Stuart Books

Henry VIII is a fascinating man of history. He took six wives, arranged to exchange one wife for another, murdered two, lost one to childbirth, rejected another and died before he could find a way to get rid of wife six. A man of wit, intelligence, excess and greed. He had an enormous appetite for pleasure, riches and love. You'll feel as if you're reading exceptional fiction but it really happened.

This is an excellent account of Henry and his many wives. Well researched, very well written - there's hardly a boring passage.

Watching the Tudors on Showtime got me interested in Henry VIII. I purchased this book because of the depth of its research and historical accuracy. It was excellent. I could not put it down. I tend to be more of a fiction reader, when I read for enjoyment. This was as engrossing as any novel.

If you want to read about Henry VIII's six wives, there are more titles out there that you can ever read. A lot of the material is a combination of guesses and conjecture, with a slant toward the prurient. This book, however, is very different. Alison Weir spent a lot of time looking at primary sources from the Tudor period. She obviously did her homework, and her fictionalized historical accounts are likely the closest to the truth that we will ever find.

Unlike most accounts that paint Henry as a man driven by lust, Ms. Weir paints him as a deeply religious man driven by a combination of duty and fear. He truly believes that the fate of the Tudor dynasty depends entirely on the appearance of a legitimate son. Henry had at least one illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, whose last name is a sly poke at his bastard status. (FitzRoy = Son of the King, get it?) As time passed, Henry's sense of duty became magnified and overwhelmed by fear that he would die before a legitimate Tudor prince was born. His son Edward was sick and weak from the beginning, and it was apparent to Henry that he needed a healthy, strong son to take on the mantle of leadership should Edward die. He himself only became king because of the untimely death of his sickly brother, Arthur. His treatment of his wives was based on these twin factors.

Alison Weir takes the dry facts and weaves them into a compelling and interesting narrative, and the tragedy of Henry's relationships with all of the women he encountered becomes stunningly clear. I found the book impossible to put down, and although I knew the bare bones of what happened from history books, I had to keep reading to see what might happen next. This is a wonderful introduction to Ms. Weir's books, and if you read this one, be sure to have the others in your shopping cart. You won't want to waste any time getting your hands on them.

Alison Weir's well-written, easy to read book about the Six Wives of Henry the VIII is an outstanding work of history about England in the 1500s, Henry's six wives, and the role they play in English politics and international relations with Spain, France and Germany. It is definitely a five star work of scholarship and entertainment.

This book is a great inexpensive way to dip your toes into the Arabic alphabet and find out if you want to continue. You will run across questions that will send you running to a patient Arabic speaker if you know one. For deeper study I recommend Alif Baa because you get deeper explanations and dvds where you can hear correct pronunciation. Don't forget to purchase the answer booklet which is $4.95 on Amazon.

I live in Kuwait and got tired of my eyes crossing in confusion every time I looked at Arabic writing. The alphabet is intimidating. Each letter has a different look depending upon where it is in a word for example. However, I bought this book thinking, "Hey, couldn't hurt." I found the book exceptionally easy to use. I continue to refer to it, even though I had mastered the basics of the alphabet and written words in two evenings of reading at bedtime. If you want to understand the Arabic alphabet without tearing out your hair, this is the way to go.

This is probably the most perfect self-help book I have ever used. The system starts from the basics and contually builds on that to make the complexity of the language very simple and manageable. You learn a group of letters that share something in common (ex: ba',ta', and tha'). The perfect companions to this book is the translated/transliterated/arabic publication of the Qur'an (ISBN 9781930097537), a couple of children's books in arabic, an arabic newspaper, and audio(which can be found online).

This was a gift for my wife and although I cannot offer too many specifics, it appears to have greatly helped her in her Arabic studies. If you have a family member or friend who is studying Arabic, this may be an ideal gift.

I wish I could offer more input on the content, but since I'm not knowledgeable about the alphabet, I can only provide information on how helpful the material was for my spouse.

i really like this book. the writer teaches you some very important basics and he does it in a way that a friend would. the book is thin and lightweight so the thought of getting through it isnt depressing! Basically you read the book and get the basics and all thats left is practice practice practice! Also helpful to buy some audio lessons in arabic to hear exactly how the leeters should be pronounced.

While looking to see if one of my favorite historical authors (James Alexander Thom) had a new novel out, I came across the books of Allan W. Eckert on of those "If You Like This Book, You'll Like This Too" lists. I had never heard of Eckert before, but based upon the GREAT reviews of this book I decided to give it a try. What a suprise! All of the positive reviews aren't lying. I can't put the book down! It just pulls you in until you feel like you're roaming the Ohio Valley with Kenton and all the other brave folks (White and Indian). The 588 LARGE pages make it extra special for folks like myself who fly through books quickly. I would highly recommend the book and can't wait to start another one by him.

P.S. The books by James Alexander Thom are equally well written for those who are looking for a simular type author.

Wow, what an interesting, exciting, factual book! Just as engaging and excitingly written as any Louis Lamour or Zane Grey novel, except very factual. Based on tens of thousands of pages of interview notes taken from those who lived during this period of history. You will learn a lot of American history and enjoy it, to boot, if you read this book! Don't miss this one!

Eckert has written a truly engrossing book on an amazing figure in American history. Simon Kenton, like Daniel Boone had the lust to wonder the woods for days and both had a immense memory for the scope of the land he wondered. The narrative writing is excellent. It puts you back in the 18th century when America was truly wild. It was a harsh land when one false step led to an early death, often times gruesome. The Shawnees were none to compliant to give up their lands and sold it at a high cost of human life. Tecumseh also emerges here, also one of the greatest figures in history. A Sorrow in Our Heart, which is about Tecumseh is also a must read. In the Frontiersman, the Ohio River flowed blood red with hatred for intruders. There are captivating stories here of the many clashes that took place between whites and indians. It was a time period of two cultures clashing, one wanting to hold on to a way of life etched into the land through balance and harmony, aganst a culture that produced men who were determined to see new vistas and experience the thrill of blazing a trail that many would soon follow. But it was this migration which ruined the very thing they loved most, the feeling of true wilderness. This book captures it all. A must read for those who find history a fascinating subject.

I was assigned to read this book for my 10th grade American History summer reading. I loved to read as a teen. I loved history -- I went on to get my degree in it. This book threatened to change all of that.
A ponderous piece of agonizing minutiae, this book brought me to the breaking point. I read it -- the whole thing. As a fifteen year old. I think it actually made me cry, I hated it so much. It's well researched, but seemed almost masturbatory in its envisioning of the motivations of frontiersmen. And excruciatingly long. Some people obviously enjoy this book. To each their own. But for the rest of you, it is okay to hate it. Really. You know you want to.

I first became acquainted with Mr. Eckert's books a few years ago while shopping for a gift for my son-in-law who loves local history and someone recommended one of his books. I took it home and while wrapping it, read a page. I was hooked, I went out and bought one for myself. We live in an area rich in history and his books cover our area extensively. I only wish all the history classes I took in high school and college had been this interesting. Our whole family now enjoys Mr. Eckert's books.

This book is awesome wicked crazy and I would recommend it to anyone who was ever interested in anything on the edge of reality.

It shows a side of drugs that people without an addiction are rare to find. It is an honest account from a not so honest guy about an absolutely shameful pastime. I love this book.

Aleister Crowley is best known for his books and essays on magick (it was he who coined that spelling), but he also wrote several works of fiction. Diary of a Drug Fiend may be his best novel, even though it is in many ways more a platform for his ideas and techniques than a conventional novel.

The novel takes place in Europe, mainly England, around the 1920s. This was apparently the time when drugs such as cocaine and heroin were just becoming illegal and socially unacceptable. The story concerns a young couple, Peter and Lou, who fall in love, both with each other and with cocaine and heroin. Crowley, who had considerable experience with drugs himself, is very effective at describing the euphoria of people experiencing drugs for the first time. Their lives are utterly transformed in an almost mystical way. Of course, the body quickly develops an increasing appetite for these powerful substances, and soon more and more is needed. Soon after that comes the inevitable crash, when the addict must take huge quantities just to feel normal and goes through hellish withdrawal when drugs are not available.

In addition to the physical addiction, Diary of a Drug Fiend shows how the addict's overall judgment is clouded. Peter easily falls victim to a con man, and soon the couple are facing a shortage of money. They are only rescued by the intervention of a mysterious man called King Lamus, who is a thinly disguised version of Crowley. What makes this book interesting, and different from other books that deal with addiction, is that the real point is to show the power of the will to overcome any problem. According to this view, which adherents of modern 12 step programs will not take kindly to, there is nothing special about addiction. It's simply one way people can lose sight of their "true will," to put it in Crowley's terminology. "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the Law" was one of Crowley's favorite sayings, and it is repeated often in this book. The meaning, as is made clear, is not to simply do what you want or to follow your whims. That is how the couple in this novel end up addicted to cocaine and heroin. It means, rather, to follow your Will, which means living up to your highest potential, fulfilling your destiny or becoming one with your Higher Self, to put it in other terms.

Diary of a Drug Fiend is an enjoyable, if not a great novel; in some ways it's rather didactic, especially towards the end. Still, even someone who is not particularly interested in Crowley or magick could find the descriptions of the couple's descent into addiction and madness compelling. Crowley says in the introduction that the events depicted are all true. How true they are we may never know, but it is a fact that Crowley set up a kind of community in the Mediterranean called The Abbey of Thelema. The last few chapters of the novel depict a kind of idyllic life where people discover and live according to King Lamus' magical instructions. What Crowley did here, both in the novel and real life, is to try to set up a kind of laboratory of the spirit where people are led to reach their highest potential. At various times, other spiritual teachers, such as Gurdjieff and Rajneesh (both as controversial as Crowley in their own ways) established communities of their own. Whether Crowley succeeded or not is still hotly debated, but Diary of a Drug Fiend gives a compelling summary of many of his ideas. It is also an entertaining read with a style more accessible than Crowley's nonfiction books.

It's not quite as much fun to write a review when it seems everyone is basically in agreement. Crowley was not as evil as folklore suggests, and he was a lot more intellectually accomplished than his detractors would care to admit.

What struck me about this book were the resounding themes in the final chapters. (I don't think this is a suspense-driven book, so I don't see myself as "spoiling" the ending here.) "Do What Thou Wilt" may seem archaic or sinister, but it ultimately means nothing more than finding your ultimate purpose, your deepest will. Once you find that, your other problems will fall by the wayside. Put in those terms, perhaps the theme sounds too pedestrian. But the way Crowley presents it here in terms of overcoming a heroin and "snow" addiction is marvelous. In many respects this book, particularly toward the end, reminded me of Ayn Rand's writings, where man's ultimate potentials are examined and exalted. Crowley's King Lamus is not far from the John Galt and Howard Roarke idealisms. I walked away from this book refreshed and inspired. Thank you, Mr. Crowley.

Yes, if you have any interest in narcotics addiction this is a MUST-READ. Seriously, if you are a cop, or a lawyer, or a judge, this is a fundamental source of information that will really expand your comprehension of the subject of narcotics addiction. Thank goodness here in California the emphaisis is on REHABILITATION for users and simple possession. And, thank goodness, here in California if you are a dealer that clank you just heard is the prison door, scum bag.

Yes, for those with interests in the arcane, the esoteric, the occult or the erotic, your time will be well rewarded by the book. There is bizarre imagery and mystical references throughout. You'll have a blast with this one. Please note that these Crowley books become astronomical in price when they go out of print, even the paperbacks, so you may want to snag one of these even if you can't read it right now.

One sign of a good book for me is that when I'm done with it, the book is all marked up with pencil marks indicating points which I want to read again some day. Just about every page of this book is marked. Yes, it truly is classic.

Awesome. Great writer. First few pages took a little while to get through due to all the British lingo, but after that, it flew.

I never would have known this was illustrated by Stuart Immonen if the cover hadn't told me. Acclimatized to Immonen's streamlined, cartoony images, the unique, rotoscoped style of Secret Identity came as a shock.

Busiek has definitely buttered his bread with stories about the real-life burdens of being a superhero (see: Astro City), and, in Secret Identity, he's proven that he's up to the task of giving a bit of emotional gravitas to the two-dimensional Superman. In fact, he occasionally skids dangerously close to making the World's Greatest Superhero too whiny.

Although each chapter is good, the whole package feels a bit jumpy - I'm not sure it could have been fleshed out more without becoming boring, but the transitions through Superman's life felt a bit abrupt.

What if you live in a tiny town in Kansas? What if your last name is Kent, and your parents, having an annoying sense of humor, have christened you "Clark"? All his life teenager Clark Kent had been hearing it, teased and taunted with Superman jokes. And there's really nothing for the introverted Clark to do but take it, and take it. Then, one night, Clark finds himself floating on air, and everything changes.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with fond memories of Superboy Prime. I remember reading DC Comics Presents #87 decades ago, when that whole Crisis on Infinite Earths thing was going on. That issue teamed Superman up with the Superboy from Earth-Prime, which is supposed to represent our real world and where Superman is nothing but a well known comic book figure. I loved that issue, but knew there wouldn't be much future for that Superboy (he did survive that Crisis, but then the recent INFINITE CRISIS just ruined him for me). Kurt Busiek, in his intro, credits DC Comics Presents #87 as the genesis for this mini-series.

The SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY trade collects the 4-issue limited series which originally came out in early 2004, and, in my opinion, it's a must-read, not only for fans of Superman or comic books, but for fans of good stories in general. This is one of the best Man of Steel stories I've ever read, even though this Superman definitely falls outside the mainstream DC continuity. Nevertheless, it's right up there with the brilliant ALL STAR SUPERMAN series and Alan Moore's classic Superman take, "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" (which can be found in DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore).

What makes SECRET IDENTITY stand out for me is the level of thoughful realism injected by writer Kurt Busiek. He's done stuff like this before, of course, in Marvels (Marvel Premiere Classic) and in Astro City: Life in the Big City, so I'm not at all surprised at the depth and texture found here. Unlike other comic book efforts based in the so-called "real world" SECRET IDENTITY doesn't come off as dark or gritty. And while it does contain a measure of violence, it's not gratuitously thrown in to sacrifice good narrative. Despite its reflective tone, these pages are graced with moments of hope and optimism. Busiek uses language that is direct and simple and composed of everyday words. But, somehow, it all translates to storytelling that is lyrical, sensitive, and heartfelt. I've never seen Busiek write better.

SPOILERS now.

SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY is a life story, chronicled in four parts and depicting several stages in Clark's life. In these pages he ages from teenhood to a ripe old age, and we see the generational shifts thru his eyes. Part one delves into his teenage years and his feelings of loneliness and alienation. These feelings only escalate when he comes into his powers. What would you do if you stumble into powers like that? Use them for wealth, fame, and power? But what would you have to give up? And who can you trust? Clark wrestles with these issues. This being a Superman story, it's not too surprising that Clark decides to do his bit, but, this being the real world, he's forced to do it in secrecy. Part two has Clark moving to Manhattan as a fledgling writer. There, the Superman ribbing continues, but this actually leads to a momentous turning point in his life. Clark also finds out that the government, in full paranoia mode, is sniffing around. Part 3 finds Clark in a family way and contemplating ways to keep his loved ones safe (the government is still after him). And in Part 4 Clark is now up there in years, with his powers waning but with the possibility of his legacy being kept alive.

SPOILERS end.

If Busiek's words are evocative, Stuart Immonen's visuals are stunning. He renders his characters in perfectly natural poses and gestures and excels in conveying quiet power and mood even in the quiet scenes. There's quite a number of splash pages placing Clark in some breathtaking, panoramic vistas. I've said that this has been Busiek's best writing so far. Well, this is the best I've seen of Stuart Immonen. Just spectacular artwork from the man.

Superman isn't in my short list of favorites. But that's the other Superman. This Clark Kent here is a different animal, someone who is complex in character and charming in his uncertainty. I like that he has to struggle thru his problems. I like that he derives such simple pleasure from the act of flying. The story is told thru his journals, which he clangs out on an old typewriter (he doesn't trust computers), and so we get to know him on a personal level. There are no supervillains. When not evading the government's grasp, all of Clark's superheroic feats are focused on preventing natural calamities and on undertaking rescue missions. The superhero stuff. But it's curious that, despite all the fantasy elements here, what really resonates for me is the intimate and grounded portrayal of Clark as a man, as a husband, and as a father. The real stuff.

I for one really was never into the whole "Superman" thing. That is, until presented this book. I didn't think anything of it at first, but I couldn't put it down; it was a real page-turner. No complaints here.

OKAY.. this book was okay,a bit slow and without any reason for waking up with superpowers,not one i will hurry to recomend.UNLESS you live in SOUTH AUSTRALIA-like me.why? Because for possibly the ONLY time in comic book history,past and future,WHYALLA is mentioned.A crap town not far from where i live that can now only live off this one famous moment,and plan to slide downhill from here.Perhaps Superman was bored or had relatives there,thats the only reason anyone I know goes there.Besides this great coincidence for me this book was nice...just nice.My wife is currently pregnant and i personally turn to comics to forget about these type of issues,(NOT TO BE INSENSITIVE!!!)seeing Clarkes reactions was OK but not the action or the emotional hieghts of other "touching" comic classics.If you havent read Superman before and your reading this review,DONT.....I JUST ORDERED PUNISHER MAX.2 TO LEVEL MYSELF OUT......Probably a book for life long Superman-fans to enjoy,not bad not 5 stars from me.(dont go to Whyalla)

The first time I read this book I had borrowed it from the Library...Ohhh Maaaannnnn....what an amazing story!!! I couldn't put it down and at first I couldn't even comprehend the fullness of the story. It was this book that not only got me to read the "Astro City" series, but when I found out that Kurt Busiek was now writing the Superman Comics for DC...I started buying Superman Comics again after a 35 year lapse. I thought I had outgrown Comic Books until I read Kurt Busiek writing. This story is such a grabber that I had read it 3 times in less than 7 months before I broke down and bought it. And then I read it again and even had my Wife read it, she doesn't even like "Graphic Novels", but she likes this one. I highly recommend it and encourage people to buy it, because it is and will become classic reading in the annals of illustrated books. Way to Go Kurt Busiek!!! Definately one of your Best!!!

I've read all there is to read about Grant vs. Lee
but Rhea's works are the finest. From the Wilderness
to Cold Harbor, each book is a fascinating. There's no
way these books will ever leave my shelf! I usually reread
them every couple of years. Highly recommended!


Matt Looby

I have recenty - in the past two ot three years - become interested in the Civil War. The Shelby Foote series is wonderful, but still leaves a lot of detail to be fleshed out. The more you read the more you want to know. Much about the War remains a mystery. The battles can be presented in much detail and Rhea's writing is clear and lucid. There is considerable detail in presenting excerpts from diaries, reports and the like to make the battles real from a human standpoint. The books are much like the work of Stephan Sears.
All are well written and enjoyable, although I do recommend a bit of lighter reading between volumes.
The only quibble that I have is with the maps. They often neglect detail that could help follow the action. Plaaces mentioned in the text are sometimes not to be found on the maps.
This complaint can be applied to virtually every Civil War book that I have read. If you are interested in the civil war, this series is excellent.

The Battle of the Wilderness May 5-6, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 520 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (July 1994)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807118737

The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern May 7-12, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 483 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (May 1997)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807121363

To the North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13-25, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 505 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (May 2000)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807125350

Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864
Product Details
* Hardcover: 552 pages
* Publisher: Louisiana State University Press (September 2002)
* Language: English
* ISBN: 0807128031

I am reviewing the four books a single series although each book is a full stand-alone history. This is a highly detailed military history of Grant's Overland Campaign of 1864. Two of the best generals commanding two of the best armies, in American history, decide the Civil war in the East. Gordon Rhea gives this month the detailed attention it requires and had never received. The 2,000 pages allows for the full story of the campaign, the personalities, failures and success.

The first book covers the major battle of The Wilderness an area Grant wished to clear and Lee hoped to trap him in as he had Hooker in 1863. Through a series of Union miscalculations and command problems, Lee manages to get in Grant's way. What follows is a confused bloody two-day battle that has been termed "Bush whacking on a grand scale". An excellent series of maps, help the reader stay abreast of the battle and understand the confusion of both sides. Lee loses Longstreet and starts to make the hard decisions about personnel that he has avoided since 1862. Grant while testing his relationship with Meade and Burnside, is trying to learn the AOP's generals too. This process dominates the four books as repeatedly Grant is forced to deal with the problems this creates and Lee takes steps that were unthinkable in 1863.

The second book moves the battle from The Wilderness south to Spotsylvania and Yellow Tavern. Grant refuses to "play the game" and retreat behind the Rappahannock but pushes past Lee and continues south. What follows is a race from defensive point to defensive point, which the AOP concedes to the AoNV. Union commanders hesitate at critical moments while the AoNV reinforces the objective. This allows Lee to stay up or ahead producing one of the bloodiest battles in our history at Spotsylvania. In addition, this book covers the critical cavalry operations, Grant's reasoning, and the price paid in taking Sheridan away from Meade. J.E.B. Stuart's death, is well covered. Both in terms of what it means to the AoNV, to Lee and to the Confederacy.

After one of the hardest weeks in their history, the two exhausted bloodied armies eye each other over their entrenchments. Lee understands that he is being trapped and that defensive war can only end in defeat. Grant is trying not to be stuck in a siege and determined to continue south. What follows is a series of forced marches and small battles as Grant and Lee test each other. Each general wins and loses daily as the armies march, counter march and fight. However, at the end of each day, Grant is always closer to Richmond. Lee produces a brilliant trap, Grant takes the bait but circumstances keep lee from springing it. Almost to late, Grant sees the trap pulls back, changes direction and continues south. Book 3, To the North Anna River covers this brilliant and exciting time in detail. Rhea produces some excellent analysis of both commanders and the developing personnel problems they are facing. Neither man is having an easy time of it and both understand they have never faced an enemy like this.

The last book takes us to Cold Harbor, one of the most controversial battles of the war. The detail history and excellent analysis leads us through this battle and produces some startling conclusions. As always, the author provides full support and justification for them. This might be the most important book of the series and the definitive book on the battle of Cold Harbor.

Each book has a full set of maps and illustrations. The writing is uniform and very readable. While detailed, the actions are understandable and you are seldom lost in a sea of names and/or unit numbers. Each book is a stand-alone history and is readable as such. The books were published from 1994 to 2002 and had to be written that way. This is the best account of the Overland Campaign available. It is both an invaluable reference and a great reading experience.

Having previously read Rhea's first volume on the 1864 Overland Campaign, I moved on to this work. Just like the first volume, Rhea has written a winner here. I had gotten somewhat tired of "military history" books because they were either overly detailed and dry and boring or they often focused too much on the commanders and not enough on the ordinary soldier. Well, no such problems with this book. Rhea has a very balanced prose focusing on the generals, the privates, and everyone in between. Furthermore, despite being full of enough detail for any military history buff, the book is very readable and Rhea writes in a style that makes you feel as if you are amongst the action, making you turn page after page. Other reviewers can probably write much better than I, but simply put, this book is a must have for anyone interested in military history or the Civil War.

The Battles for Spotsylvania Courthouse and the Road to Yellow Tavern
By Gordon C Rhea

Between the opening round in the Wilderness and the culminating blood-letting at Cold Harbor there were two other major areas of action in the Overland Campaign.

In volume two of Rhea's extraordinary four volume series the action moves out of the wilderness as Grant seeks to outflank Lee and force a battle in the open where the weight of Union artillery and manpower would give it the opportunity to break the Army of Northern Virginia.

In a pattern which would remain true for this entire campaign, Lee's army simply moved faster and counterattacked faster than the Union Army. The culture of the Army of Northern Virginia was a culture of automatic aggressiveness. When attacked they immediately began to organize a counterattack. When they discovered the Union Army they immediately began to probe to see if they could get around its flank. When they had to defend they immediately began entrenching and dug as deep and fast as possible to give themselves the maximum advantage in stopping a Union attack.

Grant' had a much bigger Army but it was simply a lot slower and a lot more hesitant than its Southern opponent.

The Army of the Potomac was a very courageous and stubborn army when it was attacked but it had a hard time spontaneously engaging Lee.

Grant kept trying to overcome these institutional weaknesses by surprising Lee with night marches, diversions to distract him, and carefully planned mass assaults.

At Spotsylvania the Union Army almost gained an advantage using a surprise move which, if it had worked, would have put Lee at a huge disadvantage. Unfortunately the Confederate Army moved fast enough to get there first and by the margin of a few hours entrench enough to stop the Union advance.

Grant then prepared a massive assault at a vulnerable salient and actually won a shocking victory. Unfortunately , in a pattern which would become the norm in the first world war some fifty years later, the disorganization inherent in breaking through made it impossible to exploit the breakthrough and by the time the Union forces reorganized the Confederates had created a new and equally formidable line a short distance back.

Rhea carries you step by step through the agonizing bloodletting in which two powerful armies tried to maneuver but found themselves again and again engaged in bloody fights of attrition which were sapping northern morale and southern capacity to fight at about the same rate.

These books are a remarkable accomplishment.

A fantastic treatise on a much overlooked medical problem!

As a third year medical student, I was largely unaware of the prevalence of B12 deficiency and its devastating repercussions. This book, a combination of anecdotal evidence and solid research provides a strong case for the importance of B12 testing (using Methylmalonic acid urinary testing not serum B12 levels!) and B12 treatment.

The chapters on B12 & Multiple Sclerosis as well as autism were particularly interesting!

All in all a great book! Easy to read, but with profound repercussions.

I have some technical questions I would love to ask the authors, should they wish to contact me.

Paul Theodorescu
paultheo2004@yahoo.ca

This book is a must read for everyone in contact with other human beings. I have dealt with the devestating effects of b12 deficiency for all of my 20's and 30's (at least) with everything getting nothing but worst in the last year. My little boy shares many of my symptoms and is being tested as we speak...now that we know how to test! My son's doctor had no idea how to test him. Two weeks into B12 therapy most of the symptoms that have been plaguing me for years are gone! The rest are slowly improving and I suspect that they will continue to improve. When I think of all the doctors and tests and appointments and medications and theories I have had over the past years, it is downright depressing. All I needed was what my body was screaming for...B12! Cheap, easy to get, effective and mandatory B12!!!!

This book lays it out well and is very well referenced. The format is very reader friendly with many great examples. If you are looking for a book that you could bring into your doctor for their education (for your own survival!), this is the one. It is an absolute horror that this illness goes unfound for so long in so many people. Protect yourself and your loved ones and have this book on hand always. This is the best gift you could give anyone. It saved me in ways I don't even want to think about. Thank you to the authors for this important piece of knowledge that is far too ignored in the medical community.

If you have or suspect having a vitamin B 12 deficiency or if you need to learn about this deficiency for any reason, I recommend you read carefully the book " Could it be B 12 ? An epidemic of Misdiagnoses " by Sally M. Pacholok and Jeffrey J. Stuart. But don't let it be your only source of information about the deficiency. Because at least half of alternative reliable scientific reports about this subject strongly disagree with the major allegations of the authors of this book. You must also be aware of the alternative opinions before deciding on what to do about your vitamin B 12 deficiency. I am not a medical expert and do not say who is right or wrong. However, I am glad I researched other sources of information after I was diagnosed with B 12 deficiency and after I read this book. I couldn't find any other books on this subject but there are a lot of serious scientific reports published on the internet by credible hospitals, laboratories, medical journals etc. You don't have to be a medical expert to understand them, they are written for the general public. Some of the information on the internet is crap but a significant portion is reliable , very informative and based on sound scientific reasearch and experiments.

Search from Google under the headings of vitamin B12 deficiency, homocysteine, methyl malonic acid, intrinsic factor and pernicious anemia. A lot of articles will pop up among them by reliable hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic and some labs etc. Also search under the same headings from the websites of Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia, American Family Doctor and Lab test on line. There are many other websites that include reliable information on Vitamin B 12 deficiency. After reading the book " Could it be B 12 ? An epidemic of Misdiagnoses " my initial reaction was an anger towards my doctor who diagnosed me with a B 12 deficiency believing that he had given me false information. I also had written a very favorable review of this book immediately after having read it two and a half months ago on January 19 2008. I have hereby replaced on April 11th 2008 my previous review of the book with this one based on my subsequent research on the internet about the topic from about ten different reliable scientific reports from different sources. My initial review was based only on the book. The present review is based on both the book and my subsequent extensive research. About half of the medical literature agrees with the authors of this book on the method of diagnosing and treatment of the vitamin B 12 deficiency. The remaining 50 % that disagree also base their views on sound scientific studies.

The authors of the book claim that most doctors in the world are ignorant about vitamin B12 deficiency. After finishing the book I initially bought this argument. However, after conducting the research on the internet I mentioned above I disagree that most doctors are ignorant about it. Surely there are a lot of doctors who are in fact ignorant about it and who misdiagnose. Even my doctor told me some things about vitamin B 12 deficiency some of which I still think are wrong. However, not all doctors who disagree with the authors are ignorant ; there are many among the disagreeing doctors who are very knowledgeable about this subject. Their methods of diagnosing and treating the deficiency maybe different than that of the authors. That does not necessarily make them ignorant. You can see this for yourself by reading their reports on the internet where they express alternative opinions about vitamin B 12 deficiency. Yet the authors of the book accuse all doctors who disagree with them with ignorance. I feel that it is unfair and unconvincing to accuse everyone who disagrees with you with ignorance. I got suspicious about that and found the alternative opinions. I am glad I did not let this book be my only source, I almost went and expressed my disatisfaction with my doctor based on this book. I regret that after reading the book and before reading alternative reports I got into an argument with a neuropsychiatrist whose acquaintance I made in a sports club who challenged the views in the book when I mentioned them to her.
Fortunately I did not go and quarrel with my own doctor based on the book ( it scares me to think I almost did ) because I had the sanity to investigate the deficiency from alternative sources.

The major allegations by the authors about which there is approximately 50 % agreement and of course 50 % disagreement among medical experts throughout the whole world have to do with the method of diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B 12 deficiency.

The authors claim that a serum ( blood ) B 12 test for a deficiency is unreliable by itself and must be accompanied by urinary methyl malonic acid ( MMA ) and serum homocysteine tests. Because in some cases a vitamin B 12 deficiency may damage the nervous system many years before it shows up on blood tests. Doctors who rely on the vitamin B 12 blood test alone could miss a B 12 deficiency if it does not show up on the blood test. The authors allege very strongly that the best measure of B 12 deficiency is the urinary methyl malonic acid and creatinine ratio test done properly along with serum B 12 and serum homocysteine tests. In the medical literature I researched there is strong support for this view. But there are also equally strong arguments in favor of the alternative view, claiming that on the contrary urinary MMA test results are not a reliable indicator of vitamin B 12 deficiency and that serum B 12 tests are more reliable. This is exactly the opposite of what the authors of the book claim.The book mentions that there are doctors that claim this. And it claims that these doctors are ignorant. However, in the reports the doctors state the reasons why urinary or blood MMA tests are unreliable and explain the results of scientific studies in support of their view. They are by no means ignorant.

The other major disagreement is about the method of treatment. The authors of the book claim that Vitamin B 12 oral tablets even in high doses are very often ineffective in treatment of the deficiency and insist that pain free injections directly into the blood is indispensible as a treatment method. They claim that nobody should lose time and risk ineffective treatment with oral tablets. In some cases this maybe true for swallowed oral tablets which have to cross the digestive system. However, I came across many different reports on the internet that mention the effectiveness of sublingual ( under the tounge ) oral vitamin B 12 pills that are also absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Especially during the recent several years many independent studies throughout the world indicate that sublingual vitamin B 12 pills have been found to be as effective as injections into the blood, making the injections unnecessary in many cases. After discrediting the oral tablets and strongly promoting the injections throughout their book even the authors back off from their claims on page 153 under the heading : " A Final Word about Oral B 12 " where they admit the promising recent studies about the efficacy of oral tablets administered sublingually. After I took 1000 mg of swallowable oral tablets for four months my serum B 12 level shot through the roof rising from far below the lower limit to more than twice the upper limit ! My doctor told me to discontinue swallowing the pills.

So, read the book and read any serious other sources you can find on the internet and then decide with your doctor about how you will proceed to diagnose and treat your or your loved one(s)' vitamin B 12 deficiency. Just don't take everything the book or the reports say for granted. Make your own analysis and draw your own conclusions based on a varied rich source of reliable information about this subject. Good luck !

This book has taught me so much, it is a must for everyone to read. An absolute eye opener even for someone who already suffers from the condition.

This book contains critical information that could change the lives of many people. Anyone with any sort of unexplained health problems, from Alzheimers to leg pain to autism, must read this. I also wish every doctor would read it and become more aware of the prevalence of B12 deficiency. After reading it at the library, I bought a copy for myself and one for my doctor.

This is a general comment regarding Hacking Exposed series. I owned Hacking Exposed (first edition) and then I moved to the more specific Hacking Exposed books, so now I've got Hacking Linux Exposed, Hacking Windows 2000 Exposed and hacking web Applications exposed. All those books absolutely worth it, do not hesitate to buy any of them.

Don't run Windows without it. An in-depth windows security book written for those who do not understand geek. Easy to read and chocked full of info provided to save you from common (and not so common) windows sins. Definitely for the home and enterprise network user/admin.

If you are responsible for a Windows 2000 server and do not have this book, you are asking for trouble. Get it today!!!!

Excellent book which helps you secure your system from the attacker's point of view. It makes you think as a hacker to be able to find the vulnerabilities in your machine/network.

My security officer loves this book because it allows him to send me emails guaranteed to keep me up at night. ;-)

I FOUND MYSELF ENGULFED IN THIS BOOK FROM THE VERY START. THROUGH DR RICE'S DESCRIPTIVENESS, HE PUTS YOU WRITE IN THE NOVEL WITH THE OTHER CHARACTERS. HE TAKES YOU THROUGH MANY EMOTIONS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HAPPY TO SAD, FUNNY TO MAD. THIS WAS A BOOK I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT DOWN. IT IS A MASTERPIECE . FRAGILE X WOULD MAKE A THRILLER OF A MOVIE

Dr Rice has written a medical thriller that kept me up all night. This book though lengthy is a page turner that keeps you guessing all the way through. He takes you directly from your couch cushion to the middle of the story via his discriptiveness. This is one that you can read over and over again!!

Superb novel!! Once I started it, I couldn't put it down and ended up finishing in the wee hours of the morning. I'm an avid fan of medical thrillers, and Dr. Rice's first novel has more than impressed me with its plot, characters, detail and suspense. I look forward to reading more (Dr. Rice?)?? My only complaint is that the binding of the book is poor and I now have a few loose pages, so now I can't borrow it out to others since I got the copy signed as well. You will enjoy it!!

Received the book as a gift and I didn't start it right away. When I did, I couldn't put it down! Fabulous writing and subject matter. Hate to think there's such greed in real life but unfortunately, we hear every day that there is. When can we read more from Dr. Rice?

Fragile X: A powerful force bearing a voice of truth, compassion and courage.

Dr. Rice has artfully created a single story to the many which cleverly exposes the harsh and ruthless realities of Managed Health Care: a structured business whereby the decisions of physicians are compromised for the sake of capital gain.

Fragile X is the story of Molly Loomis. She is a young woman who by the wicked hand of Managed Health Care is wrongly surgically stripped of her God-given right to bear children. She is not, however, stripped of the keen, instinctual qualities that are ever-present in a woman's heart, being and spirit.

The characters are real: men and women who speak their truths with passion. And as I read, it was the courage of the characters, whose journeys to prevail, served as my hope for a future free of the pervasive predominance of Managed Health Care.

It is for a very personal reason that I find Fragile X to be so compelling. It is for the sake of my mother's struggle that I pray the masses embrace this captivating literary work for its overall precision.

I watched as my mother, in her last years of life experience the injustice and inhumanity of Managed Health Care. After receiving her last rites, my mother with her seemingly lifeless seventy-two pound frame, defied tremendous opposing odds and survived her battle with pseudomonas (a deadly bacterial disease of the lungs). From this point on in my mother's life she depended on an oxygen concentrator to breathe. After many months of red-tape, it was determined that the level of oxygen which ever-flowed through yards of clear tubing and into my mother's lungs, which was necessary for her quality of life as well as perpetuating it, did not meet administrative criteria. My mother was denied coverage. My mother was denied oxygen.

Thank you Dr. Rice

I purchased a hardcover version of this book for my children about twenty years ago. It is so amusing and full of Santa's life at the North Pole. Santa's favourite cookies recipe is yummy - these had to be made every Christmas. I totally recommend this book for anyone young at heart.

I've had this book so long, and read it so often, that I'm shocked it's still in one piece. Alden Perkes, a master storyteller, presents an 'inside look' of the North Pole, the reindeer and elves, and-- of course-- Santa himself in such a convincing manner, this almost-30-year-old wants to believe all over again. So glad I can share it with my kids now, and that the magic continues...

I received this book for my first Christmas (1983) and spent many Christmases after that reading it under our Christmas tree. This book is full of imaginative, fun, and hilarious stories and characters. I cannot imagine a Christmas without it and recommend this book to everyone, young and old. I hope to share my copy with my children and help create the memories that it inspired in my youth.

I always remember this book being around our house every Christmas, and I would read it over and over- poring over it for hours. Alden's presentation of research was so "scientific" and official-looking that I believed way after all the other kids my age! In fact, when other kids would tell me they didn't believe anymore, I would tell them they were wrong and their parents had lied- Santa Claus IS real, I have the book!

Santa gave me this book when I was still a baby, and I've had it ever since. I'm 21 now and I still think this is the greatest book to read during the holidays. It makes you smile because the way it's written is just really heartwarming and really puts you in the holiday spirit. My mom calls me every year to tell me she got 'the Santa Book' out because I think she loves it more than I do! haha.