B Books

I love to read about women war workers of WW2. I have many books about the subject and this is hands down my favorite. Perfectly written. Very descriptive. Detailed. My only complaint....it's not 500 more pages! It left me wanting more...much more. If the author ever reads these comments, I want to thank her for her service during the war. Way to go!

"Slacks and Calluses" was exactly what I'd hoped it would be and then some. The honest, unvarnished depiction of daily life for young women war workers at a bomber factory. The two women recount the insane process for getting their jobs (after an interview that consisted mainly of being asked, "Are you available? Good, you're hired.") and the many stations and stamps and officials that they were required to endure. Their training in building bombers was scant - they were responsible for not terribly important parts at first, but the parts still had to go on, and the factory had to have bodies to put them there.

Co-workers were - then as now - a collection of the hard working, the working hard at hardly working, the brilliant and the stupid. Bosses were much the same, but more to be listened too. Life outside the plant - the officers who were no gentlemen for refusing to give up bus seats to these women who were building 'their' bombers, the sadistic woman ice-cream vendor who flat out refused to serve the women, the never ending attempts to wash all the dirt, aluminum dust, grease, and oil from skin and hair, and the inability to have any time for a real life outside of work.

The authors were two high school teachers, who subjects - English and Art - made them the perfect duo to write this book.

Too often books are written solely because the author wants to; this book would have been missed by the world if not written.

LOVED this book. The author is the mother of one of my book club members and she came to the club meeting after we read the book. She is even more delightful in person, if you can believe it, even 60 years later. What a gem this book is and what a delight the author continues to be.

As a female aircraft mechanic myself (swing shift I might add), I found a lot of pleasure in this book. The Rosie the Riveters, in my opinion, are the the most brave, courageous women of that time. They literally paved the way for the rest of us and this book tells of that experience in a wonderfully humorous way. I laughed out loud and read some of it to my friends. The backordered parts, the war of day shift versus swing, the way men treat women like women one minute and a fellow the next (whatever suits their cause at the moment), and last, but not least, the aches and pains that come with the physical labor... all so very true. I was shocked to see how similar things are still today to what our original Rosie's went thru. My thanks and gratitude to these brave, amazing women. I would like to add that the author, Constance, wrote very well and made wonderfully witty remarks and I loved her sarcasm throughout the book. The absolute, only reason I did not give this 5 stars was that is too short!! I would have loved to read much more of their adventure. All in all, this book made an impression on me because of the way they handled their situations. It was not any easy task they faced, being pioneers in aircraft maintenance, but they laughed and made the best of it. I plan to keep this in my own tool box and when I have a particularily foul day, use it to remind me that there is indeed, a silver lining behind every cloud.

This is a wonderful little book! Written in an easy and unpretentious style, it has merit not just for "women's studies" readers, but for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of period airplane manufacturing and indeed, the whole spirit of Homefront America in World War II. This book is both very entertaining and a real slice of "you are there" in a bygone era. Good history and good writing.

My Dad bought this book when I was a kid over thirty years ago. He never got as much out of it as I did. I'd spend hours looking at the many firearms listed in this large volume. It got me started in collecting old military arms and I refer to it still to this day.

This was purchased as a gift for a person that had been looking for it for several years; he is very pleased with it!

I highly recommend these Small Arms of the World books, due to the good coverage of Curio and Relic firearms, how you can take them apart to clean them, how they operate, pictures of individual weapons, interesting diargrams of some popular guns, and just simply the most information you are going to get on semi-automatic and full automatic firearms, at least that I can find. Seems that especially machine gun technology is some kind of restricted information somehow, at least in newer books, but at least these Small Arms books can help a former U.S. Army machine gunner like myself understand a little better how the guns I was checked out on,actually worked in principle. So, if your quest for knowledge is machine guns, then I defintely recommend these books. And if your quest for knowledge is Curio and Relic classified firearms, then especially the older versions of the Small Arms books are what you need. The newer ones kind of water down really old technology, while paying special emphasis on what was hot technology at the time, like a early seventies Small Arms will talk in depth on current American small arms like the M16, but will have minimal space on bolt action rifles, for instance.
I definitely recommend the 1969 9th edition as a good all around "get you by", if you just wanted one edition on older Curio and Reic Firearms, if you are a collector of Curios and Relics like me.

Small Arms of the World: A Basic Manual of Small Arms
is a classic. it is one of the best fireames books ever made, it is a real pity that it is out of print. they realy should rerelease it, I know I would buy it.
But until that happens I'll just have to keep getting it from the library.

If I could only have one firearms book I would choose this book hands down.

For the person interested in modern military small arms, this book is the place to start. It presents the material well, with good photographs, understandable diagrams, and interesting text. Hopefully an updated version will come out someday, but I don't think anyone will regret buying this one now. In fact, I have an older edition from the 1960's that I treasure for it's better coverage of now-obsolete firearms, special emphasis on World War 2 German designs, and more complete history of firearms through the centuries. This edition, on the other hand, gives more attention to weapons developed during the 1960's and 1970's. No doubt, after some future edition finally brings us up to date on modern high-tech weaponry this book will still be a valuable snapshot of the variety of arms in use throughout the world during the final decades of the 20th Century.

I highly recommend this book as the starting point for a good understanding of the small arms field, or as plain old good reading for the relatively technical-minded gun enthusiast.

this is a great book for the chirstian who wants to see souls saved. Only read if your serious about evangelism.

I have long had problems with books on evangelism. Too much seems to hang in the balance according to feelings. How I feel about this or that, whether or not I feel like I ought to do such-and-such. Spurgeon unapologetically reminds us of every member of the church's responsibility to share the Gospel. Yet he provides very practical and surprisingly relevant advice for those who would wish to do so. This is the only book on the subject (outside of the Bible, of course) that has motivated me to go a-soul-winning. I would recommend it to anyone who is afraid of evangelism, a seasoned evangelist, or someone curious about this thing called evangelism. It speaks to all three and more in a timeless and accurate manner, without a hint of dryness; indeed, it's a pretty entertaining book to read overall.

This book is amazing. If you are looking for a humbling book that WILL kindle that spiritual fire in you, this is it. Spurgeon is a great author. His works have succeeded 115 years after his death, which should give you an indication of his ability to teach. This is a must-have book for anyone involved in evangelism of any kind.

How did it happen that we've moved so far from our purpose as Christians? All creation waits for us - the Christian - to be revealed so that they too have the hope that is within us! Spurgeon once again gets us back to basics and teaches us about ourselves so that we can fulfill the call - the way God intended. I read the first half of The Soul Winner on a flight from Colorado to Ohio and could not stop the flow of tears while I once again felt God speaking to my heart and leading me back to the passion of soul winning. This book will cause your heart to break with the things that break God's heart. I am buying more and passing them along to others from church leaders to my family. Quick - get the book before it's too late - in more ways than one!

This book should be read out aloud from cover to cover. Not only does it reveal some of Spurgeon's greatest lesson: the one in which he had most experience, the job of winning converts. It does as well set a relevant example for contemporary preachers.

Renee Callahan realized too late that you can't go back. It had been years since she had put her past behind her. The death of her first child, the disastrous marriage that produced her young daughter Amber. With the exception of Amber, her life had been uneventful. Now she was in a new relationship with a man who not only loved her but her daughter as well. So why was she digging into the past?
Her thoughts went back to that day so long ago in summer school when she met Mike Palenik. He seemed so not like her or her crowd but there was something about him that drew her to him. They became close even when her friends didn't understand it. It was Mike that was her first love, her first sexual encounter and the father of her first child who died prematurely.

She began to relive that past in her mind until she had to see him again. Had to make him realize she still cared for him.

Walking out on her own wedding she left town without telling anyone where she was going. Her hope was to find Mike and together they would see that they were apart too long. But Renee should have known that she broke his heart and when she left him, he not only moved on he found a new life also.

A tale of romance that really isn't one that we are used to. It seems more realistic in a way. I feel sorry for Renee holding all that love for so long and never really able to tell him. No fairytale romance here but one that is as real as life can get.

Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Louise Riveiro - Mitchell
September 29, 2005

B.A. Webb did an outstanding job in making me feel as if I were a teenager, in the 80's, once again. The music, the language, the relationships; the author made those memories come back to life for me. Memories of a first love, first passions, and the trace lingering of those wants continue on throughout life. Ms. Webb stated exactly how many women, like myself, see our past and sometimes daydream about all the 'What if's?'. This book had me hooked right from the first page and I wasn't able to put it down until every word was read. Afterwards, I was left with a sense of knowing that one can never be truly happy in life until we learn to define our own worth. I look forward to reading more of B.A. Webb's work!

"An excellent offering by an accomplished writer. Definitely bound to become a cult classic with the twenty to forty-something crowds. Standing Still portrays a real story with a great deal of soul. The author weaves a story of the contemporary woman on the edge, brilliantly interjecting flashbacks to the 80's with impecable timing and skill.
As I was reading, I was always looking forward to the resolution and found myself riveted every step of the way. A highly recommended read!" - Char Williams

This is a wonderfully well written book! Great story about young love and what comes next! A real page turner! Can't wait for a sequel!

A must read for anyone who ever wondered 'what would have, could have, may have happened if...?'

I cannot wait for Ms. Webb's next offering!

I had this book for my three boys when they were little and recently purchased this for my grandchildren. My sons loved it when they were learning to read, remembered it and wanted it for their children. I only had the one book from their childhood so went on line to purchase two more. Since mailing them off to my grandchildren, they too enjoy it as much as their dad's did and it is a book requested over and over. It is a step for early readers between very simple reading to a little longer subject matter and holds their interest through the ongoing activity in the book. Great little book!

I'm so surprised this is out of print - it's a great book for rhyming and reading ! Bookstores say the get many requests for it - wonder how we can get another edition run.
It's delightful.

This book is the one I remember most from childhood -- the images,the fun! You're child will love this book for YEARS. Am ordering two - for my 25 month old niece, and for my baby-to-be.

Every year my first grade students tell me this is a great story. The book rhymes and the children love the rhyme. The children love the illustrations and the action that happens to the main characters ball.

Stop that ball is an hilarious story about a boy that is playing tether ball when all of the sudden, he knocks the ball off and follows it on an adventure all over town. The red ball gets into all kinds of silly trouble with the boy always one step behind. The ending with the little neighbor girl is classic. I have read this book to kids of all ages and we always have a great time. A fantastic story start to finish!!!

What a great resource. The stories recited in the book are poignant, humorous, and best of all, real. As a director of administrative support services I'm always looking for creative ways to get a point across. Stories work; these stories and the follow-up activities and presentation tips work.

My organization faces two challenges on a daily basis. First, what is the most efficient and effective way to collect, organize, manage and disseminate mountains of information? Second, how do we continue to streamline and simplify our administrative processes to provide more value-added service to our constituents?

The resources Lori and Mary provide through this text have enabled me to communicate more effectively with my staff during our planning and design sessions. The moral of these stories help us keep focused on the expectations and perceptions of our constituent base.

It's a book to be kept on your desk and referred to many times.

I find that I hear myself telling the same stories over and over again to colleagues when trying to make a point. On the one hand, this is good for sending a consistent message. On the other hand, I get tired of hearing the same thing, and need to make my points in new ways.

As the global marketing research manager for Invista (the world's largest fibers company with consumer and b2b brands such as Lycra(r) and Stainmaster(r)), I need to convert data to meaning that helps our leadership to make decisions. That is what the stories in Stories Trainers Tell do for me. When our managers understand the opportunities that stories point out in the research, they are better able to act with confidence and communicate with clarity.

While I contributed to the book, I also use what it offers to make me a better communicator. I can communicate the meaning I see in data more effectively when I have a story to help me out.

I recommend that you check out the book for yourself to learn how you can upgrade your thinking and practice no matter what role you are in.

I am a Director of Training for a fortune 500 company. Quarterly, I look for new resources that my 40 designers and trainers can use when developing and delivering material to our employees and agents. This book was the gem I've been looking for. Story telling is the most powerful thing a trainer can give their students - because the stories last in the mind forever when the technical details disappear. This book details the how, the what, the when, the where, and the why. Recently I bought a copy for each one of my staff - and the incredible results are already coming in!!! Thanks for my best new resource of the year!

To be successful as a project management consultant, it is important to be able to influence people to move in the direction in which they need to go (not always the direction in which they would like to go). The thing about using stories to influence is that people love stories and will listen even if they are resisting other management methods. This book has wonderful, rich content and is very easy to use. The commitment of the authors to help readers succeed is demonstrated by the sayitwithastory web site and newsletter. I am very pleased this terrific resource is available. [By the way, these stories work on family members also!]

Storytelling has been used to convey history and lessons for centuries. Before newspapers came on the scene, story tellers would travel from village to village telling stories to share the news of what was happening in other communities and the world at large...at least as large as it was back then. One could argue that storytelling has become almost a lost art as our communication mode has shifted more to content, facts, polices and procedures. In the corporate world, leaders and managers-and training professionals-have attempted to communicate without really reaching people "inside," where messages can resonate with a mental or emotional picture. It's that inner connection that has the potential of changing behavior and making a difference. To make that connection, communicators need to engage people's minds and hearts to help them "get" the message.

So here's a book on the stories trainers tell. Big book, thick. Whew! That's a lot of fluffy, touchy-feely soft stuff! That first impression will disintegrate as you open this wonderful resource. Sure, there's a treasure chest of stories, mostly from experienced trainers and professional speakers who use them regularly to build the effectiveness of their work. If this book were merely a collection of all those stories, it would be a helpful reference...sort of a Chicken Soup for the Trainer's Bookshelf. Fortunately, the authors have a deeper understanding of what communicators need, so they created an incredible tool kit for trainers, speakers, executives, managers, coaches, parents-the list goes on.

Each of the stories is presented with tips on how to use it, questions to enrich the telling, key point options, and follow-up activities. The stories-short, not long-are set apart in the text by the use of helpful shading. So, now we have more value than just a catalog of stories. But, wait! There's more. The book includes an explanation of different kinds of stories, when and how they can be used, with a cross-reference to the 55 stories. Want even more value? The stories are gathered into chapters that organize the resources for easier access: Appreciating Differences, Communications and Feedback, Customer Service, Influence and Motivation, Leadership, Living Our Values, Performance and Coaching, Problem Solving, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Training Fundamentals.

Are you sensing why I'm enthusiastic about this book? We're not done! I've only told you about what's in the back of the book! "Stories Trainers Tell" begins with an invaluable section on the why and how of using stories to enhance and enrich communication. Page after page of tips and insight educates and inspires the reader, deepening understanding to raise the level of professionalism and effectiveness in communication.

The CD-ROM? Pop this tool into your computer and enjoy an MP3 format delivery of audio dramatizations of the stories in the book. Readers can now learn as listeners also, and most of the recordings are authorized for replay to audiences. Playing a recording of someone else telling a story, then facilitating the interpretation and application of what was heard offers a new dimension to the richness of communication, thought stimulation, and movement to action.

Then there's the reading list and the index. So much! You'll be captivated with a cover-to-cover read, entranced by the stories yourself. This book will sit prominently on your shelf as a primary resource for years to come. I half-apologize for the long review, but this book deserves the accolades.

John Robbins was a good friend to many people, and I was fortunate enough to know him when he lived and worked in North Carolina. "Strings - The Miracle of Life" is a great story by a talented historian. John was always a true raconteur - he could hold you spellbound with utter nonsense, or really make you think about the hard decisions in life. It came as no surprise to me that John Robbins wrote a book about love and death and healthcare that I had to read in one sitting.

This is a nonfiction book that baby boomers facing health crises--their own or their parents'--should read. But this tale of miraculous recovery from life-threatening illness feels more like a Vonnegut novel than the standard human interest story you might expect.

It cuts elegantly between the tense and fast-paced action of a quite miraculous liver transplant and sophisticated spiritual and philosophical questions about ethical issues in life and medicine. There is a wonderful section that presents the disorientation of a type A personality in a medical crisis--mental confusion due to prolonged illness, lack of control, medical complications, frustration at the slow pace of recovery--and reads like a primer for 50-somethings who are facing their first serious illness or surgery or trying to understand the growing frailty and increasing health care needs of their aging parents.

It weaves the varied and sometimes conflicting perspectives of patient, family, and med! ! ical professionals into the most complete picture of a modern medical crisis I've seen.

Mr. Robbins takes the reader, grabs them quickly, and doesn't let go until the end. You know he survives his ordeal, but you are still in tears in the middle wondering "is he going to make it?"

Thanks for writing this valuable book.

John Robbins uses a mix of Buddhaism and basketball (effortless effort) to tell how he survived and prospered after a near death experience. Part medical thriller and part spiritual exploration, he tells his story of surviving a liver transplant. His recollections about his surgeon alone are worth the read. A very good writer, he tells his story without without self-pity or fatalism. Inspiring is perhaps an over-used word in book reviews, but you will agree it applies to Strings.

It was with great saddness that I recently learned of the passing of Dr. John Robbins from one of his Thai friends.

I knew John in Bangkok prior to his illness and saw him in Washington, D.C. both while he was waiting for the transplant and later after he received it. My last conversation with him was at the time his book was published and he was so excited by the possibilities.

John's use of the Buddhist "stings" to hold the book together is wonderful. His "rat-a-tat" writing style in describing the fast pace of medical events is attention-getting.

John changed the world a bit with his book. I regret I will not be able to tell him how much it meant to me.

While Wade Cook is primarily known for his savvy investment strategies, Wade is also a keen thinker with a positive mental mindset. He believes in America and wants to make everyone aware of the opportunities available only in America.America is indeed the land of opportunity where everyone can reach the stars, if only they will step up on their toes just a little bit.

This book will make you feel proud to be an America; to live in the greatest country in the world. Mr. Cook is obviously very proud of his country and didn't forget where he came from and why he has reached such extraordinary success.In todays world, that is unusual.Hats off to America and Wade Cook.

After Business Buy the Bible, I would rate this book; Success: American Style as Cook's most important book to date.

This is why foreigners have saved and planned to come to America.
It's SUCCESS: AMERICAN STYLE.

This is why we have FREE ENTERPRISE here.
It's SUCCESS: AMERICAN STYLE.

This is why Americans are far wealthier than people in any other country. It's SUCCESS: AMERICAN STYLE.

And this book tells me and all of us a lot about Mr. Wade Cook,
SUCESS: AMERICAN STYLE and a very proud American no doubt.

Notice there are no negative reviews here. I guess that tells us a lot about the bashers. I seriously doubt if Wades ever present bashers will ever read this book. Too bad--It's their loss!

And what a great book to shut Wades ever present detractors up. Only in this great country, does anyoe and everyone have the opportunity to reach the stars.Success American Style: Unfortunately terrorists and Wade bashers will never read and benefit from this outstandin work.Great book Wade. Keep em coming.

America is truly the land of opportuity.I found this book very motivational, inspiritional and rekindled my faith in the American Dream.This may be Mr. Cooks most important book to date (especially after 911). I also recommend Business Buy The Bible and Don't Set Goals The Old Way.These books will get your attitude tuned and help you reach those lofty goals that all too often lay dormant inside you.

Solid memoir. Well written. Not the grisliest or gnarliest but an interesting take from the point of view of an infantryman, dogface, thrown on the front lines during the Bulge.

If this is your first WWII oral history then there are better choices, but if you've already read all the standards, this is a good choice.

The author did a very good job of describing what a young American man goes through in ground combat. Anyone who has served in the U.S. Army or Marine infantry will appreciate John B. Babcock's personal account of his combat duty in Europe in WWII. He does not gloss over some of the actions of our soldiers which result from the stress of combat and the resulting hate for the enemy, soldiers and civilians alike.

This is one of the best memoirs written about frontline combat in WW2. Some veterans are able to put into words what actually is near impossible to put in words, and John Babcock does it extremely well. You will be moved by the misery these young soldiers suffered.

A very quick and easy read but one of the deepest that I've read from the view of the man on the ground without being highly political, sentimental, psychological, or maudlin. There's hardly a sense of bitterness or regret for the failings of the government and commanders during WWII, the slackers and sociopaths who avoided harm's way, the cowards and psychopaths who were in the attacking ranks,and the johnny-come-lately "heroes" at the end. It's almost as if the author was a detached objective reporter on the scene which caused me to think that perhaps that is how he was able to survive somewhat physically and mentally intact after enduring the last two years of the "Good War". Also, even though it was his story he did not attempt to make himself a hero in any way, although I did sense that he was probably part of some things that happened either by acts of commission or omission that he would never tell anyone.

The author should be commended for conveying his personal story in a way that informs, entertains, and thrills, but at times can create empathy, anger, and disgust when he enables the reader to understand the "melting pot" of backgrounds and psyches that was stirred into survival situations. This is done simply by descriptive narrative without invoking emotional diatribes.

An understanding of the macro picture of WW II would put this book into its right perspective. I doubt that it would have been printed 50 years ago but in view of the conflicts that we have entered into since 1950 and are now in at the beginning of the 21st century, every young man who wants to be in the infantry should be required to read this book before making his final decision to do so. It would also benefit any veteran who served during any time of our history and who had to carry a weapon as part of his duties.

"Taught To Kill" by John B. Babcock. Subtitled: "An American Boy's War From The Ardennes To Berlin". Potomac Books, Inc. Dulles, Virginia, 2005.

The writing in this book is excellent. Throughout the book, the author, John Babcock, WWII Veteran, uses alliteration, the rhyming of the first syllables of words, as little jewels which makes his writing sparkle. Despite the serious subject of the book, the author has made it easy and pleasing to read. And, the subject of the book is serious.

Using a fifty-year old manuscript, which he had typed at the end of hostilities in Europe, he put together a genuine accounting of a "...small-town American college kid, transformed ... by government edict, into a foreign-soil combat soldier". Unlike so many other personal memoir books, Babcock has expended a great deal of energy on introspection, where his recorded observations are combined with an examination of exactly what his pains and his unit's hard work did for the war effort, in particular, and for mankind, in general.

His description of the death of his "...first KIA (killed in action): Sergeant Coleman..." was particularly poignant. Sergeant Coleman's professionalism had convinced Babcock that Coleman was possibly the most invulnerable soldier in the company, and there was the sergeant with a "...chunk of his forehead ...shot away". On the other hand, the author's description of the collapse of Technical Sergeant Oaks during an artillery barrage was particularly chilling. Sergeant Oaks had been bold, brash and brave in basic training, but, after the first miss by an 88mm round, there was the sergeant "... huddled under his wet overcoat by the shelter entrance." The sergeant's improper behavior had all "... but disabled me." On the same page, Babcock includes an interesting fact: most German Artillery fire during World War II was, in fact, 105mm, not the famous (infamous) 88mm. (Page 31). And, for those who served in the Army specialized Training Program (ASTP), page 154 presents the reason that the ASTP program was reduced dramatically: "... (t)hat almost all (replacements) went into the infantry was a given. Forty thousand replacements coming into our ranks translated to ten thousand men per week leaving the front lines for hospitals or for Dutch or Belgian cemeteries". I have never read such a succinct summary of the horrendous ETO casualty rate that caused General George Marshall to downsize ASTP and to move so many Air Corps candidates into the infantry. Excellent writing; excellent story telling.

I have a past of 15 years in the fish business in my family company (third generation) and I'm a commercial fisherman since 10 years ago and I know something about commercial fishing and fishermen.
If you like to know how that fish you love to eat come to your table and about the real life and feelings of the people who made it possible this is the only book you must read.

This was by far of the three books i have red by william mccolskey the favorite he has another book called fish decks cannot find on amazon have to let you know about that one.

unlike highliners and breakers this one is nonfiction and follows along as the author goes back to alaska and around alaska where he served in the coast guard 20 years before and now is crab fishing and goes fishing around georges bank of the coast of chile and new zeland ,indonesia,and japan.looking for fish and shellfish. it also extensively covers the wreck of the exxon valdezand the effect on the fishing industry and the enviroment.Fisherman were making more money selling back buckets of oil back to exxon.He goes to the tokyo tsukiji market which i have seen on a national geographic program. This place is huge they figure they have on any given day 330 different species for sale which come from all around the world for example They have prawns and shrimp from 64 nations the market and auction generate enough trash to fill 200 trash trucks a day.It cover alot of the political side of fishing and how the different regulations have come about to protect the fish.
You read this book it is amazing that they fish with nets miles long and never think about depleteing the resources.Also learned tha over fishing was not the only thing affecting the amount of fish being caught runoff from farms both animal and agricultural.And fish farms that apeear on the surface appear to be a good thing end up causing harm to native fish.

The author knows his subject matter but gets too heavy with all the legal bs and too light on the human stories. Seems like the author couldn't decide if he wanted to write a text book or a down to earth type story.

The best book I've read dealing with the social AND political AND cultural aspects of commercial fishing. Making no excuses for the industry or the people who condemn it. His stories are compelling and enrapturing as well as extremely informative. It'll give understanding of why the worlds oceans are in the state they are in and all the players who have caused it to be where it is. Enjoy!

This is a superb book. McCloskey writes from such a deep base of personal experience, that within a few lines we are transported to the heaving, noisy and often foul-smelling deck of a rusty trawler pitching in a cold northern sea or the cramped camaraderie of the galley on a Japanese squid boat. You feel the shudder of the steel deck as the boat pitches into a steep swell, taste the salt in the air and gag on the stench of diesel fumes and dead fish. The book is a collection of essays, exploring the challenges that face commercial fishermen in various parts of the globe. We hear lots of languages - Russian, English, Spanish, Norwegian, Japanese and more - and experience very different cultures, each united by the sea and the grueling task of pulling food from its depths. Gradually, the similarities grow much larger than the differences. No matter where he is, McCloskey can rapidly blend into the crew becoming just one more figure shrouded in foul weather gear pulling in the nets. This remarkable desire to muck-in with the deckhands no matter how hard the work or how severe the conditions, is the secret to his vivid and exciting writing. I can never look at a piece of sushi or a bag of fish and chips in quiet the same way.