Nova Books

There are many books on the race to the South Pole. Thomson's book is one of the good ones. It is not a super quick read, but very manageable when compared to Roland Huntford's massive work "Scott and Amundsen." Although the title of Thomson's book includes the names of all three of the chief South Pole competing explorers, he covers Scott and his crew much more extensively than the other two (the original 1977 release of the book was entitled "Scott's Men," so Scott was the main focus of his study at one time).

Thomson admits that Scott was a childhood hero of his (pg. x). His coverage of Scott's background is at times deeply analytical, jumps around a bit and is rather flowery, even ending with a lengthy poem Scott penciled in his address book (pg. 24). His examination of Scott's marriage to a woman of means seemed overly analytical as well: "So long a history of family making-do had numbed Scott permanently, and the rift of self-doubt in his character has every debilitating trace of fallen gentry. Is there another lure in the south here? That it was a world free from the cost of living?" (huh?) (pg. 88).

Thomson's research had him abating Scott's heroic image by finding flaws in his judgment and character (i.e. not being open to the advice of others or learning from the past experiences of fellow explorers). Still, Thomson's book, although a little controversial in England when it was first published, doesn't go quite as far as Huntford's sometimes vicious account.

Due to the title of the book and the more thorough examination of Scott, it comes to reason that a reader may see the other two main players in ways they compare (usually favorably) to Scott. That is what this reader took from this book, anyway. Amundsen was the racer, Scott was the journeyer (pg. 111); Amundsen's aim was to be the first to reach the Pole, Scott's publicized goal--although privately it was probably the same as Amundsen's--was scientific research and not competition. Amundsen immersed himself in Antarctic culture and was keen to learn survival techniques from the natives. Scott often did not heed the advice or the example of others whether it be the eating of seal and penguin meat or the use of dogs (the squeamishness of working dogs was also due to British culture abhorring the practice--pg. 61).

Shackleton and Amundsen regarded their crew on equal standing while Scott continued the cast system. Shackleton was more drawn to the South than Scott (pg. 95). The former returned to the Pole even after it was discovered, Thomson questions whether Scott would have done the same (pg. 102). In 1908, when Shackleton penetrated the South further than anyone, he turned back to save his men. Scott "pressed on because it was the plan" (pg. 110).

One interesting point that keeps surfacing in the book is that, despite all his research on the subject, Thomson finds the whole race to the South Pole (as well as to the moon and other such endeavors) as "marginal," "pointless" (pp. 2-3), "a futile and fatal pursuit" (pg. 170), "purposelessness" and "senseless" (pp. 281-2). Certainly, the efforts of Scott's men to collect emperor penguin eggs at Cape Crozier was an example of "the measurable achievement [being] less than the momentous endurance," of course the team did not know the meager results of their efforts at the time (pp. 215-21). However meaningless the race to the Pole was in the scheme of life, it still makes for an intriguing story that is the subject of many nice books, including this one. For a contemporary account of Scott's failed pursuit to be the first the reach the South Pole that includes a new line of research, I highly recommend "The Coldest March" by Susan Solomon.

David Thomson's "Scott, Shackleton, and Amundsen" is sub-titled "Ambition and Tragedy in the Antarctic", which nicely captures the thrust of the book. At the heart of the narrative is the race by a handful of competing explorers ambitious for the glory of being first to the South Pole.

First off is Shackleton's 1907-1908 expedition, which walked to a remarkable 88 degrees South latitude, literally within a few days march of the Pole. Shackleton made the hard decision to turn back because he correctly realized how desperately narrow his team's margin of survival had become. From Shackleton's attempt should have come hard lessons in just how strenuous and tenuous life would be in the extreme conditions of Antarctica.

Scott and Amundsen launched expeditions in 1911-1912. Amundsen, a Norwegian with considerable experience in the Arctic, learned from previous expeditions and traveled by the proven means of skis and dog sleds. His team made a remarkably fast and ultimately uneventful run, achieving the South Pole first.

Scott's expedition experimented with primitive motor vehicles and ponies, both badly unsuited to the conditions, and ended up dragging a sledge over the ice and snow. Scott's team persisted through a variety of challenges all the way to the South Pole and the crushing discovery that they had missed being first by a month. The struggle back from the Pole ends in tragedy, as insufficient supplies and cold weather sap the team into extinction just eleven miles from a vital depot of supplies. Ironically, Scott was at the time more famous than either of his competitors, thanks to the heroic cast given his failure by his journal, which was recovered and published by a rescue team. In retrospect, as Thomson brings out, Scott must take the responsibility for the tragedy, for failing to learn from the experiences of others, and very likely for letting pride and ambition overrun common sense.

Thomson's book is well-researched and highly readable, sown with the kind of excellent biographical detail that brings to life the men who participated in the expeditions. This book is highly recommended to those interested in polar exploration.

This is a pretty good review of the short era of Antarctic exploration. It's not nearly as detailed (or long) as Huntford's tome, "The Last Place on Earth," and so comparisons between the three explorers are a little more "watered down." Even so, Thomson is a tad more sympathetic of Scott without becoming a cheerleader; in fact, Thomson basically reaches similar conclusions about Scott's failings as an expeditionary commander, but manages to point out these failings without vilifying Scott (something that Huntford has been accused of doing). "Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen" also gives more detail about the men under Scott (the original title of the book was "Scott's Men") than is found in most other books about Scott et al., and I found this refreshing. If you're looking for a good review of the Antarctic saga that can be read in a few nights, then this is the book to read.

"Tis the season for angels to come down to help those who are in need of something special. I've had a couple of guardian angels to be at the right spot at the right time to keep me from being injured. Today, however, God was sleeping and his angels busy elsewhere. I was attacked in the downstairs laundry room of the apartment building where I live. He almost strangled me to death. The fact that he didn't succeed doesn't mean that my special angel was here.The old man was apparently having a WWII flashback and he kept saying, "I'm going to kill you, Polock." He bruised my neck and throat severely but when I was able to grab his eyeglasses and throw them, he started slapping both sides of my face and then he threw me down on the floor into the wood end of the fold-up table. I was not prepared for this attack and so I did not fight back, but did manage to get away and someone else called the police for me. We all need angels at times of trouble, but in a time of great suffering and pain, we need God. True spirit of Christmas lies within your heart. Shirley came down to earth to restore a young boy's faith in God. Each of the three angels this story follows must teach a memorable lesson before the wish can be granted.

Goodness watched over Monica, a minister's daughter had found life in the movies out in L. A. too much to handle, and needed more than a little help to extract herself from the drug culture. She ends up marrying a detective, thanks to the ministrations of Goodness, her special Christmas angel. Love happens anytime; it does not need Valentine's Day or Christmas to cause miracles to happen. Goodness' mission was to find Monica a husband. Monica was devoted to Patrick but he chose someone else to marry. The hurt of having someone she had trusted and was devoted to (had loved with all of her heart) to say she was just his special friend, was a little more than she could take.

Timmy's father had died when he was only ten months old. He wrote a letter to God (not Santa Claus) begging for a father. Every boy needs a dad. Any man can be a biological father, but it takes a special man to be a dad. At Cub Scouts, many years ago, one little boy tried to let the block of wood suffice as his project, car, rocket, sailboat, etc., as he had no one to whittle or show him how to be creative. His mother didn't even try and apparently she had no one to ask for help with her son's projects. It was humiliating for him, but his mother didn't let it phase her. At Christmas, sometimes miracles happen. Because it is Christ's birthday, the angels from Heaven are merciful. And so we come to Mercy.

Leah was a nurse in the maternity ward, who had never given birth herself. She wants a child but times her responses to her husband to the propitious exact moments only, like an automaton and not a loving wife. It didn't work that way, as it is unnatural. When God decides you should have a child, it will happen without all of that manenuering. I'm surprised she'd want to go through all of that fierce pain after watching all those women suffer through the birthing process. That is not a pleasant sight and the pain is worse than any other, even a toothache. The worst pain of all does not have anything to do with having a baby -- it comes from those children you risked your life for, then they neglect you when are are old. You gave them life but they tend to forget that "you have only one mother." Leah prayed for a child of her own. God does not always answer or fulfill our prayers or wishes until it is the appropriate time for things to change. People are nicer during the Christmas season than at any other time with the "peace on earth, goodwill to all men" ringing in their ears and hearts. May this be your best so far, but the best is yet to come -- when you are in need of your own miracle. God works in mysterious, wondrous ways for those who have faith and do unto others as you would have them do to you.

This a bright cheery and uplifting story for christmas
about 3 wonderful angels, Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy.
They will make you laugh and cry. If you love angels
you have to read this series. There are 4 parts.
God Bless and enjoy.

This is my favorite Debbie Macomber book, and definitely the best of the angel trio (Season of Angels, Touched by Angels, Trouble with Angels).

The book features a trio of angels (Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy) who have to answer the prayers of three people on earth. The only problem is, the angels enjoy getting into mischief and causing Gabriel many headaches!

The book is funny and romantic. It's a wonderful Christmas romance, and does not include the promiscuous sex found in most of the romances printed today. It fits well with Christian beliefs, and doesn't offend.

I highly recommend this book, if you can find a copy! It's very hard to find as no one wants to let theirs go, and it is out of print. But, if you're lucky enough to stumble upon one, GRAB IT!

This book thoroughly covers in detail all the basic information that a current or potential Siberian Husky owner would want to know. And the DVD is priceless: showing exactly how to start training your husky. This book and "Siberian Huskies For Dummies" are must haves for people caring for huskies.

The book is hard back and came with a CD-ROM with accompanying material. It has the most detailed breed history I have found, covering the easy to discover roots with the Chuckchis down through the modern breeding programs in America. Most of the rest of the material, while aimed at Sibes, is somewhat generic. I did learn quite a bit though, and even the less specific information is good, so I definitely recommend this book.

good book to read, a lot of info on the breed history and training. thanks!

One cannot have a rounded view of the American revolution without seeing the extent to which it was also a civil war, and understanding the viewpoint of those in America who shared in the resentment of King George's policies, yet renounced violence as a remedy and saw no need to overthrow the existing rule of law. Susan Shenstone's thoroughly researched and detailed study of James Moody does precisely that. It is I believe at least as important for an American audience as for a Canadian one.

This is the first book I have read which describes the American revolutionaries unsympathetically. At one point, I thought the book must have been written during the current conflict in Iraq, but the copyright is dated 2000. I guess those who fight against authority have something in common with each other.

I did not find this book exciting to read. Perhaps the author is trying to be authoritative at the price of being dull. Altogether, I suggest it's a great book to have read, not such a great book to read.

This is a very readable scholarly book about Captain James Moody of New Jersey. A man denounced by Washington ( he regularly swiped his mail) and all but forgotten in the parts of Nova Scotia where he was essential in civil development. Being a descendent of his compatriot, Lawrence Marr, I have an axe to grind, but if you have seen the movie "The Patriot" and find yourself distressed at the actions of the Loyalists in America, you owe it to yourself to read this. Moody, being aware of the usages of war at the time, was careful to wear his uniform and carry his commission on his adventures in the Delaware Gap area. His escapes were legendary and he became the subject of children's tales to the "patriot" third that remained behind when he and compatriots fled New York at the end of the Revolution. The first chapters reveal the situation at the beginning of the Revolution and the social web of the time. It is easy to understand his actions given the treatment of his in-laws and associates by the radicals, and one might suspect an element of class warfare motivated acts against the wealthy farmer class to which Moody, the Brittains, and the Marr families belonged. The later half of the book deals with his attempts to acquire a loyalist pension and his role in establishing a community in Nova Scotia. As such, the book is a valuable addition to the "Loyalist Studies" program of Canada's scholars. Nonetheless, it is also of great value to those of us in the States. It demonstrates the complex situation at the time of the Revolution with son against father, brother against brother. As one reads about denunciations and persecutions, one learns not only that "It could happen here" but that "It has happened here."

Social styles is one of many two-quadrant systems for explaining people's personalities and interactions. The unique perspective of this system is it is concerned with how other people perceive you. On one axis you are rated if you are concerned with people, or with tasks. On the other axis you are rated if you ask, or if you tell, when you want someone else to do something. No one social style is superior to another. The key to being effective is your ability to be flexible and work with the various social styles. Thus, style versatility is the second portion of the book.

I found this model very useful in all facets of my life. Where I work the dominant personality quadrant outnumbers the others 2:1 and determines the site's personality. We have a companion division with a different dominant personality - friction between the two sites on projects is just as the social styles predicts.

In my workplace this material is taught as Leadership Styles using materials Wilson Learning also prepared. The class to me presented the material much better than this book. The book is missing something - thus, minus a star.

Another book on the topic is "Personal Styles & Effective Performance" by
David W. Merrill and Roger H. Reid. According to my instructor, it is the original source which Wilson Learning and The Trane Co. created their respective training programs.

francisco@yoursocialstyle.com
On these day of tech-changes and everything is changing up side down, never has been as necessary as it is now to nurture relationships. When Visionaries like Peter Drucker mention that knowledge society is here and we can prove that, the theme of social styles, show us the extent of working relationships, and in personal life!

Cogratulations to the people at Wilson Learning,

Francisco

The Wilson Learning version of the social styles matrix is one of the most valuable interpersonal vocabulary lessons most of us should take. Although there have been modifications and restructuring of these principles over time, the basic message remains very clear and timely: There are recognizable patterns of social interaction; they can all be successful; they can be accomodated positively and negatively; and we can reach each other and encourage each other effectively by recognizing them and training ourselves to be flexible and empowering in our relationships with others.

The book is an excellent recap for those, like myself, who were formally trained by the folks at Wilson Learning. It is also an introduction worthy of passing on to any who have not had the privilege. I have purchased and shared three copies of this volume with my co-workers in the past two months, and we are having (once again) a whale of a time discovering how we behave towards each other and how those behaviors affect our productivity and job satisfaction.

Invaluable.

I love reading true stories to my kids. This one is memorable and thought provoking. My kids wanted to know more about belugas and whales in general after reading it. Great photos of the main character, the beluga named Wilma, throughout!

A WHALE ON HER OWN is a charming story of a young beluga whale who decided to make Chedabucto Bay her home for a while. Jim Johnson, an old time sea traveller and scuba diver got to be friends with Wilma and explained alot about beluga whales and their habits while describing their adventures together. Although told in a story format, the book is quite informative with definitions of terms at the end along with book listings and websites to pursue if this book has piqued your interest. Brian Skerry has done an absolutely striking job with the photography. It really makes this more than a good story and more than a way for young people to learn about beluga whales. It makes this book an exceptional treasure for library, classroom or personal collection.

Internationally acclaimed photographer and diver Brian Skerry does an outstanding job with this fine book for children. If you have children and love the sea I highly recommend this most worthy effort. This book is filled with Mr. Skerry's excellent underwater photographs. These pictures illustrate a fine and entertaining story line that every child (and adult) will enjoy. If you love the sea and the creatures in it this pleasing work is a must have for your bookshelf.

Debra Waterhouse has researched and written a practical work which dispels numerous myths of female food cravings. She brings a practical understanding to the complex body chemistry of women while elevating America's favorite food ... chocolate ... to its place of national prominence!

DON'T JUST BUY ONE COPY! ........ BUY TWO AND MAKE A FRIEND!

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D., Editor of Games By Grube

This book takes a revolutionary approach to a woman's nutritional needs and how they affect her energy level, mood, and actual weight loss. The author encourages women to learn to follow food cravings and satisfy them within reason. Her view is that denying a food craving is denying your body what it really needs at a given time. She also details a simple exercise plan to coincide with an eating schedule that will produce optimum benefits for women. I highly recommend this book for women of all ages, whether dieting or not.

This is one of the best diet or nutrition books I have read. Its main premise, which is the focus for the first several chapters, is that you shouldn't feel guilty eating, and you should eat what you're body really craves. She says that doing this will stabilize your mood, give you more energy, and help you lose weight. Many people who have said this in the past have been called flakes and faddists. But this author is a real nutritionist who shows you why eating like this makes sense, and how to do it, as well as how to work it into a very healthy diet with lots of vegetables, how to eat many meals a day, and how and why to exersize. (This book has given more and better reasons to exersize than any other book I have read.) She tells how to eat what you want, eating five tiny meals a day, having one piece of chocolate when you feel like it, and how to focus on the first three bites of what you're eating. She devotes a great deal of space to why restricing yourself doesn't work, and how someone trying to restrict himself or herself will likely eat much more of that craved food later. Towards the end, the book felt a little disjointed, because she was talking more about what you're diet should look like, rather than how to make such a diet, or why diets don't work. Plus there aren't any footnotes, and I think footnotes are very important in a book like this, to make its claims seem more sensible. For example, the book claims that the only study that linked chocolate with pimples was one where the teenagers smeared it on their faces rather than eat it. I want to know what study that was, and to see the list of the rest of studies, otherwise no one will believe me! But other than those two shortcomings, this was a very complete, consistant, and very logical book, and I would reccomend it to anyone, men or women, who want good reasons to exersize, a good way of eating, and to feel better about eating what they want.

This book is excellent. What I particularly liked was that it mentioned small walks that can be taken in the areas that we visited, as well as archeological sites and wildlife viewing areas, all in my areas of interest.

In planning a trip to Nova Scotia (somewhere I have never been) I used this book extensively. We enjoy hiking, kayaking and general sight-seeing. This book not only provided information on outdoor activities but also on lodging, dining and driving as well as the history of the areas in Nova Scotia. It provides a wealth of information and made our stay much more enjoyable than if we just went there not knowing anything. We brought it along and it was a very important reference for us as we toured the province. I highly recommend it. After reading several travel books, this was the best one and the only one we took on our trip.

Gotten this book for a new puppy that was given to me. Has some good general information. Not much into the trick sections. All around good book but will get more books on APBT.

This book is very informative and any interested in "pit bulls" or any owners of "pit bulls" should have it and read it.

Anyone standing at the Fishermen's Memorial along Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts will be struck by two things. First, visitors always gravitate to the names at the very end--the familiar names of Capt. Billy Tyne and his five crewmates from the Andrea Gail, lost in The Perfect Storm in 1991. But those who linger are always astonished by the fact that there are more than five thousand other names here--sometimes hundreds of them lost during a single year in the 1800's, often from the same families. This book brings those 19th century years to life, providing a lively glimpse of the Gloucester fishing industry during its height, and a fitting memorial to all those "who go down to the sea in ships."

Joseph Garland reveals this history through the tale of one man--Giant Jim Pattillo, probably the most colorful and independent captain ever to command a Gloucester fishing vessel. A Novie who became a "whitewashed Yankee" when he became a U.S. citizen, Pattillo sailed between Georges Bank, Nova Scotia, and Cape Ann, Massachusetts, during the glory years of 1820 - 1870. Huge in size, immensely strong, and willing to take on anyone when he'd had enough to drink, Pattillo was a brawler who feared nothing and no one, a man who was willing to break the rules and even smuggle when it suited his purpose. Defying storms and all manner of danger, he also defied the restrictions the Crown placed on fishing around Nova Scotia--along with all the Crown's officers and enforcers.

Owner and master of his first fishing vessel in 1820, when he was just fourteen, Pattillo later fished for halibut, mackerel, herring, and cod in pinkeys, smacks, barks, sharpshooters, and schooners, all sailing vessels operating without any supplementary power. Navigation was challenging, to say the least, especially during ferocious storms at night, and the long list of names on the Gloucester memorial attests to the difficulty of keeping these vessels intact during the terrible Atlantic winters. Communication was almost non-existent, and on one occasion, when Pattillo and his crew returned to Gloucester in May, the town was stunned--it had already mourned their deaths, thinking they, like dozens of others, had perished in February.

Garland's impeccably researched tale is a can't-put-it-downer which deserves much more publicity! It's not an exaggeration to say that the insights you gain here about fishing and fishermen will forever change your perceptions of this heroic profession. Through Jim Pattillo, whose career spanned fifty tumultuous years, Garland provides a comprehensive historical account of the Gloucester - Nova Scotia fishing fleet, giving a context to more modern stories, such as The Perfect Storm, often thought to be unique. As a result, these modern accounts may now rightly assume their place as part of Gloucester's centuries-old, seafaring history, their crews members of the more than 5300-man fraternity of those "who go down to the sea in ships."

Bear of the Sea covers a lot of ground - fishing grounds off Nova Scotia and New England, legal grounds relative to smuggling and the patroling of national fishing grounds, grounds for justifiable homicide.... The book reads like a fable of a sea-going Paul Bunyon and is written so that you get the feeling you are right there with Pattillo in storm and calm, in bar room brawls and the management of a large fishing enterprise, all the while wondering "Was there really such a man?" Taking the word "fabulous" in both current meanings, this story fits the bill as a great read of a man larger than his time, larger than his native land. It is entertaining, accurate as to weather and place. You can almost smell the fish and feel the damp fog. Almost as gripping as Endurance or Sailing Alone Around the World, similar to Jack London's reports of his time on the Fish Patrol. Garland writes with a delightful sense of humor about the real-life Jim Pattillo from original sources. Well worth the price.