History Books

I have read many of John McPhee's works. They are all excellent and captivating. He writes on so many subjects, it is amazing that they are all great. No wonder he teaches at Princeton, or did as I remember.

This time John McPhee turns his hand to one of those
anomalous natural treasures that has survived in
spite of intense urbanization. The Pine Barrens are
two-thirds of a million acres-an area the size of
Yosemite that sit beside a major artery of the most
developed region in the country. With the New Jersey
Turnpike to the west and bustling, chintzy Atlantic
City to the East, it's hard to imagine that this great,
weird wilderness could be so little known.

McPhee is the perfect guide to the Pines. He is as
sensitive to the natural history as he is to the
culture. He has a sympathetic ear for both the natives
and the outsiders who wander in from time to time. He's
a writer who can focus on a detail-a threatened fern or
the quality of water and then pull back to the big picture.

A thoroughly entertaining book.


--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the novel bang BANG. ISBN 9781601640005

Those of us from the Northeast know that wilderness can be found if you're willing to hit the road and search for it, and also that it's precious and worth protecting from the onslaught of industry and sprawl. But even those familiar with the region's wilderness offerings will be surprised by the natural bounty and remoteness of New Jersey's Pine Barrens area. The masterful essayist John McPhee published this travelogue and study of the area back in 1967, when the depths of the Pine Barrens still offered genuine seclusion form the outside world, with hardy folks still living off the land by picking berries or making charcoal. And this beautiful area was surrounded on all sides by the most urbanized and industrialized blight on Earth. Things aren't quite so rustic there anymore, but reading McPhee's engaging treatise on the area should make modern folks wish to both visit the Pine Barrens area as a valuable slice of nature, and to protect it as a precious and dwindling resource. That's what makes this short but lovable book from the great McPhee a timeless classic for nature lovers. [~doomsdayer520~]

My wife gave me this book in 1978, and I devoured it in one evening. I have since been all over the world, and no matter where I go, the pines are always the reference point for me. My teen years were spent in the pines, with my good friend Tom, where we would travel its dirt roads, canoe its streams and fish its lakes, and hike its trails and roads. Mr. McPhee weaves a story that is so true, so historically rich, and for me, so reminiscent of the years of my youth. Please read this book, and then go and make your own memories.

I'll keep this short and sweet: McPhee's The Pine Barrens is an entirely outstanding, fascinating look at the unique area that is the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. McPhee covers Piney culture, the unique ecological nature of the region, its history, and its hidden treasures. The writing is poetic and rich, the people interesting, and the information detailed, thorough and never dull. A really great read that anyone living in NJ should get.

The Vietnam War produced some of the greatest, yet unsung, heroes in American history, Franklin "Doug" Miller was one of them. This book is not so much an autobiography as it is an oral reflection that makes you feel that you are there as he tells his story, with Miller moving to topic to topic as it occurs to him. And what a great story it is. Miller is sometimes vague on details, not going into how he went from being a PFC in a line company to being assigned to Special Forces. Miller's first combat experience was truly unique, more like a company of mountain men in the far west fighting the Blackfeet than a modern army that we think of in Vietnam. "We're going to go across the river and attack a village, do you want to go along?" His platoon sgt asks.

The book's relaxed style does not distrack from the horrors that combat can be and the titled sub-chapters such as-Silver Star, or Bronze Star are helpful as the reader is fully informed on what actions the author was decorated for. It becomes apparent that decorations in Special Forces were hard to come by. The authors discribe day to day life in the S.O.G. unit and provides some insight into the legendary "Mad-Dog" Shirver. The action in which SSGT Miller earned the Medal Of Honor is told in edge of your seat intensity-I wasn't sure if he would come out alive, even though he was telling the story! It's a story that goes from bad, to worse, to hopeless, to acceptance that all's lost.

After nearly six years in the combat zone Miller starts to get a little battle rattled and is sent home. Forunatly the army helped him recover and as a Sergeant Major became an inspiration to a new generation of soldiers. "Doug" Miller became a Special Forces legend, he deserves to be an American legend. I'm glad that his story has been told.

This book is phenomenal. I have been interested in military history, tradition, battles, operations, and training since I was a young kid and have read many books about this genre. I have to say that this one was the best I have read so far. Frank Miller's adventures are beyond compare. Miller often had luck on his side, but what really mattered was that he was good at gathering intelligence and killing the enemy. He didn't enjoy killing, but he understood that it was either him or them and he did what he had to do without dwelling on it.

This book puts you right on the battlefront and makes you feel part of the brotherhood and loyalty that men share when confronted with life and death. There are many humorous stories scattered in the book of more relaxing times away from battle which Miller shares.

I have to give much praise to the author, Elwood Kureth, because he was able to write about Miller's exploits in a way that really made you identify with Frank Miller. A very well written book and very entertaining.

I'm not opposed to all wars but I was very much against our involvement in Vietnam. I thought then and still think that we should have been helping the other side. I bought this book wanting to hear what combat was like there from a special forces soldier. Fortunately, the book didn't get into the politics but simply told about his life and job, which was to collect intelligence and kill the enemy. His bravery and what he went through is mind boggeling and the descripions of battles are riviting. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading it.

WOW, this is one of the most gripping and moving accounts of personal combat and experiences in Vietnam that I have ever read. I had great difficulty putting this gem down, as it is directly related in first-person and the author does a magnificent job of making you feel as if you're right there alongside the subject of the book (Franklin Miller).

Nothing is held back, and if you've ever served in the military, you'll fall right into step with the narration. Everything is presented in all its gory detail, so if you're a little squeamish, you might want to skim across a few sections. The ending is particularly heart-wrenching, especially the afterword by the author's widow.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the up-close and personal views of combat in Vietnam.

As Command Chaplain For US Special Operations Command I had the profound honor of presiding at This hero's funeral. During the months before he died, I spent some days at his home in St Petersburg to offer some spiritual care.

Even to the very end he was a man of strength and courage. He had an abiding faith in Christ that comforted him and allowed him to spend his final days encouraging and supporting his children. As we prayed he would ask me to pray for his children first becuase they were his greatest concern.

He gave me a copy of his book which I read immediately. It is an amazing story that captures the true heart of a warrior. It is a "must read."

Chaplain Lee M. Thompson
Colonel, USAF (Ret)

This book was decent and somewhat interesting. The details are too few and the characters set at extremes or stereotypes. Many important events take place as silly coincidences and their is no real feeling for the novel. The descriptions leave much to be desired. Also all of these "strong" people weep constantly, are unsure of themselves, and break down in despair.

Clavelle's Shogun far surpasses this book. It gives you a real feeling for medeival Japan and an understanding of the culture of the time period. I know that Shike takes place before this but it does not do the same thing for its setting that Shogun does. Both books include a foreign main character trying to make his way in Japan and Shogun is the far more compelling novel.

I came across this book in the early 80's I was almost overwhelmed by the scope and well developed characters. This book transports us to early feudal Japan and immerses you in Japanese culture. An easy equal to Eiji Yoshikawa's classic prose. I have read and re-read this title many times and cannot get tired of it. It's enthralling and epic in it's development. I was heart-broken when I learned author Robert Shea passed away. I was also grateful that he left this priceless gift to the world. I searched for many years to find copies of this book in hardcover for my private collection of favorites. It is almost criminal that the publisher has let this title fall out of print. With such popularity being given to historical fiction novels; this is clearly a timeless best-seller. I urge all who want to be surprised to read this book. I find ragged and worn used copies and give them to friends. I am always ingratiated for gifting this book to them. All the women are moved to tears. (Sometimes the men, too.) Even I have been moved to being moist-eyed by the powerfully written chapters in this book. I urge the publishers to re-print this title and give it back to us. It has a high collectible value as it is. You will have dependably high sales. Maybe one day, some ambitious director will cast this book into film. If so, don't cheat us with a two hour movie. Give us the mini-series in full scope and detail. If my house was on fire; I would run into it and grab my hardcover editions and trade paperbacks and run back out again, thanking God it wasn't too late!!! That's how good this novel is!!!

A great story during that starts in Japan during the 13th century. An increasable tale of 3 people who come together by chance and who's lives have become intertwined, and find their lives intersect despite long periods away from each other and thousands of miles at times. This novel covers everything from love to friendship, adventure, war, deceit etc.... This book really has it all. Anyone who has interest in the Samurai period of Japan will find it especially interesting. I could barely put it down.

There are two major historical events which focus the great composition of this novel: the Gempei Wars and the Mongol invasions, making clear that the author, certainly on purpose, has mixed both to construct a more powerful historical drama, when the truth is that a century separates them. The two families which struggle to death in the novel, the Takashi and the Muratomo, symbolized by the red and the white dragon,respectively (much like the Houses of Lancaster and York in England, who fought the Wars of the Roses because of their red and white roses symbols)are the real Taira and Minamoto families, who fought the so-called Gempei Wars in the XII century, which was to end only by the creation of the Kamakura Shogunate represented by the first shogun in the history of Japan, Minamoto Yoritomo. On the other hand, the Mongol invasions planned by Kublai Khan took place in the XIII century, when the Minamoto had been replaced by the Hojo regents' rule. Nonetheless, "Shiké" is a powerful picture of the beginnings of feudal Japan, quite the seeds of what was to be known as the Sengoku Jidai in the XV and XVI centuries, apart from the fascinating accounts of Mongol campaigns conducted by the successors of Gingis Khan. Considering also that the characters (there are many) are wonderfully conceived, and that the beautiful love story between Taniko and Jebu lies at the very heart of the novel, it is a delicious reading, a very well done work of Literature, not a simple best seller.

I am a 21 year old student interested in all things mysterious and interesting. I love reading and have read many great book, but the "Shike" series is by far the most amazing i have ever read. Upon reading the first few chapters, i was instantly transported back in time to ancient Japan following the journey of the warrior Zinka monk, Jebu, and his soul mate, Taniko. Filled with suspense, mystery, romance and compelling war scenes, this book has made its place in my top 5 books of all time. Im currently 104 pages into the second book, "Last of the Zinja", and i only statred it yesterday! A MUST read for anyone wanting a thrilling jouney into the lives of olden day Japan, or to just read to see what the fuss is about. You wont be dissapointed!

And to think my mother found both copies for 90 cents in a Salvation Army Store!!

This book is a necessity for any Buster Keaton fan or any fan of Hollywood history. It is well researched and absolutely fascinating.

This is a great book. I love to watch Keaton's movies with this to hand, it gives a whole new insight to the films. It is easy to read and it is interesting to see the sights of LA from the 20's. Sometimes it is sad to see that some of these locations are gone, where the building of freeways have necessitated the removal of whole city blocks. If I ever get to visit LA I know that this book will be going with me.

Years ago I purchased Civil War historian William A. Frassanito's excellent books "Gettysburg: A Journey in Time" and "Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day," which examine and compare historic and modern photographs of these famous battle sites. John Bengtson has done essentially the same thing for Hollywood using Keaton's films, and the result is nothing short of miraculous. Here are scenes of what used to be but are no more, resurrected with the benefit of Bengtson's keen eye, detective-like mind, and obsessive attention to detail. This is one heck of a fun book, and you'll spend many hours going over the photographs.

Amazingly, many of the scenic backdrops that Keaton used in his films still exist, and they serve today as nostalgic reminders of a relatively primitive and innocent time that has all but disappeared.

John Bengtson has done something so simple yet so essential to film history. If you live in LA the book will have a greater meaning. If not you can marvel at the almost film-archeological work Bengston has done in finding the exact places the great Buster Keaton filmed some of his best films.

This is a truly different kind of book. We get to see the locations that Buster made his films, and how they have changed through time. We also get to see how the author went about finding these places, a kind of historical research that takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.

This book is one that I automatically pick up when I'm not sure what I want to read, but want something interesting.

If there was a complaint, it would be that many of the pictures and some of the text is really too small. I have great eyesight, some of this is too hard for even me to see, and I know many people have a harder time with small text and pictures. Lay off of our eyesight, eh?


Still, a totally fascinating book. I can't get enough.

I purchased this as a gift and the recipient was thrilled with it. I did sneak a peak before giving it away and enjoyed it immencely.

A very well done book. Big glossy pictures of some of the greatest Baseball artifacts in America. Probably the closest I will get to seeing these in person.

As a lover of the old days of baseball (prior to the 1970's) , and with an interest in various types of artifacts pertaining to the old days, this book wonderfully broadened my horizons. The sections on baseball cards was especially fascinating for me as i do some collecting to add to some as i had as a kid (50's-60's).
would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the old days of baseball or collects baseball memorabilia.

Stephen Wong has created a drop-dead gorgeous look at some of the game's great artifacts, and many will be surprised to learn that they are not at the Baseball Hall of Fame nor even at the Smithsonian (despite the book's title). The game's artifacts extend way beyond the cards and gimcrack collectibles sold at the ballpark, and Wong has deftly toggled his focus from collectible to collector and back again, providing a memorable prose portrait of the lively game played off the field. I cannot recommend this brilliantly conceived book highly enough.

This beautiful book belongs in every baseball enthusiast's library, but it would be a mistake to keep it on the shelves. Author Stephen Wong has partnered with the Smithsonian to publish the most stunning book on baseball on the market. It deserves to be on your coffee table not only because of its wonderful photographs but also due to the wonderfully rich way he presents the history of the game. Wong gained remarkable access to the sport's foremost collectors, combing through hundreds of images and memorabilia items. The payoff is tremendous for anyone with an interest in baseball or, for that matter, in American history and culture. Readers will learn the essential facts about the game, and the fascinating tidbits, such as the origins of the curve ball. They then get to see remarkable shots, some most unusual - from folk art statues to Don Larsen's enshrined shoes from his perfect game to the bricks of former stadiums. In fact, this book should be placed in the Hall of Fame!

This book covers it all, from the beginning all the way to the end. A great read, couldn't put it down. Historical accurate and very touching, two thumbs up!

To my knowledge, no other comprehensive presentation of the Pacific theater brings home the chilling reality of the US Marine Corps island campaign as Strong Men Armed by Robert Leckie. It's all here: the frenzied horror of amphibious assault under massed fire, the slogging through sodden, malarial jungles, the hand-to-hand slugfest required to rid each island of an entrenched and implacable foe, and the truly uncommon selflessness that led to a multitude of Medal of Honor recipients.

Gaudalcanal, Bougainville, New Britain, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and other Pacific assaults are presented in detail from the perspective of enlisted and commissioned marines. Both infantry and air wing receive their due as Leckie is equally skilled at describing the Marine Corps aerial domination of the Japanese fighter and bomber.

I've read my fair share of WWII history and it is in awe and suspense that I ripped through this gritty, sometimes ghastly, yet ultimately inspirational book. Leckie's Strong Men Armed is a military masterpiece. I cannot offer a stronger recommendation. 5+ stars.

Robert Leckie's vivid account of WWll Marine Corps history is a must read for any military enthusiast. Reading this gripping tale of Leathernecks fighting their way through the steamy jungles of the far east isles with such distant names as; Guadacanal, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, will leave you with an unequvical respect for the valient men who sacrificed their lives for our country. As a former Marine I have a greater appreciation for the price that was paid in the Pacific Theater. This book will never let me forget the cost in blood and lives my beloved countrymen paid, so that we may have our freedom. Leckie's book memorializes our fighting Marines: Men like, Manila John Bastilone, Chesty Puller, Red Mike Edson, and countless others who,"went above and beyond the call of duty", for the love of our country, God, and Corps. STRONG MEN ARMED, should be read by every boot, NCO, and Commissioned Officer of the United States Marine Corps as a reminder of the heroic and gallant sacrifice our Marines paid for our way of life. May the Marine Corps live forever!

Robert Leckie is one of the best writers of history and this maybe his best work. This is a clear, concise, comprehensive account of the Island War in the Pacific. Clearly written, Leckie puts his reader into the picture while teaching, producing a potent combination of entertainment and learning. You can get hooked on history reading Leckie; I did as a teenager.

Robert Leckie lived many of these actions and his personal experiences makes the narration more real as the reader senses his feelings and experiences. However, this is a history not a personal account and we never get lead down the path of experience. This is the best account of the Island War ever written by a top-flight author.

An excellent overview of the US Marine Corps campaigns in the Pacific against the Japanese. The author conveys the intensity of the violence and difficulties faced by both the marines and the Japanese. I had not appreciated how tenuous the Guadalcanal campaign was and how close to disaster it came. Leckie also outlines the gradual shift of the Japanese attempts to defeat the marines (i.e. 'win') to a strategy of inflicting as many casualties as possible, knowing they would ultimately be defeated, in the hopes that the US would be forced to negotiate a peace settlement. As I read the book, I was struck by the similarities with the present anti-terrorist campaign in Iraq. They cannot win in a classic military sense, but are willing to carry on in the hope they will inflict as many casualties as possible, breaking the will of the US. Overall, an excellent read and a very good reference for anyone's library.
JM Garrick
Cdr USN (Ret)

Very good book and it has a lot of info that you need to know it has most the info I already knew but a very good book for someone who needs some Questions answered.

great service very fast delivery and acurate.

This book is everything that you ever needed to know about a sugar glider! I am thinking about buying a glider and after reading this book i still do. It will be difficult, especially since it is nocturnal, but i bet anyone who tries can.
This book says the nutritional needs and even a few mixes. It says EXCACTLY what you need if you're a new owner.

A very easy to follow book that indeed covers a large basis on what it means to care for sugar gliders. This book helps to combat some of the myths surrounding diet concerns and offers many wonderful pictures. Detailed and enjoyable to read.

There is some information in this book that is outdated, particularly the part dealing with Sugar Glider nutrition. We know a lot more about the nutritional needs of Sugar Gliders than we did when this book was published in 1997. For example, MacPherson suggests it is fine to feed cat food to Sugar Gliders. That idea has been debunked for some time.

It's an OK book to start with if you know absolutely nothing about Sugar Gliders. And it's only good because no new books with updated Sugar Glider information have been published recently. There is, however, a ton of solid, up-to-date information about Sugar Gliders available on the internet.

An engrossing, fast moving story of a 1st CAV warrant officers experiences mid 1967-1968. Tom does a great job of explaining the elements of helicopter flight and flying tactics. The year he experienced had a high degree of combat, frequently against NVA, rather than VC. He writes well, has a story to tell, and tells it well.

I've read some other helicopter pilot's stories who served in the same III Corps AO I did in 1967 (with an assault helicopter unit, but not as an air crewman). The intensity level written about here is yet another level above what we were experiencing pre-Tet.

Like all the warrants I remember, he saw himself as a pilot rather than an officer, and measured others by their piloting skills rather than their rank. We enlisted men loved them for that. Officers with real skills (not surprisingly, the minimum AFTQ score - equivalent to an IQ score - for a WOC was higher than for an officer candidate).

I think you'll find this book a real page turner.

For me as a Combat vet, Vietnam 1966-68 101st Airborne grunt. I thought the book was great. I don't often read books about Nam, but this looked like a must. It brought back a lot good memories and not so good as well.Only Vietnam vets will have a true understand of this fine book.The UH-1H (AKA) HUEY was the best Helicpter ever built and I we all loved to see Charlie model UH-1C and the AH-1G Gun Ships too. Frank Allen

I bought 'To The Limit' a few months ago and have now read it from cover to cover three times. I've read a lot of Viet Nam aviation books over the years and I always considered Robert Mason's 'Chickenhawk' the standard for the helicopter community. Tom has now raised the bar. 'To The Limit' has got to be the most laid-back, lucid and sensitive book I have read on the subject.
He has a down-to-earth style (must be the Georgia upbringing!)which doesn't need profanity (as another reviewer pointed out), an obvious concern for the aircraft, his crew and his 'customers, and a very honest appraisal of his inner feelings under what can only be described as the highest possible levels of combat-induced stress.
Definitely a five star book - if there where more available, he'd get them.

I'm a civilian helicopter instructor with about 1100 hours. I learned that the guys who flew in Vietnam did things on an almost daily basis that we could consider suicidal. This book will open your eyes to what is possible when lives are at stake, nobody cares about wrecking an expensive turbine-powered machine, and the crew are willing to get themselves killed to bail out some troops on the ground. That said, I don't think I am going to see if a Robinson R44 can chop down a stand of bamboo...

It is really incredible what soldiers were asked to do - every day. The author writes a very readable description of his experiences as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Even more amazing is that his story is clearly not unique.

I think that even people who are not war story history buff readers will enjoy this book as well as the aformentioned.

This book was read in like 6 hours, it is not a big book but i got to say that i was hooked from the 1st page to the last one !! Im a big metal fan, so for sure im a fan of Pantera & Dimebag and im happy to say i saw them live at least 5 times in the 90's. I will always remember that day when my friend called me at 6ham to give me the bad news, this book tells you everything about that day and more. Get it now !

I HAVE NOT READ A BOOK IN A LONG TIME THAT I LITERALLY COULD NOT PUT DOWN. I HAVE NOT READ A BOOK IN A LONG TIME THAT MADE ME CRY THAT HARD. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYONE THAT DIED THAT NIGHT....(GOD BLESS THEIR FAMILIES) AS WELL AS DIMEBAG. MY 15 YEAR OLD IS AN AVID GUITAR PLAYER AND THIS IS HIS HERO. I HAD TO READ IT BECAUSE THAT IS ALL WE EVER HEARD/AND STILL HEAR ABOUT IS DIMEBAG. WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY. I AM SO SADDENED THAT I CAN NEVER SEND MY SON TO ONE OF HIS CONCERTS. I BELIEVE HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON IN MY SON THOUGH BECAUSE HE PLAYS LIKE DIME VERY MUCH. HE OWNS 6 ELECTICS AND OF COURSE HAD TO GET A DEAN!!!!! THE ONE WE GOT HIM FOR XMAS WAS DIMEBAGS TRIBUTE GUITAR. AN AWESOME BOOK IS ALL I CAN SAY AND YOU JUST HAVE TO READ IT!!!!

The book jumps back and forth between Dime and the other people killed that night, so it is a little hard to follow. I enjoyed it, but was disappointed by the lack of biographical info on Dimebag.

Overall this was a very well researched project of a very disturbing tragedy. Getting to know the background of all involved put a name to the others besides Dime. I would have liked to see the same background info on Dime as many people do not know what a virtuoso he was, and how he attained his status. Some of the minutia got tedious at times, but it was a very interesting read.

The book has a dual thesis; one being the victim's lives and the second the nightclub rampage and police shooting. What I did not realize while reading the book is that the author did a splendid job of weaving Thompson's, Bray's, Halk's and Abbott's seemingly unintersecting lives into the tragic end. I felt this book was in-depth and gripping.

There is no shortage of research done by the author. He has credited numerous people for contributions of photos, interviews and documents. Given the subject matter, it may have been easy to invoke a morbid fascination from the reader for the sake of selling books but, he tastefully used hundreds of crime scene photos. He obviously established a repor with CPD Officer J. Neggemeyer as well as other investigators. He did a fine job of delving into the lives of the victims and articulated what good people they really were, which made the occurrence that much more disturbing and tragic.

I thought the book was accurate for the most part, save for a few mistakes in municipalities. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars was I felt that referring to Nathan Gale as "the beast" was childish. Although he slowly changed into a beast given his mental illness, changing the moniker does not change the fact that Gale was single-handedly responsible for immeasurable pain and damage.