Clayton Books

This was a most fascinating adventure story I have read in a while now. The only gig I give it, is that the Author does not explain any of the naval terms he uses. Example, "THE WATER FALL" in describing sonar. Only after I went on the Web and looked up some Submarines, did I see "THE WATER FALL", and being in electronics all my life, it was only then that I understood the term. There are many other terms that I am not able to understand. The book is worth reading and passing on to someone else to enjoy. Gene ARS W6EAJ

A NUB is a non-essential body or not yet qualified submariner. As a civilian with a bit of knowledge about the Submarine Force and life aboard, and not alot of left brain, I was pleased that Submariner Meadows made it easy for me to read through OF ICE AND STEEL's technical info.

I'm an addictive reader when I get hold of a really great book. Could barely put down Meadows' thriller book, all the while caught up in the suspense of whether one of the submarines would go down with crew aboard.

Submariners generally list Das Boot, Run Silent/Run Deep, The Hunt for Red October and Down Periscope are among favorite movies. However, they're awaiting a new, modern submarine film. OF ICE AND STEEL has a terrific chance of being this movie, even if Russia might be replaced with China.

Interesting, well written work. I'd place it somewhere between Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler (more toward Clancy). Certainly well worth the reader's time. Clearly Mr. Meadows, having served on submarines, knows what he is talking about from a technical point of view. However, he doesn't get bogged down in this, and also does a very good job with both the geopolitical aspects of the novel, as well as the characterizations. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Don Meadows novel is a breath of fresh air in the realm of novels involving submarines. Harking back to the days when novels about the Silent Service were actually written by REAL sub sailors who actually rode the boats in both war and peace time. Men like Edward L. Beach not pretenders who make up stuff like Tom Clancey a wannabe submariner who thinks he knows it all after having a tiger cruise.
Chief Meadows actually served on the boats and brings this to the table. Things mentioned in the book are how things work on both US and Russian boats. And yes the weapons used by the protagonist were real and are the grandparents of todays weapons.
The novel orbits around some projects the Nazi's were actually investigating such as an Artic base of operations. To this day what happened to some German U-boats and some end of the war missions remain unsolved mysteries. There are some detail nuts who will take Mr. Meadows to task but as this is a work of fiction for sake of the story some details are knowingly changed for the stories sake as far as the U-boat is concerned. If anyone doubts Mr. Meadows expertise and resources used they should check out www.subpirates.com and the many articles there from many people in the know. This site is THE site for details on not only R/C submarines but REAL submarines as the majority of people there are either active Submariners or Ex submariners from around the world.
The novel itself while 543 pages long is a very smooth fast read and while some areas may seem to be liberties taken for charecter development they are in fact an insight into the submariners mindset. I should know I rode a Boomer (SSBN) myself.

"War is the science of destruction." - John S.C. Abbott

Part Hunt for Red October, part Forever Young, Of Ice and Steel by D. Clayton Meadows asks an improbable but powerful question: What would happen if a World War II U-boat and crew was frozen for 60 years and suddenly woke up to a new world?

Meadows served on a submarine himself for 20 years so his knowledge of naval operations is vast. At times it may go over the head of the average reader, but it is still a thrilling tale.

The story opens towards the end of World War II in 1944. The U-761 is battered and bruised after 6 missions. The Captain is not aware that there is a secret cargo on board. Faced with the knowledge that German is losing the war and the evident idea that they are all going to die at sea, the secret is revealed. The Forever Project is put in place and the U-761 is frozen in time in the Arctic Ocean.

Fast forward 44 years to 2008, when a madman executes a coupe in Russia. The new regime wants to see the Communists back in power. The whole world is on edge. An American satellite discovers something lurking in the Arctic Ocean. They presume it is a Russian warhead poised to destroy, in spite of the assurances that Russia isn't looking to take over the world--just their Motherland. A U.S. sub is sent to discover if this craft is a friend or foe. Little do they know it is the U-761.

When told what they found, the President said quietly, "Admiral, if I didn't know you personally, I'd say you've lost your mind."

What would happen if a World War II U-boat woke up to a new world and is still operating under the assumption that they are still at war with Britain and America? Read Of Ice And Steel and find out.

There is a complicated cast of characters and military jargon galore. It takes about half the book to lay the plot, but after that you will find yourself turning the pages in anticipation.

Will the U-761 start World War III? How will NATO respond?

I didn't want to stop reading--I had to know how it ended. This book would make a really good movie.

Armchair Interviews says: It is a fascinating read even for someone who doesn't find military or science fiction their normal cup of tea.

This was a very well written "intense" book. I could not put it down,except for the dozen or so times I got up to check again if my doors were locked.

As I read this book I imagined the countless hours Susan must have spent researching the evidence and interviewing families and those involved in capturing the killer. She told this story in a way that never lets you forget this happened to real people, people just like you and me. I cried for these woman and their families. Derrick Todd Lee is a "monster" and he destroyed many lives. I agree, all women should read this book...the women in this story did nothing to deserve death but we can learn from their stories and possibly protect ourselves from the countless "monsters" that are still out there.

I truly enjoyed Ms. Mustafa's work. This heinous murderer caused a lot of unbearable anguish for so many people here in South Louisiana, and I suppose this case peaked an inordinate degree of interest from so many people because there are still so many unanswered questions regarding these murders, especially how he happened to choose these particular victims, how he gained access to their homes, and how he managed to actually remove 2 of them from their homes without ever being seen, not to mention the bloody mess he had to have been when leaving some of these crime scenes. He got away with all of these unconscionable acts for so long and might likely have never been caught had it not been for the miracle of DNA testing.

I haven't read a book this scary, in a long time. It's sad how many times the police had this guy in their grasp, but let him go! Even sadder for the families of these women, to know that he could have been stopped in the beginning. While I sympathize with one of the victim's family members, I have read many books where the author has written about the victim, on their last night and what they might have been thinking or doing. I feel this is done, to let the reader know that the victim was a real, with hopes and dreams like everyone else, and it was shattered by this lowlife killer. The author gave you a feel on what wonderful women they were and how the killer took them from this world. How very sad. Derrick Todd Lee should be put in a room with the families of these women.....

This book is very hard to read because it contains so much tragedy that has affected so many lives. Every female should read this to see how easy it could happen to them or someone in their family. Several deaths could have been prevented if the public had been given the facts sooner. Everyone that works in the legal system should read this to see how communication between each other could have prevented some of these tragedies. Did the victim's families get closure after the trial? How do you get closure when someone you love was stalked and tortured before they were murdered? You learn to take one day at a time trying to accept the death of someone you love. Closure is impossible because that person is loved and missed every second of every day and will always be a part of your lives. How was one man given the power to decide the fate of these women? He has put nightmares into so many lives, forever. Reading this book will help other famiies prevent these nightmares from entering their lives.

This book is well written and really allows you to get a sense of what the victims went through. I could not put this book down. Grew up down the street from where many of the murders occured, but I think it is great reading for anyone.

I bought the book a short time ago. I strongly recommend it

It was perfect for me not having any background in languages or linguistics. The subject matter is not easy no matter how it is taught but Croy's book gives you chance to really enjoy learning greek while not being overly intimidated by it. Greek is quite sophisicated and the memory work is intense, and it takes a lot of practice and determination to get a handle on it. With this tho, the book was most encouraging, i have tried other texts but they made the subject pretty dry. This has a more personal touch to it. The exercises do not have translations but this is not necessary since most want to refer to their own favorite versions anyway... also when the translation is not there it more exciting when you can read the greek without the translation there next to it.
This book opened a great and exciting adventure for me
Honolulu, Hawaii

Grammar wise, it's not a bad book. It's made up of 32 chapters with extended explanations of the rules of ancient Greek grammar. Very nice, if you like that sort of thing.

Practice wise, it has no readings and only a few translation exercises. The exercises perpetuate the idiocy of not giving English translations, so you can not check your work. This may work in a classroom course, but for self-learners (which I assume you are, since you're shopping on Amazon) it should be deal breaker. You can do better.

Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar by William Mounce is better for grammar.
Learn New Testament Greek by John Dobson is better practice.

As someone who has had New Testament Greek many years ago and took this book in a crash course in just what, 6 weeks(?) I found it to be a disapointment. Very little of the vocabulary presented is the actual vocabulary used in the New Testament. If you are just learning Greek, you'd be better off to just stick with the NT Greek and forget the Septuagint. The fact that Croy does not use his own text ought to tell you something. I too, decry the lack of any key to the exercises. I was fortunate that I had an excellent teacher who diligently translated the exercises for us.

I'm using this textbook for my Greek Grammar I class, and I really like it. It gives only what you need to know, which is nice when you don't know what you're doing or anything about the Greek language, and it provides helpful exercises each lesson from the LLX and standard Greek text.

The chapters aren't to intimidating because they're not large. Each chapters slowly builds on the chapter before it, and each chapter follow each other in a logical order.

If you're studying Greek without an instructor and only using this book, one thing that can be considered a downside with this book is there is no answer key for the exercises. This is a good thing if you're taking it at college because you learn alot doing the exercises and it gives you the opprotunity to apply the principles you're learning. My professor goes over the answers in class, but if you don't have a professor and teacher the task can be more time-consuming. But than again, what's the rush?

I love this book and would highly recommend it if you want to get a basic foundation in Greek and a first semester's Greek knowledge. If using this textbook without a instructor you may want to use it with Mounce's Basic's of Biblical Greek. Also this book would also be good for "re-learning" or reviewing Greek (if you don't use it you'll loose it).

N. Clayton Croy's grammar for New Testament Greek is a great place to start learning the language. I've just completed the book, which is the standard classroom text at schools such as Princeton Theological Seminary. Croy is quite accessible and lays out the basics of grammar in 32 concise lessons. Vocab is nicely distributed to match the subject of the lesson, and of course there are a lot of paradigms to memorize. Where this book excels is in the excercises provided at the end of every lesson, including 15 or so sentences written by Croy and drawing from only the vocab and grammar learned so far; a section from the Septuagint; and a section from the New Testament.

Unfortunately answer keys are not included, though we had access to them in class -- making me think that the book was written explicitly with the formal classroom environment in mind and that there may be a teacher's edition somewhere. Also, the book is only an elementary beginning; a user would be well-advised to supplement it with the memorization of principal parts for key verbs, additional New Testament vocab, etc.

I just fell in love with The Breads of France. It's so awesome! It has loads of interesting, doable recipes from all over France, divided by region, and so much variety. Brioches, bagels, quick breads, cookies, dinner rolls, croissants, Christmas stollen, and lots and lots of straight-up loaves of bread. The cultural information about the different areas of France and the background of the different breads was fascinating and fun to read.

I have to admit I haven't tried actually baking anything yet but it's such an interesting book just to read and look at, why sweat the baking? This book is definitely a terrific find.

This was the first and only bread-baking book I will ever buy. This was clearly a work of love as are the creations that are documented. It could serve as a model for how to write a how-to on any subject. I wish I could say that about other books I have bought on a variety of interests. I went from never having baked anything to producing the best breads I have ever eaten. His instructions are specific, detailed, and generous. They are simple. Most, however, involve long waiting periods in which the dough rises and develops flavor. You must therefore plan ahead and be ready for the next step. That step might be as simple as pounding the ball down and letting it rise again. How many of us know on Monday that we will be free and willing on Wednesday for a long night of baking? However, if you follow the instructions, they are foolproof. They are Americanized. Yet each French baker agreed that Clayton's version made in his kitchen on wheels was representative of the source recipe. Without any first-hand experience, you will agree.

The author wrote this book when most of us got our bread in the supermarket in white plastic bags with colored ballons on the label. The French are the best bread bakers in the world. Their love of great bread shows in the wild profusion of wonderful loaves that can be found throughout France. This book is a rather personal selection of recipes for breads that tickled the author's fancy during his explorations of French boulangeries. The author has taken the time to travel intimately through France, discovered many wonderful artisan breads, and gotten the recipes from the bakers. The recipes collected here are historically important. Not only are they wonderful things, but I would be willing to wager that many of these bakeries have gone extinct in the 3 decades since the author wrote this book. Most of the recipes are for famous, popular, or traditional breads that one would find in a French bakery, not those from French homes. There is no attempt to systematically treat all the major breads of France. If you have a basic understanding of making bread in your kitchen at home, this book will take you on a tour of all the wonderful, artisanal breads from France, home of the best bread in the universe. The variety of shapes, colors, and flavors from reasonably straight forward recipes was very satisfying.

The author has thoughtfully tested the artisan bread recipes he got, and come up with reasonably recipes that should more or less work in your kitchen. These recipes were written at the side of the oven, and not just on a computer like many other best-selling, current bread books I could name. The recipes themselves are rather problematic. If you are an experienced baker, you will find a wild profusion of artisan breads that you can do in your home kitchen. If you are a beginner and still trying to the hang of making bread, avoid this book as it is not an educational or learning tool. You need to be a good bread baker before you can make these recipes work correctly, and the author seems to assume that you have already mastered some of his other bread books. The recipe instructions can be downright terse. The author often does not clearly delineate when something is properly kneaded, sufficiently proofed, or correctly baked. He often does not include sufficient instructions on the proper method of mixing or kneading doughs. Each recipe step has a specific number of minutes, a very nice touch, but bread should be made by feel, not by the clock. Most recipes are kneaded by hand, not mixer.

There are no sourdough recipes, although some call for overnight proofing of the yeast. This is the first book, to my knowledge, to advocate pre-ferments, biga, poolish, pate fermentee, etc., even though he does not use these trendy terms. All recipes start with ordinary yeast you can get in the grocery store. Typical even of breads in France today, most recipes call for all purpose flour and not bread flour. In general, the recipes fall under the brioche, croissant, rye, or direct methods are not terribly difficult for the experience home bread baker. A few recipes require that you start the recipe a day or two before the day you want to bake, so that the yeast will develope depth of flavor.

All of the recipes are listed in the table of contents, a nice editorial touch I wish more authors and their editors would emulate. The original copyright on this book is 1978, but this reprint is dated 2002. Sadly, the information on available tools, sources of ingredients, etc., has not been updated. The recipes are organized according to region, not the classification of the bread. At the head of each region, the author includes a very nice travel log of the region and where he got the recipes from.

Despite the time the author spent in France doing research on bread, he seems not to have learned a key principle that flour should be measured by weight and not by volume. Not only do all recipes use cups of flour as the measure, he never specifies how he measures flour into the cup. Only in an obscure table on the last page do we learn that a cup of the author's flour weighs 4 3/4 oz, suggesting that he uses the dip and sweep method of flour measure. Most, but not all, of the recipes have pictures. It is a shame that these are not in color, as color is the best tool for judging when something is properly baked. As they say, a picture (in this case, a color one) is worth a thousand words.

This book is one of many that I've purchased as I began making my own artisan breads. I like Bernard Clayton's writing style; he's friendly and informative, in addition to providing good recipes. I've found his measurements - in the 2002 edition - to be accurate and the directions easy to follow. The Pane Ordinaire on page 163 is the best French bread I've made so far. Okay, I incorporated techniques from Peter Reinhart and Rose Beranbaum, but the recipe and the majority of the techniques were Clayton's. I'd recommend this book as a must-have if you are building a bread-baking library.

This book is a treasure trove. I'm not sure which recipes a previous reviewer said were inaccurate. We've not found any ourselves. This reminds us of our many times in Burgundy and the wonderful sandwiches we had for lunch each day. We did invest in several kitchen items after we bought the book, all Matfer Bourgeat: a round lined wicker basket, 2 - 2 baguette French Bread Pans, 2 - 1 lb. bread willow bannetons and a lame bread slashing tool. All were available at Amazon.com and were cheaper here than elsewhere on the internet.

Take your time with this book and do not rush through the recipes or take short cuts. Conditions in your kitchen: humidity and dryness, the freshness of your bread flour and yeast, the oven used will determine your success. Some adjustment may be necessary, but attempt the recipes as they are written the first time. Make sure your lame is clean when you make your cuts, wipe often.

Your reward will be wonderful artisian breads and baguettes. Enjoy!!

Coke Newell's sojourn through the Plan of Salvation brings eloquency and intelligence to a subject normally consigned to dogma and hyperbole.

Up until now there have been few books which one would happily share with one's friends. I shall continue to order this book for all of my friends who are interested in knowing more about Mormonism.

Mr Newell says what many thinking LDS Members have thought for a long time, and we now discover that many of the unspoken explanations for our particles of faith come to life in these pages.

A good read for Mormons and Non-Mormons alike.

Thank you Coke.

Coke Newell's preface highlights a theme familiar to anyone who has had the often-frustrating experience of discussing religion with Mormons: when looking into Mormonism, one can only trust books written by faithful Mormons. Anything else (particularly anything critical) is "dirty water." Newell is perfectly right, however, in saying that one should learn about Judaism from a rabbi and about Mormonism from a Mormon, which is why I read this book. I've read other books not so flattering to Mormonism, so why not go to the source and see what the faithful say about it?

Some might be amazed at the assertions made by Newell, perhaps the most brazen found in the book's subtitle (any Christian can make the case that their faith ultimately predates Jesus -- this is not the shattering novelty Newell would like it to be). Astonishingly, Newell seems to believe that only Mormonism can answer (or at least is by far the best-qualified to answer) the questions long answered in various ways by all the world's religions: "Where did I come from? Why am I here on earth? What will become of me after this life is over?" That kind of bold confidence, however, has been a core part of the Mormon spirit since its birth in the midst of New York's feverish revivalism in the early 19th-century -- a climate that produced a dizzying variety of religions and "prophets" (of which Joseph Smith was arguably the most gifted).

Newell's first seven chapters are for me the "meat" of the book and the most interesting part. In this first section he charts the basic outline of Mormon beliefs, fantastic as they are. The suspension of disbelief required here is formidable, but it's a good yarn despite the glaring historical and theological errors. The bulk of the book follows the Mormons on their dreary Westward trek in great and purple-prosed detail (Mormons good, U.S. government BAD, etc.); Newell so overdoes this story that I had to scan through whole sections to get through it. The last chapter and the Epilogue reveal much about the Mormon mindset. Newell is fond of commenting on the rapid international growth of Mormonism and quoting conversion statistics as proof of its truth (the world's religions are running scared, etc.). He also touts the high level of education and dedication of the average Mormon (smart people become Mormon and really love God, etc.). My favorite of his many dubious assertions is his notion that Mormonism is intellectually viable because Mormon scholars have possibly written as much as scholars of other religions (apparently, 98 miles of books in BYU's library = intellectual strength). Newell happily criticizes Thomas Cahill's "religious assumptions," which is ironic since Mormonism is built on some of the wildest and most outrageous assumptions I've ever come across.

Mormonism, based as it is on the subjective "intuition" of the individual (you'll "feel the truth" of it, and if you don't, you're not open to God...) and what Newell calls a "generous plan of salvation" (i.e., easy), is a remarkably irrational non-Christian religion born of a remarkable man in 19th-century New York. Coke Newell offers here a well-written and often interesting read, and to his credit he is, on the surface, more objective and forthright than any other Mormon author I've read. What he gives, however, is only a partial picture (as is the case with Mormon missionaries and their pre-packaged evangelization program). What he offers may indeed be "clean water," but it needs to be taken with more substantial food. I recommend Fawn Brodie's classic biography of Joseph Smith: "No Man Knows My History." Stay away from the really emotional and vehemently anti-Mormon stuff out there. A Mormon friend criticized me for reading Brodie and Isaiah Bennett (without reading them himself), but I found in Newell's book everything they assert about Mormon beliefs. More importantly, I found much that Newell does NOT say about them, and when looking at Mormonism this makes all the difference. Straight answers can be hard to come by.

Coke Newell's "Latter Days" is a lively and wonderfully-written account, not just of the institutional Mormon Church, but of the entirety of the metaphysics of Mormonism. Newell presents, with no apology, the Mormon cosmology that sets Mormonism apart from the rest of Christianity. No attempt is made to harmonize Latter-day Saint theology with larger evangelical thought, and this, I believe, is right. Mormonism either stands or falls on its own, finding its foundations in continuing revelation, sometimes independent of known written sources. This is a very good book. St. Martin's Press is to be commended for bringing this book to the market. And Mr. Newell is to be congratulated for doing such a fine job.

Review by Jeffrey Needle, Association for Mormon Letters jeff.needle@general.com

Coke Newell's "Latter Days" has all the makings of a good book: it is interesting, accurate, amazingly thorough for its length, and eminently readable. The book flows quickly (he does not get off on tangents--has no time to), and covers a lot of territory.

I notice one other review that takes the author to task for working in the PR department of the LDS Church. Well. Every author writes from their personal perspective. I'm at least impressed when an author is upfront and revealing regarding where they are coming from. There are things Mr. Newell can tell us from and with his background that are unique and interesting.

Mr. Newell notes at the outset that he hopes to provide an accurate and helpful "insider's view" but one which he intends to be insightful and reasonably objective to anyone (non-member or member alike) with an interest in understanding Mormons or Mormonism. He simply never comes across to me as being in any kind of proselytizing mode.

Mr. Newell is primarily factual in presenting Mormon doctrine and history, but he does occasionally provide some "spice" in the form of brief commentary as well as some personal feelings and anecdotes from his own experience. I welcome that, as it makes the book that much more interesting and readable.

In the end, I felt I came away from the book with a rather complete view of Newell's topic. Yes, it is from his perspective, but he's upfront regarding himself and his purposes which are explicitly to tell a story, not to convert. I think this is as it should be. Bottom line: I loved the book.

This book is concise, very readable, and thorougly entertaining. I particularly like the way that Newell, a self-described "Colorado Tree-Hugger," is careful to distinguish between Mormon doctrine (which I personally have full faith in) and Utah culture and politics (which, as a Utah native, I sometimes find a bit embarrassing). His descriptions of the Church's views on topics like evolution and the environment, for example, fall much further to the left than most Utah mormons might expect, and clarify doctrines that members themselves often misconstrue.

Interesting read, lots of information, a little dated though, written in 1981 and is more focused on nuclear bombs going off rather than anything else, not too bad.

Bruce Clayton's book was written during 1979 not too many years after Nixon frightened us with his threat - "I can go in to my office and pick up the telephone and in twenty-five minutes 70 million people will be dead"p15. Clayton's book was published in 1980 during the end of Carter's Presidency. Ronald Reagan's lot had been stirring up American fears of the "Red Scare", while Ed Clark's message of liberty was smothered by Demopublican independent John Andersen whose presidential campaign preserved the Demopublican one-party system. I purchased this book in 1980 while stationed on Shemya Island, where we watched the Soviets decay from their own corruption. It was difficult for me to take Clayton's fears on nuclear conflict seriously because the Soviets were technologically a joke!

Having said that, this was a well-written book IF there ever was to be a global nuclear conflict. And with Adolf Bush today playing lapdog to his British bosses, it is not beyond possibility that the Benedict Arnold will lob a few "limited" nuclear warheads around the globe on behalf of American-powered British empire. Clayton's book will be useful to those starving thirdworlders unfortunate to live atop black gold (oil) or opium fields. Clayton's survival information could help an Afghan (who don't even have a hot-air balloon let alone an air force!) to survive British or American nuclear strikes.

Clayton is an ecologist whose PhD research took him to Montana. He wrote "Since I was doing field research in an area liberally sprinkled with Minuteman missile silos, it was not long before my interests expanded to include the ecological consequences of a full scale thermonuclear war"(pix). He pooh-poohs the idea that nuclear conflict will destroy the earth 300 times over; in fact, he says this is all fantasy! There WILL be survivors, whether they intended to survive or not. And he believes that it is best to prepare for survival ("it is almost unavoidable"px) rather than muddle through it like the bookish bank teller (played by Burgess Meredith) in The Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough At Last" (1959).

Clayton's book contains 8 chapters with a preface and 7 appendices. The chapters are "It's a Disaster", "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Nuclear War", "To Flee or Not to Flee", "Home Sweet Hole", "A Loaf of Bread, A Jug of Wine, and Chow", "Nobody Makes Housecalls Anymore", "To Have and To Hold", and "Wake Me When It's Over". The appendices are "Nuclear Target Areas Within the United States", "Fallout Pattern Data", "Expedient Shelter Construction", "The Kearny Air Pump", "Supplementary Medical Information", "Special Radiological Information", and "The Kearny Fallout meter".

Clayton's book reveals that nuclear conflict is possible because survival is unavoidable - that alone is incentive enough to read this book. The turncoats in Washington are itching to put Clayton's hypothesis to the test.

This is one of the best books on surviving disasters. The information is very well written, and covers all aspects of staying alive, and self sufficient in different scenarios. I enjoyed reading this book for its entertainment, and informative qualities.

If you are concerned about the possibility of any type of malfeasance befalling you and your loved ones this is the one of the first books you should read. It will give you a good background on how to deal with many issues you need to cover in order to survive: food & storage, selecting seeds and storage, planting, decontamination of people, food, & water. Security in the home, while in transit, defense of a fixed position, and things people often forget, like morale and fire safety, protecting communication devices from EMP.

The book even contains instructions on building air filters and pumps, and even Geiger Counters and Dose meters from house hold items. A must have for people concerned about the turbulent nature of the world today, or intellectuals who in joy learning for learning sake, this book is a must have for any collection!

Bruce Clayton's cold war vintage survival classic, Life After Doomsday, still makes worthwhile reading in the age of terrorist threats, North Korean ballistic missiles, Iranian nukes, and germ warfare. While some of the specific information, such as the location of counterforce targets (US missile and bomber bases)is out-dated, much of the insight remains valid. For the generation born after 1980, the book provides absolutely priceless perspective on the meaning of "The Cold War" and the risks faced by civilian and military alike during that era. The prospect of global nuclear war, a constant in the Reagan years, puts today's small scale terrorist threats into an entirely different perspective.

In fact Clayton remains one of the most concise, intelligent, and useful sources for any individual, family or group contemplating the dangers of contemporary life. It is a shame that Dr. Clayton, to date, has not applied his energy, intellect and unique insight to updating his work with information addressing the changes in the threat/probabilities along with the advances in technology useful in survival situations. It has been almost 25 years, the world has changed dramatically and we have had some new experiences from which to draw lessons. Come on Dr. Clayton, how about it! Until the 2nd edition is published, this is still about the best general source for contemporary survival advice available.

"The information in this book is suited for no other disasters than a minimal nuclear accident. The information is old., dated and poor."......As my Dad used to say, "Horse Hockey." This is just another person who has let the government "experts" convince him that since no one can survive a nuclear war, you should not try. The fact is, that many experts believe that surviving is possible. But on the bright side, since so many numbnuts will not even try, there will not be so many people driving slow in the left lane in the future.

From what I remember from reading Clayton's first book over 20 years ago I was disappointed this book does not talk about a clear 'enemy' like a nuclear detonation. That was what I was hoping for. The book says terrorism is a political tool used by ruthless people to build personal power. So America has (or at least the politcal leaders) have declared war on a political tool. Perhaps they should have read this book before going into Iraq in the name of a war on a political tool. The book is worth reading.

If you are looking for the answers to some of today's big questions, you will find them in Life After Terrorism. You will also find the details of how to enjoy a safer and less-worried life in post-9/11 America. For example, do you have a boogie bag ready to go? If not, Bruce Clayton will persuade you why you need one and what to put in it.
As an author and an editor I found this book to be an absolute joy to read. Several possible scenarios, the problems they present, and their solutions are laid out logically and clearly. I found myself checking my lifestyle to see how it compares with Dr. Clayton's suggestions for having a safer life after terrorism. His humor keeps the pages turning without letting you lose sight of the fact that the book is to be used as a tool to ensure your survival-in as much as anything can.
After reading the book, my only question was: Why can't we have someone like Bruce Clayton running our country?

It's another sick attempt to reap personal benefits by publishing a book, which contributes to the mad culture of fear, permeating American society of today. The author never mentions what are the chances, or what they've ever been, for an average American to die from an act of terror, in comparison to the chances of dying from other unnatural causes, such as domestic crime, automobile accidents, etc. Just today I've read that the authoritative JAMA claims about 250,000 Americans die every year as a result of medical malpractice. This means, about 600,000 died since 9-11-01, and how many books do we have on how to protect ourselves from bad doctors, poor hospital care, wrong medications, etc.?

I wonder, the American people gave up their Bill of Rights without any hesitation in an eyeblink, in exchange for some very vague, poorly defined promises of protection against the one hundred something cause of death. What would they give up for a promise to protect them, say from the number 25, or number 10 cause of death?

Keep studying garbage like this, great America! Stock up with gas masks, utility tapes, food, buy extra homes, the Enemy is sneeking up to your doorstep, while your Big Brother is watching you and getting even better deal than an eye for an eye overseas. This surely is making the world a safer place, America more loveable and may even extend your earthly existence by a few more cosmic miliseconds. Although that's highly unlikely, if you can think...

After terrorism came to America in 2001, there has been much talk about future attacks. What kind of person or group would do such a thing? What is a likely target? What form will it take? How can I protect myself? This book, written by a county assistant Emergency Services Director (the person who is supposed to know about such things) attempts to answer some of those questions.

The culprit could be nearly anyone. It could be a person with a grudge against a federal agency. It could be a fundamentalist religious group (of any religion). It could be a home-grown radical group from either side of the political spectrum. For some, the object is to hit a target of symbolic value (like the World Trade Center), while, for others, the goal is to inflict the maximum number of casualties.

The author also looks at the various substances that might be used in an attack. Nerve agents like VX and sarin make it impossible for nerve cells to transmit nerve impulses. Vesicants like mustard gas burn the eyes and skin and produce horrible blisters. Corrosive gases like chlorine inflame the lungs and airways. Also considered are possible bioweapons like anthrax, plague, smallpox and ebola.

There is no such thing as 100 percent total protection in case of an attack. Gas masks do not provide their own air supply, they only filter outside air. Even the best air filters will not remove all toxic spores from the air; for some toxins, all it takes is one spore in the lungs. That doesn't include the toxins that are absorbed through the skin. But there are many things to do to reduce the risk during an attack. Those who work in a big-city skyscraper could consider looking for a job in the suburbs, preferably west of the city (winds generally blow from west to east). If you live near a possible target, and moving is not an option, plan and rehearse what to do if the evacuation order is announced. At minimum, have a bag of things (canned food, battery powered radio, prescription medicine, etc.) packed and ready to grab at a moment's notice. At maximum, have a second house, fully stocked and livable, out in the country. Use secondary roads for your escape route; count on highway gridlock.

Those who want any chance to survive a future attack of any kind would be very well advised to read this book. The writing is sober, clear-headed and free of hysterics.

For those unfamiliar with Dr Clayton's research, this book is a companion to his previous work, Life After Doomsday. Both volumes are essential reference for anyone seeking the myriad and potentially catastrophic scenarios, both manmade and natural, facing modern civilization. In Life After Terrorism, Clayton presents a realistic if frightening view of the global threat posed by a multitude of terrorist acts. His in-depth discussion of exposure to various biowarfare agents is especially chilling. Following the common-sense suggestions in this book can increase your chances of survival in the event of a terrorist attack. Read it and be prepared!

I read tons of romance novels of all kinds, but this is the first one I've bothered to write a review for. No, I'm not that altruistic; I just really want Ms. Clayton to be able to keep publishing such wonderful books!

This novel is simply lovely. In these days where most "romances" are closer to soft-core, this book is truly romantic. One in which the hero and heroine have their issues, and yet, they treat each other well as they care for and about each other. This is a nice contrast to sniping, sarcastic characters. This doesn't mean it's boring - I couldn't believe how fast it read. If you want a story that will make you sigh contentedly when you finish, read this book!

In this beautifully written historical romance, reluctant pirate captain Edmund Gramercy and puritan spinster Mercy Penhall confess their love early on - to themselves and each other. They want with all their hearts to be together, yet each has reasons to believe the other would be hurt by the relationship, so they separate again and again.
But every time, fate steps in and throws them back together.
Edmund and Mercy meet when he and his pirate crew capture the ship she is traveling on. She expects to be raped or killed but Edmund proves to be not what he seems. Unbeknownst to his crew, he swears to keep Mercy safe until he can take her ashore to safety. She doesn't believe him at first, but he proves true to his word and Mercy starts to become as entranced with Edmund as he is with her. She finds she doesn't want to leave him and starts to wish to be taken to his bed.
Edmund is afraid to keep Mercy because of his bloody past and the possibly consequences it might mean for him, so he sets her free.
They're brought back together when Mercy hears the man she loves is in trouble and goes to his aid. Edmund sets her free again when that crisis is over. Months later, however, when he hears Mercy's life is in danger, he decides to go to her and claim her despite all risks. There are still obstacles to overcome, but fate, or perhaps God, keeps intervening until they find a way to hold on to each other.
In all, Edmund and Mercy spend more time apart during the course of the book than together. The story focuses mainly on their longing for each other. There are no steamy scenes, but the strong emotions of the characters makes up for the lack.
The only reason I didn't give this story 5 stars is because it took me a few chapters to get into it and parts of it seemed to drag on a bit too long. Overall, however, it was a very entertaining, sweet story and once I was hooked, I didn't want to put it down. This one is going on my keeper shelf.

For the mute spinster Puritan Mercy Penhall, losing her mother in a horrid manner was thought to be the worst nightmare of her life, until the ship she is traveling on is taken over by pirates. The beautiful Mercy has had a life of hardship and grief, paying for the sins of her mother and being shuffled from one relative to another, who do not want her for anything except to be a worker and nanny to their children.

Mercy is terrified and unable to express her fear to the handsome and hard pirate captain Edmund Gramercy, who has claimed her as his prize. But Edmund shows Mercy the meaning of her name, Mercy, and treats her with respect during her capture. As the days of the voyage go on, Edmund is drawn to this mute beauty and realizes in his situation, once a gentleman, forced to turn pirate, that he could never have a respected beauty as Mercy for his own. Mercy also begins to see the goodness in Edmund and for the first time in her isolated life falls in love. When Edmund allows her to escape for her own good, she returns to her spinster Puritan life, but this time changed, and longing for the arms and love of her Pirate, Edmund. In an exciting story that builds in intensity, as Edmund's and Mercy's love, the reader becomes captivated and enthralled in the substance of this story.

For those romance readers who enjoy pirate romances, do not overlook this one by Mary Clayton. Without one sexually explicit scene this author has the extreme talent to have sensuality ooze from page after page. It is a story with depth and well done historical research about the Puritan Religion, 1700's and the time of Queen Anne's war. A book to definitely put on your must read list!

Do the sins of our ancestors affect how we live? This is the question set forth in this period drama from author Mary Clayton.

I like reading about the romanticized pirate life that has been in the forefront of late so I thought it would be rather nice to see how a swashbuckling rogue of the high seas dealt with a Puritan instead of an English lass of the privileged class. Yes, I expected another of the historical romances that seem to populate bookshelves everywhere. What I found was a story of depth and intelligence.

The Puritan, Mercy Penhall, is not your typical romantic heroine. She is a mute who has been shuffled between the homes of various family members since the age of eleven when she witnessed her mother being hung for a crime she did not commit. This is a cross that Mercy feels she will bear her entire life. As she is being transported to the home of a step-brother in New England after having lived with an aunt who is being married, the ship she is on is captured by a pirate ship and she is taken prisoner. Again, as in most historical romances our heroine is bound with ropes and forced into the captain's cabin. In terror she waits for the arrival of the fierce looking man she met on the deck.

Enter our hero, Captain Edmund Grammercy. Not the flamboyant pirate of the Caribbean that one would expect but a tired, compassionate man who heads up the crew only because he knows how to navigate. Indeed, his only claim to staying alive is the fact that he has led the mangy lot of men who crew his ship to capturing lots of booty. When at last he spies Mercy cowering in a corner of his cabin (having forgotten entirely that she was there), he hastens to assure her that she will come to no harm if she does as she is bid. He tells her that he does not like to take women prisoners and will see that she is sent home, untouched by him or his crew, if she agrees to stay hidden in his cabin. True to his word, Edmund does eventually see to her release.

During their short time together, however, a bond is formed between Mercy and Edmund that each tries several times, albeit unsuccessfully, to break. Author Clayton draws two fully rounded characters in Mercy and Edmund showing us the depths of despair that each reaches while combating their personal demons. Indeed, at times I felt that these two would succumb to those demons and never reach the happy ending that they so richly deserved.

Worth mentioning are the supporting characters of Soulange and Richard. Their story of unrequited love forms a rich backdrop to the main story of Mercy and Edmund.

This is a well researched book providing many details in Puritan lives in the early New England Colony as well as life in the early settlements along the eastern coast of the United States. Although Ms. Clayton is native to Australia she does a wonderful job in giving the reader a feel for the New England area. It made this native New Englander feel right at home.

I give this book five stars for the quality of the characters, the originality of the plot, and the fact that I really cared about these characters. Great work Mary!

At a young age, Mercy Penhall witnessed her mother's hanging and has not spoken in thirteen years. While sailing from Virginia to Massachusetts, her ship is destroyed by pirates and she is taken captive. Edmund Gramercy, forced by the pirates to be a captain, remains alive only because he knows how to navigate the seas. A compassionate man, Edmund protects Mercy from the other pirates, and is intrigued by her courage. Although attracted to Mercy, he realizes he can never have any sort of life with her due to his criminal background. Mercy has never experienced the feelings she holds for Edmund and would like nothing more than to remain by his side but fears she is not worthy of his love. Edmund helps Mercy escape and, from that point, both endure numerous hardships while longing for one another. Yet fate steps in more than once to bring the two together, only to be torn apart again.

Mary Clayton's historical romance wraps the reader in an enthralling love story that moves from the high seas to colonial America. Clayton provides vivid detail of the time period with keen insight into the differences between the religious communities, the ongoing political strife, the way women were perceived, and the brutality of a pirate's life. Characterization is excellent, from Mercy, a brave, mute Puritan who questions her religion and fears she is tainted, to Edmund, a compassionate man forced to live a cruel existence, to John Hanson, the evil Puritan minister intent on exorcising the witch within Mercy. Packed with action and suspense, readers will fall in love with the characters and this excellent love story. Highly recommended.

There was never a dull moment. There is plenty of suspense to keep your attention throughout the story. What I didn't like about the book was how everything ended up playing out. I don't want to give any details of the story but I'll just say how things happened the way they did just didn't sit well with me. Also, the ending wasn't that good. Overall it's a good book. It's a quick read and will serve it's purpose to entertain. I recommend it.

Blaze is a top rap artist who is living on top of the world. Woman fall to feet. He loves it but his wife Toni doesn'y. On a fateful night at a hotel he is charged of rape and assualt of a young lady. Why wouls a star like Blaze need to rape a woman? Did he do it? Or is someone setting him up?
This book is great. You cant stop reading until you find out the ending. You are anticipating something your whole time reading this book. You will be amazed when you read the ending. The ending is why i gave it stars. You have no read this book, quick! All throghout the book i am on the edge of my seat.

Blaze is a top rap artist who is living on top of the world. Woman fall to feet. He loves it but his wife Toni doesn'y. On a fateful night at a hotel he is charged of rape and assualt of a young lady. Why wouls a star like Blaze need to rape a woman? Did he do it? Or is someone setting him up?
This book is great. You cant stop reading until you find out the ending. You are anticipating something your whole time reading this book. You will be amazed when you read the ending. The ending is why i gave it stars. You have no read this book, quick! All throghout the book i am on the edge of my seat.

Readers are really sleeping on Debra Clayton her stories are real although fiction. They make you really think you know the characters as well as the different states that she takes you in her novels. This novel was very good just like her first one Rap Superstar. I thought people didn't really support her first book because of the cover. Which like I always say you can't judge a book by it's cover. But this novel Fallen Star has a great cover and is an excellent novel of adultery, betrayal and REVENGE. Great Job Debra Clayton.

After years of hard work, Blayze hit the hip-hop scene, taking it by storm along with the number one spot on the hip-hop charts. Taking advantage of his overnight success and all that it afforded him, Blayze found himself feeling like nothing could touch him. Having attorneys that were paid to see to it that he evade the law and a record label that was interested in keeping the money flowing in their pockets, only fueled the fire and the persona of this well-known rapping genius.

In the meantime manager, Ethan Michaels, continued to run interference for him and comfort his wife, Toni, when Blayze was out doing what he felt he had the right to do because of his status. But as much as Toni loved her husband, there was only so much she could take. Having been there for Blayze from the inception of his career since they were both young teens, Toni deserved his respect. There was not enough money or material gain that would give Toni what she needed in her marriage love and appreciation.

Finally Blayze finds himself in a place that not even his high paid attorney can get him out of. As quickly as he rose, Blayze fell and this time he had to accept everything that went along with it and the irreparable change in his life.

Author Debra Clayton has written a story that will keep you turning the pages until the end, taking you behind the scenes of the rap hip-hop lifestyle to experience the ups and the downs of the industry.


Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
Apooo BookClub

Having worked at several Silicon Valley start-ups and with several visionaries, I can honestly say that innovation, especially the product and new market definition types, are somewhat easily arrived. However, once envisioned, most start-ups/visionaries fail miserably to execute. Visions without execution are just hallucination!

This book not only presents the what's and why's of innovation but also the how's. It details some solid guidelines for being fast and productive in an uncertain environment where disruptive innovations reign.

I would recommend reading this book along with the following books:
- Innovator's Dilemma, Clayton Christensen
- Innovator's Solution, Clayton Christensen
- Crossing the Chasm, Geoffrey Moore
- Inside the Tornado, Geoffrey Moore
- Harvard Business Review's Darwin and the Demon, Geoffrey Moore
- Execution: the Discipline of Getting Things Done, Larry Bossidy et al

At last! An authoritative source of step-by-step information that allows an organization to create what the title promises -- fast innovation. The instructions are crystal-clear and demonstrated with examples of recent developments at leading businesses. The writing is colorful and lively. Altogether, an essential resource for anyone responsible for organizational growth.

Growth through innovation is key to Eli Lilly and Company. To serve our commitment to meeting medical needs and achieve our growth goals requires more innovation, faster innovation and, at the same time, less resource consumption and risk. This book identifies some of the significant changes in strategy and tactics needed for an innovation process to achieve these goals. Every executive concerned with the changing business of innovation would do well to become familiar with the principles contained in this book." -ALPHEUS BINGHAM, Vice President, Strategy, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company

The last time I checked, Amazon and its online partner Borders offer more than 12,000 different books on the subject of innovation. Presumably this number will continue to increase as organizations become more actively involved with strategic planning in a global marketplace which relies so heavily on both technology and innovation.

What we have in this volume is a remarkably thoughtful, indeed rigorous and insightful discussion of how to achieve superior differentiation, speed to market, and consequent increased profitability. Those who have read any of George's previously published books (Lean Six Sigma, Conquering Complexity in Your Business, and Lean Six Sigma for Service) already know that he is an expert on both process simplification and process innovation. The former achieves incremental progress while the latter (with higher risk and higher reward) enables what George and other business thinkers refer to as "breakthroughs." Highly disruptive technologies, for example. The most effective organizations (e.g. GE, 3M, and Allied Signal) are committed to sustaining both process simplification and innovation.

The subject of speed has always intrigued me. The challenge, obviously, is to determine when to increase, decrease, or sustain it. Now more than ever before, organizations must be able to respond quickly to crises, opportunities, etc. However, as James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, and the Light Brigade demonstrated at Balaclava in 1854, when decisions are based on insufficient information and/or poor judgment, the results can be disastrous. Moreover, doing nothing or doing it too late can be just as dangerous as acting impulsively rather than rationally.

George, Works, and Watson-Hemphill carefully organizes their material within 15 chapters as they respond to a number of critically important questions which include:

1. What are the most significant benefits of fast innovation?
2. What is the process by which to design a fast innovation program?
3. What are the most effective strategies when implementing that program?
4. Which tools are most helpful during implementation?
5. What is an "innovation factory"?
6. How to establish an "idea-rich" workplace environment?
7. Within which process should fast innovation projects be deployed?
8. How best to measure project progress accurately?
9. What is the "FastGate Method" and how does it work?
10. How to create "innovation incubators"?

I especially appreciate the authors' probing analysis of several case studies (e.g. Eli Lilly, Home Depot, Intel, ITT Industries, and Procter & Gamble) to demonstrate their key concepts as well as to suggest how each reader can (with appropriate modification) apply those core concepts within her or his own organization. To me, some of the most valuable material is found in Chapter 4 when George, Works, and Watson-Hemphill examine "The Value of Thinking in Three Dimensions": product-service innovation, market definition innovation, and process/business model innovation. I agree with them that products and services such as Microsoft Windows and Voice-over-Internet-Protocol telephony are the cornerstones of most innovation programs, there are perhaps even greater opportunities in the other two dimensions, market definition innovation (which reflects the leverage possible from existing customer relationships) and process/business model innovation (which can create a competitive advantage that lasts longer than that from sustaining product or service innovations).

The key point is, that the most important breakthroughs in innovation are achieved by those initiatives which are multidimensional. George, Works, and Watson-Hemphill also note that "there are many companies that have maintained above-average growth without innovating a single new product or service but rather by exploiting the market definition, or process/business model dimensions of innovation."

As indicated previously, "fast" innovation does not mean hurried innovation. More often than not, as an ancient aphorism suggests, it is often prudent to "make haste slowly." Also, as the authors would be the first to point out, decision-makers in a given organization must decide to what extent (if any) activity in one or more of the three dimensions makes sense. Moreover, although George and his co-authors offer an abundance of information, observations, insights, and recommendations, it remains for each reader to determine which (if any) are appropriate to her or his organization's needs, interests, current and imminent circumstances, available resources, etc. This is not an "easy read." On the contrary, it requires but will generously reward a careful consideration of its contents. Credit George, Works, and Watson-Hemphill with a logical organization of their material, and, an eloquent presentation of it.

If you share my high regard for this book, I urge you to check out George's previously published Conquering Complexity in Your Business: How Wal-Mart, Toyota, and Other Top Companies Are Breaking Through the Ceiling on Profits and Growth and Lean Six Sigma for Service: How to use Lean Speed & Six Sigma Quality to Improve Services and Transactions.

Also, Clayton Christensen and co-authors' Seeing What's Next, Geoffrey Moore's Dealing with Darwin, Tom Kelley's The Ten Faces of Innovation, Yoram (Jerry) Wind and co-authors' The Power of Impossible Thinking, and Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble's 10 Rules for Strategic Innovators. One other suggestion: one of the most influential books ever written on the subject of technological innovation, Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology. It was first published in 1987 and, in certain respects, is even more relevant and more valuable now than ever before.

After finishing this book I thought my time was wasted. Actually I should have guessed from the jacket cover that this would be six sigma forced into the popular (an also lucrative) topic of innovation. The book did indeed trurn out to be just that. Hence, lack of coherence. The only useful part for me was the one on Re-Use, which I thought, was brilliant. This was a very good handling of an often neglected but very important issue. But apart from that the whole book could be squeezed into a little article and all the arguments made here could succinctly be made in only a few pages. If you are after a good book on implementation of innovation, I recommend "Making Innovation Work" by Tony Davila et.al. Fast Innovation will not provide answers to most of your questions.