Truman Books

as a professional securities trader and investor ... finally someone enlightens us to the implications of what is happening in the whole economy as a result of the "new economy"...why the "brand" stocks of several years ago are like death and in fact may be dying ... why middlemen amd manufacturer reps are in deep trouble ... why microsoft is in a panic that may not help it ... every manager of every company should be required reading ... would suggest corporate retreats to discuss topics of book ... just the best book i've read in 20 years

The central thesis of this book is that the continuously falling cost of information will be the main source of future wealth for individuals and corporations. McInerney and White start by establishing four Laws. First, cheap information allows customers to pay lower prices. Second, as the cost of information falls, computer power shifts from big computers to small ones. Third, value added always flows to the least regulated,and Fourth, the three Laws operate simultaneously. Based on their experience as consultants to corporations, McInerney and White assert that four companies, Charles Schwab, Wal-Mart, Dell Computers, and Cisco Systems, conform precisely to their specifications. They discuss many others as well. Although a lot of information is covered in short chapters, the book is easy to read and it should be of interest to those concerned with wealth creation in the ever changing new economy.

An excellent read. Their blunt candor in this era of obfuscation is refreshing. The insights and predictions certainly provide food for thought.

Good book. The author writes a lot about what is not going to work. But not enough light is shed on the actual future. The book is way off mark in predicting the death of telephones. Are we all going to talk over the net? Worth a read.

A worthwhile read for anyone interested in Japan and strategy - a page turning drama wrapped in the rags-to-riches story of a maverick who succeeds by using his wits rather than the sword. I found a copy of the 2005 Kitami Masao Japanese-language book in Tokyo's bookstore district of Kanda and see that the title of the original might be rendered as "Hideyoshi's Cram School for Business Management." It is different in tone and structure from "Swordless Samurai." translation. Not a problem: it simply highlights the differing goals of Kitami the self-help business writer and the intenitons of the author of "Swordless Samurai" who is adapting a 16th century to deliver a message about persistence and strategy with applications to today's business situations.

Kitami's book draws moral and ethical lessons from the deeds of the historical Hideyoshi's life and times. It is formulaic in that chapters are designed to be pedantic with vignettes, imaged dialogs between Hideyoshi and student-followers and comments from the author on business lessons to be extracted. As Hideyoshi's exploits and foibles are taught to students at all grade levels in Japan Kitami's audience has a wealth of background information on the historical settings. Kitami himself is a Nagoya-based management consultant specializing in small businesses with a number of self-help business book titles to his credit. So it is no surprise that his aim is to deliver bite-sized business lessons for the struggling Japanese businessman to read while riding crowded commuter trains.

On the other, Tim Clark's "translation" succeeds in introducing Western readers to a remarkable character from 16th century feudal Japan. It congers up a prototype of a role model for entrepreneurs today. In the process we learn about 16th century Japan, the Warring Nations period, the struggles of Hideyoshi's master Oda Nobunaga to bring the unruly provincial leaders under his leadership and the events leading up to and following the September 15, 1600, Battle of Sekigahara, setting the stage for the next 300 year period in Japan's history, the long reign of relative peace under the Tokugawa clan.

The stories selected from the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi transcend the boundaries of culture and time to speak great truths about leadership in a fun and accessible manner. Most importantly, they are told in such a way as to make them unforgettable, really bringing home what Mr. Clark calls the "Secrets of Great Leadership."

This book was very enjoyable to read, and more than once I've found myself sharing the amazing tales of Hideyoshi's many adventures with others.

One thing did bother me, however. Mr. Clark warns us in his introduction that he claims literary license to transliterate Japanese names. Okay, Mr. Clark, I understood when "One" became "Onay." But what about "Mitsuhide?" Why was that not changed for the reader? I know it is nit-picky, but the inconsistency in transliterating bothered me.

I couldn't agree more with the previous reviewer. I find most business books dry, but it was hard to put The Swordless Samurai down. The story of Hideyoshi is riveting and Tim Clark relates it in a way that highlights the many timeless lessons of his rags-to-riches rise from peasant to supreme ruler of Japan. I finished the book a few days ago and still find myself recalling and mulling over various scenes.

Clark has done a great job of illustrating the importance of leadership skills such as decisiveness, foresight, dedication, and restraint through events in Hideyoshi's incredible life: Business ventures, battles, life and death negotiations and so forth.

Not since Goldratt's "The Goal" have I read a business novel that imparts its wisdom in such an accessible, engaging and memorable way.

To tell the truth, I bought this book expecting to take a while to read. Boy, was I wrong. The engaging text and history of Japan brought forth in this book will keep you waiting to see what happens on the next page.

The Author, Tim Clark, has produced yet another great book for students both young and experienced, that strives at giving you a different attitude towards managing your life-in a personal & business sense.

Robert Newman's argument is quite simple. First, the nuclear obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary to bring about the immediate and full surrender of the Japanese government. Second, it was therefore morally justified.

Newman makes a plausible case that the surrender terms publicly demanded by the American government could only be achieved by the atomic bombings. (American demands were summed up by American officials in the shibboleth "unconditional surrender.") Newman concedes that "the Japanese air force and navy were in tatters" and that the emperor and a number of civilian government leaders were desperate to end the war. But, Newman argues, the bitter-enders in the Japanese military who controlled the government were unwilling to accept America's surrender terms. And, the courage and tenacity of Japanese soldiers, as exhibited in the battle for Okinawa, meant that a final ground assault on the home islands would be devastatingly bloody.

But, even if the nuclear obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary to bring about "unconditional" Japanese surrender, does this mean that that the bombings were morally justified?

A fundamental principle of morality is that even noble goals do not justify evil means. Intentional targeting of civilian populations is a violation of the laws of war -- whether or not it advances the goals of the war. This was recognized by civilized countries, prior to the Second World War. As Newman himself acknowledges, "The Fourth Hague Convention (1907), which was adopted by most Western nations, forbids any bombardment of undefended towns..." Accordingly, as Newman goes on to explain, "At the beginning of World War II, both Churchill and Roosevelt endorsed the principle of noncombatant immunity, and for a while Allied bombers attempted precision bombing of military and industrial targets" as required by international law. But, after a while, this became inconvenient, so the Allies forgot about the laws of civilized warfare and started purposefully targeting civilians.

The atomic bombings were merely the final acts of barbarism on the part of the Allies.

But, in evaluating the justice of the bombings, one should go beyond abstract principles of international morality and look at the concrete motives and causes of the war.

Japan went to war because it correctly felt that the United States was creating an economic stranglehold to prevent Japan from carrying out an imperialist policy modeled on the policies of the United States itself (e.g., in the Philippines: see Stuart Creighton Miller's "Benevolent Assimilation") and of America's imperialist allies, such as Britain, France, and the Netherlands. Indeed, prior to Pearl Harbor, the United States had committed itself to going to war against Japan if Japan moved against British or Dutch possessions in Asia, even if Japan did not attack US forces (the so-called ABD agreement).

The Japanese imperialists were, of course, guilty of serious, brutal atrocities, but so also were British imperialists, Belgian imperialists, etc.

As Newman puts it, "Japan was merely following their [the Western powers'] example, but then the Western powers wanted to change the rules. Western leaders did indeed want to change the rules."

Indeed.

The ultimate cause of the nuclear incineration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was the decision by the American Administration, before Pearl Harbor, that non-Caucasians, such as the Japanese, must not be allowed to play the imperialist game which the Caucasian powers themselves had so greatly enjoyed.

Was then the murder of the inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki solely due to racism?

That raises other key questions. Why, even given America's goal of limiting Japanese imperialist expansion, was Japanese "unconditional" surrender actually necessary in 1945? Why was not a negotiated peace possible which would curtail Japanese imperial reach without an actual occupation and "unconditional" surrender of Japan? Japan was already reeling militarily; the United States had already succeeded in its pre-war goal of cutting off Japanese access to strategic vital resources.

Newman himself lays out four conditions which he claims would have made surrender readily acceptable even to the bitter-enders in the Japanese military: "no change in the government, no occupation of the home islands, Japanese troops to disarm themselves, and Japan to conduct any war crimes trials."

Why not? Numerous wars throughout history have been ended on similar terms.

Part of the answer is no doubt domestic American politics. Having maneuvered the Japanese into the "sneak attack" against Pearl Harbor and having churned out viciously racist propaganda portraying the Japanese as a subhuman demon breed, the American government could hardly turn around and admit that the whole affair had merely been a sordid struggle over the boundaries of imperial spheres of influence.

More broadly, from a world perspective, the twentieth century was the story of the rise of the United States of America from being an insignificant player on the world stage to being the sole world hegemon.

America has come to view itself as the redeemer nation, the secular Messiah that will bring the Millennium to all mankind, the "first universal nation," to use the grandiose phrase favored by some neoconservatives.

To work out a negotiated peace with the Japanese on the basis of sordid concerns of conflicting national interests would have sullied America's self-image as the shining Savior of Mankind. In an act of grotesque religious blasphemy, the United States has taken upon itself the role of Jesus Christ.

So, yes, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary. It was necessary to advance the American messianic mission, necessary to advance the untrammeled world-wide power of America's ruling elites, and necessary to create a world empire through which the permissive, materialist, amoral values of the United States can be forcibly imposed on the entire Earth.

And, someday, I fear, by the same impeccable logic the rest of the human race will conclude that the nuclear incineration of a half-dozen American cities is "necessary" to free the human race from the American imperium.

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just."

What a debt of gratitude we owe to this author for so powerfully slamming the arguments of the so-called revisionists, who hold that the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had no military value whatsoever and only served to show the Soviets how powerful we were, an argument so laughable as to require a refutation as strong as our counterattack on the Japs themselves after Pearl Harbor.

Point by point, the assertions made by the revisionists are destroyed. The battle of Okinawa, which took place only a few weeks before the bombings, with it's massive U.S. casualties, kamikaze attacks and widespread suicides by civilians is discussed. This is an episode either ignored or downplayed in most revisionist writings, and obviously constitutes a gaping hole in their arguments. The peace feelers sent out by the Japanese, which are usually inflated and put on the same level as a waving white flag, are shown to be half-hearted attempts by largely impotent civilian leaders to negotiate favorable terms that were thoroughly opposed by the military who fully controlled the country. Japanese plans to repel the planned U.S.invasion are documented in detail, and will give pause to those who believe the Japanese were incapable of waging war effectively by this time. Many other revisionist claims are shown to be weak at best and downright humorous at worst.

Some information given here is not so well known. For example, the widespread war weariness among allied troops was starting to show signs of developing into mutiny, thereby giving Truman another incentive to end the war fast. This was new to me. First hand accounts of Japanese leaders about their view of the Potsdam Declaration show that it was hardly seen as a death sentence for their emperor. Perhaps the most fascinating chapter deals with the doctrine of unconditional surrender and the reasons why this policy was in force. The Monday morning quarterbacks who second guess Truman's decision see this policy as nothing but an impediment to peace and have zero understanding of it's value. Another widely cited piece of evidence is a report by the U.S. military that the Japanese would have surrendered without the bomb. This report is completely discredited by Newman, who actually finds evidence of the opposite conclusion within the research done by this "survey".

All in all this book is an excellent refutation of a well publicized ideological campaign that masquerades as history. The only thing missing is that in the explanation of why this school of thought arose, not much is said about the shock the world felt at the use of atomic weapons. It's easy to understand why many would have second thoughts about such a horrible tool of destruction and why no sane person would ever want to see it used again. I think this is at least one motivation behind the attempts to show how it's use could have been avoided. But a distortion is still a distortion, and Newman does a decisive job of blasting this one out of the water.

Wow. Newman sets out to (and overwhelmingly succeeds) to obliterate any and all arguments of those who claim the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki unjustified and/or not needed. He does this by exploring not only the myths perpetuated by these "cultists" (the word he uses to describe people who endorse the above), but also how and why these myths began. These people believe the bombing was primarily motivated by something other than military reasons and fall into one of six categories, namely those who think primary motivation was: (1)intimidation of the Soviet Union (2)racism (3)desire of scientists to experiment with a new toy (4)fear of investigation by Congress of those in charge of the A-bomb project if the expenditure found not useful (5)sheer bureaucratic momentum (6)any combination of the above. The book is essentially a debate; an appeal to actual history vs. convolution and misrepresentation of facts by some very formidable-sounding opponents. Some include U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (the impetus behind most of those who endorse any of the above), Gar Alporovitz, P.M.S. Blackett among most any others of note. The sheer volume of impeccable research would suffice for a great argument, but the way Newman delves into the sources behind the sources and their context coupled with the flawless logic he employs is simply stunning - its a virtual lesson in debate as well as vital history. Knowing from outset his intention (to argue) I consciously tried to poke holes in his discussion and failed miserably (since I was familiar with Gar Alporovitz's opus 'The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb'as well as a fair amount of WWII history, I thought I was reasonably prepared - wrong!) Even though Newman's discussion is rational, logical, and non-vindictive or inflammatory, he effectively skewers his opponents. However, he still remains balanced in his position as his discussion of the AEC and post-war events shows. Highlights include his discussion of post-war events that influenced the American 'cultists' genesis and perpetuation as well as a total of deaths attributable to the Japanese from 1931-45. I truly wish that I could point to a major flaw but I simply cannot. The book is not archival but isn't intended to be. Newman's position in a nutshell: The decision to use the bomb was motivated primarily by ending the war as quickly as possible while saving as many lives as possible. If somebody wants to argue with him, good luck. Outstanding book.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn of TRUTH regarding the bomb. Newman does and excellent job of very clearly explaining the FACTS on this very complicated & controversial chapter of history.

I'd like to quote one of the other reviewers of this book: "Part of the answer is no doubt domestic American politics. Having maneuvered the Japanese into the "sneak attack" against Pearl Harbor and having churned out viciously racist propaganda portraying the Japanese as a subhuman demon breed, the American government could hardly turn around and admit that the whole affair had merely been a sordid struggle over the boundaries of imperial spheres of influence."

What and incredible load of garbage to imply that the U.S. "maneuvered" the Japanese into attacking Pearl Harbor. I'm speechless. Obviously, David Miller is a clouded revisionist and you can't take his review seriously.

If you are fan of writer Truman Capote's works, this is a biography that you won't want to miss. Told from the recollections of family and friends of Capote, Southern Years captures Truman's childhood years and gives us a brief glance at his roots and how he came to be who he was as an adult. We also get an interesting glimpse into Truman's friendship with To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee, who was a childhood and lifelong friend.

Most of the book is told from the perspective of Jennings Faulk, Truman Capotes cousin. Long summer days were spent as curious children growing up in Monroeville. Page after page detail the antics and schemes these young ones got into and you can see how many of the children's real life experiences were translated to the pages of both Capote and Harper Lee's novels. We also get a sad peek into some of the turmoil that Capote faced because of his troubled family life. Knowing his history will give you a better appreciation for his writing and will entertain you at the same time. This is an easy, light read and in many ways will bring you back to your own childhood days of playing outside in the summer time.

Gives you a picture of his growing up years that helped form the man.

If you are a true fan of Truman Capote like I am, you will truly enjoy reading Truman Capote's Southern Years. Told through the eyes of his cousin, this book gives you a lot of details of his life, both the good and the bad of it. It was both a hilarious look at his life, and a very sad one too. You get a glimpse of the pain that he suffered throughout his life, and while it doesn't go into it in great detail, it gives you a small glimpse into his homosexuality. Take it from me, once you read this book, you will want to read it again, and again.

The stories were told beautifully. Truman was portrayed as a folk hero of Monroeville, kind of like an Anansi or Brer Rabbit. When I first bought the book, I thought it was going to be boring and scholarly, but not so. A movie could be made of the book. The sadness came through strongly. God gave Truman great abilities, but they were even greater, because Truman hurt.

What a wonderfully articulated story this was. Gonzo meticulously paints the mental picture so we can all see the Vietnamese countryside w/high detail. You feel you're a part of the action & sharing in the camaraderie. Well done, McKilla Gorilla! I gotta try some of that armpit sauce!

Greetings. As the author of Anonymous: Honor Denied, I would like to take this time to thank you, the reader, first for taking the time to view my work. This work represents the deep, ingrained honor and respesct I have for all the military personel over the decades that have fought to keep our nation the best in the world. It is written from deep within me, and I hope that it shares what goes through an individual's mind while being thrust into any horrific event. Enjoy and thank you again. Sincerely, R. "Gonzo" Houston

This is not so much a novel as a script for the best action movie of the year! Mr. Houston, although obviously not a trained writer, has accomplished that rarest of feats, a memoir that captures the undivided attention of anyone who picks it up. The lack of formal writing experience is actually one of the most intriguing aspects of the book, which has multiple sub-plots simply due to the nature of a "stream-of-consciousness" work of this type. The military minutaie will fascinate any vet and contrasts so greatly with the innocence of his thoughts of first romance that the reader honestly feels he has stepped directly into the author's shoes, with all the hopes and fears of the situation he has found himself in as real to the reader as the printed word allows. I have passed my copy on to fellow vets, old hippies, soccer moms and my own adolescent children, all of which have reported being overwhelmed by the sense of "being there". Although a good editor could have polished a few rough spots in the narrative this once again is actually a reinforcement of the feeling of reality the book imparts. I fully recommend this book as a tour-de-force memoir and a must-have for any thorough collection of modern military history.

Breakfast At Tiffany's, a book by Truman Capote, is a short novel that is very well-written. The book consists of four short stories, and although the plot of the four stories have nothing in common with one another, they are tied together by a central theme. Capote also demonstrates superb use of symbolism throughout his book.
The main idea of each short story revolves around the loss of someone or something loved. The first story, "Breakfast at Tiffany's," is about two close friends, but after a series of dramatic events are forced to leave each other forever. "House of Flowers" tells of Ottilie, a girl who chooses to leave her rich, easy life and marries to a poor boy who works in the fields. In "A Diamond Guitar," one friend betrays the other, leaving Mr. Schaeffer watching "the face of his friend, suspended above him...it was so distant, judging." And finally, "A Christmas Memory," is perhaps the saddest of all four stories. Here, two lifelong friends who have spent every Christmas together, eventually grow apart due to a sudden change in lifestyles. Capote says that loss is something all must endure, and the only way to deal with a loss is to grow from it.
The author relies on symbolism to bring more life to his stories, and no doubt he uses this element well. For example, the Houngan in "House of Flowers" explains to Ottilie that if she catches a wild bee and it "does not sting, then [she] will know [she has] found love." The bee represents Ottilie's heart, something wild and free. Yet if she allows herself to be tamed, then she will find true love. It is instances like this that make Capote's stories timeless.
Capote engages the reader's attention in each story. His language is simple, and the reader never becomes bored with what he has to tell. But perhaps what brings his book together is the message he communicates: loss of love is unavoidable, and by overcoming it comes learning and knowledge that love will come again.

Story of a young woman unsure of what she wants in life. She surronds herslef with and assortment of charaters hoping to find that for which she is searching.

Truman Capote has a great imagination. Every story I have read by him has held my interest. I am anxious to read his other novels. Although this novel is a short read, it held my attention very well. Breakfast At Tiffanyýs is a novel filled with a love interest, a little suspense, and scandalous affairs; itýs a little racy for the time this story takes place.
Lulamae Barnes wanted to re-invent herself. She picks a new name, Holly Golightly. I feel she has picked this new name to reflect the persona she wants to project; someone who was always on the go-someone not too easily tied down. She is a little gullible, a little naïve, and also outspoken. Holly Golightly is someone you love intensely for the short while she is in your life and someone you long for long after she has exited. I also feel that everyone could relate to her at some point in her life (all the way from the pain in her childhood, when she felt like she never belonged anywhere or to anyone, to the time she lost her brother, Fred).
Holly was a young woman who had quite a few gentleman callers. She seems to fall for the older men in her life. Holly suffers from this ýfather complex.ý
My favorite character is the narrator of the story. He is an older gentleman as well. He is in his sixties and a writer. As they developed their friendship, he also developed a fascination with Holly. He reminds her of Fred, so she asks if she can call him Fred, and he graciously accepts. As the two interact as friends, ýFredý quietly falls in love with her.
I was most disappointed that Holly never quite knew of his love for her. I think that if she had known then maybe she could have had a better life with him.
I rated this novel with five stars because I could not put this story down until I had finished it. I am not an avid reader so that is saying a lot for this story. If I canýt wait to finish a book, then I feel the author had captured my heart for the length of time it took me to put it down. It is almost like getting a kiss from a long lost lover.

I thought I knew a lot about Frank Lloyd Wright after studying his work at length in college and beyond, but this book definitely opened my eyes to a lot of things about the man, his family, his apprentices, about other influencial people around him, and about how he was able to accomplish what he did with their help.

This is definitely a companion book that is good to read with other books about him, including his autobiography, as well as in concert with visiting FallingWater, which is a museum now, as well as other houses and famous structures such as the Guggenheim Museum.

FLW's Taliesin Fellowship is a fascinating study of how an organization evolves as the people in it prosper, then age and die. The community is particularly significant because of Wright's architectural legacy, but there is so much more than the architecture involved. The stories that Fellowship members tell about the Wrights and their lives in the Taliesin community are truly compelling. If you're interested in communal societies, business development, and the creative process leading to many of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest works, this book is essential.

Myron and Shirlet Marty have given us a book that tells the story of the Taliesin Fellowship through the words of its members who have remained in what the Martys describe as "intentional community." Many of these apprentices knew and had worked with Wright before his death in 1959, most of the rest were members during the 26 years that Mrs. Wright directed the Fellowship until her death. Students of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture since that time give a hint of the future for Taliesin. The Martys interviewed these apprentices and arranged excerpts in what becomes an excellent description of life at Taliesin and the Fellowship experience from their point of view. What is needed now is a second volume, which Professor Marty has said he will consider. This would include interviews with apprentices who chose to leave Taliesin after various periods of time and for various reasons, including the feeling that Mrs. Wrights agenda varied considerably from that of Mr. Wright.

This is a highly personal and surprisingly good biography by First Daughter Margaret Truman (1924-2008). Ms. Truman affectionately examines her father's Missouri upbringing, courtship with Bess, experiences in World War I, as a haberdasher, and as County Judge (Administrator). Readers follow as President Truman (1884-1972) graduates to the U.S. Senate in 1934, his surprise selection for Vice President in 1944, and his ascension to the top upon President Roosevelt's death in April, 1945. Then we follow along through Truman's Presidency, which he later said was akin to riding a tiger - keep abreast of events or get swallowed up. As many know, Truman's nearly eight years in the oval office involved ceaseless pressure from Potsdam, the Atom Bomb, postwar strikes, Israel, the 1948 election, Korea, confronting McCarthyism, etc. No wonder he called the White House the big white jail. Then it was back to Independence in early 1953 as private citizen and elder statesman.

Ms. Truman takes an nicely intimate look, with revealing quotes from his diaries and letters. Yet she doesn't always dig deeply enough, at times she's critical of other Truman biographers, and can we expect true objectivity from one who (understandably) addresses her subject as Dad? Still, this book is clearly worth a look. Just be sure to see another solid Truman biography (such as David McCullough's) for a more rounded view.

I bought this as a gift for an elderly friend, who had once had a copy that had become lost. She loves it, and says it is her all-time favorite book.

Margaret Truman treats the reader to an intimate biography of her father. She tells the traditional stories of his courtship and life long love affair with Bess, his life on the farm, his service in World War I and his unsuccessful haberdashery venture. She continues on through his entry into politics and involvement with the Pendergast machine. The senate campaigns of 1934 and 1940 and the choice for Vice President set the stage for Harry Truman's role of a lifetime. His succession to the Presidency started a dizzying sequence of crises including the founding of the United Nations, the use of the atomic bomb and the surrender of Japan. He then lead the country through a rash of post war strikes and inflation leading to Democratic defeat in the 1946 Congressional elections. Rebounding, Truman fought off the Berlin Blockade and won a stunning upset victory in the 1948 elections. In his second term he restored the decaying White House, was harassed by Joseph McCarthy and had his presidency redefined by the Korean War. Deciding not to seek reelection, Truman began his unsuccessful effort to mold Adlai Stevenson into his successor. After leaving the White House, Truman found most of his satisfaction in his family and in teaching others about government.

I like this book for its intimate view of Harry Truman's life. Margaret provides a perspective lacking in all other biographers. Her view of family life and the quotes from Harry's diaries and letters make this book a unique delight.

In dealing with aspects of Truman's life this book lacks the depth found in some other biographies. In some respects, Margaret is a bit too strident in defense of her Father. I recommend other works for an initial Truman biography and this one to deepen the reader's understanding of Harry. Other books provide a better understanding of the historical Harry Truman. Margaret provides an excellent introduction to her Dad.

Timothy Truman and Joe R. Lansdale did a great bit of work here! If you loved Jonah Hex Two-Gun Mojo, Jonah Hex Riders of the Wyrm, or Lone Ranger and Tonto, then you'll like this one too.

Timothy Truman is a great artist. If Sam Peckinpah had done comics instead of movies he would have had Timothy Truman doing the art. Truman does great action scenes, full of gun play, bullets, tissue damage, gore, sweat, tears, and blood. He also has an eye for detail, though that's more apparent in his period pieces "Jonah Hex: Two Gun Mojo".

Joe R. Lansdale tells a good story. Just the right combination of sci-fi and grit. These guys are a great team.

I think this is a great buy at $9.99. And if you got the money I would also recommend "Jonah Hex: Two Gun Mojo".

Joe Lansdale is one of the best horror writers in the business today and it's great to see someone putting out comic adaptations of his stories. His graphic and visceral style is well-suited to the comics. This tale is based on a classic Romero-esque zombie story he wrote called "On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folks". It's sort of a Dawn of the Dead meets Omega Man type story. Lansdale provides an introduction in the book that features are by Tim Truman, best known for his Grimjack series for First Comics back in the 1980's. Lansdale touts Truman as the finest comic artist in the business. That may be stretching things a tad bit but Truman is very good. Oddly though, while the full page illustrations in this book by Truman are quite gorgeous, the actually story art is somewhat bland and has a rushed look to it. It's done strictly in black and white with out any grays or even zip-a-tone to give the art and depth or shading and Truman's usual fine line work is missing.

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a virus was released causing the dead to return to life to feed on the living. Pretty standard stuff there. A bounty hunter enters a desert strip club where they actually have nude female zombies as the entertainment. Their mouths are sealed shut so they can't bite and the sign outside advertises them as "perfumed and maggot-free". Nice...The bounty hunter is after a murderer named Calhoun and after a brief brawl, he takes his prey into custody. While driving through the desert they're attacked by a tank-like vehicle and captured by a band of zombies and fanatical nuns who serve a man who calls himself Lazarus. This man, we discover, is the one who actually created the virus that spread throughout the world. He's now using the blood of those not yet affected to try and find a cure. Lazarus has found a way to control the zombies and they now worship him as a God. With the help of one of the nuns who knows Lazarus is mad and wants out, the three escape into the desert for the final, grim climax to the story.

Like much of Landsdale's work, this is a raw, bloody, and bleak tale. There's no heroic figures here to root for. The story is short but intense. The idea of lap-dancing zombies is thoroughly bizarre but probably quite accurate if a situation like this ever came to pass. Using a Disney-style theme park as the lair of Lazarus and his zombies was a nice little dig as well. I'll give the story five stars but I still think the art could have been a bit better, especially having seen Truman do so much outstanding work over the years. This one is definitely for mature readers.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

and hang with the Dead Folks! On the Far Side with Dead Folks is a faithful adaptation of Joe Lansdale's classic zombie story On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folks. It is vintage Lansdale, vulgar, funny, and, odd as it sounds, achingly humane. A mixture of the Romero Mythos (the original story was written for the anthology The Book of the Dead) and pulp men's adventure yarn, Dead Folks tells the tale of a tough bounty hunter that captures one bad dude, only to run into a crazy cult on the way back to collect his reward. Things get a bit complicated after that. Of all the Lansdale adaptations that Avatar has done, Dead Folks gets my vote as the best. Highly recommended to Lansdale fans.

The American Civil War is an event that has multiple aspects and of these many aspects, the Missouri guerrilla conflict, which developed into a civil war within the Civil War, is arguably one of the best examples of true guerrilla activity during the Civil War. Joseph Houts' Quantrill's Thieves focuses on one of the more infamous groups of guerrillas who were under the command of William Clarke Quantrill. Quantrill's operations became notorious within the Missouri region for harassing and terrorizing union troops and union sympathizers. Houts provides much more than just the details surrounding the operations of Quantrill's guerrillas. The book is very focused on the men themselves, who made up the ranks of the company. The field which Houts' book fits into best is guerrilla conflict during the American Civil War. Many of the examples which he found of the actions of the guerrillas during the conflict clearly follow the understanding of guerrilla tactics which experts of the field agree on. Houts differs from others who write on guerrilla conflict in the way in which he brought out the details of the events surrounding the guerrillas. He of course describes each of the battles which are common knowledge of the conflict, for example the raid of Lawrence. Beyond these events Houts provides a deeply comprehensive description of all of the members of the company which were listed on the group's muster roll.
The basis of Quantrill's Thieves is taken from a copy of the group's list of members which was obtained by the Union after the battle of Pleasant Hill. Houts states the group became labeled as thieves from the Union as a way to dishearten the support the guerrillas received from the citizens of the area. It does not seem Houts adds all that much to the field of guerrilla warfare, not because his process or detail is lacking, but more because the topic of guerrilla conflict in Missouri has been thoroughly discussed many times over. Houts in particular focuses on the background of the men under Quantrill's command, which is vital for understanding the influences that brought the men into guerrilla action. This understanding of the details behind the individuals of the conflict is the driving force behind the author's purpose. The reason for the main focus of the author being the men themselves is connected in part to Houts' background as a child going up in Missouri and his confusion on whether his confederate ancestors were "good" or "bad". Another part of the purpose was to further understand the progression from the beginning Union orders (General decrees) to the quickly evolved brutality. Houts spares no detail in his process of analyzing the conflict within his own perspective.
Quantrill's Thieves is by no means a work which will cause the current understanding of guerrilla warfare to change in any large sense. However, this does not mean it is completely useless. In reality the book is really much more in a field of the historic importance than the guerrilla warfare in the conflict. A brief look through both the Joes' books and Houts' book provides all the necessary evidence. Joes is largely focused on the tactics, strategy, and other operations and influences of the guerrilla insurgency, while Houts puts a microscope over the people within the guerrilla ranks to gain detail of the conflict and group. With that said, the book does provide an amazing view of each of the guerrillas which were on the muster roll captured by the Union. In recommending the book to possible readers it should be understood that two people may become interested in the book. First, would be the eager student of guerrilla warfare who wishes to expand their knowledge of different uses and effects of insurgency. I do not believe this particular book will serve them with the amount of information they are looking for. On the other hand, Civil War and history buffs which especially enjoy the interesting little details of the events should most definitely pick up this book. The detail within the book can be quite encompassing at times.

For all the civil war and partisan ranger buffs especially, this book is interesting. It offers useful new information and a completely different angle on Quantrill's Raiders. The title comes from a document, lifted from one of Quantrill's band, that amounted to a roster. When copied by Union soldiers, one titled the roster Quantrill's Thieves. Quantrill was a fascinating individual and an adept leader. The author's effort here is to provide some color and description about his followers not found in other accounts. He draws on local records, some genealogy and other data to flesh out the members of Quantrill's band listed on the roster. In some cases he makes an educated guess about the individual but in most it appears he has identified the person. Why were they drawn to Quantrill more than other partisan leaders? Why did they follow and trust him implicitly? Who were the faces behind some of the daring raids? Who were the men behind atrocities like the Lawrence Massacre? If you have been reading about Quantrill, you should read this book.

This is a great book with loads of detail. It explains the background and history leading up to some of the bloodiest guerilla raids of the civil war. It explains how various actions of Congress and government officials can lead to the Rule of Unintended Consequences. From the Raiders we get Jesse James, the Daltons, etc. There were decades of actions all which find there genesis in the civil war era raids detailed in this book.
The author sets the stage for the reader in a very straightforward matter. There are biographies of all the riders. Also the location of the beginning of the raid on Lawrence Kansas is revealed.
All civil war buffs should have this book in their collection.