Missouri Books

I could not put this book down. Having family that fought on both sides in Southeast Missouri during the Civil War this book gave insights to the thinking on both sides.

Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand: The Renowned Missouri Bushwhacker, deftly edited by journalist and historian Kirby Ross offers an insightful look into the conflicted life of the Civil War guerrilla fighter Samuel S. Hidebrand. As an informative and ably researched interpretation and competently editing of the original memoir, Kirby Ross variably adds key bits of information relevant to our understanding of a Civil War soldier's intricate life. The Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand is highly recommended reading for scholars, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Civil War Studies.

A reprint of the original 1870 Autobiography, it has been reproduced in various formats the last couple decades. Ross has however, for the first time, edited the work that was written for Sam Hildebrand by boyhood friends, James W. Evans and A. Wendell Keith. For the most part, the 172 pages of text is as it was originally compiled. This is followed by endnotes of 90 pages with a bibliography and index. The true value of the book is in the endnotes.

Ross has skillfully researched and compared Hildebrand's claimed exploits with actual military data to prove statements in the Autobigraphy. He has used many obscure sources and obviously contributed much thought into proving the bushwhacker's tales written five years after the War. Hildebrand was not shy in his statements regarding the men he killed and why they met such a fate. Credit is due the author for his research into Missouri's Enrolled Militia units, Hildebrand's most frequent foe, as most writers do not have the tenacity to tackle this very difficult research.

A less researched area is the genealogy aspects of the story. Unfortunately, Hildebrand was not more candid about his family history while it has always held an interest to the genealogist
and casual reader who may claim a kinship to him. The author could have explored Hildebrand and others' genealogy without too much trouble. Some errors exist in not thoroughly scouring local probate, census and land records. Another drawback is the criticism of others' research, which may be valid but takes away from the main theme of the book---that is editing Hildebrand's version of his Civil War.

In conclusion, a very desirable book for the history on Southeast Missouri during the Civil War.

Although figures such as William C. Quantrill and Bill Anderson are better known today, Sam Hildebrand was an equally notorious Missouri bushwhacker in the southeast region of the state. Operating with a small group of followers (and often by himself), Hildebrand and his rifle "Kill-Devil" were a terror to local Unionist civilians, Vigilance Committee members, and pro-Union Missouri militiamen. Interesingly, some of his ops seem more akin to a Marine scout sniper (albeit alone rather than with a spotter) than a CW bushwhacker. He often scouted alone far from friendly refuge, lying in the woods for days seeking an opportunity to bag his quarry. Hildebrand managed to survive the war only to be killed attempting to escape from court officers holding him on assault charges.

Most 'authors' of edited memoirs simply add background information or short chapters intended to place the memoir in its proper historical context. Here, Kirby Ross has gone far beyond this and has created a book that should be a model for others to follow. It is really two books in one--the memoir and the notes. What makes this new edition important to the study of the Civil War in SE Missouri are the exhaustive notes researched and compiled by Ross. In his notes (which comprise nearly half the book) he takes the claims made by Hildebrand in his book and examines their validity using evidence from all available viewpoints. It is not unusual to see the author spend several pages on a single citation, providing extensive background context and excerpting articles, military reports, and letters from all sides that either support or contradict Hildebrand's story.

It is an impressive effort and is an exceptional addition to the literature of the war in SE Missouri, a place that today carries the deserved reputation of being associated with a dearth of serious scholarship. Ross is certainly doing his part to reverse this unfortunate trend. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful guide into Minnesota's past. Letters and articles accompany photos that bring you to places that you've been and acquaint you with it's character. Truly a terrific book for those that love the warmth and charm of the characters and life that make Minnesota home!

An excellent collection of diaries and letters from Minnesota territory days thru early in her statehood. Accompanied by many great photo's depicting the times.A great fireplace companion!

An excellent collection of diaries and letters from Minnesota territory days thru early in her statehood. Accompanied by many great photo's depicting the times.A great fireplace companion!

Bring Warm Clothes : Letters and Photos from Minnesota's Past was written by a former columnist for the Minnesota Star and Tribune, Peg Meier. It is a great treat, both as a peek into the past and as a well "written" work of history. The author includes pictures, diary entries, newspaper articles, letters, and government documents to create her biography of the state.

The book is heavily illustrated. Among the visual works are paintings of Minnesota from its exploration years, mostly by Seth Eastman and Karl Bodmer, which capture the rustic and wild character of a land yet untrammeled by the fences, industrial complexes and housing developments with which most of us are familiar. For those who like to see photographic reality, there are photos of Minnesota's early pre- and post-statehood years during the 19th Century and of the 20th Century up to World War II. The former include pictures of the Civil War in which the volunteers of the First Minnesota Regiment participated. In all some 25,000 men from the state fought in battles like Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg, losing some 2,500 men, almost one out of every ten. Other photos show the old homes, city and town streets, early industry, sod homes, and family and other groups that bring to life a time past.

Particularly enjoyable were the letters from the early settlement of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as presented in the merry correspondence of the Fuller family, and the witty press releases of Jane Grey Swisshelm in her paper the St Cloud Visiter, later the St. Cloud Democrat. The letters of Harriet Griswold reveal the fact that boom and bust economy is not new to our era, when her correspondence goes from exuberence and big plans in October of 1856 to bearly hanging on in September of 1858. The Civil War diaries of Sam Bloomer and Isaac Taylor and the World War I letters of Philip Longyear, an ambulance driver at the French front, bring those conflicts to a more vivid reality. The plight of the Native Americans and the fear and reactionism that the Indian Wars generated is also covered.

The author has, wisely in my opinion, allowed the primary sources speak for themselves. She adds very little interpretive material of her own and then only to clarify where necessary or to provide follow up information.

One of the principle points of note is the fact that most of these people had many of the same problems we have, and that they bring some of the same perspectives, same blind spots, and same sense of humor that we bring to our own daily lives. They lived one day at a time, facing an unknown future with the same uncertainty that we do. Some stories came out with a happy ending, some did not. It makes one wonder what some future writer of Minnesota history will say and think of our own times.

I was looking for information on the Missouri river in the Kansas City area and was not disappointed.

Having boated from the Beaverhead and Jefferson tributaries of the Missouri River and then all the way down past St. Louis in 2003 and 2004 at approximately the same time of year as David Miller did, I can verify that not only has David told it the way it was, his strategies for paddling the "Missou Lady" in the future, are as good as it gets.

When meeting in 2003, as the only guests at an out-of-the-way state campground in South Dakota, we exchanged notes and thoughts as considerate adventurers do.

In 2004, I knew through a mutual and now belated friend,that David was a week or so ahead of me, below the headwaters.We didn't meet, but later went over detail in a way that only two people sharing the same experience can do.

Of extreme importance to anyone considering a venture such as paddling the Missouri, are the threads in David's words of planning/scouting ahead, using local knowledge to revise/improve one's plan, and executing with discretion, a cool head, and a quick, sure hand.

His consistent emphasis on those things most important to a paddler is a crucial key for any would-be adventurer. I saw a great number of paddlers who would have benefited greatly from his sage advice and suffered the consequences of not having had it. The difference was that between a challenging, but enjoyable outing and a disaster.

The succinct and varied references to the Lewis and Clark expedition information data base will enrich the reader's experience greatly, if time is taken to skim them, at least, lightly before and then fully, during the trip.

Lastly, David's approach of safety considerations first and letting discretion, be the better part of valor, is right on target, since a lot of the time, only you are going to get yourself out of trouble when paddling the remote parts of the Missouri River.

Hat's off for a job well done, David.

Good Luck and Steady Winds,

Wayne A. Willkomm

I wrote the canoe guide to the Missouri after my trek down the river in 1999 and that book is still in print..BUT this one is better..if you only are buying one book get this one, not mine. It is a considerable improvement on my guidebook. If, however you actually intend to canoe the whole river, or a major part of it you might also want mine. Dave has done a great service to us all! Thanks Dave!

The Complete Paddler: A Guidebook for Paddling the Missouri River from the Headwaters to St. Louis, Missouri is a no-nonsense manual written for paddlers of all skill and experience levels with an interest in exploring the Missouri River. Chapters discuss necessary equipment, risks and hazards, shoreline descriptions, currents and prevailing winds, portages, river-mile marks, historical sites to be seen, and much more. The Complete Paddler also capitalizes on modern advancements by using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to give accurate "sailing directions". Author David Miller also recounts his personal anecdotes of his three-summer-long, solo kayak expedition. Enthusiastically recommended for kayakers with an interest in experiencing the great Missouri River for themselves.

History books generally get a bad rap because so many end up dry in the details, dry in the telling. Thankfully, the Enemy Among Us avoids this trap, and with an emphasis on telling the story in the words of the people who were there, David Fiedler offers a delightful account of when 15,000 German and Italian POWs came to Missouri in WWII.

The Enemy Among Us is richly spiced with first-person accounts from many perspectives of the POW camps, from prisoner and guard, camp worker and ordinary citizen, and beyond. Accounts of friendship, escape, mischief and romance keep it lively, and Fiedler's eye for detail and human interest make his narrative sparkle.

The Enemy Among Us offers first an overview of the POW program, and then works its way geographically through the Missouri camps. The four big camps (Clark, Crowder, Leonard Wood and Weingarten) each merit their own chapter, and subsequent chapters examine the smaller branch camps as they were clustered in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, in the Missouri Bootheel, in central Missouri, and other parts of the state. Fiedler closes his book with a chapter that details the POWs' return to Europe, their experience after the war, and in some cases, their return to the U.S. as visitors or immigrants. Over a hundred photographs put faces on the people involved and provide a nice accompaniment to the text.

Because of its easy-reading examination of a fascinating, yet little-known subject, The Enemy Among Us will appeal to just about anyone, whether WWII history buff or someone simply interested to hear about the time when 30 POW camps dotted the Missouri landscape, and German- and Italian-speaking soldiers worked in the fields.

There's not much I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. It is absolutely wonderful, very colorful and easy to follow, it doesn't bore you to death with useless facts. The stories are rich and fascinating and the pictures captivating.
If you have even the tiniest bit of interest in POWs in America or Missouri - this is a definite must-have.

David Winston Fiedler provides a noteworthy read with this study of Prisoners of War held in captivity throughout Missouri. He exposed the shortcomings and successes that the America's POW program achieved. Obviously a student of Dr. Krammer's work "Nazi Prisoners of War in America", Mr. Fiedler delves into details and places that Krammer didn't have time to cover concerning particular states - in this case, Missouri. The author uses numerous primary source documents to recollect the treatment of many prisoners. It is particularly fascinating that many former German Nazi's were treated with better regard in certain areas of the state than were American black soldiers who had fought for their country. In that, the Germans were allowed to frequent "white only" establishments that blacks were restricted from entering, a peculiar and disheartening dichotomy to say the least. Certainly some regions in Missouri were quicker than others to accept these POW's as would be understandable. The very kind treatment and acceptance that many of these men, particularly Germans soldiers in German communities in Missouri witnessed, seems to have served to promote a positive image of the victorious America.

There are photos expressively dispersed in the book, which help to bring lucidity to the overall picture. The fact that so many prisoners were in America will shock the non-historian, as well as the casual reader. It will be equally surprising for most to read the elaborate measures taken to accomodate these POW's. How they retained their culture and discipline is also very interesting, especially the Germans. Although, to Germans this"Gehorsamkeit" or obedience to authority is not shocking, it is fascinating nonetheless. The references are well annotated throughout the book, although my only qualm (and it's a small one) is the failure to employ some of the original language if only in short exerpts akin to the writing of William Manchester. I think some things are lost in translation and would have been interesting to read. All in all a very fine work. A must have for collectors of WW2 history, and Missourians,(which I am not, although I attended Wash U) as well as worth reading for anyone interested in obtaining greater depth of American military history post WW2. Bravo Herr Fiedler.

Growing up in Missouri, I never knew about Enemy POW's being here during WWII. This book really does a fine job of painting a picture of life for both the POW's and the Missourians that worked with and befriended them.

The photographs are excellent and Fiedler does a wonderful job of sharing a fascinating story!

Especially in light of the current news about POW's, this book is very timely and interesting.

This little book by Chuck and the late Sharon Tryon is a real eye-opener. Say "Missouri" to most fly fishers, and you get a blank stare or, at best, a suggestion of bass, catfish, and suckers. Well, as it turns out, Missouri is a premier trout fishery. And not just in one stream or watershed. Many creeks, rivers, and their reservoirs hold trout--lots of big trout, many of them wild. You can successfully fly fish for trout in Missouri without a human guide, but not without this guide book.

Chuck Tryon and his wife Sharon did a fabulous job in letting the world know that Missouri is a Trophy Water Trout state. I bought this book several years ago when I moved to Missouri from New York and it has been my guide ever since. No trout fisher who is headed to the "Show Me State" should be without this manual. Every spot is detailed so you can not miss. Great book!

I don't know why Chuck isn't more famous, as he is one of the finest flyfishing writers around. Maybe it IS a case of nice guys finish last... I hope you'll read this book and appreciate the work the author put into it.

This is an excellent guide for those wishing to fly fish for trout in Missouri. An abundance of locations are disclosed, maps are provided (though sometimes inaccurate) and there are lodging/dining ideas for the areas discussed. The writers style is light, and peppered with humor. There is a brief history of the sport and some basic material for those just learning to fly fish.

This is not a bad book at all. I honestly enjoyed it for a number of reasons. First, there are not a lot of books dealing with the Italian Campaign in WWII. This book covers one man's journey from Anzio to the Italian Alps. Second it mentions a number of military units not commonly written about, such as the joint Canadian and American 1st Special Services division and the South African 6th Armored Division.

On another note, I get the feeling that while the author was very young at the time of the war, he grew up very quickly, but still had some adolescent tendencies that he struggled with. I suppose this is part of his growing up in a twisted world. The book ends abruptly, and I won't spoil it for you. But I did enjoy the fact he admitted he came back from the war, troubled, angry, addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. Probably, because I have found myself in the same shoes.

At the age of 21, Loyd M. Wells was drafted into the army and commissioned a second lieutenant after attended O.C.S. He was later promoted to first lieutenant with the First Armored Division and saw action in North Africa, Italy, and Germany, winning the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Start. In From Anzio To The Alps: An American Soldier's Story, the late Lloyd Wells (1919-2000) leaves contemporary readers with a vividly written story about the night of February 21, 1944 when American troops came up to the caves at Anzio and what happened during the last offensive in Italy when armored infantry troops found themselves on the perimeter of a major attack. But more than just an accounting of battles and front line conditions, From Anzio To The Alps is a personal story of how young soldiers found themselves transformed by one of the most widespread and lethal wars in recorded human history. Here revealed is the humor, the sadness, the terror, and the tender moments of a war which is now remembered first hand by fewer and fewer participants more than a half-century later. A terrific read, From Anzio To The Alps is a welcome addition to the growing library of World War II biographical accounts and strongly recommended for personal and community library collections.

Lloyd M. Wells' wartime memoirs, "From Anzio to the Alps: An American Soldier's Story" is a fascinating slice of personal history. First, it is worth mentioning that this is NOT a broad perspective history or even one giving a wealth of big-picture information about the action the author was personally involved in (the Italian Campaign). While Wells tries (with some success) to place action within some context, "From Anzio to the Alps" is ONE soldier's story - as the subtitle states. The prose presented is based upon Wells' personal diaries that had lane dormant for decades before he decided to tell his story. The historical viewpoint presented by Wells, with exceptions for context, is largely from wherever Wells was at the moment he originally jotted down his feelings of the period. The reader is taken on an amazing journey with Wells from his entry into the Italian campaign (he actually started, not on the coast near Anzio as the title suggests, but near Cassino - his armored infantry unit was moved to the Anzio sector after just days before engaging the enemy) to the heady days post V-E day and Wells' 'lusts/loves' of Italy and Paris.

The personal view of war, not just combat but reflection on how the war changes men, was the most compelling and recurrent theme of this book. Wells does an excellent job pouring his heart into the story while at the same time restraining himself from being self aggrandizing (as others from the Greatest Generation have fallen victim to) or sappy. Thus the reader feels many emotions as if he/she was there with Wells and his comrades in arms. One will undoubtedly walk away from this book with a greater appreciation for how very young boys left their homes (many, if not most, for the first time) for war on foreign soils as naïve and uncultured, full of honest optimism, and through the period of a few months to a couple of years grew into cynical men with more human experience than most would have desired who were older than their years and much more appreciative of their lives. Readers can't help but empathize with veterans of foreign wars for all they go through emotionally leaving and then readjusting to civilian life.

Wells' prose is solid as they come and a reader can get through this book (251 pp.) quite fast because its text construction is so well done and the story so compelling. Anyone interested in a personal story of war told with literary zeal and engaging emotion should pick up "From Anzio to the Alps". 5 star read!!!

I bought this book because my father served in North Africa and Italy and I wanted some history on those theatres of the war, which my father had not shared with me.
Instead of another historical account, filled with facts and figures, I found a very personal story of one man's experiences.
A few pages into the book, the author offers a translation of commonly used army expletives of the time. It let me know right away that this was going to be a candid and sometimes humorous memoir.
For anyone who would like to see the war through one soldier's eyes, I would recommend this book.

This is one of the best books on movie palaces. The writing is sharp--Dr. Bagley is a professional journalist and teacher of writing.

All her research is original--so this is the only book where you can find this information. The photos are sensational and someof them are breathtaking of the architectural designs on such theateers as the St. Louis Fox or Powell Hall.

This book is a treasure and I wish Dr. Bagley would write more.

I enjoyed reading Mary Bagley's book, The Front Row. I remember going to these old movie palaces when I was a kid. I like the way the movie houses are verbally described and the history of them related. I have found the book to be extremely accurate and a good photo collection.

The detail and time that went into such a book, it's hard to put it in words. After reading it and looking at the photos you can't help but wonder where have all the great movie houses have gone. If you talk a walk into the neighborhood of such places you would be ah struck to see the change. I feel that she has gone through great pain to try and capture the once thearters that use to be. It's hard to find people like this to go through the detail in discovering such movies houses. Thanks Mary for doing such a great job.

My name is Sarah Bagley, and I'm Mary Bagley's niece. I just wanted to say that It's one of the best books that my aunt has ever written.

This has been the reputed de facto standard for St. Louis architecture. As one who has such as an interest as a hobby, I am more than thrilled to learn from the information this book provided. My understanding is that a possible update may one day present itself...I hope so.

St. Louis is an architectural treasure, much like many of our other rust-belt cities. Cleveland, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh also fall into this category. These cities retain much of their old classical buildings from a time when the idea of grand public architecture meant something to the eye and was a source of civic pride. St. Louis is a fine example of this idea, and a real treat for American urban architecture lovers. The book itself is quite dated, published in 1989, but the authors do an excellent job of choosing the structures they know we will want to see. All the classics are here, all with at least one photograph and a nice descriptive essay. Also, the authors have taken the time to bring us many of the most interesting old structures from the surrounding towns as well. A new addition would be a real treat.

I remember the first time I visited St. Louis, I was expecting a run down, dirty, industrial mess, much like Detroit, so you can imagine my surprise with what I found. I loved the city, it was clean and quite beautiful, especially the area around Forest Park. This book does a fine job of capturing the St. Louis I experienced, I especially appreciated that every entry is accompanied with a requisite photo, that should be de riguer in a book of this sort. This book is divided up and it covers not just the city, but the environs, which is essential. If you have any interest in St. Louis, or quite frankly if you have any appreciation in architecture then you will not be disappointed in this wonderful book.

This is one of the best guidebooks for a city's architecture I've seen. The entries cover not only St. Louis proper but also the entire metro area, reaching far into the suburbs in both Missouri and Illinios. Every entry has at least one photograph, a rarity for such books. The maps are clear and concise; a regional map shows where each local map is located. Also includes a number of color photographs in the introduction pages. About the only thing I would fault the book for is skipping a few of downtown's historic towers; however, the book does an excellent job of directing city explorers to St. Louis's most interesting areas.

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE 1993 KC CHIEFS WHO ALOMOST WON IT ALL. THE CHIEFS OF 1993 WENT OUT AND DID SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES BY PICKING UP 2 OF THE BEST BIG GAME PLAYERS OF THEIR TIME, MARCUS ALLEN AND JOE MONTANA. THE BOOK GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL HOW THE TEAM WAS PUT TOGETHER AND THEN GIVES A DETAILED LOOK AT HOW THEIR SEASON WENT. ALOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES INFO IS AVAILABLE IN THIS BOOK ALONG WITH SOME GREAT INTERVIEWS AND GAME BY GAME RESULTS IN MAKING THIS A MUST READ FOR ALL CHIEFS FANS.

This book rocks my world. I love the Chiefs and the Bob Gretz's daughter Liz is really cool.

Hail to the Chiefs changed my life. Before I was a bum out on the streets on Moscow, now I'm a successful astronaut. Hail to the Chiefs showed me the true meaning of life. Bob Gretz is my hero. He should win the Nobel Prize for Literature this year. Buy this book, it will change your life.

this book is sooo cool!!!!! bob gretz should win the noble prize!!!!! i loved it so much that i read it in a day!!! i couldn't put this book down! i would buy it if i were you!!!!!

Anyone who has ever worked in an organization has witnessed the paralysis that sets in with failure, reprimand, disappointing results or unfulfilled expectations. That recognition is palpable throughout this book. The deepening loss of power that follows seemingly small pitfalls or mediocre human interactions is extremely damaging and spreads to each and every aspect of an organization. Martin does a great job of both carving out the territory of these viral disempowerments, and of showing us how to bring greater authenticity to our work and communication to turn around these conditions. A correction in the psychological or cultural environment can be powerfully segued into an opportunity for more strategic thought and alignment of behavior with an organization's vision. Having seen so many of these cultural viruses do irreparable harm to both people and business results, the book has become a wonderful addition to an arsenal of tools that is never complete. I highly recommend The Responsibility Virus to business-people of any level of authority.

Amie Devero, Author of Powered by Principle: Using Core Values to Build World-Class Organizations

Ever notice how offices (maybe even yours) are split between the doers and the idlers? Ever notice the resentment that accrues in workplaces where control freaks do everything and ne'er-do-wells do nothing? Ever wonder how such jaded office environments came to be, and whether they ever could change?

Well, step right up, dear reader, because this book decodes the phenomenon that cruelly saps the morale out of even the most capable of offices. Labelling this task imbalance as the `responsibility virus,' Roger Martin seeks to render a diagnosis and prognosis of this nefarious sickness. Martin, with the assistance of psychological and biological principles, explains how the basic `fight or flight' response leads many to assume too much or too little responsibility in times of stress. This results in a causal chain reaction where the other workers correspondingly take positions on the opposing end of the spectrum to best complement this initial game opening. As Martin ably explains, these positions are never static; over-responsible persons eventually become under-responsible, and vice versa. This is essentially a never-ending dance that may eventually destroy an entire office.

So what to do, you ask? Martin proposes four separate strategies that are designed to purge the workplace body of this virus, all of which may be used on their own or in combination with the others, depending on the state of the virus' evolution and the players' goals. These different methods all have the share the same central goal: maximizing inter-office collaboration and thereby ridding the workplace of the responsibility virus. They are all very easy-to-understand and readily adaptable to many workplaces. Martin's generous use of case examples also provides a context to identifying problems and their respective solutions.

Martin's most intriguing strategy is to redefine the nature of true leadership and, by extension, corresponding `followership.' Martin entreats the reader not to accept the canard of the `man on the horse;' the heroic, all-knowing, all-powerful leader who can jump into the fray at any given moment and single-handedly solve a vexing problem, while his minions listlessly stand by waiting for the hero to save the day. Rather, true leadership fosters collaboration; followers contribute to the best of their abilities and open lines of communication are maintained throughout the various levels of management.

In all, this is a persuasive read that is very ably argued. Although I felt the conclusion was a bit rushed (where Martin makes a u-turn from his central argument that people's actions are dictated by their governing values), readers would be hard-pressed to write the book off as unhelpful. Use it in your business life or even your personal life; the book is a powerful suppressant of the responsibility virus.

This book explains in very simple terms why some people are so driven while others just go on a cruise and the relationship between the two.
If you ever feel overwhelmed at work and often find yourself wondering why others don't pull their own weight - this book is for you.
If you feel like you could do so much more at work if only given a chance but lack the confidence or the knowledge to go for it - read this book.

Roger Martin has lain down business organizations in the therapist chair, but you won't notice it because the author avoids skillfully the psychological labels currently in vogue.

If you often wonder about why you end up working more than others, why some people don't understand what you clearly state or why everybody sees what is wrong in the company and they don't do anything to fix it, this book is for you. It goes to the root of the problem, explains it plainly and offers a step by step program to solve it. The book also provides a better understanding of what's behind the Enron debacle and the government agencies mishandling of security issues before, during and after September 11.

It doesn't matter if the reader is a CEO, a manager, a professional or a secretary, he or she will find familiar faces and situations; people that could be your boss, your vice-president of sales or your managing editor. Why do we have the chance to see ourselves and others in these pages? The book is simply about human nature. It deals with the underlying emotions, culture and language that make many bureaucracies what they are: an incompetent and unfulfilled mass of otherwise intelligent, good and hard working people.

Martin explains that lack of collaboration between leadership and other parties in the organization brings an unbalanced approach to responsibility. The author describes what he calls the "heroic leader", which takes more responsibility that he or she should. Conversely, the other parties react giving up responsibility. Once the leader is unable to meet the goals, he or she sits back and takes the position of the followers. Meanwhile the frustrated followers take responsibility for their part, but because they can not attain the needed broad or bold solutions, parties induce the leader to take again more responsibilities that he or she can handle, and the infectious cycle of dependency starts again.

The mysterious Responsibility Virus is nothing more than the very human fear of failure. According to Chris Argyris, cited in the book, there are "governing values" that guide the way we interpret and deal with the world. They reside so ingrained in human nature that they apply to people across ages, cultures, economic status, and educational levels. Humans-Agyris claim--will always try to win, maintain control, avoid embarrassment and stay rational in any situation. Fear of failure triggers the governing values and they make us either take more responsibility (fight) or abdicate responsibility (flight).

Martin proposes the use of some "tools" to improve collaboration (choice structuring process), eliminate the mistrust and misunderstanding (frame experiment) and to balance capability and responsibility (responsibility ladder) among the parties in the organization. All these tools have the general objective of untying the person from the situation that requires attention and put aside the biased frame of mind from which we see the problem. Once all the parties involved in decision-making have a better perspective of the issue, they are in a position to find a middle ground between capabilities and responsibility.

It is at the end of the book, redefining leadership, when Martin describes the leader as what sociologists or psychologists would call a mature personality. According to the author, a leader should be capable of splitting responsibility through dialogue, apportioning responsibilities in keeping with capabilities, but more importantly, making apportionment discussable and subject performance to public testing. Although he doesn't mention it, you have the sense that it is the leader a significant carrier of the responsibility virus and also accountable for spreading his or her fear of failure throughout the organization.

In these times of leaders finger-pointing at each other and frustrated managers turned into audacious whistle-blowers this book is a timely required reading to understand not only organizations but the world around us.