Roberts Books

this book is great for leaders looking for emerging leaders, it analyzes the
key aspects of todays leader subordinate relationship, and how it is changing and evolving.
Despite the authors optimism it provides great insight
al nymc

I enjoyed all aspects of this book. For me it was the perfect read. The way the author drew you into the facts and the storyline was interesting and a real page turner. I highly recomed this book to everyone.

I believe this book about leadership, challenges and generational gaps, should be read by all leaders past old and emerging new leaders. I enjoyed reading this book and hope many more generations to come will do so as well. Carucci's points are logical, as he accurately describes a younger generation of managers as highly mistrustful of their own managers and averse to taking on leadership positions because of a very strong perception of risk. Carucci's central theme is that emerging leaders have already decided against following a traditional management style, so long-established managers must break specific habits in order to retain the needed talent. Each chapter focuses on a specific management trait and is framed by a fictional case study that Carucci admits is a best-case scenario. It is up to the new emerging leaders to define the preferred management style, and make the most of their life experiences to be successful. They also need to take what they have learned from their past and past leaders to inspire and motivate future leaders of the next generations to come.

Ever have the gut need to just be inspired? To read material, especially on an over-serviced subject like leadership, and want to exclaim with conviction, "YES!" Leadership Divided is the book that will take you there. As an emerging leader in a major government organization, I spend many days wondering about my future and the leadership career that will unfold for me. I hear over and over that there is a "shortfall" of leaders for the future, and as such, my development is essential for the sustainability of my organization. Yet my experience doesn't match that belief. What I have found is that there is definitely a crisis, but its not one of shortfall. (Diane at Harvard Business review who wrote the review above clearly never cracked open her copy of the book - had she, she would have known the quote she references was from the TV show "The Office." She completely missed the point! That's the kind of integrity shortage that makes us emerging leaders so cynical about leadership!). The crisis is one of relationship. Page after page, I was able to locate myself in the words and stories of Leadership Divided. I am being "developed" as a fast-tracked leader, and find myself fighting not to roll my eyes at some of the empty platitudes being put forth as leadership. In the wake of such leadership trash, I have finally come across a book that rises above the noise and says something of great substance. Don't miss this one!

Working for a large monopolistic organization, you tend to experience the worst management has to offer. I found this ground-breaking book revelatory in explaining why traditional approaches to leadership have failed. More importantly, Carucci powerfully and poignantly offers an alternative that can work. Too often, those of us in the management ranks of organizations, daily grinding out ways to "make it work," are invited to cynicism through the callous and insensitive behaviors of leaders who believe in the rightness of their actions. I would strongly urge anyone tasked with the development of leaders in their organizations to make Leadership Divided the centerpiece of their theory and practice.

Through the exploration of six relational patterns, Carucci blends the practical and profound in both hard-hitting research and a gripping novelette. The story is compelling as it captivates you with believable scenarios and characters you come to love and resent. Leadership Divided is truly a "must-read" for anyone claiming to be serious about their own leadership development.

Very comprehensive. Obviously written from the heart by someone who has been there and knows what he's talking about.

Leadership is a challenging subject to teach; however, LTC Campbell based on his experiences as a follower and a leader clearly exemplifies the true definition of a leader. His personal accounts are thought provoking for the leader in training or for the experienced leader who has the courage to make positive changes! "Leadership is a behavior, not a position" was the most profound concept that I learned from LTC Campbell. Thank you Sir!

I'm an Army Officer and combat veteran. This book is informative as well as entertaining. The personal stories that LTC Campbell shares are truly inspirational. Persons in leadership/supervisory positions at all levels can benefit from this publication. Thank you Dr. Campbell, this is a jewel!!

My greatest comment is, finally. This material is a must for all in leadership/managerial positions. Very easy reading and quite difficult to put down. You can actually feel where the author is coming from through his true to life experiences, combat and peace time. Leadership that was developed from many different levels. Definately not a book filled with fancy quotes but a true training tool. I would suggest it to be mandatory reading at all levels of leadership. You will be surprised what is caught not taught. This is THE book.

What an entertaining book! Spencer Campbell is the "Dr. Phil" on leadership. Down to earth, full of personal experiences based on a life that makes Hollywood seem dull, this book addresses many of the questions all of us have asked ourselves at one time or another. Ever had a boss whom you just shook your head and wondered how in the world did he/she get in that position? Chap 2 addresses those questions. At the end of each chapter the author summarizes his key points. Plain speaking, this book is very easy to read. It should be required reading in all military schools and ROTC classes or for that matter any class that focuses on leadership. We are giving this book as a graduation present to young adults who are about to begin their professional lives.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a must read for the ones interested in his life as well as in his writings.

This book of letters tells the story of Steinbeck's life. As his third- wife the book's co- editor Elaine Steinbeck makes clear in her introduction Steinbeck was a life- long letter-writer. Steinbeck usually started his day writing letters to his friends, and business- associates. They were the warm-up for his real writing.
Steinbeck speaks frequently in these letters of his love of writing. He writes with a refreshing frankness and directness. The book tells in no doubt an incomplete way the story of his struggle for literary success, of his three marriages, of his relation to his parents, children and a number of friends.
Steinbeck seems in these letters a fundamentally decent, loyal , hardworking person. However one of the interesting elements in the letters is seeing how his relation to certain people, most notably his wives, changes in time. His first wife Carole in the early years is described and written about almost exclusively in superlatives. After his divorce from her he speaks about those years as ones in which each was angry at the other much of the time. His second wife, the mother of his children left him after five years, and his initial enthusiasm for her naturally cooled. Though he vowed not to marry again when he met Elaine SCott, who was then the wife of the actor Zachary Scott he found apparently the great love of his life. In one especially moving letter he will thank her for their life together and for her especially good relation to his two sons. Another exceptionally good letter is written to Elaine's daughter who is about to marry. His advice to her again shows him to be caring and non- conventionally wise.
One especially notable set of letters are those he wrote to his lifelong friend Carlton A. Sheffeld( Duke). Another are those to his publisher Pascal (Pat)Covici.
I have never been a special fan of Steinbeck, but reading these letters I have a sense I somehow did not fully appreciate his work. So these letters will probably move me to reading more of his work.

Steinbeck left an autobiography of sorts when he died, a collection of personal letters to his friends. His widow and his friend worked together to gather the letters from everyone they could. They edited them for clarity and published them in chronological order.

The result is the personal story of a very creative, complex writer who worked every day with his hands. When he wasn't writing novels using pencils and a legal pad, he was mending the fence or fixing the roof. He loved people as much as he loved solitude, so he began each day by reaching out with these letters to his friends around the world. He talked about his surroundings and his thoughts and his ongoing projects.

All of this would be enough to make a wonderful book, but there's the added benefit of Steinbeck's writing style. Steinbeck used as few words as possible, always trying for a poetic effect without pretension. He wanted to be honest and accurate, but he knew the value of capturing an image or feeling with a colorful use of words. As a result, this massive book is a pleasure to read, from start to finish. Steinbeck's writing style keeps you interested but never overwhelmed.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed a few Steinbeck novels. Aspiring writers should read it, as well. When you're done, read the Steinbeck chapter in 'Alcohol and the Writer' and Jackson Benson's books on Steinbeck. You'll be glad you did.

If you appreciate the art of letter writing, you'll be delighted with this collection of letters from John Steinbeck.

Wow! can this man, write. But perhaps "write" is the wrong term - "think" is better. Wow! can this man think. And then he is able to express those thoughts in a clear, eloquent and, most of all, honest way that is a treat to read.

The book begins with a letter from the young, penniless author to a friend. At the time, Steinbeck was in isolation when he took a job as the winter caretaker of a lodge in Lake Tahoe. From there, he takes us along on a life journey through three marriages, financial success that always made him uncomfortable, fame that he often detested, Pulitzer and Nobel prizes, adventure in settings from the Sea of Cortez to Saigon.

The insights are astounding. His lack of pretension in the midst of his success amazes.

Here was a sensitive, often gruff but completely honest man who was not afraid to reveal himself in total to the friends he cherished.

Can't put it down in any sense. This collection goes right through Steinbeck's life, from his twenties into old age, and contains many letters to key people in his life interspersed with helpful commentaries by his wife to give the reader a sense of what Steinbeck was facing when he wrote. Highly recommended, and very moving in many places, whether humorous, joyful, or passionately angry.

"I learn that all of my manuscripts have been rejected three or four times since I last heard. It is a nice thing to know that so many people are reading my books. That is one way of getting an audience." -- JS

"One very funny thing. Hotel clerks here [Monterey] are being instructed to tell guests that there is no Tortilla Flat. The Chamber of Commerce does not like my poor efforts, I guess. But there is one all right, and they know it." -- JS in the years before the Chamber of Commerce boosted Cannery Row as a tourist shrine

"I'm trying to write history while it is happening and I don't want to be wrong." -- JS before penning the Grapes of Wrath

Robert W. Murray drew a very touching picture of what is hidden behind the term JUSTICE in the United States.
It shows you instantly that this could have happened to anybody!
He lets witness us his childhood and the story how it happened that he and his brother Roger were wrongly convicted for a terrible murder.
America is not interested in finding the real killers. Why? read the book! Trials are sport shows in the USA - lawyers and attorneys go to court to win a game and not to find justice.
He shows us that even enclosed in a cave without daylight, he never gave up. Help him and his brother! Buy this book!

I thought this book was great. The subject of the book is sad, but it is thought provoking and should be read by anyone and everyone interested in the death penalty issues in our country today. Robert is a wonderful writer, and while reading this book, you are able to picture what he is talking about and feel what he is feeling, you can feel his heartbreak as he talks about how his brother is living right there and yet he has'nt been able to talk to, see or touch him in many years. People don't often think about our inmates in this country and how they feel, but they do feel and this book illustrates this very well. Anyone interested in the issues this book raises, anyone who is not sure about the death penalty, and for those who think they know all about it, and have made up their minds, you should read this. Insightful and interesting read, grabs you from the first page and keeps you reading.

The author of this book is an inmate on Death Row in Arizona. He writes articulately and thoughtfully on the entire process of capital punishment: arrest, trial, conviction, incarceration, appeal, and the ultimate execution. He demonstrates that it is very difficult to get off of this road once a person is forced onto it. Along the way, he discusses details of life on Death Row. He addresses philosophical questions such as how one survives emotionally from day-to-day, as well as the boredom, interactions with guards, interactions with the legal system, interactions with the prison system, interactions with the medical system, and interactions with the rest of the world via visitors, letters, and television. This reviewer was drawn into the book and came to identify with the author and to even ask how he himself would cope with the prison circumstances. This book should be read by anyone interested in our execution system.

Wow! I keep shaking my head, in fits and starts. Here is the clearest, most erudite document that I've yet read (and there have been many) regarding existence on one of America's death row facilities and the catastrophe of our judicial system. I have a bias here because I am currently watching a close friend undergo the exact same calamity that author/inmate Robert Murray so eloquently captures in this fine, eye-opening book. From drunken lawyers (if you can't operate a vehicle legally under the influence, should you be allowed to defend a man's life while inebriated?), counsel afraid of their clients, juries only selected with a prejudice for a death sentence, political posturing, the list goes on ad infinitum.... I have been searching for a work that explains my utter amazement and horror at what I've witnessed to give to friends and family to help them understand my change of heart regarding capital punishment. This is the finest example to date that I have come across embodying the naked truth of our tax dollars being spent to perpetuate state sanctioned murder (this is the listed cause of death on the death certificate). The only error I found in the entire text is concerning the application of death via the "more humane" procedure of lethal injection. In actuality, it is the norm that when the killing agent is introduced into the bloodstream that a violent convulsing reaction occurs comparable to extinguishment by gas or electricity. But, as Mr. Murray so aptly points out, he wouldn't be privy to such information because nobody ever returns from the death house to tell him about it. As the saying goes, capital punishment means them without the capital get the punishment.

Robert Murray will prpbably spend the rest of his life on death row in Arizona. In his book, hee tells about the days in prison and his feelings and the daily routine.
For a free man it gives a small impression how life is on death row.
That book is very important for anyone who likes to know how men live behind prison walls.
Strongly recommended!

Robert Lowell's poetry is praised for its technical brilliance, metrical complexity, and verbal ambiguity. In an earlier review of Lowell's Lord Weary's Castle (awarded Pulitzer Prize of Poetry in 1947) I compared reading his poetry to studying mathematics, too advanced mathematics.

Furthermore, I am often uncomfortable with Lowell's disaffection, mistrust, and anger (one critic calls it apocalyptic rage) evident both in his criticism of contemporary society, and in his confessional topics such as marital difficulties, drinking problems, and mental illness. And yet I keep coming back to Lowell's work to savor his remarkable command of language.

Life Studies, a blend of prose and poetry, is more explicitly personal than his earlier work. The prose section, titled 91 Revere Street, is quite exceptional, not simply for its dispassionate candor, but for its literary excellence. Lowell is almost brutal in his depiction of himself as a boy, offering no excuses for his insensitivity toward others. He is no less severe with his parents. Lowell's portraits of his grandparents, aunts, and uncles were equally candid, but more sympathetic.

Lowell reserves his later difficulties, including struggles with mental illness, for his poetry. Waking in the Blue, a haunting picture of fellow patients in a mental hospital, is immediately followed by an unsettling description of Lowell's return to his family, Home After Three Months Away. Soft Wood, dedicated to Harriet Winslow, who "was more to me than my mother", is deeply moving. Other family poems - like Dunbarton, Grandparents, and Sailing Home from Rapallo - have a poignant beauty. I also liked Beyond the Alps, the first poem in Life Studies, which reappears with an additional stanza as one of the last poems in For the Union Dead.

For the Union Dead has a broader span, addressing social issues and historical subjects, as well as confessional topics, and is thus more similar to Lord Weary's Castle. Hawthorne, Jonathan Edwards in Western Massachusetts, Water, The Old Flame, and the title poem, For the Union Dead offer a good sampling of this work.

The quality of a writer for us , it seems to me, is often defined by how much of ourselves we are willing to put into knowing their work. I read the poems in this collection, but am not tempted to reread them. They make sense and tell of Lowell's childhood, his relation to his father, his meditation on the way he first met his first wife and the way they have grown distant through the years, his sense of his grandfather's grandness as he takes him with him on a local tour, his friendships with other writers. I can read the poems and feel their meaning and sense quite clearly. This to my mind raises them above much poetic language which in many modern poetry writers does not have a context or a sense. Lowell does often tell a small story in his poem.
But there is for me , anyway, a certain absence of music , a certain lack of those kind of memorable lines I find in my beloved poets.
Reading other reviews of Lowell's poetry I see others see more in his work, feel it deeper than I do. They are the truer readers.

Robert Lowell is a giant in American poetry. He is pretty much unanimously considered one of the best of his generation. This book combines two of his volumes of poetry. One of those volumes is his masterpiece Life Studies--the reason why he is a giant in American poetry. This is his seminal work. No matter how you look at it, this is an important book of poetry. And an excellent book of poetry. Most of the poems are good and there are several phenomenal poems within. Life Studies alone belongs on any serious poetry connoisseur's shelf. Also in this book is arguably Lowell's second best collection (only Lord Weary's Castle might be better) For the Union Dead, which contains another masterpiece, "For the Union Dead" (and a favorite of mine "Hawthorne"). This is a book that poetry lovers of all kinds should have.

Lowell is of the vanguard of American twentieth century poets, a man who created many brilliant works other than the two joined in this volume. In such poems in Life Studies as Beyond the Alps and A Mad Negro Soldier Confined in Munich, as well as his portraits of various friends and family, we discover a man capable of both acid humor and outright sadness. However, in Life Studies, these excellent poems are overshadowed by the towering biographical essay 91 Revere Street. In this touching memoir, Lowell describes distant, illustrious relatives, Amy Lowell being a famous but ostracized example, friendships wrecked in childhood, disquietude over a girlfriend who soils herself in class (in his embarrassment, Lowell sits in it), his formative years on the periphery of polite, conservative Bostonian society, and his fathers coarse, difficult superiors and buddies that cropped up in the father's job with the Navy. Though his poems here are outstanding, an uncomfortable question arises when one considers this essay: Would Lowell have been better off to employ his time as a prose stylist, not a poet?

For the Union Dead validates Lowell's decision to declare poetry his mode of expression. Poems such as the dolorous My Last Evening with Uncle Devereaux Winslow and Terminal Days at Beverly Farm expose a man groping for hope after the deaths of close relatives; Waking in the Blue and Myopia: A night explore, respectively, Lowell's mental illness and attendant three month hospitalization, and a night of insomnia that becomes a maelstrom of tortured reflections and half-hewn thoughts; The Drinker explores alcoholism as a product of foiled love, with a question as to whether pathology or sheer carelessness and love of idleness is the underlying shibboleth. Water, the poem that stoked my love for Lowell, uses a maritime theme to express sorrow over a lost love. Beyond the Alps, from Life Studies, is reprised here with an elided stanza reinserted at the behest of coeval John Berryman.

Lowell is one of those poets so gifted, so erudite, so steeped in classical literature, it's hard to grasp that, as he explains it, he was "less rather than more bookish than most children." Much of the isolation evinced in Lowell's poetry, as well as the restlessness of his life, both as youth and adult, are radiantly eviscerated in these two collections.

I read this poem again on Martin Luther King Day, a fitting day for this poem, a tribute to the Union dead of the Civil War and a particular remembrance of the black soldiers who wore the uniform of the Union-- particularly of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment (made famous to non-Civil War students by the movie Glory several years ago).

The 54th Massachusetts was the first black regiment to march from the North to fight the Confederacy. These men were quite brave knowing that in battle they would likely get little or no quarter, and if captured they would most assuredly be sent south back to slavery. These men had much to prove, what with years of racism from North and South to be broken and defeated by their bravery and sacrifices-- not to mention the Confederate army that they would later face on the battlefield. They would win ever-lasting fame for their courage during their doomed assault on Fort Wagner at Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, July, 1863. The attack would be a night assault on this heavily guarded fort. The fighting would be intense and the 54th would not be successful. Their white colonel, Robert Gould Shaw would be killed, and almost half the regiment would be lost. The first Medal of Honor for a black man would be earned there.

They marched down Beacon Street, with the Massachusetts State House on one side and Boston Common on the other - off to war, off to death and glory on a twin mission; to fight for the Union and show the world that they were equal in ability to whites. Directly across the street from the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Street there now stands the brilliant monument by Augustus St. Gaudens, forever commemorating the 54th, the first black regiment and their white commander Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.

This monument on Beacon Hill is one of the finest monuments of any kind in the United States. As a tribute to Shaw and the 54th it is unparalleled in the physical world; but in the emotional world, the world of poetry, Robert Lowell comes quite close. Lowell brilliantly describes the monument to the 54th and works it into the life of Boston that foremost of abolition cities of the North. Standing before the 54th monument on Beacon Hill, as the crowds walk swiftly by and the traffic speeds along past the State House, one can almost hear the men breath as they are forever frozen in bronze on their march south to battle. There are few monuments in bronze as lifelike as this one: it is an incredible tribute to the 54th and their commander and adorns the city of Boston as fittingly as the obelisk at Bunker Hill or the colonial historical sites of Adams, Revere, Hancock, and several miles to the west, Lexington and Concord.

Lowell's "For the Union Dead" is a successful poem on so many levels and succeeds completely where Tate's "Ode to the Confederate Dead" so totally fails. It unifies time and place, and brings context and permanence where everything seems to be shifting and changing. As a tribute to the 54th and the Union dead of the Civil War its elements run as deep as the waters off the coast of Boston seen from the top of Beacon Hill so long ago when the skyscrapers didn't block the view.

Having started his education at Harvard, Lowell transfered to Kenyon College to study under John Crowe Ransom another of Vanderbilt's Fugitives, like Allen Tate and Donald Davidson. It is an astounding thing that the two greatest Civil War poems of modern times ("Lee in the Mountains" and "For the Union Dead") and the worst ("Ode to the Confederate Dead") should be written by poets with Nashville connections. Lowell went on to graduate school to study under Robert Penn Warren, another Vanderbilt "Fugitive".

St. Gaudens placed a Latin inscription on the monument, the motto of the Society of the Cincinnati (a society of Revolutionary War officers started by George Washington and Henry Knox): "Relinquit Omnia Servare Rem Publicam". The translation is: "He left behind everything to save the Republic". Lowell opened his poem with this Latin phrase but changed the singular "he" to "they" in the Latin so that his poem would refer to all the men of the 54th not just its white commander, Robert Gould Shaw, to read: "Relinquunt Omnia Servare Rem Publicam".

"For the Union Dead" was published in 1964 during the height of the Civil Rights movement. Active in Civil Rights efforts, it is perfectly understandable that Lowell should have written this poem of unity and appreciation with concern, too, that the past should be remembered and its lessons learned. The battlefield of Fort Wagner had been by then reclaimed by the sea at Charleston Harbor and the monument to the 54th had fallen into disrepair. In fact, it was during this time that the St. Gaudens monument had been removed and stored in a crate to prevent damage from "shaking" from the construction of the underground Boston Commons parking garage. So, the battleground is gone, and Shaw's monunument is gone (but only temporarily), and history fades while "progress" continues speedily obliterating the memory of those that have come before.

"The stone statues of the abstract Union Soldier
grow slimmer and younger each year-
wasp-waisted, they doze over muskets
and muse through their sideburns . . ."

Lowell's brilliant poem is his way of retaining the past and ensuring that important historical memory is not lost forever. The men of the 54th Massachusetts, black and white, were leaders in bringing an end to slavery and establishing equality under the law for blacks in America. The story of their bravery and sacrifice is important to understanding American history and the Civil War. These men demonstrated with their actions and their blood that they were equals and merited equal positions in American society. As Americans North and South we ought to continue to embrace their memory and appreciate the many challenges that they overcame and the lessons that they taught us with their sacrifices at Fort Wagner and elsewhere.

We can look back to the 54th Massachusetts as a standard bearer in the struggle for Civil Rights in America. In the 1980s, my husband was privileged to be part of an effort to restore the St. Gaudens monument to its original beauty and power. Lowell's poem is a tribute to this beautiful work of art, and the men of the 54th Massachusetts who so inspired it. It is our duty a to remember our past, appreciate and commemorate our war dead, and learn those lessons that they underscored for later generations with their lives.

"Two months after marching through Boston,
half the regiment was dead;
at the dedication,
William James could almost hear the bronze Negroes breathe."

This is one of the finest poems of the 20th century and stands with "Lee in the Mountains" as one of the two great modern poems of the Civil War.

I have this book and it actually has some really good recipes and a lot of different kinds of dishes to pick from many which are quick and easy to make

I also found this cookbook years ago at the library and was extremely impressed with the selection of recipes. I can still remember how delicious the Roasted Veggie Soup with Garlic was. I too mourned the fact that it was no longer available to purchase. Then I happened to try to locate it on line. Amazon.com came through again. I just ordered a copy through a bookseller and can't wait to make that soup and many other recipes again!

This is a good cookbook. I hope that it is reprinted as I really enjoyed the recipes and they came out well plus were healthy as a bonus.

He took this cookbook with him when he moved out...It was the only one I truly loved cooking from. The instructions were easy to follow, didn't demand any obscure ingedients, were flavorful *AND* healthy... Maybe if they see these letters, they'll reprint this wonderful cookbook.

I bought this book through the mail and it is awesome! My friends keep borrowing it and it's always somewhere else. Some of my friends would BUY this book if it were available. AND I would give this cookbook for a gift IF it were available. The Live Longer cookbook has great pictures and easy to follow recipes and every one that I have used has been delicious. I sure do hope that it is reprinted sometime soon.

Having read many of Howard's fantasy works (Conan the Barbarian, Kull the Conquerer, Solomon Kane), it's nice to read more hack n' slash works from him but with an actual historical backdrop.

Harold Lamb wrote historical fiction and was one of Howard's favorite writers. This most likely inspired Howard to write some historical fiction of his own. If you like REH, check out Harold Lamb. The two of them are probably my favorite writers. But I like REH for his violent sword and sorcery, whereas my favorite stuff from Lamb are his historical works such as Hannibal and Genghis Khan (2 books that are must-reads by anybody interested in these two generals). Harold Lamb's famous Cossack stories are now being re-released. I have not yet read them but am looking forward to them, so check them out as well.

Also, if anybody has Lord of Samarcand and Others, please provide a list of the stories within this book (I think I have them all, but I want to be sure). I would be very thankful.

Robert E. Howard is one of the best storytellers America has produced. The tragedy is that he died so young. This particular collection is excellent. The reader feels like (s)he is there. It's also amazing how prescient it is; the clash between the West and Islam is still with us.

This is a must read and great to add to any book collection. I thoroughly enjoyed it! REH was a genius! Anytime I can find a REH story it's a great day! Lord of Samarcand - Gottfried von Kalmbach in The Shadow of the Vulture. REH wrote: "A more dissolute vagabond than Gottfried never weaved his drunken way across the pages of a popular magazine: wastrel, drunkard, gambler, whore-monger, renegade, mercenary, plunderer, thief, rogue, rascal-I never created a character whose creation I enjoyed more. They may not seem real to the readers; but Gottfried and his mistress Red Sonya seem more real to me than any other chracter I've ever drawn." Collected in this book is the entirety of Howard's historical Oriental fiction-including some fragments. These tales are probably among the most somber ever written by REH; among his best, too. Prepare to embark on a journey unlike any other in the field of historical fiction. The place is Outremer, the time the early thirteenth centery... Must Reads of REH (1906-1936): Blood and Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, Two Gun Bob, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Ellis REH's girlfried, The Last of the Trunk-Paul Herman, Crimson Shadows-The Best of REH I & II, Conan, Kull, Solomon Kane, Cormac Mac Art, The Black Stranger and Other American Tales has the scariest story ever called Pigeons From Hell, Bran Mak Morn, all of the Weird Tales issues, etc. Get them all. If you can't locate them at your local bookstore try used bookstores and/or the internet. A special thanks to Glen Lord, Mark Finn, Paul Herman, Dark Horse, and everyone else that kept REH's legacy alive and well.

I've been collecting the works of REH for a few years now, and have found this book to be an excellent collection. The stories in here are unique, containing none one of REH's 'big' heroes (Conan, Solomon Kane, Kull). Rather is about the later Crusades. Think if REH had written Kingdom of Heaven and you'll have a good idea as to what these stories are like. This isn't quite Sword and Sorcery... there are none of the monsters or magic found in many of REH's writings, but it is still worth reading for any true REH fan.

The work of Dr Robert D. Ballard knows no bounds and is truly inspirational to those of us who read of his exploits and seek to emulate his standards with much lesser shipwrecks.

Once again, just as soon as I took delivery of "The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal" I knew I had a 5 Star Book in my hands and, once again, I found nothing within it's 220 pages to make me take away any of those stars.

This book will stand the test of time as a literary work and outstanding account of one of the major naval battle zones of the Pacific in WW2. There are modern photographs including a number taken from the air, historic photographs (American, Australian, Japanese and local) of the places, the personalities, the ships, aircraft and soldiers, some incredible paintings of the night actions that took place, pictures of Ballard's crew as they go about their work and his advanced equipment being deployed and used. There is also a picture of a very young John F. Kennedy in his PT-109.

The first underwater pictures are enough to make the heart stop for just a moment as you realise this man Ballard has done it again - not once, but in this case several times. Commencing with the 9,850 ton Heavy Cruiser HMAS Canberra (the "A" stands for Australian) we no sooner see the first underwater photographs of this once magnificent ship - which went down fight in the opening minutes of the Battle of Savo Island, then we turn the page to find a 3-page open-out spread of Ken Marschall's painting of the entire wreck.

On the opposite side of that 3 page spread is another equally outstanding painting of USS Quincy followed by her own set of underwater photographs. As the story of Guadalcanal continues, so we find more details of US and Japanese successes and losses and the trials and tribulations endured by the forces of both sides as the author carefully draws us towards that part in the overall series of battles that will bring us to his next discovery and Ken Marschall's next incredible painting - the USS Monssen.

With more underwater photographs of yet more of the "Lost Ships of Guadalcanal," and yet more paintings by Ken Marschall, the author skilfully brings the reader both to the end of the series of battles and to the end of his own journey of discovery. Whilst not one of the greatest works of art within the book, one of my favourite paintings is found on p.200. This is an aerial picture of the entire area called "Iron Bottom Sound" - painted as though the water had been removed and showing the location of no fewer than 13 warships, one aircraft and two beached freighters. As part of the caption states ".... that makes this one of the greatest submarine battlefields." Yes it is, and in this book it was all brought back to life by Dr Robert D. Ballard.

An excellent book by any standards.

NM

I will say that like most of Ballard's books this is nicely laid out; good sized and with excellent photographs & drawings.

Most of the book is taken up by short histories of the various battles that make up the 'Guadalcanal Campaign.' This didn't leave much room for the exploration of the wrecks themselves which gives you a rather rushed feeling despite the good background history.

Perhaps this would have been even better as an expanded two volume set.

The title above is what my great-uncle inscribed on the inside cover of this book. He is the Tommy Morris whose story is told in the pages of this book. Like many more famous sailors and soldiers, Uncle Tommy (who died only two weeks ago after a long decline, for those readers who might be interested)used to tell me and my grandfather (Tommy's brother) that it was impossible for him to think of people as "civilized" having seen how we turn our new discoveries and technology so easily to the unhappy task of killing each other. He also said to me once that his role in the Quincy sinking was that of a "damsel in distress".. which description was follwed by that sort of masculing deep-seated chuckle which only come forth from heroic men who have seen hell on earth.

I am biased, but I wer I not, I would still think this an excellent book!

Gary Morris

Dr. Bob Ballard discovered the Titanic in the mid 1980's using cutting-edge underwater technology. For this book, he turned that skill and knowledge to lead an expedition to examine the wrecks of one of the bloodiest naval battles of World War II, one so full of death and destruction that veterans of the battle gave the waters of Gualdalcanal the nickname of "Iron Bottom Sound" because of the number of ships and aircraft that lay underwater. Guadalcanal was the linchpin of American and Japanese military strategy for control of the south Pacific islands. The Americans controlled the airfield, but the Japanese controlled the island and the waters around it. The Japanese couldn't resupply its army because of attacks to its freighters by Allied aircraft and the Americans couldn't resupply its airfield because of attacks to its fleet of ships. In one single battle in the pitch-black darkness of night, the mighty Japanese fleet engaged a weaker American destroyer group where American guns were aimed by radar and Japanese guns were aimed by looking for the flashes from the American weapons. The American fleet was destroyed but it was a Pyhric victory because the Japanese supply ships failed to reach the starving Japanese troops on the island. Dr. Ballard does a remarkable job of capturing both the essence of the battle and the essence of underwater archeology to create a wonderful book filled with full-color pictures of the wrecks and period black-and-white pictures of the war. He also includes the fantastic paintings and maps in the style that has adorned his other books to show how the wrecks would look if there was absolute clarity underwater and with a "God's Eye". This book is one of the better ones I've found that deal with the ships of Guadalcanal and underwater archeology. I've noticed copies adorning the workbenches of many model-ship builders (including mine). Its a great gift idea and sure to please anyone interested in great battles, maritime history, WW2, underwater exploration, or tales of bravery (by those who fought and those who study the ocean).

Between August 1942 and February 1943, a land-sea and air battle was waged for an island in the south pacific called Guadalcanal. The six-month long battle for the island would be one of the definitive battles of the war. It was also one of the costliest. Thousands of Allied and Japanese soldiers died. And a channel north of the island had so many ships go down there that it was renamed Iron Bottom Sound.

It is possible that more men died in the waters off Guadalcanal then on the island itself. But for many years, most of the ships were out of reach to divers and eventually were all but forgotten. Then, in 1992, Oceanographer Robert Ballard, who had found the Titanic and the Bismarck, decided to explore the area using the latest in technology. It is quite an experience to see a past battlefield on land like Normandy, Pearl Harbor, Gettysburg or Guadalcanal itself. But the battlefields were obviously cleaned up afterward and don't look the way they did when the battle concluded. But time knows no boundaries in Iron Bottom Sound. The paintings by Ken Marshall and the photographs show many of the ships still upright on the ocean floor; Their guns and torpedo tubes still trained outward as if firing at a long gone enemy. But some of the ships are not so beautifully preserved. The Battleship Krishima, for example, lies upside down in two pieces on the ocean floor. And the Destroyer Barton is broken in half and lying on its side from two torpedoes. Nevertheless, most of the ships appear ready to rise up and continue fighting.

Lavishly illustrated and with a detailed text, The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal will make a welcome addition to the collection of any War, Naval or Shipwreck enthusiast (If you can find a copy that is).

I loved this book as a child. I read it over and over. The pictures were great. Sort of scary but that was half the fun.

This is an amazing piece of literature, Ms Bishop breaks the mold with an innovative invention for the enjoyment of all! The book has some very interesting underlying messages that seem to place children on a pedestal of supreme wisdom and simple inginuity. I as an adult feel quite similar to the poor man who lost his head almost every day. If you also find yourself wondering where your head has gotten off to read this classic story with perfect illustrations by McCloskey!

I am 8 years old and I love this book. My mother received this book for Christmas from my uncle. She used to have it when she was a little girl. I think the story is very funny and imaginative. I especially like the drawings of the pumpkinhead and parsniphead. I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor.

I read this book when I was 9 years old. It was my favorite book when I was a kid, and I read it again and again. When I was 20, I wrote a song inspired by this book. A few years ago I managed to find a copy for sale (the one I had as a kid is long gone) and, of course, I bought it. The copy I bought was from a 1969 edition, the same edition I had as a kid. Almost hard to believe this book was originally published in 1942.

This book tells the story of a terrible dream that a man had- -that he woke up one day and couldnýt find his head. In the story, the man wakes up without his head and remembers that he had visited the fair the day before to sell a pig. Perhaps he left his head at the fair. So he returns to the fair in search of his head. In order to avoid stares, he tries out a few prosthetic devices, including a carved jack-o-lantern and a carved parsnip before he settles on a wooden head. He has a great time during his return visit to the fair, but doesnýt find his head until a ragged little boy claims he might be able to help and gives him a heck of wallop in his wooden face that finally wakes him up.

Older children (especially boys, since all the characters are male) may enjoy the tale quite a bit, with its black-and-white cartoon-like illustrations that are full of detail. However, parts of the story may be much too scary for younger kids, from the premise of the story itself through playing with the hungry lion, and the final punch. The book, at about 1500 words, is rather long for reading aloud.

Learn everything you need to know about dominant and submissive relationships in one explicit volume. You'll even learn how to find your own slave.

Now that you have a slave, what do you do with him or her? I'll tell you right now that this book will not answer that question for you. And for what the introduction claims the book is, it could be a far better guide to how to write "a master manual." The problem is that I've read no other book like it, and am uncertain of where else to point the hopeful reader who doesn't have a leather or kink community available as a local resource. if one keeps the introduction in mind and questions oneself as to what is really, really important in their day-to-day life as is, one can get an idea of how to assign tasks, train and remind a slave or submissive in how to serve specific interests.

Regarding the seemingly endless section about the dinner parties: if you don't have dinner parties, mentally substitute something that you find too time consuming to do yourself, but that you'd love to have someone else take care of for you. Preparing for and attending an Society of Creative Anachronism event? Tending to your artistic space? Buying produce? Tending to your feet? Really, anything truly nitpicky that you want done a certain way -- that section shows you how to give step-by-step detail in writing that a slave or submissive can refer to as they're doing the task.

Other tasks have detail given their importance TO THE AUTHOR. If there are things that the dominant / owner / daddy/ master (hereby known as the grand poobah, because I'm getting sick of typing all that) wants to do themselves, then they either get to specify that those actions are off limits unless specifically mentioned, or don't list them at all. Cleaning? What can be touched, and what should be left alone? How often? Spring cleaning? Seasonal changes, visits, decorations, etc? Who drives? How is the opening of doors dealt with? Dietary preferences and restrictions? If taken with the required grain of salt mentioned in the introduction, this book could help a lot of new people go from having their submissives post about looking for ideas for their grand poobah to having details instructions and a schedule already prepared after the contract is signed and the (training / temporary) collar is locked on.

I wish that Rubel had taken the time to outline his manual as he was presenting his information, as I've read reviews and even talked to people within my community who took offense at his tone because he wasn't being clear on providing a roadmap rather than specific expectations of behavior for all slaves. Indeed, a section regarding the potentially rude behaviors of guests at the above mentioned dinner parties would have been much more clear had it been explained why detailing such rude behavior was necessary to include in the manual; I can make some intelligent guesses, but it seems as though the manual involves a lot of in-references between the author and his slave that should have either been explained or edited out completely. Sidebars, more asides in italics and so on could have gone a long way to keeping otherwise normally intelligent and perceptive people from reading what they were used to reading -- lists of expected behaviors -- rather than what was being presented -- an outline of how to generate the behaviors the dominant reading the book would want for their particular life.

If this book ever ends up going out of print, I hope that the author redesigns it in a second edition rather than simply allow another printing of the same format. When presented in the right way, this could end up being a very valuable workbook for a number of budding ... well, poobahs.

A decade of M/s knowledge in one book

Both books Master/slave Relations: Handbook of Theory and Practice and
Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave: Theory and Practice by Robert J. Rubel, PhD
Cover the same subject with a slightly different focus.

It amazes me that knowledge that took me years to learn is now available in 7 easy steps. The book can accelerate your journey into BDSM by a decade.

I consider this an expansion in many ways of the Leather Protocols book by Rubel. Here he gives more explicit examples of his own protocols and asks the reader to really consider what they might include and should include in their own should they chose the very, very rare path of an owner-slave or master-slave relationship. Personally my own protocols (yes, I do live this life, too) are not nearly as formal but these are very much the same considerations I felt were necessary to address when I began and as I continue in this life. Take the questions seriously don't just copy Rubel's ideas. Also don't plan on just jumping quickly into these relationships -- success requires planning and continuous reflection.

Wow! An A to Z discussion of what goes into developing and maintaining a Leather Master/slave relationship. This guy clearly knows what he's talking about. Rubel begins by defining his terms, moves through self examination, touches on ways of finding a slave, describes how to begin such a relationship, moves through collars and contracts and ends up with a slightly irreverent section called: "How's it Going?" All in all, this book provides a comprehensive and fresh look at this form of relationship. You should also check out his companion book, Protocols for the Leather Slave. Judging from the covers, they are probably meant to be companion works.