John Books

Havnt quite finished reading but this is an interesting journal of the events experienced, people encountered and travels of Mr. Stephens as he visits Central America.

This is a Must read for anyone with even a passing interest in the mayan culture. Still easy to read even though it was written over 150 years ago! Imagine you are one of the first explores to adventure into the the jungles of the Yucatan and vist the ancient cities hidden in the jungle. I wish I had read this book before My trip to the Yucatan, would have made my trip that much more enjoyable! The Catherwood engravings are spectacular!

I realize that not everyone shares my taste in literature, but if you are an armchair adventurer (or a real adventurer) with a refined sense of humor, I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this book, as well as Volume II. Many evenings, after a grueling day in the office, John L. Stephens transported me to another place and time with his excellent gift for writing, eye for detail and sense of humor that frequently had me waking my poor spouse with irrepressible laughter. As an author, explorer and humorist with the subtlest of wits, I place Stephens in the ranks with Mark Twain, and that is the ultimate compliment. Enjoy.

I think this book is fascinating for two types of people:
- Those who are interested in the history of Central America, who will see in Stephens a witness of time
- Those very familiar with Central America's geography (specially Guatemala's), who will enjoy reading Stephens' descriptions of many places that (in their majority) still exist

In 1839, at 34, John L. Stephens was appointed as "United States Minister" - a sort of US envoy - for Central America (which at the time was still one country). Stephens was a serial traveler: 5 years ago, he had visited Eastern Europe (Greece, Turkey, Russia and Poland) and the Middle East (Egypt and Syria), and had already published a couple of books about these trips.

Stephens decided to combine his diplomatic duty with his interest in searching for Mayan ruins in the region. By October, he embarked with his friend Frederick Catherwood (another extensive traveller) in a trip that would take them to what was (already) a politically convulsed region.

At the time, Central America was filled with political turmoil. The largest state of the country, Guatemala, had basically fallen in the hands of Rafael Carrera, a non-educated peasant. Carrera refused to recognize the authority of Francisco Morazán who, based in San Salvador, was at least in theory, the President of the Central American confederation. Rumours, political intrigues and suspicions abounded at the time.

And so, in this setting, Stephens got into a boat, and after a few days in Belize, travelled (by boat again) to the Caribbean shore of Guatemala. He entered the country through Rio Dulce and touched land in a small village in the shores of the Izabal Lake.

Starting there, Stephens made a trip, generally by mule's back, that took him to Zacapa, Chiquimula, Copan (in Honduras), Esquipulas, Guastatoya, Guatemala City (already established by then where it is now), Antigua Guatemala, Escuintla, Iztapa (in the Pacific shores) and Amatitlán. He later took a boat and went to El Salvador, and then to Costa Rica, where he disembarked and returned to Guatemala by land.

Apparently, Stephens was one of the first "adventure tourists" of modern times. He ascended many volcanoes and spent a considerable time in Copan, cleaning up the forrest that was still covering the ruins and helping his friend Catherwood to draw reproductions of the ruins (these drawings are included in the book). In addition, and as part of his diplomatic duties, he met some of the leading political figures of the time, like Carrera himself.

Stephens not only did all the above, but ended up writing a very nice and enjoyable book that describes very well what he saw and thought at the time.

In short, this book is a rare jewel that allows the reader to better imagine how was life and nature in Central America in the middle of the XIX century.

(Note: the review above is based on Volume I - a book that curiously did not exist in Amazon's inventory at the time of my reading in 2005. Being respectful of my own past review, I havent' changed it. The next paragraphs though, are 2007 additions in which I comment on Volume 2)

If the reader enjoyed Vol 1, she/he will surely find Vol 2 a satisfying read. Vol 2 starts in Nicaragua, and continues in El Salvador, where Mr Stephens continues in his search of a Central American government. I will not delve into the details of all of Mr Stephens' adventures. Suffice it to say that he gets to meet the recently defeated Francisco Morazán, meets Rafael Carrera (again), travels through the Guatemalan western highlands, gets to know the story of the Los Altos state, crosses the border to Mexico, visits Palenque and Uxmal, finally returning to the US.

Its particularly interesting to read Stephens' account of Carrera and his young government. The fact that Carrera was even known at the time as the King of the Indians is an interesting point to notice -any reader knowledgeable with Guatemala's history and societal dynamics could extrapolate this to many events of the past 50 years.

Also interesting is Stephens' rebuttal of previous accounts regarding the difficulty of visiting ruins like the ones in Palenque. The more widely known stories at the time created the impression that visiting the ruins was full of dangers. Always the practical and matter-of-factly adventurer, Stephens bluntly says that they are (were) untrue, and that the greatest hardships he and Mr Catherwood endured were due to the unstable revolutionary state of the countries.

If the reader is interested or has knowledge of archaeology, he/she must also know that Vol 2 has plenty detailed descriptions and diagrams prepared by Mr Catherwood (who in my opinion was a very gifted artist, being able to draw the intrincated details of many Mayan ruins).

I strongly recommend Vol 2 to anyone interested in Central American history, archaeology, the mayans, or true old-fashioned adventure travel.

This is a must read for any one with an interest in the ancient Mayan culture an ruin sites. the other reviewers have summed this book up great, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

This (and Vol. 2) are both really good books that anyone with an interest in mathematics should own. Is it as good as Apostol's two volumes (Tommy I and II)? No. Is it as good as Spivak's "Calculus"? No. But it is still very good because the exposition is wonderful. I own both volumes and am glad - but if you only want one Courant book, please buy "What is Mathematics".

Those books (volumes 1-2) can be seen as a new edition of Courant's classical Differential and Integral Calculus, volumes 1-2 (that can still be used for general calculus courses). The first volume was written while Courant was still alive, and the second was postumous. I believe that they are the best work to start understanding analysis. Indeed, for the general scientist (as a physicist) it contains all the theory needed for any application. The book is not easy reading though. Much of the text can be understood on first reading, but there are pretty profound sections, mostly on the appendixes, that turn the book genuinely onto a book of analysis. The second volume requires some mathematical maturity, and I doubt whether it is suitable for beginners, but it is simply the best book of multivariate calculus that I know - and it is really difficult to think of a better presentation. Courant was a giant, and his concept of mathematics shines in every page of those books (although he did not see the publication of the second volume, his hand can be seen in every page). For the serious mathematician, a must-have. For the beginner, the best way to get in love. Courant and John don't lie, they give every proof and guide you most gently in this complicated garden called mathematics. I'd give it aleph stars if it was possible.

Springer have reprinted the original 1960s Wiley editions of "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis" volumes I and II by Courant and John in three new volumes under their "Classics in Mathematics" title: "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis I (pages 1-661)" (ISBN: 3-540-65058-X), "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis II/1, Chapters 1-4 (pages 1-542)" (ISBN: 3-540-66569-2), and "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis II/2, Chapters 5-8 (pages 543-954)" (ISBN: 3-540-66570-6). The back section of Volume II/2 (pages 821-939) has solutions to the exercises in both the books comprising volume II, that is "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis II/1" and "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis II/2".

Note that when Volume I of the original Courant and John "Introduction to Calculus and Analysis" was published in the 1960s by Wiley, an accompanying solutions manual for Volume I was prepared by Prof. Albert A. Blank. When Volume II was published by Wiley, Prof. Blank's solutions were incorporated into the back of Volume II (in other words, Volume II comes with the answers to the questions at the back of the book... or in the back of Volume II/2 in the case of this Springer "Classics in Mathematics" reprint.) However, the Springer reprint of Wiley's Volume I lacks solutions to the exercises in the textbook.

If you buy Volume I, do a check on the Internet for an old 1960s copy of Prof. Albert Blank's "Problems in Calculus and Analysis", which is the original solutions manual to Courant's Volume I.

This is a rewrite of the great book by Courant, and it does justice to its origin. I prefer the somewhat more charming original book of Courant myself, but I have taught from this one too and learned something more.

Since the original Courant costs $120 for the 2 volume set, this volume at $33 is a bargain, so snap it up. This is 10 times as valuable as most current $130 calculus books.

I give 5 stars to this book because in contrast with the majority of the calculus textbooks it gives the reader the perfect combination between rigor and intuiton. Another thing that I also like a lot is the fact that volume 2 has solutions to almost all the excercises, which is great because some of the problems are very difficult. I really think this book is a "must have".

This book is a great book for people of all experiences in Network Marketing. The stories and the information are not only inspirational but educational.

Like John Milton Fog I am a professional network marketer and I believe that "Readers are Leaders" and that's what I'm always looking for - Leaders. In Network Marketing you have to give first -- then you receive! Sign up for the www.TwentyDollarRetirementPlan.com and I will have BORDERS send you a FREE copy of It's Time...For Network Marketing. Learn from 52 of the best Networkers in America. Buy the book or get if FREE from me. Either way - you win.

I truly believe this is a must read for anyone looking to make a difference in their lives and others. John Milton Fogg has assembled a remarkable group of people to tell the story of this industry. Anyone who reads this will find something and/or someone they can relate to. It is in the top four of my favorite books to read and one I will reread often.

This book is a gift from John Milton Fogg. It has all of the best in the business in one book. If you do not understand or learn MLM after reading this book, you had better find another career. It is fabulous. The information that I got from this book is the best upline any networker could possibly have. It is more like an encyclopedia of network marketing. Anything you want to find out is right in the book. I highly recommend it for any newby or someone that is just plain lost about how to do MLM. It is like a menu of delicious entres. Just chose what can work for you. It satisfied my appetite.

If the general public would read, or even scan the stories in this book, it would change the reputation of Network Marketing. It makes so much sense. The problem is, most people just don't know how to run a business and so they never see success in Network Marketing or any other business.

I personally know several of the authors and they really are "the real deal". I enjoyed reading their stories in addition to the Big Names in NWM world. We need more true stories of successful Network Marketers. We don't need more "Experts" who have never been successful marketers.

This important book reveals another dimension to Tolkien that remains obscured by his monumental storytelling. Tolkien was gifted with a many-sided creativity, as most artists are, and his visual creativity casts as vivid a vision of re-enchantment as his written work.

This book is much better than I thought it would be. Mostly I was curious to see more of Tolkien's art, but the text that goes along with it is wonderful. Christopher Tolkien asked the authors to write this book to showcase his father's art, and they do a wonderful job of describing the pictures, pointing out details that I missed, and putting them in context of when and where and why Tolkien drew them. Several versions of the same pictures are shown so you can see how Tolkien worked through a problem until he found the best final product. Plus the inspirations for some of the pictures are also shown, to show that Tolkien copied others sometimes, but in the end put his own mark on it. By copied, I don't mean plagarized. He drew his eagle from a book of birds to make sure he got it right, or was inspired by other artists particular works. Highly recommended if you are a Tolkien fan. If you are just into art and not a Tolkien fan, then I don't think this will interest you.

This book is a great way to collect some of Tolkien's best works of art and to get a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century. Highly recommended.

Lleno de ilustraciones color, y algunas en blanco y negro. Me gusta porque es lo que Tolkien imaginó para sus obras... eso es lo que lo hace más hermoso. Además demuestra que Tolkien era un alma muy sensible, amante de la naturaleza, y esto se refleja no solo en sus libros sino también en sus dibujos. Me gustaría que estos dibujos estén incluidos en sus obras, no solo los dibujos de otros artistas. Hermoso, hermoso, para todos los admiradores de Tolkien.

This book features many of Tolkien's ink, watercolor, pencil, and colored pencil works. The detailed descriptions of each drawing include history, explanations, and dates. Quite a few maps are included, as well as illustrations for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It is wonderful to see how Tolkien imagined Middle Earth and its inhabitants. The colors he used are very earthy and lovely.

My favorite drawing in this book is "End of the World" done in pencil and colored pencil on a sheet of notebook paper - you can actually see the lines of the paper. It is so simple; yet, the story it tells includes subtle intricacies and complexities similar to those in his writings. I also love the pencil and colored pencil drawing, "The Tree of Amalion," which obviously blooms with the flowers of Tolkien's imagination since they do not resemble traditional flowers. Finally, the hand drawn Christmas cards are beautiful mini-stories with dancing bears and penguins, and Father Christmas making deliveries.

This book is truly exquisite, full of details and surprises for those of us who didn't know Tolkien was an extremely talented artist. It is a worthwhile purchase in my opinion.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

I remember reading this book almost 13 or so years ago, and I remember how much it meant to me then. This is a wonderful story of a boy with a hard life who begins to understand the bad path he is heading down, and his life is turned around by caring for a cat who needs his help.

I first experienced this story as a television film around 1969. It stunned me then, as a child, and I kept it in my heart for decades. Recently I came across a dog-eared copy of the novelization in a used bookstore and was stunned by the grip it still had on me. I am now a teacher and have presented the book to my students. They were similarly enthralled. It transcends generations, ethnicities, and economic barriers. It is a sublimely human story. I am so grateful to Jane Wagner for creating such a fine piece. It teaches so many things in so many ways.

"He's just gone bad, that's all...Stealin' and lyin' and I don't know what all." That's how J.T.'s mother felt. Yet this same J.T. secretly cared for a one-eyed, scrawny, junkyard cat full of cuts, scratches, nicks, and bruises from a recent battle. How could he be both good and bad? Why was he these two types of persons? Find out J.T.'s feelings--they're not too unusual. (A film was made of this book.)

A Non-Workbook, Non-Textbook Approach to Teaching Language Arts: Grades 4 Through 8 and Up

This book is a must read for all NYC students. As an educator I introduce it to grades second and up. I would like to purchase a copy of this on film. Amazon can you help locate a copy.

I loved this book as a child and I even remember having a little crush on the boy in the book and film (Kevin Hooks who went on to become a famous actor and director). My parents somehow got a hold of the film (on a reel!) to show at one of my birthday slumber parties in the late 70s. I'm now expecting my first child and can't wait until she's old enough to enjoy the story as well.

John Riley continues to amaze me with his books. He can put a lot of information down on paper that most people can't explain in person. A great thorough study of the great drummers with helpful tips on how to get better in your own playing.

Highly recommended, can't say much more. It's really well explained and doesn't leave you floundering under a dense mass of information, even
though it gets into some advanced concepts. Riley always keeps your mind on the important issues about being a good musician and makes you never lose sight of the point of the excercises.

The transcriptions are excellent, the commentary is well written, his insights are very informative. I have great respect for musicians who love their instruments and put a lot of love in their publications. John meets all the requirements and knows what he is talking about. Buy this book, woodshed the examples and your playing will improve!

There are a lot of usefull advises.

This book really hits some difficult yet essential topics like how to create and maintain happening swing within a band, how to integrate non-jazz influences in your playing and tips for uptempo comping. Definetely for the advanced jazzdrummer, but accessible for everyone because of the clear and analysing texts that are a joy to read! A must have for those seeking to improve towards professionality. Enjoy!
Franc auf dem Brinke-Drummers Initiative Amsterdam- [...]

This is a very detailed book about the life of Kay Francis. The authors present a chronology of Kay Francis' life based on her diaries and other extensive research. Kear & Rossman provide intimate details of her life in an unbiased and thoughtful manner. The authors were able to convey their love of Kay thru the book. We receive a glimpse into the life of a Hollywood actress in the 20s & 30s. This book will appeal to people interested in Kay Francis and Hollywood. I enjoyed it because it shows the individuality of Kay Francis. Her charity work, midwestern values, sexual encounters, and career are all presented in the book. The pictures were great and interesting.
The book left me wanting to know more about Kay Francis and the movies she starred in. I highly recommend this book.

I must admit, I didn't know a lot about Kay Francis going into this book but I had seen her in a couple of films and I went the extra mile to delve deeper into her life and career. I was glad I did! Oh, what a life! Oh, what a career!

This book is the definitive reference to Kay's life, both on and off the screen. Her exciting career, her steamy sex life and the best part...much of this book is based on Kay's own personal diary entries. You can't get better than that!

If you know nothing about Kay and you're intrigued with her life, the way I was, you'll learn everything you want and need to know by reading "Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career." If you know everything about Kay Francis, you're wrong. You only THINK you do! Without a doubt you'll learn something new here with the turn of every page!

Great book!

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. You can tell the authors put a lot of time and effort into this work - it's a true labor of love. Filled with beautiful photos and extensive bibliographical notes, this one is a keeper. Who knew Miss Francis was such a "wild child"? Whether you're a film scholar or a movie buff, Lynn Kear's book deserves a special spot in your bookcase.

This year movie buffs are extremely fortunate because out on the market is not one but two wonderful new biographies of the actress who "couldn't wait to be forgotten"--Kay Francis. Lynn Kear and John Rossman have done a superb job of detailing Kay's life with an especially rich section about her early life--prior to Hollywood stardom. The book also captures the essence of the jazz age of the 1920's when women were coming out of their shells and becoming less uninhibited. In many ways Kay Francis was the epitomization of the free spirited women of the jazz age. The book, as usual for a McFarland product, is lovely to look at and the picture quality is superb. Both books quote from Kay's diaries which were long forgotten at a University archives. The diaries provide much of the dynamic revelations in the narrative--Kay's candid thoughts about her life and (many) lovers. Kay Francis certainly did, as the title says, have a passionate life--and a career which movie buffs and fans can easily appreciate. We are fortunate to have this wonderful book as a reminder of that life and career.

This book had such a slow, uneven start that I almost gave up on it. Kay had a very interesting life, but it was hard to determine that from the way the early chapters of her story were written. Lots of childish exclamation points, and chronological lists that read like "the begats." I adore Kay Francis, and wanted to find out about her life. The authors had the access to her diaries that other biographers were lacking, and her private life was definitely a wild one. That she escaped public, career-ruining scandal is nothing short of a miracle. Once the authors reach her apex year of 1932, and then her war work, the style of the writing really picks up and the story becomes a veritable page-turner. It's definitely worth getting through the first third of the book in order to enjoy the best parts. I respectfully disagree with the reviewer who thinks Kay would have loved this book - she would have hated anyone delving into her private life (she didn't even want anything done with her ashes, she was so private), but speaking as an avid fan of Miss Francis, I'm very glad it was written.

Beautiful photographs of family weddings. Nice of the Kennedy family to share the photo's of their private moments.Obviously there are 3 photographers who do their weddings and they had permission to run these photos. One of the photographers was Jay Mulvaney and another man called Mr. Reggie took JFK JR and Carolyn's pictures in addition to Arnold and Maria's pictures and the reason I would imagine he is so discreet as his sister is the second wife of Ted Kennedy, Victoria Reggie.)These photographers would make a small fortune if they ever released pictures not previously seen. It would be nice to see more than one of John and Carolyn's wedding, but I guess that is up to the Kennedy's and the Bessette's and they would have to be in agreement. Knowing how much Caroline Kennedy hates the press I doubt it will ever happen.

I love this book on the Kennedys! Definitely it is my favorite Kennedy biography and one of my favorite books ever! Includes many beautiful pictures and great details.

Although rather voyeuristic in its concept, this book is a lovely scrapbook of the nuptials of America's most famous political family.

The photographs are poignant and artful, and the text, while syncophantic, is illuminating with all sorts of wedding minutiae.

The only error I've found in the book is the omission of Robin Lawford in the family tree at the front of the book; all other Kennedy cousins are present in the tree, but Robin must have flown the coop.

You'll enjoy this book, if such books are your sort of thing.

As a long time admirer of the Kennedy's I really liked this book. The up til now unpublished photographs are wonderful... however I was left wondering why the "first" wives of all the Kennedy men were given no more than a nod.. most notable was Joan Bennett's wedding to Ted. A few pictures and little text were all that were afforded them. Perhaps there was not very much cooperation on the part of the ex Mrs. Kennedy's but for what ever reason is it jarring. Also Robin Lawford is shown and mentioned at her sister's weddings.. however in the family chart at the front of the book she is left out. Perhaps I am being picky about a book that shows us the good times in this family. The radiant brides and the handsome grooms on the happiest days of their lives are touching and memorable.

I loved this wonderful collection of stories and photographs about the weddings in the Kennedy family history. In a way, they are America's family (warts and all!) and to see a hundred years worth of fashion, fashions and celebrating was a joy from cover to cover.

I read Mr. Mulvaney's other book, JACKIE HER CLOTHES OF CAMELOT and bought this one as well...it's a complete delight and will make a lovely gift to my friends as they get married.

Well done Jay Mulvaney!

The book provides an excellent source of the names and conversations that shaped the final 100 days.

Excellent book, it gives you a lot of information about the Yalta Conference, the last days of Hitler, the last days of Roosevelt, the Prussian exodus, the Oder ofensive, the VE day, and, of course, the last days of the War in Europe.

I am an avid reader of WWII history and must say that this is without a doubt the best book I have read on the period. This book manages to read like a novel in the majestic way in which it is written and at the same time it makes the war feel personal; the people throughout the pages are more than names, they are lives, maybe ones that could have been your own. Of all the books I have read on war this is the only one that has forced me to stop reading because some of the material in it actually made me want to cry, is this is not literature at its best, then I don't know what is.

In the end I must say that this is not only a classic read on WWII history but on the history of War itself and the major part it plays on the human experience. Trust me, you can't go wrong with this book; this is as close as you will get to feeling like you were in the middle of WWII.

This is a gripping look at the final months of World War II in Europe. Author John Toland covers many angles as the Allied armies advanced into Germany and squeezed what remained of the Nazi Empire. The author rotates between subjects, and keeps the reader's interest with vivid descriptions and many personal accounts of events. Readers learn of Yalta and the politics of Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt (and then Truman), and note the seeds of the coming Cold War. We get a bird's eye view from inside the Fuhrer's bunker as his brutal empire collapsed. We also read about atrocities against both prisoners and civilians, hear of the plight of refugees, and learn about the views from the top Allied commanders in the west (Eisenhower, Montgomery, Patton, Bradley, etc.).

John Toland (1912-2004) was a master story teller, although not an academically trained historian. Judging by the sales figures, most readers seem to prefer his readable and well-researched approach. This is a vivid and gripping narrative.

The Last 100 Days is a monumental historical work. In it the author pieces together the story of the fall of the Third Reich at the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Although the book is generally described as a work of "popular history" it is more than that. It is in fact a work of history that has itself now become a part of the history of World War II. (Too many authors to count have relied upon this book in writing their own books on a variety of matters covering this period of the war.)

This is because in preparation for writing the book the author did much more than just review the then current literature on the subject by "real" historians (often written in a mind-numbingly boring and pedantic style, not to mention based on government records or reports by people who were not even directly involved in what they are reporting on), summarize it, and then rewrite it in a popular style. Instead, the author bases his book on (a) hundreds of personal interviews with persons actually participating in the acts described and (b) thousands of other primary sources, such as journals, monographs, and diaries.

From this vast treasure trove of information, the author brilliantly sifts through it to create a masterpiece. In so doing he discusses the end of the war in Europe on many different levels (e.g., politicians, generals, NCOs, front-line soldiers, and civilians) from many different vantage points (e.g., American, German, Russian, British, resistance).

The perspective of the last 100 days was also not chosen simply because it sounds good as a title. The significance of the last 100 days is that the beginning of this period (i.e., the first day of the last one hundred days) is roughly the time that both the American, British, etc., allies, coming from the West, and the Soviet forces, coming from the East, first breached the frontiers of the Fatherland, i.e., the pre-war boundaries of Germany. The Last 100 Days is thus an account of the counter-invasion and destruction of Germany against overwhelming forces of men and materiel that is told in an engaging, absorbing, thoughtful, and informative manner.

A must-read for anyone interested in the histories of Europe, Germany, or the Second World War.

James Parker's blood and tears narrative joins dozens of other Vietnam War books but deserves the top shelf for its breadth and sheer readability. Parker was one of the few who came early and stayed late, leading an Army platoon through firefights, death and occasional glory during the early U.S. buildup and watching, as a CIA case officer, the chaos and humiliation at the end, when the war had long since lost the support of most Americans.
Parker never wavers from believing that the cause - keeping a country free from a ferocious invader - was noble. He hangs the war's failure on a corrupt and inept South Vietnamese government and failed U.S. decision-making. If some readers find that thesis too uncomplicated, it hardly detracts from Parker's unflinching prose and relentless focus on the people that are the power of this book - youngsters he led who fought and died, fellow officers he loved as brothers, superiors good and not so good, tough and honorable South Vietnamese generals, officious Saigon bureaucrats and ordinary traumatized Vietnamese.
Parker captures the sense of fear and menace, the unreality and futility that are a soldier's daily grind, and in many instances what he calls the "randomness of war." A single misstep off a path and an officer friend is blown to bits by a mine. A fine tank commander laid into a body bag as his tour is soon to end. A fresh young private shot mistakenly by comrades. A stone-faced villager who trips a deadly explosion. Naked terror squirming through tunnels chasing wounded Vietcong. A trusted Vietnamese bodyguard left to fate unknown as the enemy tightens a noose around Saigon.
Parker's straightforward chronology makes compelling structure: unfocused young Southerner joins the Army, finds he has the stuff of an officer, earns medals and manhood in the jungle, survives his one-year tour, comes home to a strangely discordant nation, marries and goes back to college, joins the CIA, returns to Indochina for the end game of the "secret" war in Laos, then finally helps the frenzied exodus from crumbling, beaten South Vietnam - and from a spent and discredited policy.
The men stalking the jungle, firing the artillery, driving the tanks and piloting the jets and choppers will always be heroes to Parker, an unabashed fan of the concept of duty and country. When you meet the men in these pages - Peterson, Dunn, Woolley, Bratcher, Crash, McCoy, Castro, Ayers, Slippery Clunker Six, Duckett, Spencer and many more, it is hard not to buy into Parker's idea that there were indeed good and honorable aspects of this war.

Easy reading, fast-paced action, pithy, incisive commentary. Does not dwell on brutal details. James Parker presents the Vietnam war from the inside--not a pretty picture but a very good book from an author who is a gifted writer into the bargain.

From the humorous to the horrific...from tragedy to triumph...and a somber assessment of what really happened in Southeast Asia, this short and powerful book is essential reading for those considering work in the patriotic service.

I borrowed this book from a friend at Airborne School this past May, and tore through it in about three days. What a great read! It's so entertaining and gripping, I kept checking the inside flap of the book to make sure it wasn't fiction.

More than just a war story, this is more or less a biography of James Parker. Since the Vietnam conflict was so lengthy and controversial, it's worthwhile to see how it affected his life after James left combat. This is a guy who saw it all: he hit the beach in knee deep water in the early years, and was one of the last CIA guys to leave the island nation years after the U.S. had abandoned the country militarily.

The best features of this book are James' crystal clear recollections of his war buddies and his involvment in the CIA effort. What other book out there has a detailed personal account of the positively heroic efforts of the secret combat operations after the Army left? Also excellent is James' tense telling of a huge operation to lure the VC into attacking a dummy convoy.

This is a man who has done it all. If you're interested in the Vietnam War, this is requred reading.

Last Man Out: A Personal Account of the Vietnam War by James E. Parker, Jr. is the best book I've read in a long time. If this author didn't have a tape recorder or a diary that he wrote in everyday then I have to say he has a most remarkable memory. James takes the reader back to his home in North Carolina and introduces his family and friends. He continues as he makes the decision to enlist in the Army at a time when others were already doing everything they could to avoid serving their country. The reader goes through Basic Training with James and his buddies at Fort Gordon, Georgia in February 1964. Two months later after being named "Outstanding Trainee" James reiterates some of his time while at his Advanced Infantry Training. You are there when he signs up for Officer Candidate School and while he waited to be selected. You go through that six-month course with him too beginning in November at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation James goes to Jump School. From there the book gets even better. James first Permanent Party duty station was at Fort Riley, Kansas with the 1st Infantry Division. Then through his Tour of Duty in Vietnam. James told about an encounter with General William Westmoreland following a mission. The general flew in to review the troops, present medals and then was gone. It was a mere media event. When the general departed, another officer walked the line and took back the medals. After Nam James next assignment took him to Fort Ord in Monterey, California. He became the Officer-in-Charge of the 6th Army Area Drill Sergeant School. It was a great assignment. BUT James was thinking about leaving the Army but he "felt guilty about forsaking my duty, abandoning my obligation to country at a time of war." Unable to find a job that suited him he applied for and was accepted as a member of the Central Intelligence Agency. By September 1971 James was headed back to Southeast Asia "as a case officer in the Lao program, the CIA's largest covert operation." James was involved with several operations before heading stateside in 1973. He spoke openly about them. By January 1975 James was the only American left in Vi Thanh province. At that point he secured himself a "bodyguard." James wrote of the fall of Ban Me Thout, Hue, Da Nang, and Saigon. He took part in the evacuation of the Vietnamese who worked as agents for the CIA. He spoke of the problems encountered onboard the USS Vancouver and the transfer to the USNS Pioneer Contender. James Parker Jr. wrote an incredible account of his military and civilian service to our country and the people of South Vietnam. It is a book well worth reading. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet the author in person in 1998. AND I'm glad I took the time to read his book. You will be also.