Book Description
Geoff Hill takes the reader inside Robert Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF, and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change. The author has met with members of both parties who have been prepared to talk candidly with him, giving him behind-the-scenes information. The book considers the role of critics and observers - the role and treatment of the press within Zimbabwe, and the often contradictory responses to Mugabe from the international community. It also looks at the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans living in a collapsing economy. Finally, it considers Zimbabwe’s future - the challenge that lies ahead to rebuild the country.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant book.......2007-06-25
I absolutely loved this book. I read it with amazement as I compared the events of my time in Zimbabwe to the behind the scenes information presented in the book. I was amazed at just how much was never put on air for the general public to be aware of and also to know the depth of the people's convictions (even when they are wrong) and their willingness to act it out was very intriguing to me. Well written book I even learnt some things about my history I was unaware of. I can't wait for the next book.
Excellent book for a select audience.......2007-02-03
The title says it, his book is excellent, written very well, blending the facts and interviews in a flow that makes it easy to read, but i would say it could prove very hard reading if you are not familiar with the area or African politics. I would not give this book to someone to read unless they were from Zimbabwe or studying the history of the country.
What i enjoyed most, having lived in Zimbabwe until 2004 is the book explains the reasons behind what happened, even living in Zimbabwe all my life i have learnt facts i never knew before, it does not change the way i feel but it does give me greater understanding.
As i said, unless you are Zimbabwean, have lived in Zimbabwe or studying the history of the area, this book may prove tough going.
Indeed worth reading!!!.......2006-09-28
I am originally from Zimbabwe, but left in 1981. I was looking for
a book on the history and current situation on Zimbabwe that would
be informative and not dry. I feel very much more educated about
the various issues that have led this beautiful country to the
very sad situation it now finds itself in. I definately would
suggest others read it.
A solid piece.......2006-04-09
With a deep understanding and love for this magnificent country, Hill lays out an excellent expos? over Zimbabwe's rise and unfortunate fall under the rule of President Mugabe. By elegantly blending historical events with a large number of interviews from both ZANU-PF officials and the MDC opposition to ordinary Zimbabweans, Hill has created a solid piece that is thorough and analytical but yet easy-to-read. Highly recommended for any reader in search of the root and underlying causes to Zimbabwe's worsening plight.
how Zimbabwe's struggle for freedom was betrayed.......2005-08-30
Africa correspondent for the Washington Times who grew up in different countries of southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Hill gives a detailed account of the overthrow of the white-controlled government when the country was known as Rhodesia by indigenous black rebels and the subsequent cementing of the autocratic, often brutal rule of Robert Mugabe. Mugabe was one of the leaders of the insurrection and political leader of Zimbabwe (as the country was named after the end of white rule). To a large extent, this is the story of the murky circumstances whereby Mugabe became leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), including the assassination of its leader, and its role in helping to keep him in power. Instead of a bona fide political party in a democratic system, ZANU became the enforcement arm of Mugabe's one-man rule. Hill's chronicle of unfortunate Zimbabwe and biographical portrayal of its autocratic leader is a set piece in how things have gone wrong in many countries in Africa.
Average customer rating:
- Beware Sci-Fi Buffs
- The Final Countdown
- A nice time travel yarn with a naval twist
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Final Countdown
Charles Ryrie
Manufacturer: Victor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Eschatology
| Theology
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
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ASIN: 0882073478 |
Customer Reviews:
Beware Sci-Fi Buffs.......2001-12-21
Warning! This is NOT the story of the USS Nimitz time traveling back to Pearl Harbor! It is subtitled "God's blueprint for future events." After bringing up the title in Amazon's website, I read the review which indicated this WAS the Sci-Fi story and ordered it. When it arrived it was obviously NOT what I had in mind. Now my shipping charge will exceed the price of the book, so I am stuck with it. Don't make the same mistake!
The Final Countdown.......2000-04-09
This is for your information. The Final Countdown was authored by Martin Caidin.
A nice time travel yarn with a naval twist.......1998-10-07
Enjoyable story, much more detailed than the actual movie was. Makes one wonder what would have happened had a nuclear aircraft carrier like the U.S.S. Nimitz really gone back in time to stop the attack on Pearl Harbour. A nice read for alternate history buffs.
Average customer rating:
- Book improves on movie
- Book is better than the movie
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The Final Countdown
Martin Caidin
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Caidin, Martin
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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The Final Countdown (Widescreen Edition)
ASIN: 0553121553 |
Customer Reviews:
Book improves on movie.......2007-03-09
According the the credits in the book it is based on the movie screenplay which in turn was based on a story by some of the screenwriters. Perhaps it would have been better to have Martin Caidin write the novel first and then base the movie on his story. I have seen the movie numerous times. It is a fascinating premise with huge potential which, unfortunately was not fulfilled. The movie has perhaps the worst directing I have ever seen. Some of the acting is incredibly forced and there are unexplained holes in the movie which the book fills in. But I would recommend the book to anyone whether you have seen the movie or not. It is a good, although short read (230 pages). I give it 4 stars because the book contains so many typographical errors that I wonder if anyone proofread it before it was published.
Book is better than the movie.......2006-08-19
I own both the book and the movie. I read thew book first and enjoyed it immensely. Kasky is a computer expert and is pur aboard an aircraft carrier that is about to go back in time to the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the movie he is an efficiency expert and it is not clear why he is chosen to board the ship. The crew is faced with a dilemma, do they attack the invading Japanese force without a declaration of war, thus making the United States resposible for starting the war?
An interesting and exciting "by his bootstraps" type time travel story.
Martin Caidin did a good job with this one.
By the way, I recommend the movie as well.
Average customer rating:
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The Krays-The Final Countdown: The Ultimate Biography of Ron, Reg and Charlie Kray
Colin Fry
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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Criminals
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Criminology
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ASIN: 1840184485 |
Book Description
The Krays were a product of their age, nurtured by a doting mother and created by their community, the East End of London. Their name alone conjures up images of power, violence, and greed—and even brother Charlie couldn't steer the twins Ron and Reg clear of murder mayhem as they killed their way to the top of the criminal tree. The three brothers are an indelible part of our history, whether we like it or not. From media-manipulation to control-freak paranoia, the Krays were masters of deception. This biography traces their history from childhood and early adolescence to manhood and death. It explores the brothers' fantasy lives, full as they were of mind games and false memories. Only now can the truth be revealed—without fear of intimidation, retribution, or revenge. The Krays are dead and buried, but the myth lives on.
Customer Reviews:
Important Material for Advanced Chess Players.......2002-11-06
I would agree with the earliest reviewer that this book is laden with errors. Perhaps the editor needs to take a refresher course in editing a book!! And the author's pompous attitude does get a bit irritating.
Putting the above aside, the examples cited are quite fascinating. They really demonstrate the importance of square control. The problem is that the author does a very bad job of explaining his ideas and presenting the material. The definition of key squares is rather vague, yet this is the most important idea of the book. The author should have attempted to convey how to identify key squares in an endgame position. He should have laid out the principles involved. This would have enhanced the value of the book considerably. Instead, he simply tells you which squares are the key squares. It was not always obvious to me why he chose the squares he did, but after analyzing the positions certain patterns emerged which the author failed to point out. Another concept that lacked sufficient explanation is how to find correspondences once the key squares are identified.
Unfortunately chess books that teach individuals how to think and how to evaluate a position are in the minority ("Best Lessons of a Chess Coach" is one of these exceptional books, and I highly recommend it). "The Final Countdown" falls short in this regard, but it could be rewritten with the examples used and be a five star book. Jeremy Silman recommends this book (maybe he should rewrite it!!), and he is perhaps the best chess teacher of his peers.
Narrow topic, Great book.......2000-12-31
This little 128-page book on King & pawn endgames isn't the be-all and end-all of K+P EG books, but it might be the best description of the Theory of Corresponding Squares I've ever seen. I have struggled with the concept as described in other books like Batsford Chess Endings to no avail. I thought I was either too obtuse or it wasn't being explained well enough. After TFC, I suspect the problem was the latter because the Theory of Corresponding Squares seems like child's play now. For those of you who have read Hans Kmoch's Pawn Power in Chess, you might understand the kind of revelation I'm talking about. After PPIC, I never quite looked at my pawns in the same way again. Though TFC describes a more esoteric side of chess (how many K+P EGs reach a Corresponding Squares situation anyway?), it has increased my understanding of "regular" K+P EGs, as well.
Paul van der Sterren, reviewing TFC in New In Chess, said, "If you study this book you have no more need of other books on pawn endings. Or maybe you do after all -- to test your newly gained understanding and reopen the search for what's already known." I couldn't agree more.
Highly recommended for Class B and up.
I was highly impressed.......2000-03-04
How often does it happen that a formulaic scientific method can be applied consistently to a set of positions that seem to differ widely and work? This book does that very well. I have learned to respect scientific mentod when it occurs in chess and unlike some efforts(Hans Berliner, Tarrasch), this one does very well. It will improve your understanding of K+P greatly and it is very hard work (maybe 1800+ material after the first 4 chapters). The systematic evaulation of the desired positions and key squuares and thier reationship to one another before calculating variations is a very powerful idea. It makes one want to play K+P endings all the time- yeah, the knowledge learned cannot be applied every day :( - but if you want to improve your understanding of K+P to an IM/GM level and want to work, you have to buy this book.
pretty good.......1999-03-02
The Final Countdown advocates the use of key squares in calculation of king and pawn endgames rather than the "opposition" or "triangulation". I've always found king and pawn endgames to be incredibly difficult to calculate because, unlike other areas of chess, the whole purpose of calculation in king and pawn endgames is to lose a tempo and thus force the opposing king away from key squares so that the attacking king can invade. It's extremely difficult to calculate king and pawn endgames because tempos can be gained or lost by both sides in many different ways.
This book advocates the identification of key squares which the king either invades through or goes through in order to lose the appropriate tempo. The previous reviewer rightly pointed out the errors in the book (for example, in the section on blocked pawns, the authors state that if the invading king can occupy the 3 squares on either side of the opposing blocked pawn, the game is a win when obviously a draw results if the opposing king is in position to take your blocked pawn) but they are obvious and don't take away from the strength of the book, which is to calculate king and pawn endgames in a systematic way instead of counting endless "lose the tempo" variations.
Should be titled COUNTDOWN OF ERRORS instead........1997-10-20
To begin with, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN is full of grammatical/typographical errors, which may be due to the authors apparently having translated it themselves (no translator noted). Worse, it is full of theoretical errors that should be apparent even to novice chessplayers who have never read a book on the subject; e.g. in the diagram on p. 11, "key squares" are indicated two rows in front of the one and only pawn, and it is stated that key squares, "when occupied by the attacking king, result in a won position, regardless of the position of the defending king and of whose move." However, if the White King were two squares in front of his pawn, and the Black King ADJACENT to the pawn, WITH THE MOVE, Black would capture and the resultant KINGS ONLY position is an INDISPUTABLE DRAW due to insufficient mating material.
The book does point out that "if the pawn is already on the fifth rank or further, then the three sqaures directly in front of the pawn are key squares as well", but that's irrelevant in this example because the white pawn is only on the third rank. Further muddling the definition of key squares is the very next diagram (p. 12) of a pawn on the seventh rank, with five key squares indicated, two of them ALONGSIDE the pawn.
All the errors make a mockery of such liberally bandied self-congratulatory comments as that on p. 86: "How much confusion could have been avoided by a simple read through 'The Final Countdown'!" Fact of the matter is, if the reader is confused about King and Pawn endings to begin with, he may only become more confused by reading this book. May I recommend instead
Jeno Ban's THE TACTICS OF END-GAMES, also newly available. Though it too suffers a bit in the translation, it is full of more than twice the examples for less than half the price.
Customer Reviews:
A Christian perspective on a Third temple.......2005-05-06
Plenty has been written about Christians who want to see the Jewish Temple rebuilt on the Temple Mount. And plenty has been written by these Christians. This book is in the second of these categories.
We start right out learning that the land belongs to Abraham and his descendants in perpetuity. Of course, as a Pagan, it may not surprise anyone that I reject that attitude. I think there are indeed ways to acquire land. And that Jews have both a right and an incentive to acquire (by legal purchase) land in Jerusalem. But they also have a right to sell that land.
There is a brief history of the Temple Mount and the temples that have been built there. I hadn't realized that the Jews had built four temples in places other than Jerusalem, two in Egypt, one on Mount Gerazim (the Samaritan temple) and one west of Amman (presumably Philadelphia). Anyway, the authors do not show too much sympathy for the destruction of the Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. They clearly prefer the monotheist god to real Gods and Goddesses!
But then we get to the interesting stuff, preparations to build a new temple. Who wants to do this, and why? Will they succeed? Should they be supported or opposed?
The authors say that the temple ought to be rebuilt. It is one of the 613 commandments in the Torah (Number 20, according to Maimonedes). It would also be the fulfilment of a dream, and a unifying rallying point for the Jewish nation. Several thousand Jews have explicitly supported the idea.
My reaction to this is simple. If a few thousand people want to build a temple, they may very well do just that. In addition, it seems that the number of people interested in doing so is as likely to increase as not. There are, after all, millions of Jews.
And we also see the reaction of many evangelical Christians. I think all sides see that the issue is partly one of religious freedom. And I think there is a powerful argument for letting the Jews build a new temple. But I also think it would be best to try to avoid knocking down the temples of others to do so. And that leads right in to the part of the book that discusses where the previous temple was.
I hope that the nationalistic, religious, and human rights issues can be separated in this case. And I hope that people on both sides will agree that a new Jewish temple should be permitted, if some Jews want to build one. And I also hope they will agree not to tear down other temples. But I am not too optimistic about any of this.
In any case, I found this book very interesting.
Average customer rating:
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Countdown to partition: The final days
Ajit Bhattacharjea
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers India
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
India
| Asia
| History
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South Asia
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
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ASIN: 8172232985 |
Book Description
When does a war end? Is it the day the treaties are signed? Is it the day the last soldier falls? Or is it the day the enemy finally realizes he is fighting a lost cause?
In standard histories of the Second World War, the last six months in the western European arena invariably make a short epilogue. After the German failure in the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler's bold counterattack across the Ardennes, the war is often assumed to have been over, bar sporadic shooting. As Countdown to Victory shows, this is a long way from the truth. The German army, far from being beaten, fought hard for every inch of ground. This in-depth look at those final months reveals many individual acts of great courage and recaptures the excitement of victory and the despair of the defeated, told by the people who were eyewitnesses to these momentous events.
Countdown to Victory also examines many contentious issues: the race between Montgomery and Patton to become the first to cross the Rhine; the rarely discussed Hunger Winter in Holland, in which the Dutch people were left to starve by the Nazi administrators under the knowing eyes of the Allied forces; the destruction of German cities; Eisenhower's decision to leave Berlin to the Russians and the disagreements between British and American generals; the concentration camps and the question of German collective guilt; and the drama of the last days of the Third Reich. The memories and reflections are set in the wider context of the political struggle among Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill, with Stalin winning on points for dominant say in planning a postwar Europe.
Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished American, British, Canadian, German, Dutch and Scandinavian sources, Countdown to Victory is a reinterpretation of those final months through he eyes of ordinary people forced to experience the trauma. These memories and reflections of the soldiers and civilians in the front line will make us rethink the popular images of the last stage of the war.
Searing and indelible, this riveting history puts a spotlight on a transformative moment in the twentieth century, from a historian whose page-turning style will have readers transfixed.
Customer Reviews:
It's the 30th Infantry Division not the 13th!.......2006-01-11
This is an interesting book which deals with the trials and tribulations of all soldiers as well as civilians. It deals primarily with the war in Western Europe from September 1944 through December 1944.
Among some errors mentioned in another review, there is one glaring error which stands out to me anyway. Specifically, Turner refers to a U.S.Army Division as the "Thirteenth" ( on page 274 ) but there was no Thirteenth division...it was the 30th Infantry Division known as Old Hickory. Turner correctly identifies the 117th Infantry Regiment of the 30th ID however.
I did enjoy this book and found that the civilian stories added an interesting dimension to the overall content.
Competent Summary.......2005-04-01
This is a well put together book but I didn't think it was as good as Max Hastings' "Armageddon" which covers the same topic.
It really only looks in detail at the end of the war in Western Europe and pretty much ignores the Eastern Front, which was where most of the really intense fighting took place - maybe it should have been titled "Countdown to Victory in the West."
There are some a number of fairly basic errors which if you know anything about the subject are irritating eg he repeats the old but discredited myth often quoted by bomber crew about the Germans using "scarecrow" shells which looked like exploding planes to frighten them (no, they really were exploding planes); plus Hitler was 53 in 1945, not 46.
So all in all, a good summary of the end of the war in the West but probably not the definitive book on the subject.
Book Description
Nonlinear editors are increasingly expected to perform graphic design and production tasks that were traditionally assigned to specialists. Adobe Photoshop is the application of choice in this domain because of its diverse tool set and popularity with third-party developers. Photoshop, and its plethora of instructional books, is principally designed for use in print and on the Web. There are many technical nuances to master this application for moving images.
Full-color presentations and hands-on tutorials demonstrate how to combine still and moving images. Fundamental concepts and techniques like transparency, pixel aspect ratio, and alpha channels are made precisely clear, and advanced techniques show how to use Photoshop as a character generator, color corrector, and animation tool. Interviews with notable guest editors and motion graphic artists, and a focus on time-efficient and automation techniques make this book a valuable resource for advanced users. The companion DVD includes video instruction, tutorial media, plug-ins, and foundation material for less-experienced users.
Master the graphic design and production skills required of today's digital video professional with this comprehensive guide to the video tools in Adobe Photoshop.
Customer Reviews:
Easy and thorough.......2007-09-04
As an "old school" Avid editor from big post houses, Photoshop was used for simple titles and the rest went to the graphics department or our hands were slapped.
The book only goes through the usefulness and purpose of nearly all Photoshop tools and their relevancy to video. It has tutorials showing all common video uses from cutting out photos, lower thirds, backgrounds, creating elements for motion graphics programs like After Effects, uses of masks and alpha channels and the many ways you can create them depending on circumstance and content. In addition, the book points out some of the differences with different versions of Photoshop so you can work through aspects even if you haven't updated to CS3 yet.
The accompanying DVD not only includes all the elements needed to complete each task, there's also supplemental "Podcasts" in which Richard Harrington actually SHOWS you how to do many of the key aspects of each tutorial.
This is a must have book for video editors who must now do it all since Photoshop is the Swiss Army Knife of video graphics.
Photoshop for Video, Third Edition.......2007-08-07
I have been in multimedia for 5 years and is always learning. I like the fact that i don't know everything!
This book is a must for anyone in multimedia and graphic design.
Excellent reference book.......2007-06-27
This is my second purchase of this series. I work with quite a few photos and found Richard Harrington's suggestions to be extremely helpful. The book provides insights that I haven't found elsewhere. This book is for those new to working with Photoshop for video as well as more seasoned users.
Great book.......2007-06-11
I found this book to be very informative with plenty of step by step tutorials. I think beginners as well as experienced photoshop uers will find this book very handy. I keep it on my bookshelf as a handy reference.
This is a GREAT PHOTO SHOP BOOK!!!.......2007-06-05
"Photoshop for Video" is not only a well written book on learning how to use Photoshop as an artistic tool to create graphics, with lots of Gee-Wiz tips, techniques & tutorials to make you a better designer and Photoshop user, but if you have anything or want to have anything to do with using Photoshop along with your favorite non-linear video application, buy this book NOW.
From DV to High Definition video this book is an indispensable reference guide on how to get your graphics from Photoshop into your editor correctly. The included DVD has 2 1/2 hours of training video, tutorials and images to work on to will help you sharpen your skills.
My favorite parts in the book are the so called "PROfile" sections' highlighting editors and motion graphic designers and detailing the many ways these pro's use Photoshop to make graphics and save time.
Books:
- Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos, 2nd Edition: How to Play and Win
- Beautiful Cross-Stitch: Designs and Projects Inspired by the World Around You (Better Homes & Gardens)
- Beyond Line of Sight: A History of VHF Propagation from the Pages of QST
- Black Cat, White Cat
- Black Wizards (Forgotten Realms: Moonshae Trilogy)
- Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How A Lone American Star Defeated the Soviet Chess Machine (P.S.)
- Bobby Fischer's Outrageous Chess Moves: A Study of 101 Outrageous Moves by the Greatest Chess Champion of All Time
- Bridge Basics 2: Competitive Bidding
- Chess Master...at Any Age
- Colonial Fashions Paper Dolls
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
- Lawrence Sanders McNally's Bluff
- Ceramic Houses and Earth Architecture: How to Build Your Own
- Der verdrängte Finanznotstand: Zur finanzpolitischen Verantwortlichkeit von Parlament und Regie
- History: Fiction or Science
- History: Fiction or Science
- Everywhere That Mary Went
- Graphic Standards Details: Openings
- Bungalow Details: Exterior
- The Animal Rights Handbook: Everyday Ways to Save Animal Lives
Our Votes, Our Guns: Robert Mugabe and the Tragedy of Zimbabwe
What Happens After Mugabe?
Where We Have Hope: A Memoir of Zimbabwe
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa
Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa
