Book Description
The definitive and rollicking story of one of the best, and one of the wackiest, teams of all time, during one of the most vital eras in baseball.
With The Gashouse Gang, John Heidenry delivers the definitive account of one the greatest and most colorful baseball teams of all times, the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals, filled with larger-than-life baseball personalities like Branch Rickey, Leo Durocher, Pepper Martin, Casey Stengel, Satchel Paige, Frankie Frisch, and--especially--the eccentric good ol' boy and great pitcher Dizzy Dean and his brother Paul.
The year 1934 marked the lowest point of the Great Depression, when the U.S. went off the gold standard, banks collapsed by the score, and millions of Americans were out of work. Epic baseball feats offered welcome relief from the hardships of daily life. The Gashouse Gang, the brilliant culmination of a dream by its general manager, Branch Rickey, the first to envision a farm system that would acquire and "educate" young players in the art of baseball, was adored by the nation, who saw itself--scruffy, proud, and unbeatable--in the Gang.
Based on original research and told in entertaining narrative style, The Gashouse Gang brings a bygone era and a cast full of vivid personalities to life and unearths a treasure trove of baseball lore that will delight any fan of the great American pastime.
Customer Reviews:
Baseball lover's only!.......2007-09-23
Baseball in times long passed was a very different game, but like today there were some really wild characters to mke the game all the more interesting. The 1934 Cardinals, "The Gashouse Gang" were an exciting, odd collection of great ball payers who played for the love of the game in a way we wish today's players did.
If you love baseball you won't be able to put this down, and even if you don't it will be too intriquing to stop reading once you start. Well written, well researched and as entertaining as anything I've read this season. Highly reccommended!
The Gashouse Gang Personalities.......2007-09-15
This book climbs to the top wrung of my baseball ladder. Rather than a statistical or play-by-play book so common in baseball pages, this features personality development of some of the wackiest players of all time. Learn that Ducky Joe should have been Mean Joe, that Leo the Lip couldn't handle relationships, or that Dizzy Dean was really Jerome or Jay or Hanna or Herman, maybe that he was from Arkansas or Oklahoma or Texas -- well, you get it.
This book captures the thrill of a season and the joy of a team effort. It really makes you think of the Oakland Athletics of the Catfish days.
Just one observation: John Heidenry missed the point of the moniker, "Gashouse Gang." He can't figure out where it came from. He even ponders how "Gas Tank" became "Gashouse." During that day, electricity was provided by manufactured gas plants, sometimes called "witch's brew." The main structure was known as the "gashouse." The working class fellows who toiled away in those dirty gashouses were known as "the gashouse gangs." They cursed, they played dirty and hilarious tricks on each other, they had great and sour dispositions -- necessary to get through the tough days, and yes, their clothes were always filthy. Sound like the beloved Gashouse Gang?
Snag this book, and you will enjoy several hours of quiet time, if you can block out your own laughter.
Me 'n' Paul.......2007-09-02
In baseball, 1934 was a year to remember, a year in which the Saint Louis Cardinals, a scruffy team of misfits and malcontents, came from almost the graveyard to win the National League pennant, and then the World Series. While we learn a tremendous amount about the Cardinals, and especially the Dean brothers, Dizzy and Paul, there are others about whom we receive thumbnail biographies. Most importantly, Branch Rickey is focused upon for much of the early part of the book, and just reading about this remarkable man is sufficient reason to study this book. Other famous players make cameo appearances: Babe Ruth, Mel Otto, Mickey Cochrane, Leo Durocher, and Pie Traynor, with whom I was once priviledged to have an extensive conversation about baseball when I was in college. I also remember listening to Dizzy on the television announcing(?) games and talking about all kinds of extraneous subjects other than the game he was supposed to be calling. Of course, Dizzy is the centerpiece of this book, and he strides through it like a colossus. He did things then that would not be tolerated by a basseball organization today, and perhaps we are the pooorer for not having men such as him (and Curt Flood)to challenge what is considered the "right" way to act as a porfessional ball player. He's gone, and so are all of those famous old-timers, and the world misses them!
Great Father's Day gift.......2007-07-12
I gave this book to my 60 year old father for Father's Day. He hasn't read a book in years but is a huge baseball fan. He loved the book and stayed up late into the night reading it. Great for a Cardinals or baseball fan!
RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "73 YEARS AFTER WINNING THE WORLD SERIES "THE GASHOUSE GANG" ST LOUIS CARDINALS HAVE A BOOK!".......2007-06-13
Before I give you the details of this book, let me save some people their valuable time, by telling you who this book would appeal to! Old School Baseball fanatics, "Baseball Historians", Saint Louis Cardinal fans. If you think the designated hitter rule is good for baseball this book isn't for you.
73 years after the famous (To the above listed people.) Saint Louis Cardinals, hereafter known as "The Gashouse Gang", won the World Series, they have had an excellent book released on their exploits and accomplishments. As a self-acclaimed baseball fanatic, some of the statistics, and idiosyncrasies, I discovered in this book about famous old time players that I already knew about, were both interesting and amusing. The author's writing style is not anything you'll remember as out of the ordinary, since so much of the meat of the book, you can tell is repeated from old newspaper articles. But the detailed, meticulous, research should be applauded. As I've mentioned in my earlier reviews, I've read literally hundreds of baseball books, and memorized half the "Encyclopedia Of Baseball" when I was 10 years old, yet I learned even more details and amusing personality "quirks" of some of the old-time stars. I of course already knew that Dizzy Dean was a great pitcher, in the Hall Of Fame, and the last National League pitcher to win 30 games. What I didn't know, but learned here, was the absolute bottom of the barrel poverty he came from in the historically famous "dust bowl"! I knew he was a "wacky" character, but I didn't know, it went to the extent of him literally being the Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, of the baseball world in the 1930's, before there was an Ali. I didn't know that Dizzy held out and boycotted games, in a demand for an increased contract, in the middle of the season. I also got to learn much more about the great Ducky Medwick, (The last National League Player to win the Triple Crown 70 years ago.) who was one of my dear departed Mother's favorite players, when he later played on the Brooklyn Dodgers. I never knew he was such a New Jersey, street fighting, chip on the shoulder, ready to fight anyone, including his own teammates, type of guy! I learned more than I ever had known about what led up to one of the biggest name trades in baseball history, Rogers Hornsby for Frankie Frisch. The detailed background on Branch Rickey, before his famous relationship with Jackie Robinson, was also expertly detailed. The almost blow by blow reporting on the 1934 World Series between the Gashouse Gang and the star studded Detroit Tigers makes you feel like you were there. I could go on and on, but like I said in my opening sentences, these facts, that are exciting and educational to me, would only be exciting to the type of people I described in my opening.
Customer Reviews:
Informative, simplistic wake-up call.......2007-10-10
There is a great deal of useful and important information presented by the author. I did find him repeating certain information more than once in the book. I understand this is sometimes done to bring continuity to an argument but I found it to be a little overdone. His straight-forward writing style is easy to read and follow which, while a bit simplistic, makes the book accessible to a very wide audience. Additionally, while the author points out the many problems China's exploding industrialization is bringing to the world he offers very few solutions. The solutions that are presented are relegated to the last chapter with little detail.
In spite of these things it is critically important that the information in this publication get out to as many people as possible. I highly recommend this book as a wake-up call to the world.
Very Very bad.......2007-10-07
The book makes the most bad cases for the sake of sounding coherent.
Only people who think that America is being oppressed will like this book.
Not saying that there are no Environmental problems from China. Which country is the one that is still the world's leading polluter. The one that I'm in: USA.
Bad book. What a waste of time.
Simplistic and exaggerating.......2007-10-04
This book is written for the American far-rightists: it's preachy rhetoric of protectionist policies is a sure-fire sign to stay away.
China should be looked at objectively. There are positives and negatives to China's current policies; but hey, this isn't any different from US policies as well. If this kind of a book came out about the United States, I'd bet the same people praising this book would come out denouncing that one as destructive and evil.
As for this one, I suggest passing on it. There are many books and documentaries that better chronicle China's ascendancy to becoming a global superpower and the subsequent problems that accompany this transition. The world must learn to embrace China and its change, and not become scared off by it, because this will only encourage recoil and reaction. This author's dialogue is dangerous for Sino-US relations.
Eye-opening!.......2007-08-20
This book will give you a look at China you probably did not know. Other books you might have read praised China for its economic growth; but at what cost? The author will show you the evil side of China.
According to the author, China is using slaves. Some corrupt organizations are employing unpaid workers, satisfying them only with food and shelter. When such `slaves' try to rebel, asking for wages to be paid, they are quickly quieted down by corrupt police. The police also sometimes hire gangsters to threaten and scare these `slaves'. Over the past decade, the number of protests and riots in China has risen to nearly 100,000 annually. People are being pushed beyond tolerance as the Chinese countryside becomes a slave labor camp and dumping ground for every imaginable pollutant. The peasantry is being sucked dry by government tax collectors. Corrupt local government officials seize land on behalf of developers, pocket the monies that are supposed to compensate villagers, and then enlist local gangsters to quell protests. In the big cities, unpaid construction workers leap to their deaths in protest of wages that go unpaid. Furthermore, the Chinese government imposes few health and safety or environmental regulations on its corporations. What rules do exist are only weakly enforced, evaded, or simply ignored. These events might ignite an internal war within China; within its own people. After all, as the Chinese know well, it takes only a spark to ignite a field.
China has become the world's largest pirate nation. Chinese modern buccaneers, with the strong support of their government, are not just stealing software and Hollywood movies on DVDs. They are counterfeiting the entire alphabet of goods--from air conditioners, automobiles, brake pads, razors, refrigerators, and the world's most recognizable pharmaceuticals such as Lipitor and Viagra. This is posing grave health risks to hundreds of millions of people. The author asks the reader to consider the following: Your father almost dies from a massive heart attack because the "Lipitor" prescription he filled on the Internet was laced with Chinese fakes; and your mother breaks her hip because the phony medication she took for osteoporosis was nothing more than molded Chinese chalk. Counterfeit drugs kill people! Even Harry Potter novels are counterfeit. In one counterfeit version, Harry Potter gets turned into a fat dwarf! Furthermore, we've all heard of laptop batteries exploding. Those batteries were manufactured in China. China is destroying the global intellectual property law protections vitally needed to spur innovation, and is costing international corporations billions of dollars in lost revenue per year due to piracy. Is this fair? Should the world do nothing about this?
China has now emerged as one of the world's biggest dope dealers, exporting cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy worldwide. As a result, China's banking system is becoming an important hub for global money laundering. Americans are dying and committing crimes as a result of Chinese made hard drugs. The Chinese government knows about the drug manufacturing and trafficking, but overlooks this problem. Should the world stay quiet and nonreactive as tons and tons of Chinese illicit drugs are dumped worldwide?
With claim to 16 of the world's 20 dirtiest cities in the world, China is now the most polluted nation on Earth, with its toxic emissions now spreading well beyond its borders. Already, most Chinese cities make Los Angeles look like a Swiss village. Dust storms regularly rise up from China to the Mongolian desert and blanket Korea and Japan with tons upon tons of toxics-laden dust. Chinese smog regularly hitchhikes along the jet stream, and descends thousands of miles away in big cities such as Los Angeles and Vancouver and to pristine towns such as Aspen. With its coal plants and rapidly multiplying automobile fleet, China will soon eclipse the United States as the single largest contributor to global warming.
China has almost 100 cities with more than a million people each, and fully two thirds of these large Chinese cities fail to meet World Health Organization air-quality standards. China is the world leader in the sulfur-dioxide emissions--a key ingredient of photochemical smog. Smog kills by attacking both the heart and lungs. China produces the second highest CO2 emissions in the world, and it will surpass the world-leading United States over the next several decades. Furthermore, China releases 600 tons of mercury into the air annually, nearly a fourth of the world's non-natural emissions. Mercury is particularly harmful to the nervous system. China is also the world leader in substances that deplete the world's ozone layer--substances that also increase the likelihoods of cancer and acid rain, which severely damages forests, fisheries, and crops. As much as 50% of the acid rain in Japan and Korea is of Chinese origin. How should the world face this growing environmental problem that is affecting the whole globe?
China shipped ballistic missiles, sophisticated weaponry, naval cruisers, and transferred nuclear weapons technologies to the Iranian regime, used its diplomatic veto in the United Nations to sanction genocide in the Sudan, and facilitated the looting of public treasuries by dictators in oil- and mineral-rich African countries from Angola to Zimbabwe. From Brazil, Cuba, and Venezuela to Equatorial Guinea and the Ivory Coast, China dangles lavish, low-interest loans and sophisticated weapons systems as bait. It then uses its "weapons of mass construction''--a huge army of engineers and laborers--to build everything; from roads and dams to parliament buildings and palaces. After these countries are driven ever deeper into China's debt, China's quid pro quo is the rapid extraction of the country's raw materials--Bolivian tin, Chilean copper, Cuban nickel, Congolese cobalt, gold from Sierra Leone, Rwandan tungsten, and the vast mineral wealth of South Africa. As China's `new colonies' transfer billions in bribes to their Swiss bank accounts, the peasants these despots rule over slide ever deeper into poverty. Should the world take action and stop China from its imperialist motives?
China is the dam-happiest place on Earth. With far too little water and far too much of that water horribly polluted, and the once-mighty Yellow River dry for more than 200 days a year, China is facing a severe water problem. Already angry farmers pit against encroaching industrialists, millions of displaced 'peasants with pitchforks' against corrupt government officials, and downstream versus upstream provinces. China is constructing mega-dams on the Mekong River despite the strong protests of the downstream countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Will these disputes drag into a war with its neighboring countries that might pull the rest of the world into another World War?
Who hasn't heard of `The China Price'? They are the three scariest words in U. S. industry. Cut your price at least 30% or lose your customers. China's undervalued currency encourages undervalued Chinese exports to the U.S. and discourages U.S. exports because U.S. exports are artificially overvalued. Is this fair? Should the U.S. stand idle or take action against China on this outrage?
China uses an old Soviet base of operations in Cuba to eavesdrop electronically on the United States for both military and commercial espionage purposes. Equally troubling to U.S. defense analysts, China is helping Brazil develop sophisticated satellite and satellite-tracking technologies. Such capabilities can be used to track U.S. satellites and, in time of war, could assist China in destroying U.S. military satellites out of the skies. China has already successfully knocked-off one of its satellites in space by firing a missile at it. Is this a sign of an imminent war with China?
China might force Japan to become nuclear and arm itself, creating a nuclear hot zone in the area, with North Korea already a nuclear nation. Are we on the verge of a nuclear war?
This is really a fascinating book and I highly recommend it. But as a side note, replace all of the words `China' with `United States' in this review and ask yourself, "Is China an evil nation or are all nations just as evil?"
Another Western Bias towards China, this time with a scare tactic.......2007-08-17
China starting a war? How about US started several useless war in:
Fact:
1) Vietnam (pointless war)
2) Iraq (pointeless war)
3) Korea (Pointeless war)
4) Cold war (it was not real war-just paranoia)
5) Colombia (pointless war-cocaine is still in the US)
Fact: The US has killed several millions of native of Americans, Blacks and Mexican Americans, IRAQUIS, etc, etc. Please don't make yourself look good comparing to a 3rd world country like China. Pick someone of your own size.
***get my point? This book is to scare people again, because United States feels threatened by China. China will not start a war; they can hardly feed everyone there! Just because they have a different point of view, and they might just become competitors, but it does not make them enemies.
BE AWARE OF THIS BOOK, MILITARY PROPAGANDA AGAIN, LET'S NOT REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKE AS THE ONE WE ARE DOING IN IRAQ. SHAME ON THE AUTHOR WHO WROTE THIS BOOK.
Amazon.com
Gates, director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1991 to 1993, began in an entry level position and rose to the top. His insider's account of the Cold War, CIA operations and the unraveling of the Soviet Union is sprinkled with revelations including the fact that 1983 was the most dangerous year in U.S.-U.S.S.R. relations and that both the CIA and KGB sponsored countless "black operations" designed to embarrass and discredit the other side. Gates also reveals that he secretly met with KGB foreign operations chief Vladimir Kryuchkov on two separate occasions and how the CIA often acted in contempt of Congress. While none of this may come as a huge surprise, it never fails to shock when it's laid out in black and white by someone who was on the inside.
Customer Reviews:
"From the Shadows" by Robert M. Gates.......2007-10-01
Absolutely fascinating! Mr. Gates is an excellent writer and is able to make complicated information easy to follow. And what an insight he gave to the Presidents he worked for; he didn't have an axe to grind with any of them, even though they represented both political parties.
This is a book I enjoyed so completely that I hated to reach the end of it. It will be on my personal "re-read" list. No wonder Mr. Gates was selected to become Secretary of Defense in our nation's hour of need.
Engages the eyes and mind.......2006-11-17
Rarely do you run across a historical book that is so chocked full of names, dates and acronyms that engages your mind as you push to reader faster. Gates delivers great insight wrapped in words that are illustrative of the push and pull of power players - within and between government bodies - domestic and global. If you are curious about the claims of one party or the other concerning the end of the Cold War, then this book will prove to be enlightening. All contributed to the demise, but perhaps none more than the Soviets themselves. Great read. Engaging. Insightful. Illuminating. Perhaps now more than ever before this a read that helps look at the challenges we, as a global community, face today. Buy it. Read it. Gain perspective.
View from the inside.......2006-10-01
The CIA is probably the one institution that the US President controls the most; or so this book argues. Robert M. Gates spent over two decades working at the CIA, and is one of the few career officials who came in near the bottom and rose all the way to the top. This book is his memoir, and recollection of how the CIA served 5 consecutive presidents in the Cold War. Starting with Richard Nixon, and ending with the first George Bush, Gates shows how each president used, and sometimes abused, the CIA to further their policies with regard to the USSR and communist parties around the world.
The major points one gets from this book are as follows. First, Carter was no wimp with regard to the USSR. Second, the most dangerous years of the Cold War did not end with Vietnam; they included some years in the 1980's. Third, the CIA consistently disregards the laws of the US. Fourth, the CIA often gets suckered into doing thing at the whim of the president that it later regrets. Last, the first George Bush was probably one of the best diplomats the US has seen in recent times. Over all, this was a very good book and I am glad I read it.
Intense Reading - great enjoyment.......2002-09-18
Excellent account of what really goes on from the inside of the govt. They say that truth is better than fiction. This is true in a big way in this book. You will recall many of the events in not too distant history. They come alive in this book and history makes more sense. Intense reading - be sure to underline the names to keep track of the huge cast of characters. A big Aggie thumb's up for this one!
Informative but dry.......2002-07-23
Gates had access to some of the most fascinating characters in the history of the Cold War. His observations are incisive and revealing about many of these personalities; however, his book often reads like one might imagine a CIA memo reads, rather dry. The book provides feedback on several important historical instances but it does not go into much depth on any. I do not recommend it as a book used to learn the history of that era. Instead I would read it to gain a further understanding of what went on behind the scenes.
In general, I find Gates to be an interesting character himself. He has some hilarious anecdotes about life in the CIA. Such as when he is walking up the steps of Air Force One and turns to flip off several of the top officials (I think it was) in Romania after they botch his passport. In addition to a often dry sense of humor he also seems to have a great deal of character and integrity.
Amazon.com
Without the invention of radar, Europe--and possibly even the world--might today be under Fascist rule. This well-written, technically accurate, and even exciting account captures the urgency of the race to win World War II, the people behind the magnetrons, screens and antennae, and the use of radar in the cold war. Another extraordinary volume from the Sloan Foundation Technology Series, and Highly Recommended.
Customer Reviews:
radar.......2007-07-24
The first half of this book concentrates on the initial idea and realization of radar as a concept and it's a fascinating one.
In the 1930's, Britain, sensing a threat from Hitler's Germany, began researching ways to bolster its defenses. It was found that when ships or planes passed by radio towers, the signals were diffused and broken. Individuals associated with the government and military began investigating this odd phenomenon.
And so, the development of radar began, with the biggest help from William "Taffy" Bowen, a Welsh engineer who developed the cavity magnetron which was the principal component of the radar package. In the early phase of the war, Bowen, took the magnetron to America under the greatest secrecy.
Reading the first half of this story, I found a familiar and contemporary ring to the elements: namely, that when a technological breakthrough is made, the easy part is tweaking it until it becomes more useful in more ways - thus the magnetron went from lab component to RAF planes in just a few years.
Buderi doesn't give us the thriller treatment; that's for guys like Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler. But, the story of radar's role in WWII is riveting enough. The rest of the book is devoted to the peacetime uses of radar - weather forecasting, plane guidance, even astronomy.
Excellent history, a bit light on the technology.......2006-12-14
In spite of its shortcomings as a technical book, which it is not, this is an excellent read, for the engineer as well as the historian. I enjoyed it and have reread it a couple of times. Towards the end it is a bit weak as the maser and microwave excitement pales alongside the war accomplishements, on both sides of the pond. I was dissapointed to visit MIT and find the Rad Lab building gone, but alas, time marches on. Read it and enjoy!
Great story but, a little bit too complex.......2004-02-03
This kind of books is the one that is capable of make you stop and think of the world history and what happens behind our backs. It is a splendid book, with a great story and very good technical details. However, the author losts itself among complex scientific data (especially about quantum theory) that is not available to everyone, including myself (so I merelly skip those parts). It was very interesting.
Really Two Books - The First Great, The Second Lacking.......2000-12-04
This book is really two books in one, the first being an outline of the development of radar immediately prior to and during World War II. This part takes up the first 245 pages of the book, is extremely well organized and plays out the complete development and deployment of radar during World War II. This early part takes you through the people and organizations that were behind radar's development, as well as a very top level view of the technology used to create the device. The author walks you through a very good description of radar's development on a global scale, outlining how the US and UK led the development, why Germany was only slightly further behind, and why Japan was so lagging. Mr. Buderi takes several major battles, including the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Midway, and outlines the significance of radar in those battles and how it truly was the winning weapon of the war. This part of the book clearly rates 5 stars, and makes the whole text worth purchasing.
The second part of the book, which takes up the final 233 pages, is less organized and much less linear in its thought development. While this lack of organization does reflect the decentralization of radar development following WWII, it does not make this section any easier to read. While the development or radar as an astronomical tool, its deployment and adoption at civilian airports and the use of its underlying technologies in the development of integrated circuit are all significant, their depiction as essential parts of the story is lacking. The second part ranks 2 stars, and is good reference material, but should be read on a chapter by chapter basis, as that appears to be how they were written.
In summary, the first part is great - 5 stars, the second part was less a book, but more a stringing together of engineering stories and earned only 2 stars. I gave it a weighted average of 4.
Favorite Excerpts:
"I never read books - they interfere with thinking." - Paul Dirac to Robert Oppenheimer (page 48)
"It didn't make me more enemies than I cared about, because the enemies that you have to worry about are smart enemies, and smart people didn't get mad at me unless they had a good reason to." - George Valley Jr. (page 183)
"Some of my friends seemed to know every year model of every car, that seemed to me so temporary and uninteresting. Nature is such a permanent aspect of our universe, and so obviously God-made." -Charles Townes (page 336)
"We had the authority and influence that came from being indispensable." - Jay Forrester (page 397)
Required reading for prospective engineers.......1998-12-01
A superb piece of work. Anyone contemplating a career in physics or engineering should read this book. If Buderi's descriptions of the technical chase don't thrill and inspire you, strongly consider directing your efforts elsewhere.
Book Description
A meticulous study of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the principal architect of victory in the Pacific during World War II.
Customer Reviews:
The Story of America's Greatest Admiral and his Men.......2005-02-24
After the Pearl Harbor disaster, President Roosevelt decided to relieve Admiral Husband Kimmel of his Pacific Fleet command. Many thought that Kimmel was made out to be a scapegoat and did not deserve to be relieved, but Roosevelt felt that a new commander was needed to lift America out of the ashes of Pearl harbor and begin the road to ultimate victory. The man chosen for the task was Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
Nimitz was chosen over many higher-ranking officers, but in the end, Nimitz proved to be the perfect choice to lead the American Navy. Blessed with a keen sense of fairness to his fellow man, this fine book examines Nimitz and his admirals and how they ultimately won the war in the Pacific.
Although Nimitz was considered a "calm tower of strength" and the principal architect of victory in the Pacific, he could not have accomplished this feat alone. His choices of supporting staff members and Admirals are the ones who, in the end, helped win the war for the United States.
This book examines many of Nimitz' Admirals, but four really stand out above the rest: Ray Spruance, Bill Halsey, Kelly Turner, and Marc Mitscher. Halsey was the fire and brimstone commander who fearlessly took on the Japanese in the early days of the war. He also said that after he was finished, the only place where the Japanese language would be spoken was in hell. Spruance was the antithesis of Halsey. Calm and cerebral, Spruance endeared himself to Nimitz with his careful consideration of the task at hand. It was said that Halsey could win a battle, but Spruance could win a campaign. Turner was cut from the same mold as Halsey. Fearless and intimidating, even to a fault, Turner was the architect of the brilliant amphibious landings of the war. Meanwhile, Mitscher was in charge of the fast carriers and endeared himself to his fliers by lighting up his entire force's lights to help bring the boys home after a nighttime raid against the Japanese. In the end, it was Nimitz' use of these important men that ultimately won the war for the United States.
This book, written by historian Edwin P. Hoyt, does a fine job of explaining the transition of the U.S. Navy from a weakened and busted fleet early in the war to the offensive juggernaut that it became by the time of Japan's surrender. Each important naval battle is discussed, and the role of Nimitz and his commanders is explained. Form the dark days of January 1942 to the ultimate victory in September 1945, Nimitz' navy fought the Japanese tooth and nail, and, more often than not, came out on top. The book also discusses the inter-service rivalries that existed between the Army and Navy, as well as the rise of the "young turks", or the Naval Aviator Flag Officers. I recommend this book very highly. It does a very good job of explaining Nimitz' role in the Pacific war, as well as that of his commanders. Read it and learn about one of the greatest commanders and leaders our country has ever had.
How They Won the War in the Pacific, Hoyt.......2003-01-18
Outstanding history of the war in the Pacific. Great profiles of Nimitz, Fletcher, Halsey, Spruance, and others. Easy to read. I hated to finish it!
Not very informative.......2002-03-11
The U.S. command in the pacific theater is one of the most underreported of the war. And yet this command was the most innovative of any command of any power in WWII. They invented a totally new type of warfare and quickly learned to execute it exceptionally well.
And they also made do with so little, winning Midway and holding Guadacanal by the skin of their teeth. The ability to know exactly where to fight and how is an incredible story.
Does this book get that? Yes, some of it. But for a book that revolves around this, it gets suprisingly little. The U.S. submarine fleet sunk half the Japanese ships and basically isolated Japan from it's raw material sources. Yet it's not mentioned in this book.
Add to that no real mention of how the Navy learned to develop amphibious warfare and to combine that with strong carrier support. And what you are left with is another book that just goes through the main battles of the pacific war, with a bit more emphasis on the admirals in charge.
Nimitz and his admirals.......2001-01-09
Excellent detailed review of WW II in the Pacific with all the personalities and "backstabbing" of the commanders that went on.Much of the details were not released to the media at the time. Many of the leaders mentioned went on to become the Chief of Naval Operations later on. I had the privelege of calling on Nimitz and his wife in 1963 and he related the story of his ship grounding detailled in the book. This book was "released" in 1970. Why is it so late (2000) in being published? Would loved to have read it before meeting Nimitz and his son.Could have used more maps of some of the places being discussed.
Book Description
Illus. in full color. "An ancient history lesson emerges from this account of the way the Greeks tricked the Trojans and rescued Helen of Troy. The book is well tailored to younger readers with careful explanations and short sentences; a pronunciation guide is appended. Drawings portray the story's main events. A nice supplement to units on ancient Greece or mythology."--Booklist.
Customer Reviews:
My favorite for the elementary set.......2007-09-14
I read several 'Trojan War' books while trying to decide which to use for my 7-year-olds. I liked this one the best. It had nice illustrations and the story flowed fairly well. The author cut out A LOT, but I felt it appropriate for this age group. No blood and guts here!
This is not the definitive story of the Iliad. But it works as a gentle introduction for 1st through 3rd graders. Even my 3-year-old listened in. I found them re-enacting the story for days afterward and it was a constant topic at dinner.
The next time around (5th grade) I'll use Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus. I think they're fantastic retellings of the story, just a bit much for my little ones right now.
Good Enough.......2006-04-25
This book was good enough, or at least better than nothing, but considering the excitement of the topic it could have been written in a MUCH more engaging manner. The sentences are short and choppy and the whole narrative is just a bit blah. It didn't even mention that Helen was "the face that launched a thousand ships." How can you tell the story of the Trojan war without mentioning that?
Overall, though, it was a good way to tell the story to my first grader. I'll still keep my eyes open for a more exciting version.
The kids loved it.......2005-05-12
Although it is written in a more no-nonsense, simplistic,and factual style than many other books on the topic, my kids (ages 6-12) were enthralled. They talked about it constantly for many days after.
Review.......2002-03-13
This is about King Spartas and his wife, Helena. Helena runs off with a Trojan man and she falls in love with him. This angers the king so he gathers an army of Greek troops too to go retrieve his wife. The Greeks made a plan to get into the city of troy and take Helena from the Trojans. They built a huge wooden horse and they set it outside the shores of troy. Once it was inside the city, the Greek troops that were hiding inside came out and attacked the city of Troy. They ended up winning the battle and getting the girl back.
I think this book did a really good job at describing the events that took place in the battle to get Helena back. I think it is a good book for children to read cause it can tell them about the story while keeping their attention. I think a lot of books that are about mythology do not good a good job in that aspect but this one did. I think the author was trying to write a book about the Trojan wars that would really grab a child's attention and this one does.
good history resource.......2000-04-11
This step into reading book is geared for 2-4 grades. The chapters are short and fully illustrated. The sentences are kept short but the story still remains interesting. There is a pronunciation guide at the back of the book for those unusual names like Menelaus. Great reading for a unit study on Ancient Greece.
Book Description
For the first time ever, veteran World War II cryptographer Hervie Haufler details how American and British codebreakers were the decisive factor in the Allied victory. From the Purple Machine to the Navajo Talkers to the breaking of Japan's JN-25 Naval Code to the shadowy world of decoding units like Hut-8 in Bletchley Park, he shows how crucial information-often obtained by surreptitious and violent means-was the decisive edge in the Battle of Britain, at Midway and against the U-Boats in the North Atlantic, and how Allied intelligence saved the Soviet Union from almost certain defeat.
In an accessible account based on years of research, interviews and exclusive access to previously top-secret archives, Haufler demonstrates how cryptography enabled Nimitz and MacArthur to persevere in the Pacific and helped Eisenhower and Patton mount the assaults on Normandy. In compelling detail, Haufler shows us how it was done-as only one who was on the frontlines of the "secret war" could tell it.
Customer Reviews:
Haufler v. Keegan.......2004-02-17
It is ironic that Hervie Haufler's book, "Codebreakers' Victory," was published at the same time that John Keegan's book, "Intelligence in War" came out. In the first sentence of his book, Keegan, an otherwise astute observer of military affairs, asks "How useful is intelligence in war?" Keegan's answer is, not very useful. He should have read Haufler. Though it contains only a little primary research, Haufler's compilation from solid sources collected over his lifetime is a major contribution to the study of intelligence during World War II. For battle after battle, on every front of the war, Haufler makes a solid case that intelligence has made a difference-in many cases a significant difference. It is unfortunate that Haufler is less well known than Keegan. I fear it may cause some to overlook Haufler's valuable book. It should not. Haufler writes in an easily readable style (in contrast to Keegan), and recognizes that, while intelligence may not win a battle or a war, it can make all the difference. Prior to this book, those interested in the role of intelligence in WWII would have needed to consult scores of books and articles to get this same picture. Haufler has done that work for us and has collected from the best the information in this volume. It needs noting that he does contribute some important primary research in the form of interviews with several WWII cryptanalysts. Haufler's only hyperbole is contained in his sub-title--"How the Allied Cryptographers Won World War II". That, one can hope, was added by his publishers and not by him.
Customer Reviews:
One sided but interesting.......2005-08-01
A bit one sided, but what can you expect. Still a very interesting perspective on Pepsi's strategy throughout history and especially during the cola wars. Must have been an exciting time to work for the company. Lots of interesting business/branding issues.
You may also want to read something by Sergio Zyman who was CMO for Coke at thew time, now of Zyman Group to get a wider perspective. He's written `The End of Marketing as We Know It' , `The End of Advertising as We Know It' , `Renovate Before You Innovate : Why Doing the New Thing Might Not Be the Right Thing'
, `Building Brandwidth: Closing the Sale Online' ...
But yes I definitely enjoyed this book about Pepsi.
Tom Anderson
Anderson Analytics, LLC
http://www.andersonanalytics.com
Well....................................2003-06-05
This book is a nice history tool. Whoever who was there at the eighties would remember the epic "Colas war" between Pepsi and Coke. You could have a lot of insights about advertising, diversification and marketing at the time with this book. Problems are: (1) This is obviusly biased, for Enrico couldn't write a book granting any victory to Coke; (2) What happened next: Goizueta became sort of brahman of the business community of America and the main topic of Enrico's book (the debacle of New Coke due, according to him, to Coke's despair because of the excellent performance of Pepsi which in turn lead to this well-rememberede disaster) has became a classic case of how a leader turns a catastrophe into a golden opportunity. Of course, debacle it was when the book was written and I bought all the insights of Enrico, but almost 20 years after it doesn't seem such a problem at all. At the end, in spite of this book, considering the market value of Coke and the results of its planning, probably it was Coke's army leaded by Goizueta who won the war if it was a war at all, since nobody call like this any more.
Well....................................2003-06-05
This book is a nice history tool. Whoever who was there at the eighties would remember the epic "Colas war" between Pepsi and Coke. You could have a lot of insights about advertising, diversification and marketing at the time with this book. Problems are: (1) This is obviusly biased, for Enrico couldn't write a book granting any victory to Coke; (2) What happened next: Goizueta became sort of brahman of the business community of America and the main topic of Enrico's book (the debacle of New Coke due, according to him, to Coke's despair because of the excellent performance of Pepsi which in turn lead to this well-rememberede disaster) has became a classic case of how a leader turns a catastrophe into a golden opportunity. Of course, debacle it was when the book was written and I bought all the insights of Enrico, but almost 20 years after it doesn't seem such a problem at all. At the end, in spite of this book, considering the market value of Coke and the results of its planning, probably it was Coke's army leaded by Goizueta who won the war if it was a war at all, since nobody call like this any more.
A must read book for every young executive!.......1999-05-07
While reading this book, I actually felt like I was in Pepsi's corporate headquarters, in Purchase New York, listening in on their strategic planning and implementation. Roger Enrico wrote this book when he was just the president of Pepsi USA. He tells a great story of the underdog going to battle with the giant. Today Enrico is the CEO of Pepsi CO, and responsible for the spin off that created the new company Tricon. Reading this book will emphasize one's understanding of the importance and value of having a good mentor. Also, after reading Enrico's accounts of the "cola wars" one may never want to watch television or go to the movies again, because all of the real life drama is created by the competition that corporate America thrives on. Enrico points out that Pepsi alone sells enough soft drinks in a year to float an entire armada, and then proposes the question "why?" As he says, water is a lot cheaper and booze provides a better kick. Its all about great marketing. Once I picked the book up, I couldn't put it down.
Book Description
A sneak attack by an enemy power leaves thousands of Americans dead. A minority group in America is harassed for its ties to a foreign country. A worldwide conflict tests our resolve in combat abroad and our commitment to justice, equality, and liberty at homeÂ…
Within months after Pearl Harbor, 110,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly “evacuated” from the West Coast, losing their jobs, their property, and their homes. In less than a year, they were “relocated” and incarcerated in desolate camps throughout the West, Southwest, and South. Yet, incredibly, thousands of young men from the camps joined the Army, to defend the country that had denied them their rights. This is the dramatic story of the segregated Japanese American 100th Battalion/442d Regimental Combat Team — and what they did to affirm their full citizenship. As Gen. Jacob L. Devers put it, in World War II the soldiers of the 100th/442d had “more than earned the right to be called just Americans, not Japanese Americans.”
During the fall of 1944, the combat team made headlines when it rescued the “lost battalion” of the 36th “Texas” Division. At the same time, with the 1944 elections looming, the Roosevelt Administration was debating whether to close the camps. And while the soldiers of the 100th/442d were sacrificing their lives in Europe, the Supreme Court was deciding the infamous Korematsu and Endo cases, which challenged the notion that “military necessity” justified the “relocation.”
Through interviews with surviving veterans, archival research, maps, and photos, Robert Asahina has reconstructed these fateful events of October-November 1944. From breathless battle scenes, masterfully handled in all their detail; to the unbreakable bonds of friendship in the field; to heart- wrenching stories of loss and discrimination on the mainland and in Hawaii, Just Americans tells the story of what Gen. George C. Marshall called the “most decorated unit in American military history for its size and length of service.” It is also the story of soldiers in combat who were fighting a greater battle at home — a struggle that continues for minority groups today — over what it means to be an American.
BACKCOVER: “Bob Asahina's wonderful book more than does justice to the history of the 442d and the brave men who wore its patch and called it home. Just Americans will be news to many, and for that reason, if for no other, I hope it becomes required reading in high school and college history courses. I pray that the stories he tells become known far and wide, so that the Â`mistakesÂ' of our lamentable past may be less likely to be repeated.”
—Lucian K. Truscott IV, author of Dress Gray and Heart of War
“Many a survivor of that bitter 1944-45 winter of WWII will be happy to see the men of the 100th Battalion/442d Regimental Combat Team getting their bravery recognized. They became a legend among in the infantry units fighting in the Vosges Mountains.”
—Tony Hillerman, veteran of C Company, 410th Infantry, and best-selling author of the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee mysteries
“Just Americans is a wonderful account of a heroic wonder — people who gave everything for a country that seemed intent on taking everything away from them. If citizenship is earned, here are the Americans who most deserve their pay. If citizenship is bequeathed, here is freedomÂ's greatest legacy. If citizenship is a blessing, here are the patriot saints.”
—P.J. OÂ'Rourke, author of Peace Kills and Give War a Chance
"It was with American enthusiasm and Japanese tenacity that Japanese Americans overcame both persecution and resentment to fight most bravely on European battlefields in 1944-45, and Robert Asahina too needed both enthusiasm and tenacity to recover for history their doings and undoings. While adding to scholarship, the rich detail here masterfully presented makes for exciting reading."
—Edward N. Luttwak, historian, author of Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace, and Senior Adviser to The Center for Strategic & International Studies
Customer Reviews:
Very good study for the most part.......2007-07-22
Robert Asahina does a very good job at telling the story of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made up of predominantly Japanese Americans. A relative of Asahina's, interestingly, was in an entirely different Army unit and is nowhere to be mentioned in the book, other than on the dedication page: "To Shoichi Asahina, M.D., Captain, U.S. Army, 1943-45, 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Armored Division..." The "Sources" section contains some very good archival sources, especially where related U.S. Government files may be found.
The only demerit in the book is where Asahina sporadically makes comments on the evacuation and relocation issue, usually in agreement with modern re-interpretations of that period. Asahina, in fact, insists on placing key words in quotes, calling them euphemisms, which is typical with such authors who prefer activist terms such as "forced removal" and "concentration camps."
The major section containing the author's philosophical comments on these controversial issues can be found in the Appendix, which, frankly, could well have been omitted as it really has no bearing on the main subject matter. It is more of a ranting rebuttal of recent books by authors like Michelle Malkin and David Lowman. These authors, and two others, Lillian Baker and Keith Robar, Asahina relegates to a whole separate section in his bibliography -- the very last, in fact, titled "Revisionist Histories." Underneath the heading is this explanation: "The allegations and 'revelations' in these works must be regarded with considerable skepticism."
This is quite a statement coming from a man who apparently gives unqualified credence to the historical revisionism and re-interpretations of a good number of books he also includes in his bibliography, e.g. those by Daniels and Muller (see also my reviews on their books).
All things considered in the Appendix, Asahina adds nothing new to understanding the evacuation and relocation of the Nikkei during WWII. One excerpt, however, will suffice to show the author's bent on this issue:
"...the 'evacuation' made so little military sense that it can only be understood as the beginning stage of a sweeping social policy of 'relocating' a politically vulnerable minority group from a part of the country where much more powerful forces, reaching all the way to the White House, regarded its members as unwelcome."
One can easily see what this Army historian is saying here -- the U.S. military made a mistake, it was not military necessity, it was "social policy" (read racism). We have heard that charge before -- "race prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership" -- and Asahina parrots the same.
Asahina, along with others of his kind, utterly fail to mention the fact that the Issei were enemy aliens and the American public demanded something be done with them. We were at war with Japan; the Japanese Imperial forces were gaining great victories and ruled the Pacific arena. A very real issue also ignored is the fear of reprisals on the West Coast against the Nikkei, with a potential of civil unrest erupting into mass persecution of horrendous proportions. The real reason for the evacuation was clearly the protection of the Nikkei, who agreed themselves that this was the best policy, being quite relieved to live out the war in relocation centers. Call it what you may, but militarily it was a necessary decision during that war that Japan suddenly forced upon us.
Researchers looking for honesty in historical interpretations will not be satisfied with Asahina's views in the Appendix on the evacuation and relocation of the Nikkei during WWII. "Just Americans" need Asahina to be just honest... and drop the descriptor "Japanese" and really be "just an American."
Aside from those issues, this is a book that deserves a read in understanding more about those amazing men of the 100th and 442nd, one of whom is a dear neighbor friend of mine and who thought Asahina did a good job.
One of the best on the AJA battalions........2007-06-08
Robert Asahina's book on the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team is one of the best I've ever read on these brave men and their families. It has very compelling and personal descriptions of the battles these men fought, but what makes it stand out is the linking to the exile of Japanese Americans to internment camps, the political environment and decision-making regarding the treatment of Japanese Americans, and the huge personal, social, and economic costs borne by these loyal Americans during this period.
It is also well-researched, thoroughly sourced and cited, and brings the history up to current levels, including the awarding of the long overdue Medals of Honor to the AJA soldiers. It also discusses the analogies drawn with the post 9/11 environment in the US.
It doesn't cover all of the AJA experience in detail, primarily focusing on the European Theater and the US mainland, but I'd recommend it highly as a first book for anyone interested in this subject. It cites many books and reference materials for interested readers that you can follow up.
Excellent book.......2007-05-09
This is about the fifth book I have read on the 100/442. The author does an excellent job detailing the exploits of the unit and also skillfully ties in the human element. I would highly recommend this book to all.
Brian E Yamamoto
Excellent.......2007-05-07
I received the book in excellent condition. I was hesitant at first because it was so much cheaper than what it normally would cost but it looks brand new. The only flaw was a black mark on the binding. Other than that, there was nothing wrong with it.
A great story..........2006-07-04
I wouldn't have thought there was much new to say about the Japanese-American experience in WWII -- the internment at home, ad in particular incredible heroism of the soldiers in the famous "Go For Broke" 442d Regimental Combat Team and the "Lost Batallion". But Asahina fills out the story with interviews, maps, and pictures that brought it to life for me and made it relevant to modern issues about "racial profiling." I'm not of Japanese-American ancestry but I found this a terrific read.
Book Description
This is the original classic work by one of America's most respected modern military historians. It is a thrilling account of six extraordinary days in June 1967 when Israel embarked on a bold, risky war of national survival-and won!
Hammel decisively disproves the myth that Israel's stunning victory was a "miracle" or a "fluke" and reveals how a tiny nation was able to, in secret, develop a First-World military force that has become the envy of nations around the world.
Customer Reviews:
Awkward Israeli OohRa tilt.......2005-12-07
I will keep this short. The only necessary chapter to read is on the Zahal. the IDF. Much of the book depends on silly, childish praise for the realistically superior Israeli Force. So much so that it makes for pedantic reading. I do not recommend.
pretty comprehensive review of the war.......2003-07-02
The six days war is a pivital event in Middle East Politics after the second world war. Hammel provides an excellent detailed account of the war in six days in june.
Hammel splits the book into seven sections. The first is the road to war and gives a background into the origins in the conflict. Part two is entitled Zahal focusing on the Israel Defense Force. Countdown to War is part three and focuses on other armies like those of Egypt and Syria and the days leading up to the war. Part 4 deals with the war in the Sinai peninsula. Part 5 deals with Jerusalem. Parts six and seven deal with two of the most important issues of the war, the west bank and golan heights respectfully for these along with the gaza strip are a source for continuing conflict.
There are plenty of maps that help illustrate the history of the war. In addition, order of battle contains information on the different Israeli commands and forces involved.
Tactical Retelling of 1967 Six Day War.......2003-06-23
Hammel's "Six Days of War" is one of the best secondary sources available regarding the 1967 Six-Day War. It is written in a popular format rather than an academic research format although it does have extensive references and a large bibliography. The book is clearly intended for popular consumption rather than discussion of university academics. Hammel is a well-known military writer and has extensively written about WWII although this is his first foray into the volatile military environment of the Middle East.
Many read this book expecting a full account of the war including every aspect manageable: political, economic, military, etc. Hammel's specialty is military history from the tactical perspective (that is to say devoid of all but the most important political and economic factors) and this book is no exception. Hammel focuses very tightly upon analysis and retelling of the battles that occurred and the military factors that led
to them. This tendency leads Hammel to discuss the many terrorist intrusions into Israel that the Israeli military was forced to lean how to counter (a factor that contributed greatly to the effectiveness and readiness of the Israeli military), but to leave out much of the bitter inter-Arab politics preceding the 1967 Six Day War.
The book lacks footnotes, but has an excellent bibliography, which includes not only books, but periodicals and special studies. An additional bonus is a complete Order of battle for the Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian forces of the 1967 Six Day War.
I definitely prefer this well-written book to but A.J. Barker's "The Arab-Israeli Wars," which shows a unsettling bias towards the Arab side of the conflict.
I highly recommend this excellent account of the 1967 Six Day War.
In addition, I recommend the 2002 "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" by Michael B. Oren. This book has the most up-to-date research, extensive reference, and is bound to be regarding as a classic for historians regarding the Six Day War. As much as I've characterized Hammel's "Six Days of War" as the best secondary source popular history of the war, Oren's "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" functions as the best secondary source academic reference of the war.
Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan
Excellent Coverage Of A Vital Conflict........2002-05-30
Well written, informative account of the Six Day War and the events preceding it.
Cross border incursions into Israeli territory by Palestinian terrorists sponsored and supported by neighbouring Arab nations are outlined in some detail. The situation is very similar to that of today.
The author documents the UN situation and attitude in relation to these terrorist attacks. The UN response was muted even then.
The author documents the vastly outnumbered Israeli forces in comparison to their Arab counterparts and how the latter were supplemented by Iraqi and other Arab forces all eager to be part of the eradication of the Jewish state.
This is a must read for anyone interested in this ongoing conflict. Without the pre-emptive strike against Egyptian air power, the vastly outnumbered Israeli forces would have had their work cut out to survive a co-ordinated strike by the surrounding Arab nations. Unless you actually read the accounts from the time and the facts that then existed, it is easily to be mislead. The author has done a fine job here.
Interesting is the account of the Jordanian involvement, without which Israel clearly had no intent in re-taking the 'West Bank' (Judea & Samaria) or the Eastern section of Jerusalem. The detailed accounts of the Jordanian attack upon Israel thinking that the Egyptians had destroyed the Israeli air force, are worth reading in themselves.
Should have been better.......2000-03-05
This book is dedicated exclusively to the 1967 "Six-Day War," and I bought it with great anticipation. It's not bad, but it should have been much better. Hammel goes into details that enrich the story, but which, in too many instances, mean very little to the history of events. His prelude to the actual shooting isn't as clear nor as complete as it was expected, since he totally neglects the role of Intelligence in mapping the entire Golan Heights before 1967 and knowing exactly when and where to strike in the Sinai and deep into Egypt: that part of the war does not exist for Hammel, and without it Israel would not have won. Also, little or nothing is provided of the Arab leaders and their associates. Reading the "Arab-Israeli Reader" by Laqueur and Rubin, it's clear that Egyptians and Syrians expected a war, were relatively confident of victory, and were, in the end, totally unprepared for the swiftness and the accuracy of the Israeli blows. We get very little from Hammel, as if Israel had acted in a vacuum. The battle sections of the book are good but, again, the war ended on June 10, 1967, but it did not end, not really. Something more was needed. There was diplomacy, threats, and total confusion and incredulity in the Arab world. The book reads fast because it is well writen, but A.J. Barker's "The Arab-Israeli Wars" does a better job.
Books:
- The Last Full Measure
- The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal: Exploring the Ghost Fleet of the South Pacific
- The M-1 Helmet: A History of the U.S. M-1 Helmet in World War II
- The Madonnas of Leningrad: A Novel (P.S.)
- The Oath: A Surgeon Under Fire
- The Opium Wars: The Addiction of One Empire and the Corruption of Another
- The Pastry Queen: Royally Good Recipes from the Texas Hill Country's Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe
- The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power
- The Rescue
- The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback)
Books Index
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