Kearney Books

Think of all the good things you wish for your children -- health, happiness, safety and love must surely be on the list -- and then realize, if you are an alcoholic, what you may in truth pass on: fear, grief, rage, an inability to love or be loved, and the terminal disease of alcoholism itself. Mr. Erdmann explores his heritage of alcoholism, passed down from his grandfather to his father to him, and the legacy he gave his children. Burdens too big and confusing for their small trembling shoulders, fear, confusion -- so so sad, and so so common. If you are or think you are an alcoholic, do yourself and the people you love a favor and read this. And even if you don't want to quit drinking, find an AA meeting, shut your mouth and open your ears; give your children a chance, even if you never got one.

Alcoholism is not an emotional disorder per se, but it does sometimes have emotional triggers. When my dad started drinking in beer joints, he was in his thirties and had buried two wives and five children. I suffered inconsqentially as a result of his stopping at the nearest joint from our house on the way back for Saturday movies on the town, and I would have to hide in the backseat of the car. Since we had to traverse many curves for the few miles to get home, I remember praying all the way there for God to let us live.

You can tell the children whose dad drinks alcohol, because he carries a load of guilt and pain, thinking he caused the abuse he would later reap by, looking at families who walk by and look at the young ones' faces. It is devastating.

This town has a long history going back to bootlegger days before prohibition of brewing their own 'spirits' openly and for a long time on the main street of town (which they do again in this modern, accepting age), and the men are proud to be drinkers. They look down on those who are not addicted to alcohol. They are the dummies. One local writer told me recently, "You think I am just a drunk." I replied, "If I did that, why would I ask you to show me how to drink?" which he refused to do as I have liver disease. He was his usual 'confused' self and asked "Why did you choose me?" My honest answer, "I trust you because I know you won't touch me" and I thought he might feel enough responsibility to not let any of the other drunks take advantage if I started acting silly. But he told me that he can't control his own drinking, so he ended up not even offering me a drink of water. Ever! Now, I know water is not going to cause this hemangioma to burst, but it seems that something else did. Probably the pain pills I have taken for a chronic nerve pain I have had since 1994. Feeling sorry for me yet, Arthur Hardaway.

Jack Daniels' Whiskey from right here in Tennessee is internationally known and sought after; people come from all over the United States looking for Lynchburg, Tennessee, as if they were seeking the Holy Grail. I heard a bigoted preacher get all emotional about the difference in immersion vs. sprinkling. He said that sprinkling is like scattering a little dirt on top of a dead person instead of burying him in a grave. Since I am a Methodist, I told him that he 'hit below the belt.' He also proclaimed that only immersed Baptists will enter Heaven. For years, I thought it was Seventh Day Adventists who preached that. My sister Evelyn belonged to that group for awhile until they betrayed her.

Jack Erdmann has written othre books because I have reviewed one or more. He was the son of a jazz musician and an ex-chorus dancer in St. Louis. His reminiscing starts in 1934 when, as an altar boy, he drank the communion wine. Then, like this local writer, he drank because of loneliness. He even thinks his son should be allowed to buy beer when he is old enough to 'serve his country' in war but not yet old enough to vote. How dumb can you be!

Co-writer Larry Kearney, a poet who settled in San Francisco (where Jack lives), was born in Brooklyn in 1943. Both are recovering alcoholics.

An unusal accounting of a whole bunch of ingested liquor. Happily with a happy ending. Sadly, though, a between-the-lines documentary of a beat poet who coulda been a contendah. Then again, he's still here now, and b.p. can be thought of as re-manifest in such pubs as McSweeney's where Mr. Erdmann (via Mr. Kearney) might consider submitting manuscript.

Whiskey's Children is a great book, period. While it chronicled the casual horrors and quiet heartbreak of a family damaged by alcohol better than any book I've read, it also tells a universal story of human frailty and persistance. It is shocking, depressing...and funny. Read it for any reason, and then read 'A Bar on Every Corner' by the same author.

Jack Erdmann's story of his long struggle back from the strangling grip that alcoholism held on his life, as well as over members of his family for four generations, is a tour de force. This book is not just for alcoholics, or for drinkers who feel that they "don't have a problem," it is for everyone who is willing to accompany Erdmann on a harrowing journey.

For those readers with alcoholics in the family, they--we--find ourselves nodding with recognition, and ultimately uplifted by the knowledge that there's a way up from the bottom. They will find assistance from now-sober alcoholics "with kind eyes, offering hot cups of bad coffee," in the words of Anne Lamott, a recovering alcoholic herself, who wrote the foreword.

You want an "easy, feel-good" book--well, there are plenty of THOSE. You want one that will change your life, or that of someone whom you love, or that will give breathtaking insights into the lives of the alcoholics you know, "Whiskey's Children" is the best effort I've found. There are pathos, self-degradation, guilt, self-loathing, and even a quiet humor in these pages.

If Amazon offered more than five stars, Erdmann and his co-author Larry Kearney would have earned them many times over. Not just for writing, but from their phoenix-life resurrection from the ashes of an alcoholic life.

This is a wonderful book.

G.R. Kearney did a terrific job on researching this book, and not just the technical stuff. The human element of the story comes alive under the watchful eye of Kearney's storytelling. The students, teachers, staff & administrators at Cristo Rey owe a great debt to Kearney for his bringing light to the innovative systems put in place there.

If you have heard one too many depressing statistics about how education in the US is on a serious decline- read this book to lift your spirits. Creativity & hard work brought this project to life & gives hope to an ailing system.

My hat goes off to Kearney & I recommend this book to everyone.

What started as an idea in the early 1990s has grown to become a growing national network of high schools in many of America's toughest urban environments. GR Kearney tells the story of the Cristo Rey Network which started as the small Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago in 1994 and has grown to include nearly 2 dozen schools nationwide. Kearney tells the story from several perspectives, interviewing founding members of the faculty, staff and board of the school as well as weaving tales of students throughout the pages. Kearney himself volunteered at the original Cristo Rey school and lends a perspective that is critical to understanding the Cristo Rey story.

More Than a Dream is a must read for those looking to make a difference, or at least want to read about some people who have, in the lives of thousands of innercity youth in America's urban battlefields.

Building a school, building a future - it's what Chicago Jesuits sought to do when they built a new college prep school for the children of Hispanic working poor. "More Than a Dream: The Cristo Rey Story" is an inspiring tale of an improbable success story of keeping ones faith to keep going despite the innumerable barriers one faces in such an a situation. Author G. R. Kearney should know, as he works as a teacher and a coach at the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School as part of their Jesuit Alumni Volunteer program which Kearney himself helped found. "It's a story that needed to be told," says Kearney. "More Than a Dream: The Cristo Rey Story" would be a grand addition to both Christian and Educational community library collections and for any reader who would seek to learn how exactly this school rose up almost nothing, and how it seeks to help others do the same.

I was given a copy of this book by a colleague whose company employs Cristo Rey students. Frankly didn't think I'd ever open the book until I was stuck waiting for a delayed plane. However, once I did open it, I found I couldn't put it down. The book is about a group of priests who want to start a school for poor kids in Chicago, but it's much more than that. It's the story of an entrepreneurial triumph that will inspire anyone in business or struggling with adversity. It's also a great story of young people working for a better future. I highly recommend this book.

This is an excellent book that outlines the foundation of the first Cristo Rey school in Chicago. The Jesuits created Cristo Rey Chicago in the late 1990's, and now the Cristo Rey Network includes over 20 schools. The Jesuits started the program to provide a college prep high school experience for economically challenged students in the inner city. I teach at the Cristo Rey school in Kansas City, and found this book an invaluable resource to my own teaching / administrative roles. It was great to read about the Jesuit's initial desire that drove them to found the school, and also to read about the logistic struggles they faced in those tough first years. Since it is such an inspiring story, I'd recommend to anyone outside of education as well.

"Written by skilled clinical psychologist Ann Kearney-Cooke with Florence Isaacs, this amazing book gives you the advice, inspiration and real-life tools to be your best at midlife and beyond. It has helped women of every age adjust to physical changes, retool their ideas about sex and desirability, rework aging fears into growth tools, and develop a realistic and positive image of themselves.
And it goes beyond the physical to help women embrace and cultivate their strengths, set achievable goals and help their daughters shape a positive self-image." (review from Perspectives of Beauty/Procter & Gamble website)

Finally a self help book that is actually helpful!No gimmicks,No magic bullets-instead great ideas which have helped me to come up with a realistic weight goal for myself,cut out grazing on food all day long,,and becoming motivated to exercise again..Being a mother of two daughters,I got a lot out of the chapter about helping your daughters develop a positive body image-not only about body image but handling my relationship with them in general.The inspirational stories and exercises left me feeling rejuvenated and excited about these midlife years.

"Change Your Mind, Change Your Body" is a must-read for anyone concerned about their health, fitness, and body image. I found Dr.Kearney's vast experience, knowledge, and unique perspective really helpful. This is not just another diet book, but a life plan to help you take care of your body and self. I like how she included spiritual teachings from different religions throughout the book to help paint pictures of how we think of ourselves and look at ourselves, and how we can help ourselves. Clearly this author understands women and offers great suggestions on how to quit overeating and develop a strong, positive self image.

I bought this book for my mother for Christmas. She's 45 years old, and has always seemed pretty happy with herself until the past few years. She gained a little weight, and tried different diets, but nothing really worked so she gave up. I thought this would be the perfect book to re-motivate her, and I was right. She loved it. She said it not only helped her overcome overeating, but the chapter on fitness motivated her to start exercising. Now she is training with her friend for a five mile mini marathon in our hometown this spring.
I read the chapter on compulsive overeating and found some new ideas to stop my bad habit of overeating. I am using her ideas on handling emotions like anger and sadness which often trigger overeating. I am one of those people who has too much responsibility as a graduate student and no healthy way to re-fuel. Often times, I use food. Like the author suggests, I am working on increasing my resources and decreasing my demands so I don't overeat out of sheer exhaustion. I loved the chapter on self care and am looking at relationships I am in that leave me "hungry". Since Christmas, I got myself a copy of the book and my roommate is currently reading it as well. This is the best book I've ever read about improving my body image and eating healthy. The only mistake this author made was to assume these ideas would only be helpful for women over forty. With the exception of the first chapter, the rest of the book is full of novel, inspiring ideas to help women like me take control of my eating and allow myself to feel sexy and attractive!

"My girlfriend bought me this book for my 49th birthday.I needed a kick in the pants to get moving and this book gave me one that and more. I have two kids and both are in college and doing well. Its me who has been struggling with my life in general my weight,body image and relationships with others. My Mom became depressed when I went to college and I never wanted that to happen to me. Through the stories and ideas in this book, I realized I have to stop feeling sorry for myself, stop procrastinating and take control of my eating and exercise..The authors insightful examination of why people overeat and great ideas on how to stop overeating have helped me tremendously. The chapter on exercise was really helpful and I am begining to feel stronger, not just in my body but in myself [I have also lost 6 pounds over the last three months]. The story that the author shared about the hike in Australia where the Aborigne guide asked her "What are you hunting for and who are you gathering around you at this point in your life" blew me away. This is a great book that has helped me look at midlif in a new way.

If any women is having probelms dealing with aging, weight and self esteen this is the book to read, it is very easy and interesting reading...you go girls!!

I haven't yet finished my copy of this first work but just today I heard Janis Kearney speak for the third time during a series of events here in Birmingham, AL- at both Miles College & the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. I have been overwhelmed with emotion by both the literal and symbolic convergence between myself and the author. I KNOW that each person in the audience today and the previous two identified with the author in one way or another. Her story is that of any person who has ever dared to dream AND BELIEVE that DREAMS CAN & OFTEN DO COME TRUE. For those individuals who have not ventured to imagine the possiblities let this bio of her early beginnings until today be something of a testimonial or road map to realizing the potential within you- and each of us. I highly recommend that you purchase this book but also make it a point to attend a Kearney speaking engagement if ever afforded the opportunity.

I had a hard time putting down once I began reading. Many publications tell the story of survival of urban families. This book tells the story of survival and success of a african-american rural family. The writing was so mesmerizing that I was able to visualize each event in the life of the Kearney family.

Upon meeting Janis F. Kearney, one is presented with a combination of soft-spoken gentleness, wisdom beyond her years, and a quiet strength that isn't seen often in people anymore. I've had the pleasure of meeting Kearney, and now after reading her memoir, I've had the opportunity to learn a bit more about her and how she came to have the above qualities. COTTON FIELD OF DREAMS, her debut title, is a beautiful heart-felt tribute to her family.

It amazes me and touches my heart how such a large family with so few material possessions had so much that matters in life...love, support, and determination to succeed at all costs. How is it that an uneducated sharecropper with 17 children can inspire his children to learn and to reach for the greater things in life? How is it that those same children missed the first portion of the school year, but were still ahead of their class academically? How is it that each of these children grew up to surpass the confines put on their parents and other poor blacks of that time period? The book was so real to me, I shared in the family's happy times, their heartaches, their success, and the benefit of parents who inspired and instilled the importance of education. I cried over the deaths in Kearney's family, rejoiced in the yearly reunion, and celebrated a great piece of African-American history and family.

Kearney was the personal diarist to Clinton and also served in other positions during his campaign and years in office. In the foreword he points out, "From their parents, the Kearney children absorbed a powerful conviction: They were neither better nor less than any other human being. This conviction gave them the self-confidence to move far beyond their difficult beginnings." It is this conviction, this type of upbringing, that is missing in the majority of houses today.

COTTON FIELD OF DREAMS shares the lessons taught by our forefathers and brought to fruition by faith, trust, perseverance, and the desire to dream. The writing is soft and soulful, the shared memories are heart-warming, and the final outcome of the Kearney children was simply awe-inspiring. When one thinks of 17 children growing up in the South during the mid-1900s, it is unusual to picture them as lawyers, historians, and such in the present, but with the exception of one child, they all reached this level of success. It just goes to show that materialistic wealth means nothing when compared to upbringing. It all goes back to the parents, one of the most important aspects of a child's life. (RAW Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

This is a wonderful memoir - a very moving look at the life of an Arkansas sharecropping family - with a strong message for the parents of today who want to raise successful children.

I am the niece of Janis Kearney. I can not tell you how blessed I was to read this book. In a family so large, it is hard to get everyone's "story." It brought tears to my eyes to read my aunt's memories, and through her words get to know a little bit about a grandmother I don't remember and an aunt whose death I can't forget. I hope that efforts like this will be taken up by more individuals, so that the generations that come behind us can benefit from the historian in us all.

This is the third installment in the mystery/police series of Frank Kearney and Jose Phelps - two Washington, DC homicide detectives. Without belaboring or giving away the plot, this story centers around the murder of a DC drug kingpin which then opens up a whole can of worms concerning a two year old "solved" murder case of a congressional aide. What catapults this book above most police procedurals is the author's ability to manage/balance a multitude of threads and characters in this story - the murder case itself, DC politics/politicians and geography/neighborhoods, the FBI and all the witnesses, family members, etc that Frank and Jose - who are at the center of all this - meet along the way. Interestingly, (or maybe even ironically), this author's books remind me of several UK authors, (Robinson and Rankin come to mind), in that the author is able to shift gears from scenes, characters, and plot lines seamlessly while never losing/diluting the essence of the mystery. A great read.

"If cats could talk, they wouldn't." OK, this is not the main theme of the book, but the initial description of Monty (the cat) is so compelling, I knew the book wouldn't disappoint. It didn't. Really, a great read by Washington's mystery-writer laureate.

Some authors lose energy over time, while others repeat themselves in thinly disguised "new" stories. In his 3 "A Murder of" books Robert Andrews does neither. His heroes, and ours, Jose Phelps and Frank Kearney, have become real friends whose credibility grows with each novel. In "A Murder of Justice" they have become, if anything, still more believable while growing in complexity. This latest book is a terrific read, with a plot that grabs and holds, and with details that bring the story to life. Andrews is at the top of his game.

Nobody mourns the shooting death of drug supplier James "Skeeter" Hodges or the wounding of his friend Tobias "Pencil" Crawford in a black DC neighborhood. The drug dealers were sitting in a car when eight or nine bullets went through the window almost taking the Skeeter's head off and injuring Pencil. Nobody grieves Skeeter's death because he turned a nice Washington D.C. neighborhood into a war zone.

Police officers Frank Kearney and Jose Phelps are assigned the case but their superior captain Randolph Emerson is more interested in closing cold cases connected to Skeeter than catching the killer. The investigation heats up when it is discovered that the murder that killed Skeeter also killed Congressman Frederick Rhinelander's chief of staff Kevin Gantry. The department is publicly embarrassed because Kevin's case was signed off as an administrative closure. Now Frank and Jose have to find the killer or lose the confidence of the public.

Robert Andrews has written a brilliant police procedural with a dire social commentary. Once the public loses confidence in its police force, the country is one step away from anarchy. It is the belief in the police and the legal system that keeps this country functioning and the author makes that very clear. The two protagonists on the case are the heroes because they believe in the law and justice and doing their best to bring honor to the badges they carry.

Harriet Klausner

It may be hard to believe, but somewhere between the time Elvis Presley began to focus on making movies rather than music and the epochal arrival of the Beatles, folk music enjoyed a brief tenure as the preeminent genre of the American music scene. The cultural center of this great folk revival was Greenwich Village, where numerous coffeehouses showcased such emerging talents as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and the Kingston Trio.

This improbable musical detour serves as the backdrop for Such a Killing Crime. Set in the Village in 1963, the action of this "folk noir" thriller centers on a folk music coffeehouse called the Riding Beggar. As the story unfolds, several of the regular performers become the victims of violence. An Irish poet who frequently entertains at the coffeehouse is mugged and later disappears. Another Riding Beggar regular, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Dean Coffey, is found dead on the coffeehouse stage, a homicide victim. We follow Joe Talley, the Riding Beggar's young manager, as he delves into these and subsequent mysteries, thwarted by assorted red herrings and the occasional blind corridor.

The action and suspense are artfully interspersed with numerous historic references and cameo appearances by such folk music icons as Tom Paxton and Phil Ochs. The atmosphere of Greenwich Village in the early 60's is re-created with an impressive array of detail. Talley and his companions take note of the struggle for civil rights, the blacklisting that had lingered from the McCarthy era, and the emergence of popular venues for folk music such as the television show Hootenanny, then being broadcast weekly on ABC.

Along the way there are additional mysteries and a charming love story, as well as a cast of engaging characters. Such a Killing Crime is both a satisfying suspense thriller and a fine evocation of that long ago era when, for a brief time, folk music reigned supreme.

Here are some excerpts from the review of Such a Killing Crime by Roger Deitz that appeared in the winter, 2006, edition of Sing Out! magazine: "Such a Killing Crime is a delight to read. The novel is a mixture of folk scene memorabilia juxtaposed with sharp, fast-paced mystery writing." And also: "Lopresti gives us a scenic tour of Greenwich Village as it was in 1963 adding a few of his own clever plot devices." And finally: "You'll enjoy the read and, I wager, be surprised when you get swept up in resolving the who-done-it."

If you could see my "Favorite Books" list for this year, or any year, you'd probably be surprised to learn how much I loved and adored Such A Killing Crime. That's because, for the most part, I'm a pretty hard core non-fiction reader.

About the only kind of fiction I read is the kind of historical fiction that an author grafts, with meticulous attention to detail, onto a specific time and place.

For me, that's a big part of the appeal of Such A Killing Crime. The story itself is a perfectly compelling whodunit, but, beyond that, Lopresti immerses you so thoroughly in his setting-- the Greenwich Village folk music scene of 1963-- that you feel like a detective magically transported to a long-vanished era of late night hootenannies and smoky coffeehouses filled with turtlenecked beatniks.

That elaborately fleshed-out setting, that was really half the fun of the book for me. I think I came away with a whole new appreciation for that whole improbable folk music renaissance that flourished so briefly, withered so suddenly and left its subtle but pervasive influence on our culture.

How pervasive? Let me tell you a little story. Must have been about 1971 I came home, and my Mom was sitting on the couch drinking Ripple out of a jelly jar and playing this Frank Sinatra song, "Love's Been Good to Me." She loved that song! Played it over and over.

First time I heard "Love's Been Good to Me," I thought to myself "Sounds like Frank's gone folk music on us, and he's taken the whole Nelson Riddle Orchestra with him!"

Decades later I learned that the lyrics of "Love's Been Good to Me" had been penned by poet and one-time Greenwich Village folkster Rod McKuen!

As it turns out that is only one of many macabre twists and turns in the history of American folk music. Makes you wonder why there haven't been more folk music murder mysteries. We can only hope that Lopresti writes a sequel.

Of course we love Rob's book. But we also wanted to make sure that everyone knew what Tom Paxton said about it: "Spooky. If I'd known he was watching us all so carefully, I'd have behaved much better." And we also wanted everyone to know that if they enjoyed the recent Dylan documentary by Scorsese, then you'll love this book! We knew Rob had done a great job incorporating the details of the era into the story, but as we were watching the first part of the show we were again reminded of how good a job he did. It was amazing how MUCH of what Scorsese focused on is also in Such a Killing Crime. --Gary McKinney & Karen Parker, Kearney Street Books

Half human and rumored half-deity Rol Cortishane finds a home at sea on his black kassic man of war vessel the Revenant. There the privateer ruthlessly patrols the waters by the pirate cove, Ganesh Ka of Umer. Any Bionari Empire ships that venture in the vicinity is destroyed and their treasures become the booty of him and his crew.

However, his harmonious sea life ends when an adversary from his salad days, the King of Thieves Canker, visits Rol with news and a request. Rol prefers either to ignore or feed Canker to the fish, but he knows he cannot as his past that he prefers buried has surfaced. The woman he lusted after, the assassin Rowen, sent her strange bedfellow ally to obtain Rol's support as she militarily backs her claim of Empress of the Bionari Empire. Feeling marked by fate, Rol leaves his beloved sea to go inland to assist Rowen.

Few fantasy writers since Gulliver's fourth journey (to the land of Houyhnhnms) can depict the insanity of choosing war as the best option as well as Paul Kearney does in his Sea Beggers' tales (see THE MARK OF RAN). The action-packed story line grips readers even before Canker's request sends Rol on a landlubber adventure and never slows down while Rol and Rowen stir up the empire until the final climax. The battles at sea are incredible (on land they well written but not as magnificent) Readers will appreciate this sword and sorcery thriller and look forward to more tales of yore from Mr. Kearney.

Harriet Klausner

I was impressed with Kearney's second novel in the Sea Beggars series. He really has a sweeping prose style that brings his fantasy world to life. Rol is a nicely rounded hero, with his share of flaws and humanity. As the plot unfolds we get to see more of what Rol's world is like, and we learn a little more of Rol's past and birthright.

I highly recommend this book, and I am eargerly awaiting the third installment.

Ordinarily, I am very reluctant to begin a series by reading a book out of sequence, however I was pleasantly surprised by Paul Kearney's This Forsaken Earth, Book 2 of The Sea Beggars trilogy. From the opening prologue, I was immediately drawn into the world of Ummer and the lives of Rol Cortishane- ruthless pirate with a shadowy past- and his colorful comrades. The story is well written, with crisp, easy to visualize descriptions of the people and the world they inhabit.

Not having read Book 1 (The Mark of Ran) and not knowing very much about the workings of sailing vessls did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of this story, much of which happens on land. The most intriguing- and ultimately frustrating- moments for me occurred in the fantasy threads that are sparsely worked through the storyline. The author is very sparing with everything that he discloses. In the end I felt that he just doesn't give enough detail about Rol and his true nature and destiny. This is understandable, given that this is a 'middle' book and many plot points are left only partially revealed or resolved as this part of the trilogy closes. It also makes sense to keep the readers in anticipation of new revelations. So, Mr. Kearney, I am hooked and eagerly awaiting the publication of Book 3.

Another great adventure/fantasy read by Paul Kearney; in fact, I liked it a little more that book 1.

The book is well written, has a sense of pace and timing and is absolutely crammed with action, both on the land and sea. But be aware, the writing at times can be very graphic; there are some descriptions of the battle casualties that are not for the faint of heart.

As with most good fantasy tales there are elements of love, deceit, betrayal, unexpected friendships and a degree of magic; and this story is no exception. I especially liked Rol's character; this guy is no knight in shining armor and has his share of despicable traits, but he is the "hero" of these stories and there is something about him that gains my grudging admiration.

The only minor negatives about this book are that

1.)it's too short (317 pages to be exact)

2.)although there is a map, it is not particularly detailed (at the times it needed to be).

It's amazing how quickly you can read a book you like; the pages just seem to fly by. I was sorry to see this captivating tale come to such a quick end; now I can hardly wait for book III. 5 Stars.

This is probably the best book on tracking (they call it mantracking to which the author also writes is probably the worst name ever) people. The author presents the theory, concepts, examples, and training in a cogent, proper way. Nothing substitutes for the real thing of course, especially in this line of work...but for the new comer to tradecraft, this along with "Silent Warfare" are indespensible.

This book is crammed full of information about tracking humans. You won't find a more useful resource out there. Kearney spent years using the skills he writes about in the book. If you are trying to learn to track, whether it's for your own personal enrichment or for Search and Rescue work, you will find a tremendous resource in these pages. I highly recommend this book. It is also a standard textbook for every SAR tracking class I have attended. Save a life - buy this book and learn to track. You will never again have to worry about becoming lost in the wilderness if you can track your way back.

The foundation of this book has been taught to Thousands of Search & Rescue, Law Enforcement & Military trackers, since it's release years ago. I strongly suggest this book as a beginning base for new trackers to start with, as well as a reality check for seasoned trackers. It is the best book I've read on the subject of tracking humans with it's ability to teach you tracking, second only to the actual "Dirt time" of getting outdoors and learning by doing.

Kearney put his years of experience in tracking border-jumpers and lost persons to good use to teach you the fundamentals of tracking humans. The step-by-step learning method is the best I've ever been exposed to. This book is absolutely the best way of learning this ancient skill short of attending a live course. Kearney helps you to build fundamental skills rapidly, and he helps you to avoid the common mistakes that beginners often make.

I own a number of tracking books, but this one is my absolute favorite! Get a copy!

It isn't how it is in the movies. Cops don't go around shooting people causing massive explosions and high body counts in their wakes - in fact killing someone can be a very traumatic experience for many police officers. "Twisted Obsession" is the story of one these cops, veteran and highly celebrated officer Jay Mundie, kills a man and is completely justified in his actions. Not wanting to burden the department with the psychological baggage, he pushes himself further... with disastrous mental results. "Twisted Obsession" is a deftly written and intriguing psychological thriller, and a must for any fan and community library fiction collections with a focus on police thrillers.

On the scale of evil Mark Kearney's book is off the charts. If you've been creeped out and yet at the same time fascinated by folks such as the BTK killer and Ed Gein, you're gonna LOVE Kearney's first novel. After you read this prepare to watch over your shoulder for a long, long time to come. Can't wait to see what horrors Mark Kearney's second novel will reveal.

Twisted Obsession, is about a police officer who while on a domestic call has to shoot a man. The affects of this shooting send Officer Jay Mundie on a roller coaster ride of emotions. He has been cleared by the state police and found that the shoot was justifiable. But the shooting of Moe Jackson, awakens an evil in Jay that the town of Cutler, VA is not ready for. The lead investigator in the recent rash of murders in and around Cutler is beginning to suspect that it could possibly be a police officer that is doing the killings. Are his hunches correct? Can he find out who it is before more murders occur? You will have to read the book to find out.

Twisted Obsession is Mark Kearney's debut novel. He is an up and coming crime thriller author who, if he continues to write this way, may find himself being compared to Patricia Cornwell.

Mark Kearney's debut novel will have you looking over your shoulder and keeping the lights on as you sleep. The intriguing plot line will evoke memories of Stephen King's early works as the main character descends into darkness and evil after a police shootout. With the twist at the end, it will have you thinking of Hannibal Lector. And like "Silence of the Lambs", I am sure readers will be anticipating Kearney's sequel... This is a book that is hard to put down!

If you do not have enough time to sift through all the important continental philosophers, but want to get a detailed summary idea of their thoughts, this book is an excellent primer. Kearney has done an excellent job of anthologizing selections of text that best represent each philosopher's thoughts. Treacherous waters of phenomenology, hermaneutics, deconstruction, and such can be navigated through these selections of writings, and there are excellent introductions to the philosophers and their work in the beginning of each text. Especially now that we are in the 21st century, these thoughts of the 20th century must be appreciated to know our own history - cultural, philosophical, and historical. This book is an excellent start.

If one is interested in getting to know some of the trends in 20th century continental philosophy, I know of no better place to start than with this reader. Richard Kearney and Mara Rainwater break the book down into three sections: From Phenomenology to Hermeneutics, From Marxism to Critical Theory and From Structuralism to Deconstruction. Within each section, works are presented in chronological order from major thinkers within these broadly defined movements; this enables the reader to see both continuities and differences between the authors in each section.

It is also helpful that Kearney and Rainwater note that many of the authors could have easily fit into multiple sections; 20th century continental philosophy then becomes something of a large dialogue between people from different decades and in different places. Anyone even remotely familiar with the topic will agree that continental philosophy is thick; it is to Kearney and Rainwater's credit that, in editing this reader, it loses none of its thickness but serves, instead, to draw the reader into the discussion/s that it contains.

The introductions to each thinker are wonderful, detailing historical context and mentors, major trends and changes in the whole of their work. It would have been nice, however, if these introductions to said a bit about why a particular piece was chosen and how it fits into the history of one of the three sections. All of the pieces included are obviously not ground breaking in and of themselves, but some of them are and bristle with a level of intellectual rigour and moral clarity that the vast majority of philosophers would do well to remember - the selection from Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno's Dialectic of Enlightenment is one such piece, and Walter Benjamin's Theses on the Philosophy of History is another.

Any knowledge of the history of 20th century Europe will help to put some of these pieces in a greater context; one can oftentimes feel the horrific weight of WWII and Nazism, for example, in the background of some of the pieces. If this volume is any indication, the companion volume, which is a history of 20th century continental thought, will also be well worth checking out. All in all, this is an excellent reader that I highly recommend to any and all interested in the area of 20th century continental philosophy.

As a student of Dr.Kearney, I can say with confidence that this work is a very excellent and informative survey of the world's modern western continental philosophers. For anyone interested in studying philosophy, this is an great place to find where your interests lie and where a possible concentration might possible develop. For those who seek specifics, this work is divided into a section of phenomenology and hermeneutics, then a section on critcal thinking and theory and finishes off with a study of structuralism. Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone interested in western philosophy.