United States Books

It works. You just need to know how to formulate and elaborate on what you've done on jobs. The examples and templates are helpful. The book is easy to navigate. You'll learn creating your Fed resume and KSAs is like writing a school paper - you have to research and connect your main points. Federal Resume Guidebook Strategies definitely helps you in doing so. I highly recommend it!

Consider the "Federal Resume Guidebook, Fourth Edition," as the bible for serious federal job seekers. A few months ago I attended a Transition Assistance Program (TAP) class before I retired from the Air Force. The TAP instructor lightly covered federal resumes, KSA's, etc., I was totally confused. Family, friends, and former co-workers all provided me with advice on how a federal resume should be written, formatted, and distributed. After several misses on the job market I decided to purchase this book. HALLELUJAH ! This book will take you step-by-step on the federal resume process with some excellent federal resume samples you can use on your quest for a career with government agencies. I also decided to invest in the Entry-Level and Mid-Level Assessment Service offered by the authors company, The Resume Place. If your are serious about your federal job search I strongly suggest you purchase this service. You will not be disappointed. One last item, the author Ms. Kathryn Troutman personally provided me with the assessment and offered some great suggestions I had overlooked when I created my resume. WoW, what great customer service. This book certainly deserves a "Five Stars" plus rating. I'm certain I will catch the attention of the federal agencies where I want to work.

If you want to work for Uncle then you must have this book. After toiling for over a year trying to work for Uncle and getting nowhere, I bought this book. I spent a day revamping my resume as it describes and have been knee deep in responses ever since. If you want your resume to be in the right format to get you in the door then buy this book. If you want to continue hawking on the street or playing a fiddle for change then by all means do not buy this book.

I purchased this book after numerous failed attempts at being considered for various govt positions.
Literally after giving my resume a govt makeover with the suggestions from the book I've been considered for a total of four positions since purchasing the book last month.
I consider this a huge success only because I at least know my responses to the KSA questions are strong,
I highly recommed this book - definetly worth it!

I purchased this book based on the numerous reviews exclaiming its excellence. As a first note, the photo representation showing a CD that provides actual examples of resumes and KSAs is highly deceiving. There is no CD with this book. On the final page of the book, you will find directions on how to buy this for an additional fee at the authors website. No doubt the author has experience and expertise in the convuluted federal application process. From biographical information that is available it appears that she was a key player in creating it and then she went on to build a business that capitalizes off of the confusion created in the process. The inforation in this book is good and reliable; however, the same information is available for free on the internet from a variety of sources. I was sadly disappointed with this book and the other Troutman book Military to Federal Career Guide that I also purchased. The CD is included with the second book mentioned. I has 52 files in total; but, these provide very few examples because the same resume is repeatedly used to show examples of different resume builder formats (e.g paper resume, USA Jobs resume, and Resumix)and each example is given in a word document format and PDF so immediately the number of eamples is decreased from 52 to 26. As such, the CD amounts to 13 resume examples and one that provides separate KSAs. The best value that comes from this book is a profitable marketing tool for the author's website and other, quite pricey writing and coaching services. Before buying this book, I would recommend that you check with your local library or bookstore to see if they have a copy so you can review the content and decide how useful it might be in relation to your knowledge of the federal job market.

I thought this book looked more like how to be a feminist than anything else. I was so disappointed that it doesnt deal with issues my daughter cares about. She wasnt even interested in flipping through it. What a waste of money.

The Girls Guide to Life by Catherine Dee contains a plethora of information and anecdotes for young girls and budding teens that are both entertaining and empowering. This primer for young girls deals with issues such as self esteem, empowerment in the workplace, social rights and obligations, and general life 101 lessons. The guide celebrates the empowerment of young females through a variety of activities and uses real life examples to address the issues that all young women face today. A great field guide to life's basics that every girl should read!

Finally a book that addresses womens' issues and presents them in an easy-to-read and fun format for young women! It's important that girls know about these issues at an early age to help them realize their potential. This book is full of facts, quotes and stories, making it interesting to read and easy to pick up where you left off. Stories from real women help make the author's points credible and understandable. The book doesn't just talk about issues, it actually gives girls ideas on how to put their beliefs into action. I found The Girls' Guide to Life very inspiring, informational and empowering! I can't wait for my daughter to read it, and I plan to recommend it to all of the young women in my life. - Dale Salvaggio Bradshaw, co-author of Firestarters: 100 Job Profiles to Inspire Young Women

I think this is a good present for most teenage girls because it opens the door to further thought and purposeful decisions. Even if one is not a feminist, one could appreciate the information on topics like why sports are important, how to stay safe at home/school/street, and why math & science equals a bright future.

I appreciate the topics on self-esteem, what is physical beauty, and understanding and handling sexual harrasment.
Honestly, I wish this author would write similarly empowering and informational books for boys!

How refreshing to read a book which helps to elevate, educate and emancipate young girls of the world. This book speaks to young girls in a very human and comprehensible way. It teaches them how to be strong, yet not overbearing, healthy not bulimic, educated, self-motivated and just all round good citzens of the world.

The book is full of historical facts showing how females took on the world against all odds and succeeded. In the book readers are also treated with humorous cartoons, for instance their is a young lady who takes on the form of a puddle. At the end of the cartoon she is standing upright and shouting "I am not your doormat!" Its a beautiful evolution....

Also what impressed me are the worksheets and life exercises in the book. What a clever way for a young girl to track her progress, in addition getting life pointers and hints.

Help a young girl become a confident young lady - Give her this book!!!!!

Hats off to you Catherine!!! Keep em coming.....

My book of the latest coin values arrived in excellent condition and expeditiously. The book has proven to be a practical and user-friendly reference source and guide to the most current US coin values.

There is no better guide for the novice or professional coin collector. Reliable information and up to date pricing.

This is the first book a person should buy when entering into coin collecting. It gives a base to prices and where one might start.2008 Guide Book of Us Coins Redbook (Guide Book of United States Coins)

This is a very comprehensive, filled with pictures, easy to understand and follow guidebook for a beginner, as well as a serious collector.

I ordered this book for my son as he is beginning coin collecting. He took up that interest after seeing the collection that my grandfather handed down to me. The book was perfect for showing him what these coins are worth today.

I really enjoyed this book. Ann Leary has an engaging and enjoyable writing style and a great sense of humor. Her story, about her premature son Jack, was touching and heartfelt without straying into maudlin. I read it in one sitting, in a few hours, and can honestly say it was worth staying up until 1:00 am to finish it, even though I'm now grouchy at work.

...go along with all the other reader/reviewers who gave this memoir Five Stars. It's a quick, though thoughtful read.

Any Denis Leary fan who has ever bought the most recent DVD release of "No Cure For Cancer" or the book knows only briefly what he and his wife went through in London back in 1990. This is the whole story.

When I learned of this book, it was truly a must-have. With the imagination I have, you can just hear Denis talking, and you can just picture the British accents of the people there. You also have the brief stories of how she and Denis met, a brief shot at, particularly, her upbringing, and a lot of family beliefs. Therefore, this also kinda works as a brief autobiography of her and Denis and their families.

Whether you're a Denis Leary fan or an expectant mother, you'll find this story funny, triumphant, and wonderful.

Women love to share their birth stories, especially with good friends. Ann Leary's novel makes the reader feel like they are laughing and joking about the time of their children's births over coffee. By the end of her book, I felt like good friends with Leary. She is smart, funny, and not afraid to expose her insecurities in a way that we can all relate with. A fun, quick, satisfying read!

Ann Leary's autobiographical account of her sons birth abroad, amidst the rise of her husbands comedy career, is well-written, interesting, and very truthful. Unlike some autobiographical stories, Ann doesn't attempt to present herself as some sort of hero, and she doesn't portray anything that happened to her in a way that is self-serving. She tells it like it is. And it is a very interesting story. From her son's surprise appearance, to her unexpected life abroad, Anne's story is intriguing, sometimes sad, funny, and sometimes happy. I would expect that anyone who's ever had a premie, or anyone who's lived abroad, would especially enjoy her story, but to the rest of us, it's still a good read.

I read this book many years ago and it really hit me hard. I was a Navy Aircrewman who had been through SERE school. The courage and determination of LT Lance Sijan was incredible. I believe you can only relate to his story if you have in the Military and the sacrifices we make every day or have family or a loved one who has been in. I recommend this book for any Military Aviator.

The story moves along quickly. Its not a book you are going to struggle to finish. It will hold your attention and is a great motivational story as far as will and mental toughness are concerned.

I read this story years ago and remember being inspired by the courage of this young man. One reviewer stated that his plane was shot down, I thought that the bombs he was dropping detonated prematurely and caused the crash. Regardless, it's a great story about a guy who never gave up.

I was a young Air Weapons Controller stationed in Southeast Asia during the time of Lt. Sijan's shootdown. However , it wasn't until much later, when I read "Into the mouth of the Cat", that I came to understand what a truly amazing person Lance P. Sijan was. I have since given each of my son's copies of the book, so that they, too, could read about what the definition of an american hero really is. Some of the comment's logged in this forum question his motivation for continuing to try to escape...they need to read the Code of Conduct that those of us in the military tried very hard to live by. Many of the POW's found it almost impossible to abide by every code, and understandably so. Some of the torture tactics that were administered by the enemy, no mortal could withstand. Lance P. Sijan came as close as any human being could, and ultimately died from it. If one longs to find someone that truly lives up to the definition of "Hero", they should look no further than Lance P. Sijan. He has been my hero for many years. Mike Carbonneau, Firebase Sharana, Afghanistan, Aug. 2008

While in the USAF, back in 1987, I had first read this book. This is the type of book, that, when you begin to read it, you cannot put it down until it is finished. The author writes in a very easy to read style, no "big" words, but, is very descriptive and detail orientated in his telling of Sijan's heroism. Although, this is a war "related" story, I feel that it is not a "War Story". Malcolm McConnell, through his attention to detail, chronicles the extremely brave and selfless actions of an otherwise ordinary man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After I had originally read this, 1987, I was so overwhelmed by the author's accurate depiction of what had been "Folk Lore" in the Bay View area of Milwaukee. Because of this book, I have always thought of Sijan, and all that he had endured, whenever an obstacle or challenge is placed before me. This is a very inspirational book. As I was driving on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View, I passed by a Flag that is displayed right next to the road, in a little ballpark that is named Lance Sijan Field. And, every time that I pass it, I instinctively Salute. But, this time, I also bought this book, actually, four, one for my Father, two for my Brothers, and, of course, one for myself. By the way, this time, again, I had also read it in one sitting!

The life and times of John Marshall (1755 - 1835) make for exceptional reading. Although detailed and carefully researched, this excellent biography/history book/study of early constitutional law is written in an enjoyable, non-academic style. In addition to its captivating treatment of the revolutionary war, the evolution of basic governmental structures, and the Nation's other critically important early leaders, the book weaves together a nearly first-hand account of the foundations of the U.S. Supreme Court and its earliest and most enduring decisions.

Marshall was the 4th and longest serving Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. In his 34 years as Chief Justice, he personally shaped U.S. constitutional law, forged the Supreme Court into a strong and independent institution, and defined the powers of the federal government. He swore in presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Hamilton, Adams, and Jackson. And those were just the last 35 years of his life.

As a young man, he fought bravely in several key battles of the Revolutionary War, wintering at Valley Forge in 1777. He became acquainted with General George Washington and the two thereafter held each other in very high regard. On the state level, Marshall served in the Virginia House of Delegates and on the Virginia Counsel of State. Respected as a lawyer and state politician, he was appointed to serve as a delegate to the Virginia convention tasked with accepting or rejecting the United States Constitution and was instrumental in fighting for its ratification.

Marshall's pre-Supreme Court contributions to the Federal government were also significant and interesting. In 1797, President Adams appointed him to a three person delegation to negotiate with France, an unusual episode that came to be called the "XYZ Affair." French ministers spent the better part of a year trying to extort huge bribes from Marshall and his colleagues. News of Marshall's steadfast refusal to pay the bribes preceded his return from Paris and he was received home as an American hero. In 1799 he was appointed the Nation's 4th Secretary of State. That same year, he reluctantly ran for and won a seat in the House of Representatives in a district heavily favoring the other party.

Over the years, Marshall's dedication to his law practice (and need for income) caused him to graciously decline several appointments, including Minister to France, Attorney General of the United States, Secretary of War and even an earlier Supreme Court position. Despite his many other commitments, Marshall felt compelled to write the first biography of his hero George Washington - a well-received five volume set that today is condensed and marketed as a single volume. Marshall delivered the eulogy at Washington's massive memorial service. Lastly, but worth noting, the famous crack in the Liberty Bell occurred while ringing in honor of Marshall's passing.

Next to George Washington, he may be the most important and most admirable of all our founding fathers.

This is a full-length, 500 page biography of the fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Marshall. It is superb. It is very detailed, yet easy to read. Smith follows the conventional chronological format for a biography, starting with Marshall's birth, and then describing his life sequentially from his childhood, his education, his youthful service as a light infantry officer in the Revolution, his work as a lawyer, his early political career, his rise to national fame as an envoy to France during the time when the nation almost went to war with France during the Adams Administration, his service as Secretary of State to John Adams and finally his long service for 35 years as the Chief Justice who established the power and prestige of the Supreme Court.

What I find most admirable about this book is its balance. It gives you everything that you want in a biography. It is very scholarly, and very readable. It gives you a very good sense of John Marshall, the human being, but it also fully explains the significance of the events in which Marshall participated. As an example of the human side of Marshall, Smith gives us a very moving picture of Marshall's lifelong love affair with his wife, Polly, starting with the dramatic courtship by the penniless young officer and ending with the 80 year old Chief Justice walking twice a week to visit her grave. As an example of how Smith explains the significance of what Marshall did, not only did Smith explain the key decisions, but he gives the facts on what impact they had. In the steamship case, for example, Smith both explains the legal and political issues and gives the economic statistics on what effect the decision had on trade.

I highly recommend this book, both for the excellence of its writing and the importance of its subject matter. John Marshall is one of the most important people in American history. He was instrumentals in making real the balance of the Constitution envisioned by Madison and Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. He was critical in creating the pre-conditions needed for America to be a rich and prosperous nation, with great opportunity for the great majority. Marshall was also a wise and a good man, which shines through on every page of this book. The book is worth reading, finally, as a way to come to know such an extraordinary man.

Not all historians are fine, interesting writers. Fortunately, Jean Edward Smith is a superb writer, making Chief Justice Marshall's long life an interesting, even fun, read. Moreover, the writing paralells the substance contained in the Book. I wish all historical biographies were of this quality. Buy the Book.

This was one of those books I knew I SHOULD read, but its heft put me off for months. When I finally did pick it up, I couldn't put it down.

John Marshall doesn't have the cache or enduring fame that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or many others have - and it's a shame. He formed the institution of the Supreme Court, and in so doing, shaped many of the ways our country (tenuous at the time, mind you) began its journey, and perhaps why we've endured this long.

The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of life in the day, John Marshall's life and contributions, and how he and others in his era related to each other and the world at large. The cases that came before the early SCourt were fascinating, if only to illustrate the thorny issues and perils of the time. The extent to which he was able to be brilliant, rationale, and to build consensus focused on the original intent and vision for this country is impressive, and sorely needed today.

Funny story - I finally DID start reading this book on the beach in Mexico. Not quite the fluff one typically carries to the beach. The first day, people remarked as such, and by about day 3 or 4, they are saying "wow, you are really making progress on that!" as the bookmark moved steadily towards the back.

Don't wait for the beach - get started!

.....though we can still debate whether he defined it correctly. John Marshall, fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was, and remains, one of the absolute giants of our history. Washington fought the battles, Jefferson and Madison composed the theories, but it remained for Marshall to elucidate what it all meant. This is, to my mind, the definitive biography of a titan.

John Marshall was born in what is now Northern Virginia in 1755, the child of a fairly well off family. On his mother's side, he was descended from the famous Randolphs; his father was a surveying associate of George Washington. His dad taught him a love of education and good books that continued all his days. Before embarking on a career in Law, Marshall was a soldier of the Revolution, serving with Washington in several major battles. After marriage to young Polly Ambler, he was a law student of the great George Wythe [also the law teacher of Jefferson, and of Spencer Roane] at William & Mary. Successful practice, and politics, soon followed...Marshall served on the Governor's Council, and was the leading advocate for Constitutional ratification in the Virginia convention; his battles with Patrick Henry are the stuff of legend [though they served as co-counsel in several cases]. He was a constant supporter of Washington, served as one of Adams' three ministers to France in the XYZ affair, and was briefly a Congressman and Secretary of State. He it was who said of Washington "First in War...", though he let Light Horse Harry Lee speak the words, and get the credit. In 1801, John Adams made a "midnight appointment" of Marshall to be Chief Justice, preventing the incoming President Jefferson from making his own choice...

For the next 34 years, Marshall solidified Federal power, freely interpreting the interstate commerce clause, and the clause which allows Congress to make enabling legislation. Marbury v. Madison asserted the right of judicial review, and further cases expanded it. He wrote the judicial opinions that remain the basis of Federal centrilization of power to this day. Smith gives great detail of individual cases.

One of Marshall's great strengths, and we shouldn't make light of it, was that he was a nice guy. A sociable host, his friends loved him, but even total strangers could find him thoroughly modest and charming. Quoits, and good Madiera were real passions. Even his enemies [with two profound exceptions] liked him. His basic decency certainly aided his consensus building.....

...the two exceptions were Spencer Roane and Thomas Jefferson. Roane was the son-in-law and political ally of Patrick Henry. A long time neighbor of Marshall, and Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, Judge Roane believed completely in States Rights and held the US Constitution to be a voluntary compact of free and independent states that could be broken at will. What Spencer Roane proposed, Jeff Davis disposed... Alas, where Marshall was a prince among men, Judge Roane was of such acid, unpleasant, temperment that even his friends and allies couldn't stand him...

....and then there was Mr. Jefferson. The feud between Marshall and Jefferson is one of the absolute central themes of American history. It was multidimensional...personal, familial, political, philosophical...for about 40 years, the conflict was one of cordial, respectful, dislike; after the Aaron Burr treason trial of 1807, it turned into blind, unreasoning hatred. Part of it was rivalry between branches of the Randolph family; part was Jefferson's civilian service during the revolution while Marshall was in the field; part was publication of a letter to Jefferson from his daughter stating "Mrs. Marshall is insane" [sadly, true]. Mostly, the problem was that Marshall and Jefferson had totally different theories of government and visions of America. [They agreed about religion, though Marshall was a founder of, and regular attender at, Monumental Church in Richmond]. In 1807, Aaron Burr was charged with treason, accused of wanting to set up his own empire. He was tried in Richmond, with Marshall sitting as trial judge. Marshall's friend, neighbor, and occasional law partner John Wickham served as defense counsel, along with the drunken genius, Luther Martin. In what is today generally considered a rigged trial, Burr was acquitted. During this trial, an incident occured that is the only evidence of improper conduct on John Marshall's part that I can find; while Burr was out on bail, Wickham threw a grand dinner party for him. Marshall was invited [not improper], went, and stayed the whole evening. You can well imagine the spin that sympathetic Jefferson biographers put on this; Smith doesn't mention it.

John Marshall was a great and brilliant man; he was also a good and decent man. He had his problems; Polly was an invalid with a combination of physical and mental problems for years...one of his sons was essentially worthless. Thru it all, John Marshall was faithful to both his public and private duties. Now, I'll get personal....my copy of this wonderful book was a Christmas present my wife bought me at the John Marshall House in Richmond. Located at 9th. and Marshall, near the Capitol, it is lovingly maintained by a fine staff of really nice people [the Director even helped me with research for a small biography I wrote of Spencer Roane]. The house, and Marshall's grave in Shockhoe Cemetery a few blocks away, are cared for as monuments to greatness, which they are. The house is nice, but not spectacular; Marshall was a modest, unassuming man [John Wickham's house, two blocks away, IS spectacular]. At the John Marshall House [yes, I contribute financially], and at his grave, I feel awe, intellectual interest, and profound respect; at Monticello, I feel reverence. Maybe I think Jefferson was right about the issues, but I can still look up to John Marshall. If you want to understand America, you need to read this book.

This is the best available biography of Marshall, maybe the best ever. If all you want is case histories, read Hobson; if you want a highly technical biography, read Newmyer; if you want to understand the great cases, AND the great man who decided them, start right here. Newmyer and Hobson wrote fine books, but any intelligent person [not just specialists] can read this one.....

The insightful anecdotes from previous road crew, opening acts and managers make this book a must have for any KISS fan.

For so long we've heard Gene & Paul's re-visionist history of the band, so it's great to hear other perspectives. While these stories may not be 100% accurate either, when pieces of stories from other KISS books are added to these, you get a more complete picture.

There are a lot of funny stories in here, that make the band more relatable and less iconic. It's also funny to realize how often, even during the Reunion Tour that Gene set his hair on fire.

Worth every cent you'll spend on it!

Perfect book, beyond my expectations.
The work inside is a huge achievement. You will love each line inside. Great pictures from all KISS eras. A real big book (in any means).

I read a book by Gene Simmons called KISS AND TELL. I also read a book about KISS called BEHIND THE MASK. After reading KISS FOREVER I noticed something strange happening to my way of thinking in regards to KISS. Before reading these three books I used to think of KISS the way I always had. What songs I liked, which album covers were the best, which costumes were best, ect. After reading this book (and the other two) I know so much about the day to day lives of KISS during the 70s and 80s that now I feel more like I was a member of KISS remembering my days with the band than a fan. As I read this I found it easy to imagine what it would have been like to have been a member of KISS. The book states when someone was sick, when their pants split on stage, when they did store appearances, ect. If you're a KISS fan you should have this book. I was worried I was wasting my money on a book that I wouldn't find interesting but I was wrong. Its a great book.

this is a great read. i like to just pick it up and browse. Interesting to see the actual attendence figures because they prove how much money KISS LOST in order to put on a good show. There are many dates that werent even close to selling out (mostly in the 80s), but it also shows that even in their hey day they usually only sold out places with apprx. 8 - 10,000 seats. Being compared to todays standards, that is pretty weak considering the sizeable show they toured with.
The set lists are interesting as well. Though many are the same, now and then you see a song and wish you were there to hear them play it! This book also has a few interesting notes in between tours.
This is one of the best books out there for kiss fans. Gives you a new appreciation for the band as you see how they played to a lot of half empty halls but still stuck with it. the book is also honest in its figures, no sugar coating. a really cool read that must have taken months, if not years, of research. Essential for any Kiss fan as well as rock n roll fans in general.

Kiss Alive Forever is a must read for any KISS fan. The book is filled with details from all their tours including dates, set lists, and many, many details from each show.

This is a wonderful book that really captures a lot of things besides motorcycles. The thrill of discovering new country, staying in cheap motels, dodging weather, and enjoying life all come through in this book. Mr. Egan discusses all of his experiences, from finding and fixing old motorcycles through trips with his wife with a sense of bemused wonderment, never taking himself too seriously. A great book, highly recommended.

Outstanding book on motorcycling. Some of it funny, so of it thought provocing. If you like/love motorcycles, you will love this book. A collection of the author's from Cycle World Magazine.

Peter Egan is among a very small and very distingushed group of writers who have the ability to invite the reader along on their adventures. He is to motorcycling what Gene Hill, Peter Capstick, and Gordon MacQuarie were to hunting - and that is very fine company to be in. When you read his stories, you're with him, riding alongside, enjoying the adventure with him, and sometimes his Wife. His eloquent, descriptive turn of phrase combined with his ability to create unique and thought-provoking analogies makes for smooth, sophisticated, and absorbing reading. To Egan, a motorcycle is far more than the sum of its mechanical parts. It's freedom, dreams - both old and new, exploring, learning about yourself, your country and culture. Through Egan's words, motorcycles bring out the best in the human spirit. Reading his writing makes you glad that you're a part of the motorcycling fraternity, and reminds you why you love motorcycles so much. Enjoy this book, and then get a copy of "Leanings II" and relive the enjoyment all over again. These are books that you will reread, perhaps in part, over and over, and enjoy just as much each time you read them.

This one is truly the best of Peter Egan's writing. The second version isn't nearly as good as this one; the real classics are in here. Of course, if you're really a fan of his writing, you'll get both of them, and probably all the Side Glances ones too. But the earlier writing is better in general.

I did not actually read this book, but gave it to my husband for Christmas. He's an avid motorcyclist and he LOVED this book. He's not much of a reader, but he read this book in every spare moment and finished it within a week. He laughed outloud often and read parts of the book to me that he found funny. He liked the book so much he bought a copy as a gift for my father and he loaned out his copy to another friend when he finished. So, as a gift, this book was a great success.

The book can look very promising to you. And it is. It offers a great amount of history and vividly describes the structure of the Marines. However, the book isn't very much a manual as it is a set of chronicles. I recommend it to any with an interest in the Marines or military overall.

I purchased this book for my husband, for our anniversary. He had, many times, picked up this book at our local bookstore and thumbed through it. The book drew numerous smiles and comments from him. "Hey hun, look at this.." became the regular statement made, while browsing through the pages. Not only did the book offer a throrough history of the Corps, but it brought back endless memories for him. I've enjoyed this just as much as he has! The book is a beautiful presentation of history, wonderful photos, artwork and facts. We've had the book quite some time, and he's still admiring it, learning new things from it..... still smiling as he "looks" through it! In effect, what I have is a Dashing Grunt, who's so happy you'd think it was November 10th. :-) A great book for all.

As the proud mother of Two of The Few, I'm unashamedy too "moto" for Things Marine. The first time I saw this book, I had to have it. From the beautiful cover with its USMC Seal to every single bit of information inside, it is a fitting tribute to our country's BEST - United States Marines. Chesty Puller himself would give it a gruff "Good To Go!"

I cannot find a single aspect of this book I don't like. For proud parents of Devil Dogs especially, I highly recommend this book!

This book is absolutely amazing. This is a "must have" for every former and current Marine and military historians. You will be pleased with this one.

Despite an aching back, I stood for over an hour this afternoon thumbing through the pages of this book at a local bookstore. It was outstanding. I was a Marine combat correspondent in Vietnam ('67) and saw a number of photos taken by my colleagues, including David Douglas Duncan in Con Thien where I also was. What struck me about "Marines" is the extensive and well balance coverage of the history of the Corps. I found it very amusing the "political correct" comments about several of our controversal commandants. How true. How true. Great work. I came home and immediately ordered this book from Amazon.

Semper Fi!

I've got a couple dozen vegan-oriented books and this is one of the best. Succinct, cogent, smart, well-researched. A lot of books don't give enough hard facts or go deeply enough into their information. This one does both. Particularly great guidance for activists--which I consider any ethical vegan to be just by virtue of being 'the vegan in the room.'

I almost didn't read this book, and I am SO glad that I did! This is a great book for all those eager to make an impact on animal welfare. This book provides strong arguments for taking an active interest in animal welfare, especially the meat industry which lies at the root of an overwhelming majority of the animal suffering in this world. All arguments are supported with well documented facts. Most importantly, Meat Market inspires innovative ideas and directs readers to important resources for turning thoughts and beliefs into action. From evaluating leafleting and writing letters to editors to working with school lunch programs, Erik Marcus provides information about how to take action through many unexpected venues and careers.

I highly recommend this book as an innovative guide to activism!

Liked it. Not as ground breaking as Marcus' previous work on "Vegan the new ethics of eating", but worth reading.

"Just as slavery was once America's most pressing human rights violation, there can be no doubt that the effort to eliminate cruelty to animals should focus on agriculture. Animal agriculture accounts for more than 97 percent of animals killed by humans in the United States. Farmed animals therefore deserve priority, and arguments made on their behalf should not be weakened by lumping in rhetoric pertaining to hunting, medical research, or companion animals."

So argues Erik Marcus with impeccable logic in Meat Market: Animals, Ethics & Money. This concise, well-researched, and thoughtful book is divided into four sections:

Animal Agriculture -- The first part of the book covers some very familiar ground but does so succinctly and with the occasionally provocative perspective of someone who is willing to prioritize in an honest, objective way. This is no angry screed with unjustifiable or exaggerated claims. (In fact, the entire book embodies an admonishment against such counterproductive approaches.) Marcus is almost detached in his delivery thus making his presentation even more powerful.

Dismantlement -- The heart of the book covers Marcus' vision for how an activist's time, energy and money could best be spent. I won't go into detail here but this is great stuff.

Activist Essays -- I felt these were largely a waste of space and time. Perhaps other readers could find something useful or inspiring here but I did not.

Appendices -- The best appendices you will ever read in any book. Seriously. Marcus separated these essays from the main text in order not to distract from his message but there is some terrific stuff here especially Appendix B where he provides a rational counterargument to the popular beef production water use claims.

Some additional quotes from the book which I hope are provocative enough to arouse your interest:

Organic dairies and free-range egg farms never seem to volunteer the fact that they rely on killing every bit as much as their factory farm counterparts...

While suffering will always be part of animal agriculture, some of the worst cruelties can be removed at little cost. The industry could, if it chose, quickly enact the following five steps...

For many years to come, most of the dismantlement movement's efforts should be directed toward outreach. But it would be silly to neglect other attractive opportunities for action. Even with our current minimal resources, we can begin stripping away three of animal agriculture's most important assets...

[Militant activist Josh] Harper...explain[ed] why he believes that both outreach and property destruction should be used to protect animals. According to Harper, the animals benefit if the meat industry is forced to defend itself on as many fronts as possible--a coalition of militants and mainstream outreach activists would stretch the industry's resources and double its vulnerabilities. Harper's assertion seems reasonable, but a closer look reveals a flaw in its logic...

Overall, there have probably been thousands of instances in which animal testing helped diminish human suffering...

Unfortunately, the truth about water use is on the beef industry's side...

Outstanding book! Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Meat Market, not only as a refresher course on animal treatment and common farming practices, but also because I and others around me have recently engaged in discussions related to activism approaches and how to appeal to other people's nonviolent inclinations regarding their decision on what to eat. I agree with Marcus that the most prevailing concern with regard to use of animals is an ethical one and that animal protection advocates would be wise to focus their efforts and attention on eliminating an industry that kills billions per year. Due to Marcus's invaluable perspective, pensive mind, and incessant quest for facts, I believe that this book will give rise to many new ideas and collaboration within the animal rights movement. I cannot foresee any negatives of reading Meat Market, taking the information into consideration, and working towards becoming a millionaire just as Marcus; even causing others to choose not to kill one thousand animals will bring about a much-needed paradigm shift in our culture.

(As an aside, I saw mentioned that Marcus supports or believes that animal testing is justified in certain circumstances. I do not know if, outside of Meat Market, Marcus has suggested or stated the same; however, this is the location on Amazon for Meat Market book reviews. Marcus does not intimate in Meat Market any personal support for animal testing. He merely states that there probably have been instances wherein animal testing helped diminish human suffering, which is not a statement in favor or against vivisection.)