X Books

A story that has never been told. It is written by the man who lived it. His insight into the history of the U.S. intelligence division that handled the rescues in China is incredibly accurate and revealing. This is a story that needed to be told.

This is the type of book that should be in schools it show's the way life was not the way history showed it. This was written by a man that lived it.

This is the book I have been waiting for for seven years. If it sounds like high praise it's meant to be. I have been trying to sort out the intelligence and clandestine operations in the CBI Theatre for years. The outline has been clear for Burma but the situation in China was obscured not only by the necessity for secrecy but also by the overlapping and disputatious command setup and the rivalry between General Stillwell and his factions, and General Chennault and his.
Now we have a new work of organizational history "OSS In China" (c.f.) to add to the personal memoirs of the major participants and others. When the U.S. Army official "Green Books" were published so long ago, any mention of intelligence was very limited and most of the sources were then in the hands of the CIA---there were no official documentary sources.I have about 2000 pages from the archives and they still do not tell it all. And there were no official books on intelligence either.
Now we have a new GPO book on WW II Air Intelligence with many pages on the Far East and an Air University book on Air Force clandestine activities from WW II to the second Vietnam War to give us more leads into this story and its consequences.
But, back to the book at hand. Wichtrich was the commander of the MIS-X agency in Kunming, China, which was in charge of establishing "ratlines" and giving E & E training to U.S. personnel in China. In China most US personnel were Fourteenth Air Force personnel assigned to Gen. Chennault at Kunming. In China, if a downed airman was not immediately captured by the Japanese or their puppets, he would be immediately hidden away by the locals until U.S. personnel could come and get him. There were many safe havens between and behind the Japanese lines and it was sometimes possible to take a train, a plane, or a jeep, and not have to hoof it halfway across China to get back.
As an E & E agency, Wichtrich's outfit's cover name was Air Ground Aid Section (AGAS). AGAS was not involved in active sabotage or intelligence activities but if intelligence could be had it would be brought in. As to the relationships with other agencies in the area, the closest was with the "big brother"--the British MIS-9. There was little with the OSS which was in Chungking and which cooperated with the Koumintang Secret Police under Gen Dai Li, and much with the AGRFRTS, the 14th Air Force intelligence agency.
The AGAS also ran agents in Indochina, including Ho Chi Minh, in cooperation with the BDT group. (c.f. Ronald Spector's official U.S. Army history concerning the early advisory days in Vietnam.)
For the higher relationships of AGAS to its parent located at Fort Hunt, Va, see my review of Shoemaker's The Escape Factory on this site.

Despite being published in 1976, this remains to my mind, the most authoritative textbooks on the subject. The author was a good friend a scientific colleague until his passing a few years ago. A legacy to a great man. NASA remembers with distinction the contribution of John A O'Keefe to science and to petrology. Nigel Griffiths

This book is a prime example that some classic scientific works of great insight should remain in print as valuable references and sources of key knowledge! Much of current tektite literature is awash in highly fanciful and essentially flawed observations linking the stones to terrestrial impacts--the current state of affairs is but an example of Thomas Kuhn's ideas about mainstream science's stubborn resistance to "paradigm shifts" because it threatens personal research turf and the reigning orthodoxy. This classic study of tektites--written by former NASA astronomer J.A. O'Keefe, the 'Father of Space-Age Geodesy'--has been out of print since the 1970s but should be reissued. Also, O'Keefe's prediction of a coming revolution in planetary science seems to be a prophesy about to be fulfilled. And not surprisingly, O'Keefe's analysis of the origin of tektites remains as pertinent and timely as it was in 1976. O'Keefe's clear thinking about, and observations of, tektites and the Moon are brilliant examples of this man as a new Copernicus. Sadly, mountains of papers written by many of today's post-Apollo era researchers--who have only sampled a few tektites and look at them through the horse-blinders of the "one size fits all" impact theory--has obscured O'Keefe's magnificent work in this area. The fact that tektites come from the Moon--and that the Moon still experiences explosive pyroclastic eruptions which pose a threat to life on Earth--is clear now and should no longer be challenged. Tektites are formed as volcanic deposits on the lunar surface (either by massive volcanic "glass" eruptions or my impacts blasting off this volcanic material) and then are blasted off the moon's surface and fall to Earth in great showers--sometimes even forming Saturn-like rings around our planet. In addition, recent re-examination of the controversial Apollo 12 "granitic" lunar sample No. 12013 (actually a lunar KREEP rock which has a vein of tektitic material in it) now favors a lunar origin for these so-called "enigmatic stones." So, if you are a student of tektites and meteorites, track down as a used copy of this classic work and treasure it. It is a timeless reference work!

This book is a prime example that some classic scientific works of great insight should remain in print as valuable references and sources of key knowledge! Much of current tektite literature is awash in highly fanciful and essentially flawed observations linking the stones to terrestrial impacts--the current state of affairs is but an example of Thomas Kuhn's ideas about mainstream science's stubborn resistance to "paradigm shifts" because it threatens personal research turf and the reigning orthodoxy. This classic study of tektites--written by former NASA astronomer J.A. O'Keefe, the 'Father of Space-Age Geodesy'--has been out of print since the 1970s but should be reissued. Also, O'Keefe's prediction of a coming revolution in planetary science seems to be a prophesy about to be fulfilled. And not surprisingly, O'Keefe's analysis of the origin of tektites remains as pertinent and timely as it was in 1976. O'Keefe's clear thinking about, and observations of, tektites and the Moon are brilliant examples of this man as a new Copernicus. Sadly, mountains of papers written by many of today's post-Apollo era researchers--who have only sampled a few tektites and look at them through the horse-blinders of the "one size fits all" impact theory--has obscured O'Keefe's magnificent work in this area. The fact that tektites come from the Moon--and that the Moon still experiences explosive pyroclastic eruptions which pose a threat to life on Earth--is clear now and should no longer be challenged. Tektites are formed as volcanic deposits on the lunar surface (either by massive volcanic "glass" eruptions or my impacts blasting off this volcanic material) and then are blasted off the moon's surface and fall to Earth in great showers--sometimes even forming Saturn-like rings around our planet. In addition, recent re-examination of the controversial Apollo 12 "granitic" lunar sample No. 12013 (actually a lunar KREEP rock which has a vein of tektitic material in it) now favors a lunar origin for these so-called "enigmatic stones." So, if you are a student of tektites and meteorites, track down as a used copy of this classic work and treasure it. It is a timeless reference work!

To the members of Generation X, success doesn't necessarily mean accumulating power or calling every shot. So-called "Xers" tend to seek a sensible balance between their work and personal lives. Companies interested in 21st century competitiveness must provide that balance, according to a survey of 1,200 Gen Xers. Baby Boomer Charlotte Shelton and her Xer daughter Laura Shelton examine the attitudes of Gen X professional women as they look to the future. getAbstract recommends this as a heads-up for Boomer-age leaders and their Gen X colleagues. Now is the time to think about the work environment you must create to recruit and retain young talent. And if you are an up-and-coming Xer, now is the time to decide what you want to up-and-come to.

Charlotte and Laura Shelton's The Next Revolution: What Gen X Women Want At Work And How Their Boomer Bosses Can Help Them Get It tells of the latest group of young female workers and why they feel disillusioned with the workplace, caught between a 'go for it' ideal and the realities of the modern corporate establishment. The Sheltons surveyed over a thousand of these women and interviewed others about their work experiences: these interviews blend with insights about the differing views of two generations to show how it affects the workplace - and what can be done to prevent the migration of talent.

The NeXt Revolution is an awesome book for any woman in the workplace. As a Gen Xer it really helped but my work situation into perspective. It's very insightful, and not just a book exclusively for women. My husband really related to the workplace narratives in the book. I recommend the book for anyone new to the workplace or frustrated with their job.

This book is a lot of fun to read, but the scary thing is that the stories are real! This book backs up the spooky and incredible experiences of the X-Investigations team with the facts of their findings. I highly recomend this, it will open your eyes to an entire world around you that you might never have noticed!

Great, fast read...and spooky! I love that these are REAL case studies. Especially that story about the demon-posessed woman. I want more! I highly recommend it.

Occult Investigator is a thrilling look at a modern-day paranormal research outfit headed by author Bob Johnson.
From werewolves in Van Nuys, California to Satanists living next door, the X-Investigations team are at the top of their game in this book.
The stories are chilling and remind us that it's nice to have someone on your side when things go bump in the night!

This book is just what I was looking for. A no fuss book with quality pictures showing recommended finger positions for common chords and their billions of variants! Well organised with a section for each chord note.
I can't fault it.

the pictures and notes are excellent just what I have been looking for,for years thumbs up I recommend it to everyone you can not loose all to gain knowledge you will use for life!

This book is just about perfect! After buying grimoires, chord charts and all other manner of paraphernalia, I finally found EXACTLY what I was looking for in this book. For the basic modern guitarist, this is all you need. What more can I say?

Oh, OK, fine, here are the details:

There is a six-page introduction to the book which describes how to use the book (um, you have to be an idiot not to understand how to use the book, but just in case!); it also discusses briefly how to choose the best voicings, how to "read" chords, what all the voodoo symbology in chords actually MEANS (like you'll find out that "C+" is not just a computer language!), how to assemble each chord type (ie. "minor" means "first-flatted third-fifth"), and what an "inversion" means. This introduction is very clear, well thought-out, and only provides essential and useful information. BUT, this is not the meat of the book.

The main part of the book consists of 264 pages of chords! Each very large page is divided vertically in half so that only two chords appear on each page. Each chord is given by its symbol at the top of the page in large type, below which is the English translation. Below that is the chord written out on a G-clef in standard music notation, with each note labeled and the root note labeled. Below this are five separate voicings for that chord. Each voicing is given in two separate ways: there is a large black and white photograph of a hand playing that chord; to the right of that is a six by six grid which sort of looks like you're looking down on the fretboard of a guitar. On this grid are black dots representing which frets and which strings you press down, along with the suggested fingering for that chord. Each note is labeled. The five voicings progress down the neck, allowing you to play that chord essentially anywhere you need to on the neck. These diagrams and pictures are BIG so you won't have to do a lot of squinting. Perfect size type, and all the information you will need.

There are 44 separate chords given, for each of the 12 keys, with five chords voicings given for each chord. (For those of you counting at home, that is 2640 separate chords!) These 44 chords range from the basic major and minor chords that every beginner learns, to the esoteric stuff that you'll probably never need unless you play jazz (like Cmaj7#11 and C13sus4.)

The book is well thought-out, planned, and executed, the perfect size and shape, and with a wealth of information--- but not TOO much information--which is a problem I was having with some of the grimoires. (Now, don't get me wrong. The grimoires are ALSO essential once you've reached a certain level. However, for the day-to-day guitar player, they are too complicated overkill.)

In summary, until you start playing stuff like Wes Montgomery, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Frank Zappa or Robert Fripp, this book is all you will ever need!!!

I read "Prague Winter" in one sitting. It is the true tale of a Czech teenager living in Prague just before and during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia during the Second World War. The book is riviting describing the gradual loss of freedom for the citizens and how the city slowly turns from a gay exciting european capital to a closed, silent and dismal island of fear and loathing. Martin chronicles the assination of the hated SS Leader Heydrich and the terrible reprisals against the Czechoslovakian people. The book culminates with Martin's attempt to escape the country, his capture and imprisonment where he almost dies. This book really deserves a wide readership because the lessons learned are so very important to freedom loving people.

This is a terrific book. It's a gripping read; but it's also the type of book that stays
with you for months, enlightening your day-to-day life with moments of insight. Perhaps
its greatest strength lies in the character of the narrator, the young Nikolaus Martin.
Candid, likeable and exact in his recall, he tells his story so simply and without pretension
that we know we can trust him to tell us how things really were. All the events of his
story -- the irresponsible pleasures of his Bohemian youth, the much-feared occupation of
Czechoslovakia, daring escapes and long months in a prison camp -- we see with
devastating clarity through his eyes.
I learned a lot from Martin: about the events of a particularly poignant period in
European history, about the lifestyle of a hedonistic young man in pre-war Prague
(surprising to me, who thought sexual freedom began in the 1960s), about lice and loyalty
and prison survival. And I enjoyed myself throughout.
This is not a book, like so many I've read about the same place and time, to overwhelm
us with incomprehensible horrors --- the piles of bodies, the black smoke from tall
chimneys. Rather it is the experience of one man who, by turns mischievious,
compassionate and pedantic, manages to bring a dreadful event down to the level of
individual human experience.

This book made me recall things I had learned about the Nazis during World War II and had let slip into my mental dustbin of facts and memories I wish I'd never known. I had conveniently summarized in my consciousness all I thought I needed to recall about these things: The Nazis were a brutal, horrible blight on humanity and if there ever was a Hell on Earth, their world was it.

But this summary doesn't cut it, as I rediscovered reading Prague Winter. The horror and depravity of the concentration camps was bad enough, but what it did psychologically to the inmates was even worse. To survive, one had to become inured to it and learn how to play survival games that are unimaginable in today's world, and that must have left a permanent scar upon all who survived.

The way Martin has chosen to narrate his experiences makes it seem all the more like the Hell on Earth it really was. The utter chaos of the time; the knowledge that each decision one makes, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might be, could literally mean death; the insanity of the oppression; the things that one was required to accept in order to survive; the attitude about death one must adopt--are all made plain through Martin's matter-of-fact way of describing his experiences.

I could hardly put the book down, but it was very painful to read. I'm reminded of Solzhenitsyn's books--all of which I've read. To realize the depths to which insane megalomaniacal leaders can plunge society is really sobering. We truly do not know how good our lives are here in the US and Canada.

This book should be read by all freedom loving people.

Before the present days of "All-In-One MCSE Exam Cram", there were those computer professionals who knew about the construction of their computer hardware on a micro level and how to write programs that would control that hardware. This book is from those times. Using Basic, C, Pascal, and assembly language the reader is shown how to do such tasks as play a sequence of tones in the foreground, draw individual pixels in various graphics modes, print graphics on a laserjet printer, and intercept keystrokes without displaying them. Granted, there are much easier ways to do the things talked about in this book than assembly language programs, but you get a very good lesson on the inner workings of your computer to boot. Things have not changed so much over the years that basic computer architecture is not the same and therefore some of the information is still useful. The table of contents for the second edition is as follows:

1. Program Organization
2. Equipment Determination - Shows you how to inventory and assess various system resources.
3. Managing Memory - Shows how to inventory conventional and expanded memory. Shows how to manipulate expanded memory.
4. Programming Interrupts - After a brief tutorial on PC interrupts, you are shown how to program an interrupt controller chip, enable and disable particular interrupts, write your own ISR, and finally chain into existing interrupts.
5. Clocks and Timers - Shows how to control time, date, the real-time clock, and control real-time operations.
6. Programming Sound - Takes you from merely beeping the speaker to playing one or more tones to making sound effects.
7. Intercepting keystrokes - After intercepting keystrokes you may want to display them, intercept conditionally, and write a general purpose keyboard input routine.
8. Interpreting Keystrokes - How to look up various codes, use the numeric keypad and cursor keys, and use special purpose keys.
9. Using a Mouse - Setting the characteristics of the mouse, define the mouse's relationship to the screen, and inputting both analog and digital data from a game port.
10. Managing Disk Drives - This is all about how to manipulate and determine disk space and recover from disk errors.
11. Directory Access - How to manipulate directories and files.
12. Reading and Writing Files - The basics of file IO.
13. Controlling Video Hardware - How to control the screen display mode, background, border color, find and manipulate the cursor, and scroll a text screen.
14. Displaying text - How to write individual characters and strings.
15. Displaying Graphics - How to write pixels for the various graphics formats including EGA and VGA and how to find a color at a particular
point on the screen.
16. Controlling a printer - How to control and print on an HP LaserJet.

The examples in this book will tell you how to control most of the basic hardware on your computer at a low level. Controlling the head and motors on the floppy drive, activating and using XMS, and many more are all explained and include a code example in 4 languages. In addition, each section includes tutorial and background information on that area of computer hardware that explains some of the background that might affect results.

This is basically a cookbook for doing all kinds of neat things with your computer. Has code snippets in c, basic, asm, and pascal.

I love this book!

I've said this before in my blog, but these Project X books are the kind of books I wished I'd studied in business school: As case studies in product design, as primers on the business culture differences between the US and Japan, as studies in how far people will go to succeed--the Project X books are simply fascinating.

While I'm not a Datsun fan myself, I am certainly more informed about the car now. But more importantly, what I found most appealing about this book, was how the creators manage to make the reader feel the importance of what's happening.

Put it this way: To the outside observer, watching some middle managers try to make a business venture work probably sounds as fun as reading a Powerpoint presentation--but Akira Yokoyama is able to make the reader feel like they're watching something epic and monumental, conveying exactly how the business people in this tale are feeling as they work hard to make their shared dream a reality.

I got this book not knowing what it was. A comic book read backwards, and right to left to boot. I thought I was getting a history book on Nissan and the Z car development.
It was a Great Book! It had a lot of early drawings of Datsun products and really told a great story and put all the Datsun characters and history into place. It was a light reading book and can be read in one evening. It will be in my Datsun book collection forever!

This manga tells the story of the development of the Datsun 240Z. It depicts the challenges faced by the designers and proponents of the vehicle, both from within the company and from market forces. It depicts the businessmen involved properly, as heroic individuals, who overcome obstacle after obstacle in their pursuit of success. The manga demonstrates the virtues necessary for businesspeople to succeed.

This collection opens doors to new understandings of contemporary spirituality in the USA.. The committed and courageous individuals who contributed to this volume give voice to the current and future fusion of transformative practice and social and environmental justice.
I highly recommend this book!

Mimi Goldman, Eugene Oregon

Stephen Dinan's Radical Spirit gathers writings by almost thirty pioneers and visionaries with different views of modern spirituality, from Sadhvi Bhagwati to Julia Butterfly Hill and others. Buddhist, Wiccas, and a range of practitioners in-between are represented in a volume which highlights spiritual and social awakening alike.

RADICAL SPIRIT features a collection of personal writings from young spiritual seekers. Though the book contains multifarious experiences and viewpoints, a common core emerges that speaks to the heart. The unity-in-diversity is this: each author lives his or her own vision with sincerity and authenticity. They each approach their own unique path with a warm openness in body, mind, and spirit.

If you're interested in immersing yourself in emerging cultures, new visions of the world, and fresh outlooks on life, then this book is a must read. Some see Generation X as a transition culture - given life by the Boomers and birthing the culture yet to come. Ken Wilber calls this unfolding stage of consciousness "integral." Given the great spiral of development, the contributors of RADICAL SPIRIT act as prophets for tomorrow by courageously sharing the light and darkness of their lives here and now.

Reading this book made me feel at home.

This is the finest tool for registry reveiw. So simple to put a handful of cards in your pocket for easy study at work or clinicals. So glad I got them!

I received my order very quickly. Product was just what I was looking for and met all of my expectations.

I purchased this at the beginning of my radiography program. I'm getting ready to graduate in 7 months and have been using them for tests in positioning as well as patient care. These cards have multiple questions on one card and are color-coded for each section covered by the ARRT registry. I also recommend Lange Q&A by D.A.Saia for registry review.Lange Q&A - Radiography Examination (Lange Q&A Series (formerly Appleton and Lange's Review Series)