Scott Books

I homeschool and this is a good book for teaching K and 1st grade kids their "place" in the world. It starts with a girl mapping her room and extends all the way to her place on the globe. It is a really fun easy way to introduce geography/maps.

What a great book. Great pictures. After reading it we sat down and made a map of my 4 year old's room. If only it explained the difference between living out in the country (like on a farm) and living in a different country (like China or Australia). But I can't complain. We love it!

I homeschool and this is an excellent book for teaching elementary school kids their "place" on the map. It starts with a girl mapping her room and extends all the way to her place on the globe and back again. An excellent teaching tool for putting things in perspective! Not enough words to make this a bedtime book, but enough to cause interaction and learning.

I use this book in PS and Elem. settings to set up lesson plans related to maps and how they can be used. This book helps children to relate maps to their own environments.

My daughter is six years old, and it's tough to explain some of the more complex concepts like time and space. This series of books does a great job using colorful illustrations and text that's a lot easier to understand than anything I could come up with myself! Besides, I am a map and globe lover, so this book especially keeps our attention. I also recommend Sweeney's other books, including the one about Time.

The title says it all, as co-authors Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas amp things up to delve into the training and racing for those who are seeking to achieve big goals in the vast venues of road racing events; from the fast 5k to the grinding marathon.

The charts, analysis and text is geared to be guides over specific periods of time. The book - while a comparably "easy" read - is best used in conjunction with a training/racing schedule, hence it may find a cozy home next to a log and not gathering dust on a shelf.

Pfitzinger was one of the top road racers - and 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon champion - in an incredible era for runners and events. The knowledge and tips he shares are for the long run.

What I like most about Pfitzinger's and Scott's book is that it is a very friendly efficient book that gets right into the subject matter and it breaks down what others describe in more complex fashion, like VO2 Max, into much simplier terms making the comprehension easy and in far fewer pages. Although written in the very late 90s, this book is still an excellent guide for HS and runners virtually up to local elite status. "Daniels Running Formula" is probably mote satisfying, and more detailed for top guns but Pfitziner and Scott give you a lot of the same information with a variety of workouts based on goal times at various distances. The authors even quote Daniel's research and others so it still is in the game. If you want a quick grasp training book that is top knotch, pleasant to read with examples and pictures, then this is your book.

Pfitzinger's book finally delivers on what I always want from a book on a complex subject, simple explanations and simple solutions. Why write 800 pages when 188 will suffice. If you are only looking to train for 5K's then you can skip the section on 10K and marathon training and get even more concise explanations. This book gives short, simple explanations to the key elements of a training program. We now know everything we need to know about VO2 max and lactate threshold training, their relative importance, how to improve them and how to incorporate them into your training program. Pete indirectly points out how most of us are doing no lactate threshold training (by running most of our daily runs to slow) and doing all of our interval work to fast. I recommend this book to anyone looking to improve his or her racing times.

I would also suggest buying "Daniels Running Formula". I bought it last summer and my 5K's times went down from 19:40 to 18:50. I bought "Road Racing for Serious Runners" to basically get a second opinion on Daniel's theories. Actually these are not opinions or theories. These are time-tested methods back by sound science. I'm 43 years old and I'm living proof that random training will yield random results. Both Pfitzinger and Jack Daniels book will eliminate the "lets try this" approach to training. Both books cover the same topics and both authors come up with the basically the same training program. Daniels book breaks his schedule into 4 six-week phases while Pfitzinger has a 10-week and an 11 phase. When you look at both plans it becomes obvious and almost laughable on how easy it is to improve on your racing times (and in my case actually cut back on the training intensity).

I would buy both books so you can really feel good about your new training methods. Pete's book is simpler and has separate schedules for some of us low 20-40 mile per week folks. Daniels book has slightly more science and covers more topics. Daniels also has been around longer and has trained more athletes. There are only a few contradictions in Pete's book. He states on page 21 that your volume of Vo2 max workouts (your hard intervals) should be 1 workout per week with a total distance covered of 4 to 8K with the possibility of adding a second lower volume session each week. This corresponds with Daniels book where he has 2 Vo2 max sessions each week (or 1 Vo2 Max and a race). But when you get to the detailed 5K schedules for the 20-40 miles per week you only see 6 Vo2 max workouts scheduled in 21 weeks, despite them being listed as the number one priority. Also only 5 threshold workouts are scheduled in the last 11 weeks for the 20-40 mile schedule. I guess Pete is no dummy. He knows that Bill Rodgers may not use his book and that it will be geared towards people like me. He knows that I'm going to sneak in a combination of ten 5K and 8K races this fall before I attempt to peak in early December. The Daniels book just encourages it and has those realities clearly shown on the schedules. Just buy both books, start training smarter and in some cases a little easier. I've bought bad unhealthy lunches for [PRICE]. If you run this will be the best [PRICE} you will ever spend.

Very good book for learning to race everything from 5k to marathon distances. There is no fluff, just the facts on how to prepare for a specific race distance. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is the authors schedules are a little too general for those of us who must have a detailed schedule. This book is not a beginner's book. To get the most from it you need to have some experience running races, even if you are a slow runner.

If Jack Daniel's book is the bible of running, this book is a close second. Clear, concise, and with good training tables, this book is a nice tweak on Daniel's book.

Using the methods espoused in these two books has improved my race times dramatically. Instead of random training, every training run now has a purpose; be it a slow easy run or speed workouts at the track.

Extremely fast, efficient service. The book itself was in perfect condition. Wish every buy was this flawless.

I wish that there more of a discussion of the importance of Executive Order 11063. Also, did Shriver have the opportunity to visit some of Peace Corps Volunteers in Iran's shahrestan?, viz., in Aliabad, Bidokht or Birjand?

Read this book not only for its historical value. Read it also for a contrast to the current Bush administration and the kinds of leaders currently recruited to public service. Bush seems to punish diversity of opinion within his circle, and he promotes less competent folks while rooting out those who get "off message." When a problem comes up, Bush instantly wants to zero in on one single solution.

In contrast, Sargent Shriver, as this biography shows, was someone who gathered the best minds about him. They would openly and heatedly debate each other about not only the problem, but also about various solutions (rather than one alone). What kept them from all hating each other? For one thing, they knew that Sargent Shriver valued each of their varied contributions; for another, they also knew that they were serving the greater good, not just their boss, Shriver, or the president (JFK or LBJ).

This book will impress you with how much good was accomplished by one man. But it will also impress upon you the fact that the good things Sarge accomplished were the product of a man who had a largeness of mind, an openness to different ideas, an intellectual curiosity that always sought out the wisdom of others.

Sarge is without a doubt a long overdue and first-rate biography of a great American. Most seem to have forgotten what an inspiring man Sargent Shriver has been. The way in which Stossel records the war on poverty is second only to the many facits of the Shriver-Kennedy connection. Don't be turned off by the length. Historians must read this; book lovers will enjoy it.

Don't miss this beautifully crafted biography of a man everyone has heard of but few know that much about, other than his connection to the Kennedys and now Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneger, his son-in-law.

Shriver's story is fascinating on its own. His championing of the Peace Corps, Johnson's War on Poverty, and the Special Olympics is amazing and remarkable. What a difference he made in the world, and how much more he might have been able to do had he only had his family's support for the presidency.

Scott Stossel is a biographer to watch. His easy-flowing style, coupled with his strong sense of history and way with words, make this a biography not to miss -- even if you're a conservative, anti-political, rabble-rousing atheist. You won't be able to put it down.

This is an excellent book to read to young children. The author gives the reader indepth information about her family but also some historical information about her hometown, Harlem. The illustrations sweep the reader along on Tar Beach and keeps you turning the brightly colored pages. You are able to hear Ms.Ringgold's voice when you read this book and get a taste of life in her family.

I don't know why this book was called Tar Beach, but it's interesting. It's about a little girl who is picked up by the stars and has the ability to own everything she flies over. Pretty cool huh? Whether she can actually do this or she just dreams of doing this, who knows.

A neat feature of this book is it was actually written and illustrated first on a quilt before being converted to paper. Maybe next somebody will try writing a book on a sculpture.

An excellent book for its literay value and artistic illustrations. A great memory for anyone who has lived in New york City and remembers going to their own rooftop gatherings in the summers.

My class loved this book. It was part of an African American History unit.

First off, this book would pair brilliantly with Deborah Hopkinson's, "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt". Utilizing a style not unlike the classic slave quilts featured in "Sweet Clara", "Tar Beach" tells a contemporary story while tying its narrative to the history of African American storytelling. Before I say anything else, though, I should warn you about something. When I first read this book I had borrowed it from my local lending library. The copy I got out was a hardcover from 1991. Now, do you remember getting books when you were a kid and they, not to put too fine a point on it, stank? Certain picture books have some kind of binding glue or something that, over time, makes them stink to high heaven. This book was especially smelly and even as it sits next to me here on my desk I'm reluctant to open it up for reference because of its offensive odor. It's quite possible, even probable, that the editions of this book being sold now (being paperback and all) are smell free and no longer printed so as to attack one's olfactory senses. Just don't buy a used hardcover copy from 1991. That's all I'm saying.

In this tale a small African-American girl dreams of flight. In her flight she is powerful and free. The George Washington bridge, a magnificent structure that her father helped to build, is a diamond necklace around her neck. Flying high, the girl gives her father the union building he's working on, "Then it won't matter that he's not in their old union, or whether he's colored or a half-breed Indian, like they say". With her father so gainfully employed her mother "won't cry all winter" when her dad goes out looking for work. She'll be able to sleep late and (this is the most heartbreaking part for me), "we can have ice cream every night for dessert". The girl daydreams these flights while the family goes up to what they like to call Tar Beach. On the roof of their building they have peanuts and chicken and watermelon as well. She sums up by explaining, "it's very easy, anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way. The next thing you know, you're flying among the stars".

On the last two pages of the book a long history of author/illustrator Faith Ringgold explains her life, the history of her work, the history of African Americans in the 1930s, and the basis of this tale. A quilter by trade, the left page displays the amazing quilt that inspired "Tar Beach" the book. In this quilt, the girl and her brother sit not too far from their parents and neighbors. Above, the girl soars over the George Washington Bridge and the words of the book are written into the fabric of the quilt. Parents reading this book to their kids would do well to read the summary at the end of the tale to themselves before reading the picture book to their children. That way they'll be better equipped to answer any potential questions the children might bring up regarding labor union practices regarding African Americans or the history of flight in the stories of slaves. This book covers a lot of ground. The basis of the tale itself is rooted in Ringgold's own experiences of growing up in Harlem as a child. She even gives a little background on the characters discussed within the tale and their lives.

The book is drawn using acrylics on canvas paper with the occasional quilted piece appearing on the sides. As for the plot, kids reading the book may be a little confused as to whether or not the heroine of the tale actually is flying or if it's just in her head. After all, there's a pretty clear picture of her little brother lying below looking up as his sister soars. If kids are able to get past that little detail, however, they'll probably love the tale. I mean, who hasn't wanted to fly freely over friends and family? Who hasn't wanted to give their parents everything they'd need to be happy? Or, for that matter, own an ice cream factory?

The book is well rooted in history, imagination, and colorful storytelling. With a pedigree such as this, it's hard not to admire it thoroughly. And if you'd like yet another book to pair it with during your storytime, consider "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge" by H.H. Smith, which is ALSO about the building of the George Washington bridge. Altogether this is an important book with a well told message.

Tax This! is an extraordinarily valuable book. It is well written and filled with informative information for all taxpayers. Nothing short of brilliant, this book provides an exceptional roadmap to dealings with the IRS.

This is an excellent resource. Shipped quickly and in great condition!!! Thank you.

This is good, solid advice for dealing with the IRS. The authors credentials make it very valuable because he comes from the "other side" and can tell taxpayers how the IRS really works. He truly is an "insider."

His book is not a lot of hype on tricky loopholes, but very solid advice for dealing with what can be a very frightening situation. I've interviewed Scott for my Internet radio show, EverydayWealth Radio, and found him to be a very conscientious caring resource for dealing with tax issues. I recommend this book and his other resources!

"Tax This" is a great resource for individuals, small businesses, and self-employed persons, like myself. From the general IRS and tax system information to the rules for dealing with an actual IRS audit, this book has all the information you'll need. The section on how to handle IRS Penalties and Notices and the the chapters on negotiating with the IRS were very informative and designed to save money. If you are currently involved in an IRS audit and want to know how to defend yorself or if you simply want to know some strategies for reducing your odds of being selected for an IRS audit this book is for you. I would recommend it for any taxpayer.

If you're faced with an encounter with the IRS, I would highly recommend getting this book for starters. Most tax experts will tend to steer you in one of two directions: knuckle under or fight the IRS up to and including jail time (for you, not the expert.) You need to understand what your options are before you seek outside help because all too often the outside help has an agenda that is not in your best interests.

This book does an outstanding job of laying out realistic stategies and options for helping you with tax issues and for working with, rather than against, the IRS to obtain the best possible outcome. It offers a refreshing change in the tax literature. By offering well-grounded, honest advice in a well-written fashion, this book should be in the hands of anyone seeking to resolve a tax problem without "giving away the farm" to the IRS.

Learn what your options are and how best to work with the IRS and you'll save yourself a lot of grief and a lot of green.

But not five stars. Lots of witty dialogue, but it gets to be a surfeit at times and a little tedious. Well drawn three-dimensional characters. The ending is a little bit manufactured and I don't think is quiet sufficiently motivated. In addition to the plot, the author offers a nice side dish of food for thought.

These days I start a new mystery a little nervously. Will the author create a compelling plot? Will I want to spend time with the characters all the way to the end? Or will I get frustrated, peek ahead and close the book with a sigh, regretting the loss of time?

So I was delighted to find Try Darkness. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Ty Buchanan, corporate lawyer who's recovering from a difficult past. I didn't read the first book in the series so I'm not sure how he ends up living in a trailer on the property of a Benedictine convent. But his friendship with Sister Mary adds a nice subplot. Their back and forth banter makes a nice break for the reader.

The nuns and the resident priest, Father Bob, function as Buchanan's sidekicks. I don't see them as creating a spiritual dimension for the novel. Sister Mary seems to have a lot of freedom for a junior nun. In one episode she's described as a postulant. Yet she regularly defies the superior, Sister Hildegarde. She wants to wear traditional dress yet chooses to take a very non-traditional role.

Buchanan is fun to watch as he moves back and forth between his old life as a hotshot lawyer and his new role as a hired gun (or loose cannon, one might say). The plot follows a typical arc, culminating in a major conflict at the end. In true detective fashion, Buchanan combines his deductive skills, his street smarts and his brainpower to solve the case and make sure everything works out.

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (8/08)

"Try Darkness" is a true thriller. I picked up this book and could not put it down until I was done. It starts by introducing us to Ty Buchanan, a former hotshot attorney with a major firm who now lives in a religious enclave and practices law from a rented chair in a local coffee shop. While trying to pick up the pieces of his life, while dealing with the death of his fiancé, as well as being falsely accused of murder, Ty is happy playing basketball with his favorite nun and having philosophical conversations with the resident priest, Father Bob.

When Father Bob brings him a new client, it seems to be a relatively easy case. Reatta, a single mother, lives in a bottom-of-the-barrel motel in a seedy part of town with her six-year-old daughter, Kylie. The motel utilized an illegal practice of shoving residents out after a few weeks and making them wait a week to check in again. This prevents the residents being protected by resident laws. Reatta decides to fight since this practice will put her and Kylie on the street. Ty takes the case, and things pick up speed very quickly. As the bodies pile up, Ty is in for the case of his life in every sense of the word.

In the midst of the danger, we see another side of Ty. Snarky and sarcastic, he is also loving and caring. He still visits his late fiancée's mother, finds himself forming an unwanted bond to this abandoned girl and is struggling with feelings for a woman he should not be thinking about.

"Try Darkness" by James Scott Bell is a thriller at its best. It was full of action, wonderful and realistic dialog and characters that rang true. Once you pick this up, be prepared to be in for quite a ride!

Ty Buchanan is certainly not your typical lawyer. After the tragic death of his fiancé, Ty moves into a trailer behind a convent and befriends a nun with a passion for hoops. Together they work to bring justice to the downtrodden that cross their path. Ty's latest case involves a young girl whose mother was brutally murdered before her eyes. As Ty and Sister Mary Veritas look further into the case, they uncover a conspiracy between a larger than life business mogul and Ty's old law firm. It will take every ounce of Ty's wit and Sister Mary's unwavering faith to bring justice and hope to the little girl that has stolen their hearts.

James Scott Bell has given us exactly what we want in a sequel: an even better story. I thoroughly enjoyed Try Dying, but this second installment really outweighs the first. Ty Buchanan is such an engaging character full of heart, flaws, and passion. His own personal search for truth and meaning is such a welcome addition to an already rich plot. Bell knows how to structure a plot (heck, he has written a book about it) and his talent is on full display here. Never does the story drag or cause you to wonder just how many more pages are left. This is truly one of the more engaging novels I've read in some time.

Let's not forget about the wonderfully strange cast of characters Bell treats us to. Sister Mary Veritas is a fun and complex counterpart to Ty and their relationship is wonderfully explored here. Father Bob and Pick McNitt are back and as entertaining as ever with their witty banter and unique perspectives. Bell also mixes in some new characters that are sure to become fan favorites.

Try Darkness holds it's own as a mystery and also works as a relevant exploration into faith. Ty and Sister Mary remind me of Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth on the TV show, Bones. Being a self proclaimed agnostic, Ty often butts heads with Sister Mary over issues of spirituality making for fascinating conversations between the two. Indeed, one of the most intriguing aspects of Ty Buchanan is his passion for helping and serving others despite his uncertainty about God.

James Scott Bell totally has me hooked and I am eagerly awaiting another installment in this impressive series.

After the sizzling debut of his Ty Buchanan series last year in "Try Dying", James Scott Bell does it again in this fast-paced and tightly plotted second entry.

Still at loose ends after clearing himself of his fiancee's murder, we find Ty getting involved in a legal battle for the rights of tenants being hustled by the landlord of a Single Room Occupancy hotel in downtown LA.

But as Ty delves deeper into the case, he finds things aren't what they seem, and matters swing out of control, resulting in murder, kidnapping, and a confrontation with some of the city's top-level power brokers.

Buchanan is a fascinating, well portrayed character full of sardonic insights and witty ripostes; the secondary characters are all fully-realized and three-dimensional, each memorable and distinct in their own right.

The personal story between Ty and Sister Mary Veritas continues to develop, and I can hardly wait to see what happens in the next installment.

This book barrels along like a runaway train. It satisfies on every level, and Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

A solid five stars; get this book!

If you're raising teenagers and are feeling the generation gap widen by the day, "When Teens Stray" will help you regain a solid perspective on your role as a parent or guardian and help you stop beating yourself up about your parenting abilities. Two chapters in particular, "Seven Common Myths Parents Hold About Their Kids" and "Six Common Myths Paents Hold About Themselves," get to the heart of the matter and challenge the uncertainty and despair we parents sometimes feel wondering if our kids will ever turn into responsible, enjoyable adults! Although written from a Christian perspective, there's not an ounce of "Christianese" or "holier than thou" preaching in the book; just encouragement and affirmation and lots of examples of parent/teen struggles. I highly recommend this book.

When Teens Stray is a book every parent raising children should read. My children are already grown, and I know this book would have been very helpful when my wife and I were raising our children.

This book would be very beneficial to help deal with people in all aspects of society. The was well researched with many real life expamples to draw from. READ THE BOOK.

It is a pleasure to read a book with practical and straight forward answers to very difficult and heart wrenching dilemmas. I appreciated Scott's willingness to be honest with his own struggles as well as effectively communicating the issues that many parents face on a day to day basis. It is a comfort to hear my own questions faced in this book and to have some hands on ideas on how to work through them. Most of all, I appreciated the way Scott consistently pointed us all to the One and Only God who is able to keep us and our children in His hand.

Dr. Larson provides another straight-forward and practical book on parenting troubled teens. For the parents that have suffered through the straying of their child, they will find hope for the journey, principles to live by as a parent, and strategies that can have an immediate impact in a troubled kid's life.

Dr, Larson's unique ability to blend the latest in psychological research and timeless biblical insights affords parents a fresh look at parenting "for the long haul"

This is a crisply written book chock full of wisdom for parents dealing with prodigal children. Larson blends solid Biblical principles with equally solid youth development knowledge. An example: "Never make good behavior a prerequisite for your affection. It is a condition that even God doesn't demand." Woven throughout are fascinating stories of real-world challenges faced by families with challenging youth. This book is a God-send for parents and others who love teens who stray but need fresh ideas to help these youth keep their families in balance.

I am one of the contributors of a chapter to this book, so I am probably biased. Nevertheless, I think that Dr. Fehr's "101 interventions in group therapy" is a MUST for every group therapist. Its 101 chapters include so many interesting ideas for interventions, and from so many different perspectives. Dr. Fehr gathered a very eloquent group of experts from all over the world, representing a variety of approaches and theoretical points of view in group therapy. Reading this book helped me understand and respect diversity more than I did.
If you are leading groups (any kind) you will find the "101 interventions in group therapy" a valuable source of techniques, exercises, but no less - ideas for leading groups.
Haim Weinberg, PhD

This edited compendium of practical and creative interventions demonstrates repeatedly why group psychotherapy may often be the treatment of choice. Along with Yalom, I would recommend Fehr's edited volume as a staple on a therapist's bookshelf.

Too often training programs are lacking in sufficient courses and experiences in group therapy, leaving therapists learning "on the job". This book goes a long way in thoughtfully providing ways of intervening (including cautions) that a therapist may never have had the opportunity to witness, yet could imagine adapting for their own work, thus increasing repertoire.

While I had the privilege of being one of the authors, it has been an honor to find my contributions surrounded by a breadth of creative, accessible interventions that clearly demonstrate the power of group psychotherapy to invoke and support change. Fehr has again shepherded an outstanding resource.

I was delighted to see that other colleagues have the same positive response to Scott Fehr's collection of essays that I do. I first sat down to browse through it to see who else besides me had contributed, and did not look up until hours later. And this is not a novel!! Dr. Fehr is to be commended for putting together such a useful and wide ranging set of essays. I have found several to be very helpful in my practice.
George Saiger, MD, Certified Group Psychotherapist
Rockville MD

101 Interventions in Group Therapy

Doing Group Therapy is always a challenge from the neophyte to the most experienced therapist. This book provides ready reference to a wide range of techniques covering diverse problems across a wide range of theoretical orientations. So often an issue might arise within the group and finding a ready reference as this book provides gives the therapist prompt support. It is an esential book for both the individual and institution's library. I only wish such a book had been available when I first began conducting groups some 15 years ago and it is an invaluable resource for me today.

Dr. Fehr has again brought forth a book on working with groups that illuminates the multifaceted nature of such work. This time he integrates group interventions from a large number of experienced therapists, who share some of the "nuts and bolts" of actually working with small groups. Some interventions are targeted for specific populations; others address issues that come up in most types of groups. This is a gold mine of resources for both the new or less trained person working with groups, as well as experienced professionals. I highly recommend it.

I remember reading this book way back in Grade 12. Its not so way back considering that it was probably two or three years ago. This book ranks among the best war books I have ever read. In some places, I laughed so hard I nearly dropped a lung. In other places, I remember being so sombre and imaging the horror experienced by Mowat and his band of Hasty Ps.

This is a must read for any Canadian even remotely interested in the Canadian role in World War II.

I didn't really want to read another war book, but a friend convinced me he thought this was the best one ever written. However, I came away from it thinking it wasn't as good as "The Forgotten Soldier". The last chapter about the battle over the Moro river was just as good. However, the depth of the first three chapters I felt was diminished by the author's sense of humor and his tendency to exaggerate. For example, the dying of the inscrutable A K Long - taking out his pipe for a smoke and a book to read when he was so seriously wounded, calm in the midst of terror - struck me as unrealistic. In sum, this was a good book but I would say, not really memorable.

I bought this book almost in a state of doubt. I had seen the name Farley Mowat and automatically assumed it was a good piece of writing as is most if not all of his other pieces of work. He is perhaps one if not the best Canadian writer ever to pick up a pen and paper. And after reading this book, i quickly realized why.

I had been searching for a book that could possibly inform and educate me on a Canadian's standpoint of the second world war. I quickly realized that I had picked out a good book. It puts you in the mind of a young man reaching adulthood and as had every other young man at the time, had his mind set in joining his fellow Canadians and Allies in the battle. This mindframe had been to be fairly excited and actually happy to go to the frontlines. As it had obviously not been programmed to the unfortunate reality of the war itself. Farley Mowat tells a great and wonderful story of his life before and during the timeline of the Canadian military's part in the war itself. Whether it was the obvious anxiety of waiting to be shipped overseas to the frontlines, or the brutal and graphic reality of the battle itself, Mowat unveils a true and dramtically emotional story of World War II.

Myself I was seaching for a book such as this one. It retold the historically correct graphic and terrifying nature of war, more specifically that of the Second World War. I know that one such as myself will never know and hopefully never experience the reality of war but, I can honestly say that I have infinite gratitude and thanks for those who fought for our freedom. All in all, a WONDERFUL book and I highly recommend it to any Farley Mowat fans or anyone who likes great historical literature. I just cannot seem to express how great of a book this really was. Hope you like it too!

Undeniably the best war memoir written by a Canadian who served in the Second World War. The book chronicles Mowat's experiences in 1943 as a participant in the invasion of Sicily and Italy, and in classic Mowat style captures both the stark reality and lighter side of his experiences. Mowat also wrote a history of his unit--one of the first books he published, and which was later revised (and is somewhat difficult to find at the moment)--entitled The Regiment.

This book was a great surprise for me. I picked it up at a local library because I saw the name Mowat and thought, "Funny, Isn't he a Canadian naturalist? What's he doing in the History section?" What followed was a fascinating voyage of war,adventure,hilarity and,ultimately,tragedy and pain. Walking into the experience of WWII with a completely innocent demeanor, anxious to get into a fight, this brilliant writer has many funny and almost fatal false starts. When the fighting gets serious, the glib descriptions of his units treacherous challenges are positively riveting. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. If you like your war personal, exciting and honest, get this book to a comfortable chair and be prepared to not move for a night and a day. A brilliant book by a Canadian national treasure.

Scott Olivieri does a great job of describing what it means for a lifelong fan to move to the inner circle of the Red Sox. While baseball fans will find plenty of stats and baseball analysis, the casual baseball fan will not feel bogged down in numbers and technical terms. The human story of a young college grad having a chance of a lifetime is compelling as well. Particularly amusing is the story where he can't cash a check from Roger Clemens. Can't wait for the next book!

I loved this book! I had a hard time putting the book down. The book was interesting, funny, well written, and a quick read. The club house and personal stories were hilarious. The thing I liked best was that Olivieri brings you through the process of what it's like to go from being a fan, to a stranger in the club house, to a part of the team. After reading it, I bought one for my Father in-law,(a fellow believer)for Christmas. You'll love this book too.

In 1991, Scott Olivieri, then aged twenty-one and a passionate Red Sox fan, lived the dream of every member of the Red Sox Nation, spending the entire season in the Red Sox clubhouse, hoping quietly to improve the team's hitting. Until that year, each batter had had to rely on a pitcher's stats and his own experience in trying to anticipate pitches. Videotape existed, but using it to show a player his individual at-bats was a prohibitively time-consuming process. By 1991, however, Pete Olivieri, Scott's father, had developed a computer program which would not only record each at-bat and each pitch but would allow individual players to call up at-bats instantly so they could be reviewed and studied. Players could also use multiple screens to compare and contrast swings and hits. Without fanfare, the computer suddenly became an essential part of the game.

Olivieri's lifelong love of the team shines through here as he describes being a child growing up a few miles from Fenway Park, playing Little League with Jim Rice's number on his back, memorizing locker combinations by associating the numbers with Red Sox players' numbers, and watching or listening to every game. Even as a youngster, however, he realized that "the Red Sox, ultimately, are a symbol of disappointment." Time after time, he watched a team "with superb talent losing in ways screenwriters couldn't script." His chance to make a difference, using a home-grown computer program to give an edge to the batter, not only allowed him the chance to meet some of his heroes but actually to help them to improve their hitting--and maybe the team's record.

Olivieri's descriptions capture both the romance the game and the tedium of the locker room, the camaraderie of the players and the excesses of the press, locker room "etiquette" and the public missteps of some of the players. He himself is a respectful, "background" sort of person, careful not to call attention to himself so that the players can discover for themselves his program and its opportunities. His opinions of Wade Boggs, Ellis Burks, Mike Greenwell, Phil Plantier, Roger Clemens, and the unfortunate Jeff Gray ring with truth and personal insight. Red Sox fans, computer specialists, and lovers of baseball should be fascinated by this behind-the-scenes look at the interface between the computer and baseball--the beginning of a new era. Mary Whipple

Olivieri has an exceptional talent for telling a story. Put that together with a storyline that brings the reader right inside the Red Sox clubhouse - and the result is a book that makes you thirst for more. The dialogues, descriptions, and insider's look make you feel as if you were in the clubhouse yourself. This book was a great read - I did it in one sitting. I certainly hope that Olivieri continues the story - I will be first in line to get the next book(s) - and perhaps that is the greatest review of all. You don't have to be a Sox fan to enjoy this book but, if you are, it will become one of your favorites.

Since my daughter has been living in Boston for the past 10 years, and I get to travel there to visit quite a bit, I have become a rabid Sox fan (but just in the American League; the Phillies are my team in the National!). I love their storied and star-crossed history, and this book gives me new insights into the baseball culture and system. It's told from the perspective of a fan who gets the "once in a lifetime" job to mingle with the players on his hometown team. There are tremendous locker room scenes, and the players appear to be more human than we really see them when they are just on the field. Even Roger Clemens appears likeable, which is almost amazing! A close read of the book reveals that the writer was not too thrilled with the front office Sox organization, but it's the old story that familiarity breeds contempt. This is a book all baseball fans, and those who enjoy a well written book, will love! Read it, you won't be sorry.