P Books

OK, I have been changing my review of this book for a couple of times. The first time I considered it was a three stars book because I was expecting someting else. Then I read the book again and I changed my mind about it. This is the third time I read it and now I can say this book is mind blowing. If you want to write bestsellers this as a good place to come and learn.

I just love how the author defends commercial writing and put it above the so-called "art writing". In recent times I've come across people and schools that look down at commercial writing and think their "artful writing" is much more valuable. I think not. Koontz proves his case by talking about some of the most successful writers of all times. Does Dickens sound familiar. Well, he's just one example of many.

Also, there are hidden jewels in this text. For example, I bought a dvd workshop that talks about a very exclusive method to develop a plot. This workshop claims that you will find this method in very few places. They sell this workshop with some degree of hype. Well Koontz explains the whole thing in a couple of pages -no hype, just the truth about the plot points common to all good and selling fiction. So, with Koontz you get the very best information on how to grow a plot without hype.

Another example of the secrets in this book has to do with methodology. Like it or not, the most difficult aspect to grasp about writing is methodology. How does a writer create? How does a writer come up with story ideas? Well, I have had to search in many many books on this topic. After searching a lot I found some very good ideas on the best methods to write stories. Then I came back and read Koontz again... and guess what? Yes! Some of those methods are right here.

I really don't know why the first time I read Koonts work I didn't see how rich and valuable it was. It has gone way up in my list of favorite creative writing books. It is now close to "Techniques of the Selling Writer" by Swain -which is still the best book I've found on creative writing so far.


Now, as time has passed I can see why many people like it. If you ask me, all I can say is that the book is not so much about techniques of effective writing. The book does address some techniques but the real main subject of this book is way of thinking about good selling fiction. The author presents a series of arguments to support his idea of what he calls "main stream fiction". On the one hand there are the "academic creative writing" books. Koonz gives reasons why you should run in the opposite direction when ever that kind of books and approach to writing is trying to influence you. On the other hand there are the "formulaic genre books" such as mystery novels, romance novels, etc. Koonz gives reasons why you should not under any circumstance choose that path.

Without "academic fiction" and "genre fiction" what do we have left? Main stream fiction. The rest of the book is an explanation of how main stream fiction differs from "academic fiction" and "genre fiction".

In some ways this book has a high dosis of Zen for writers. It is about your approach to writing and how to turn your writing into the most popular writing it can ever be.

Table of content.

1. A brief explanation of the author purpose.
2. Writing the great American novel.
3. The changing marketplace.
4. Creating and structuring a story line.
5. Action, action, action.
6. Heroes and heroines.
7. Creating believable characters.
8. Achieving plausibility through believable character motivation.
9. Background.
10. Grammar and Syntax.
11. Style.
12. Two Genres: Science Fiction and Mysteries.
13. A few more pitfalls to avoid.
14. Selling what you write.
15. Read, read, read.

This must be a re-issue of the same book that Koontz published in 1974, in which he lays down exactly the way you write a best seller. I only have a copy of that book in Xerox. Anyway, he tells the most important secrets here. If you're ready to understand what he's talking about, you can use this to base a novel-writing career. No exaggeration. Fantastic book. Changed my life.

Dean Koontz is a master at his storytelling craft. This book has been read and re-read as it's been on my shelf for more than 20 years. The advice has stood the test of time and it's invaluable for any fiction author.

In the first chapter, Koontz provides three key reasons why this book is worth your time.

"1. I am going to point out a couople of hundred pitfalls into which new writers always fall. I fell into every one of them, and I still have a few bruises to prove it. If my warnings help you avoid just a few of those traps, or if I am able to help you climb out of them more quickly than you otherwise might, you will probably save weeks, months, even years in your struggle to obtain the goals you have set for yourself.
2. This book will be more blunt and more honest about the hows and whys of marketing fiction than any book has ever been before. I will tell you about the strengths, weakness, successes, and failure of editors and publishers. I will tell you about the strengths that make a writer succeed, and I will warn you about the weaknesses and self-delusions that cause some writers to fail. I will lead you through the maze of book contracts and explain some of the more insidious and odious clauses that publishers try to slip past unwary authors. In the process, some myths will be shattered, including the one which would have you believe publishing is a refined, sensitive, gentlemanly business.
3. One of the most valuable things to be obtained from a book of this sort is the knowledge that you are not alone in your madness, that your obsession with words and stories is not as rare as you think. There are others of us who share your burning if somewhat irrational need to write and publish fiction."

Get this book. It's priceless.

This is a great book on writing that was written by Dean Koontz when he was a relatively unknown 35-year old writer of paperback suspense novels. This book was written in 1981 and is no longer in print. It is very difficult to find, and old copies can sell for over a hundred dollars.

In HOW TO WRITE BEST SELLING FICTION, Koontz offers solid advice on how to create a good plot, interesting characters, good dialogue, and fast-paced action sequences. He also offers some common sense advice on how to write a popular novel that is marketable. This book is VERY well written and is just as good as Stephen King's ON WRITING in my opinion.

Koontz also offers a lengthy chapter where he offers his honest opinion on many of the famous writers of his day. I found this section quite fascinating to read. Throughout this book, Koontz also discusses his own past history as a writer, making this the closest thing to a memoir that Koontz has ever written.

I know quite a few established writers who were heavily influenced by this book. Is it worth one hundred dollars? Probably not. Given dramatic changes in the book industry, parts of this book are severely out-of-date. I recently read an interview with Dean Koontz where he admitted as much, which may explain why this book has been out of print for such a long time.

Unfortunately, Koontz has no current plans to update this book, so your best bet is to look for this book in your local library, which is where I found my copy.

This is the Bible for anyone who wants to write good commercial fiction. His no-b.s. approach to writing is refreshing in an area filled with mediocre books. This book may be expensive and hard to find (it should be updated, or at least brought back in print), but is well worth the effort in tracking it down, as much of what he says is still valid.

This is a great story told from the perspective of the dog. The unconventional format was enlightening to our child who is used to reading stories told by little girls or other narrators.

I came across this book in a Goodwill pile and paid all of 49 cents for it. What a gem! I read several chapters in the car before I left the parking lot and laughed out loud! Brought it home to my 13 year old son who finished it faster than any book I've known him to read, and just lent it to my adult (over 50) male office mate this morning. He and the book have disappeared (hmmm) so it must be reminding him of his older yellow lab. I don't know which is funnier, Jack or the cats' commentaries. I am not even a "dog person" and think this book is a lot of fun. You know that dogs must be thinking this sort of thing, and cats as well. I recommend this book to anyone, any age... it is a hoot. And I am glad to see that Jack has written another book recently!

I bought this book for my 7 year old daughter at her school book fair, along with several other paperbacks. She devoured it and kept insisting that I read it. I said ok, thinking I want to encourage her love of reading and knowing how much fun it is to recommend a good book to someone so you can then talk about it when they are finished. I did not expect to enjoy it so thoroughly, however! I laughed right out loud, highly recommnended it to my husband when I was finished, and read it to my younger son soon after I had finished it the first time. I laughed while reading it to him, too! If you've ever wondered what the heck a dog must be thinking to do what he/she does, this book is of tremendous help. I often find myself thinking in Jack-terms when dealing with our 18 month old Chocolate Lab. I just purchased the next Jack book and thought I'd take a minute to add my positive review of the first.

My 9 year old sons and I have laughed ourselves silly reading aloud this book. The author does a wonderful job of getting inside the mind of a big goofy yellow lab. Jack's "voice" could fit every labrador I've ever met. The boys could easily read it on their own, but reading it aloud is so much more fun. Even kids who don't like to read would have a hard time putting down this book.

Reluctant readers will actually clamor to read this book aloud to others because of the howls of laughter that ensue. Jack, in his exuberant love of life and canine innocence, is a most engaging character.

This book is an eye opener to Christians who think the first commandment is no sweat and they have it down packed. I highly recommend this book.

I love this book. It has been like my devotional for many days now and every page is a treasure. It has given me so much insight regarding my own spiritual self. I have become aware of how and why I think or act the way I do. I highly recommend it for every person who wants to understand the Christian life and herself.

The country in which I live takes great pride in one little phrase, "freedom of religion." America's founding documents protect her citizens from compulsory worship. The government does not dictate to its citizens what worship is appropriate or inappropriate, when worship occurs, or who (or what) is worthy of our worship. Citizens are free to not attend worship of any kind, if they so choose. Some people even choose to deny the existence of deity at all, and do so without fear of repercussion. We wonder in disbelief as citizens of foreign lands prostrate themselves before golden statues or make offerings to strange-looking goddesses. 'Can't they see it's just a statue?' we wonder. What few understand, however, is that, while we may not bow to a statue, our hearts are taken with insidious idols of all kinds.

It was during a 12-day trip to the Orient that Elyse Fitzpatrick witnessed blatant idolatry. That experience became the impetus for her book, Idols of the Heart, Learning to Long for God Alone. She teaches that idolatry is not so much an outward act, but the root of all sin springing from our hearts. God has commanded that we have no other gods before Him. Our enjoyment of God hinges on how we go about identifying our sins and grinding out our root idols. Fitzpatrick writes, "This book is written for those of you who desire to live a godly life and yet find yourself in a recurrently disappointing struggle against habitual sin. This book is written for you who find yourself constantly tripping over the same bad habit, the same embarrassing weakness, the same sinful slavery that you hoped to be free of years ago. In this book you'll learn that idolatry lies at the heart of every besetting sin that we struggle with."

Fitzpatrick begins each chapter by providing helpful character studies of various people in the Bible, people who either were or were not bound by idolatry: Rachel, Martha, Abraham, Eli, Lot's wife, Eve, Josiah, and Jesus, to name a few. Through these character sketches, she explains what idolatry is, what it isn't, how to recognize it, and what to do about it. No two people will create the same idol for the same reason, so how does one know when she is worshiping an idol? Fitzpatrick offers a helpful principle: "If you're willing to sin to obtain your goal or if you sin when you don't get what you want, then your desire has taken God's place and you're functioning as an idolater." In addition to a few guiding principles, Fitzpatrick assists her readers toward an understanding of the roles our minds, hearts, wills, and emotions play when it comes to sin and its defeat.

While we do have work to do in the tearing down of our idols, Fitzpatrick is faithful to what Scripture teaches regarding the sovereign rule of God over our hearts. Indeed, we would have no hope were it not for the work He has already performed for us. And a knowledge of what He has already done makes us certain that He will be faithful to finish His work in us. Though she doesn't always use the terms, Fitzpatrick gently guides her readers to understand several key doctrines: salvation, repentance, substitutionary atonement, double imputation, and sanctification. The absence of these truths is what is missing in the most popular books for women regarding freedom from sin.

Each chapter ends with questions for further thinking and self-evaluation. The questions are designed to help the reader identify her idols and apply God's word. Each one moves the reader along to practicing the process of sanctification, putting off sinful thoughts, desires, etc., submitting our hearts to God's holy word, and putting on righteousness (following through with a righteous act in opposition to the sinful one). One thing I learned is that my repentance is not complete until I have followed through with a specific "put on" action.

There are many things about this book that I appreciate. It includes three helpful appendices ("Discovering Sinful Patterns and False Gods," "What It Means to be Legalistic," and "How Can You Know If You Are a Christian"), extensive notes, and a scripture index. Obviously, Elyse Fitzpatrick is a woman. She writes like a woman who cares for women. She understands our fears and insecurities, why we hold on to the things we do, how we can be overly emotional about life and children, and what lengths we'll go to achieve happiness. As a woman of God, she understands our even deeper need to find our greatest joy and satisfaction in God alone. She writes, "Learning to take great delight and joy in God is the strongest deterrent to idolatry." I heartily recommend this book to any woman who desires to make God her never-ending joy and great delight!

You will learn more about human psychology in this one volume than you will ever learn in years of studying Freud, Skinner, Rogers, or anyone else for that matter. Grounded in scriptural teachings like Ezek. 14:3-5, James 4:1-3 and Jonah 2:8 (among many others), this exposition of the idolatry that is rampant in the hearts of humans of every stripe (including Christians, sadly) will provide invaluable insights into what's REALLY going on inside the head and heart of your counselee.

The doctrines laid out in this book have such broad application in so many areas of life, and to such a wide range of counseling issues, that it has become integrated into the standard counseling curriculum for many nouthetic counselors regardless of the counselee's specific presentation problems. If you want to become an effective Christian counselor, you really need to have a grasp on these issues and incorporate them into your counseling practice. Even if you're not a counselor, these teachings are insightful for understanding your own life, thoughts, actions, family, etc. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

This is an excellent study!!! You need to be wearing steel-toed shoes while reading it, though! It is very convicting and the author tells it 'like it is'
I recommend this book highly if you want a closer walk with God!!

Although this book was dated when I read it and is probably now considered a history book, I found it very enlighening and informative. I think perhaps the author tends to protect Kennedy and Roosevelt(II) but it is still a very good book. It reads very easily and has that Schlesneger signature. I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in presidential history.

We read this in college and it was one of the best books we ever saw on American politics and I read it again last week. Ir shows that it is not a good idea always to have presidents who get too powerful.

Does history repeat itself? Sure seems like it. Scary stuff.

The year before George W. Bush took office as president I attended a professional conference where a graduate student offered a paper that posed the question whether Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.'s "Imperial Presidency" was still valid. Quite a debate ensued. Today, in the wake of the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war, and its application in Iraq, I am compelled to offer that this revised volume, with new introduction, answers the previous question with a resounding yea. This has been a very important volume in the study of the presidency, especially regarding the constitution, foreign policy, and war. In the shadow of the Iraqi affair, I would go one step further and say it is a vital work in these troubled times. No, the era of the Imperial Presidency never really went away; and yes, it is a vital concern for the future of the republic and global stability. Schlesinger has recognized this and once again warns us of pending dangers.

Although this book focuses on Richard Nixon's abuse of Presidential power, it can apply to the present day as well. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush have all extended the power of the Presidency in ways the framers of the Constitution would never have dreamed of. I agree with the reviewer who commented about the favoritism towards Kennedy and Roosevelt hence the four stars rather than five. A great read for anyone interested in the American Constitution as it relates to the powers of the President.

Dr. Megargee overturns decades of conventional wisdom about the responsibility for Germany's loss in the Second World War. Although unsparing in his criticism of Hitler, on any number of subjects, he goes further than any author that I am aware of in portraying the lack of strategic vision on major issues of national political and economic goals, the short-sighted and self-serving carving-out of personal empires in the byzantine structure of the German High Command, inter-office and inter-service rivalry, and the the emphasis on the spiritual over the material that manifested itself most dangerously in the long-standing institutional disregard for intelligence work and logistics that made Germany's loss nearly a foregone conclusion upon the launch of Operation Barbarossa in 1941.

Extensively researched and thoroughly documented, as well as clearly and engagingly written, this book is a significant addition to the scholarly literature on the German armed forces in WWII, as well as a refreshing antidote to the tiresome rehashing of the Führer's blunders and the self-exculpatory memoirs of numerous German officers that appeared in the wake of Germany's defeat. Strongly recommended for those interested in the subject, and another fine work of military history from the University Press of Kansas.

This is a great work of modern military history, by a top notch historian. Most good monographs rate 4 stars, but this is a case of using the Showalter formula even better than Showalter! Thorough, provocative, and very well written.

This book is one of the spate of recent works "proving" the guilt of the Germans in general instead of just Hitler and the Nazis, but is far better written than most and actually offers a point for discussion. I recommend a purchase and a close read.

There is little new information (if any) here, but the author's description of the functioning of the General Staff, the OKH and OKW from pages 17 to 101 is particularly easy to understand, and I say this as someone who first read Goerlitz's "History of The German General Staff" at the age of fifteen in 1954. It is this part that makes the book worth the price of admission.

Chapters 10, 11 and 12, offer nothing new except for one-sided cherry-picked references tending to support the author's far-reaching conclusions. Nonetheless, such support is weak at best. From time to time the author seems to understand this, but then he goes ahead and states his questionable conclusions anyway. For example, even though the author is quick to point out (& accurately) that memoirs are often self-aggrandizing, he uses a sole, questionable source (Lossberg) to describe Jodl's attitudes at the end of 1941 and his agreement that Manstein, at the time a newly-baked army commander, and someone who had never been responsible for more than one panzer division in his earlier corps and now 11th Army, was the leading general to assume overall command of the eastern front. Very doubtful, and something that cannot be verified!

The author correctly points out that many higher-ranking officers like Beck believed that Germany's only hope lay in winning a short, decisive military conflict rather than an economic or diplomatic course of action. Yep! Like a bridge player who carefully studies his cards and sees that there is only one course of action that might win the contract, he takes the sole option open to him. When it doesn't succeed, one should not criticism the player for not having used another strategy UNLESS IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT THE STRATEGY COULD (not would) HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. Unfortunately, this is exactly what the author does without showing any realistic basis for alternatives. The player can be criticized for making the contract in the first place, but that was never the function of either the OKW or the OKH. I was also amused to see that the author took a similar position to the German defeat in World War I -- the high command again attempted to apply an operational solution to a strategic problem. Once more for the West Coast, what would the author have recommended they do? That he doesn't state.

Yes, intelligence concerning the Soviets was almost nil, but military intelligence world-wide has been notorious for being poor except in combat conditions. The US was and is no exception to this rule, and Ultra (not mentioned by the author) was indispensable to the Allies (most notably in North Africa.) In a limited time frame like that for Barbarossa, one does the best one can. As far as logistics are concerned, the German economy was not put on a total war footing until Speer did it in 1944 with the resulting improvements in production. Of course, by then it was too late, and at any rate, that was not within the purview of either the OKW or OKH. And the US also used the term "supply" just like the Germans. With regards to personnel, the Germans only had one chance against the Soviet Union and that was denied them by Hitler's racial policies. The Germans needed to fight a "War of Liberation" against the Communists, setting up puppet governments in the non-Russian states and utilizing their manpower. In spite of everything, the number of Hiwis was enormous and Russian units like Cossacks and the Vaslov Army still opted to fight alongside the Germans. But again, this was not an option open to the OKW or OKH. So given the situation, what was the high command to do? The author is silent on this point, but condemns the General Staff anyway. One feels compelled to point out that Beck paid the ultimate price, Fritsch sought death before Warsaw, and Halder narrowly escaped execution before the war's end.

Yes, there was a culture in the General Staff that viewed the Versailles Diktat (it was not a negotiated treaty) as unbearable and to be torn up as soon as possible. Yes, they wanted to regain lost territories. That is hardly new or difficult to understand in the light of history. To the extent that Hitler's aims coincided with theirs, the German senior commanders supported him. To their regret, they found themselves riding on the back of the tiger. Even at the end, von Bock's last words were to Manstein, "Manstein, save Germany!"

For a much fuller treatment on the German officer mindset that the author only alludes to, see Robert Citino, "The German Way of War."

Military personnel are normally conservative (as the author points out), and the General Staff operated much like they did in 1870. Insofar as their opponents were incompetent like the Polish, French, and British, they won easily through aggressiveness and vastly superior training. The US Army adopted much if not all of the German leadership doctrine and training methods after World War II, recognizing that US performance in Europe was spotty at best. War gamers traditionally equate three American soldiers to two Germans, and Marshall's contention that over 40% of American infantrymen refused to fire their rifles in combat brings "the greatest generation" into question. Live-fire training has never been possible to any degree in the American Army, mostly due to objections by civilians for the casualties it causes. Of course, another reason the Germans fought so well is that they executed over 30,000 of their own military personnel in the course of the war for a wide range of offenses.

That the Officer Corps was not prepared to conduct a modern war with the necessary personnel, logistics, intelligence, and economic basis is correct. But neither were the French, Polish, British, Japanese or Russians. The Axis were defeated through a combination of British and American code-breaking, Russian manpower, and American logistics and economic power. The US struggled to put 90 divisions on the ground in Europe, but changed the Red Army into a mechanized force while the Wehrmacht became increasingly dependent on horses. Yes, the German machines were good, but German engineers tinkered their way to oblivion and prevented mass production.

The author sums up with the following statement: "The myth persists of a supremely talented, if politically naive and ambitious, German officer corps being led unwillingly into war and defeat by a ruthless dictator, a megalomaniac with no understanding of the military art." If one removes the word "unwillingly" and tones down "supremely", that "myth" would seem to be true. Nor do I know any serious scholar that believes in the myth as stated. Maybe some portion of the readership does, but only if they are not well-read on the subject. The author then states an untruth: "They (the officer corps) made strategic decisions, independently and in support of Hitler's, that started a war...." I know of no strategic decisions made independently by the German officer corps or high command that started World War II. Maybe the author can enlighten me. They didn't even make strategic decisions in support of Hitler that started the war unless you count their support of Hitler himself during the crises of 1933 and 1934. For that focus on Hammerstein-Equord, Blomberg, and those that refused to back Fritsch.

The author also castigates the Officer Corps for continuing the war after its futility should have been obvious. Gee, that was why Halder resigned. One is also tempted to castigate Robert E. Lee and Confederate commanders for continuing the Civil War after the fall of Atlanta. But like German officers, (& the German opposition had already been told in no uncertain terms that the Allies would not help them), they could not rise in rebellion -- they could only play their cards as they were dealt and hope for the best. Maybe a miracle would take place -- it has before. Only in hindsight is everything so clear.

Like I said -- this book is an excellent starting point for discussion. But I deplore the current trend by the author, Wolfram Wette, and others -- they represent the pendulum swinging too far in the opposite direction from the memoir literature of the 50s and earlier studies.

And lastly, I must register my objection to the author's dissertation advisor writing the Foreword and even being referenced on the title page. It should have been enough for the author to acknowledge Murray in his Preface. Moreover, Murray clearly shills for the author, using adjectives like "outstanding" and "extraordinary." Obviously the standards of objectivity and propriety in the academic world (or Ohio State at least) have changed, and not for the better.

This is an excellent study of the highest levels of the German Army during WWII. But I think the main lesson is that there was no high command, at least in the sense the British and the Americans had one. Hitler and the generals around him spent their time micromanaging the Eastern Front with occasional interference in African and European battles. Hitler acted as if he were the counterpart of Eisenhower, not Marshall or Brooke. It is as if Rosevelt were to have sent Eisenhower daily detailed instructions on where to attack and what to defend.

The problem was only partially Hitler's. The Germans never really created a staff to manage a global conflict. Hadler resented Hitler's inferference, but because it was usually stupid, not because Hitler should have been managing the war, not the battles. The Germans were superb at what they considered the "operational" level of command--the control of armies on a single battlefield. But they never looked at the "big picture."

The book also proves that the German army high command, such as it was, had serious failings. They simply did not understand the logistics of a campaign as vast as the Eastern Front. Nor did they have the intelligence gathering capacity to estimate what they were getting into when they attacked the Soviet Union. Worse, they did not even realize their problems.

This book can teach a lot about why people frequently fail to understand and act upon hard facts. Learning this can help avoid future disasters of any sort.

This book is an attempt to re-write what has been the conventional view of the relation between Adolph Hilter and the German General Staff. After the war, Hitler was conveniently dead and that allowed the German Generals to put out a version of history that was accepted for some years but was at odds with the truth. The German Generals had towed the line that they were politically neutral prior to the 1930?s and that they had not been supporters of Nazi aims. Further that they opposed some aspects of Nazi war aims and acted in a professional way. Lastly they were highly competent and might have won the war if it had not had been for Hitler continually interfering with their operational plans.

Megargee argues convincingly that the German Generals had a political agenda similar to the Nazis. That is they supported the abrogation of the Treaty of Versailles, they wanted an end to democracy and they wanted Germany to rearm and to become a great power again. A large number of Generals such as Rommel, Guderian, Zeitzler and Reichenau were if not committed Nazis, enthusiastic barrackers yelling support from the sidelines.

One interesting point is Megaree?s estimation of the ability of the German Generals. After the war a large number wrote memoirs in which they modestly estimated themselves as pretty good. Megaree concedes that from an operational point of view the German army did well. However it was vulnerable in a number of respects. The key mistake made by Germany in the war was the attack on the Soviet Union. It would seem clear that the planning for operation Barbarossa was deeply flawed. For instance the Germans knew nothing of the actual strength of the forces against them. (The Soviets had 5 million men, 20,000 tanks and 20,000 aircraft to the German?s 3million 3,200 and 3000 respectively) In addition the Germans had no clear plan of defeating the Soviets. Barbarossa was based on the hope that the bulk of Soviet forces could be destroyed near the Polish border. It was then hoped that the Soviets might give in or the government would collapse. However if this did not eventuate the Germans had massive supply problems. They had limited fuel, and they could not use the Soviet railway system until they changed the gauge. In fact when the Soviets failed to collapse the Germans suffered massive supply problems, not being able to supply their troops with winter clothing and struggling to maintain ammunition levels and fuel and spares for their vehicles and planes.

Thus throughout the war the German Army acted as if intelligence was not really worth worrying about and that supply was a problem which could be overcome by an act of will. This deficiency was not a problem in initial war in the west, as the distances were so small and the French and British acted incompetently when faced by the German advance. However against the Soviets it was fatal.

Megargee summarises the weakness of the German generals as one of a strategic weakness. It was one that they shared with Hitler and in fact it is clear that they had little insight into the reason for their defeat even after the finish of the war.

Another issue dealt with by the book is the question of the role of Hitler?s leadership in bringing about the loss of the war for Germany. Megargee clearly shows that it was only in the later part of the war (1944) that tensions arose between Hitler and the Generals. By this time the war was lost. Over the big decisions there was not a lot of disagreement.

This book although expensive is short and easy to read. It is interesting not just for those interested in the war, but it illustrates how history can be distorted by over reliance on self serving material.

"Into the Mystic", was a most enjoyable and enlightening experience. The author helped me realize that, as a person with no psychic ability whatsoever, it was still possible for me to act as a conduit for someone else.

A friend who possesses a great deal of spirituality and psychic ability suggested that I join him at a drumming circle. The people at the circle were warm and welcoming. Each of the distinct sessions of the evening was carefully explained prior to group participation. One particular session required that you partner with a stranger, make physical contact (i.e. touching of an arm or leg), and act as a pathway or messenger from the spiritual world to the here and now. My partner happened to be an elderly woman who seemed troubled. We made contact by touching a leg and proceeded through the session. At the conclusion of the session you are required to express what the spiritual world had revealed to you for your partner. I did not believe that I had received anything that would help the old woman but she still seemed so troubled. I decided that she needed to rid herself of whatever it was that was troubling her. I told her that she had been carrying a burden for a very long time, and she had carried it long enough. It was time to place the burden down and enjoy her life. The woman seemed a little overwhelmed and so very appreciative. The evening ended as it had begun, very comfortably. On the way home I explained to the friend that had brought me to the circle what had transpired with the old woman. I was a little disappointed, but not surprised, by my failure to receive a message for the old woman until I read, "Into the Mystic".

Reading this book made me realize that my experience with the old woman seemed disappointing because I was viewing it from my perspective and not hers. I did not sense a message, or for that matter, anything else. "Into the Mystic", made me realize that it wasn't about me it was about HER. What I related to the old woman following the session was the message. The fact that I didn't understand the message did not detract from the message or its effect on the old woman.

Thank you Dennis P. McMahon for helping me see through the mist(ic)....

Dennis McMahon's book is about his personal spiritual journey that "normal people" can thoroughly enjoy. Not a professed "mystic" himself but an ordinary guy from Brooklyn, his journey begins with a visitation from his son, now a teen in the afterlife, who had died as an infant. Soon realizing he has the ability to "talk to dead people", he listens to their advice -- not just what he hears in his head, but noticing synchronistic messages and clues from license plates and the appearance of certain numbers at times when he needs feedback. He realizes that this is one way that spirits can get messages across to their earthly subjects.
He struggles with severe claustrophobia, which is healed by the end of the book by following his spirit guides' promptings. He joins a mystical shamanic drum circle which was very healing. I must thank Dennis for explaining what they are, as I have never understood what a drum circle was all about. All in all, an easy read, and inspirational for anyone who deals with phobias or fears they need to overcome, or anyone newly embarking on their spiritual journey. Dennis's book feels like a warm friend.

If you have ever wondered about what it is like to experience a mystical adventure, then you will enjoy this book. Dennis is a regular guy having extraordinary experiences as he makes contact with the spiritual realm. You will journey with him as he seeks confirmation on particular decisions he must make and receives it through signs from his Spirit helpers and guides. Learn how our loved ones who have crossed over can communicate with us using simple methods such as license plate numbers and letters as well as songs on the radio.

Dennis, or "Dino" - his nickname, is a moderator for a chat forum I've been visiting daily for over two years. He is also an attorney! The book is about how, because of the loss of his infant son, he began a "mystical" Journey. He touches on Spirit contact, Guides, Special Numbers, Past Lives, even Shamanism, but all from his own personal experiences. Every chapter was a pleasure and I was sorry when the last one ended.

The book was excellent in its personal vulnerability and its humanity. It explored mysticism, shared deep and personal stories, and it did so from the vantage of a "you and me" vantage. The author is not a famed mystic, just another person like you and me.
Thank you, Dennis, for a great story.

I FOUND THIS TO BE A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN PIECE OF WESTERN HISTORY BY A FASCINATING AND ACCOMPLISHED MAN, WITH HEAVY EMPHASIS ON "MAN"......BY THE WAY, JOE FUSSELL WAS MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER!! JOSEPH B. "JOE" JOHNSON

Bob Fussell's treatment of his grandfather J.B. Fussell's autobiography brings to mind a word not often associated with literature: verisimilitude. What makes this account fascinating is that not only is it true, but it rings true. This book should be required reading for every 12-year-old boy and girl in America; boys need to know how to be men and girls need to know what to look for in a man later on in their lives. America could use several million J.B. Fussells about now.

Unbridled Cowboy is the autobiography of author Joseph B. Fussell, a free spirit who sought his own destiny in the wild American Southwest during the late 1800s. At the young age of fourteen, Joe Fussell took to the rails to escape the school and harsh authority that chafed him. He became a roving cowpuncher in Texas territory, rustling cattle, tilling land, working in stables, and hitting the road whenever wanderlust stirred. Unbridled Cowboy is filled cover to cover with riveting true tales of undercover work as a Texas Ranger, life on the railroads, and rough justice. A captivating true life narrative of the wild west.

Unbridled Cowboy, the autobiography of Joe Fussell, is well written and brings the reader a vivid and realistic portrait of the man and his life. His story telling ability paints a vivid and sometimes raw reality. He brings to life a period of American and western history from a personal point of view that was fraught with change and upheaval.

While reading I found myself sitting next to Joe and hearing him telling me his life story. The ease with which he wrote of his life makes this book an enjoyable journey with a fascinating man.

Here's the skinny. I've read thousands of books over the years. I keep a few; the rest I give away to friends or the library. This book is a keeper. Why? I will read this book many times and still be astonished by the history, this amazing man Joe Fussell, and how far this once great country of ours has deteriorated in a century.
The first thought that entered my mind on finishing this book was, "I wish there was more." The second thought was that a man like Joe Fussell would have made an incredible president. In TR's time, when a young man chose to ditch public school at age 14 because he had "itchy feet", he didn't get Ritalin stuffed down his throat--he left home to make his own way. Fussell was a man so full of common sense, intelligence and integrity that the USA would have been privileged to have someone of his ilk as their leader. But alas, with no "education" except life, he was destined to become a laborer. And labor he did.
The chapter on Fussell's adventures in Mexico as a youth are more riveting than anything Hollywood will ever turn out. His depiction of his railroad career reads like you were switching cars alongside him. Fussell is a storyteller akin to Twain. I am still amazed he avoided jail, but then it was a century ago. Different times--a wonderful time in our country. Get this book. Its a keeper.
Norman Woodworth, DVM

As a new small business owner, I was given this book by a friend who told me that there were valuable lessons inside that might help develop my own firm. I thanked them and put the book aside, intending to read it at a later date when the hectic days of building my business were passed. One late night, after another long day I collapsed into bed and having this on my bedside table, thought I would pick it up and read a chapter to get a feel for it.

That night I stayed up until 4 am reading, and completed the book later the next day. I realized immediately that the lessons in this book were immensely valuable to me as my start-up business grew and how fortunate I was to read the practical lessons the book offers while I was still in a position to develop the culture and methodology of my firm. Ultimately, I was able to save countless hours of wasted effort and incorporate future business planning via the lessons learned in this book.

The authors use a combination of practical knowledge and experience to bring the running of your business to the forefront of the discussion. Mr Wilk and Dr McGuire present short chapters in which advice about such basic elements as accounting, customer service, dealing with employees and keeping them happy are uniquely addressed. The result is an incredibly easy and enjoyable read. Forget the long business case studies from Harvard, what a new business owner needs is practical advice delivered in an easy-to-understand format. In this regard, the authors have excelled and the result is a book that may be read cover-to-cover or just picked up and perused.

The authors hail from Maine, where folks are known for getting to the point and not using ten works when two will suffice. Perhaps this is one the most unique and enjoyable aspects of this book is that it is devoid of pretentiousness without being overtly "folksy." The bottom line is the authors are two people like most business owners: they have begun start-ups in small town America with their own collateral, hard-work and commitment as the backbone of their ventures. If you are a small business owner like me, ask yourself this: "who is more likely to understand the lessons you must go through to turn your dream into a successful business? A Harvard Business School Student writing a book for his thesis, or a lawyer and a doctor from a regular American town who have started their own businesses, learned the lessons the hard way, and are there to share their experiences in a practical and humorous way?"

I'm not sure this book could have been written by anyone outside of Maine. Probably nowhere else in the United States will you find people who combine such a strong, practical, work ethic with such a dry sense of humor. This book was never boring, always funny, relevant and interspersed with practical examples.

This year our business will approach billings of $750,000. This is rapid growth for a firm under six months old. Along the way we have had to sort our accountancy issues, hire employees, allocate resources and develop and then re-define our business plan. I estimate that the time, lessons, and examples found within this book have contributed to a savings of over $65,000. It's little wonder that I've bought copies of this superb work and given it to friend and associates who own their own businesses.

This could be the best investment you ever make in your growing business...

As a teacher and non-profit manager, I found "It's Your Business" to be a useful resource in my work. The book reinforced the notion that attending to the needs of my "internal customers" - my students and employees - is as critical to the success of my classroom and business as attending to the needs of my "external customers" - parents, school administrators, and the recipients of my non-profit organization's services. At the core of Marty Wilk's and Peter McGuire's practical and accessible volume is genuine respect for business enterprise and heartfelt optimism about what can be achieved for the good of the business, employee, community, and environment when their common sense recommendations are applied. Readers need not hold an MBA to understand and benefit from "It's Your Business"; rather, they need only the willingness to examine their own business (or teaching) practices through the customer-service focused lens of these knowledgable authors who constructively point the way to a business's deep and lasting success.

This book is among the "Best of Breed" business books I've encountered, and I've studied many business books. As a CPA and business owner, I found the advice practical, actionable and you don't need a Harvard MBA to understand and act on it. The authors bring real life relevant business experience in a format that is easily understandable and is immediately applicable. The book can be read cover to cover, but its handbook format allows the reader to pick a topic that is of immediate interest, dive in, learn or reinforce best practices and move on.

This is a well written book replete with advice for any business wishing to create customer loyalty. The real world examples provide valuable lessons for creating a customer focused environment in businesses of any size.

A very user-friendly guide to help anyone with customers: corporate businesses, phyisician offices, academic settings, etc. The real world examples made it easy to relate to. I come from a business and academic background and I plan to put the tools to work!

Horn's work is well-written and provides insight into both the English and the local Indian population in early Virginia. Solid details are provided along with a fair assessment of both English and Native culture and religious underpinnings. Highly recommended for research and presentations.

Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first permanent settlement established by the English in what was later to become the United States. But more attention has been given by most Americans to the 1620 founding of the Plymouth colony, partially because it is more easy to romantically mythologize the story of the Pilgrims who came seeking "religious freedom" than the largely commercial interests of the Jamestown colonists.

However, the Jamestown story has its own set of myths, the most obvious being the supposed saving of John Smith's life by Pocahontas. Horn does an effective job of demonstrating this to be a likely falsehood. Instead Smith is shown to be an arrogant leader who was despised by most of the colonists and ended up returning to England a failure. He was replaced by Sir Thomas Dale, who turned out to be a somewhat more effective leader. But it really wasn't until the discovery of tobacco as a viable cash crop that Jamestown became anything approaching a commercial success. Prior to this the colonists lived on the verge of starvation, dependent on the Indians for corn in order to survive.

But Horn also shows the high level of tension and violence that existed between the English and the Indians from the beginning. The Powahatan chief, Wahunsonacock, viewed the English with great suspicion that later grew into contempt and a desire to prevent any further incursions of English into Powahatan territory. This resulted in the Indian uprising of 1622, where hundreds of English were killed in a single day. But the English settlers continued to arrive in ever greater numbers and the colony was made permanent.

But this permanence was hardly inevitable. Spain was keeping a close eye on Jamestown as well. They sent several ships up from Florida to investigate. These were all turned back. But still the Spanish could have likely destroyed the Jamestown colony if they had made it a more significant priority. But they chose not to. The two primary reasons being that they had recently concluded a peace treaty in the Netherlands and didn't want to risk further hostilites as well as the fact that they thought it probable that Jamestown would fail on its own without any Spanish interference, an entirely reasonable scenario at the time.

Overall, Horn manages to tell the true story of Jamestown, sharing his vast knowledge in a way that brings this period of history to life and captivates the reader. I also enjoyed reading the numerous quotes he included from John Smith and other primary sources. Perhaps some more attention could have been paid to the arrival of slaves from Africa as well as the distinct class differences between the colony leaders and the workers, many of whom arrived as indentured servants. But still this is an excellent book and comes highly recommended.

As other reviewers have stated, most Americans know precious little about this early English colonial attempt in America; even fewer remember Roanoke, but many recall the Puritan landing at Plymouth Rock.

James Horn has attempted to correct this imbalance by writing this clear, lucid, and colorful history of the settlers at Jamestown - the only thing missing from his title is that this story is almost one of the colonial efforts of the Virginia Company more than just the story of Jamestown. However, the book does focus on the exploits, trials, and tribulations of the early settlers in Jamestown and surrounding plantations.

The book largely focuses on the early years of the settlement, including the exploits of Captain John Smith and the interactions with the native Americans, but runs all the way through the bankruptcy of the Virginia company and the transition from a private enterprise to a royal colony. Horn speculates as to the value of the Jamestown settlement at the conclusion of the book - although his speculation is well reasoned, it would take multiple additional volumes to bring to fruition his thoughts.

Like many people, prior to reading this book my knowledge of Jamestown and early American colonization were quite limited and could have fit in a thimble. Author James Horn has done what will soon be considered a classic and a masterpiece on this subject.
From the initial foothold onto American soil in 1607 by John Smith, Captain Christopher Newport, Bartholomew Gosnold, John Ratcliffe and a total of 144 adventurers, we develop an understanding as to the trials and tribulations of colonizing and conquest in a foreign land spanning two decades of time. Hunger, disease, Indian hostilities and moral fiber are at its tautest for establishing settlements in such a vast unexplored region.
Horn's respectable character analyses of Powhatan Chief Wahunsonacock and his brother Opechancanough, along with the great many other personalities involved on both sides, gives this rendition a profound and discerning look into how America began.
An authoritative and lively read.

I found this book to be most informative and interesting. Horn paints a picture of a dysfunctional settlement that barely endured long enough to become a colony. The conventional wisdom is that the Jamestown settlers were adventurers and younger sons of nobility who sought easy riches and refused to do the work necessary to sustain a settlement such as building and planting. In contrast, the Puritans in New England were hard working, pious, and a much better model for American colonization. I don't know whether the Puritan myth is true, but Horn seems to agree that Jamestown's myth is fairly accurate.

He seems to be ambivalent about John Smith: while he doesn't seem to like Smith much, he describes him as one of the few seeking to get the settlement self-sustaining rather than putting up with idleness and depending on the Indians for food. In this portrayal Smith is very arrogant and makes some serious mistakes, but no more than others, and he does try to establish productive relations with the Indians, which subsequent leaders failed to do.

I particularly liked the author's liberal use of quotations from source material. They made the narrative more lively and more personal. I hope Dr. Horn keeps writing.

This book is a very great book that one can not read it fast. One needs to digest the information. I am very happy to have been told by my teachers to read this book. I am so surprised that libraries don't carry such a great book. After I finish my book I donate it to the library so other people can benefit from it. If you are an spritual person and you are interested in growing your soul read this book.

This is a treasure of a book and is very sacred in nature. There are two editions of this book, the first in 1977. The introduction reveals the history of the text and its translations, and the fascinating history that surrounds the text. See "The Life of Marpa the Translator: Seeing Accomplishes All", by Chogyam Trungpa, for further information regarding its history (both texts were written by the same man). Anyway, the first English translation became available early in the 20th century by W. Y. Evans-Wentz.

I am recalling most of this from memory, so my apologies go out to those who find my data incorrect. I highly recommend the new english translation of "The Life of Milarepa" for anyone seeking the life of saints.

The book quality - new, but not excellent material. Prompt delivery. Thought as a gift, so I had hoped for more. If bought for personal usage, would have been OK.

I think Milarepa was one of the highest levels of enlightened beings ever existed on the planet. Considering the Miracles he did. He is one of the recent enlighten masters, and all this happened a few hundred years ago. He has received little Attention compared to Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and Khrishna. There is defenately a lot to learn from this book, and what he did is worth reading about.

As Milarepa tells his story, one of his disciples interrupts him and says that compared to Milarepa's effort, all of our spiritual practice and effort seems like a banal pretension.

I tend to agree. The story will rekindle your dedication. A great book to get if you are feeling down or if it seems like your spiritual quest is too hard or going nowhere.

It will rekindle your Inner Fire if you give it a chance.