Robertson Books

Robertson makez an excellent case for smaller, ethnically homogeneous states to replace the strife-ridden imperial states like the modern United States. Although Robertson will undoubtably be vilified as "Nazi" or "fascist" by liberal bigots, he is in fact advocating a more democratic state that is actually responsive to its citizens, not to international corporations and special interests. The ideas are sound, but there isn't too much on how we might actually implement his ideas.

Henry French was a Harvard-educated judge and farmer from Concord, Massachusetts. Back in 1859, his seminal work, "Farm Drainage: The Principles, Processes, and Effects of Draining Land with Stones, Wood, Plows, and Open Ditches and Especially with Tiles -- Including Tables of Rain-Fall, Evaporation, Filtration, Excavation, Capacity of Pipes; Cost and Number to the Acre, of Tiles, Etc, Etc." was published by A.O. Moore & Co. of New York, and sold for $1.00. Presumably the copyright on the original has expired and this is a reprint.

Technologies and costs have changed in the past 150 years, so these parts are obsolete. But, the book still has historical and literary value. The term, "French drain", comes from it. Here's a quote from the original, found at http://www.concordma.com/magazine/janfeb00/frenchdrains.html:

"No child, who ever saw a cellar afloat, during [an] inundation, will ever outgrow the impression. You stand on the cellar stairs, and below is a dark waste of waters, of illimitable extent. By the dim glimmer of the dip-candle, a scene is presented which furnishes a tolerable picture of "chaos and old night," but defies all description.

"Empty dry casks, with cider barrels, washtubs, and boxes, ride triumphantly on the surface, while half filled vinegar and molasses kegs, like water-logged ships, roll heavily below. Broken boards and planks, old hoops, and staves, and barrel heads innumerable, are buoyant with this change of the elements; while floating turnips and apples, with here and there a brilliant cabbage head, gleam in this subterranean firmament, like twinkling stars, dimmed by the effulgence of the moon at her full. Magnificent among the lesser vessels of the fleet, "like some tall admiral," rides the enormous "mash tub," while the astonished rats and mice are splashing about at its base in the dark waters, like sailors just washed, at midnight, from the deck by a heavy sea.

"The lookers-on are filled with various emotions. The farmer sees his thousand bushels of potatoes submerged, and devoted to speedy decay; the good wife mourns for her diluted pickles, and apple sauce, and her drowned firkins of butter; while the boys are anxious to embark on a raft or in tubs, on an excursion of pleasure and discovery.

"To avoid such scenes as the above, every cellar which is not upon a dry sandbank should be provided with a drain of some kind, which will at all times, secure."

Although this book has lots of breeds, it doesn't have a lot of the really popular breeds you'll find today. The book was published in the early 80's and it seems the "Favorite Dogs" then, are not necessarily the same as now. My son was a little disappointed there was no pug (that's what we have).

I am currently in an Event Management course and this book has helped me understand the workings of the industry.
It is very clear and has seperate sections relating to the industry eg, catering and rostering.
I bought it because I live in Australia and it has relevant articles to events held here particularly the Sydney Olympic games, it also has large references to Edinbourough/England and Scottish festivals.
All the aside it is an excellent book to help anyone understand the scope of how and what yuo need to take into account for a medium to large scale event.

Five American Infidels is a clever weaving of fact and fiction.
A novel in the true sense of the word, but also a treasure
trove of information to educate us all. While entertaining
with a plot of intrigue, danger, humor and world changing
events, the main purpose is to open our eyes to the looming
danger of radical Islam. Citing the spread of Wahhabbism,
the strictest and most violent form of Islam, D P Robertson
has done an amazing amount of research to back up his work.
From the Senate Judiciary hearings on Wahhabi influence in
The United States, to the alarming spread of Wahhabi
controlled mosques here at home and exposing our so called
friends in the Middle East, Mr. Robertson has spelled it out
for us. An entertaining and very educational read. The
shear fact that this is a totally unigue genre of fiction
with an expose' included implores me to recommend this
novel to avid readers and all Americans for that matter.

Southall is to the writing of WWII, what Tom Wolf is to the journalism of the sixites. He delivers a very subjective history, full of atmosphere, impressions and emotions. But unlike Wolf, Ivan Southall experienced the dangers of operational flying first hand (as a Sunderland pilot during WWII).

For those not in the know, the Sunderland was a converted airliner -- a seaplane used for long distance and long duration patrols over the Bay of Biscay. While no where near as fast (or sexy) as the fighters and bombers that poulate most period literature, it gained a formidable reputation among German aircrew as "the flying porcupine". The pilots and crew of this beast (one of the largest aircraft of it's era) were a unique and highly skilled breed.

"Fly West" is a collection of anecdotes about 416 Squadron (Costal Command) during WWII. Sometimes Southall is part of these missions, more often he is merely recording the stories. Either way "Fly West" (the slang for running away) is an exceptional book, suitable for everyone 12 and up (I was 12 when I read it the first time, 38 the second). While Southall spares us the graphic and more visceral horrors, he doesn't let up on the terror and tension of long (twelve hours or more) operational flights. This is a page turner, with plenty of white knuckled moments.

In short, a must read for any fan of WWII litterature, or flying.

It pulled me gently along for the first half of the novel - just charming me with its marvelous sense of humour and the comforting shared experience of modern life in Toronto Ontario.

And then the little clues that Robertson had been dropping all along suddenly added up to something deeply compelling and I was hooked and shocked at how desperately I'd become attached to the hero and how I felt his jeopardy as if it were my own.

Robertson has a rare gift. He writes with the perfect balance of subtlety that keeps the reader constantly engaged in the story. He doesn't tell you anything. He takes you to his world and leaves you there. 4 and a half stars!

Cheers.

I have been familiar with both the Robertson biography of Geroge Mallory and its contents since well before its first appearance a generation ago becasue I belong to the Mallory family. With respect and appreciation for all the risk-taking, adventuresomeness and care shown by the 1999 explorers, I think that the Mallory cannot be fully understood without knowing about the family and personal context of George Mallory's life, and this biography, wirtten within the family, provides that larger persepctive.

We found this book to be much more meaningful than the "Chicken Soup" or "Life's Little Instruction" books.

It's full of poems, short stories, antecdotes, and sayings. Another great thing about this book is that it's easy to read - just a few pages at a time, or one could spend hours in it.

A nice book, full of wisdom for anyone (not just the graduate).

Money, power, greed, sex and mystery, what more could a reader ask for? This book was great. Norris Wrenn is one of those super-human males, like Connor Larkin in Trinity, that all males secretly want to be. I assume, because so many writers do it so poorly, that ending a book must be difficult. The end of The Grail Mystique was great. It didn't tie up all the loose ends. It left you with questions to ponder and thankfully the main players didn't get on an airplane and fly off into the sunset.