Johnson Books

I recently received this book and have looked forward to reading at least one chapter each day. The story flows very nicely with an interesting read (by no means boring) and the multiple pictures supplement the story for visual support. The book gives an entirely different glimpse into this officer's life and what it was like for him during the war as opposed to just being at sea and searching for ships to sink, etc. I love to read about submariner's from the World War II time era and this is certainly one of my top five reads.

I am a fan of autobiographical history, especially WWII and U-boats. The authors really try to be as factual as possible.
The book is based on recollections and diaries of Werner Hirschmann.
It is a book that is hard to put down and really makes you feel like you are in his shoes.

I have reviewd books in the past, but only review books that have made great impressions.
It has parts that may be too techincal for some, but that doesn't take away from the story and could be enjoyed by anyone who liked the book "Iron Coffins" or the movie "Das Boot".

I'm a big fan of Werner Hirschmann and am glad he let me read his diaries.

Stevie

An excelllent account of the war time life of a U-Boat officer,other than the commander. An interesting account of the what it took to be in the Kreigsmarine during and after the war.

I found the book well written and could not put it down. I reccomend the publication to anyone with even a passing interest in U-Boats.

One of the services with the highest casualty rate during World War II was the German U-Boat service. Of the 40,000 men who served in that branch, 28,000 were killed. Werner Hirschmann was one U-Boat officer that entered the German Navy in 1940 and served until 1945 when he and his boat surrendered to Canadian forces.

This book covers several different subjects. The first few chapters deal with his joining the Navy and the training he received. Then it's to see on a destroyer, including excort duty for the Bismark when it left for the Atlantic raid. Finally he is transfered to U-Boats with more training followed by going to war. Finally came the sixth and last patrol, ending in surrender.

There are two appendicies to the book. The first is a Pictorial Tour of the authors boat, the U-190 and the U-889, both type IXC long range boats. The type of submarines that were used in the patrols to North America, the Caribbean, the southern Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Orient. This pictorial tour is well illustrated. Mr. Hirschmann was the engineering officer on the boat, so as you would expect, these pictures feature most of the technical aspects of the boat. There is even a picture of the quite rare four rotor Navy Enigma machine.

The second and somewhat smaller appendix is titled Life on a U-Boat. Again, it is fairly technical in nature.

This is a splendid book, especially for the technically minded

For the U boat buff's this is a very good read. I own over 60 books on U Boats and would rank this in the top 10. Its very different from other books since its a focus on a person not so much as the boat. I found myself living the writers life. I would say its a must read and again different from many other U Boat books.

I was warned to brace myself for the story written by Rique Johnson in this book. I must say, I was not prepared to have my mind blown. The story left me craving more of the story. I feel I learned more about Rique Johnson and his personality. His passion oozes off the pages through his words. The storyline is amazing. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, Rique through in material that made my eyes pop open and my mouth drop. This is truly some of Rique's best work. I will offer the same warning that was presented to me, brace yourself. You are about to go on the ride of your life.

This was very refreshing erotica to read. The stories were so very hot (lol)and all of them with an even hotter twist.

Zane, please do this again....lol

Peace

A very good read. Each novella was well written. New comer Janice N. Adams is hot. Shawan Lewis's "For The Good Times" is my favorite. Rique Johnson wow!!! very good. Dywane D. Birch take a bow. Zane. Zane. Zane!!! never disappoints me. The stories keep you on the edge of your seat. The sex scenes my, my, my... in other words, read the book.

I had quit reading erotic novels for some time now, but when I saw Zane had a new collection out, I decided to check this one out. I like reading novellas cause it gives the reader a chance to check out some new authors. I loved, loved, loved Janice N. Adams story - girl you had me fooled to the very end! This whole book is a naughty,good read. Read it with your significant other to ideas--or get your motor running!

Usually, with a book of novellas, there is always the chance that one or a few of the stories may not be as good as the others. Well, Zane has managed to select excellent stories, all HOT, Captivating and Unique! The male authors are slamin! Don't be fooled - the female authors hold it down as well - including Ms. Zane's story, which is a delicious romance that was the perfect fit as the last story in the book. I strongly suggest this book as a nice start for summer reading - but DO NOT READ THIS ON THE BEACH - Unless you are with someone to cool you off! Dywane's story was my favorite - the Egyptian theme is fantastic!

This book is as much of a comprehensive review about apparitions that you'll find. In his book, Dr. Johnson goes into detail about the criteria the Church uses to judge which apparitions are worthy of faith. He also gives examples of fakes and how to spot them. The research he puts into all his books is incredible. The best part about this book is that he measures his words well so as not to say, or lead the reader to believe anything that isn't true. If you read something in not only this book but all of his books I've read (which is 4), you can bet that he has done the research to back up what he's saying complete with citations. This is quite rare with other writers of religion.

This is not simply a book about visions.

Sure, it has visions and apparitions. But it is also an encyclopedia of Catholic mystics and saints. You'll enjoy brief yet compelling biographies (and whispered gossip) about some of the most amazing people who have ever lived.

To top it off, it is also a prayer and meditation handbook and a Dummies Guide to the Dark Night of the Soul. And much more.

I loved it!

Apparitions explains mystic phenomena, from auras and levitation to ecstasy and regenerative processes. This is the only general mystical title to carry the Catholic Church's official certification of freedom from error and will appeal to Catholic holdings as an unusual, important coverage.

This is a great book ... a believable book...about some of the greatest mysteries in the world.

Has Mary appeared with warnings for the world? What about the Stigmata -- is it really the wounds of Christ or simply psychosis?

Kevin Orlin Johnson is an outstanding author -- anyone would enjoy his books. Not only are they fun to read...but you also actually learn something! He's given me a new appreciation for how the Church can stand up to an intellectually rigorous process.

Tired of Christian pablum? Give this book a try!

This book is a very readable collection of authentic mystic events and phenomena. The emphasis is on people and events that are well documented and the likelihood of fraud is low. There are also chapters on the demonic and on outright frauds. Many of the chapters stand on their own so you can read what you want in any order you want. The weakest part of the book is in some of the footnotes which can be a bit opinionated, though most of them were quite interesting. Naturalists (materialists) would find this book challenging to their beliefs while I found much that bolstered my faith.

Thanks for the FAST service! My little one thanks you tremendously! I thank you for a book he can't tear!

My kids love this book. It has helped them identify shapes and is so cute. They love it. We also have What Is Square? and What Is Round? which are two really colorful shape books with real photographs. When you aren't really in the mood to read a whole story (as in TOO tired) these kinds of books give you the interaction without all the text to read.

I bought this book for a Christmas gift for a 2 year old. I am sure he will love it, but I was a bit disappointed. Maybe I am naive, but I thought there was actually felt in the book. It is simply pictures of felt designs. It is a nice sturdy board book with a laminate coating, so I am sure it will last for a long time.

My son enjoys this book very much. He has learned his shapes by looking at the felt friends. He loves Blue's Clues and this was his first Blue's Clues book. Very appropriate for toddlers.

My son(17 mos) just loves this book. I have read it about 800times. He loves to look at the shapes and see how they make picturesof things. But I can't say that I was upset when it disappeared behind the changing table. But he just doesn't seem to like any other book as much. Guess I'll have to crawl back there so I can read it for the 801st time...sigh

I found THE BUSHWHACKER to be readable, interesting and informative. Although the setting is the Civil War, the book opens many opportunities for discussions as the situation is similar to events in many parts of our world today (such as Kosovo, N. Ireland). The theme of forgiveness and peacemaking can never be emphasized too often. Though I am an adult, I found the book held my interest to the very end.

J.J. Garrity's book The Bushwhacker is the story of a young boy and girl in war-torn Missouri during the Civil War. After being burned out of their home by a Rebel-sympathizing Bushwhacker, Jacob and Eliza learn important lessons about forgiveness and looking beyond stereotypes and prejudices.

Jennifer Johnson Garrity has given us a wonderful gift in this juvenile novel. The Bushwhacker tells of events in Missouri during the early part of the Civil War from the perspective of a young boy who has been forced from his home by bushwhackers (rebel sympathizers who were intent on pushing Pro-Union folks out). The story does not take the easy way out on any of the real-life issues that are at the heart of this story. This reader (an adult) found the story wonderfully paced and very thought-provoking. The Bushwhacker is highly recommended for young readers, especially those interested in the Civil War. Adults will enjoy the story as well.

Jennifer Johnson Garrity has captured the hearts of my children with her true-to-life Civil War story, "The Bushwhacker." American history, to them, used to be filled the drudgery of memorizing dates and names, but through reading "The Bushwhacker," the Civil War has come alive through the story of two families and their struggles.

The story is of Jacob and Eliza Knight, two children severed from their parents by masked gunmen with torches, as they fled their home being engulfed by flames. Finding themselves alone, they struggle to survive in the war-torn state of Missouri, where a bushwhacker's mask at night hides the smile of a lifelong neighbor by day. They're forced to take refuge in a home of an enemy sympathizer where Jacob learns through the bitterness of revenge the freedom of forgiveness.

Through Eliza and Jacob's trials, my children gained an understanding of both sides of the war along with a message of forgiveness and unity that is powerful and engaging.

My ten-year-old is studying the Civil War this year at school, and shared her copy of "The Bushwhacker" with her teacher. Her teacher not only enjoyed reading it herself, but has also added it to her class curriculum.

I am a home-school tutor and have read this book to some of my students. Besides thoroughly enjoying the storyline, they were able to grasp what life was like during this terrible time and understand that the Civil War was not just about slavery as so many people believe. They were also able to learn about forgiveness and that there are always two sides to every story. My students begged me to read it each day and were wanting more books by this author when it was over.

If you have ever moved from the north to the south you will absolutely love this book. Prissy, an Italian northern gal, marries a nice southern man and moved from the north to the south. Now all Prissy has to do is figure out how to cook grits, keep away from the wild pigs, and somehow learn all the ins and outs of southern living. For Prissy this is no easy task.
I have to say this author knows how to make you laugh. She uses everyday life and turns in into a story that will have you holding your side laughing. This is one funny book and a must read for those who love to laugh. Get this book, you won't be sorry.

As a Yankee who married a southern boy and spent a good deal of time in the South, this story resonated with me. Ms. Johnson is laugh-out-loud funny as she documents the plight of Priscilla from New Jersey, married to Bob and transplanted to Florida.

Priscilla is Italian who does a grand job of cooking sauce and other Italian delights. Unfortunately, Bob's digestion can't tolerate Italian spices. He's accustomed to grease and plenty of it -- fried meat, fried okra, and his beloved grits eaten with gravy. The hapless Italian from New Jersey learns to cook the southern delicacies her husband loves despite many culinary misadventures.

Cooking southern food is not the only adjustment Priscilla has to make. Her thick Yankee blood boils in the new, steamy environment. Instead of chilly nor'easters, she faces tornadoes and hurricanes. The moss draped graciously from trees in grand southern gothic style houses biting red bugs too small for the eye to see. And then there's the wild boar meat, the bear meat.

But I like Grits is quintessential Shirley Johnson. If you like humor, irony, and a darn good belly laugh, this is a short you have to read.

This author is so funny!!!! I look for her books/shorts or whatever she writes, because she takes everyday life experiences and turns them into things we can laugh about. How true this story is - how many embarrassing things have happened in our lives? I can't get over how very down to earth she is, being a Pastor and not being stern or stuffing in her writing. She relates God and life experiences in a manner I've never read before. How refreshing she is!!! I really loved this, so keep them coming!

Why do people assume that everybody should know all the abbreviations in the world ? It took me longer searching for the meaning of "Military MOS" than reading Shirley's touching bio but, from MOS to moss this was a most pleasant reading. And I am a mossback kind of a guy !
Are you really from New Jersey Shirley ? I hope you drive with your seat belts on and....DON'T LET THE RED BUGS BITE!

Being from the South and also a connoisseur of grits, I couldn't resist reading Shirley Priscilla Johnson's "But I like Grits."

In this Amazon Short the author shows herself to be a great storyteller. She drew me into her world and I found myself enjoying each page more than the one before. In the beginning, Priscilla tells of making adjustments by moving from New Jersey to Florida - interesting stuff to which anyone can relate if they have ever moved from one section of the country to another.

Things got funnier and I was smiling when Priscilla learned to cook and eat grits. When she shared her first experience of eating okra, my smile turned to a chuckle. It got even better when she tried cooking bacon from a wild pig - by which time I was laughing out loud. And the climax was absolutely hilarious. Priscilla's story about the bear had me holding my sides and almost rolling in the floor. You've got to read it for yourself!

This is a delightful tale, well told, that anyone should enjoy.

J. Stephen Conn, Author, "Growing up Pentecostal"

I don't know about you, but sequels scare me. Particularly sequels written by other people. Too easy for things to go horribly wrong.

This book is clearly written by someone who loves and understands Casey at the Bat. Also by someone who loves the sound of language--the rhymes are beautiful and surprising. And there's a lot of heart in this story. Gutman speculates on the feelings of the baseball fans for Casey, on world history, on the fate of the dinosaurs, all in a beautfully absurd way.

The illustrations have an old-time feel but are done with a modern sense of humor, and add a great deal to an already great story. Hooray!

My son absolutely loves Casey At the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888 (Caldecott Honor Book), by Christopher Bing, so when I saw this book I purchased it immediately.

The original poem coupled with Bing's amazing illustrations are a tough act to follow, but Gutman does a good job. The paintings and story are more contemporary, but the author and illustrator pull it off.

Like the original poem, the ending will surprise you. A nice effort that will hold up nicely in any children's book collection.

What a wonderful book. I've said it time and time again, kids love stories that rhyme and CASEY BACK AT BAT is no exception. It's an exciting story with a surprise ending and very original art work that will attract attention. After reading this book, my son wanted to mimic the art work for his kindergarten 'book report.' Isn't inspiration wonderful!

Both my boys, ages 4 and 5, fell in love with Casey at Bat last year while listening to it on the Poetry Speaks to Children CD. Since then we have purchased several versions of the poem and my 5 year old son has even memorized most of the poem, which has sparked a love of baseball.

When we stumbled upon this book I immediately purchased it and am certainly not disappointed. My sons were enamored by the illustration of the Might Casey and his very strong, intimidating demeanor. They were delightfully taken by the women; one who thought he was handsome and one who thought he was a jerk. What expression! The travels the ball goes on is exciting and adds adventure to an otherwise predictable outcome.
I would recommend Casey at Bat to those wishing to introduce their children to drama and excitement of baseball and definitely follow-up with this very exciting sequel.

As Spring training approaches, many kids will focus on the game of baseball. Adults, nostalgic about the sport in its more pristine state, may grab a DVD of "Field of Dreams," or search for a version of Ernest Thayer's classic ballad, "Casey at the Bat." `Casey' has been re-tooled many times, most notably by Patricia Polacco in her Little League Version, and illustrator Christoper Bing's recreation of a vintage book, complete with yellowed pages, old newspaper ads and articles, period uniforms and baseball equipment, and other ephemera.

Gutman, a longtime writer of baseball-themed books, takes the mythic Casey one step further than most. Casey is pretty much the same fellow we've come to expect, without the emphasis on his savagery or `lip-curling' swagger. He's broad-shouldered and strong-jawed, looking like a heavily muscled Gregory Peck. Guttman doesn't focus on Casey, but rather on the mythic aspects, exploding them with fanciful exaggeration and humor:

"His arms, his legs, his neck, his lips--his teeth had muscles too.
They rippled from his little toe up to his eyes of blue.
He sneered, he snarled at Mudville's foes, then threw the fans a smirk.
Some ladies found him handsome. Some thought he was a jerk.


Gutman departs from the original story on the third pitch to Casey: Instead of the tragic strike three, Casey hits ("whacks" and "cracks") the ball right out of the park, and into a fantasy flight that propels the rest of the book. Casey looks rather mundane in comparison, In its gravity-defying flight, the ball "crossed the great Atlantic," and makes history.. It strikes a certain tower in Pisa, Italy, causing it to lean, takes off the nose of the Sphinx, does an Einstein-ian 4th dimensional trip back in time to the dinosaurs ("The creatures were so terrified, so underground they slinked, and now you know how dinosaurs, in fact, became extinct.")

Finally, after this long, strange trip, the ball descends back to Mudville, and just as Casey tells an interviewer that `it's all in the wrists,' it lands smack in the glove of a shortstop still on the field. The denouement (which comes and goes a little too quickly) puts Casey back in his place, for as surely as Lucy pulls away Charlie Brown's football, Casey must be out--a fly out, but still an out.

The illustrators switch to a night game for some dramatic light contrasts, but also use the newspaper ad and vintage catalogue gimmick in extremis: The ads pattern the players' uniforms and the ballpark walls (which at least makes sense). They "antique" the pages, but with more subtlety than Bing, and the poses and compositions have a nice dynamism.

"Casey Back at Bat" has tightly constructed rhymes and dramatic illustrations. Gutman writes superbly for his audience, as always, and the humor sparkles. The book distorts--rather than subverts--the Casey narrative, and so it's probably more appropriate for toddlers and early elementary school than for kids a bit older. An anti-hero `Casey' has still not been written, but perhaps some legends are just too sacrosanct to turn inside out.

A wonderful and inventive collection of stories with a gay twist. A great summer or weekend read, you can pick up, read a few stories, and put it down for another time.

Long-time spiritual writer Toby Johnson and publisher/writer Steve Berman have put together a much-needed collection of essays and stories about gay men and spirituality. So often, anti-gay activists go out of their way to malign gay people, and homophobes in mainstream churches often block gays from worship and religion. This collection offers an alternative to those small-minded persecutions.

What Johnson has been saying for years in books like GAY SPIRITUALITY and GAY PERSPECTIVE is that the spiritual consciousness expressed by gays--indeed, by all GLBTQ people--is a vital and evolutionary step forward for everyone on the planet. No longer need we be trapped in meaningless, dogmatic, fear-based, or male-dominated religious practices. There's hope and inspiration to be found by, for, and about homosexual lives.

Berman and Johnson have managed to get stories and essays from many literary lights: Mark Thompson, Malcolm Boyd, Perry Brass, Victor J. Banis, Jeffery Beam, Mark Abramson, and many others. The inspiring work of educators, community activists, and religious experts such as David Nimmons, Mark Horn, Dan Stone, Michael Sigmann, Bill Blackburn, and Donald Boisvert are also featured.

CHARMED LIVES is a Lambda Literary Award Finalist in the category of Best Anthology, and it's fully deserving. Every story, every essay is a gem that reveals the beauty, strength, and value of gay voices.

As Bert Herrman writes in his essay, "Grace is not really magic, it is a natural state of being, but for those who reach it, it works like a charm." Reading these pieces will comfort, inspire, and charm anyone seeking to learn more about the wonder of gay spirit in storytelling. Highly recommended. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Regardless of your sexuality, these are works of art that collectively make a wonderful addition to any library. The authors are clear and well versed in their craft making us, the reader excited to anticipate the next and the next, like a multi-course meal at five-star restaurant.

You'll find a favorite; mine was "This I know" by Dan Stone about a journey through a spiritual awakening. There is a part of us in every story but Dan's captured me most. This is some of writing's greatest moments by men who happen to be gay written for anyone who happens to be human.

I go online to shop, and the title's intriguing, and it's only $10.88 and over 300 pages, So I buy it thinking, that's such a bargain, and I read just two of the 35 short stories in it (`Musuko Dojijo' by Mark Horn and `The True and Unknown Story of Albert Gale' by Andrew Ramer) and I felt like I went to a yard sale and found a box filled with sundries among which I have already found a diamond and an emerald. Excited by other possible treasures that may be found there. And reassured that felt [..] literature continues alive and well.

Victor Banis' "Canals of Mars" is one of the most beautiful love stories I've read in many a moon. I may be a straight woman but this story is universal. How refreshing to have such a story about those of us who are no longer young...

Banis is well-known - and deservedly so! - for his "Man from C.A.M.P" series, but his current writing is far stronger. It's wonderful to see him tapping such a deep well of feeling.

Having a lot of experience with companies who work in this area of tutoring, test prep,and college recruiting companies, this is the first time someone has focused on what I believe to be the core issue... it's not only what you know, but its how you take the test. A student's confidence with themselves, how to navigate through the test, and what the test really means. I am impressed with how the authors have presented the information. It's a very engaging book and I would highly recommend it!

Attempting to penetrate the vast and turbid issue of the SAT and its cultural impact is a daunting and intensely complex task. The test is simply too ensconced in the American zeitgeist to extirpate and examine it thoroughly. Johnson and Eskelsen, however, do a laudable job of critiquing, debunking, and demystifying the test itself, commenting, when applicable, on its affects on the landscape of American life. They offer specific and useful advice for the parents of a generation burdened by the stresses and concerns surrounding the SAT that comes from years of experience working with young students and from a commitment to better understanding the test. This book is invaluable for parents seeking to comprehend the complexity and anxiety associated with this aspect of high school life.

I found this book's recurrent theme to be that achieving the best results on the SAT comes from, or at least begins with, exactly what you already know and exactly who you are. The mission to merit the scores that the best of the best colleges and graduate schools want to see is one that instills fear and makes even the best of the best students feel intimidated. "Conquering the SAT" intersects this rising anxiety and instills confidence. With so many options to IMPROVE YOUR SCORES! out there, it's so easy to forget the most basic principles of succeeding on a test. I was struck with a sense of calm when the authors advocated to simply be creative with math, write what you know about, and sometimes just stop and THINK! I wish I had just relaxed six years ago when I took the SAT and had a little fun with learning instead of fiercely focusing on my score.

The book is a little long-winded but a good read to pick up here and there as the student stories are easy to relate to and the chapters have a way of repeating the same suggestions over and over again in different ways. It's more encouraging and engraining than tedious and redundant. For the parent who wants what is best for their child's health, mentality and attitude throughout the college testing process, this is the place to start. The book is no replacement for courses, tutoring, note cards, practice tests, etc. but if the student can become sure of his/herself before tackling the test, which is exactly what "Conquering the SAT" advises, than those aforementioned performance-raising mechanisms will probably work a lot better in the long run.

With each passing year it seems that the college admissions game becomes exponentially more stressful. Getting into college is no longer enough. Only getting into the right college seems to matter for too many students, and perhaps more to the point, too many parents. And this pressure to get into the right college has led to compression so that good state universities that an above-average student could once apply to as safety schools have become elite bastions themselves, oftentimes accepting well fewer than half of the applicants who come their way.

Among the many factors fueling the competition is the noxious imperative of standardized tests, and for most of the country, standardized tests and college admissions means dealing with the peculiarly monopolistic Standardized Aptitude Test, or SAT. In "Conquering the SAT" Ned Johnson and Emily Warner Eskelsen do not try to elide the fact that the SAT is deeply problematic and that doing well on it is more a matter of succeeding at mastering a game than it is a reflection of a student's intellect, even if a keen intellect is useful in doing well on the test.

Johnson and Eskelen also have made the savvy decision to aim their book at parents, who tend to be the driving force for the stress their children feel over the college admissions process. Left to their own devices, the kids will usually be alright, but parents (understandably) cannot help themselves. This book aims to try to alleviate the pressure by assuaging the parental pressure point. As a consequence it ought to be required reading for the hyper-driven moms and dads who have perpetuated the inanity that their kids' success is contingent on an Ivies-or-bust, take-no-prisoners approach to college admissions.

The SAT is deeply, disturbingly, profoundly problematic. This book will help to make it, and the college admissions process, less so.

This book should be mandatory reading for any parent whose child is about to embark on the increasingly pressurized process of preparing for the SAT. Mr.Johnson and Ms.Eskelsen, obviously seasoned SAT tutors who genuinely care and understand all of the factors that go into the success or failure of a student facing these rigorous tests, have produced the first book I have found to give PARENTS a better understanding of what the SAT test is really all about, what obstacles different children face that keep them from raising their scores, and how to help your child truly achieve better results and feel less stressed in the process.
This book is a must have!

I have met Dr. DeCherney. He has done a wonderful job on this useful text.

I used this book to study for my women's health exam and found the book user friendly.

Best choice for medical students who desire an introduction to Obstetrics an Gynecology. Includes guidelines for treatment. The first book at this speciallity for newcomers.

As a busy 4th yr resident, there is hardly any time to read the major OB/GYN textbooks. This text is a good review of major concepts in OB/GYN. It's a very easy read.

I used this book as a supplement to my 3rd year clerkship in med school. It is not a huge text, so it was great for looking up the details that were not found in Blueprints, especially if you are interested in OB for a career. The book is well organized and is easy to read. Too much to read for board review or shelf exams, but an excellent reference book for OB/GYN.