Canada Books

Sing a New Song: Portraits of Canada's Crusading Bishops is a captivating blend of history, biography, and religion told through the lives of four charismatic B.C. Anglican bishops; men who fought (and are still fighting) for change not only within the church, but in society. As someone without a religious background, I found Julie Ferguson's story of the Anglican church, and those who've made a difference, an easy-to-follow, compelling read. This book changed my perception of religion as an institution permanently stuck in the past and oblivious to current social concerns. It was encouraging to learn that there are clergy who welcome all people to the Anglican church, and who want to make the world a better place without attaching blame or judgement in their quest. Thanks to Julie Ferguson's knowledge and passion for this topic, I enjoyed an informative and thought-provoking read.

Julie's book is everything one might think church history shouldn't be: exciting, thought-provoking, invigorating, heart-wrenching, beautiful, and true. One needn't be Anglican or even religious to come to a deep understanding and appreciation of the fight for human rights represented between the covers of this book.

Julie Ferguson's Sing a New Song is a great read. It is carefully researched and written in an entertaining and fast-paced style that pulls you along. For anyone interested in Canadian history, this book is a must. The issues tackled head-on by the four bishops are among the central social issues of our time, and the way they were handled by the bishops and their church helps to define us as Canadians. Ferguson has handled some controversial material with care and consideration for her readers, while remaining rigorous to the history. Strongly recommended!

As readable as it is exhaustively researched, Julie Ferguson's Sing a New Song: Portraits of Canada's Crusading Bishops gives us intimate portraits of four courageous church leaders who faced dissent and open opposition, even risking their careers, as they fought for equal rights and social justice. These are four men who were prepared to push the envelope, within their own Anglican faith, and in the wider society of their time. Sing a New Song is a book not just for Anglicans, but for people of all faiths, or for anyone who enjoys a lively and absorbing biography.

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend, and thought it was great. It's well organized, so readers can read it cover to cover, or just skim through for relevant sections. It's a must have for students in any type of program.

Finally a book with actual real tips and usefull info on how to lessen that debt load. I think that every high school student should have one of these along with their parents, it sure would make everyones life a little easier. I love all of the real life stories it made it alot easier to relate than some of the other how to books out there.

Sink or Swim, shows how to survive in life whether as a student or as an average-joe everyday worker, by making wise and responsible financial decisions. Sarah Deveau, uses both her experience as a University student, as well as someone who married young to demonstrate that it is possible to get a top-notch education without drowning in needless debt. Deveau's book is written in a practical and easy to understand format that is applicable to everyone, no matter what the situation. Sink or Swim is a must have for simple and effective budgeting and making responsible and tolerable fiscal decisions to better your life. Deveau's Sink or Swim is a pratical and easy approach to a difficult topic that is very prominent today for just about everyone, she provides useful and easy to understand tools to gain financial independance as well as a good credit rating.

A Great book filled with ideas on how to get through University or College without drowning in debt from student loans or other debts. Perfect gift for High School graduates - even better for Grade 11 students (time to prepare). Funny stories - real life circumstances make it easy to read and enjoyable. Timely advice from someone who has "been there" and "done it!". Sarah Deveau has a remarkable way of sharing insight on finances like no other - she's 24 and young enough to relate to her audience. Very, very good!!! Parents should buy this book to help their kids get through the expensive maze of post-secondary education.

Oliver Sack, MD called this book, "a remarkable account of what it means to be paralyzed, speechless, incapable of communication yet fully conscious... and to struggle back, over the years, to an active and creative life."
I was fascinated by this feminist film maker's candid account of her devastating stroke, and learning to live with disability after seeking out a variety of therapies. You see her struggle with depression, overcoming access barriers, dealing with insensitive hospital staff, and coping with the details of bodily disfunction.
It helps me to understand the experience from the inside view. Quite enlightening.

This book should be required reading for anyone in the field of rehabilitation. And it is a tremendously inspiring story for all of us who wonder how we could ever manage if we were struck with a disabling illness. If it were fiction it would be a great read. The fact that it's a true story gives one goosebumps as well. Bonnie Klein suffered a devastating stroke. This book is about her recovery - both physical and psychological - and the wonderful love and support she received from friends and family, especially from a wonderful husband. It also shows the predjudice and meanness of some people when they are faced with a person who is "different". And the ignorance and arrogance of some of the rehabilitation "professionals" she encountered along the way. It is a story of terror, hope, the tremendous importance of love and support, and how one finally comes to terms with being less facile physically than one used to be. Bonnie Klein is a hero. Her family and friends most loving and genuine. It is a great read.

Ms. Klein establishes important rules to live a fruitful, productive lifestyle, despite a chronic illness: Live life by celebrating life. Independence is control over one's own life measured by the quality of life sustained with whatever help is needed. Sometimes dispair can lead to depression. Sometimes, it can be motivating.

This is a great book! I have read a number of books written by stroke survivors and this is one of the best. This may well be because the book was completed several years after the event. This time gave Ms. Klein the chance to gather and refine her thoughts and experiences.

I am also a stroke survivor. Her acknowledgement that she experienced progress long after the stroke was especially encouraging to me. The medical world says that all progress stops in 3 months to a year. My experience is that the body is a living entity, which is forever changing. So, it makes sense that it would not stop changing because of any medical condition.

The book has humor and is written in a warm and caring context. I would recommend it not only for stoke survivors, but also for caretakers and for health professionals

Sparrows can and are difficult to identify at times, in particular if you live within the area of major migrations. This difficulty comes from the fact that there is a large difference, at times, between male, female, juveniles, molting stages, variations in plumage and even at times, confusion over calls and behavior. Add to this the fact that, for the most part, all these wonderful little winged creatures are about the same size and shape, and you have real problems.

I do not use this particular book as a field guide, i.e. one that I carry in my kit bag when I am in the bush. I have quite a number of other guides and no end to the pure junk I have stuck here and there. I have had to simply draw the line somewhere, our buy a mule to help me haul the stuff around. I use this book as a study reference to which I can compare my field notes, photographs and memory. The photographs in this one are not a numerous as in some other like volumes, and as has been pointed out, thee is quite a lot of test. This is the strong point of the book though. By specializing, the author has been able to give exact data on habitat, habits, feeding patterns, migration patterns and obscure little facts that are most helpful. I love the way the slight plumage variations have been addressed and noted. This can make all the difference in the world when fretting over a difficult to identify species.

The photograph quality is excellent and this volume does contain some of the clearest close up view of birds of any of the many books I do own. Sparrows and warblers have always been my bane, and I do appreciate this work as it has made my life and major hobby much easier and more enjoyable.

Recommend this one highly.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

This book is great for those having difficulty identifing sparrows or LBJ's (Little Brown Jobs). It has many actual pictures of each sparrows which shows the different variations from region to region, young to old, and from season to season.

In the winter time here in Virginia we get a number of differnt types of sparrows that migrate in. I love watching them but was having difficulty determining which types were which from just the regular field guides so I asked around and one of our local birders recommended this to me. Its terrific! The pictures of the birds are close-up - as if you were holding the bird or were sitting on the ground less than a foot away looking at the bird. This really helps when trying to distinguish the slight differences in colors or patterns. Each species has a chapter that strats out with measurements (size, weight etc) then there's a range map, and some text on habitat, then some text on behavior and voice/songs. There's writing about similar species, geographic variation, distribution (winter, breeding, migration periods), conservation status, and molt. There's also text descriptions for specific markings etc to hone in on, and discussion of hybrids if any. Then the chapter has pictures, of boys, girls, adults, juveniles, etc. Really a great book that has helped me a lot. I'd buy it again in a heart beat.

This edition has a lot of text in it, so it's not really geared towards field use. Yet, the pictures provided are really good. However, for an in-depth study of sparrows, it's an excellent source. Definitely recommended.

This delightful Wodehouse romp is a marvelous mixture of misunderstandings, long lost loves, schemes and impersonations that all resolve well after marvelous comic side trips along the way. The various subplots include an impoverished Lord who longs to escape his family estate and bossy eldest daughter to run a pub with the family cook. Unfortunately though he lacks the necessary two hundred pounds needed for this enterprise and is afraid that his rival and butler will manage to raise the funds and gain the cook's hand in marriage. Meanwhile in London an American millionaire heir is pining for the affections of a beautiful actress who scorns him as long as his father holds the purse strings. Added to this mix is a semi reformed burglar turned butler, a handsome, rich American agent and a missing stamp. Confused? Read the novel and all will be made clear in hilarious detail.

As always with a Wodehouse story this is a wonderful comic romp guaranteed to take the reader from where ever they are to that wonderful Wodehouse fantasy land where all Americans are rich, butlers have never superhuman powers (which they can use for either good or ill), and true love conquers all.

"Spring Fever" is a classic example of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable style, a story so convoluted in concoction that it actually works. The story begins when Stanwood Cobbold, a millionaire heir with a face like a hippo, is sent to London by his father to keep him from marrying a Hollywood actress. He is escorted by his valet and reformed thief, Augustus Robb, and his friend, Mike Cardinal, the Hollywood agent with the face of a Greek god. Throw into the mix Lord Shortlands, a destitute earl who longs for two hundred pounds so he can marry his cook, his daughter Teresa who wants nothing to do with Mike Cardinal, and his butler who also wants to marry the cook and will stop at nothing to woo her away from Lord Shortlands.

All of the troubles and concerns of these characters intertwine when Stanwood is meant to visit Lord Shortlands at his castle. However, his Hollywood paramour has just arrived in London, and he doesn't want to leave her. Mike Cardinal agrees to visit the castle pretending to be Stanwood so that he can woo Teresa, with her and her father the only ones in the know. But when Mervyn Spink (Lord Shortland's conniving butler) catches on, he springs a plot of pretense of his own involving the real Stanwood Cobbold. As the story progresses, more and more lies need to be told until the reader is uncertain as to how any of this can be wrapped up with all characters satisfied.

"Spring Fever" is a classic comic novel from P.G. Wodehouse. It is a time capsule of a particular era and a portrait of the strictures of British high (although a little cash-strapped) society. Its humor manages to transcend time and tradition, making Wodehouse's writing truly timeless.

This one-off novel, dating from 1948, follows just after a Jeeves novel, Joy in the Morning (1947), a Blandings saga, Full Moon (1947), and just before the excellent Uncle Dynamite (1948) and another Wooster, The Mating Season (1949). Arguably, it stems from the era of Wodehouse at the top of his form. Nevertheless, it seems to be pieced together from a musical comedy, with one of the longest and most unconvincing love scenes in his ouvre, a thin and unlikely plot, and the happy ending repeatedly dished so many times that the deus ex machina tie up seems almost anticlimactic when it comes.

Those would be major problems for most writers, but they are merely small oversights for Wodehouse, since this book yet contains some of his best sustained scenes and most quoted lines. Wodehouse liked it well enough to rehash it as The Old Reliable in 1951. It's almost a Blandings Castle novel, with Lord Shortlands instead of Emsworth, but with far more dialogue, as if written for the stage. Even after the main characters exit to the altar or registry, there are enough loose ends left to fill another novel, which likely suggested The Old Reliable. Not top drawer PGW, but a readable light novel just the same.

Written in P.G.W's inimitable style, Spring Fever has as its principle characters a young man who looks like a greek god and has brains too ( Note: Brains preferring to ignore gentlemen with drop-dead-handsome good looks), a girl with equally good looks but not so sharp a brain, another young man with neither the looks mentioned above nor the brains, also mentioned above, and a Lord, given to uttering sudden exclamations, and not so given to contributing intelligent ideas to any conversation involving himself. Add to this lot of players a daughter hell-bent on keeping her father, the afore mentioned Lord, in proper discipline, a dashing butler with a cunning mind, and a stamp collector husband and you get a simply riotous tale. This tale, as every Wodehouse tale, has his usual ingredients - engagements between 'ladies' and 'gentlemen' being solemnised in every other chapter and broken in the very next, an amazing array of problems being solved equally amazingly as yet another amazin array of P. comes up. Simply lovely. Wodehouse ranks right up there with the best.

This book is another example of coopers excellent writing style. His wonderful world where life depends on what side your on. A must read!!

As usual Ms. Cooper has outdone herself, stepping back into the artfully created world of her 'Time Master' trilogy. Going back into the recesses of history, she unveils some of the myth and legend of the time before the Lords of Chaos were displaced from their rulership. Good plot twists, excellent character development. If you found either of her previous Time Master trilogies interesting, this will be a must have series as well.

This book is the first volume to the 'Star shadow' trilogy which is a prequel to 'The time master' trilogy. I think the second and the third volume in the trilogy aren't yet available in the U.S.A. but I have the English edition and they are entitled: Eclipse (the second volume) and Moonset (the third volume). I give 10 to the entire trilogy because this volumes are also awesome. I think it's really interesting to read this trilogy before 'The time master' trilogy because you already have a background to the story and understand much better a lot of things. I think the story is very well structured and original and the characters aren't stereotyped. Chaos is ruling the world through the magi and the gods of order are exiled and can't reach the world, but there are people still loyal to the gods of order whom the magi call heretics. When the first magus dies, magus Vordegh becames first magus, but though he's a poweful sorcerer he's evil and insane and starts to take measures to erradicate the heretics that doesn't meet with a consensus among the magi... Iselia Darrow is loyal to the gods of order and was recently married to a man who's also loyal to her gods. She's captured by the chaos riders during a warp,(they don't know she's an heretic) and taken to the castle. Benetan Liss is the Captain of the chaos riders, he was captured when he was 12 and was betrothed to Iselia. When he discovers she's in the castle, feelings he didn't remember come back and he becomes divided between love and duty.... Louise Cooper's view of the eternal war between chaos and order is very interesting, and you get the idea that if the equilibrium of the world is to be maintained neither can rule forever!

I made the unfortunate mistake of thinking this book was a stand-alone; it isn't. This is the start of another series (likely a trilogy). Regardless, the book is very good in its own right and well worth the cost for a true Cooper fan.

Cooper sets up a very interesting set of characters, taking her usual cross-purposed individuals to new heights. Benetan Liss is the captain of the stormtroopers of Chaos' legions, yet he has numerous moral misgivings to the things he must do. Iselia, Benetan's one-time lover and now married to another man, is a staunch proponent of the now-demonized forces of Order, must hide her forbidden allegiance to those powers while she serves the historian Savrinor. Savrinor is the ultimate pragmatist -- to the extent that he keeps a near-literal "slate" of who owes him and who he owes. And of course, there are the extreme characters Cooper uses to polarize her undecided characters: Kaldar, Iselia's husband and mage of Order, and Vordegh, High Magus of Chaos, sadist, and murderously insane ruler of the mortal world.

At this stage, the Lords of Chaos and Order put in only minor appearances, unsurprisingly. Even though this is before the time period of The Time Master, Tarod seems to have a better-than-average grasp of the mind-set of humanity. The book is a very good lead-in to another series, one which should explain a good deal of the pre-Time Master mysteries. But unless you like waiting on a cliffhanger, you may want to wait until the rest of the series is in print.

This books haunts me, as I have worked on ships in the merchant marine and find this story completely believeable. An "accident" or a disappearance aboard ship would simply be forgotten or ignored. It is a different world aboard ship and the distance between the officers and unlicensed seamen is vast, add to that different nationalities of the various groups and it is amazing. I was once on a ship with facists, communists and social democrats. This is a good read.

Basing his fiction on real people and real events, Canadian novelist Hough enjoys the best of two worlds. He has the reporter's pleasure of research and nosiness, and the novelist's freedom to call on imagination to supply what's missing from the record.

His first novel, a fictionalized memoir, "The Final Confession of Mabel Stark," was a raucous, atmospheric portrait of a real female tiger trainer in the heyday of the big circus. His second couldn't be more different, except that it's also based on real people and real events.

Hough sticks closer to fact in this contemporary sea story, working from participant interviews and official documents. The harrowing tale, which many readers will remember from newspaper accounts, begins with two Romanian stowaways discovered aboard the container ship Maersk Dubai in March 1996. The Filipino bosun, Rodolfo Miguel, escorts them to the Taiwanese officers who argue briefly among themselves before reaching a decision that fills Rodolfo with horror.

What follows is a deliberate, detailed recreation of the Romanians' last moments. Though they share no common language with the Filipino crew or Taiwanese officers, understanding is not long in coming. "Rodolfo can see this understanding disfigure their faces and turn their skin the colour of ash. In a second, their hands are in the air, posed in a symbol of prayer, and they are pleading again, "Por favor, por favor, por favor...."

The captain has Rodolfo and his seamen lash together a flimsy raft and throw it overboard. "The younger stowaway refuses to move. His knees have fused, his hands have clamped to the knotted rope banister, his words have become a torrent." And when it's all over: "Rodolfo stands perfectly still, gaping not so much at the alacrity with which two men ceased to be, but at the impeccable ease with which evil appeared out of salty vapour, and claimed for itself the Maersk Dubai."

Intercut with the claustrophobic dread aboard the voyaging container ship, as the officers dispense small treats and bribes to the stunned crew, is the story of another young, desperate Romanian, Daniel Pacepa, as he makes his illegal way across Europe, towards a big ship and a stowaway passage to America.

Daniel's real-life counterpart refused to co-operate in the writing of this novel, so Hough has made his adventure a composite of numerous other Romanian emigrants' experiences, involving narrow escapes, the kindness of strangers, man's ordinary inhumanity to others less fortunate, lots of drinking and drugs and work where he can get it. But Daniel never comes across as a type; he's a lonely, hopeful, cunning and resourceful individual, a bit lost and out of his depth until he meets an older, bigger, drunker, more experienced companion, Gheorghe Mihoc (real name), in the drunk tank of a Bucharest jail.

As Daniel and Gheorghe hop trains, brawl, flee, go hungry, drink copious amounts of alcohol and work their way across Europe to that hub of illegal embarkation, Algeciras, Spain, the crewmen aboard the Maersk Dubai spiral down into an almost surreal life of fear, danger and mistrust.

The officers no longer bribe them with delicacies and promises of promotion. In most ports they are unable to leave the boat and when they do get leave fear keeps them silent. They are watched, and when they meet secretly it's more for the comfort of solidarity than any hope of planning action. Slowly the sense of urgency and horror ebb. The men just want to make it through the trip.

Things aboard the boat begin to break down. There's a carbon monoxide leak in the engine room, the lifeboat mechanism is malfunctioning, the emergency fire pumps are broken and the water sterilizers are faulty. The third engineer is forced to pump bilge into the ocean, an offense that could cost him his license. Despair and anger and defeat hang in the air they breathe.

But Daniel Pacepa and Gheorghe Mihoc are on a collision course with the Maersk Dubai. What happens when they come together is a tense tale of heroism, betrayal and mortal danger for all involved.

Hough, whose writing is effortlessly poetic and evocative, goes for the human component behind each action and inaction. While he never stints on the adventure and suspense, his primary focus is the human heart; what any individual is willing to live or not live with, and how the group dynamic and a man's social status (crew vs. officer, poverty vs. authority) affects this morality. If this seems reminiscent of Joseph Conrad, it is doubtless not an accident. Hough's sophomore effort resonates long after the last page is turned and I, for one, can't wait to see what he fastens on next.

the Stowaway is a wonderful read. From the beginning of the book
you are captivated by the story of refugees trying to stuggle.
The refugees come from Romania and the author recreates their
world with shattering and terrifying detail. Interspersed with
the stories of refugees's struggle to make it to the west, are
the stories of a group of Filipino sailors who work on a large
carrier that is crossing the ocean from Spain to North America.
The story of the sailors held less interest to me as I was often
confused by their nautical roles. I am just not one for stories
about the sea. But there is so much tension and terror in this
great novel, that when the two worlds collide, you don't know what will happen and you fear for the worst. For this reader
the stregth of the novel is the depiction of the wonderful Romanian stowaways. Anyone who is interested in the life of
an immigrant and the horrors of the eastern european world under
communism, will find this story fascinating.
As an extra treat, the author provides an excellent afterword
to the book which describes the process he carried through to
complete this book. It is insightful and very helpful to read about the true adventures of the characters he bases his book
on. I have very high regard for this author and this novel.
It is a very informative, exciting and strongly persuasive read.

Robert Hough's "Stowaway" is a great literary accomplishment. It combines two unlikely storylines,the crew of an Atlantic cargo freighter and the travels of a pair of Romanian immigrants, to form a compelling and emotional story. The internal conflict of the sailors is made very real and vivid by Hough, and the interaction between the characters through a language barrier is nothing short of ingenious.

My personal favorite element of the novel is Hough's description of the decimated social and political landscape of Romania and neighboring European countries. His words leave a lingering impression on the reader, and inspired me to learn more about the history of Romania under the brutal reign of Ceausescu.

Also, the author's use of the present-tense in his narrative is an unusual and refreshing change of pace from the status quo.

There is hardly any book for CRNE review , and sure this one is excellent.
we really need more of such books in areas like Obstetrics , psychiatry.

El libro esta muy completo, verdad que sip, con todo y los apartados de maquinas sincronas que lo hacen mas completo, God bless you!

Although old but this book is really one of the top books in the area of power system stabilization and control.
The book provides the principles of electrical machine modelling which are explained with many examples. The last chapter gives a brief idea of modeling of multi-machine systems.

This is the only good source where you can find a decent exposure to the dynamical modelling of the power systems, the details given in the book were very helpful to conduct my research. There are other books around but they are either incomplete or too detailed or a major pain.

The Subway Mouse is one of Barbara's newer books. Beautifully illustrated in clay, this book is sure to capture the attention of children while still being interesting for the parent as well. The story has small words so it would make a good reader for children. Barbara has several other childrens books out all of which are illustrated with clay. Can't wait to see what else she comes out with!

As a New Yorker, this book hits close to home. It is beautifully illustrated and the story is both courageous and sweet.

My mom bought me Barbara Reid books as a child, which I still have and will always cherish. All of Barbara's books are so vividly illustrated and well written. The Subway Mouse kept up her trend of wonderful children's books. It's great to see Barbara writing and illustrating more books. Keep it up Barbara! We love your work! =0)

The illustrations in this story are unique in form and inivite the reader to turn the book's pages. The richly textured illustrations make the author's words come alive in three dimensional effect. Children will enjoy the storytelling from the mouse's point of view of life on the subway track. The plot takes the protagonist on an adventure from the security of his mouse burrow to the uncertainity of "Tunnel's End". Each character he meets along the way is portrayed realistically through vivid dialogue exchanges and accompanying images. However, the overuse of simple and choppy dialogue clouds the plot line. As you read, the question "Will he make it to "Tunnel's End?" lingers in your mind and sustains interest.

This is perhaps one of the finest unit histories I have read. It is a fine tribute to the men of an incredible unit -- the First Special Service Force. There hasn't been a book on this unit in over 30 years, and this book certainly sets the record straight. Everything you want to know about the Force is here. Not only is it full of never before seen photgraphs of the Force, it includes comprenhensive information on how the unit was organized and fought. There is information and photographs detailing everything from the weapons used to the uniforms worn. The text is quite excellent, and includes detailed footnotes (which is unusual for a book of this sort.) This book will appeal to all those interested in the Force, special forces, and WWII in general. I hope to see more work like this from the author. This book is truly a treasure!

This is a book about the unit with which I served in World War II. It's the book for which veterans of the Force, like me, have been waiting since Robert Burhans wrote the first Force history in 1947. It's a true successor to Burhans because it contains none of the bombast,mistruths and basic errors of many other writings. Author Todd Ross, in his first book, has proven what a careful, conscientious,and honorable researcher he is, and the book amply demonstrates that. During World War II, there was no other elite unit as unique as the First Special Service Force, if one were to consider only the fact that its Combat Echelon contained trained soldiers from the Canadian Army. They served alongside their U. S. Army compatriots, wearing the same uniform, totally integrated. When I and a fellow Canadian Sergeant walked into our pyramidal tent in 5th Company, Second Regiment, we found two trained American volunteers awaiting our arrival.Within days, it was hard to tell American from Canadian as we learned to parachute together, laughed over trying to integrate basic drill commands and actions. In his text, Ross covers this uniqueness, before moving on to our weapons training, demolitions, mountain climbing, skiing, unarmed combat, the use of German weapons,and the range of other training elements, including development of the Weasel, the first truly effective over-the-snow vehicle. He follows our path into combat, with the dry run at Kiska when the Japanese left before we and others landed. Our sudden shift to Italy: fighting in the mountains leading to Cassino;our 98 days without relief at Anzio holding almost one quarter of the entire Beachhead;the road to Rome--the first Allied troops to enter the Eternal City in force, two days before Normandy; our role in leading the invasion of S. France; and the saddest day of all when the Force was disbanded in December, 1944, in S. France. This is an illustrated history, with photos by Robert Capa, famed WWII photographer, as well as many others; maps which give battle details, charts, reports,an extensive bibliography, and a host of color plates showing our uniforming and equipment. This is the best-appearing and most complete book on the Force ever published. As veterans who lived through the life of the Force, we have nothing but praise for it, and heartily recommend it to Amazon.com readers.

Having just received my copy of this book in the mail, I can't say that I've read through the entire text yet. But this is not necessarily the type of book that you plod through dutifully from the first to the last page in rigid sequence. After all, as one veteran of the First Special Service Force commented to me, this is a "coffee table" book. And, as with the best of that species (whatever the subject matter), it's meant to be savored slowly and appreciated over time!

Lavishly illustrated in both colour and black and white, it presents a fine visual record of almost every aspect of the First Special Service Force. Numerous contemporary photos are complemented by frequent carefully constructed plates which meticulously document more than half a century later the uniforms, equipment, and insignia of the Force. (The author, incidentally, is present in more than one, photographed wearing the typical "kit" of Forcemen from various periods of the unit's short but significant existence.) Maps show the major areas of operations, and are graphically clean and easily absorbed. An appendix at the end even corrects omissions made in a previously published list of all men who served with the Force.

While the illustrations immediately catch the eye, there is also a detailed and rigorously annotated text. A quick examination of the extensive bibliographic notes at the end of the book reveals an impressive depth and comprehensiveness of background research. That matches the overall production values of this large book, which is simply a pleasure to hold in your lap and and enjoy the more you browse through it.

Well done!

If only one word could be used to describe Todd Ross's book the Supercommando's, that word would have to be awesome! Ross's book is the most definitive work about the unit known as the 1st Special Service Force since Robert Burhan's book War History of the North Americans. The book contains many never seen before photographs of the force and is worth the price of the book alone. Maps are in vivid color, and are very easy to read and understand. The Force equipment and weapons are authentic and not cheap reproduction look a likes. A real highlight of the book is Ross's attention to detail and accuracy. Ross is to be commended for the outstanding layout of the book and its smooth transition from one point to the next. This book traces the force from its inception to its heartbreaking disbandment and shows the force for what it really was, a tough, daring, resouceful, highly specialized special force that had few equals in WWII. This book dispells the myth created by the highly entertaining but highly inaccurate movie the "Devils Brigade and the book by the same name, No Dirty Dozen here! This is a must have book for those interested in Special Forces, and military history. This book is a must have reference for the professor of military history and historians. This is not a book to be read once and then put away, this is a reference book to be used over and over again. If you have Robert Burhan's book and Ross's book the Supercommandos, you have the history, expolits and unparalleled view of the 1st Special Service Force. I salute Mr. Ross for a job well done!