O Books

Hitler's Prisoners offers great insights into the horrors of the Nazi regime's "other victims." Caught in Hitler's unthinkable plan to rule over Europe, seven German cell mates tell their stories of how a once ordinary life can become a twisted nightmare in an inescapable Nazi Prison. It is definately a war story of another kind. I highly recommend this book.

This is truly an amazing account of the hardships the average man and woman faced in Nazi Germany. This book is intriquing and a must read for anyone interested in a real life historical account of Germany during World War II. I strongly recommend this book.

Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. I was shocked by the plight of Erich Friedrich and his cell mates. A fascinating and intriguing real life story and account of the "Other" side of Germany that we so rarely hear about. I strongly recommend this book. For other readers please let me know of any other books similar to this one.

Thanks

Persons interested in the rise of Nazism and World War II, who have read the general histories of the era will appreciate these personal stories by citizens who lived in Germany at the time. "Hitler's Prisoners," told by Erich Friedrich (edited by his daughter Renate)about his imprisonment for criticizing Hermann Goering and aspects of the war, also is the story of six others who defied or offended the regime in various ways. None were Jews or committed Nazis: Franz's "crime" was that as a Jehovah's Witness he opposed war; Fritz was a socialist, Gerhard an aristocrat, Alex a dilettante. Willi deserted from the Wehrmacht, so there may be some justification for his fate, but
Richard's chapter is titled The "Good German." All the men experienced the pre-World War I years and the political, social and economic unrest that spawned Hitler's rise and Germany's militaristic conquest of Europe and Russia. These true accounts, from notes kept by the author, are written in the form of a novel: each man in turn tells the story of his life as he awaits trial and sentencing - usually execution. The author is last to tell of his upbringing in Thuringia, campaign service and wounding on the Russian front, and harrowing return to Germany, where he was subsequently arrested and imprisoned until July 1944. After the war's end, Friedrich was employed as a detective and civil servant, before moving to Virginia with his wife to live with their daughter's family. A must read for understanding the gradual eroding of law, justice and civility in the Germany of 1933-45.

Having grown up in Germany during the Third Reich - I was nine when World War II ended- I have read obsessively about this subject. The question, " How did it happen"? has perhaps no answer. But this book offers a salutary counterbalance to Goldhagen's one-sided "Hitler's Willing Executioners." How many of us would follow our conscience into such a prison as Franzl, the Jehova's Witness and Conscientious Objector, Fritz Römer, the Socialist, or Erich Friedrich, the author, endured for their convictions? Friedrich was arrested for not giving the Nazi salute, and for making disparaging remarks about Hermann Goering. The government acted legally, because what these prisoners did was against German law at that time. This book shows the American reader, who has no personal experience of a totalitarian regime, what it means to resist such a government.

What a book! It is so easy to read and understand. I wish this book was around when I was going for my BSME. It is a great reference book that all designers should have on their shelves.

This book is so interesting to browse through. As a mechanical engineer I really appreciate it, and it comes in handy for getting ideas. Great illustrations and descriptions! I highly recommend it.

As the title states, "Mechanical Components" is what this book is all about. This book contains a wealth of information for anyone in the engineering, machinery design, or troubleshooting arenas. It is not only limited to the aforementioned users but also to the home user who wishes to make repairs to home, car, boat, etc. At just under 7 pounds and 3 inches thick, this is a massive manual to read through any specific areas of interest or to simply use as a reference when needed. The reader will find many graphs, illustrations, and explanations for almost every type of mechanical component, sub-assembly, and individual parts in this book. Typical uses of parts as well as unconventional ideas are thoroughly detailed. This is not a book for anyone seeking information or ideas for "mechanical movements", but it will greatly supplement any other mechanical reference books you may have in your library. Before reading only 2 pages of the book, I had no idea how many ingenious uses that a simple flat washer could be applied to!

I am a farmer who enjoys making machinery. I design my contraptions on paper, then using a CAD program to refine the designs. Having no training in engineering I am frequently using references such as "Machinery's Handbook" and "Moving The Earth" and "Mark's Standard handbook of Mechanical Engineering" and others.
I have to say, that Parmley's book is a treasure trove of information, with heaps of unusual ideas for common compnents such as O-rings, rubber balls, pipe connections, washers and many others, plus hard information about more complex components such as gearboxes, cams, governors etc etc.
This is a big book, with many pages (numbering within each section only), lovely clear diagrams, and enough but not too many tables, formulae and specifications. It can be browsed cover to cover, (as I am doing for the 2nd or 3rd time), open a page at random and be fascinated, or look up specific topics in the excellent index.
I have read the other reviews on this book, and clearly it is a valuable rescource to professionals. I can tell you that it is also a fantastic mine of information to the interested amateur.

This volume contains the most comprehensive list of mechanical components and variations on any given theme that I've seen in one place. Additionally there are significant extensions to computation methods and overviews not found elsewhere. It is an extremely high value book.

My knowledge of Oracle and Java is beginner/intermediate level and I like this book a lot.

The book explains how SQLJ relates to SQL, PL/SQL, Java, JDBC and it provides a good introduction to the JDeveloper IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

The book is written very clearly and the appearance and organization of the text is well up to the O'Reilly standard.
I can't comment on the worked examples yet as I have not yet tried them out.

This is just an easy read with good code examples. It is geared toward the intermediate or beginner programmer, and presents clear explanation for easy understanding.

This is an outstanding book. SQLJ is a simpler way of embedding SQL statements in a Java programming, and is possibly the successor to PL/SQL.

I liked this book because it covers SQLJ programming, as well as:
1. Oracle SQL.
2. Oracle PL/SQL.
3. Oracle JDeveloper.
4. Developing J2EE components for the Oracle9i Application server (9iAS) such as EJB, servlets and JSP.
5. Java stored procedures.

I liked the author's writing style: it is clear and to the point. I found it very easy to read, and was able to follow the examples in the book and apply them to my own programs.

I highly recommend this great little book!

This is a great book if you are interested in building J2EE applications and want to link to an Oracle database but don't want to learn the complicated JDBC API. It isn't an 'intro to programming' book like so many out there; it is, however, perfect for object-oriented programmers who are wanting to learn java with a quikness. Finally, a great SQLJ book has emerged!

I found this book to be concise, to the point, and very readable. A large amount of material was well presented in a relatively small amount of space. And the examples worked as advertised.

I found myself incorporating the material presented into my work before I finished reading the book.

An excellent resource.

Several others have stated that this is a great beginners book and yes, if you have some knowledge of metal and how to manipulate it or are just inituitive with tools and metal. That being said, I would classify it as a beginner to intermediate level jewelry design book that is very handy and has helped me when selecting the appropriate tools when I started out working with metal in 2006.

The author first goes over the basic tools required and he knows how costly jewelry making tools can be. So the recommendations are sound and worthy to follow for the beginner. The "Getting Started" section is followed by various lessons to properly learn followed by one or more projects to make utilizing these lessons. Some lessons/projects build upon others, while some are stand alone. Each lesson and project have enough written information with appropriate images (color photos) to help when YOU are doing it for yourself. It would have been nice to have this book in a spirally-bound binding. I do feel that if you master each lesson in this book, you are definitely well on your way to becoming an expert in jewelry making for the confidence you can gain from this books organization is that strong. This type of organization is just like having an instructor working with you.
The DESIGN section (only a few pages, unfortunately, in the first section of the book) give you sound suggestions when you are in the process of developing/designing your own pieces. Unfortunately there is NO information on the safety issues involved (I am big on safety...too much training in my former careers - but necessary) and that is a big mark against this book - hence 4 stars.

I believe the book's best quotes to sum up how I feel about it is: "We learn by doing!....Always practice on base metals first before turning to precious metals to make your final jewelry piece." (page 21) This is how the book is organized and for those that cannot find a local instructor, use this book.

As a beginner you must have this book. I bought it while taking a Jewelry I class. My classmates were totaly amazed at what I could do. They all started searching for their own copy. I found this book so helpful with techniques and tools, terms and meanings. It covers all the projects that a beginner would take in a class. I also own a copy of Tim McCreight's "The Complete Metalsmith." The small book. It's all that I have needed since I began. I've already made a handful of projects already. See my Pink Tourmaline ring in the user photos above. This book will never be a waste of time and money.

I pour over this book again and again and I learn something new each time. The projects are really good and I'm much more inspired to work with wire since I bought this.

If you've been a little hesitant about branching into metal work, this is just the tool to boost your confidence. I took a metalsmithing class 2 years ago with every intention of getting started right after the class was over. Didn't happen. Was petrified about investing the effort until I found this book in a craft store a few months ago. This book explains procedures so well and the projects seem so "possible" that I have already purchased or made most of the tools, purchased the precious metals and have my uncle making me a bench. The explanations and photos are clear and easy to understand. The only (and it is the only one) thing that could improve the book is a conversion of mm to gauge.

A very nice book with relatively simple metalworking techniques that have been well photographed and explained. A pretty good primer for anyone that is interested in true metalsmithing. The projects are easy to follow and are useful. Overall a good read.

This book about a Roman Catholic monk, Mark Gruber, and his extra-ordinary journey from the green fields of the U.S. to the deserts of Egypt is just breathtaking. As a member of the Coptic Orthodox church, and of Egyptian stock, i simply found Mr Gruber's plain and truthful telling of his experiance just so refreshing. It's funny, this man spoke more wonderfully about the Coptic people then most people at my church think of themselves. He showed them for their weaknesses, and their strengths, just as he saw it. It has helped me to appreciate who I am, my background, and my traditions so much more.

This book is great if you enjoy stories regarding exotic lands and peoples, and an honest telling of their journey.

The comtemplative monk is a baffling figure to Westerners, even to many Catholics, and moreover, most Westerners probably do not think very much of the Christians in Egypt, which we tend to think of as a wholly Muslim nation.

Fr. Gruber's evocative descriptions of Coptic monasticism and spirituality beautifully illustrate how inner conversion and contemplation are the heart of the Church. In the West we often hear an emphasis on practical action, or social justice, over and above contemplative prayer. Fr. Gruber's writings about the Copts show how contemplative prayer nurtures us and gives life to all our actions. It is a great window into a neglected and persecuted Christian population, and an inspiration for our daily lives and relationship with God.

This memoir of the year that Fr. Gruber spent among the Coptic monasteries of Egypt is fascinating. Fr. Gruber lovingly describes these men and their piety, along with the phenomenal faith of the Coptic lay people. There appears to be a direct line back to the conferences of John Cassian in the lives of these monks, but that perhaps is because Fr. Gruber has crafted the chapters in such a way to invite the comparison. But maybe not. These men live lives of remarkable holiness. I loved the image of people grabbing them by the ankle and holding on till the monk will bless them. I also loved the hike in 130 degree heat, and realization that the cave he has been brought to, and in which he spends the next three days, probably saves his life, in that it is much cooler than the monastery, nothing is swimming in the drinking water, etc. At any rate, I highly recommend this book. I do agree with the review that states this treats more of his exterior life than interior, but why should he discuss his private life with us. Also, there is another book (can't recall the author) called "Coptic Nuns" that makes a nice companion to this book, in terms of knowing more about the culture.

I just finished this book and absolutely loved it. It thrills me to see someone who is not Coptic, slowly develop a deep since of your mindset and feelings. The monks must have truly accepted the author to share so much with him and in turn, the author poetically describes everything to the reader.

For anyone that is curious about us (the Copts) and our religion, this book is a wonderful introduction. It capture a very true sense of who we are, what we believe, and how we worship God. I can't thank the author enough for bringing to light, this hidden treasures of my culture.

I don't know which was more interesting, the author's anthropological observations or his spiritual journey. Both fascinating and enlightening. Originally, Br. Gruber sets out to study the fathers of monasticism with a scholar's eye (albeit a fellow Monk-scholar), but the desert and those who live there transform him eternally.

This book is a fresh drink of water! Here are my favorite passages:

"In all of this," Abuna Elia said, "the desert was a teacher for Abraham. The desert teaches us how helpless we are, how much we depend upon one another for survival. It is with a complete sense of dependence, a complete sense of helplessness that we must approach God, and that we must approach one another in terms of possessiveness and control."

"By complete openness and availability to one another, we are obedient to each other in matters of charity. We are at each other's service.... But at the same time... our relationships must be ordered by a surrender, a letting go, a sacrifice. We own no one; we possess no one."

"Abuna Elia assured me that the sacrifices we make in our lives as Monks, as Christians, will always be enfolded in layer upon layer of the sacrifices that went before us."

"Abuna Elia said, 'When God asks us to make heroic sacrifices, it is not because he is heedless of what we are giving up; he is profoundly aware of it. When we are offering gifts to God, we are not really offering much, unless, at the same time, we are also submitting all those things that are valuable to us. We must submit to God's will everything which is dearest to us, that which is our only one of something, that which we love, that which is even beyond our ordinary capacity to imagine losing. Otherwise, all of our prayers and protestations of fidelity are somewhat strategic and not genuine or sincere." pp42-43


Later, during a time of pilgrim visits, the author is left with the small children to care for. He builds a fire and answers their endless questions about heaven, about "what it is like to see Jesus there," about Mary, about who God is. Night falls and the children keep talking until they fall asleep by the fire.

"So there I was, sitting by the dying fire, with all of these sleeping children around me. I looked at them in the starlight and the moonlight and was touched by the fact that they are so filled with faith so innocently seeking God. This is the second time since coming here to Egypt that I have found myself in exactly the same setting, surrounded by young people asking questions and listening to answers, tiring themselves out into exhaustion and sleep. And, just as before, there is once again that stabbing realization that none of these are my children, that I shall never have children such as these to instruct and teach."

"I looked up at the sky on this beauiful, clear desert night. I thought to myself that I had never seen such an array of stars, so numerous and so bright. Then, of course, at this moment, the passage from the Book of Genesis came to mind where God said to Abraham, 'Look up into the night sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so shall your descendants be' (cf. Genesis 15:5). So there I was sitting, looking up at the night sky, knowing how impossible it is in the desert night to count the stars. And even while I was feeling the special poignancy of not having children, I suddenly realized that these children all around me are not only children of Abraham, but they are also mine as well. For I have instructed them in faith, and I have given them tonight a greater realization of their own religion, their own spirituality. I have placed them confidently in the presence of God." pp 84-85

Very amusing, particularly to Brits. Purchased as a gag gift for a British ex-pat returning home to the UK for a trip.

I love this book! I'm a big Britcom fan and can now get a lot more laughs out of my favorite shows.

This little book, which crams an enormous amount of information, both practical and interesting, should be in every Amnerican's pocket before they leave for the UK. I learned more from it than from several larger books put together. It even explains cricket, that baffling sport! I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page, and while I wasn't going to travel to Wales or Scotland to practice those versions of Gaelic, it is contained within should you wish to. A most superior book, and entertainingly written besides. Enjoy!

This book is great. It's tiny, easily hidden, extremely funny, and you can make British people laugh with it. Really! Even Brits find it fun to read... "Oh, so THAT'S what they mean on those American programs on the telly. I was wondering."

I read this little book before setting out to Scotland for a year. What a great thing to do! I was more prepared than many of the people I was traveling with to deal with the idiosyncracies of Brit-speak. I especially love the foreign language section in the back... you don't really need it, since everyone speaks English, but it's fun to whip out something in Gaelic and see how many people understand (answer: not many).

I highly recommend this book, if only for its entertainment value. You won't regret it! I'm even able to watch the BBC now!

Lonely Planet's "British Phrasebook" is a great introduction to the British way of life and speaking for foreigners. Whether you are an American going to visit the British Isles, or a person studying English as a foreign language this can be a good guide and reading supplement. Traditionally to Lonely Planet phrasebooks, this one gives you a short and easy-read introduction to the origin and modern state of English. Then follow the sections dealing with British English and regional languages.

The section on British English is, again traditionally, an introduction to the language through British culture, institutions, traditions and way of life. Some chapters open with humorous sketches by S. Hughes that will make you laugh out loud. You will learn how to greet people, how to talk over the phone, how to find your way in the world of slang and cockney (not being a thorough textbook or dictionary of these), how to brace yourself with the features of British pronunciation (not being a course on phonetics), how to tell a British word or expression from an American (not being a British-American dictionary), how to address the Queen or peers (without making you bored with the detailed description of the aristocratic history). But most of the contents are not even the lists of typically British words and expressions. It is an interesting, sometimes funny, sometimes witty, often highly informative yet brief description of British culture (music, sports, food, drink, housing, etc.) and institutions (political, educational, etc.), as well as of ways of travelling, spending your free time and free money. If you need to know the names of high-street shops or intend to watch a report from some cricket match, think of driving a car or going on a train journey, want to read a paper and know what's meant and what's not - "British Phrasebook" is one way of helping you survive in Britain.

The regional section tells you about regional accents and dialects of English with some examples. It also deals with Scottish Gaelic and Welsh. Here (in the last two chapters) there is a true phrasebook letting you say a lot of useful things in the native tongues of Scotland and Wales. Practical transcription enables you to pronounce sometimes quirky letter-combinations of these Celtic languages.

Written in a simple language and entertaining manner, while being very informative "British Phrasebook" is nearly a must-have on your next trip to the Isles and will certainly be your good companion, which will easily fit in a pocket.

This is a very cool book, chock full of wild and creative illustrations. A quick, but fun read.

Reading this book, I felt like I could see the movie in my mind. The vivid descriptions and word play are incredible. The book is filled with awesome illustrations to accompany the equality descriptive words. This futuristic adventure is mildly paranoid while still touching on enough reality to make you think. It is almost like a cousin to a comic book. It was incredibly well written and engaging. I highly recommend this book.

Similar to Jack Kerouac's seminal beat novel On the Road, Montauk Babies is the story of Al Leedskalnin and quantum physicist Peabody Freeman, who are traveling across country in 2011 in a '73 Buick Riviera, on a mission to keep time-space from imploding in on itself.

The title comes from the 1930s secret government experiments in invisibility, time travel, and mind control, when Nikola Tesla and several other physicists undertook experiments in multiple realities, eventually creating a "time tunnel" between 1943 and Montauk Island of 1983. According to the story, Leedskalnin was a subject of the Montauk experiments and is thus acutely aware of how these interdimensional gaps threaten to destroy humanity. And only a "Montauk baby" is spiritually equipped to save the earth.

Montauk Babies could loosely be called a graphic novel because of its lavish illustrations, though the narrative is in text form, albeit printed, at times, on the horizontal and even upside down, in a font that is nigh impossible to read clearly. While this may echo the plot conceit of a world falling apart and of events dislocated in time, it is also downright impossible to read.

Even with this in mind, Montauk Babies is an entertaining and provocative read, of interest to science fiction buffs, conspiracists, and comic-book lovers.
[...]

This is a really well done graphic novel. The story is exciting and keeps you glued from beginning to end and the beautiful color illustrations are unlike anything I have seen in other graphic novels.

Great read and cool art. This book is really unique. Lots and lots of depth to these characters. I can really see this being made into a movie. I'll be the first in line. Best graphic novel to date that I've come across.

Mr. Stone has a sincere respect for God and His personal/descriptive Names in the OT and NT. Since it was written in 1944, much new manuscript information has come to light. For example, the personal Name of God has been found to be Yahweh by most Christian scholars. Jehovah has been determined to be incorrect, being formed by adding the Vowel points of Adonai to the Tetragrammaton, YHWH. This was done to keep from offending the traditionalist Jews who thought it too sacred to pronounce, and even the newest Bible translations use LORD in place of the personal Name of God, YHWH (Yahweh). Since LORD is a title, and not a name, I believe that we should use our God's real personal Name Yahweh in our translations and in our prayers.

I used this book when I taught an, "I Am Woman" class.

IT IS THE VERY GOOD BOOK FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE. I BOUGHT THEM FOR MY FRIENDS. MANY THANKS. KEEP THE GOOD WORK.

This is a great book. God really taught me a lot through reading it. You really get a good sense of how the order in which the names of God were revealed is so important, as well as the historic events that acompanied each revelation. This book gave me a much better education in the names of God than I have ever recieved in a sermon or anything else. I hope you enjoy it too!

This book was recommended by our minister during a Bible Study class. I bought it from Amazon, and received it promptly. Good transaction.
Anyway, this book describes in detail the meanings and nuances of the other names that are translated in the Bible as 'God' or 'Lord'. Each word in the original Hebrew or Greek describes the very nature of GOD, ie, His personality.
PS. There is a doctrine that is referred to in this book that is taught and taken for granted by most (ie, Catholic and Protestant churches), but that does not fit in with the doctrines of the Church of God that are written of throughout the NT, and especially the book of Acts. The book of Acts describes the very beginnings of the Church right after Christ died. Nevertheless, all in all, besides sounding somewhat pious at times, this book is very good. It is of benefit especially to those who really want to get to know God, ie, Who He really is and His relationship with human beings.

I received a copy of this novel from the author while standing in Rockefeller Center with the rest of the world who wished to show their signs on the Today Show. I was travelling on business and found the book to be perfect for my purposes. Lots of action broken up into three minute or so reads. It was easy to pick up and put down, and it always kept my attention. I would describe the book as a cross between Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy (without an overwhelming amount of technical jargon). It is a great escape.

I purchased this book from the author at a bookfair here in
Indianapolis and am amazed at the topic of the book and
the current WTC attacks.

Many parts of the book included sections that would match
what is happening in the headlines today and found that very
interesting.

Particularly liked the ending regarding the ocean (won't say
much more since it'll give some of the book away). Didn't know
that could happened and found it very interesting reading.

If you want a thriller that keeps you reading and makes you bite your nails, this is it! Craig Thompson's book has all the classic elements including engaging good guys, very nasty bad guys and some serious threats along the way. His writing style is very readable and the plot is all too plausible given today's world.

Well worth the time to read... and reread! Tom Clancy, move over... this guy knows his stuff!

Craig Thompson's Omar is a suspenseful and thrilling novel of escalating global terrorism. When a priceless book is found 2077 fathoms under the North Atlantic Ice Barrier, the CIA/FBI, a private billionaire oilman, and a fanatic terrorist group compete to recover and claim it. The competition has potentially cataclysmic effects for the known world. Omar is a shocking, action-packed, highly recommended page-turner filled with suspense and plot twists to the end. Omar is also available in paperback (0967520722, [price])

The book is fantastic. A thriller. Hard to put down. Would certainly make a great movie. This book should be on the shelves of all bookstores and should be featured on talk shows. The author certainly researched his material. I would highly recommend it.

Wow, never in my life have I encountered such an amazingly written piece of art. Told from three different points of view, there is no way the reader can take sides between the emotional struggle of the main characters. The mother of a kidnapped child, the love of a child, and the love of the kidnapping father of the son. It is an emotional struggle to get through this book, and at the same time, you can not put it down while reading it! Have a box of Kleenex by your side for this one!

You have to read this book. It is a wonderful, compelling and emotion-stirring read! I raced through it and couldn't wait to see how all the strands of this engaging story came together. From the outset you wonder how all of this came about and how it could end like this!

You have a whole range of emotions to work through here - it is by turns melancholy, thrilling and sad... Just read it and see. The story flows smoothly and it is easy to read. Also it has a number of well developed characters and as you read, you begin to understand what motivates and touches them!

Go buy it right now!

This was one of the best books I have read. Kevin's book "The first to die" was also an excellent read. I had a difficult time putting the books down and could not wait to read on to see what the next page would bring.

The book Only Son is a modern work of art expressing human needs and wants along with the confussion of real life. Charectors in this book are so realistic you feel as if they are people you know who have emotion no different than that of a friend. There is no good or bad just a gray area and Kevin O'Brian has captured the gray area that we all seem to fall into with a remarcable story.

It is extremely rare that I start and finish a book on the same day. I typically like to enjoy a book over a week or so. But I could not put this book down!

I always respect an author that is capable of making you feel something you ordinarily would not. But not only does the author make you feel compassion for a criminal, but resenting those who try to bring him to "justice."

I'm still thinking about this book, its characters, and all the possible reasons this book has me spellbound. But you're better off reading it yourself anyway. I have a feeling it will mean many different things to many different people.