F Books

This book is wonderful.
I did not know that the Germans were the first to use helicopters in combat in WW2 and not the Americans!
Now I know this as a fact!
And it is amazing that they flew public demonstrations of helicopters even before 1938, setting speed and altitude records! What amazing craft such as the Fl-185, FW-61, Fa-223, FL-265, FL-282 all flying years before Sikorsky!
And we here in America always assume when someone says "the first american to do something" it means the first person in the world to do something.


How amazing to find out that the Germans had operational combat choppers performing air-sea-rescues and submarine spotting in the Baltic before Sikorsky's craft had ever left the ground .
We in America are always so eager to claim we were the first at everything when after a little investigation it is so easy to find out that our common perceptions of History are mostly wrong.


How wonderful that this book clears up those kinds of misconceptions and sets the record straight, showing that the Burma rescue of 1944 came years after German helicopter rescues at sea. Wonderful to discover that air mobile operations and combat troop transport and transport of artillery and ammunition was carried out from huge twin rotor Focke Achgellis 223 choppers. They even airlifted whole airframes of downed fighter craft and heli airlifted a broken down Fieseler Storch observation plane back to base, something we couldn't do untill post war. They even airlifted light trucks by helicopter.
We always assume we were the first but we should know better.

But Hang on, are all these facts actually mentioned in this book at all, or am I getting confused with Steve Coates' book "Helicopter of the Third Reich"? Perhaps here again an American book about the American military is oblivious to the rest of the world and the priority of foreign achievements. If it didn't happen in America it didn't happen right? Read this book with awareness of those sorts of biases.

Although this book reflects considerable research there are glaring flaws in that research. It is confusing at times and poorly written, because it is full of typographical errors and conflicting and confusing data. I am intimately familiar with two of the stories related in this book and one of them is fairly accurate while the other one has many inaccuracies. I served two tours in SEA in Rescue helicopters and I know a thing or two about the subject matter. It could have been an excellent book if the author had hired a proof reader and considered finding more corroboration for some of the material. Otherwise, it is a great summary of the important role of helicopters in military aviation.

I've known Bob Dorr as a friend for about a decade or more. He and I both share a passion for aviation and aviation photography. Bob, however, goes beyond passion when he writes books. His unique ability is to write books that puts readers into the cockpit of helicopters or other aircraft. You feel exactly what other crews have felt while flying missions. Bob's amazing knowledge of aircraft and history and his dogged research makes for truely unique books.

I enjoy Bob's books and encourage others to try them out.

Dorr's "Chopper" belongs on the shelf of everyone interested in military aviation history and the men who were part of it. Dorr interviewed more than 75 pilots and crewmen and these individuals come to life as their remarkable stories are told in this very readable book.

"Chopper" is laid out chronologically. It starts behind enemy lines in Burma in 1944, when a young American pilot named Harman and a mechanic named Phelan flew a Sikorsky "R-4" helicopter on what was apparently the first ever U.S. military helicopter rescue. From here on out, the role played by "whirlybirds" in almost every major U.S. military operation is examined, including: air rescue missions during the Korean War, troop airlift operations in Vietnam, heliborne assaults in Afghanistan and helicopter attacks in Iraq.

I liked "Chopper" because it lets each pilot, mechanic, and crewman tell his story in his own words, and this makes for a readable, entertaining, and often exciting journey through history. All the services get their due as well---Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine helicopter pilots and aircrew are all part of Dorr's narrative.

From what I can tell, "Chopper" also is a true "first" in the history of book publishing: the first book to compile first-person accounts of helicopter pilots and crews who flew military rescue and combat missions; the first book to tell the comprehensive story of military helicopter operations from World War II to the current war on terror; and the first book to combine these personal histories with technical data on each helicopter flown or crewed.

General readers, amateur historians, and professional researches will find this book well worth the money.

I own and have read a number of books by military author and historian, Robert F. Dorr. Chopper is, by far, the best.

Starting with "eggbeaters" in Burma and continuing through the "snake" in Iraq, Dorr lets the pilots and crews tell their own stories. The stories include a father-and-son combination as well as the memories of fixed-wing aircraft pilots suddenly assigned to fly helicopters. As the pilots and crews recount their experiences, the humor of military personnel in tough situations spreads through the pages.

Dorr has amassed an amazing collection of photographs that accompany the narrative, making it easy and fascinating to follow the development of helicopters from 1945 to the present day. Chapter sidebars telling the reader who's who add to the readability.

This book is a pleasure to read. I recommend it without reservation.

A number of reviewers of this book have compared Benson's ghost stories to Montague Rhodes James - justifiably, since they were probably the two greatest Victorian authors of supernatural short stories after Sheridan LeFanu and Algernon Blackwood. But there are also differences, some subtle and some less so. For instance, James's stories, drawing heavily from his own experience, frequently have a whiff of the ecclesiastical or academic about them, while Benson's tend to center on the middle-class, often somewhat smug Englishman going about his daily routine with no greater concerns than what to have for dinner and what seaside resort to spend the summer in. James's supernatural creatures are almost always malignant and frequently solid, as in "Canon Alberic's Scrapbook" or "Mr. Poynter's Diary", while Benson's, while they can be heard, felt and occasionally smelt, tend to be more traditionally misty and sometimes more anguished than malevolent. As the useful introduction by Richard Dalby points out, the trademarks of Benson's stories (overbearing fathers, malice-filled women, men whose closest friendships seem to be with other men and for whom love of the opposite sex has disastrous consequences) tell us a great deal about him as a person, whereas about all one gets about James from his stories is that he had a great love of ancient manuscripts, was religious and was a profound scholar.

Another difference is that while James occasionally shows a bit of dry irony, Benson more clearly has a sense of humor. As other reviewers mentioned, he frequently inserts psychic interludes dealing with mediums, seances, and somewhat exasperated spirits, but he also points out that the mediums and seances depend on fraudulent tricks (especially in "Mr. Tilly's Seance," where the disembodied spirit itself gets irritated at the medium's chicanery). His attitude seems to be that mediums and spiritualists are less to blame than those who swallow their bait - if you want to believe that Aunt Martha has nothing better to do with her afterlife than answer your impertinent questions, he seems to say, don't ask me for sympathy! In stories like "Spinach," he betrays a clear affection for the likable young sibling mediums, even if they are clearly at least partly frauds. And in one of the book's most hair-raising stories, "How Fear Departed from the Long Gallery," centering on an ancient murder that will make any parent's skin crawl, he argues that the attitude of the other-worldly apparition may depend on how you approach it, not the other way around.

Having said that, the one thing James and Benson have in common that separates them from lesser hack writers is that in both cases, the persons who tell the story are likely to be pottering along in their daily lives, totally oblivious to signs of trouble, when something sudden and terrible comes out of the darkness and either almost overwhelms them and carries them off, or actually does so, never more terribly than in "The Face." For those whose acquaintance with Benson may be restricted to "Mrs. Amworth" and "The Man Who Went Too Far," both frequently reprinted in anthologies, this book will open up a whole new, and somewhat frightening, world.

Benson was a good friend of classic ghost-story writer M.R. James, and was among those present that Christmas Eve when James read aloud his first ghost stories.

Benson didn't have the genius or the highly literate background of James, but he did know how to write a good ghost tale, and he did just that. His stories, as has been mentioned elsewhere, deal largely with a man or two men going on holiday and finding horror instead. Women often get the worst of it in his stories, either being innocent victims or horrifyingly evil antagonists; it doesn't often happen that a woman in one of his stories is a regular person who helps to solve whatever mystery is entangling the characters.

One classic in the misogynist vein is "The Room in the Tower", in which a young man experiences a recurring nightmare of visiting a school friend, whose frightening mother always speaks the same words: "Jack will show you to your room; I've given you the room in the tower." Our protagonist knows that he must, at all costs, avoid that room, but he always awakes before the evil inside can overcome him.

"The Step" is one of the finest ghost stories ever written, about a heartless English businessman in Egypt who begins to hear someone following him down the street, at night... and what happens when he confronts his pursuer.

For those who, like me, love the ghost stories of the Victorian and Edwardian era, this is a must.

E.F. Benson, perhaps best known for his amusing 'Mapp & Lucia' comedy-of-manners stories also wrote a respectable body of ghost stories which are gathered together in this excellent omnibus anthology. All make for quality reading as examples of the English supernatural genre but a few stand out as darkly-luminous masterpieces, unforgettable in their haunting hold upon the reader and written with real verve. 'The Room In The Tower' is an undeniably chilling narrative of vampirism featuring a truly terrifying female revenant - the words spoken recurrently by Mrs Stone to the protaganist: "Jack will show you to your room: i have given you the room in the tower" are enough to instil a frisson of pervasive dread every time one reads this story. 'The Sanctuary' is a delectably macabre tale of damned souls and secret diabolism at an English country house complete with a hidden Satanic chapel for nocturnal celebrations of Le Messe Noir. 'The Man Who Went Too Far' unfolds by awful degrees the seductive but injudicious immersion of an artist in the deeps of nature mysticism which can only culminate in the most hideous revelation of truth and the sign of the cloven hoof - it is marvellously written, exquisite prose and descriptive passages and has a most beguiling undercurrent. 'The Cat' likewise is utterly engrossing and 'Mrs Amworth' stands as a unusual classsic of the vampire tale. But these are just a few of the delights this packed volume offers to the curious reader, there are many other marvellous tales to cause one to look over one's shoulder as the clock strikes twelve and a sighing midnight wind scrapes the twigs of an overhanging bough against the window. Quintessentially English, wrought with a delicious lightness of touch and a hint of a stylish insouciance but nevertheless conveying a genuinely disturbing charge of the uncanny these tales will be read again and again. E.F.Benson's contribution to the field of supernatural terror is of a very high standard. This anthology is well-worth obtaining.

I have been soaking up horror anthologies like a sponge for well over two years now. I would have thought I would tire of them, but I just can't get enough of the atmosphere and the gloom these types of tales relate.

My current favorite is this dense book compiling the supernatural tales of E.F. Benson. At the moment I am only about of a third of the way through. Perhaps I should wait until I finish, but judging by the variety of stories here, I feel safe to say that I highly recommend this hefty volume.

Many may find some of these tales a little dated, for science may have disspelled a few of the subjects covered. But for the most part these are timeless tales, rich in description, drenched in dark moods and never failing to surprise with the seemingly endless ways Benson appears to construct a solid ghost story cleverly and elegantly.

I'm not given to superlatives, but I find it hard to express anything to say about this book where superlatives or comarisons to the greatest writers of this genre without seeming trite. There ARE a few contemporary authors of the Victorian-Edwardian Era, which the Benson Brothers bridged, who have a story or even several better than many in this collection, but just mentioning these names says more about how great E.F Benson is- I'm talking about J.S Le Fanu, M.R James, Villiers D'Isle Adam and in the modern era, the list is even more impressive: Flannery O'Conner, Thomas Liggoti, Clive Barker, Issac Bashevis Singer and Peter Straub(who has quietly taken over the crown as America's Horror Short Story king with two masterpieces "Houses Without Doors", "Magic Terror" and several novellas masquerading as novels). I urge you to read E.F Benson's Book of Ghost Tales, then demand that some publisher do a public serviced and re-publish Benson's two nearly(?)as talented brothers R.H and A.C Benson who, from the few tales I've read in anthologies and old magazines may well be as good or,dare I say it?...even better.

Many texts are oblique and indirect, written so the author can be published. However,Mr. Gronbach's book is a fresh, well written guide to accurate market forecasting that gives the reader immediately useful ideas and methods. Application of his well presented, easily understood method enables products to be brought to the market to catch the crest of the selling wave. Product planning and distribution techniques become clear and sensible. I have not seen anything that is this useful. I recommend anyone in consumer marketing to digest this book..

This book is simply written and simply...very insightful! The basic, simple and very practical formula of supply and demand based on population growth is simply explained. This formula is very practical in almost everything and anything. What ever topic it is this common census rule should be apply with the expectation of great results.
In a nut shell....It makes Common Census!

This book hits the nail on the head. It catches you shaking your head thinking "why don't they teach this in college??" A "must read" for anyone in the business world and anyone who just wants to understand simple economics! Ken is as brilliant a writer as he is a public speaker!

This book contains a point of view that many businessmen dismiss, or don't even consider. It teaches business in a simple way and portrays it in a way that IS common sense. It has helped me to think about the big picture of business and consider why corporations fail and succeed. I would recommend this book to anyone because it is understandable and simple, yet thought provoking and complex.

Common Census is curiously simple, yet profound. If you sell anything, goods or services, this is a must read before ramping up. This study of generational populations reveals why the Ipod is a homerun, and the retirement community, as we know it, will fade away. This quick read has helped me define where the money won't be, and the best generation(s) to market to. You'll want to read it over again!
L.L.Bowden

Sionil Jose is one of many favorite fiction writers. The book on the Rosales' family saga as impacted by the Spanish-American war, politics, military duty, the clash of religion, asian and european culture are masterfully told in this book and series. It is at once a bittersweet yet glorious story of the depravity of humanity and strength-of-will to also rise above sorrow and hardship. Since the Philippines (named after King Felipe--aka anglicized Philip--of Spain)was discovered by Europe by Magellan in 1521, the european influence was rooted in the east Asian country for nearly nearly 380 years then almost 60 years by the U.S. The Rosales series is a fascinating look into the impact of societal/political/military changes upon the common people as seen through these complex fictional characters.

In this work, F. Sionil Jose writes a kind of folk tale, describing the long history of what could be his family. Istak, the main character is clearly styled to be the hero of the story, undergoing a development from self-centered scholar, then father of a family and barrio to becoming a true Filipino patriot who is willing to give his life for the nation. During this development, Jose shows the suffering of the poor people, from various oppressors, but much more intense than Rizal did. Where Rizal mentions an injustice that happens, Jose shows ist in all details. And he also shows the heroism of the poor people, and he makes clear that it is the poor people that matters when it comes to building a nation that deserves this name.
A must for every reader who wantsto know more about history and psychology of the Philippines, or respectively, all ex-colonized people.

I just couldn't get interested in the subject of this book or any of the characters. Reading it was like swimming in molasses. Perhaps it was the foreign setting that turned me off. The language was unremarkable. Obviously, I did not find in this book what the other reviewers did.

Dusk is a book about many things. Mainly, Dusk is about walking fine lines, choices, and a country founded on disunity.

Dusk is foisted as the opening novel of the Rosales Saga. The saga is a celebration of a sense of resilience against all kinds of adversity - mostly external. F. Sionil Jose starts as well as ends the saga with Eustaquio. The story begins with Eustaquio's meeting with Dalin - the enigmatic visitor. From outside research I am led to believe that the Rosales Saga is a story of 4 generations of a Filipino family - an Ilocano family. The lives of these "little people" become intertwined with the pantheon of heroes - in this book Eustaquio meets Apolinario Mabini and Gregorio H. Del Pilar. That may not mean much to non-Filipinos, however, to a farmer from Po-on that would mean a great leap in status. Although Emilio Aguinaldo is often mentioned he is never really seen or heard from.

Eustaquio and his progeny are entangled in the tumultuous history of the Philippines. The Philippines is a country that has seen no respite from the horrors of colonial incursion. With the initial salvo by Ba-ac (Eustaquio's father) the brood of tenant farmers is compelled to leave the village of Cabugaw. Seeking refuge from the "guardia civil" a local gendarmerie organized under the auspices of the Spanish colonial with a contingent of local soldiers. Eustaquio and his ilk find solaces in a small town called Rosales - under the protection of a landowner called Jacinto. Jacinto reminds Eustaquio of a kindly priest who served as his Svengali - a Padre Jose. However, Eustaquio never really gets to reconcile the two. The group settles and works hard - somewhat romantizing the legendary Ilocano work ethic. The group has a chance at a new start. Inevitably, they are once again dragged in to the ravages of war.

Contrary to what the publisher and other critics have suggested - Dusk is no place near Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude." It could be argued that the Saga may be more akin to Victor Hugo's Les Miserables - where the main characters perform an criminal act but it is assumed with just intent and a hand forced. Jose is wonderful about the pastoral depictions of an innocent group of people just trying to get away from all the hustle and chaos of the colonial ear. As much as I too was attracted to the pastoral, well wishful thinking does not really breed results. I was drawn in by the personal nature of the descriptions - we even become intimately acquainted with Kimat - Eustaquio's horse (actually Jacinto's horse). Jose treats the subject with as much deft and sensitivity that a person with regional loyalties has.

Despite the call for a unified Philippines, the Tagalog hegemony is questioned (and this is a good thing). However, the constant references to the differences between the regions - about Ilocano discipline juxtaposed against "self-indulgent and lazy" (265) folks from Pangasinan. Well, yes, Jose becomes self reflective that this kind of generalizations are detrimental: "It is not right-attributing inborn faults and virtues to people" (265) - the problem is the stigma sticks. Best not to valorize nor vilify any group in particular, I argue. Although it is a problem with us Filipinos - we do this sort of petty stuff - we will never be able to "trust our own people, their judgment, if we are to build a nation." (289). Even Jose and I are on the same page on this one - by waxing sentimental (sometimes overly) about alleged Ilocano discipline - he effectively "outs" the rest. Mind you, I don't have the final say on this - you the reader will have to make up your own mind. No matter what, I highly recommend this read to anyone who wishes to get a grip on the Filipino angst.

Miguel Llora

What a wonderful book! As soon as I read the opening pages of the novel, I was hooked, couldn't put it down. I sometimes forgot I was turning pages. The vivid characters, the sceneries, the events, the history, Filipiniana..I was awestruck with to learn about my roots. Growing up in the US, I rarely had the chance to read about Philippine history. This book opened up so much for me. All my five senses were in use at almost every page. F. Sionil Jose can really weave a tale, a writer par exellance. I quickly bought the sequels to this opening "Rosales" saga and am looking forward to reading them. I am sure they are just as captivating. Maraming salamat po (thank you very much) to Mr. Jose and to the publishers.

From Pareto's Principle (the 80-20 rule) to grade engineering and "the magical hook," Andrew successfully demystifies the college application and scholarship process - then shows you how to beat it. Through real-life examples and humorous anecdotes, Mr. Knight easily displays how the average, every-day student can turn himself into the quintessential college admissions dream candidate. His practical advice to take an active role in what matters most to you, while reducing effort on non-essential activities clearly encourages one to live a happy and productive life while attaining his goals of low-cost and top quality higher education. Kudos to Andrew for composing such a unique and powerful perspective on how to really make your own way!

Knight clearly knows what he's talking about, having been through the process at several of the best schools in the country. His advice is clear, easy to follow, and makes good sense. I really appreciate his advice for students who may not be A grade-wise but who are driven and have other skills to offer--Its refreshing that he addresses the value of this and how to high light it to get noticed, and more importantly, accepted.

Highly recommended!

This book is a gem! Andrew Knight's ideas for creating a "hook" are both practical and achievable. The fact that many of the "hooks" are based on his own background should encourage readers to examine their own experiences
to see how they can be used on a college application. I wish this book had been around when I was a school counselor!

Mary T. Richardson M.Ed

Let me start of with a couple of points of critique. Some of the ideas are slightly debatable. For instance, in Chapter 3 on the `Hook' more value is placed on activities that are not time-consuming than those that actually take up time. Does the experience of being involved not count for something? While this question is answered (p. 123) with the advice to pursue a cause "even if it takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears," the book seems to contradict itself at least slightly on this point.

Chapter 2 on grade engineering also poses an issue. On page 48, the advice is given that if a student has a 98% average in English he should begin submitting C quality work. This seems to contradict earlier statements on page 23 about doing outstanding in select classes in order to receive excellent letters of recommendation. If one partakes in true grade engineering achieving the minimum it takes to receive an A, how can one impress those who are in a position to write a letter of recommendation?

Setting aside my knit-pickiness, all-in-all this book provides EXTREMELY valuable insight not only on winning scholarships and getting into the school of your choice, but on life in general. I have recently completed a bachelor's degree and wish that I had my hands on this book as a high-school freshman so that I would not currently have thousands of dollars in student loans. As a self-acknowledged perfectionist, Andrew Knight's book has truly led me to think more deeply (and even philosophically) about why I work so hard to be an overachiever and why I should instead be an "opti-achievier," putting focus on only the worthiest and most interesting activities. While this book is intended for students or parents of students, I personally feel that there are lessons provided that could seriously benefit anyone who reads this piece of work.

I met Andrew while I was an undergrad at MIT (he was a grad student) and can personally vouch for his credentials and experience.

I think Mr. Knight does a great job in this book because he takes a very fresh approach to getting into a great college and getting a lucrative scholarship. Knight tells students to focus on activities which add value and make you "stand out of the crowd", rather than the 100 standard things good students do in school. He really approaches the problem of building a great academic resume as a businessman -- he suggests that you can maximize a scarce resource (your time and attention) by focusing on unusual, high-profile, and unique activities.

Another interesting angle of the book is that it makes arguments and attempts to persuade the reader through rational argument, rather than fiat argument. If you have a smart high school kid, he or she will really appreciate the adult tone the book takes when suggesting different plans for achieving academic success. If you're a parent with a younger child, this book will make sense to you and will convince you that Knight is right.

In retrospect, I really wish I had this book when I was in high school. I spent a lot of time doing marginal activies (National Honor Society, humdrum community service, etc) and was generally really stressed out. I'm sure I could have spent my time much more effectively. I think kids today are under too much pressure to do too much stuff. This book can help you have academic success and enjoy your life at the same time.

This book arrived in great shape and in a very timely manner. Like all his books, Stanley writes so the average person can understand fully.

The whole theory of God is in control of every single thing amazes me. Is He is control of the abortionist hand as he rips the baby from the womb? Free will is a part of this world. So I suppose most would say when someone dies at an early age the old adage of "well, it must have been Gods will" tell that to that persons children, that will really help out in their relationship with God. People wake up, quit giving credit to God for things that we as humans have goofed up ourselves. Everything that happens doesn't mean it is Gods will just because it happened and He didn't stop it. Was it His will for the abortion law to pass? No, because that would go against His word, but it did pass didn't it? So what happened? We as children of the most high God have a responsibility to utilize the weapons of warfare He left us such as His and The Holy Spirit. We need to rise up and come against such tragedies in prayer and stop giving God credit for bad things in our lives. Satan is the one who comes to kill steal and destroy....Not God. Read john 10:10 satan and God are not co-conspirators working togethor to refine our character and teach us lessons etc read eph 4:11 If God is in total absolute control of every little thing, then He's not doing such a great job is He? This world is full of a lot of bad things and I refuse to believe God is up and heaven and is controlling the shooter and he kills kids in a school...makes no sense. Anyway I would recommend reading the b ook :God is not your problem" by Billy Joe Daughtery It addresses many things such as the sovereignty of God etc amazing book in my opinion...

This book is helpful and wonderful in reminding us that God is in control of every situation. The photography throughout the book, which was done by the author, is also a beautiful reminder of God's magnificence in the world. The book is easy, quick reading but still has a powerful, profound message to deliver. I recommend this book for everyone.

Rover1 asks in his/her review if " God is in control of the abortionists hand as he rips the baby from the womb". The way he/she structured the question reminds me of the old Groucho Marx joke " have you stopped beating your wife?" It is a "no-win" question, and reveals Rover's misunderstanding of Christian theology.. If you say "yes", then God becomes an accomplice to murder(abortion). If you say "no", then God has no control. The question should be: Is it within God's will that the abortionist be given the opportunity to abort the baby?' This places the guilt on the proper shoulders ( the abortionist's) , but still recognizes God's omniscience/omnipotence. God does not want the abortionist to do it, but gives him the free will to make that choice. Of course, the abortionist must answer for his evil actions later, but that's a whole different theological topic.
Hope this clears up Rover's bad theology.

This is a wonderful book that just opens up some insight into the reality of our relationship with God. He is so great and yes in the end He really does have all control if we just allow it

This book made me sad. Because it is so well-written about subject matter that was beyond my belief, I have been shaken out of my idylls. Worse still it is so well documented that every item can easily be looked up and confirmed.

What brought me to this book was my reading in German the book by Murat Kurnaz, "Five Years of My Life: An Innocent Man in Guantanamo" in July of 2007. Not a detail of the legal matters mentioned by Margulies is in conflict with Mr. Kurnaz's first-hand account of his experiences as a prisoner. Margulies' book should be required reading for every Congressman and Senator in Washington, DC. I will not be able to rest now until justice is meted out to those who have committed such horrendous crimes against humanity.

Mr. Margulies and Mr. Kurnaz point out that "harsh interrogation" is far more than "water-boarding." Mr. Kurnaz was physically picked up and his head was placed under water while he was punched and kicked in the stomach. He was suspended from the ceiling for days, until he passed out. US physicians attended him, not to give relief from his suffering, but to keep him alive for more torture. He witnessed prisoners killed by US torture.

Margulies' book is an opportunity for education. May we all be better educated.

The author was the lead counsel for Rasul and other detainees in the noted Supreme Court case of 2004, Rasul v. Bush. The question in that case underlines the whole bitter debate with the Bush Administration: whether detainees at Guantanamo have the right to challenge their indefinite detention in a fair way. The other big issue in this book involves torture and how the detainees are treated.

The author notes that the United States has always been at the forefront in upholding the Geneva Conventions. Even during the Korean War when the North Koreans treated American POWs barbarically, the U.S. upheld the Conventions. Even during the unconventional Vietnam War when the Viet Cong did not wear uniforms and hid among civilians or when American fliers were tortured in North Vietnam, the U.S. honored the Conventions. According to the Red Cross everyone in enemy hands has some status, either as a POW under the Third Convention or as a civilian under the Fourth Convention. In the past the U.S. has served as a model in upholding these laws of war and had until recently established the moral high ground in the face of lawless torture around the world.

Bush keeps insisting to the American people: "We do not torture." He is not lying according to the narrow definition established in the Justice Department's legal opinion known as the "torture memo" by Yoo and Bybee, and subsequent revisions to that opinion. The author notes the veil of secrecy over the inner workings of Guantanamo, the careful screenings given to visitors, but Time Magazine obtained leaked records concerning the interrogation logs of Mohammed al-Qahtani, which reveal the kind of methods used: solitary confinement, sensory overload, induced hypothermia, sleep deprivation, various devices used to cause severe disorientation, various forms of humiliation; in other words, a systematic breakdown of the human personality, a psychological assault that can be done without laying a hand on the prisoner, intended to lower the detainee not just to the sub-human level but even to the sub-animal level (the chilling comparison by the interrogator to banana rats). The question becomes what else would be found if other interrogation logs were made available.

Secretary Rumsfeld referred to the detainees as "the worst of the worst." But are they really? Beyond the locked gate of national security, the author refers to numerous voices from the military and intelligence services who state that only a minority of the detainees have yielded intelligence of any significant value, that there have been "no big fish", that the majority were "dirt farmers from Afghanistan", or in the case of the author's clients, impressionable youth who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The author notes that only 5% of all detainees were captured by Americans. The rest were rounded up by the Northern Alliance or by war-lords who were more interested in settling scores. The roundup was made even more of a farce by a Defense Department campaign to distribute leaflets offering a bounty for any terrorist.

In response to the Supreme Court's decision in Rasul for judicial review of Guantanamo detainees, the Administration undertook to set up CSRTs (Combatant Status Review Tribunals) in order to determine whether a detainee is an "enemy combatant". But the CSRTs have been so skewed in the interest of national security that evidence is withheld and charges are often hidden in a farcical way. The detainees are also prevented from presenting evidence or testimony unless it is "reasonably available". An example of the absurdity of this process is an exchange quoted here from the petitioner Ait Idir, a petitioner in the forthcoming Boumediene v. Bush Supreme Court case, in which the name of the accuser, an alleged al-Qaeda operative, is not named for security reasons.

The author describes the outlandish charges made against his client Mamdouh Habib from "confessions" he gave after his rendition to Egypt to be tortured. Fortunately for Habib, when they tried to render him to Egypt for a second time, the lid of secrecy was blown off by the press, and he was released without any charges and flown back to his home in Australia after three years of incarceration.

This book deserves a much wider audience. No matter how bad you think things are in Guantanamo, this book makes clear that the reality is ten times worse. Margulies is extremely knowledgeable about the issues, and he's a fine writer. It is hard not to feel ashamed -- and outraged -- by the injustices that are occurring under our flag. Let me add that I do not know (and have never met) the author, Joseph Margulies.

One of the few books I've read about any controversial topic that resists the temptation to start name-calling, insult-slinging and obvious political agendas.

Dr. Margulies succeeds in explaining legal arguments in a way that is engaging and not condescending. He addresses every question you could have about torture and then some. He does something many authors fail to do: he argues his point in a greater context than the argument itself. That is to say, anyone can argue torture in the context of laws or the Geneva Convetions. Dr. Margulies goes further and discusses torture in the context of security for civilians and soldiers and foriegn policy, and then also provides the background for the writing of the Geneva Conventions and why we have refrained from torture in the past.

Absolutely enlightening.

Robert McNamara noted (about WWII), "LeMay said if we lost the war that we would have all been prosecuted as war criminals. And I think he's right. He... and I'd say I... were behaving as war criminals." No question that the only thing that keeps Bush, Rumsfeldt, etc. out of jail is that fact that they are protected by our country's hard to challenge power. If we were a broken power rather than a great power, it seems certain that someone would try to lock them up.

This book confirms that many laws, national and international, regarding torture, detention, and so on have been willfully violated. It is a compelling and disturbing story. And the final chapters are still to be written.

An excellent book with good advice. Makes a wonderful gift to lady friends. Enjoyable and fun to read.

This little book packs a powerful punch of must know information. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women. Prevent or delay being a statistic. Have a glass of red wine, munch on some dark chocolate while enjoying this great book. Buy several and give as gifts to the special women in your life. Of course, don't forget to include a bottle of wine and chocolate!

I have spoken to many women who are ready to make changes in their lives, but need a strategy, and Deborah gives us a road map. Uncomplicated and fits in to most lifestyles.

I love this book because it is full of helpful information but is also well-organized and easy to read. It is organized into 100 practical tips that are easy to understand and implement. It is full of good advice, written by a woman to address the unique health issues of women.

As a heart patient and coordinator of support groups for other female heart patients, I love this book! Instead of dwelling on what we CAN'T have and what we MUST do, Debora Yost presents her 101 tips as gifts we can give to ourselves. Also, her research is sound and up-to-date, and I like the idea of incorporating one new tip into my life each week. If you have heart disease, get this book as a gift to yourself. If you know a woman with heart disease, buy it for her!

I borrowed this book from my local library and looked through it and realized that I had to have a copy of my own. It is a book with very clever ideas on using kitchen equipment, fruits, veggies, you name it. It even has answers to questions that I've always wondered about like.....Why will potatoes and onions spoil more quickly if you store them together?

I like to cook more now because I'm more informed about foods, utensils and equipment. This would be a great wedding shower gift for any young woman starting her own family and who isn't very experienced in the kitchen. I don't know if it would be useful for more experienced cooks because I'm not one. Hopefully that helps.

I've been cooking for more years than I like to count, but this book gave me a lot of tips I never came across before, plus a handy color photographic section on de-shelling lobsters and shrimp and pitting various fruits. However, the tip on shelling hard boiled eggs, one of my cross-eyes bears, didn't work for me. For any home cook, though, this is wonderful recreational, as well as useful, reading.

I love to pick this book up and just read a few pages (I always learn something!) It has also helped me several times when I had a question about how to keep something fresh or how I can substitute ingredients. I gave it to one of my best friends for Christmas and she was thrilled. I have to admit that I am a great fan of Fine Cooking magazine and cookbooks.

This is a must have book for even a professional chef / cook. It is filled with all kinds of great tips that I doubt even a master chef knows.

This book is great. I've learned so many things just from this book. This book contains tips and things you'd learn from like your grandmother or mother, things I wasn't taught. It has helped me improve my skills in the kitchen and I've only had this book for a short while!

It gets parked in the kitchen nexts to my "culinary bible" The Food Lover's Companion, which is a special section in my house. Not many books have made it it there, so far theres only three total.

Leigh Branham has done an admirable job writing a practical manual for keeping good employees. I believe any employer will find scores of proven tactics they can apply at once. As Joe Bosch of Pizza Hut says: "If a company implemented just four or five of these practices, they would be significantly better at retaining talent." Gee. Making more money because your employees are motivated. What a concept.

Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)

I read the book as part of an MBA mid-term project and would recommend this to any line manager or human resource practitioner who wants real, proven ideas and thoughts about attracting, retaining and developing quality employees. The book is very well structured and easy to read, yet a no-nonsense approach and in depth look at retaining valuable people.

Finally an employee retention resource from an outstanding consultant that combines practical step by step instructions with theory AND excellent examples from top companies. Keeping outstanding employees should be a top priority for every business, but unfortunately retention often runs a distant second to recruitment. Leigh Branham takes the mystery out of keeping top employees by providing business owners, managers and consultants proven retention tips. After introducing each retention practice, Leigh provides a questionnaire to evaluate your company's effectiveness. Plus the appendix is filled with surveys, checklists and evaluations you can start using today! As a consultant and coach, I am using Leigh's material with companies and individual clients and getting excellent feedback.

Keeping the best employees is a goal that is not often met in today's changing and fluid new economy. Leigh Branham introduces four key strategies designed to help an organization keep the employees it wants. These solid practices are designed to have a positive impact on an organization's best workers by increasing motivation, performance and satisfaction. These four key points are organized in parallel with an employee's life cycle in an organization:

Key #1: Be a company people want to work for.
The leadership of the organization must create an environment where three essential elements are put into place: adopt a "give and get back" philosophy, measure what counts and pay for it, inspire commitment to a clear vision and definite objectives.
Key #2: Select the right person in the first place.
Poor recruiting decisions today result in the poor performers of tomorrow. An organization must claim responsibility for recruiting to ensure it not only chooses the right candidate, but also stays connected to the external business community, and thereby having access to the full diversity of the talent pool.
Key #3: Get them off to a great start.
Knowing that between 50 and 60 percent of employees change jobs within the first seven months, it is seasoned experienced manager and leaders that focus on this critical period to the organization keeps its best employees. The keys elements during this period: communicate how their work is vital to success, get commitment to a performance agreement, and give autonomy and reward initiative.
Key #4: Coach and Reward to maintain commitment.
To sustain an employee's commitment to the organization, his relationship with his manager is a critical element. It is said that 50 percent of satisfaction at work is determined by an employee's relationship with his or her manager. Managers should: proactively manage the performance agreement, recognize results, and give employees tools to take charge of his or her career.

If at all possible, this book should be read in combination with Branham's subsequently published book, The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave: How to Recognize the Subtle Signs and Act Before It's Too Late, and preferably read first. That is desirable but not imperative. Either book can firmly stand on its own merits and both are "must reading" as competition for talent becomes increasingly more aggressive. That said, the subtitle of this earlier book correctly indicates what it provides: "24 ways to hang on to your most valuable talent." Branham carefully organizes his material within eleven chapters and focuses on four "Keys," providing with each several "retention practices." Too many business books are bloated with theory but wholly impoverished in terms of practicality. For that reason, I commend Branham on the fact that he devotes most of his attention to explaining HOW to establish and then increase the appeal of an organization that people want to work for, how to hire the right people in the first place, how to get new hires off to a great start, and how to use effective coaching and appropriate rewards to sustain their commitment. Well done!