Perry Books

I am reminded by people like George Carver and Booker Washington that I have done so little, while they accomplished so very much. Besides the awe inspiring historical accounts of these two saints, the book is written with a kind of zeal that is obvious to the reader. It is obvious that the author loved writing it as much as we enjoy reading it (either that or he fakes it really well).

I have only a few books that I will make my children read (when they come of age)....this is one of them.

John Perry has delivered the goods as a researcher and biographer. In this book about two luminaries of the 20th Century, who brought the light of their torches from the 19th, we have a book that will inspire everyone. There are places where it will not leave you tearless.

Balance, honesty and contextual historicism are characteristic of Perry's work.

Most reading it will concur with this reviewer that Perry has found a niche in reminding us of those persons of sacrifice who are such a rare type of leader in this 21st century.

Take time to read this book and discover Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver whose lives transcended racial prejudice, reviling, misunderstanding and jealousy.

Perry Stone makes you think. That's the idea of searching and studying. I don't agree with him on everything and he probably doesn't me either. However,I found this an excellent book. Thought provoking and intelligent. Well worth the few dollars paid for it.

Perry Stone's The Pope, The Eagle, and the Iron Sickle: Unusual Prophecies Being Fulfilled, is very interesting stuff. He has the Anti Christ being Muslim, the False Prophet being a final apostate Pope, combined with Marian Apparitions (which are leading both catholic's and Muslims astray), a merger of Catholicism and Islam and a FALSE Christ (who is either the False Prophet or another entity), along with the image of the beast. He uses Biblical prophecy's, Islamic beliefs and Catholics extra biblical prophecy's to draw his conclusions. He is not being dogmatic, only proposing what may happen. When I think about it, Islam being the end time apostate religion makes sense, that would explain why those who do not take the mark of the best are beheaded.

Perry Biddiscombe asserts that historians have overlooked the extent of Nazi partisan warfare during and after World War II. With meticulous research and drawing on U.S., German, French, British and some Soviet sources, the author admirably fills in this void by piecing together an account of Nazi resistance. He focuses on the Nazi Werwolf diversionary groups, part of the SS-Police establishment and closely linked to the Hitler Youth corps. These groups were established to engage in partisan resistance to the invading Allied forces.

Biddiscombe describes their organizational, ideological and social character and follows their development inside a Nazi bureaucracy beset with turf wars and personality clashes. Noting that "the Nazi Reich was hardly a unified totalitarian state, but rather a feudal patchwork of rival fiefs," he adds a geographic element to his analysis, highlighting the regional differences among the werewolf groups within Germany and the differences found in groups outside German territory.

The Nazi resistance or partisan movement began in 1944 as the Allies began to dislodge the German army from occupied territories. Biddiscombe draws on detailed archival materials to describe how support for a resistance movement came from a variety of competing interests within the Third Reich. First established as part of Himmler's SS, then coupled with the Hitler Youth, the Werwolf groups were subsequently dominated by the military who saw their usefulness in slowing the Allied advance. In analyzing the active role of the Werwolf in partisan resistance, the author presents many detailed descriptions of attacks on Allied soldiers and collaborating Germans (sniping, decapitation wires, assassinations, poisonings, etc.) and sabotage actions. He documents a few cases involving children as young as 9 or 10 years old (p.62 and p.64) and many conducted by teenagers (pp.59 ff.).

At times the author's analysis distinguishes between Werwolf attacks and partisan resistance that occurred before and after the German surrender, but generally this distinction remains in the background. This distinction deserves greater prominence. While some fighting has continued after the formal end to many wars, most stops soon thereafter. (Fighting continued only briefly in Texas after Lee's surrender and President Johnson?s declaration that the civil war was over.) Continued and vigorous post-surrender partisan activity in Germany would have revealed a significant residual pro-Nazi German sentiment and resulted in a much more difficult occupation.

Biddiscombe at one point characterizes post-surrender resistance as "minor" (p.275). He labels post-war Werwolfs as "desperadoes" (p.151) and describes them as fanatics living in forest huts (p.80). He also cites U.S. Army intelligence that characterized partisans as "nomad bands" (p.197), judged them as less serious threats than the attacks by foreign slave laborers (p.152) and considered their sabotage and subversive activities to be insignificant (p. 115). Finally, he notes that: "the Americans and British concluded, even in the summer of 1945, that, as a nationwide network, the original Werwolf was irrevocably destroyed, and that it no longer posed a threat to the occupation." (p.51)

It would appear that the defense of home and family from outside invaders united large, disparate groups of Germans, while post-war partisan actions only attracted relatively few fanatics and/or thugs. A plan to mount post-war resistance, the Axmann Plan, never worked. In tallying up the Allied soldiers killed by partisan activities after the surrender, this reader found fewer than several dozen. It appears that when the war was over, so was the most of the resistance.

Bidiscombe's book on German resistance and the Allied occupation has received some notice by people searching for historical parallels to the current US military occupation of Iraq. Hitler and Saddam Husein as personifications of evil make such comparisons seductive. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Rice evoked this theme in their 25 August 2003 speeches before the 104th National Convention of the VFW. While one hopes that our national leaders bring an historical perspective to their actions, it appears that they have chosen to read Biddiscombe's book, not to learn from history, but to manipulate it for their own ends. Biddiscombe's book should, however, cause one to reflect on the current US situation in Iraq.

First, General Eisenhower and his staff devoted considerable effort during the war to developing a post-war occupation strategy, not all of it consistent with international law. (pp. 252-254) Second, the occupation of Germany was a direct result of German military aggression and followed a formal surrender by German authorities. Germans knew that Germany had started the war. Third, the successful occupation of Germany occurred after it was entirely surrounded by hostile forces. There were no open borders with countries opposing the Allied occupation, unlike Iraq, which borders Iran and Syria. Fourth, the Nazi Party?s extermination of the Jews left only Protestants and Catholics, two Christian sects that hadn?t been at war in Germany for over 200 years. The ethnic (Kurds and Iraqis) and religious (Sunni and Shiite) tensions in Iraq continued to erupt throughout the twentieth century. Finally, the partisan resistance to Allied occupation quickly faded at the end of the war. Continued Iraqi resistance quite likely points, in part, to simmering ethnic and religious tensions.

These historical differences show the magnitude of the problems facing the current U.S. military occupation of Iraq.

If nation building by military force is now an accepted tenet of U.S. foreign policy, this book should provide valuable historical background for the U.S. officer corps and the enlisted personnel called upon to implement that policy. It would also be useful for citizens who wish to understand better some of on-the-ground issues that would be faced by their military occupation forces.

As WW2 came to a close, the Third Reich established the "Werwolf" guerilla movement for defense against the Allied invasion of Germany. This book discusses the establishment of the Werwolf, and covers a long series of their exploits: sabotage, sniping at allied troops, and leaving behind poisoned liquor for the Russians. A young HJ member's valiant retaliation against a Russian officer who accosted his sister is discussed, along with the further crimes the Red Army perpetrated in response. The famous last-ditch Alpine Redoubt is covered in detail.

This book also discusses the significant differences in attitude toward the Allied invasion in different districts of Germany. The fate of ethnic Germans living in Alsace, Malmedy, Poland, and the Sudetenland receives a considerable amount of attention.

The book can become rather depressing at times, because of the utter hopelessness of the war at this point, and the attrocities commited against German civilians and POWs by the Allies. However, it remains a very compelling tale none the less. I highly recommend the book.

This is a new concept in an approach to Opera, photographs and text designed to allow the reader to enter into the thoughts and meditations of Opera singers as they are waiting backstage to go on. The pictures show the characters (and what a selection of roles and artists!), in physical and emotional readiness as they are backstage in Ms. Lieberman's ready made studio brought to the Opera during actual performances from around the world..the text by Paul Griffiths, (Music critic for the New Yorker and now The New York Times) brings you into their world in an imaginative and knowledgeable fashion, creating an inner dialogue of the performer and character. The book becomes a unique treasure in the combination of the photographer and writer. What a find! thedre@wenet.net

The book by Ms. Lieberman brings opera divas right into your living room, as if transformed from the stage directly into your home. The pictures are amazingly vivid, and her ability to capture the moment with people is unparalleled. I think this is one of the best opera photo books ever printed! Brava!

"When the Fairy Dust Settles" reads like a modern-day book of Proverbs, this one written as a mother-daughter conversation. As Solomon in Proverbs shares his real-life wisdom with his son, so Janet Parshall dialogues with her adult daughter Sarah Parshall Perry about reconciling childhood dreams with reality--living with adventurous integrity when the fairy dust settles.

The book of Proverbs brilliantly and practically addresses issues that many parents blush to discuss with their children. Likewise, mother Janet and daughter Sarah discuss five core issues that really matter: beauty, self-worth, relationships, sex, and treasures (money and materialism). What makes the book so powerful is the way these relevant topics are presented--conversationally in story form. The authors beautifully weave together the biblical narrative, the narrative of beloved fairy tales, and the narrative of modern life.

Unlike some Christian books on the topic, "When the Fairy Dust Settles" does not settle for a fairy tale view of life. Listen to their heart-felt summary: "As young girls we all believed in fairy tales. We dreamed of happily-ever-afters, sure that our futures were blessed. And had to deal with the real world and what happens when the fairy dust settles."

A Pollyanna philosophy of life says, "This life's a fairy tale." An Existentialist life philosophy says, "This life is all there is, and it is cruel and harsh." A Christian theology of life, as cogently presented by Parshall and Perry, says, "This life is not all there is. Face what happens when the fairy dust settles in light of the eternally true tale of a King who sent His Prince to pursue, woe, win, and renew His princess."

Each of the five sections contain three chapters with each chapter offering an exchange of love letters interacting about topics that every mother and daughter wish they could discuss. But don't let that "love letter" stuff fool you. They don't always agree, but they do always disagree respectfully. And they always write with thought-provoking poignancy.

If you're a mother of a daughter, buy two copies. Read them together. Then write your own proverbial love letters to each other, sharing honestly about living after the fairy dust settles.

If you're a husband and the father of a daughter, buy three copies. The one you read could help you to understand the women in your life better than you could ever imagine.

After you buy the book, and read the fifteen chapters, be sure not to miss the conclusion: "The Final Fairy Tale." Without understanding the final fairy tale, you really can't understand how Janet and Sarah interpret the reality we call "life."

Reviewer: Dr. Robert W. Kellemen is the author of "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends." Bob is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a seminary professor and department chair, and a public high school wrestling coach. Oh, he also happens to be a husband and the father of a daughter and a son, and the owner of three copies of "When the Fairy Dust Settles."

When the Fairy Dust Settles is the most moving and beautiful set of love letters from a mom to her daughter and from her daughter to her mom that I've ever read.

This beautifully crafted and written book is a must read book for all mothers and their precious girls. Mrs. Parshall and Mrs. Perry touch on pertinent topics that all women need to discuss, and they do it with humor, love and profound Scriptural truth.

Reading this book is like sitting underneath the warm wing of a mama bird, nestled closely to the heart of a mom who loves Christ Jesus. And reading the letters from the daughter is like seeing those often-unasked questions verbalized from the hearts of this younger generation, with a sincere, intelligent wisdom.

Perry and Parshall have beautifully crafted the love story of a King towards His precious princesses, through the use of fairy tales and as you read this, you can't help but feel the warm soothing love of the One who adores you more than anyone else.

I laughed and cried through this whole book and couldn't put it down until the very last page. And the ending just left me in tears because it was so wonderful. You have to get this book for yourself and for anyone else you love because, dreams really do come true; for you are truly loved by One who calls you His own.

This book has a great message and the illustrations are wonderful. A book for anyone of any age, highly recommended.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST BUY. THE COLORFUL ILLISTRATIONS AND THE STORY IS OUTSTANDING. A BOOK THAT OFFERS TO KEEP YOU INTERESTED.

Don't know why this is not available, I piccked it up recently at Barnes & Noble in Manhattan, but I would grab this gem wherever I find it. This is the type of book that actually relays information to you AND gets you excited about it! The author's love of Jimi, and his description of his first time seeing Jimi in concert is simply amazing as is his analysis of Jimi's facility as a guitarist especially in his almost intuitive knowledge of feedback and how to utilize it's nuances to achieve sounds that as the authors states "guitars manufacturers never intended guitars to make". This phamplet also clearly demonstrates why Jimi even within the bounds of his brief career will forever be in a class untouchable by anyone Clapton and Beck included. An absolute delight, I can say this book has brought a whole new way of listening to Hendrix that will allow me to again enjoy his artistry almost as if I'm hearing it for the first time! A true accomplisment, John Perry deserves some sort of award for this amazing analysis!

Cool Science! Cool stuff to do things like, working on egg shells, apple science, it's a gas,gas,gas, match made in heaven, fome home, chill out, top secret invisible ink, sun power, coled magnetism, worm races, shell print, long, long ago, life chart, seed hunt, moldy oldy,whip it good, snowflake science, gunk, butter me up, so sweet!, the dew point. disappering paintngs, quick dry, and more. I say go and get this book you'll be happy that you did. READ IT!

Talk about 'Luck of the Irish!' Right after finishing Mike Westrop's wonderful history of Naval 10, the next book I picked up was Perry Watts' superlative history of the 467th BG, one of the best Liberator outfits assigned to the Mighty Eighth. Indeed, since the 467th was picked to lead the entire 8th AF Victory Fly-Past on 13 May 1945, a case could be made that the 467th was THE best 8th AF B-24 unit. What is undeniable is the absolutely first-class history Perry Watts wrote of the Group's wartime history; this book deserves at least six stars!

The 467th BG, nicknamed 'The Rackheath Aggies,' existed from May 1943 to August 1946. Arriving in England in March 1944, it was assigned to the 2nd Air Division and flew its first mission on 10 April, subsequently logging 221 missions. In the course of those missions the Group dropped over 12,000 tons of bombs. Known for its tight formations the 467th lost only 46 aircraft in combat. One of the Group's B-24s - 'Witchcraft' - logged 130 missions without an abort. In April 1945 the Group became the 1st 2nd AD unit to achieve a perfect score of 100% of its bombs strking within 1,000-feet of the MPI. Tne 467th's exemplary reputation was undoubtedly due to its CO, Colonel Albert Shower, the only 8th AF BG CO to lead his unit to England, fly combat missions and bring the Group home at war's end.

Perry Watts' book runs to 424 pages and has to be the most THOROUGH Group history I've ever come across. The author seems to have covered every aspect of the 'Aggies' history. The main part of the narrative runs to 200+ pages but Watts then includes a nine-page 'Tribute and Biography' of Colonel Shower, eight pages of bios of Group senior officers, 24 pages on B-24s assigned to the 467th, a 103-page(!) appendix summarizing all missions, flown, etc.

One of the book's biggest selling points is the many, many first-person accounts from 467th aircrew, ground personnel and English civilians along with material from combat reports and other official documents. You really get to know the 467th through all those reminiscences. Those same veterans contributed many of the over 400 photographs found in the book. Color profiles of the Group's B-24s would have been nice but that was probably Schiffer Publishing's call.

In short, THE 467TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) IN WORLD WAR II, is one impressive book. It skillfully weaves together a variety of primary sources to tell the story of all those fine, young men in unparalled detail. Make no mistake about it; this is THE definitive history of the Group. And, like Westrop's Naval 10 book, this volume will stand as an excellent example of what a Group history CAN BE.

Highest recommendation.

In Absolutely Worthy, readers are told to wait on God and to put everything in HIS hands. Stephanie Perry Moore reinforces important lessons, such as that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us and to have faith in God no matter what may come our way.

Reviewed by:
Lauren
OOSA's teen reviewer