description of combat is graphic, detailed, and colorful; creating a sensory-based sharing of his experience told with a Marine punch. In light of the recent flury of attention to the Iwo Jima flag raising and this epic battle, I'd recommend Wells' book for a "gut check". Note: The book has a number of excellent photographs that illuminate Wells' narrative.

This is the story of Marines in WWII as told by the Platoon Commander of the Marines that raised the Flag on Mt Suribachi. I met the author in his hometown and we visited often. I have a signed copy of his book. The reason the story is so great is the unassuming nature of the narrative. A great American hero who didn't make the history books because on Iwo "Uncommon Valor was a common virtue"

This was a great book to read, I highly reccomend buying it. From the minute I started reading it I could not put it down. Maj JK Wells and his men were among the bravest to fight for this country. This was an interesting story of his experience in WWII.

"Give me fifty Marines not afraid to die" is a book written from the guts of a modern warrior. Obviously Lt. Wells is not a writer, he is a Soldier. He has been a Soldier and he always will be one, no matter what he do to earn his life.
We are presented with the shocking story of Iwo Jima battle seen with the eyes (the soul I'll better say) of a front line combat Marine. Wells let us share his feelings from the time he is still a college student, how he decide to be a Marine in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, his life at Boots Camp, Paratroop training, Guadalcanal experience, more training at the States and finally through all the rugged strife of Iwo Jima.
This book is a very straightforward account of a teenager evolving into hardened young soldier ready to give his life for his Country. At the same time gives the reader an inkling of the historical period, its values, ideals and expectations. Also pictures the life style of the Marines Corp, its written and unwritten codes, language, ethics, training, etc.
Every word in this book sounds true and without ornament. A must read for any WWII buff.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

I have known the author for over thirty years. He is man of integrity and courage. This book took several years for him to complete due to its personal nature. His dedication to the Corps, his men and his mission are obvious in every chapter. I am proud to have him as a friend. Read this book!!!

I worked with Brad together in Asia and found his book to be something that the HR community, as well as, clients of HR have been waiting for for a long time. His book brings together his wealth of experience and knowledge into practical tips and guides that everyone can use. While a lot of other HR practitioner books are based on theories, I know from reading this book that the case studies and guides provided in this brilliant book are based on real business problems.

Basically, I highly recommend this book for those looking for implement-able and practical guides for building up your organization.

While not only an invaluable tool for the HR leader, it is also a must read for the Sales & Operations Leaders as well.

In a prior career, I worked for Brad Hall as his Training Director and we put this model to the test and saw excellent results within six months.

Hall's book provides a blue print for success in measuring and managing human capital with the same rigor as measuring and managing financial capital.

All leaders of the business that map and execute a similar plan will absolutely increase results as well as maintaining a stellar workforce!

Hall's book is the best written on human capital development. Hall
provides a practical and compelling methodology for measuring year over year improvement in human capital. The book is well-researched and includes numerous charts and graphs that make a complex topic accessible to managers outside of human resources. I recommend this book to any manager looking to improve the performance of his/her people.

Brad Hall's book, The new Human Capital Strategy, brings a much needed level of structure and discipline to managing Human Resources and People. While most companies claim that people are their most important asset, Hall correctly points out, that most companies don't have HR management programs that are consistent with that claim.

The brilliance of Hall's book is the way he distills this broad subject down to the few specific dimensions that truly need attention.

- Separating HR as a strategic function, and thus a source of competitive advantage, from HR as an administrative function.

- A focus on business results - Not activities or HR programs

- The importance of defining and measuring business results to gauge the true effectiveness of HR programs.

- Year over year improvement in the real return companies get from their investment in people.

From here, Hall goes on to address some of the barriers and keys to success in the practical implementation of the principles he discusses - executive engagement, organizational structure issues, team structure, measurement techniques, and many real life examples.

This book is a great read for any business leader (not just HR professionals) who seriously believes that people are an important asset for their success.

As an HR practitioner, this book has become my symbol of hope for the profession. I've always known there was "something wrong" with how HR is being practiced in organizations today, but never clearly identified the root of the problem, much less offered a method for addressing it. Brad Hall's book provides that insight.

Through current research and his industry experience, Hall provides ample evidence that despite decades of seeking and gaining "a seat at the table," HR overall has not progressed beyond the traditional administrative "personnel" function. Accordingly, Hall argues it's time to "blow up today's model and replace it with a fundamentally new Human Capital Strategy."

Hall begins with thought-provoking questions such as "has your human capital improved year over year?" which demonstrate that HR has not delivered on its responsibility to ensure human capital is managed as a business asset. He builds towards his human capital approach which centers around four key elements; building effective executive teams, building leaders who deliver sustained business results, ensuring employees in key positions outperform their peers in competitor organizations, and a fourth, designing a disciplined approach for improving workforce performance, which serves as the structure and environment within which the first three can flourish.

The model challenges fundamental elements of current HR practice, such as the focus on supporting "internal customers" (management and employees), arguing instead for a focus on meeting the expectations of external clients and stakeholders. At a more granular level, it challenges the merit of current practices (e.g., forced ranking of employees, aggressive "performance management", and annual performance reviews) and offers a method to meet the objectives of these practices through a roadmap for building high performance organizations.

This is a fresh read and I highly recommend it to all professionals who have a stake in improving their organization's performance.

The Sociey for American Archaeology chose this book for its Public Audience Book Award. It is a fine choice.

This beautiful book has many things to recommend it: the importance of the subject, the beauty of the artwork and the photography, the quality of the contributors and the masterful presentation by its author, Dr. Bradley T. Lepper.

Ohio is loaded with treasure for archaeologists. Not one but four ancient Ohio sites are likely to receive World Heritage status from UNESCO in the next few years. These include Fort Ancient, the Newark Earthworks, the Serpent Mound and the earthworks at the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe. Just this winter the U.S.Department of the Interior has released a list of fourteen sites it will present to UNESCO for consideration - including all of these. And of course Ohio has even more amazing ancient places and stories to offer.

Such treasures call for stunning images, and there are many here. There are also fascinating contributions by more than twenty of the world's authorities on ancient Ohio. It is hard to imagine a better team to teach this subject. But this is more than a coffee-table book and is not an anthology of independent articles. Bradley Lepper leads us through the story from the ice age to the era of early contact between American Indians and Europeans. He writes wonderfully and is the master of both science and story telling.

Ohio Archeology is a must read, with beatiful photos and illustrations, for those wishing to learn the most up-to-date information on the Native Americans of the Woodland Period. Learn how archeologists decipher the mysteries surrounding the amazing earthen monuments of these early Ohioans.

As a long time citizen of Ohio and long time fan of Archaeology, I should have had a much higher awareness of just how much incredible history there is to be had right here in my home state. While I always had a vague notion that people have lived here in Ohio for thousands of years before the first European settlers arrived ... I never encountered any material that seemed to do a very good job of shedding light on this period of the state's history. Well, Mr. Lepper's book does a FANTASTIC job of bringing this part of our state's history the attention it deserves. Great text, diagrams and photos.

Ohio Archaeology is a splendid overview of Ohio's native American cultures and sites. Beautifully illustrated and photographed (including photo's of assembled artifacts) it deserves a place in any collection of materials on the subject.

One of the best acquisitions I've made this year.

Dr. Lepper has written the book I have been waiting for. As a new resident of Ohio, I have been working to understand my new home better, and this book answers many of the questions I have about the earliest residents of this area. I am still reading it so cannot comment on its entirety but it features gorgeous color photographs, helpful maps, and a text accessible to the lay (as in non-professional archaeologist) reader. This book may also answer one of the questions I brought with me from my former home in New Mexico: Where are the builders of the mounds now, and why have so few of their works been preserved? Reading lists and references will help me extend my understanding.

This is the book that got me interested in Atlantis almost twenty-five years ago. Mr. Muck backs his ideas and theories with solid evidence that whetted my appetite for anything Atlantis oriented. It's a "must read" for anyone who is interested in the subject, especially since it's based on provable History, Archeology, Science, and Mythology, and not "iffy" ideas. It was added long ago to my personal library.

I read this book maybe 20, 25 years ago, after finding it browsing in the local library, and for ME, the "secret" of Atlantis was pretty much a resolved question from that point forward... Not that Muck necessarily had all his science right (especially considering he wrote this book at a time not even the Big Bang theory had been "proven" over the Steady State theory of the universe), but that I DO believe he proved a small comet or meteorite hit in North America and probably bouncing into the Atlantic 10-12,000 years ago.

I JUST finished watching a new, 2-hour show on the History Channel about the origins of Clovis Man on North America and the "curiosity" about why and how both Clovis AND 80% of all large land mammals on North America suddenly VANISHED about 13,000 years ago, and then about 2,000 years later, they start seeing human artifacts again... Ice cor samples revealed that just as the ice age was retreating, allowing humans to setle North America, a second, shorter "ice age" of about 1,000 years QUICKLY descended upon the planet, and Alan West of the University of Michigan has discovered microscopic metalic balls and "microdiamonds" at the level at that EXACT point in the geologic layer ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA that indicate the distribution of materials from a comet or meteorite -- materials that RARELY exist anywhere but in OUTER SPACE.

Of course he apparently never heard of Otto Muck, and he thinks his idea is ALL NEW and that said meteorite hit the ice mass in Canada, and he could be right -- or they BOTH could be wrong... But that book made a LASTING impression on me -- so much that some 20, 25 years later, before they even SAID where they were going with the idea, I already knew (he proposed his meteor idea LONG BEFORE anyone DARED SUGGEST a meteor impact killed off the dinosaurs).

I've thought of this book and told people about it literally hundreds of times through the years. I'd say "The Secret of Atlantis" was DECADES ahead of its time -- perhaps a bit heavy on the speculation by someone who was reaching beyond the science of his day, but a VERY insightful, prescient work!
Jeff Hayes

It's not even a close call. This is easily the best book ever written on Atlantis. Speculation is kept to a minimum while scientific analysis prevails. Muck surveys ocean currents, plant and animal distributions and geological evidence and concldues that there is no other scientific explanation available---there must have been a large island or small continet in the Atlantic that has disappeared.

Muck provides ample conjecture and speculation (most of which holds up much better than other Atlantean theorists). The concepts utilized in his argument are plausible; the belief in an advanced civilization wiped out with little trace is just as plausible, if by nature or said civilization's own hand. It's probably best to leave the decision whether this is fact, truth, or myth to each reader. As a poster on a wise (if odd) character's wall simply read: "I want to believe."

It's not even a close call. This is easily the best book ever written on Atlantis. Speculation is kept to a minimum while scientific analysis prevails. Muck surveys ocean currents, plant and animal distributions and geological evidence and concldues that there is no other scientific explanation available---there must have been a large island or small continet in the Atlantic that has disappeared.

Aim high is a must for every teen! I recommend purchasing this book for every teen you know. It provides thoughtful insights to help them transition successfully into adulthood. This book is written in a concise bullet method, which makes it easy for teens to absorb and retain. Aim High covers information that caring adults, parents, grandparents, professionals, coaches and teachers pass on to teens as they learn the many lessons of life.

This book covers many areas taken for granted in these busy times. The ideas discussed are timeless.
Parents of preteens and teens should read it and pass it along to their children.
When I brought it into my office and commented about it many of my coworkers were very interested.One of them is a program leader with young teens and was planning on incorporating it into their program.
AIM HIGH does just that and children and adults will benefit from reading it!!

This is an excellent book for young people, filled with common sense wisdom that for some reason is frequently not getting through to today's teen generation. It does not have a political or philosophical agenda; it just wants to guide kids to a happy and fulfilled life. Five Stars.

This is a book packed with insights and wonderful suggestions that,

if followed, will help Teens lead a productive and meanignful life.

The authors' "Tips" are really common sense precepts that a loving

parent would want to teach their child.

All parents that are full of love for their child would want them to

display respect, be honest, show forgivness, learn how to deal

construtively with criticism etc, etc. Just 97 more to go and they are

all winners.

In my opinion, A MUST READ BOOK.

BRAVO.

From Bruce in Englishtown, N.J.

A very "straight to the point" book. Great advice and simple to understand. With having four daughters, sometimes you need a little help to open up the lines of communication!

The world is a complicated place, and one of the ways we try to make order out of chaos is by dividing things into lists. Even with Amazon, users are exposed to myriad lists: not merely the best seller lists, but also heaps of lists by customers who create rosters of books, movies or other items organized in a particular fashion. Certainly the list has been around for a long time, but it really became a phenomenon with The Book of Lists and its successors. One of the newest of these books is The Book of Lists: Horror, and following its format, I present my review in list form.

SECTIONS OF THE BOOK:

1. Movies ("Fear on the Silver Screen): This section, taking up just over half of the book, is filled with lists created by various people associated with the horror genre. Among other lists, there are the horror films that most influenced Ray Bradbury's youth; the five common tactical errors made in horror films (e.g., confirm your kills); ten movie fates worse than death; and the top ten horror movie surgical blunders. Some of the lists are weak, others are interesting, and no doubt you will find your own movies that fit in a list (for example, I would include one character's fate in the movie Wolf Creek to fit into the "worse than death" list). The real strength of this section is that it can give you a number of ideas for new movies to see.

2. Books ("The Literature of Dread"): This section takes up another quarter of the book and many of the same comments apply as with the movies. Of course, for every horror movie (using the very loose definition of horror in this book), there are probably a dozen books, so there is even a greater chance that the lists will neglect some novel or story. When we get a list of five horror novels set in Venice, you can tell that this section may be stretched a little further than needed.

3. Music ("A Little Nightmare Music"): This section is brief and appropriately so. And there's no reference to Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London.

4. Miscellaneous ("A Miscellany of Terrors"): This grab bag is the largest of the minor (last three) sections. Comic books, TV horror hosts (such as Vampira) and even drinks are here (Zombie or Bloody Mary, anyone?).

5. Fan Submitted Lists ("Shrieks from the Gallery"): This section has lists from non-pros, but even the ones from kids sometimes surpass the ones elsewhere in the book. The nicest list here includes a bunch of old pulp covers; they're fun to look at, even if the pictures are a bit small.

Overall, this is the literary equivalent of a bag of potato chips. Even if not every list is spectacular, you can't stop with just one. There may not be a lot of nutritional value, but even a guilty pleasure is a pleasure nonetheless.

You dont need to love horror to love this book. If you even have a passing fancy for the dark side you are in for a treat.

love books of lists, love horror genre....mix 'em together and you get a winner! FIVE HUGE STARS!

This book is the best Ive read for movie information. Its has a large selcetion of lists ranging from the best deaths in a horror movie to what are Stephen Kings favorite horror stories. The number of horror stars is amazing. There are writers, mucians, directors and actors. I highly reccomend this book to any fan of horror or just movie information.

I am a huge fan of the horror genre and lists so i knew i would love this book. It is interesting on many levels. Many familiar faces of the genre created lists in the book that are both entertaining and informative. I guarantee you will be making lists of your own after reading this book with movies, books, or music that sound appealing to you. It is also great to hear what people involved with the genre think. All the lists are given generous description so even the most diehard genre fans will learn something new. I highly recommend this book, whether you are a fan of the horror genre itself, a lover of lists, or you simply enjoy entertainment related trivia. Just trust me this book is for YOU!

I live in North Carolina, where Ross made his home--at least in the fall, winter, and spring. There's almost a holy reverence for the man around here but there's a lot of bluster and phoney-ness too. For example, there are plenty of clubs that say they have a Ross course when they have anything but. I remember a guy at a country club here telling me how fortunate they were to have an original Ross course. At the time, I didn't know any better and so I believed the dafty. I soon discovered that little of the original routing remained. Why? Because Trent Jones came in at some stage and pretty much blew the place to smithereens plus the large oak trees of which members are so fond had changed the original routing beyond recognition. And if you cut down those trees at that club, you're dead. Dead. The original course had a handful of trees.

The beauty of Brad Klein's book is that it demystifies Ross while providing those with Ross courses a blueprint for renovation or restoration. It's a coffee table tome but it's much more than pretty pictures on coated paper. It's a thoroughly-researched thesis from someone with an advanced degree. It's also very well written and even passionate. Klein also resists the temptation to go PC, sensibly preferring to place Ross within the context of his time and place. Ross wasn't the greatest golf course architect (that's HS Colt) but Ross was a brilliant router; he understood the value of a golf course that everyone from the weekend hacker to the scratch man or woman could enjoy. Modern golf course architects need to make their courses easier, not harder. Take a look at one of the few remaining relatively untouched Ross courses. Which living golf course architect could make it better, or, more importantly, more enjoyable? On the 'real' Ross courses I've played, apart from Pinehurst #2, you have to work very hard to bag a lot of big numbers.

Klein's book features details about the man and also discusses several of his courses. There's also a useful directory in the back. The book is also the story of one man's version of The American Dream. Ross arrived here pretty much penniless but managed to build a useful empire through hard work and some smart thinking. The book shows that Ross was a "Canny Scot" who knew how to promote himself and satisfy his clients. Nothing wrong with that. It's a happy story.

It might have been tempting for Klein to get all cuddly with the group that calls itself The Donald Ross Society. I've met some members of said conglomerate, including one of its officers, and they are all a bit full of themselves. Klein mentions the society but it's very much his book, his thoughts, and his ideas. I like books with opinions and character. The book is respectful without being gushy and authoritative without being pompous.

I hope that my buddy at the Donald Ross/Robert Trent Jones golf course that's currently under renovation reads Klein's book. He needs to. So too should anyone who is interested in golf course architecture and wants to know what a real Ross golf course looks like. Hint: it's rarely like Pinehurst #2.

Whereas Bahto in the Evangelist of Golf is focused on the National more and how it came to define C.B. MacDonald, Brad Klein produces a broad overview of Donald Ross and is less focused on any one aspect of his life and career as a golf designer.

Donald Ross was the Henry Ford of golf design. Some 400 courses confirmed to his credit with, of course, Pinehurst being his crown achievement.

I think this is a solid overview of Donald Ross in general, but I was hoping to really appreciate "why" his courses were so special. We get to understand that for Donald Ross, his routings and greens were some of his strong points. However, the Ross hole and green diagrams along with the course plans only convey so much about this. Yes, they're great but the text I feel isn't in depth enough to really bring out what's buried in the diagrams, plans and pics. Instead, we are exposed to tid bits of some of the more popular courses he's produced. There's an attempt to explain Ross strategies and golf design philosophy in chapter 7, but it's high level and general. I also don't quite grasp why chapter 7 wasn't placed sooner in this book. Maybe I was expecting too much on this. Indeed, this is not a "Confidential Guide" of Ross courses as John Conley states in his earlier review.

At any rate, I think the strengths of this book lie within the quality production, tremendously thorough research (especially when it comes to how Ross did things), very good photographs (especially when it comes to before and after course pictures), and the historical perspective.

The Pinehurst section is very interesting from a background and historical perspective, but you won't learn much about why the course is great.

The renovation / restoration segment is also very informative. Some great pictures illustrate what can happen when proper care is given to a renovation / restoration effort.

There's a nice comprehensive compilation list of Ross's courses, but unfortunately it won't help you figure out which one's you can play. Maybe in the next revision, Klein can indicate which courses are public vs. private. Even tracking back some of the courses within the book won't help either, as you're never too sure which one's are public or private.

Overall, I'd recommend this volume in a heartbeat. Just don't have grand expectations about understanding what makes such and such a Ross course so great. Rather, view this work as a very good and thorough review of what was involved in being Ross the person, family man, hard working course designer, and creator of many great golf courses.

Brad Klein has done a superb job in this lavishly illustrarted story of Donald Ross,long recognized as one the original "founding fathers" of the golden era of golf architecture. While it shows dozens of courses in detail,it is much more than a picture book, since it tells the story of Ross right from his earliest days in Scotland. Klein weaves a very readable and interesting picture of the life and accomplishments of Donald Ross.

The book is well named since it a wonderful journey of discovery. There are all kinds of new insights for even the Ross fans who thought they read everything about DJR. But it will hold the interest of any reader who loves to read about a rich, full life told well. About a man who left Scotland for America without enough money to buy his second meal but who worked so hard he became one of the best paid individuals in all of sports.

And it is about a man who never forgot the meaning of family and his employees.

Brad Klein's book is throughly researched, well written and shows a genuine love for golf and for one of the men who made it great. Mr Klein is on his way to join that list.

John Purcell

There is little doubt of the time and effort it took to reasearch this phenominal book on one of Golf's Great Heroes.

Author Brad Klein gives the reader a inside view of not only who Donald Ross was, what he represents to the game of Golf today, as well as a revealing throwback to an age gone by.

Aerial photos, course diagrams, and other pertinent data show the reader just how much the game's playing grounds have changed, and the effort to hold on to their design critieria as was intended by this soft spoken man from the North of Scotland.

I would highly suggest this book to all who love the game of Golf itself, as well as the courses of Donald Ross; and for those who love golf courses, in general.

In "Discovering Donald Ross," Bradley S. Klein has written a book which can be thumbed through and enjoyed as visual entertainment by the casual golfer/reader or closely studied by the ardent student of the old game. Left on the coffee table or the night stand to be used to fill precious spare minutes with golf-related dreaming, the photos and captions alone will captivate and enlighten the reader. Dr. Klein has revealed himself as a talented photo-journalist, equally comfortable telling the story of Donald Ross with pictures or with words. Be prepared to be educated while being entertained. Using wise delineation of chapter headings, Klein walks us through Ross' childhood, family life, and career to the ultimate reason for the book: the author's knowledge of and desire for preservation of classical, especially Donald Ross, golf courses. Anyone who has the blessing of playing one of Klein's cited courses will understand his devotion. Lovers of biography will be fascinated by Klein's stories of Ross' background and personality. History buffs will learn through clearly written text and old black-and-white photos the problems encountered in golf course constuction as well as the societal and economic limitations that Ross faced. Those who get caught up in beautifully photographed golf landscapes will be captivated by the visual journey from windswept Scottish links where Ross was weaned to America's varying terrain where Ross was to be so successful. Klein's book, like a Ross course, represents a value and pleasure for the user, whether casually approached or closely scrutinized.

David Bradley takes the basic questions we all ask ourselves and comes up with answers that leave you wondering if he's even on the same planet. (He is, he's just not exactly local.) By turns funny and touching, he gets at the heart of the human condition through some of fiction's kindest characters. Even the villains have something redeeming about them, even if they do remind you in a warped sort of way of Jake and Elwood Blues.

This is an incredibly gentle book, with a genuine heart for not only the characters, but the reader as well. You're a guest in a very unusual home in this work, and it's hard to keep from smiling, even as you find your way out to the skydeck out back, for a double portion of "divine swine." It's hard to not like a book that welcomes you like an old friend. Expect to read it over and over again.

I must say that I didn't expect much from this book but figured I'd read it based upon a friend's recommendation. Well, the story unfolds very nicely and the character development is excellent. Bradley has a certain Richard Bach (Illusions and Jonathan Livingston Seagull) likeness in his larger than life characters; and the philospohical aspects as metaphor of life underpin my comparison of the authors. All in all and excellent read!

I read the book twice because I loved it so much the first time! And I bought the CD-ROM so I could sneak the reading at work...

Seriously, though, this is one of those books that you really have to sit down and read, not just race through in a hurry. The characters are real and easily draw themselves in your mind and I found myself casting the movie. But, putting that aside, it appears to be deceptively simple until you realize just how much is really happening around the edges.

Bradley writes for the thinking Sci-Fi readers, not just those who are into little green men and shoot-em-ups on Jupiter. There's a richness to his story-telling that you might now see at first, but it creeps up on you and never fails to surprise. Readers who want to think about what they've read would do very well to read Bradley's works, especially this one.

I must consider myself lucky to have happened upon this work. It is rare to find an unknown author so polished. His story is told from a unique perspective. His characters are unexpected, and controversial. His heros are bad boys,...and I find myself cheering for them. I loved this book, the only disappointing thing was that it was over too quickly. I eagerly await more from this guy!

In his freshman novel, Atlanta based author David Bradley cooks up an interesting recipe that calls for 1 cup coming of age, 2 cups new age science fiction, 1/2 cup workers rights and diversity issues, a tablespoon of modern management theory, and 1 full ounce of perfectly cured cannabis indica. Surprisingly, the unusual mixture results in an awfully tasty little treat entitled How to build a Skydeck.

Bradley follows nineteen year-old Stan Davis' fall from upscale suburbia, country clubs, cable TV, and a full refrigerator into a manual labor construction job and a small sub-let room in a trailer park. From this humble station, young Stan comes to better understand himself, the people around him, and his place in the Universe.

I loved reading this book. Bradley successfully conveys the message that while life isn't always easy, it does have a purpose. There is a reason for all the pain and frustration. Watching Stan try to figure out his purpose will make you laugh, but more importantly, it might just change the way you think about your life. Very few books have that kind of impact on people.

I strongly recommend you give this one a try. It gets two thumbs up, three cheers, and five stars. Based on my enjoyment of this most excellent novel, I anxiously await Mr. Bradley's next effort.