New York Books

I just finished reading this book and I found it educating and interesting. The author was masterful enough to illustrate the zeitgeist of China in those times, to show how and why did the communist succeed, to show, what is so needed in these times too, that alternative always exists. Written from the standpoint of a Westerner is not a drawback but rather an advantage of the book as the author could take a step back and analytically dissect the reality. A must read for anyone interested in Chinese history.

After reading the Chinese version of CHINA SHAKES THE WORLD online in a Chinese BBS, I cannot helping borrowing myself an English copy from PSU library. A Chinese graduate student in the US, I am truly grateful that Belden faithfully and vividly recorded China's Civil War, which fundamentally shattered China's past and opened the way to modernization for her. As a school boy, I found the official history textbook unappetizing, and although I read a lot of books on the military aspects of China's Civil War, a lively and stunning description of class struggle and people's war has eluded me until I read this book.

Many of my peers regard the Communist version of Chinese Revolution as more or less propaganda. I'm going to recommend this book for anyone doubtful, and again I'd express my heartfelt gratitude to the author, who unbiasly portrayed and commented on a part of fate-deciding history for the Chinese people.

BTW, I'm buying myself a 2003 version of CHINA SHAKES THE WORLD on Amazon, as my 26th birthday gift. May genuine journalism live forever!

This book, deeply touched my heart, is so unique, yet deflected from mainstreet opinion in USA, although author tried not to be that way. So far, all you had know about Chinese Communist Party may not more than anti-human-right, uncivilized, insidious deadly manic. But, some of you may ever wondered, in very remote distance prehaps, how could them win Chinese civil war in 1940s, how could them defeat UN army in 1950s. by knowing some Korean War, you may also ask, how could CCP turned sloppiest old Chinese cowards into warriers.
Well, if you have those questions, you will find answers in this book, if you never doubt about mainstreet media and don't have any of those question, you may going to draw a whole new conclusion about CCP after reading this book.
If allows me please, I'll say this is the only book you will understand China in the past and present. Thanks to the author, a great unprejudiced reporter.

This is a really powerful book..... It is an account of China under the government of the Nationalist Chinese written by an American journalist who, in the end, fell under the spell of Mao's PLA not for ideological reasons-- but because of a personal affinity for the Chinese people.... who were suffering....

I was advised to read this book in college by a professor who claimed that "if you can read this book and not cry, then you don't have a heart." Certainly, Belden's account of how through Communism the Chinese people relieved themselves of some of the subjugation which a feudalish society compounded by Western imperialism subjected them to, graphically illustrates suffering.... murder, rape, and many other human vices.... in ways that few other books do.... and hints at WHY people (barring events of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution) can still respect Mao as a leader and a liberator of a nation....

I'd recommend this book to anyone.... if you can get a copy....

I have a feeling that this is a review that no one will ever read....

Focuses on the romance and idealism of the artist and his art rather than just functioning as a clinical review of his work... as of this review date (2001), new hardcover copies are still available from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Online Store. I've purchased two.

This is a portrait album of a sampling of Christian Dior's masterpieces shown in the 1996 New York Metropolitain Museum of Art's retrospective. Every garment is beautifully captured. The detail photographs are exceptional.
But this is more than just a picture book about the 11 years Dior designed under his own name. The text offers a balance of historical costume references that Dior used in his creations against the social and economic era he designed in. It is both interesting and informative--two words that usually don't co-exist in most fashion references.
As a coffee-table book, this is a must-have for fashion afficianados. For those who can visualize and appreciate the complexity of drape and construction in some of the garments, there is no excuse not to own this book

The photographs of Christian Dior's magnificent creations are breathtaking. But the writing is unbearably pretentious. Unfortunately, this characteristic is a hallmark of most academic writing. But get the book anyway. Dior was an artist, a seeker of Beauty, and we're all the richer for it.

This book is gorgeous--fabulous photography, lots of detailed shots (I love the way they concentrate on the dresses and don't feel obliged to get the manniquin's head in every shot)--glorious! Get this book now!

This book is about basketball and the way it is supposed to be played. True historical heros of the professional game and heros that didn't make it off the streets. This is the time of the NBA that is currently being referenced by analysts of today's game. An excellent read!

If you've ever played basketball you have to read this book and you'll love it. From Madison Square Garden and, especially. to the playgrounds. From Clyde and Willis to the "Goat" and the "Helicopter."

This has the greatest combination of the Knicks first Championship season and the best of the playground Legends and Players. It shows the good and the bad of basketball in New York. It describes some legendary games by some of New York's finest athletes like the "Hawk","Goat","Destroyer","Helicopter",etc. If you love the true game you should get this book. Much love to Earl "The Goat" Manigualt who past away last year.

Pete Axthelm has a handle on what makes basketball a wonderful sport, and why many of us are in love with it. He doesn't seem to know exactly what he wants to do with this book. Is he reporting on inner-city basketball heroes? On their gravity-defying dunks, or their lightning-quick handles? Or is he reporting on 1970, the year the Knicks won the NBA Championship. The two stories don't intertwin seemlessly as he would have them, and you are left feeling like you haven't been fulfilled on either of the stories in this book. I gave this book 4 stars based more on his obvious joy in writting it (which makes it very fun to read) than his actual skill in writting it. I would have been much happier buying two books as long as this one, one on inner-city basketball in New York City, and one on the Knicks Championship of 1970.

If you had a jar of cookies you wouldn't want to eat them all in one day! This book requires patient study over a longer period of time. I would suggest that you aquire other important books in the Tibetan tradition to cross reference this book and to offer more substantiative exegesis. This book is a must for anyone following the non-sectarian path. JB

I personally found this book to be very helpful in dispelling my own ignorance in many aspects of Dharma.
Sakya Pandita's straight forward teaching gives clear and precise view on practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sakya Pandita was one of five legendary founders of Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is highly recognized by all 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhssm, and he was an emanation of Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri.
Sakya Pandita clearly points of many traps that an ignorant practitioner can get into without understanding of all the aspects of Dharma and the consequences of breacing the vows even due to the simple unawareness.
Sakya Pandita's teaching is like a clear and powerful light and should be studied by all, interested in Dharma.
In this book,Sakya Pandita explains how an ordinary practitioner can really breach all of his vows and connections with Dharma by misinterpretting its meaning. He clearly warns of danger of teaching Dharma by unqualified person, he clarifies all possible confusions about 3 vehicles of Dharma and honestly warns us to humbly study Dharma without creating any false fabrications in our own minds...
Sakya Pandita points that with many benefits of practicing Dharma, comes the great responsibility. And if we will not become aware of those, we can easily slide into many traps of our own ego and grow in huge, and create even more ignorance than before by feeding it our own misinterpretation of Dharma.
Even now, after many centuries, this teaching was given by this great Teacher, the hair on my body stands as I read his clear and meaningful instructions.
It is sort of like a father instructs his children on how to avoid all possible dangers and traps while travelling by foot at night in the mountains...
The least we can do for ourselves now, that we are attempting to understand deep meaing of the Tibetan Buddhism is to simply read this book and try to comprehend its meaning.

This book is the first English translation of the "sDom gsum rab dbye"--one of the most famous and controversial doctrinal treatises of Tibetan Buddhism written by Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltshen (1182 - 1251), a founder of the Sakya school and one of the Tibet's most learned sages

The author discusses the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Tantric vows of Buddhist conduct, which often diverge and contradict each other. He also points out how later practitioners of almost every lineage (including the Kadampa, Kagyupa and Nyingmapa) for contradicting the original teachings of their own traditions.

A very good book which provides much food for thought. Anyone contemplating on the Tibetan Buddhism path should read this first.

This book is the first English translation of the "sDom gsum rab dbye"--one of the most famous and controversial doctrinal treatises of Tibetan Buddhism written by Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltshen (1182 - 1251), a founder of the Sakya school and one of the Tibet's most learned sages

The author discusses the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Tantric vows of Buddhist conduct, which often diverge and contradict each other. He also points out how later practitioners of almost every lineage (including the Kadampa, Kagyupa and Nyingmapa) for contradicting the original teachings of their own traditions.

A very good book which provides much food for thought. Anyone contemplating on the Tibetan Buddhism path should read this first.

It was a lucky crew that got this man for an officer!I can recommend this author and all of his books. Even if he was Navy.

Clear the Decks!

"Salty, irreverent, highly amusing" -- New York Times

"One of the best adventure tales of the war." -- Time Magazine

"A book you don't want to put down once you start reading it." -- Our Navy

"Clear The Decks... has an authentic, briny tang to it. And the climax, the tale of Admiral Gallery's brilliant capture of a German U-Boat, is breath-taking.... Anyone who wants to know the real reason why our Navy wins wars ought to read this book." -- Herman Wouk

"As an action-packed account of a baby flattop's campaign against U-boats in World War II, this is a corker. The author writes with warmth, understanding, clarity and rough humor." -- St. Louis Post Dispatch

"A good deal more than a series of belly-laughs." -- BOMC News

"You do not need to be a lover of the sea to enjoy this splendid and humorous." -- Columbus Dispatch

"A RIP-SNORTING ACCOUNT!" -- Los Angles Mirror

In the forward, the author remarks that this book will never be used as a textbook in any of the high-level military schools. This is a pity. It is easy to understand the successes achieved by Adm. Gallery's units throughout WWII, and while he is much more modest than other senior officers, there can be little doubt that he is the reason for all these victories. Not only is this a wonderful book for anyone who aspires to be a leader, but it is a tremendously amusing and well-written book.

A "must read" for anyone interested in the WWII carrier navy, R.Adm. Gallery relates the tedium of service in Iceland, the terror of being stalked by German U-boats in the North Atlantic, capped off with the true-adventure tale of his Carrier Task Group's *capture* of the German U-boat 505 (now on display in Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry) off the African coast. D.V. Gallery intersperses writing fit for an adventure novel with the facts of history from the "big seat" aboard the USS Guadalcanal - one of the "baby flat-tops" of the Second World War (probably the single most underrated warship of that war)

This book is amazing! It really does have it all. Murder, mystery, and damn funny as well! The story is very original and keeps you guessing throughout the entire book. It also has an amazing cast of characters. One of which is probably the craziest, and funniest character in any book i have ever read. This book is completely great, and everyone should read it!

Keith Gandal is a teacher,and a friend, but most importantly, a fresh, new, and exciting contemporary voice that has emerged from the events of the tail-end of the 20th century. The natural disasters, the unfinished, seemingly unconnected, human tendencies that we all share, and the need to communicate with someone, anyone: these are all themes that one will find in Keith's novel, Cleveland Anonymous.

When I finished reading this novel I thought it was great, but I knew there was more to it; there was a substance below the surface that hadn't hit me yet, which is why I waited a couple weeks to write this review. I wanted it to be from a non-biased POV; and it is. I don't really know what to say, so I will try my best. I thought that by denying a genre, by concentrating on story, not a literary mindframe, which there is way too much of in contemporary fiction, that Gandal approached real life as closely as one can possibly achieve in fiction. The characters were amazing; the dialogue was real; the scenes were perfectly drawn out, perfectly realized, completely truthful; and the prose was dream-like, even magical. The atmosphere that Gandal's has created in this novel is fantastic. When I read a novel I look for something different, something real. I look at a book as an experience; I look at it as a piece of culture that can not and should not be detached from it's place in the world. And when I finished reading Cleveland Anonymous I had a sense of closeness and sense of story and literary attachment to the characters that I have not experienced in any other contemporary novel that I have ever read.

This novel is a wonderful accomplishment, an amazing piece of art, or literary achievement. If a good novel is supposed to give the reader an experience that utilizes all the senses and makes them care about the characters, then Gandal has written one heck of a good book! His fictive world is original and inspiring from not only a writers perspective, but from a human perspective.

I don't want to tell you anything about the plot (I think reviews should deal more with other, more 'inputish' type things, you'll know the plot when you read it!), but I can say that this book moves!! It moves with speed, with grace, with purpose, so fear not. It is a concise piece of fiction, a collection of people that all seem to exist in this modern world of ours without the slightest hint or notion that the bigger things that they experience shape them and make them who they are. But this is special. Too often an author will tell you what you need to know, but Gandal lets you figure it out; he writes a book filled with people, realistic people who think, act, and react like you and I do. If nothing else, read this book for a good, fast story, but if you, like me, like to see a writer experiment with the lives we take for granted everyday, then there is something here for you too.

The list of people who may have inspired this book must be immense, but here are some ideas: Thomas Pynchon (same sense of magical realism [though that is more Gabriel Garcia], the same witty sense of humor), Flannery O'Conner (short, sweet, but emotion filled sentences), Cormac McCarthy (the use of imagery), amongst many others.

Please read this novel. It is a magnificent story, and I hope that this review has inspired someone to pick up Keith Gandal's first (but hopefully not only) novel, but if you don't read it, at least I can say (when this thing hits big) that I told you so!!! Happy reading!

Let's face it: If you're from Cleveland, you don't get no respect. No respect at all. And it mostly stems from the Cuyahoga (pronounced "Cuya-HOG-uh" you out-of-towner) River catching fire. (Well, *that* and our...sports teams.) It's the ultimate absurdity--a body of water catching fire--and therefore a good jumping off point for a stridently absurdist novel.

Gandal's novel delivers. It's the great absurdist Cleveland novel that I've been waiting to read for more years than I can count.

The best moment in the novel, for me anyway, takes place in New York. One of the Cleveland Anonymous members has been discovered with a one-way ticket back to Cleveland in his possession. The Clockwork Orange-esque method used to keep him from going back is an absolute scream.

...

The setting of this book shifts back and forth in place and time -- between Cleveland, Ohio in the 1960's and New York City in the late 1980's. It helps if you know something about one or both of those cities, otherwise you'll miss some of the inside jokes. But ultimately this book is not about Cleveland or New York (and I say that as a compliment). Ultimately this book is a love story, a relationship that actually doesn't even begin -- or resume? -- until the book is almost over. It's a mix of romance and friendship between a man who's not quite sure who he is or what he's about, and a woman who's essentially just the opposite -- or maybe she isn't. You'll have fun trying to figure it out. An amazing, original, and haunting love story.

It's also a murder mystery. And a suspense thriller. But if you're looking for something that reads like John Grisham, look elsewhere. Gandal is speaking to a more thoughtful, more profound audience. If I had to describe this book in one sentence, it would be: "This book is a cross between Fight Club (the book, not the movie) and the poems of Emily Dickinson."

If that's hard to imagine, then you'll just have to read the book. Cleveland Anonymous has the intensity, the directness, and the muscle of Fight Club (the book, not the movie). But Gandal's book also has an extraordinarily light touch with language. Over and over again Gandal taps you on the shoulder -- or gooses you in the rear -- with the precisely-right word, the perfect phrase. Like an Emily Dickinson poem.

This is the best novel I've read since . . . well, since Fight Club (the book, not the movie).

Don't miss it.

great fun read. you can sit down and read it in a day really. the story follows some dominican kids who sell the kilos of coke. it is written like a documentary but has a TON of feeling in it. POOR CHILLE!!!!

Great book about the life of 8 young kids in New York whom changes schools and books for sealing drugs.... It tells how they became dealers,families problems and issues of friendshipp.. even thougth the book is great it does not mention in any page how society tried to help them...because they did not get any help or encoragement... any solutions any where??? more programs in such areas would definately improve the way teeneagers chooses to live their life and make their family more aware of such situations..it is not too late. quite interesting..learned more about drugs than what I ever wanted to....

Pretty good book...

A story concerning the lifes of 8 kids deeply involved in cocaine trade in NYC during the 1980's. It is told from the point of view of an outsider looking in, which I would have rather seen it documented from the 'kids' view but what can you do? Bricks of coke, cut, re-rocked, packaged, street level retail, and all the nitty-gritty details involved with the process. If your looking for a book that tells the tale of the route of cocaine from the source, into the nose/arm of a user, and the people that make it happen. This book is for you, I am a sucker for this type of literature [drug-porn] so take my review with that in mind.

http://www.junkylife.com/seedless

That movie was based on this book. I know this is probably promoting illiteracy and the ills of television, but if you like independents it's a good one. I haven't read the book. I DO READ quie a bit, but was inspired to check out the book because of the movie. The movie meanders a bit, so be prepared. Sorry I havent read the book yet but when I do I'll come back and report on what I thought

I tell everyone I encounter they should read this book! Walker Smith's grasp on the characters and history warranted to tell this story is astounding. I still see the characters as if they are old friends and know you'll do the same. A must read!!!!

Walker Smith is a writer who understands the complexity of the human soul. Here is a writer who is not afraid to delve into the dark, even brutal side of humanity. And yet, this is not a novel of despair, but of hope, deeply rich in compassion and humor. Smith's characters are bold, audacious, frightened and flawed, as only a first-rate storyteller can create. If you care at all about the history of race relations in this country, if you care at all about the ongoing struggle for human dignity, or if you just have a passion for good storytelling-Read This Book!

This was an excellent book. I could not wait to get home from work to finish reading it every day. I usually only read true stories because no one can create a character that is so believable and real. Not until now, anyway. These characters were so real, that I felt like I was living back in their time. I felt like I had a personal relationship with each of them. Now that I finished the book, I'm bored with my life again!!! Does this author have any more books that I can order? What I want to know is why doesn't the whole world know about Walker Smith?

(...a new Walker Smith fan)

Smith's characters are formed in the first few chapters then expertly woven into a storyline which encompasses the inhumanity of man in war and in peace as well as the determination of a few
dreamers who must decide how high is the price of integrity. I didn't put it down 'till I was done. Thank God for weekends! An enjoyable read (that last line was for my mother who loathes the use of the word "read" as a noun. I just sent her this book. Happy Mothers Day Mom!)

A wild ride through the passionate and somehow dehumanizing scene of aspiring actors circa 1970's. O'Connor has a real knack for creating flesh and blood characters. The story provokes some hard to answer questions. Idealism in a practical world. Duty to art and its toll on human kindness. The lure of and addiction to pain and suffering. Looking forward to O'Connor's next probe. Highly recommemded.

I became engrossed in this book from the minute I started reading it. Ms.O'Connor has that uncanny knack of being able to write insightfully about both men and women, and as I grew to know them intimately and experience their emotions and passions, I found myself deeply rooting for each of them. Their attitudes towards the theatre and towards each other kept growing and changing -- always with a wit underneath that was enormously appealing. I felt as if I had spent many hours with friends I cared about. I hated finishing this book...

Company of Three is a moving, funny, wise story of acting and the 70's that is itself a work of art. It is an inside look that is both illuminating and that tells the truth.

A Company of Three kept me reading non-stop until the end. The beauty of O'Connor's writing in this tightly knit story draws the reader into the lives of the three young and aspiring actors, who each try to live their passion and struggle to find their way within a complex and tough New York acting world with its own rules and chances. O'Connor's love for acting and her inside knowledge of the acting scene shines through in every sentence. I highly recommend this wonderful book.

This is an outstanding book for understanding why the US military has such problems with confronting insurgency. Counterinsurgency is never easy, but the US has proved monumentally incompetent across generations of command. The book's thesis is that bad counterinsurgency doctrine made a successful intervention in Vietnam impossible, and that the conflict was lost as soon as it began.

The most crucial misconception is that there is no such thing as an organic, self developed insurgency. Insurgency was seen as the policy of a foreign nation seeking to intervene within a country, likely as a prelude to invasion. Insurgencies were dependent on foreign support for supplies, bases and command. Combatting an insurgency required severing the link between the foreign support and the insurgents.

Related to this was a belief that light military pressure, or even just the presence of US forces could compel the withdrawl of insurgent support, because such a presence would signify US resolve to oppose an invasion or intervention.

The application of this logic led to a dynamic where the US pressured North Vietnam in retaliation for VC attacks. North Vietnam interpreted that pressure not as a response to it's own policies but as a direct attack upon it's existence. Consequently it increased rather then decreased supplies and support for the VC, ultimately sending not just supplies but regular troops. In essence the US created exactly the scenario it's policies were intended to prevent.

That this is happening again in Iraq and Iran suggests too few people in command read this book.

I had the great privilege of taking many of Dr. Cable's classes while I was at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Dr. Cable is a true gift to the historical field. His courses were difficult, but his amazing story-telling ability shines both in class and in both of his books (conflict of myths and unholy grail). While reading his books, I can actually still hear his delivery and cadence. As we go further into a time when local squabbles and terrorists will engage the attention of our foreign policy, his writings and experiences are all the more appropriate.

Dr. Larry Cable's experience and intellectual appraisal for the counterinsurgency role of the U.S. armed forces in Southeast Asia are placed into perspective. While not completely supporting all U.S. activities regarding the reduction of irregular forces, Cable examines the reality on the ground that was the wake-up call for American military leaders in Vietnam. An extremely effective and important book that should be read as much for the intellectual value as the historical value.

This book analyzes how the US came to adopt the policy of using conventional tactics to fight the insurgency in Vietnam. It provides a great analysis of the American way of conducting war and gives examples of attempts to fight the war in other means. Author has/had first hand knowledge of what was going on behind the scenes in the 60's. This book is required reading at many military schools which realize our past failures and are trying to teach current military personnel how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.