Williams Books

Janice Reals Ellig is one of the most well regarded career experts in the industry, and this book provides sensible, practical and actionable advice for anyone wishing to take control of their career. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to find out how to take advantage of opportunites, navigate out of difficult situations and work toward career objectives.

"Be the CEO of your career", recommends Janice Reals Ellig in her book Driving the Career Highway. Co-authored with Bill Morin, Janice presents a thoughtful, logical, down to earth approach to managing your career. Indeed, by the time you finish this book, you will managing your life as she also addresses the issue of work-life balance. Throughout the book, Janice and Bill include exercises to assist. Rather than leaving the reader to pick out the points to address, they include charts and tables for completion so that no area is left without contemplation. I had the opportunity to meet Janice recently and told her then that I wish such a book had existed when I was 20. For readers considering this book, I recommend it heartily and again express the same sentiments: if only I had read it at the start of my career!

Organizations have changed, and as a result so have careers. This is a valuable road map of the new career highways.

This book is a terrific, well-organized resource that engages and allows you look at your career with a fresh perspective. The charts and self-exams fuel true contemplation, reflection and scrutiny of your career achievements and disappointments. Janice Reals Ellig and William Morin outline current conditions that can help or impede your progress and provide ideas and solutions on how to achieve your career goals, all in an easy, enjoyable format. I highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating a career move or contemplating why not to make a career move.

I give this book a AAA rating. It is a much needed book for the challenges of moving up the corporate ladder in the 21 Century. Working hard is necessary but not sufficient to continuous progress. Read it and enhance your possibilities - amazing that situation you find yourself in is more universal than you thought. Better yet, there are solutions. Consider it your career GPS.

Chad Ward - An Edge in the Kitchen

I own two books on kitchen knives and knife skills, this one and Weinstein's Mastering Knife Skills. Chad Ward's book is the best of the two by its breadth and wealth of information and is objectively a very good book.

Physically, the book is a medium sized hard cover, well edited. There is a number of good B&W pictures through the book to illustrate specific points, and there's a central section of 48 pages of glossy color pictures depicting specific knife techniques (battonets vs. julienne, onion, tomatoes, cutting a chicken, butterflying a piece of meat, skinning salmon, carving a turkey, steeling a knife, several sharpening methods, etc).

The book is organized as follows:
1 - Choosing the right kitchen knife:
This section is about 90 pages, so it's a sizeable part of the book. The author goes through the various knife types, costs, etc. Generally, Chad advocates staying away from knife block & sets, and explains that a home cook can do most everything with 3 knives: 8" to 10" chef, paring, and a serrated (or scalloped) bread knife. So his recommendation is to get the best of those. What is really helpful is that the author gives specific recommendations for all budgets - below $100, $200, or "the sky's the limit". Too many books just say "get what feels best". Chad goes beyond this to give a range of specific endorsements. This part also includes 10+ pages on cutting boards and how to take care of them.

2 - Kitchen knife skills:
This section is about 30 pages but also has most of the color pictures in the center section. This is where the key knife skill concepts are explained, how to hold the blade and the item to be cut, etc. This is similar to other knife skill books, but with one major improvements which is a few recipes to practice the skills. Those recipes are really welcome, and because they are basic recipes that can be used as base for a number of varied dishes, they are great recipes to include in this book.

3 - Knife sharpening:
This section is about 70 pages and covers the theory & science of knife sharpening as well as specific reviews and advices for several methods. Chad reviews the sharpening of Western as well as Japanese style knives, and several sharpeing systems (e.g., Spyderco, EdgePro, etc).

At the end of the book are several pages of resources to buy knives, boards, sharpeners, etc.

In short, I think this is a complete book that covers the key concepts of knife skills, but also addresses knife selection and care. If you buy only one kitchen knives & skill book, I would recommend it.

I read this book cover to cover in a single sitting. I found it easy to read and understand as well as a few laughs along the way. This book will become a permanent resource in my kitchen library for a long time. I highly recommend this book to any one with and interest in kitchen cutlery, cutting boards, knife cuts, maintenance of both knives and cutting boards with even a few recipes included. It is also a great resource for suppliers of various related goods and services.

If you want a book that will help you improve your knife skills (such as chopping faster, avoiding accidents, or getting a better edge on your knife), An Edge in the Kitchen is best, most readable book on the market, and I've read through several books and websites for information.

There is an in-depth primer to knife honing and sharpening, and well as the standard full-color photos of cutting up all the vegetables and meat you could possibly be expected to encounter in your kitchen adventures.

More importantly, it's also a "knife book" as well as a "knife skills" book for your inner materialist or consumer junkie (like me). If you wondering about (1) what kitchen knives to buy for a first kitchen or a registry, or (2) looking to upgrade your current kitchen, or (3) if you simply appreciate good food/tools/gadget writing, this is the best, most up-to-date source of information out there. Even if shiny, sharp objects scare you, and you're not too handy in the kitchen, this is a fascinating read.

Have you ever seen those beautiful, pricey German or Japanese knives in a specialty store or Williams-Sonoma, but you were afraid to commit to a purchase, because you were unsure how to decipher the jargon (high-carbon stainless? VG10 steel? drop-forged? full-tang?), and how to separate the facts from the sales pitches? This book explains everything you might want to know about knives (and debunks many consumer myths) in an easy-to-understand, engaging way, and arms you with knowledge as a consumer.

A good knife is an extension of a cook's hands. Ideally, buying a good kitchen knife is an investment in a tool that will last a lifetime and that you will use on a near-daily basis. I would recommend this book to anyone who uses knives in a kitchen.

this is the most thorough comprehensive clearly written and amusing book that I've seen on all things knife - how to choose what you need, what's the difference between the expensive choices, how to keep a screaming sharp edge, clear guidelines and different chefy cuts and terminology. really excellent. wish I could say I still have it but my son stole it as soon as he saw it.

I enjoyed Chad Ward's book immensely. It was easy to follow, had great pictures, is full of good information, and is actually fun to read. He does a good job of covering what you need in a knife and what you may want if you get bitten by the knife bug. He dispels common knife myths and arms you with information so you do not fall for the sales pitch at a fancy knife display in a department store. Knives for all budgets are covered from $50 knives to those in the hundreds and emphasis is on getting the best knife for your dollars. Why spend $100 when you can get a better knife for $50?

There is also a section on sharpening your own knives. Geoff seems to have an issue with that, but many people enjoy the exercise. Many people also enjoy working on their own cars, cutting their own grass, or grinding their own coffee. If you don't then feel free to pay someone to do it or cut with a dull knife. Whatever floats your boat. It is nice to see detailed information about sharpening though in case that is of interest.

No where in this book (and I have read it 3 times) does Ward say to buy a $200 knife, but he does give suggestions if that is what you WANT to do. All in all it is a great guide on how to get a good knife that meets your needs and your budget.

The photo illustrations of common cuts is done well also and I found the section on how to section a chicken useful. This is a great book for anyone who wants to know more about kitchen knives and how to get the right one for their kitchen.

Hamilton is a journalist, and a writer of short stories and novels. His first three novels were set in Central Europe. Then came Headbanger (1996), a darkly comic crime novel set in Dublin and featuring detective Pat Coyne. A sequel, Sad Bastard, followed in 1998. The Speckled People came out in 2003 to critical acclaim It is an intensely personal memoir about very a political and public issue; what does language mean for national identity in democracies. His was a childhood of "lederhosen and Aran sweaters, smelling of rough wool and new leather, Irish on top and German below" so uniquely lived through two separate struggles represented by his parents. It is also about homesickness; for a dream Ireland, a lost Germany and a homeland of one's own.

Hugo's father wanted an Irish speaking self-sufficient Catholic Ireland. English if spoken by the children resulted in punishments including beating with sticks. He adapted an Irish name that no one could spell and pronounce and refused to answer even his work letters if they failed to write using his English name. Yet he also made toys, read stories and took his family on holiday to West Ireland (much to the amusement of the locals who were tired of the Dublin Intellectuals telling them they were the future when all they wanted was a decent inside toilets and jobs. His nationalism was driven by the shame of a father who had served and died in the British Navy leaving a service pension that funded his university education. He was always on the look out for the next big business deal to make Ireland economically free. But from crosses, toy wagons and tragic Honey they are failures, his only success is the size of his family as it grows year by year. They are the secret weapon to challenge the legacy of Empire.

His mother was a German Catholic, whose father was a conservative opponent of Hitler and whose family were passive resisters throughout the war although one sister was more active in being part of a network of safe houses hiding Jews. She herself as being "people of the head rather then the fist" so eventually rebels against her husband and destroys the canes but otherwise goes along with her husbands dreams and teaches her children German so they becomes fluent in three languages. She also has secrets that unravel as the biography unfolds.

The memoir is not a sentimental Irish story of hope crushed by poverty driven by the drink. The children have a comfortable and warm upbringing drawing on the richness of three culture's music and literature. But being German meant that the children were bullied and taunted as Nazis and they were at a lost to say where they belonged. What drives the story is the voice of the narrator that uses simple sentences and childlike observations, gradually turning to what he knows and understands, as he grows older and so creating a quiet humorous yet honest account of two flawed humans struggling to make a better life for their children in the very different 50s and 60's. An sequel called The Sailor in the Wardrobe was published in 2006.

Memoirs are almost always interesting but this one is like nothing else I had ever read. Truly touching and endlessly interesting, this book has something for everyone. If you have ever felt like an "outsider" you will appreciate Hugo's plight. Can't stop ready it. It was a joy until the very last page.

I found The Speckled People after encountering a fascinating article by Hugo Hamilton on the "Loneliness of Being German". Similar to the article, the book immediately struck a chord with me. Those living within and without their own language will find a special connection to this book. Language as the identification of "home" and "country" and "language wars" are explored here in a rather exceptional way - through the voice and outlook of a growing child. Like a patchwork quilt the vignette chapters of the book come together for the reader to form an exquisitely drawn portrait. Hamilton's family is pictured against the backdrop of their Irish reality of poverty and want in the fifties and sixties. Complexities are accentuated by his dual identity as a child of an Irish nationalist father and a German mother who left Germany after the war.

While The Speckled People is an intimately personal chronicle of his youth, Hamilton's story has significance far beyond the autobiography genre. There are advantages and challenges in using the language of a child. On the one hand, experiences can be conveyed in a direct and innocent way. Johannes (Hugo) has not yet learned to query all he observes: "When you're small you know nothing". He is a sensitive and perceptive child who intuits that there are more untold dramas in the family. "You can inherit a secret without even knowing what it is." On the other hand, it may be difficult to maintain the language as the boy's capacity to analyze and reflect becomes more pronounced with age. Hamilton succeeds admirably in keeping his style consistent even where he integrates numerous events from the wider world as they become relevant to the young boy. As you settle into his style, the narrative becomes deeply absorbing.

The experiences of life under Nazi rule as part of an anti-Nazi family, continue to haunt his mother. Her painful memories are conveyed to the son in small doses, like selected scenes from a black and white movie in which she had a part. Nonetheless, she is homesick for her native country and all things German. Books, souvenirs and toys arrive regularly resulting in outbursts of happy laughter. Johannes records his mother's mood swings expressed through either laughter or primarily mental withdrawal and silence.

His father feels more Irish than anybody around them. He insists on preserving Irish culture and on "freeing" the Irish people from British influences. His children become "his weapon" against the enemy. He forbids the family to speak English. The children tend to "live" in German as their mother has difficulties speaking Irish. The Irish language has to be protected even if it means losing business. This can mean that cheques are not accepted from people who cannot spell Ó hUrmoltaigh - Hamilton in Irish. The language is your home, "your country is your language", he insists - it identifies who you are. The pressure on the children to speak German and Irish at home sets them apart from people in Dublin at the time. There, English was the preferred language. The children suffer from this enforced isolation. The neighbourhood bullies, responding to their otherness and German identity call them "Nazi", "Hitler" or "Eichmann". They attack them whenever the opportunity arises. While Johannes repeats to himself and to his mother "I am not a Nazi", he does not defend himself against the assaults. One of the rules of the house is to adopt a form of pacifist resistance, the "silent negative " and not to become part of the "fist people". As Johannes grows up, he understandably rebels increasingly against these strictures. In the end, he discovers his own way out of all the identify confusion, his anger and pain.

The Speckled People is a memoir like no other. Any comparison with other Irish memoirs would seem inappropriate to me. While Hamilton chronicles his childhood and growing up, themes and issues beyond the personal play a fundamental role. In particular his exploration of the complexities of "language" as "home" and "country" gives this book added richness and depth. [Friederike Knabe, Ottawa Canada]

This is a magnificent story of the author's growing up in Ireland.It takes place mainly after WW2 and until the mid-seventies.The son of an fanitically nationalistic Irish father who doesn't want to give up the past, and a German mother who is haunted by her past of growing up in Nazi Germany.
The author shows us the tremendous pressures of trying to get along when you are different from others in your community and country.This problem exists everywhere and we learn that it also occurs even in Ireland.This family lived with it as a central issue at all times and no matter how hard they tried,they could never get away from it.I don't think I have ever read a book that so clearly defined the issues and struggles that had to be faced.
Not only has the author described the struggles his family faced he also gives us a great deal of insight into the culture,thinking,perceptions,anguish,and the effect that the past has on the personality and feelings encountered when one is different.
Ireland is a very fascinating country and like no other.One never ceases to be amazed by what one learns by reading about its history and its people;and this book is no exception.
Several lines that really struck me were:

"Some things are not good to know in Ireland."

"We serve neither King nor Kaiser."

"My father says the Irish can't live on imagination forever."

"He doesn't want the song about immigration to go on forever."

"Ireland unfree shall never be at peace."

"Maybe there was no failure in Ireland,only bad luck,and
maybe there was no bad luck in Germany,only failure."

"Nelson's head was on the ground and the dust of the empire
was all around."

"When you're small you know nothing and when you grow up there
are things you don't want to know."

And finally,one that sums up the story:

"I'm walking on the wall and nobody can stop me."

The author's skill in the use of language is a whole order of magnitude higher than so much we see today;but still in a class with several of his Irish compatriots.What wonderful stuff this small country produces.

okay... this book is absolutely gorgeous - It is sweet,deep,and dark...an original story. it reads like a beautiful poem -i am so happy to read a new book by an author who writes so well... thank you, Hugo!

I am very pleased with this book. I use it quite often to read about N.C. things and places that I've always been curious about, but wasn't quite sure where to look. This book solves that problem, and having watched several interviews with Professor Powell on public television, I can obviously tell that this work is his magnum opus. It was lovingly compiled with supurb scholarly detail. For a one volume "encyclopedia," it is great. Of course its not going to be comprehensive enough for critics (despite 1237 pages), but that someone took the time to compile something like this is an achievement in and of itself. If you want to learn more about N.C. history, this is the book for you. I might add that I know the other compiler/editor, Mr. Jay Mazzocchi, and he too is a first rate mind like Prof. Powell. I recieved this book as a Christmas gift last year from he and his daughter whom I taught in an A.P. U.S. History class. I feel not only honored to have a signed copy of an outstanding N.C. history text, but have truly used it and learned new and exciting things about my home state that I did not know before.

A great book by a great historian. Not only is this an essential reference guide to all things in North Carolina, but it represents a culmination Professor Powell's career, one of North Carolina's greatest treasures. I purchased it not only because I wanted it but also as a means of honoring Professor Powell. In regard to the comment about the lack of biographies in this book, I assume that comment was made in jest. But for those not familiar with Professor Powell's previous works, he previously published (in the late 1970's and 1980's) a six volume "Dictionary of North Carolina Biographies."

Dr. William Powell, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Carolina, has published this huge book which contains everything you may ever wish to know about the history of North Carolina. It is well written and easy to use.

This book has lots of wonderful information about the Tar Heel State. I recommend the book to newcomers to our state as well as to NC natives. This would be a great resource for students in the fourth grade to use.

Encyclopedic guides to states, cities and regions are coming hot off the presses now. I was anxiously awaiting this one, but I've come away slightly disappointed. Most obvious to me at first are the serious omissions in the book: There are absolutely ZERO biographical articles in here. What happened there? There's an article for every imaginable institution of higher learning, including many long extinct, but not an entry for James K. Polk, William Tryon, James Iredell, William Styron, James Duke, Elizabeth Dole, Andy Griffith, Michael Jordan, Jesse Jackson, James Taylor, Tori Amos or Jessie Helms. Not all North Carolina natives, mind you, but all with profound impacts on the state's history. Some general entries (such as "Mealtimes") aren't immediately applicable to North Carolina at all, but are linked by a contrived peculiarity, as could be done for many other states in the country. Otherwise, this book is a nice compilation of popular topics related to North Carolina.

This book is certainly impressive in scope and not a failure by any means, but incomplete enough to justify a much improved second edition. I know that Dr. Powell is a highly respected and beloved historian in North Carolina, and I'm not trying to diminish his accomplishment. I just think he should add a good biographer to his staff.

Dare I suggest that the Encyclopedia of "Another" Carolina is a better book? Not the content, per se, but the format and editing of that book set the standard for these large volumes. Have a look.

This was the first Wing Commander book I read and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. It tells the story of mission conducted by a new light carrier, Tarawa, and its pilots and marines as they conduct a suicidal mission on the enemy homeworld. The main body of the story, dealing with the light carrier Tarawa, was exciting, fast-paced and a great ride. A brief prologue wasn't necessary but still set the story up well, and I enjoyed reading it.

Even though some aspects of the story, whether dialogue or relationships, seemed a little cliche, they were written with enough heart and emotion to feel genuine. Main character Jason "Bear" Bondarevsky had enough depth and introspection to avoid becoming a fighter jock sterotype. He often questions the barbarism he sees in war, especially compared to the Marines that bunk aboard Tarawa who do things like collect Kilrathi ears as trophies. The book does a good job of showing that the Marines see the dirtier and more personal impact of war compared to the pilots, without being too heavy handed in its stance on war in general.

This book is great pulp science fiction with some heavy issues discussed in an way appropriate the tone of the story. You'll be cheering on the Tarawa as it tries to survive its mission.

I have read all the Wing Commander novels even the horrible ones written for the movie, which in and of itself was a horror, and I believe this is the best book of the series. Yet, I wonder of all the books why this won hasn't been reprinted? None of the other books in the series are as complening and captivating as this book.Without giving to much away, the plot seems to be a combination of the World War Two Dolittle Raid, and the Battle of Midway and like the US Naval the Confed fleet is outnumbered, out gunned, and the Kilrathi like the Japanese are winning the war, but out numbered and stretched to the limit the humans in the ConFederation have to take an all or nothing through of the dice on a plan that has almost no chance of success. Read the Book and Find out if the Confederation hits the heart of the Kilrathi, their homeworld, or we lose? Find the book, the answers will surprise you, the cost will be high, and don't stop reading to the end.

I know this probably won't help those who are looking for this book, but all I can say is that it's worth it in the end. It's one of the best Wing Commander novels that I have ever read, and I really hope that you find the book. So don't give up. You'll find it. I did...

I finally found this book on my own at a local used book store and, needless to say, I was excited. This book was great. Well, the first part, "Milk Run", was a little stale, but the bulk of the story, "End Run", was masterful. There was a lot of great action and interesting characters. I liked how Kevin Tolwyn transformed from a spoiled rich brat into a mature soldier of the Confederation. Though not as good as Fleet Action, End Run was a superb novel set in the Wing Commander Universe and I, for one, am glad I found it.

Stasheff sets them up, while Forstchen knock's em down. This book is a one-two punch for any fan of the PC video game, but also simply as a tale of science-fiction. It is broken up into two parts, a short story which acts as a 'prologue' (Milk Run, written by Stasheff) that will just rip your heart out with deep characterization and plot; the title 'novel' portion, written by Forstchen, follows up the result of the short story with continuation of the character Jason 'Bear' Bonderevsky aboard a slapped-together escort carrier _Tarawa_. Where Stasheff rips your heart out, Forstchen stomps on it with character interaction and the tragedy that is war. The last scene in this book always brings me to tears. I highly recommend this novel, and urge you to hit up one of the auctioneers or go to a used book store. This book is sadly out of print!

Finally a book that explains the art of power tool carving to create scary and entertaining pumpkin stories. You will never look at a cutsie pumpkin again without thinking about how it can be lit on fire.

This book has some great designs, but they are not for the beginner. The authors show you, step-by-step, how to carve two of the 20 patterns. One design is done in 86 steps using simple tools (pocket knife, finish nail, toothbrush, etc.) The other design is done in 39 steps using carving gouges. You will need thick-skinned pumpkins. Great book if you want to take your pumpkin carving to the next level.

We do an annual adult Pumpkin carving night and now with this book we will make them even more amazing!

This book is a great tutorial for carving a masterpiece. The pictures are very professional and every step of the process is documented. Only two carvings are shown in complete detail, but you won't be disappointed. The technique is defined in such a way that you should be able to take this idea and run with it using your own ideas. Lots of other pictures and ideas are given, just not in the detailed description as the first two. I'm very impressed.

Was easy to follow the instructions, could be used for other media other than pumpkins. Pictures were great to see visual aid. Highly recommend for a carver.

The human fleets have signed an peace throaty with the cats but has the war really ended? As Jason "Bear" Bodevsy and Ian "Iceman" Hunter face against time to discover the earth's time may have just run out.

Wonderful book I liked the imagery and to find a book that does not strictly go by the plot that the game set out.

What is it about this book that makes you read it over and over. Well the action,humour, a little romance, and the emotion combined with a desperate battle for survival make this book a worth while read. If they only made them like this.

The best of the Wing Commander books. Emotional and exciting, two qualities that i find are missing from books based on previeously created series, like Star Trek or Star Wars. Hunter's death moved me to the point of tears. It didn't take me there entirely but when Admiral Tolwyn cried when they found his nephew, that part drives me over the edge every time I read it. The decriptions of the Battle of Earth are absolutely perfect. Especially when Mike Powolski rams the Kilrathi super carrier with his destroyer. When I read that to my girlfriend, she started sobbing. I recomend this book to anyone who likes a good read. The next Wing Commander movie should be based on this book.

An excellent book providing the reading with non-stop action. This book will keep you on the edge of you seat with surprises around every turn. You will not be sorry that you bought it.

When I read Fleet Action a few months ago I was relatively new to Wing Commander, having only been familiar with WCIII and WCIV and Colonel Christopher Blair. I wasn't too sure I'd like this Jason Bondarevsky guy since I was used to Blair. But I found this book to be one of the best in the series, sticking close to real military facts yet maintaining that brand of science-fiction. And there were some familiar characters from the game like Thrakhath, Tolwyn, and Paladin, so I wasn't totally lost within all these new guys. But in conclusion Fleet Action had all of the action, suspense, drama, etc. I'd expect with the Wing Commander series.

A unique blend of introspection,philosophy, WWII adventure, and aviation.

In this autobiogrpahical tale, Antoine de Saint-Exupery ruminates at length upon the situation of men within mankind, France's gallant but failing war effort, and the general context of a life lived meaningfully. He includes relationship to God. He provides specific illustrations within the context of his occupation as a pilot in the French air corps. AND . . . incredibly, he narrates most of this story while at the controls of a French military reconnaisance aircraft on a seemingly hopeless mission to Arras and back.

As St-Ex is wont to do, he flits back and forth between his reflections on life, and the current situation piloting the aircraft. The effect in fascinating, dealing with his inner thoughts while on this hopeless mission, for example describing his feeling of old age as he starves for oxygen at high altitude, fighting against his frozen controls. There is tense combat, described at one point as, flying into a "wall of brass".

On a few occasions the heavy introspection came close to losing me. I suspect that the translation from the French contributed to this, although the Lewis Galantiere translation that I read was generally nicely done.

Great writing . . . adventure . . . thoughtfulness . . . history. Does he make it back to home base? I won't ruin it for you. His writing indicates that in a way, he "found himself" while on this sortie. I will add that, as recorded in history, Saint-Exupery died when his P-38 reconnaisance plane went down in 1943, returning from a mission.

How can an author do better than "The Little Prince"? He can't. And once the dull reader--myself--accepts that, Saint-Exupery's other wonderful books become what they are meant to be: special gifts from a memorable writer.
Read "Flight to Arras" to learn about the nature of warfare, the nature of defeat and, in the midst of all this overwhelming distress, the importance of the individual.

It took more than one try for me to really get into Flight to Arras. Saint-Exupery is not the easiest of writers to follow, despite a superb writing style, because of being so deep into philosophy. And, once I did finally reach the point of being ready for this book, I was astounded. Absolutely! As always, St-Exupery taught me So Much.


To anyone who likes Saint-Exupery and wants to read this, I would say: Go for it. Don't force yourself through it, though. Wait until you're really at the place where this book will take to you, on its own.

In this autobiographical story, Saint-Ex tells of the already lost battle he found himself in during 1940 in desperate, war-torn France. He and his crew get sent on a hopeless reconnoissance flight mission over the burning City of Arras. Faced with almost certain imminent death, he is brought to the point of where he can't help but ask himself: "Where's the sense in all this? What am I doing? Why am I doing this?" And as we live through the harrowing experience with him, he lets us see into his heart and mind as he tries to find some answers.. What he comes up with is defined by solid thought resulting from acute observation (Metaphysics my foot!) of man and mankind, certainly more poignant now than ever and therefore surely timeless... And since it's Saint-Ex who relates all this in his unique humble-but-not-so-humble and profoundly human style, this is not only an exciting read about a dangerous time, but it is infused with charme and humour like some superb wine with its unique flavour and aroma. A great little book by a great man.

the book is st.-ex's thoughts and reflections as he flies a suicide recon mission during WW2. it is not an action novel, but does have some exiting parts to it. it is a thoughtful look at life. the book is not just an interesting look into the mind of someone on a doomed mission, but is motivating, thougth provoking and insightful, and has some great lines to live by. i liked it better than his other book wind, sand and stars, and my copy is all marked up and highlighted and i refer back to it often. i would reccommend this book without hesitation.

Fr. Barry has provided so many insights into ways to further friendship with God especially by asking the reader to pause, imagine, and reflect on a scriptural experience. His encouragement to "talk" with God about any situation is particularly helpful to this reader.

Fr. Barry has done it again. I fell in love with his writing in his book
God and You and it has proved to be a constant source of spiritual refreshment. Now A Friendship Like No Other rests on my night table and offers peace and new insight every evening. His fine mind asks us to tackle the most provocative questions honestly: why God allows bad things to happen; where are the "thin places" in your world, places where the Irish say the border between heaven and earth is thinner, more porous, and God is able to "leak through." His allusions to victims of the Holocaust are especially poignant. Another beautiful, accessible book from Fr. Barry. Mary Claire Richardson PS I have sent it to my 88 year old Aunt and my 40 year old friend suffering from a brain tumor.

This was a helpful book, but I guess I expected it to be more "warm and fuzzy" in terms of developing a friendship with the Lord. The book was more theological, focusing on Bible passages, etc. I did find these scripture verses to be helpful, but the book has a much more serious tone than I was expecting. I am not against this kind of tone for a religious book, but for a book focusing on FRIENDSHIP, I did expect a little more warmth. I'm not disappointed in my purchase as there was much wonderful content in this book and it did help my friendship with the Lord grow. Just not as much as I was hoping.

Friendship with God seemed to be a lofty ideal until I read this book. Fr. Barry's work reveals an abiding friendship with God so true as to evoke, in the reader, Jesus' prayer to His father, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done." Infused with passages from Scripture and excerpts from gorgeous poetry throughout, Fr. Barry shares the insights and wisdom of his own deeply-lived faith. There is a sense of urgency about this book, as there is much to be done in the face of the many harsh realities of everyday life. Exercises sprinkled throughout the book invite the reader into companionship with God: that we all might become contemplatives in action. The invitation is hard to resist.

It is easy to get lost or confused when trying to love God or feel loved by God. Religions provide so many rules. Father Barry gives us a simple metaphor, a loving relationship. He asks us to consider how much we live as if God is out to punish us; he urges us toward a new understanding of God and Jesus. The path to a closer relationship with God is the same as the path to a closer relationship with another person. In thinking this way, I can come up with all kinds of ways of loving God more and feeling more loved by God. This book is also a modern interpretation of the Ignatius Spiritual Exercises. Almost all 21st century Christians will find Ignatius's 16th century exercises daunting and altogether politically incorrect. Barry's exercises blend imagination and scripture reading in a most Ignatian way. Although specifically Christian in some chapters, the book is written in an open way to invite anyone who believes in God to build a closer relationship with their higher power.

the best book ive ever read. it has some amazing unknown facts about moonies life. like his involvement with marylon worshipers.(trust me he wasnt one)

My copy is called "Moon the Loon." It's one of the funniest books I've ever read. Totally unique. It is just a collection of stories about Keith Moon that do justice to his genius. I have lent my copy to at least 12 people (most of whom have never heard of Keith Moon) and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. When I went to London I tried to contact Peter Butler to compliment him on his fine work - but there are too many Peter Butlers living in London!

I found this book in the late 1980's, when I was really discovering the Who and figuring out what they all meant to rock n' roll and its history.

My real awakening was the film "The Kids Are Alright," and after that finding this book, written by Peter "Dougal" Butler, Moon's longtime "man," or personal assistant.

Butler's rollicking tale of ten-plus years with the madman of rock is a sometimes nasty one, following his string of practical jokes, endless escapades and occasionally spotlighting his musical prowess.

But it really mostly is the relationship Butler established with Moon, and some of the insights that later came out about Moon's personality, and what may have been wrong with him.

Butler notes that Moon sometimes would get into a state where he just could not discern the real world from the false. Case in point his work on the film "That'll Be The Day," where he plays a drummer. The star of the film is David Essex ("Rock On"), and Moon is unable to handle it. His dive into a mental pool of despair and thinking the whole affair is real is pathetic...and as Butler notes sometimes you just don't have a straight jacket available when you really need one.

Butler notes the problems in Moon's relationships with his wife Kim as well as Annette Walter-Lax, whom Moon had said he intended to marry toward the end of his life. Moon's friends, if ever he had close ones include Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson, as well as Vivian Stanshall of the Bonzos.

One problem I have is finding that Butler seems to have placed himself at events that he was not present for. He also I think in retrospect put too much emphasis on the zaniness without really getting deeper into the causes, etc.

But perhaps he just didn't know; Butler was no psychiatrist.

He also skips over certain pivotal moments in Moon's life; the accidental death of his close friend and driver Neil Boland (though in fairness, Butler was not present for that) and his longtime fling with groupie extraordinaire Pamela Des Barres (who has her own insights on Keith).

Either way, some interesting and funny photos, some intriguing stories and a sad, but truthful ending that pretty much says the only thing that really happened was that Moon up and died.

Nobody lived his life like Keith Moon. Those who knew him were astounded at his all consuming passion to get everything possible out of life. Dougal Butler has written, in a unique and incredibly humorous way, the best book I've yet read about the life and incredible times of Keith Moon. Don't miss this one. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

It's too bad this book is out of print, because these are the adventures (many very funny but in the end very sad) of one the greatest (if not THE greatest) drummers of all time. And besides that, it's written by a guy who knew Moonie and witnessed his antics 1st hand. I wish the guy who's trying to make a screenplay the best of luck. The next step after consulting Butler is to get permission from the Who to use their songs. To close this review, I'd like to paraphrase the last sentence in the book, "Keith Moon ups and [very] well dies."