Europe Books

The Kalevala is the result of Elias Lönnrot collecting and commiting to paper the oral traditions of the Finnish people to produce an epic tale.
This translation has captured the poetic delivery of the original Finnish as perfectly as these two opposing languages could.
The poetry weaves the tales of Väinämöinen, an old seer and the younger Joukahainen who wishes to challenge him. This angers Väinämöinen who chants him deep into a swamp, a meadow and a heath!! To get himself out of trouble Joukahainen offers the old seer his sister Aino as a bride. Väinämöinen thinking he has been offered a house keeper accepts. Aino is quite taken with being his bride but Väinämöinen has other ideas and heads North to woo the maiden of the North. He can marry her if he forges a Sampo, which is a magical machine that churns out salt, flour and money! He can't do that but he knows a man who can, his good friend Ilmarinen the blacksmith. He has to trick Ilmarinen into going North but he makes the Sampo. Then the marriage requires another task and so the maiden remains unmarried.

Meanwhile, another character Lemminkäinen decides to go North and try his luck winning the maiden. He is given tasks in order to win her hand, capturing the elk of Hiisi and the swan from the river of Tuonela. The latter task nearly kills him and he gives up.

Väinämöinen is now making himself a boat to head back up North but he runs out of spells so he has to go and find Vipunen, a giant who knows all the spells. He gets his spells, finishes his boat and heads North but he is seen by the sister of the blacksmith and the blacksmith rides like the wind on his horse and catches up with him. The two men make a pact that they will let the maiden choose between them. The maiden choose Ilmarinen because he forged the Sampo but her mother still wants more tasks done and she orders Ilmarinen to plough the field of vipers. Ilmarinen finds this easy with his armoured boots and cape and so the crone of the North sets him the task of capturing the giant pike of the chill north sea without line or net!!Ilmarinen forges himself a giant eagle and captures the pike. Now the old crone is satisfied and the wedding takes place. Väinämöinen makes a kantele from the jaw of the pike which produces sweet voiced music such that tames the beasts and even causes the sea king Ahti to rise from the depths. He and Ilmarinen use the sweet music to soothe the beasts of the North whilst they take the Sampo for themselves and set sail for home. Louhi, mistress of the North casts a fog spell to stop them, which Väinämöinen conjures away so Louhi unleashes a terrible storm which sweeps the kantele from the boat whereupon Ahti the sea king thinks it is a present to him and he calms the sea. The crone turns herself into an eagle and attacks Väinämöinen's boat and in the struggle the Sampo is broken into pieces. Some of the pieces are washed up on the shore and from the fragments Ilmarinen makes amulets and rings thinking that perhaps there is still some magic left in the pieces. Each resident of Kalevala wears a magic piece on special occasions, wishing for a peaceful life.

Now I've just condensed an epic piece into a few short paragraphs...for which I apologise but it's a great tale and maybe this will encourage folk to read it themselves.

This review is in two parts:

THE TRANSLATION: When it comes to reading ancient literature there are often numerous versions and translations. Unless a story is REALLY good, I only want to read it once. So it only makes sense that one should want to read the best version/translation available.
Thankfully, the Keith Bosley translation of The Kalevala is the most reader-friendly, very much like Seamus Heaney's translation of "Beowulf".
The Kalevala does not rhyme, although there are a few instances of alliteration scattered throughout. Each line is usually a handful of words comprising an even larger sentence, but it's done in a tasteful way so that you won't feel like you're reading a James Joyce run-on sentence like in "Ulysses".

THE EPIC:
The Kalevala bounces around telling tales of several major characters, which is fortunate, considering the length of the work. Without giving anything away, the characters do things like get married, steal precious relics, sing magical songs, go to war and build many more precious relics.

There are lots of good "Chapters" in The Kalevala and I was surprised that a few of my favorites had little or no action in them (according to a guy's definition of action, at least). One of which was the marriage sequence of Chapters 21-24. If you've ever heard the advice, "Don't get married", this is probably one of the sources where such advice comes from.

It is also noteworthy how much influence The Kalevala has had on Fantasy and Metal. If I remember correctly, Tolkien's "Silmarillion" starts off with beings singing things into existence, much like the characters in The Kalevala do.
The Finnish metal band "Ensiferum" has songs that are inspired straight from The Kalevala, such as "Old Man" which refers to Vainamoinen.
There are many other bands in the folk metal genre, that, although they don't specifically cite The Kalevala as an inspiration they clearly have songs that are similar to The Kalevala's oral tradition. Some examples (in my opinion) would be Korpiklaani (Finnish), Metsatoell and Raud Ants (Estonian).

Overall, I liked The Kalevala much more than I thought I would, given its length and I have to admit: I found it more interesting than Beowulf.

The Kalevala has a flow to it that makes the plot/ idea easy to follow. If English is your second language you will struggle with some of its vocabulary. The stories and the essence of this epic poem are captivating. I didn't want to put the book down at night. This is a good way to get to know Finnish culture.

There is an elegant, powerful simplicity to this epic tale, no matter what language you read it in. The symbols transcend both language and time. There is nothing contrived here. Such a tale could not be counterfeited by a modern mind.At the center of the entire epic is Vainamoinen, the singer at the world's dawn. Here is the archetype for the wizard- the first and greatest among shamans. Before Merlin, before Taliesin, before Math, before Manannan, there was Vainamoinen, Eternal Seer.Something real and vital carries over even in translation. Reading this book on a cold winter's night you can taste the sea and smell the forest. You can identify with the characters even though they have godlike powers, because they also have trades that they live by (Vainamoinen is a boatbuilder, Ilmarinen a smith, Joukahainen builds his own crossbows, etc.) These Godlike beings lived simple lives close to the earth. And simple wisdom is powerful wisdom. Yet, there is also so much more of the old, deep legends and symbols buried in these lines. You can tell that they were preserved long after the long lines of singers had ceased to know their original meanings.The ancient Finns believed in the power of words, and the greater power of songs. There is still power here. Or as the epic says:

Words shall not be hid

nor spells be buried;

might shall not sink underground

though the mighty go.

I enjoyed this epic story of Finnish mythology. It was a musical, delightful collection of heroic stories that didn't overwhelm me. I could keep track of the characters and what they respresented quite easily.

I was delighted by this book! I hope all Finnish children are exposed to the exciting yet fun depiction of their mythological heritage.

I know that scholars want to read everything and disect the stories for deeper meanings -- which is just fine -- but I can really see this as a set of stories being told to small children while the whole family sat around the fireplace.

I enjoy reading about Ireland, and thought this book would be like Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. The donkey book was much more serious. I liked reading about the different people he encountered, but at times, felt that it was a glossary of names of potential buyers. I did enjoy his time with the travelers. He exemplified the attitudes of the 70's, and I think the book would have been more effective if he had written it 25 years ago. Still, it was a good story.

At first it seemed a bit slow and I feared it was going to be one of those "Oirish" books full of Paddy-wackery. However, Kevin O'Hara seems to find his barrings a couple chapters in, about the time he finally gets on the road, and ends up writing an interesting, sometimes spiritual, sometimes beautiful book about his experience in an Ireland that barely exists in that same way anymore. My favorite bits were his evolving relationship with Missy, the donkey, the rare glimpse he gives us into the lives of a group of Travellers, Mr. O'Hara's reverence and appreciation of the countryside and it's people, and best of all, his chance encounter with an elderly woman praying the rosary after midnight in a field, just as she did as a child with her family many years earlier... that scene was magic. "Slan abhaile agus oiche mhaith."

This is a fun story of a Yank's trip around Ireland with a donkey cart. His trip fulfills his longing to know the land of his forebears, and he wonderfully captures the language and attitudes of the people just before modernity finally arrived full force. Highly recommended!

Kevin O'Hara's epic 1800 mile journey around Ireland with a donkey is an amazing depiction of Irish culture, humor, historical pain, and generosity. Completing the book 25 years after his journey in 1979, O'Hara paints a detailed mosaic of an Ireland before the infusion of European Union money and a fragile peace accord that has halted the violence between North and South. With only a few pounds in his pocket, this American Irishman discovers his roots, his heritage, and bit of the Blarney during his trek around Ireland (albeit counterclockwise!) An extraordinary read!

Kevin's writing draws you into his journey - a remarkable romp around Ireland with a donkey that seems human. I loved it. You could nearly smell the air and see the characters. A magical look at an island that has changed so much in the 25 years since his journey took place. I wanted to be there by his side as he runs into character after character. His book is the next best thing to being there.

I didn't want his journey to end. Alas, time moves on and progress can't be stopped. If only there could be a sequel.

Anyway, it is written in very short, easy to read chapters. Perfect nighttime reading. If you like adventures, humor, self reflection, and interesting characters - read this book. If you have ever been to Ireland and fallen in love with it, this book is a must read. If you live in Ireland now and want a look back at the country as it existed 25 years ago, this book is required reading.

A part of my family research - but brings the sadness, the strength and the Christian conviction to a very harsh reality. Something all of us from those roots need to read.

This should be in the homes of every Baptist family, as it already is in most Amish families. As the book itself explains, it is a history of fifteen centuries of the suffering of the Baptist people and their martyrdom at the hands of the catholic church. A list of popes up to the time it was written is included in the back. It proves that Baptists existed long before Martin Luther, and were martyred for such sins as reading the Bible and Baptizing adults after they were saved. It is impossible to deny these facts because this book documented these horrors and was written hundreds of years ago, before political correctness came into being, using the records of governments most of which have since been destroyed. The names of hundreds of individual Baptist people are recorded along with descriptions of the accusations against them, their tortures and death. It is detailed, and too graphic for children.

This is an excellent work and a great accompaniment to Foxes' Book of Martyrs. It is an enormous volume with much information I have not seen before.
I highly recommend it as an addition to every Christian's library, and to anyone studying the subject of martyrdom.

The story of the Anabaptists is one of incredible pain and spiritual triumph. This impressive work was written in the seventeenth century and recounts the stories of many men and women who suffered and often faced terrible death for what they thought was right. Apart from individuals stories, the book contains many emotionally touching letters written by martyrs to their families and friends. The book also describes the sufferings of some of the early Christians and the later Waldensians.
The legacy of the Anabaptists lives on in the Amish and Mennonites. In fact, an article about Amish forgiveness in the aftermath of the recent tragic school shooting was one of the things that brought this book to my attention. Personally, I feel Christians of any denomination could take something useful from this book.
Overall, "Martyr's Mirror" is an extremely powerful and moving book.

This is a must own book for those interested in Christian heritage. This puts Foxe's Book of Martyrs to shame. It is well worth the money you will spend on it.

Mission Raise Hell is an unforgettable tribute to the courage and fortitude of the men of the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion. What an incredible gift James Christ has! With riveting details, vivid imagery, and palpable sentiment, he makes history come alive. Christ lets the story unfold naturally--the plot reads much like a WWII veteran recalling the events of the raid on Choiseul. I look forward to reading Battalion of the Damned and other books by this author.

I found this book fascinating. It reveals a brief but pivotal period in the lives of real soldiers, faithfully chronicled by the author. In it I found a captivating glimpse of our history. I am impressed by the dedication it must have taken to seek out and interview so many survivors of the mission on Choisul, after so many years. This is authentic history. I hope James Christ will continue to pursue our past with the same intensity and purity of this first effort. It is an invaluable record.

I found the book extremely good at recounting events from over 60 years ago. The writer did a wonderful job of locating so many survivors of this Solomon Island activity and recording their stories. More of us need to talk to those left of that generation and record (on paper, audio and/or video) their life stories. I thought Mr. Christ did a good job in telling the stories - jumping from group to group to show actions in an almost hour-by-hour retelling. He transported me through time and space to make me feel as if I was there at the time, dodging the bullets along with the men of the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion.

This book shows what it was like from several marines perspective, not just one individual marine. That is what makes it unique. I found it riviting and shocking at the randomness of survival. My father was on the island and took part in the operation. He has told me his account, but this book takes you into the minds of all those still around to re-live a long forgotten battle, complete with the honesty of relating a story from 63 years ago.

If you want fiction, or a beautifully "produced" story, you'll have to check elsewhere.

It was reported that this 255 page book, "Mission Raise Hell" is flawed, sophomoric, and unduly repetitive. I never picked that up. James Christ's approach keeps you in the tempo of the movement of young Marines in Choiseul. It is a gripping account.

Having fought in a war as a Marine Corps Officer, I'm grateful that the author reports the constant acts of the men he interviewed. And that's the point: it's an interview of microcosmic scale that focuses on every significant act of men engaged in a desperate ruse to win the macro war effort against the Japanese on Bougainville.

James Chrst. Remember the name. He's touched so accurately the hearts of those Marines on Choiseul as-well-as war fighting Marines everywhere.

Mr. Christ's literary approach in tone and tempo matches the WWII Marines I've conversed with as a life member of the Marine Corps League.

And if this is not enough to assert Christ's fine book as nuanced and sophisticated in the capture of reality, don't forget the name "Krulak."

Retired Marine Corps General Victor Krulak, who was the Lieutenant Colonel commanding officer of those men on Choiseul, has supported and continues to support this fine author.

I recommend on the basis of my experiences as a Marine Enlisted and as a Marine Officer that you read James Christ's book, "Mission Raise Hell". You will not be disappointed.

Thank you, David and Alison, for sharing your Paris with me. Soon I will have the pleasure of spending a month in Paris, and the joy of being able to introduce my 16-year-old grandson to the greatest-of-all-cities. Your book deepened my knowledge of Paris, and will allow me to share more of its history with my grandson. I will be taking your book along, reading it in Paris, and looking for all those pieces of the city that you so beautifully described. Again, merci!

Downie's essays offers a quirky sense of humor and a wonderful eye for the details behind the details that at once demystify Paris and add to her mystery. Although the book is not a guide per se, the essays make me want to follow Downie's trails. As such, the book would have been better served with an index and some neighborhood maps. After all, give us a few more clues.

David Downie's recent memoire on Paris is a diminutive delight, a series of "thought prose" on different and unusual aspects of La Ville Lumière. There are countless books following a similar approach, but Downie's stands out due to the unusual information and presentation of somewhat obscure and arcane information that he has collected over the decades in which he has lived near the Place des Vosges in the Marais district of Paris. The result is an insider's point of view of the city that is quite unlike other tourist books, and perhaps implies that those who might most greatly enjoy the book are those who have actually visited and explored the city to some extent. Without having experienced the city itself first hand, the information presented here is a bit decontextualized and a little abstract.

For those who have visited the city and even perhaps stayed or lived there for any length of time, Downie's book opens up a world of insights that is often hidden from common view. This makes it now possible to explain why Downie has selected the name, "Paris, Paris" for the text, where the second "Paris" is written in italics. Downie explains that the meaning of this structure indicates that there are two simultaneous, yet nevertheless distinct, "Parises," the first being the "Paris" that the typical English-speaking, non-French national sees and experiences, and the second (the "Paris" in italics) is the one that native Parisians and Frenchmen know, a reality removed from the more cursory visitors of the city.

Downie chooses an interesting example drawn from the Paris metro system to illustrate the title's metaphor. For anyone who has used metro line 14, the fully automated and state-of-the-art Parisian metro line, the sound of the automatic station announcement will come to mind. As we approach Chatelet Station, for example, the system announces "Chatelet" in a springy, almost stylish manner. As the train begins braking and stops at the station, the automatic system again states "Chatelet," but in a much more terse, low-key manner. This interesting announcement technique that all riders of metro line 14 have doubtless noticed (whether consciously or unconsciously), serves as a gentle reminder that there are two Parises, and few people ever get to know them both.

The book is composed of a series of short, targeted essays on a wide variety of locations, personages, and historical events related to the city. Each section runs only six to eight pages, which is a perfect length not only to convey the topic, but also for targeted reading day after day. The writing style is clear and engaging, and as mentioned before, filled with tidbits of information about the city that anyone interested in Paris would enjoy learning. We get to read about such famous "Parisians" as Coco Chanel, the engineer who is in charge of nighttime lighting for all of Paris, and a host of others in addition to interesting historical aspects of the city itself.

An enjoyable book with a memorable set of stories, anecdotes, and "mysteries" of the city, "Paris, Paris" is a welcome addition to any Parisphile's library.

This just couldn't get any better. It is full of interesting tidbits and numerous places to visit accompanied by stories of people and places you normally don't hear told. I couldn't put it down, and I have recommended it to several people.

A wonderfully ill-tempered, sentimental, and informed account of nooks and crannies in the most interesting of cities. If I could arrange it, I would introduce Downie to the venerable Guy Grangeret, a visite-conference guide to Paris who is nothing less than Downie's spiritual twin. Neither man's dicta are suitable for beginners: all that irony and allusion would be wasted. Both provide insights and make connections that enrich the experience as well as thinking of the seasoned visitor.

This book is wonderful... I couldn't put it down, it was such a compelling read. Anyone who has any interest in the Emerald Isle must read this detailed, comprehensive account of the most important moment in Irish history. It is well-written, entertaining, enlightening, and will deepen the outsider's understanding of the Irish struggle throughout its history with Britain. It is told in an informative tone, yet brings history to life with all the fine details that surround the lives of the Irish heroes. It is by far the best book I have ever read, and I will read it again and again! I also agree that it is a screenplay waiting to be made!

The Easter Rebellion is the subject of this engrossing book. What makes the tale more interesting than so much of the patriotic gloss that has been so often repeated is the fact that the rising was so poorly planned that it was nothing short of a miracle that it proved to be ultimately successful in many of its long term aims.

Apart from the seizure of the General Post Office in Dublin, the rebels were unable to secure most of their objectives. British forces were able to suppress the revolt within a week. Due to disputes and internal squabbles between competing factions, many Irish militias simply refused to take any active role in the rising and the rebels in the GPO were hopelessly outnumbered from the start.

The revolt may have proven to have been unnecessary had Britain not chosen to suspend Irish Home Rule for the duration of World War One. John Redmond's long awaited legislation was enacted and then immediately placed on indefinite hold. Had Home Rule been permitted, it is quite possible that Ireland might be a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations today. Britain's refusal to implement Home Rule, despite its Parliamentary approval, gave rebel leaders the opportunity to plot a course for independence.

With British Army fully engaged on the Western Front, it was thought that assistance could be readily obtained from the Central Powers to arm the rebels. Roger Casement spent months in Berlin where he took part in a series of unproductive meetings with skeptical representatives of the Kaiser. An open revolt in Dublin would be a useful diversion, but the Germans were wary about committing significant resources to such a plan and to a motley crew of disorganized and impoverished revolutionaries.

Casement's efforts to raise a revolutionary brigade composed of captured Irish colonials who were being held as British prisoners of war in German camps proved to be futile as these soldiers overwhelmingly refused to defect. The promised weapons offered by Imperial Germany turned out to be a cargo of antiquated army surplus, including some obsolete cannons and mortars that probably dated back to the Franco-Prussian War. A single ship was provided to deliver the arms to the Irish coast.

After the disguised ship skillfully evaded the British naval blockade, the entire shipment was captured on the beach within mere minutes of its unloading. Casement, himself, was placed under arrest almost as soon as he arrived on shore. His betrayal was the work of a paid informer, a homosexual renter, who had been communicating with the English about Casement's activities and the shipment of arms for weeks.

Initially, many Dubliners had been enraged at the rebels both for the disruption of their daily lives and the destruction that had been visited upon their city. When the British imposed a brutal state of martial law, which included the summary execution of most of the captured rebels, Irish public sentiment changed abruptly. The rebels were no longer reviled as damned fools, but considered as martyrs to the cause of Irish freedom. Padraic Pearse had been vindicated. Out of the blood sacrifice of the rising on Easter Monday came heavy handed British reprisals which reignited the spirit of revolt on the part of the Irish people.

While not a historical novel, the book does contain some fictionalized dialogue mixed with actual quotations. This does not detract from fascinating and sometimes hilarious account of cowardice, heroism, idealism and stupidity that attended the birth of the Republic of Ireland.

We all realize the book is a bit fictionalized, but it's a better read that way, I think, and I've been studying the Easter Rising for 2 years now. All the information is accurate, and it gives you a good sense of the times. We can never truly know what these men were thinking, but this gives you a fairly good idea. I have a question though, there were two things I could not verify and since I'm researching this, it's quite important: does anyone know about the authenticity of Moira and Agna Connolly's existance? Most places say Connolly only had 6 children, but then they never give names, and the names of all his other children are accurate.

Rebels is wonderful book, encompassing the years leading up to the Rising, the events of the Rising, and the executions after the failed Rising. The book is rich in the characters of the major figures involved in the events of the Easter Rising. Pearse, the fatal idealistic, to the hard-nosed general Maxwell are beautifully protrayed. Rosa encompasses the whole view of what the rebellion meant the leaders, the British, and the people of Ireland. Also, Rosa shows the changing attitudes of the Irish people after the Rising. If you love Irish history, this book is a must read.

De Rosa's account is amazing. There have been some reviews critical of De Rosa's 'fictionalization.' I think that the fictionalizations tend to stand out because of the fantastic job that De Rosa does with the actual events. The events are done so well that when the fiction does occur, it is almost uneccessary. We already know what has to be going on with the main players.

The greatness of this book is that it does two things for the reader: 1) The story is so great you won't put the book down, and, more importantly 2) It ties together all the events and people into a coherent picture. I haven't really seen this done with this event before, much like the reviewer who talks about other books on the subject only concentrating on events in Dublin. The overview and understanding of the event is key.

This is an absolute Gem. . . an indeed one that should be made into a screenplay.

Whoever appreciates Peter Drucker als author of 39 books focusing predominantly on the various subjects of management should also read his "Adventures of a Bystander". This book is a very important key to Peter Drucker's development and personality. Add his two novels "The Temptation to Do Good" AND "The Last of all Possible Worlds" and you
will discover Peter Drucker's qualities as excellent novelist. There you will find very important additions to his management thinking and practice in terms of profiles of psychological dynamics of people in action.

Drucker clearly explains how rampant inflation in post WW I Germany influenced the rise of the Nazi party and Hitler. This discussion should be required reading for every 14 year old child! I particularly liked his stories of Willem Paarboom, a sort of Dutch hedge-fund/investment manager who appeared to be a cross between a man and a raven. In his day, Herr Drucker was exposed to some truly elegant and unorthodox thinkers. He adds his own illuminating interpretations and is not afraid to engage in contrary thinking. (Especially when to do so is out of vogue) Read about Dr. Mordecai Johnson and his views on the "American Negro Problem" and you will never contemplate African slavery the same way again. I consider Drucker to be one of the brightest minds of the 20th century, and his genius is on full display here. Certainly, this is one of the most provocative and influential books that I have ever read!

(Drucker particularly liked the "sqwoosh, sqwoosh" sound when jumping in puddles.)

Not really an autobiography, not quite a memoir, part biography, of the people he has known in his life, some famous, some not. And Drucker is still alive, now 95 years old. It was a dense, fact-filled book, but always fascinating. He is an amazingly prolific, gifted, engaging writer. And what he has to say about America and The American Dream in the last pages of the book is no less true today than it was in the late 70's when it was written. He writes of Sigmund Freud (things you haven't read before), Henry Luce, Alfred Sloan, John L. Lewis, and Buckminster Fuller among a host of other characters. A very rewarding, thought-provoking read. Highly recommended. Especially for those of us who want to read history by the people who lived it.

Drucker's most captivating book, Adventures of a Bystander, is a dynamic memoir of the singular Americans and Europeans of Drucker's life. They include Fritz Kraemer, the historian who "invented" Henry Kissinger; Reinhold Hensch, a newspaper editor so mediocre his only career path was to become the "monster" of the Third Reich; John L. Lewis, Marshall McLuhan, and the visionary early chiefs of General Motors. (Yes, General Motors.) Most importantly, you meet Peter Drucker, whose offhand insights into the world surrounding his characters make every page of this book reward rereading. ....

Instead of the usual self-focused auto-biography, Drucker introduces us to the people that have shaped him. Some are famous (Bucky Fuller, Marshal Mcluhan) some are not (his elementary school teacher). Some are good, some evil, but they are are worth meeting, especially through Drucker's eyes. A good read.

When I was told in an e-mail that I might have the same appreciation for this as "The Great Divorce," my eyebrows immediately were raised. And yes, they were raised in suspicion. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to see what "The Ancient Path" was all about. Seriously, what does Joshua Jost really have to offer, right? Hey, what can I say? It isn't that bad. OK, it isn't bad! This book boldly declares that it represents a ten year journey from Genesis to Jesus. So, how do you start down a particular path? You take your first steps, of course!

With a Lewis-like heir, the author begins the journey. He begins with creation. He brings along Adam and Eve. He exposes the selfish indulgence they choose to pursue! He exposes you, and he exposes me! That stinks. Are you calling me selfish? Ok, look at some of the other lives in scripture. Abraham, Isaiah, David, what will we learn through these lives and more? Eventually you'll find that we were commanded, and still are commanded, to stop pursuing self, and start pursuing God. As small as it may sound, we need to take seriously His standard of love. We also need to take our journey more seriously.

A small book that packs a huge punch! Quite frankly, I thought more could've been said. That's my only gripe. Joshua Jost did some homework, and he made me think. I wasn't afraid to crack open the first page. If you venture down this path, don't expect it all to be easy. It isn't. But it is ancient! And it is something to be desired to live an abundant life. That's what makes the Christian life beyond special. Do you have the guts to take it on?

This is a beautifully written book. The author wanders at leisure through the Old Testatement from Genesis to Revelations painting simple and clear pictures in words to show the amazing nature of God's creation and the love of God for his children. - Well worh reading!

Let me start from the end. When I finished reading the final paragraph of The Ancient Path, I sat and clapped my hands. I kept saying over and over, "very clever, very, very clever". Jost masterfully weaves you through time, stopping only to let you change your clothes according to the time period. Starting in heaven, watching the Creator create. Then, through the Garden of Eden, to the pivotal chapter of Abraham making covenant with God. Next we find ourselves in the desert with Moses, and if you close your eyes, you might just feel the searing sun, and sand in your shoes, so vivid the picture Jost casts in our mind.

Chapter five finds you running down dusty streets, fearing for your life, with Rahab the prostitute. Many times as a child you hear the story of Joshua, marching around Jericho. But Jost starts out by looking at the story through Rahab's eyes. I wept as I read this chapter, and looking over it now, I fight back tears. The power lies in this authors ability to bring the emotion of a four thousand year old story, right up to present day. Rahab saw the grace of God, the same grace that saves us today.

In the next two chapters you get to meet great men of God, like David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. I felt like I was watching them, walking along side them, as they struggled as we do, to obey God with all their hearts, yet willing to make the sacrifices to do so. But not until the last chapter, do you see what tapestry Jost has been weaving in your mind all along.

The book finishes with Jesus. He is on His way to be crucified. And as Jesus makes His way to the cross, Jost flashbacks through all the previous chapters and you start to see what it has all been about. Why did the father not just bring Jesus, straight after the fall? Why wait four thousand years? The last chapter shows us the master plan of the Father, one that cannot be shaken. It is about covenant, and grace. I have been greatly challenged by this book, and inspired. This is not a book about me, or how I can become great. It is a book focused, as we should be, on the Word of God, and the mighty and powerful God we serve. Well done Joshua Jost, I applaud your bravery, in this world of self, for giving God the glory, and honour that He deserves. I eagerly wait for the next instalment, and highly recommend this book. Five gleaming stars.

. . . which defies easy explanation.

Joshua Jost is on to something here. His book "The Ancient Path" describes in a very unique, deeply personal manner, the love of the Father for His creation -- in good times and in bad, through sin, disobedience, and rebellion on through to the gift of the Son. His storytelling methodology is unconventional, but "works" in this particular format. The particular Old Testament examples Jost uses are solid -- and going through the book, my mind was drawn to other Old Testament stories he could have used to good effect as well.

The format of the book might not appeal to everyone, and I thought that the author's "apology" for lack of specific Scriptural references was unnecessary. Jost makes his points without the need to quote Scripture "word for word" -- indeed, in the mind of this reviewer, such would have detracted, not added to the writing. Coming as I do from a different theological perspective as Jost, I was uncomfortable with what I perceived as a "penal substitution" view of the Atonement -- but this doesn't really detract from the value of the book.

In short, I think that Jost is onto something here . . . a concept I would very much like to see him expand greatly. The journey would certainly be worth the effort!

Four very solid stars.

"The Ancient Path" is exquisitely written, with insights into biblical truths that go deep into your heart. The poetic flow of this work, and the sheer beauty of it, makes the passages moving as well as memorable. Joshua Jost's description of creation and of how God brought life into being is masterful, as is every chapter from "In the Beginning" to "The Son." There is a wise, discerning mind, a life devoted to the Lord, and a child's wonder coming together on each page. I found Chapter 2, "Forbidden Fruit," very illuminating, with reasons why Eve added "touch" to God's commandment of not eating from the tree of good and evil, as "the serpent laid before them the ultimate temptation of sin: the pursuit of knowledge for power" (page 35), and Chapter 3, "The Father," is enthralling, as Abraham waits...and waits...for the destiny God said was his to come. "If hope were our destination, and faith the feet that carry us there, covenant is our path, laid straight before us" (page 52).

Only in his early 30's, but with the wisdom of the ancients, truth shines brightly in the cottage Jost shares with his family in northeast Scotland. "...only those who listen with ears of faith will see with their eyes the promises they hope for" (page 135). There is an intimacy with the Lord, and a passion for His Word in the pages of this slim but mighty book, that can only be written by someone who knows Him well. With the overwhelming love that comes from this knowing, and by yielding one's life to Him, we see the good fruit that ensues. This book is the good fruit Jost shares with us; we are enlightened and lifted up, and very much rewarded in the reading of it.

This is quite a book. Since it is over 900 pages you must put it down but I read it straight through. There are some very keen insights into the armament industry and its power over nations and governments - even over Adolf Hitler. If you think Hitler answered to no one, you might want to read this book. My tendency is to tell you many of the shocking facts contained in this work. But Mr. Manchester spent a lot of time building his shocking facts into a reasonable and established context. This is a very important book and I am very, very surprised that I am the first to review it. This is another one of those books that should be a college text. Buy it! This book is a bargain, believe me. No price could repay Mr. Manchester for this type of research.

This is an excellent book about a family's, noted for their involvement with the steel industry and especially the manufacturer of arms, struggle with Germany's economy and power covering about 400 years. It looks lengthy however it is over just as you are getting started. A side benefit is the technical information added helps you imagine what is like to design and sell the arms. In some cases they were almost given away for a causes. This story parallels other books on history and makes the world seem that it is made up of people not just historical facts. Speaking of historical facts, one of the things I like to do is to read books that become movies and movies that are novelized. This would have to be a mini-series. Notice that in the book

William Manchester mentions that the movie "Major Barbara", the play was actually written by George Bernard Shaw and was modeled on the Krupp family.

"The Arms Of Krupp" is the incredible biography of a powerful and incredibly rich and powerful family that was central in the advent and progress of European history for the more than four hundred years they presided as an almost imperial force within the boundaries of what is present-ay Germany. Certainly no other non-royal dynasty engenders such controversy and hotly expressed differences in opinion than does the multiple generations of this critically based family so critical to the development and technological capabilities of the German war machine. Of course, no one could do a better job at providing a definitive historical biography of the Krupp family than William Manchester. This is truly a magnificent book, a spellbinding story splendidly told by a master of English prose, rendered in a flawless, comprehensive, and objective treatment of this fascinating, often outrageous, and sometime imperious string of Krupp family member who ignited the wars raging in Europe in terms of their ability to provide the motherland with such complex, ingenious, and technically superior weapons of war.

This is, in fact, considered a masterwork of history, an eminently readable and elegantly stylish work by Manchester, a master of the trade. Manchester, a retired history professor at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, is widely regarded as one of this country's preeminent biographers and historian. The Krupp dynasty was extinguished in 1967, when the last surviving family member passed away. With his death the legacy of a four hundred year span of contribution to the European armaments industry came to an end, and so brought to a conclusion a tradition spanning wars and quite profoundly influencing outcomes of European history for centuries. The Krupp Arms conglomerate was technologically innovative, devising new weapons such as a superior cannon to an anti-air vehicle weapon designed to counter the reconnaissance capabilities of aerial observation balloons to exotic and much more capable submarines, which they then built for over four decades.

In so doing, they became fabulously rich, and rose to become extremely influential and exceedingly conservative voices within the realm of German political circles. No German leader could hope to marshal the resources or the weapons of war necessary to mount a military campaign without first gaining the trust, confidence and support of the Krupp family, which then cleverly and cynically manipulated this influence to vastly enrich themselves. During World War One, their cannons helped to flatten the French city of Verdun, and at one point succeeded in lobbing projectiles into Paris from as distant a location as some eighty miles away, an unheard-of innovation at the time. Aiding the Third Reich in its secret rearmament effort after the end of the First Word War, they provided a much advanced tank design that eventuated in the Panzer tank, used subsequently so successfully in Hitler's blitzkrieg through France in the summer of 1940.

They were quite influential within the German society as well, having armed the forces of Kaiser Wilhelm for battle before World War One, and then surreptitiously backed Hitler financially in the so-called terror-campaign" of 1933. Incredibly, the Krupps participated in the war crimes of the Third Reich, even controlling and operating more than 130 concentration camps during the war. Afterwards, they help to rebuild Europe in the eventual development of the European Common Market. This is a truly fascinating book written with all of the usual style and substance one come s to expect of William Manchester, and it is certainly a book I can highly recommend to anyone with an interest in European history. Enjoy!

This is an excellent description of a family, noted for their involvement with the steel industry and especially the manufacturer of arms. They struggle with Germany's economy and influence Germaine's foreign policy covering about 400 years.

It looks like a lengthy volume however it is over just as you are getting started. A side benefit is the technical information added helps you imagine what is like to design and sell the arms.

In some cases arms were almost given away for a cause. At other times they mercenarily sold arms to may conflicting countries on both sides. This story parallels other books on history and makes the world seem that it is made up of people not just historical facts. Speaking of historical facts, one of the things I like to do is to read books that become movies and movies that are novelized. This would have to be a mini-series.

Notice that in the book; interestingly enough William Manchester mentions that George Bernard Shaw actually based a play on the Krupp family, "Major Barbara" which consequently was made into a movie with windy Hiller in 1941.

Seeing what this book was about, I thought it had no chance of holding my interest. However, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Manchester really makes this history read like a first class novel.

It is unbelievable for someone 40 or under to realize that these pictures were not seen as "homoerotic" at the time. The author has put together a great collection of photos here.

And the Menz are HOT!

This is a beautiful book which gives a look into the lives of the men of WWII. This is NOT a homoerotic book, these are NOT homoerotic photographs. This is how men were before we became afraid to show affection, before we had to be afraid of every move we made. These are basically boys who grew up on farms and in cities all over America who found themselves on ships in the South Pacific. If your father didn't bring home pictures like this from WWII or if they have become lost, here is a good opportunity to see how life was like on the ships, for America's Greatest Generation.
Heyward Foster III DPM

I picked up this book because my dad and my grandfather served in the US Navy in WW II. I didn't see them or their ships in this book but wow! There are some beautiful photos here! Crisp black and white prints, impressive use of light, some clever composition... and so many strong young men, muscled and slender.

There is a sensuousness to many of the pictures that reminded me of Mapplethorpe's work, although none of them show full frontal nudity. As a collection the photos appear a bit homoerotic, although individually many of the images are fine art. The book is more about excellent photography and gorgeous young men than it is about wartime.

Without a doubt this book will touch the memories and hearts of everyone who pauses to slowly peruse these casual photographs of men at sea in World War II. Without the overtones of trying to make a statement about the camaraderie that accompanies men off at war, these photographs simply follow a healthy group of sailors resting on board ship, working at their tasks, bonding in the bunk rooms and in play on the decks and the foc'sle. There is an obvious physical relationship that is transmitted in the gentlest ways, further proof that men together find the emotional and physical support so needed in the time of isolation from the world.

It is to Evan Bachner's credit that he shares this truly sensitive body of work with the public at a time when we all need to understand not only the plight of the men away at war today, but of the common threads of pansexuality that have never been a threat but only a solace in a world infected with prejudice. Grady Harp, December 2004

As an historical reenactor, and daughter of a WWII Navy veteran, I am constantly on the outlook for books and information on the lesser known ideas and culture surrounding WWII. This book was a real eye opener! While the author is open about his sexuality and the pictures were no doubt hand picked with a certain agenda, they show a world of innocence that was unconcerned with homophobic ideas of how a man should or should not act. Being together for long periods of time in uncertain circumstances, deep friendships definitely form. Your buddy could be the one to save your life during an attack, or you might loose him in a split second from a torpedo. As a woman, I can imagine the close friendships that would form today under similar circumstances among women, and I imagine men during that time were not held back by all the macho ideas of today. A beautiful book with striking photography, this stands as an important contribution to understanding our father's and grandfather's lives during WWII.