Carey Books

Under the Eye of the Clock is the autobiography of Christopher Nolan, the talented young poet with cerebral palsy. He can't walk or talk or write in the usual manner. Since Nolan lacks the use of his hands, this book like Dam-Burst of Dreams, the book of poems that preceded it, was written by means of a typing stick affixed to his head. The book succeeds both as pure artistry and as a window into the world of the disabled. Nolan has re-named himself Joseph Meehan and told his story entirely in the objectivity of the third person. This brilliant stroke allows him to avoid excessive self-pity while making his sufferings and triumphs real and deep. Nolan's use of language had earned him comparisons with James Joyce, Yeats, and Dylan Thomas. Nolan stretches the meanings and implications of words, rearranges their spelling, and even invents new ones to communicate his moods and perceptions and illuminate life, his own and those he observes, with his unique poet's sensibility.

As a college English and literature instructor, I intend to make this book a required reading if it becomes available in print again. It should bless all readers because it becomes a reminder that NO matter what the circumstances, people should still be respected, loved, and appreciated. And, with this in mind, the reader may receive a self-esteem boost when being reminded of inner-personal value. I appreciate this book so much. I have three copies and continually loan them out.

Christopher Nolan's "Under The Eye Of The Clock" is an autobiographical account of his incredibly awe-inspiring and miraculous life. Born a cripple, he could have been consigned to the rubbish heap but instead and against all odds became a celebrated writer of this Whitbread Book winner, "The Banyan Tree" as well as an early book of poems. Without taking anything away from Joseph Meehan (a self portrait of Nolan), he couldn't have overcome his debilitating handicaps to scale the heights he did without the steady support and tender loving care of his family. A father, mother and sister who are such warm and emotionally intelligent human beings anybody would be blessed and proud to have them as family. The school principals, teachers and fellow students who accepted him, nurtured him and gave him the chance to prove himself equal to the best among physically whole human specimens are themselves shining examples of humanity who deserve as much recognition in Nolan's lifestory. Although it has been compared with James Joyce's "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man", it is in reality nothing like it. Whereas Joyce's work is for the most part depressing and full of pain and harshness, Nolan's story is so morally uplifting you almost forget its grave subject matter. Nolan's dazzling and inventive writing style is also unique and something to relish. He coins and mints new words which have a yet found a conventional meaning but are so emotionally accurate you know they're right. Read this if you're feeling down and need something to restore your faith in mankind !

To learn about such an exceptional poet who, without the faith of his family, would never have been revealed to the world, gives the reader a new view of people's limitations. I bought 12 copies of this book (when it was in print)and somehow have given them all away over time.

I found my way to this book after I had read "The Banyan Tree" by Christopher Nolan. This was a book that I read and reviewed back in February, and ever since I have been mystified why the book never seemed to gain the wide acceptance of readers. All of the reviews that have been posted by readers for "The Banyan Tree" have been 5 star reviews, and the same is the case for "Under The Eye Of The Clock".

If you read you understand how difficult it is to write anything, much less a full book, and then have it selected for and win a prestigious award. In the case of the book I review now it was the 1987 Whitbred Award that was awarded to Mr. Nolan. All very impressive, but that's just the start.

This is an autobiography written by a very young man who next wrote the book "The Banyan Tree" and would take 12 years to do so. This is a painfully candid, but uplifting book about a man with the support of a wonderful Family overcomes extreme realities that are his life to become an Author of international renown.

Mr. Nolan cannot speak, he can barely move at all. He types with what he calls his "Unicorn Stick" that he wears on his head, and even then his head must be supported while he works.

An Autobiography is a courageous work if honestly presented. When you add Mr. Nolan's additional challenges he faces as a writer, and as a person living with his physical issues it becomes an extraordinary autobiographical book.

I hope more readers find Mr. Nolan, he is a unique writer of immense talent, and if you pass by his work you deprive yourself of great literature.

This text is an incredible human anatomy book. The author is very engaging, making human anatomy very fun to learn. The clinical views are strategically inserted throughout specific sections of the book, as to enhance your human anatomy learning experience. This textbook is very easy to read. It makes human anatomy FUN!!!

This book is exactly what I wanted and it is in perfect condition. I recieved it in a good amount of time. Thank you!!

This book is well organized and user friendly. It's a good BASIC anatomy text with more simplified, easy-to-follow explanations and great illustrations.

I am a 17-year-old pianist and high school student residing in New Jersey. I am studying human anatomy and physiology to improve my piano technique. I am not going to be a professional anatomist later in my life. I am going to be a professional pianist.
I bought this textbook to study the basic detail of the human body. Although this is a college level textbook, I recommend this book for everyone who wishes to study basic human anatomy. Weather you are a professional medical student or not, you can learn a lot of detail things through this book. Whether you are an athlete, a musician, or just a person who wishes to know about the human body, this book will help you greatly. I guarantee that you will enjoy reading this book.
The author of the book regards readers as people who have no knowledge at all about the human body. So why don't you go ahead and start reading? How exciting!

I used this book for an introductory course in Anatomy at BYU. The text was good and very useful. However, I used it mostly to study for my lab and it was very helpful in that it had really good pictures and labels for help in lab. I wouldn't ever want to sell this one back, you can refer to it for your entire life.

An excellently written, refreshing & entertaining story. I was drawn into the plot & enjoyed every page. Mr. Carey is a truly gifted author. I want more book!!!!

There is nothing better then good science fiction, and "The Moon Chasers" is darn good science fiction. The story is a wonderful mixture of time travel and alternate universe genres, with just a dash of magic for flavor. I couldn't put it down, especially during the last thirty pages. A great literary meal that makes you hunger for a second helping. A definite must-read.

the moon chasers was an awesome book, i bought it from Thomas R. Carey's brother, at a craft show.Thomas R. Carey is so amazing!!he leads you into a world of reality and yet total imagination.Read it and rate it for yourself. Totally awesome

Wow! What an amazing adventure! I was immediately drawn into the story and found the book difficult to put down. It succeeds on every level: suspense, adventure, excitement, science fiction and the supernatural! A real thrill ride with lots of surprises. I can't wait to see what happens to Porter and Henry in the next installment. Bravo!

I really enjoyed this book. It seems to have something for everyone .... robots, time travel, history, archeology, astronomy, even a hint of witchcraft. Henry and Porter may be the next great "buddy" team. I think this story will appeal to a broad age spectrum and to both male and female readers. I thought it was very well written. It had the same sense of adventure mixed with history that I find in some of the Clive Cussler novels. Characters are well developed and the story is fast paced.

The ending left me anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Mr. Carey.....please write quickly!

All of us, be we great or small, man or woman, left-wing or right-wing, religious or godless, have a great abyss in our very beings. This gap can be filled by one thing and one thing only- John Carey's "Raven's Flight". From beginning to end, it brims with intensity and excitement. Vicious battles! Racial intrigue! Women of loose character behaving loosely! Internal conflict of self-doubt and sorrow! Nearly all the way through my mouth was agape, and upon reaching the furor of passion and glory that is to be found on page 120, I cried aloud, "This! This is what we were created for! This is what it means to live!"

You must read this book. You must devour it with your eyes and minds, for it is the only sustenance that will ever satisfy the hunger of your soul.

Carey, The rock says this: Without a shadow of a doubt, come hell or high water, the rock says this a guarenDAMNtee of a good book. The rock thinks you're real cute by writing such a great book. This book is better than the Rock's Book: The Rock Says. The Rock wants to see more of Michelle

The author of this book, Mr.John Carey, is my high school english teacher. From the beginning, this book gets a hold of you and doesn't let go. There has never been a president assasination story as unique as this.

From the first few pages, the author grabs you and takes you on a thrill ride with his main character, Jack Hurst. Hurst is a ladies man and is tough, rugged and has a job to do: preventing a presidential assassination. How Hurst will do this without revealing his location to his enemies and without being arrested by the local police is the catch. He's wanted by every law enforcement agency and by Sharon, a beautiful policewoman. The suspense scenes are mind-blowing.

This is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Mr. Carey is right up there as one my favorate authors. Anyone who says they are a fan of the english language is a liar unless they have read this book. From the heart stopping action scenes to the steamy lust filled romance scenes, this book has it all. This book ranks right up there with any Tom Clancy novel. This book takes the raw emotion of a son's love for his father and shows that love can not be tainted by any evil, not even the evil of racism in the government of the greatest country in the world. This book is the winner of several awards, including Book of the Year from T8RO's book club. This book saved my life. As I was walking down the street a rock came out of no where and stuck my on my rear end. If I didn't have this book in my back pocket I could have suffered a cut and bled to death on that side walk that fateful spring day. Thank you Mr. Carey for giving me life. I owe you one, "Little Buddy". You will always have a special place in the very, very bottom of my heart.

As N. Chomsky brilliantly states, `Alex Carey draws the veil of deceit and imposed ignorance in the struggle for freedom and justice.'
Alex Carey shows how corporate propaganda protects corporate power (the few) against democracy (the many). Skilled manipulation conceals the real human nature and the needs of the common man in the interest of corporate efficiency and profit, in other words, in the interest of the privileged segments of society.

The effectiveness of propaganda depends on the availability of emotionally charged symbols and ideas. The most powerful ones are nationalist symbols. Therefore, corporate propaganda tries to identify the free-enterprise system with US national values, and strong unions, interventionist governments, communists and alleged liberal fellow travelers with threats to national security, subversion and tyranny.
A surveillance network detects early signs of ideological drifts. Corrective persuasion is immediately disseminated through the media, completely controlled by fellow megacorporations. As the social scientist H.D. Lasswell said: `propaganda is the one means of mass mobilization which is cheaper than violence, bribery or other possible control techniques.'

Another means of manipulation is the filtering of social science studies. Only those which improve the industry's image and interests are propagated.
Alex Carey shows the nonsense and fundamental hypocrisy of alleged `basic' social experiments (the Hawthorne studies, the experiments of K. Lewin and F. Herzberg), which `prove' that salary, job security and good working conditions are only of secondary importance for employees. In the meantime, corporations pocket superprofits.
Alex Carey's dissection of the Hawthorne studies is simply devastating. He unmasks social scientists as servants of power and union busters.

This book contains also excellent historical information (the McCarthy crusade, the great steel strike of 1919) and exposes rightly the link between propaganda and the pragmatism of Dewey and W. James (the promotion of false beliefs is justified if they are socially useful).

This is a very revealing book and a must read for all those wanting to understand the world we live in.

Alex Carey's work is absolutely some of the best. My favorite quote of his is this: "The 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy." This has become a touchstone for Sheldon Rampton and me in our books Toxic Sludge Is Good for You, Trust Us, We're Experts, and our writing for PR Watch. Carey is much missed.

Mr. Andrew Lohrey informs us in his introduction, to this collection of essays by the late Australian psychologist Alex Carey, that Carey was prevented from going to college by his parents after he finished secondary school as they wanted him to manage their sheep farm which he did with such success that he could sell it about a decade later and enter a university.

Here and there this book is dreadfully dry, particularly towards the end. His ideas probably would have been made clearer and much better organized if he would have been able to put together a regular book instead of a book of essays put together by someone else but he died in 1988 before he could get it done. But the topics he discusses are very important especially now when business and government propaganda has never been more powerful.

The main title of this book describes what big business and their intellectual and political minions have tried to do particularly in the United States as rights to vote and to organize in this country were extended to large segments of the population of this country over the last hundred years. Carey's old friend Noam Chomsky quotes in his preface the numerous intellectual advocates (Walter Lipmann, Harold Laswell,etc.) of what Thomas Jefferson called late in his life "a single and splendid government of an aristocracy" made up of the "banking institutions and monyed incorporations" whom he feared would destroy the freedoms gained during the American revolution. Many prominent liberal intellectuals devoted loyal service to the state during World War one particularly in the government propaganda agencies putting out massive bogus atrocity stories about the Germans and turning a largely anti-war population in a short period into a bunch of maniacs looking to destroy everything remotely connected with Germany and German culture. A young German soldier named Adolf Hitler was deeply impressed with the allied propaganda effort and blamed German weakness in this field for their defeat and vowed that Germany would learn its lessons by the time the next war came around.

The best part of Carey's text, by far, is about the first five chapters. The first topic discussed is the Americanization movement begun in the few years before World War one by big busisiness associatons who were particularly worried about such events as the victory of the IWW led strike of textile workers in Lawrence Massachusetts in 1912. Big business was particularly worried about the influence of IWW-type radicalism on the U.S. immigrant population which mostly worked under very bad conditions at very low wages and set to work with a somwhat successful drive to inculate immigrants as well as the population at large with "American" values like free enterprise and the status quo and social harmony and against alien values like socialism or the welfare state or non-pliable unions. Out of this campaign came the Fourth of July holiday signed into law into 1918. This campaign culminated in the government crushing of the labor movement during 1919-21 under the cover of chasing communists and German spies.

The labor movement, says Carey, did not recover until the Great Depression which forced the U.S. government to enact very basic welfare legislation and protection of unions. This greatly alarmed important segments of big business. The National Association of Manufacturers literature in 1938 warned of the "hazard facing industrialists" of the "newly realized political power of the masses."

The end of World War two saw the beginnings of a massive attack on independent thinkers and organized labor under the cover of a red scare. After a lag in the early 1970's, the elites in this country began to steer this country towards a very markedly right wing political climate, seeing the rise of previously regarded fringe elements as represented by such think tanks as the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage foundation which featured such profound thinkers as former Nixon and Ford treasury secretary William Simon who fulminated about how the Carter administration was steering the country towards collectivist totalitarianism.

He goes into some detail examining the right wing apparatus in his native Australia. He ends with discussion of some matters dealing with industrial psychology and industrial sociology culminating in a study of the Hawthorne studies, laborious research at an Illinois assembly plant made up of female workers in the late 20's and early 30's where a group of industrial psychologists tried to secure evidence that workers don't care about money and just want to be left alone to do the wonderful jobs that the labor market has forced on them. The Hawthorne chapter is in large part almost unintelligible and very dry, probably inevitable given that it is a scientific paper.

Carey points out that citizens living in totalitarian regimes have no choice but to tow the government line out of fear for their personal safeties. In free societies, Carey explains that more subtle means are used to keep populations under control. Specifically, propaganda is used to ensure that most people will think in a manner that is consistent with the corporate agenda (such as belief in the free market and business' right to unlimited profit). Carey documents how Americans and Australians have been subjected to corporate propaganda during most of the 20th Century, and explains how these efforts have perverted our democracy (for example, American's over willingness to fight communists, real or imagined, to protect capitalism). Indeed, while many Americans were conditioned during the Cold War to believe that propaganda existed only in the Soviet Union, China and other communist regimes, Carey persuasively argues that propaganda actually played (and continues to play) a more critical role in molding the attitudes of citizens in democracies.

"Taking the Risk Out of Democracy : Corporate Propaganda Versus Freedom and Liberty" is a pioneering work in the field of corporate propaganda analysis which reveals just how much of a major force corporate propaganda is in contemporary society. Alex Carey quotes the business press as stating that the public mind is the greatest "hazard facing industrialists."

"Taking the Risk Out of Democracy : Corporate Propaganda Versus Freedom and Liberty" points out that there are two types of propaganda, each of which have specific societal functions. The first type is aimed at the educated, articulate sectors of the population that are involved in in decision making and setting the agenda for others to adhere to. The second type of propaganda is aimed at the unwashed masses, to keep them distracted so as they don't interfere in the public arena where they have no business in being. All in all, "Taking the Risk Out of Democracy : Corporate Propaganda Versus Freedom and Liberty remains a seminal analysis of corporate propaganda and its uses in creating an obedient elite and a subserviant citizenry. Very enjoyable.

Carey Sipp captures the essence of saving your "self" to save the life of others...her children. You think this story only happens in movies. This is the real thing. Overcoming emotional abuse from growing up with her father's alcoholism, Carey shares a story of unique survival. With two children by her side, she overcomes wounds that would have left many too hurt to heal. Carey shares both concrete suggestions and inspirational ideas to encourage those who may be facing similar addiction histories or current lifestyles. Her spiritual and physical strength has the ability to resonate on so many levels. Every chapter brings you closer to finding your own truth...and feeling proud of living it.

In The Turnaround Mom, Carey Sipp digs deep into her past to share her tortured childhood in the home of an alcoholic and violent father. She uses her prodigious insight and considerable writing talents to demonstrate how it is possible to break the cycle of addiction and raise healthy, happy children.

You may find yourself trembling as you sit beside her when she was four years old, hiding under the kitchen table during one of her father's alcoholic tirades. But the book offers great comfort by showing that, even under the spell of such powerful influences, victims of family abuse and domestic violence can overcome their pasts and be good role models for their children.

Brilliant, funny and full of tips. Keep it handy so you can pick it up and open it for emergencies -- i.e. when you feel overwhelmed, alone, clueless or hopeless. Though I did not grow up in an alcoholic family I lacked a healthy environment and had no good model of family life. Now as a mom of two teens I look for any and all useful resources. This book is a daily help.

Anyone who was raised in an abusive family atmosphere,
whether it was alcoholic related or not, should read The TurnAround Mom. Carey Sipp's frighting journey through childhood, and as a young adult, gave her the insight, experience and courage to write this remarkable
road map to a healthier family life. Sipp gives you all the tools to end once and for all the vicious cycle of abuse that is so often passed from one generation to the next. Her words can really make a difference to anyone or any family ready to turnaround and walk away from alcoholic abuse
and it's terrible consequences. America will be a better place to raise happy, healthy children, because of this Mom's determination to make a difference!
Bravo Carey Sipp!

Not in hypothetical but in real, concrete, terms the author talks about her own addictions to things that interfere with her being the loving supportive parent she wishes to be . She sites reasons and background for her own shortcomings but has obviously decided that all of this isn't written in concrete, that with a little thoughtful quiet time for herself and a lot of thinking about what is really important there is time even for a single, working, Mom, to be wholly present in the present with love. The book is never saccharine, is always straightforward about the author's shortcomings, and even for parents who are now grandparents, it's engrossing, delightful, and insightful.

Don't often write reviews, this one is worth it. It's Marlowe meets magic. I think there are many times when Carey's writing could've taken a very standard route, but he goes a different direction, so his writing is un-formulaic. I do feel like the main character missed a large connection between two major plot elements, so that's a small criticism. All in all, blazed through it and looked forward to reading it every time I picked it up.

Mike Carey
ISBN: 9780446580311
Grand Central Publishing, 2008
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReveiwYourBook.com
5 Stars
Paranormal...
Felix Castor, ghost buster extraordinaire, is hot on the case of a missing ghost. The parents of a kidnapped ghost daughter beg for his assistance, and he cannot turn them down. The case brings danger to Felix and his family. A plot to raise a super demon unfolds.
This is not my favorite genre, but putting that aside, this is a well-written book. The style is narrative, the dialogue is humorous, and the descriptions are superb. There is little doubt that Mike Carey is an extremely talented author. This sequel stands well alone. All in all, I think Carey has a best seller on his hands.

Following his efforts applauded by the Bonnington Archive ghost who encouraged him, Felix "Fix" Castor reopens his exorcist shingle though he remains impoverished and is concerned for his friend the possessed Rafi. His only income is some consulting sleuthing for the cops, but they are reluctant to give him anything that might lead to more jobs as the constabulary does not want to advertise they employ an exorcist as a part-time contractor.

Fix thinks he has found a fix for his fiscal deficit. He seeks a kidnapped ghost of a little girl, but Asmodeus the evil fire and brimstone malevolent, other nasty demons, Satanists and Ms. Julia the succubus stand in the way of his success. As he battles in and out of churches all sorts of otherworldly species want to recruit him onto their side, he struggles with the underlying concept of why a young female spirit is critical to the universe. Still he works the case while dreaming of a high paying low risk job instead of everything seemingly under the sun trying to kill him.

Readers will enjoy their latest Fix (see THE DEVIL YOU KNOW) as Mike Carey provides an enjoyable urban Noir fantasy in which London once again steals the show with all the supernatural residents that greet Castor. The story line is similar in some aspects to the Dresden Files, but is more humorous as Mr. Carey somewhat lampoons the "rules" of the sub-genre. Readers will appreciate Fix's London as he seeks paranormal work to pay off a deficit that he insists would be acceptable in America.

Harriet Klausner

After reading the first Felix Castor novel, "The Devil You Know" I went scouring the internet to see if Mike Carey had written any others. Eureka! His writing is superbly engrossing. His main character, Felix, is refreshingly realistic and sarcastic about his adventures. This is a dark novel that is not without great moments of hilarity in the form of dry cynicism, making it more accessible and infinitely entertaining. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is sick of the old "grr, I'm a scary (insert ghost and/or goblin name here)" and is looking for something with a little more substance. I too, cannot wait for another Felix Castor novel to arrive on the market.

Felix Castor is back in Vicious Circle. Once again the exorcist for hire is working in a London where the dead walk among the living. While politicians are trying to decide on what rights the dead should have, Felix is trying to change the focus of his life. After the experiences detailed in the first book, The Devil You Know, the exorcist for hire is no longer so sure that what he is doing is the right thing.

So when a couple asks him to rescue the kidnapped ghost of their child, he is unable to resist the challenge. Yet as always, appearances are deceiving. Felix soon finds himself in deep water as he chases the exorcist who abducted the ghost. He in turn, is being tailed by a pair of weres that begrudgingly obey their orders to leave him alive-for now. Throw in murders, riots and a haunted church, and Felix learns that he may be the only thing standing between the world and the apocalypse.

Mike Carey has taken the complex world he introduced us to in the first Felix Castor novel and expanded its borders. None of the characters are simple. Each person struggles with the burdens that have been dropped on them. Whether it is a succubus trying to fit into human society or the leader of an ex-communicated secret order, Carey fleshes them out and makes them real. Along the way he drops hints about ethics and responsibility, leaving us to wonder who the real monsters are.

Vicious Circle is a terrific book. It will stand comfortably on it own, but is also a rock-solid follow up to the first Felix Castor novel.

Armchair Interviews says: Count on Felix Castor to fill in a good story.

I recently purchased both volumes of Carey's warfare series and I was taken back by the quality of the tactical maps. These maps allowed me to reconstruct some of the most important battles in the history of western civilization, from Megiddo through Issus and Gaugamela and Adrianople and into the medieval period. Of particular interest to me was the reconstruction of the battle of Manzikert in volume 2. These books make the battles which shaped history come alive!

I purchased "Warfare in the Ancient World" with its companion volume "Warfare in the Medieval World" together last week and read them back to back. As a career US Soldier who has visited many of the places talked about in these books, I enjoyed the lively captions of the battles, as well as the background provided in the narrative. Carey and his two illustrators Allfree and Cairns have compiled a fine multi-volume introduction to the art of warfare in the western world. These books are full of not only hundreds of battle maps, they also have interesting plates, though I wish they had been in color. I have enjoyed Carey's articles in military magazines for years, and I am excited he has completed this two volume work. It will go very nicely next to Ferrill's "The Fall of Rome" amd Warry's "Warfare in the Classical World" on my bookshelf.

Brian Todd Carey's "Warfare in the Medival World" covers a period from about 5OO CE to the Thirty Years War, detailing the major battles that shaped and demonstrated the shifting roles of various weapon systems through that period.

The battles that are covered in detail include Manzikert, Crecy, Agincourt, and a whole host of others. They range through a variety of conflicts including Byzantine, European, Mongol, Turkish and more. Each battle is describe with the help of maps that illustrate each stage of the unfolding battle. I found it helpful to break from the main content and read the maps' captions, (which detail what happened), to get an overview of the battle, and then return to the main content of the book. This helped with picturing the events in my mind more easily.

Todd also gives some background to the wider context of the developments that the battles highlight, providing some of the political, social or cultural elements that contributed to the wars in which the battles happened. He also evaluates the battles, drawing pertinent conclusions from them.

The writing is clear and accessible, and not at all "dry", as one reviewer commented. Todd does not beat about with a huge range of useless comment, that is true, but he does offer it when needed and helpful. This makes for a well-balanced book that is all too soon finished. I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the last page. It was informative, fascinating and well written. For an introduction to warfare in the period, Todd would be hard to surpass.

This book forms part of a two volume introduction to pre-modern warfare and my review covers the two together. Between them these books achieve what was set out for them, i.e. to provide an accessable overview of warfare between ancient Sumeria and the Thirty Years War, with a decent bibliography for those who wish to go into the field in more depth. The author writes in a clear, readily understandable style and illustrates his points with a fairly representative selection of key battles. Offhand I cannot think of another book which covers this entire time period at this level of detail.
The only problem the author has is that he obviously cannot be an expert on all the periods covered and so is at the mercy of his sources, so that a few unfortunate errors creep in.
First, his interpretation of the Teutoberger Forest campaign relies on work predating the archaelogical excavations at Kalkriese in the 1990s which proved the battle site was there and not where he places it, though this does not significantly affect the main point of his discussion as to how and why the Romans lost.
Second there are a few missing map sections in the battle depictions in the second volume.
Thirdly there are a few rather disconcerting errors of fact in volume 2 which I suspect reflect faulty sources and a certain lack of familiarity with late medieval european history by the author:
Edward the Black Prince was not the later Edward IV, Ivan III of Muscovy was not founder of Romanov dynasty, and the Mongols won the battle at the Kalka river in 1223.
These however are pretty minor problems which could be easily corrected if there is a second printing opr new edition, and do not detract too much from the overall value of the book.
For anyone seeking an introduction to the history of warfare this is a good choice.

I found this book to be a very fine introduction to the art of warfare in western civilization during the medieval period. Carey describes the evolution of tactics, martial technologies, and personalities which won the day on the most influencial battlefields in western civilization. This is an outstanding one volume treatment of a very important 1,000 years of warfare. I intend to assign this book as a companion text in my own college courses.

The book was very good from the standpoint of showing an uninformed family what the plane I flew in as a combat gunner was all about. Even though he left out a lot about my squadron and slighted us for other units it did not deminish my interest in others who were justly remembered. There are a lot of people who knew nothing about Navy heavy bombers and the book certainly introduced them to our war. Thank you. I have purchased a lot of these books as presents for my family and friends.

Both of his books on this part of the war are more than excellent. There are no more superlatives that can describe the accuracy of the events depicted. Great reading

This is one of the most informative and telling documentation I have ever read. I highly recomend the reading of this book. It would be a great addition to any historian's library. Every page is loaded with personal accounts of what it was really like to fight above the ANGRY SEA! Mr. Carey has captured the true essence of life on a PB4Y. If Spielberg could get a hold of this book, there would be a great movie made.

Mr. Carey has written a great book on a little known aspect of U.S. Naval History. He clearly brings out the suffering and bravery of the combat aircrew that served with Navy B-24 squadrons. His interviews of veterans and the multitude of photographs captures the spirit of fighting above the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

Alan Cary has followed up his earlier book (We Flew Alone)and if possible he has surpassed himself with this second volume. I must admit to being a bit prejudiced since I was one of those Navy men who served in the old B-24 that the Navy called the PB4Y1. Prior to these books, the story has only been reported occasionally and not always accurately. These two books by Alan Cary are exceptionally well done.

As one who was there during much of the time that he describes I can testify to the accuracy of his book. He has accurately captured the feelings, the fears, the loneliness, the pride of the men who performed these missions. Almost always a single airplane at the maximum range of the aircraft and over "an angry sea" that was a final resting place for too many brave men.

For anyone who is interested in this phase of the war in the Pacific, these two books are absolutely essential. There are many fine photographs, including many combat action shots and many of the stories are in the actual words of the men who performed so gallantly.

Thank you, Alan Cary and God bless America.

This is a delicious and absolutely reliable guide to the delightful B&B establishments of France. I wouldn't think of traveling without it. The selected accommodations always have some unique feature or special charm.

This volume describes 721 French B&B's in 370 pages, each B&B keyed to one of 18 useful regional maps. An additional 40 pages provide maps, indices, some French vocabulary and advertising for Sawday's other products. The descriptions are very useful and the book's organization conducive to effective planning of an independent trip.

I am using this volume to plan a trip from Nice to La Herradura in southern Spain during during the next few months. This permits me to compare this book to the companion volume, Special Places to Stay:Spain.

After reading the Spain volume I expected French B&B's to be as detailed as that of Spain. Certainly it provides information about B&B's in every corner of France. Yes, it too is a marvelous aid for planning the independent trip. Yes it is much stronger than any Rough Guide to France or Spain that I have read. It provides prices, the number and type of rooms, web site references, e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers. It very briefly describes what each B&B offers and when it is open or closed. What is lacking for my taste buds, compared to the "Spain volume", is the detailed descriptions provided by a pithy writing style descrbing the locale, the owners and of the cooking style that almost makes the roast kid aroma of a described culinary delight jump out of the pages. My wife misses photographs of the interiors of each B&B.

To provide considerable detail for two establishments per page is an ambitious task and the editors carry it off. Not withstanding my "comparative disillusionment", the word descriptions do compensate for the missing photographs, directions to local eating places anticipate culinary delights and "How to get there information" makes it easy to locate a Special Place on a detailed Michelin map.

Based on my personal experiences, the Spanish volume appears to be very reliable, I see no reason why the French B&B should not be equally so.

An American friend resident in France and my wife and I used this guide last May on a trip through much of France. We set out with a fistful of books: three lodging guides in English and three general guides in French including the familiar Michelin. After a few days we used only Sawday. We found it rock-solid: reliable, authoritative, sensible, up to date, well illustrated, easy to use - all we could hope for. We would phone during the day for a place to stay that night and scored most times with our first choice. [A caution: While some proprietors spoke English, we relied on our friend's French for the cell phone.]

All was as advertised: our hosts welcoming, the accommodations clean and comfortable. A few miles from Omaha Beach we stayed in a new extension to a 18th C. manor house on a 100 acre dairy farm. The next morning, after a delightful breakfast, the proprietress gave us a tour of her milking barn. The average cost for was $50 for two, breakfast included.

Some hosts provided dinner for $15 to $30 including wine. On another farm, dinner included home grown vegetables and home brewed aperitif and digestif, all for $14. In Arlanc although we phoned late, the proprietor graciously made a special trip to purchase extra food for a gourmet meal.

It was a memorable, and thrifty, way to meet real people. What's more, Sawday maintains a searchable database for pre-planning and a most helpful staff. Overall, a superb resource.

I used this guide to plan my husband's and my last trip to France. Although we've been to France many times, the excellent bed and breakfasts in this book made this the best trip ever. The descriptions were accurate and the facilities all lived up to our expectations and more. This book must be popular in the U.K. because most of our fellow travelers were British and had found the B&B's through the book. The book indicates which B&B's serve evening meals along with the cost of the meals; we enjoyed the lively family style dinners immensely. The places we stayed were outside of the towns and cities but the book gave adequate directions to find them.

Many of the B&B's owners did not speak any English which can make telephone reservations difficult for anyone who does not speak French, however fax numbers are included where available. Although the book did not stress any need for reservations, we traveled off-season in the fall and many places were full and turning away drop-ins. I highly recommend the book for planning a casual trip in the French countryside.

My wife and I used this book as the basis for a planning a vacation driving through Normandy. We stayed in four different B&B's recommended in the book. We found the reality met or exceeded the descriptions and we were able to enjoy excellent stays. We recomend this book to any traveller to France wishing to use small hotels and B&B's.