5 comments about First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (P.S.).

1. Wow, I was blown away by this book. Despite the virtually universal good reviews, this book sat on my desk for months. I wasn't sure I was up to reading about the horrors of Pol Pot. I have seen the pictures of the Killing Fields and read about it before.
   
   But my conscience bothered me and I eventually read it, thinking if it was too depressing, I'd simply chuck it. But like many, I was sucked in once I started - read it in less than a day - stayed up half the night reading.
   
   Powerful story of survival and the incredible cruelty of Man brought about by ignorance and poverty.



2. I read all but a couple chapters of this book on a flight across the US. It is easy reading and I could not put it down. The horrors this author went through will make the reader pause to count his blessings. I think this is a must read for anyone who is unfamiliar with Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.



3. When I started to read the memoir, it was very hard to put down. It is written in first person tense through the eyes of a young girl struggling through the Khmer Rouge insurgency in Cambodia. I am a 1st generation American whose mother grew up in war torn Vietnam, so I had an interest in the Southeast Asian set memoir. Now I am trying to find ones as good as this one, but set in with my mother's experiences. This book was an in depth way to learn about the people & the recent history of struggle which many Cambodian Americans no doubt have also lived through but not spoken of. It really reinforces that family and love are the most important things in life. It's a must read.



4. The book is very well-written. Loung Ung wrote with compassion,spirtual, and horrenic activities growing up under the Khmer Rogue regime. She experiences tortues,stravation, and execution of her parents. This book is very interesting to learn what the author went through live under a horrendous communist movement. The author wrote this book in a sense to give the reader an image on the conflict of war that is going in Cambodia. Readers would not be able to put this book down since it give the readers a hint of life growing up in the Khmer Rouge. Ung had to move from different works camps at a young age, and she experienced a hardship growing up in Cambodia during the 1974 to 1979. Between these two years, she watch baby brother died of stravation and the loss of his parent by the Khmer Rogue. Having to travel a large distance to Vietnam, Loung experience the execution of her people. The book will change your prespective of life and the mistery of what the cambodia people been through during the killing field years. Highly recommened to any type of readers.



5. Some people have criticized this book because they believe some small historical detail might be wrong. I say, who cares about that? The horrors that are described in this book eclipse any small misconceptions or tiny errors in fact. Cambodia's people were starved, enslaved, murdered, and robbed by Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. It's a most outrageous and horrific story, but it was the truth for millions. Miss Ung did an impressive job pulling the story together into book form. My heart breaks for her family and hundreds of thousands of other families there.
   
   This should be required reading for high school students everywhere.

5 comments about Not Without My Sister: The True Story of Three Girls Violated and Betrayed.

1. ABSOLUTELY 5 Stars. No question about it.
   I picked up this book, in paperback, from my local library a couple days ago, just perusing the shelves for a quick book to read. The cover photo caught my eye, and with the title, gave an inkling of a tragic event these girls must have gone through. I did not pick it up because I knew it was about cult survivors, I picked it up because it made me think about my own sister and the bond of friendship we have together and how we have always helped each other through life's ups and downs and laughs and good and bad times. When I finished reading it a day later, I realized this recounting of abuse and terror beyond belief, hidden from the outside world, most likely will stay with me for the rest of my life. You don't forget atrocities like this, especially to young innocent precious children....children who look to adults for gentle and sure guidance, and well founded morality, and mostly, the LOVE of the parent for his/her CHILD, repeat: CHILD, not 21 year old, CHILD, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE knowledge and/or actual actions of: intercourse, oral sex, strip teases and suggestive nude dances, nude photo sessions, sex ed at age 3, sex practices at age 3, belief that it's good to "LOVE" Jesus, etc....(AS IF you needed to have anymore to add to that list).
   As for the people who reviewed here saying this was a fabricated story, why would you sincerely doubt them? Why else would these women go on in their lives to start an organization to help children in life threatening abusive situations? [...]
   They could have been accountants, teachers, sports pros, scientists, etc., but they chose to be abused child advocates...a job ALL of us aspire to, don't we? Yep, sounds like they are full of hot air, uh huh, yup. Sigh.
   All you have to do is watch this video [...]
   by a young guy who was driven to suicide and murder by these sicko cult members, who was right in the middle of this cult, by his own parents, founders of the cult. Sick stuff...
   I am so very happy for these women that they were able to escape this so-called family to start their new lives outside; but all these horrible memories still are fresh and painful and they will have them forever. Can you imagine? Can you EVEN.....imagine?
   
   To Celeste, Juliana, and Kristina:
   know that your words will live beyond this book; many people will continue to come out for years, through your words if they are able to get this book, and there will be a collective voice larger than you ever imagined, if you are not already seeing it now. With this book, you have sent a beacon of hope out to many. Your online site has forums that are helpful to survivors and informational to those who are wanting to help. There are dangerous, damaging, very enticing, and on-the-surface charismatic cults existing everywhere in this world at this very second...and knowing this very fact, if we don't protect our children from their twisted visions, we can and should be held accountable for the damage done to our very own families.
   Bravo to you all for speaking out!!! You are believed.



2. It is never pleasant to read some disturbing experiences that these young lady's have gone through. I kept questioning myself on why I was reading what I was. My wife, Mother in Law & sister in law all read this book & found it disturbing. The only reason I could find as to why I wanted to read such a book, was in the hope that the 3 lady's were now back together & leading 'normal' lives.
   
   If you are planning to purchase this book, the details, I found, are very explicit. However, the truth has to be known & the truth definitely comes out in this book. Yes I feel extremely sorry for these young lady's knowing that while I was growing up, there were people suffering like they did. These young lady's are very brave. Brave to that fact of making it known the disgusting things these so-called 'adults' put them through & then these 'adults' trying to justify their crimes through the word of the lord.
   
   I can only wish Kristina, Celeste & Juliana well, & congratulate them on their brave fight & wish them well in their continued fight to expose organisations such as the 'Children of God'.
   
   This is a very good, well written, but painful book. The 3 lady's courage can be found to be inspirational & a lesson to us all.



3. What I liked about this book was that it gave three different perspectives from within the same family and time frame, and also that it didn't sensationalize the abuse, but did give it appropriate coverage. Ran a little long, but was an interesting and easy read.



4. I bought this book simply to support the effort to raise awareness of the inner workings of The Family. I didn't think I'd ever get around to reading it, as I have hundreds of books that I have not yet read.
   Upon seeing the size of it I felt confidant that I would never read it, however, after skimming through it and seeing all the familiar terminology and names, I decided to start from the beginning. I finished it in 5 days. That's fast for me.
   I could relate to almost every situation, and to all the feelings of frustration, boredom and anger that arose from being in those kind of situations. I will never go back.
   
   After spending the first 20 years of my life in "the family" I can say from first hand experience that the information presented in this book, is an accurate representation of life in "the family".
   
   Anyone who has a problem with my review can write me at outofwords@hotmail.com



5. Not Without My Sister: The True Story of Three Girls Violated and Betrayed Paperback book The book was damaged when I received it. It is a very good bookespecially if you like true stories.

No comments about My Word is My Bond: A Memoir.

5 comments about Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy Seal.

1. Overall, I was pleased with Chuck Pfarrer's autobiography. I felt this is a good book which focused on the man rather than a high profile SEAL. Chuck takes us through his childhood to his combat tour at Beirut and the tragic bombing of the Marines barrack to his short time at Team Six. I felt he explained everything quite well.
   
   I felt some parts were left blank. For example, he cheated on his wife several times, and even more so I wonder why Chuck did what he did. He explained several times how bad he felt about his cheating, but I didn't felt like he explained it well enough. Also, the part with Sam (I don't think I got that name right) in Beirut and how scared Sam was and how Chuck called him a chicken and how no one liked him. I was surprised by this and even more so, later on after the bombing, Sam actually volunteered to go on the mission to spot for the French fighters who bombed the terrorist's bases. Why did Chuck left out many of the details on him?
   
   I recommend this book to anyone interested in just Military stuff, not only SEAL stuff. I think the book is well written enough so that you understand the person behind the SEAL, instead of just the SEAL.
   
   On a side note, about the cover, I thought I recognized it from somewhere and I think I found it. It was the cover used for a early 1990s computer game called SEAL Teams. I felt that was kind of cool and I believe the front cover is a man during the Vietnam era.



2. Although this book provides a glimpse inside the Navy Seals from an team leader's perspective, it was generally dry and drawn out ,spending a lot of time on Beruit and providing a lot of background information and editorials on the politics etc of that event that I am not interested in. This guy is a stud- no doubt, but I found myself skipping through the pages to find something interesting.



3. Seriously, this was an AWESOME BOOK. Reading the stories I was amazed at what kind of sh.. Mr. Pfarrer got himself into. From BUD/S to Beirut to Banana Republics to Cancer.. he's been at the front row of many key world events, as well as personal ones. (And I'm sure there's a few more that haven't been reported)
   
   The book was very compelling. And he did a great job writing. I really had a tough time putting it down. I always wanted to read "just one more story".
   
   I also enjoyed how it didn't glamorize, but also wasn't falsely modest. Chuck seems like a solid human being--and certainly went above and beyond in his service and in life. And he shares much of his experiences through the book.
   
   Anyhow, thank you Mr. Pfarrer!
   
   ps: and remember, it's "air-BORNE!!"



4. An excellent account of SEAL training and operations. Chuck Pfarrer is a veteran of the Beirut war and a witness to the car bombing called the first act of terrorism by our current enemies. He is a combat veteran and a former Naval officer. His Navy experience is important because he recalls the beginning of the war on terror , namely the situation in Beirut. This is an important book.



5. I would never have guessed that this book was written by a purely military man and not an actual writer.
   
   My son is a navy seal, and though I was in the Marines, I don't know too much about them, so I try to read everything I can when I get the chance to try and understand what they go through. Why a lot of them join, why they go through the training, why the training is they way it is. This book hit all those points spot on. Although I as well as everyone am aware there is nothing in the world like Navy seal training, this book does give us probably the most in depth view into the world that I've come across as of yet. It will leave you with a sense of awe at what a human is capable of physically, mentally and emotionally. These are men amongst men.

5 comments about The Rise of Barack Obama.

1. You can sense how this man is through the pictures taken before his entry into the frenzied national stage. But even more so, the pictures reveal how others, who were photographed with him, felt about him. Great pictorial essay.



2. I took time out after lunch today from my efforts to be "productive" to find something unexpected, something to pump a little energy into my waning self.
   
   The first thing I saw was a bookstore, and I stepped in. It didn't take me long to find photographer and writer Pete Souza's book, The Rise of Barack Obama. It's kind of a "coffee table book" or a photography-lover's book. The reproductions aren't the best I've ever seen (and I'm a "stickler," as I collect fine art and journalistic photography books regularly), but they are pretty good on the whole.
   
   What's a more important matter than that is "How good is the book?" Well, it's very good.
   
   I shed tears every week or every other week, often while watching movies (but elsewhere, too), and I like doing that. It's part of living - both crying tears of sadness and joy - and I'm not embarrassed to come to tears, not even in public.
   
   Souza's book brought me to watery eyes in just a few minutes. There's a lot of beautiful pictures in this book, especially when seen by those who admire Senator Obama the way I do.
   
   This first picture that got me is on pages 20-21, taken during a town hall meeting in Illinois, where Obama is cheek-to-cheek in embrace with a white woman (her face is dominant as it's on the side of their hug that's closer to the camera). She is radiant in her smile. And then you look throughout the photograph and see that everyone there - a mix of the races we are - all seem to have sparkle in their eyes and a glow in their spirits.
   
   Another white woman at a rally - named in the caption as "student Lauren McGill" - who holds a Time magazine with Obama on the cover that reads "Why Barack Obama Could Be the Next President," again, glows with hopefulness and happiness (pages 118-119).
   
   There are touching pictures of the Senator with his daughters. My favorite was a beautiful candid of him with the younger Sasha, cheek-to-cheek. She is smiling; he is seriously tender, his head pressing tightly against his girl.
   
   Another family picture I admire shows Michelle's number one priority in life - being "Mom" - as she sits casually on some riser steps in the back area of a rally with her daughters at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (pages 128-129).
   
   A sea of Kenyan men - almost all in the photograph with the same intense look of expectancy, curiosity and subdued excitement in seeing the African American Senator in their country - is a magnificent work of photojournalism. The particulars of the emotion of the moment are captured in these faces, and, structurally-speaking, the picture shows the men all looking boldly in the same direction with not an eye blinking. It makes for an exciting, intense image.
   
   Maybe the strongest photograph of all is on pages 156-157, one of a young African-American woman with tightly pursed lips smiling, her eyes both smiling and crying, at a Pennsylvania State University rally in March of this year. Tears have been flowing down her face freely. The picture holds, for me, all of these: bursting joy, pride, rightness, gladness, equity, happiness, hope, and even love.
   
   This is a movement.
   
   It could be said that Souza's book is a highly-edited version of Obama, the man, as well as the public's reaction to him. So be it - it is. But, I dare anyone to find me another person living today that you can find a cache of positive photos this size that could create an equally moving book on anyone else in modern public life. If you look at the book, you just know it's rare for this to happen.
   
   One thing about Souza's collection that history will note, if we do not, is that Obama is clearly a minority among white men (and sometimes women) in the photographs of him "at work" in Washington. I sense that it takes a lot of courage, wherewithal, and an unwavering sense of purpose for someone to endure this. A lot of people do such things, a lot of people can, but more of us aren't willing to put ourselves out there in various uncomfortable situations where we might not "fit in." For Obama to do this as well as he does, without succumbing to feelings or thoughts of alienation or frustration, and to be so charismatic and positive a figure as he is while doing so, you have to admit the candidacy of this man - as it careens through the hearts of so many of us - is very likely what we have to call "a movement."



3. The photographs by Pete Souza in the fascinating collection "The Rise of Barack Obama" tell us much about Obama, more than what is expressed in the depth of his expressions: his wisdom, compassion, concern, dilemmas, and his hope. These poignant, spontaneous photos portray how he is viewed by those who come in contact with him - friends, colleagues, supporters, and his family, especially his two young daughters, who show us, in their expressions of joy and love for their father, the meaning of family values. Souza's images of Obama over the years he spent with him are the classic pictures of an American during his ascendency.



4. Pete Souza's book is impressive on many levels, beginning with the amazing photographs he so expertly produced over the years he followed Senator Obama. I was brought to tears several times by the powerful images of the senator with his family, in congress, in our country, and in the world, giving me the sense that I have had a privileged window into the life of a hard-working, committed, capable statesman. Souza's work is photojournalism at its most impressive, perfectly rendering the day-to-day life of an icon from up close and from a distance. One shot may be through the window blinds of a crowded office, another is a closeup of a furrowed brow. The coming together of art, life, and politics, right there in your hand. This book is a treasure!



5. An assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University's School of Visual Journalism in Athens, Ohio, and one of the nation's most renowned photographers, Pete Souza has produced an impressive album documenting the meteoric ascendancy of the U.S. Senator from Illinois,
   
   Souza's candid photographs of Barack Obama provide an intimate view of a charismatic leader, who has been described as "a once-in-a-generation politician." Journalists have compared Obama's inspiring oratory and vision of hope and change to the leadership qualities of Robert and John F. Kennedy.
   
   We see the presumptive Democratic nominee for President on his trips to various countries, such as Russia, Azerbaijan, Chad, Kenya, and South Africa; his appearances at various universities, behind-the-scenes conferences with friends and colleagues; as well as endearing snapshots of him with his family: Michelle, Malia, and Sasha.
   
   "The Rise of Barack Obama" is an excellent pictorial complement to Obama's own work, "The Audacity of Hope." This reviewer agrees with and is inspired by Obama's signature mantra: "Dream big dreams!"
   
   Pete Souza's photographs of Barack Obama have been recognized during the past three years with prestigious awards from Pictures of the Year, the Best of Photojournalism and the White House News Photographers Association's Eyes of History. He has worked as an official White House photographer for President Ronald Reagan and was also the official photographer for the President's June 2004 funeral. He is the author of two celebrated photographic books of President Reagan's term in office, Unguarded Moments: Behind-the-Scenes Photographs of President Reagan (1992) and Images of Greatness: An Intimate Look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan by Triumph Books. Souza's photographs have also appeared as photo spreads or covers in renowned magazines as National Geographic, Life, Fortune, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report. His photographs have also been part of group exhibits at the National Archives, Smithsonian Museum of American History, and Corcoran Gallery of Art.

5 comments about Forward From Here: Leaving Middle Age--and Other Unexpected Adventures.

1. I usually try to read at least one book per week and, also, listen
   to one book on tape or CD . . . it was difficult to find the time to
   do the listening while away, so this past week I instead managed
   to read a second book . . . its review follows:
   
   Turning sixty is something I can relate to, in that I'll be celebrating
   that birthday next June.
   
   Anne Morrow Lindbergh in FORWARD FROM HERE describes
   how she went through a similar experience . . . as she enters
   the period her mother once described as "the youth of old
   age," the author details the many unexpected surprises
   she has encountered.
   
   Her observations were amusing at times, yet also
   oh-so-insightful--such as this one:
   
   * As I grew older and older, I got more used to the idea that death
   would happen to everybody, including me, but that in my case it
   would not happen for a very very very very long time. By the time it
   happened, I hoped, I would be so old that it wouldn't bother me. This
   is not quite true yet, but again, I think I may be getting there. I hope it
   takes me a while longer. There's no need to rush.
   
   As I journey on, I carry my lost loved ones with me: my sister, my mother,
   and all the others. I have learned over the years that I can do this, that
   love continues beyond loss. It continues not abstractly but intimately,
   and it continues forever. My experience has also made me understand
   that loss is inevitable, and that loss, too, continues forever, right along
   with love.
   
   I also liked what the author had to say about pets of all kinds . . . she
   devotes two chapters to birds . . . however, it was this observation
   about her dog that especially caught my attention:
   
   * Many of our visitors, seeing that we had a dog, entered the house
   with loud voices and waving hands, making a noisy fuss over him. This
   kind of behavior just caused the poor dog to slink off into a corner
   and stay there until the visitors left. Helen Wolff came in without
   commotion and then sat quietly and drank her tea, like the well-behaved
   guest that she was. The dog came over to greet her, eventually, sniffing
   her hand and wagging his tail, probably grateful for her good manners. She
   told me once that she felt it was better to let animals or children come
   to her, if they wished to, rather than the other way around.
   
   The part of FORWARD FROM HERE that most caught my attention
   was Lindbergh's account of how she discovered thirty years after
   the death of her father (famed aviator Charles Lindbergh) that
   he had three secret families in Europe . . . upon this discovery,
   she then went to meet them--discovering that her new extended
   family was far more complicated than she had ever imagined.



2. This is one of the best books that I've ever read. I've ordered others for my friends.



3. FORWARD FROM HERE will delight you if:
   
   --you remember with great fondness the writings of Reeve's mother, Anne Morrow. Making allowances for the generational differences, their styles and subjects are similar: family, nature, the written word per se, etc.
   
   --you have read and enjoyed Reeve's other books. I found her UNDER A WING more tightly focused and thus, to me, more engaging; and NO MORE WORDS more frank and moving. But FORWARD FROM HERE has much of the charm of a lovely, simple dessert,what Anne Morrow Lindbergh called "something sweet at the end of the day." I was happy to have this book waiting at my bedside table for several nights, and only wished it a little longer.
   
   --you are actively engaged in "moving forward" from 60-plus. The book deals honestly but cheerfully with a generous handful of the standard challenges of ageing. We are also offered time-tested insights on matters such as parenting, reading, writing, and modern drugs(pro and con).
   
   --you want to know a bit about Reeve's reactions to her father Charles Lindbergh's three secret simultaneous mistresses and families. (The "Lone Eagle" indeed!) Of course this long-hidden aspect of Charles Lingbergh's otherwise much-celebrated life might well be the subject of a complete and probing book of its own, written not out of prurience but with the intent to better understand the puzzling psychological and emotional temperament involved. But Reeve Lindbergh will not, I think, be the one to write such a book.



4. What a pleasure to read! I am not quite finished with this Kindle book and the more I read it, the more I'm enjoying it. Lindbergh is a sensitive, thoughtful, writer and I can relate to her experiences on so many levels. I, too, am a woman of a certain age, a mother, grandmother, potential (me, not her) writer. Her perspective on life, the natural world, her family just drew me in and I found myself wishing she were my friend.
   
   Thank you, Reeve, for a lovely reading experience. I'm recommending this for all my friends and if they don't buy it, they're getting a copy for their birthdays or Christmas/Chanukah.



5. Forward from Here is Reeve Lindbergh's best book yet. Funny, tender, compassionate, profound, Lindbergh reveals herself to be an accomplished and graceful writer--something you might already suspect if you have read her earlier books, Under a Wing (about growing up Lindbergh, with two extraordinary parents, Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh) and No More Words (about her mother's decline and death). In this book, Lindbergh (an author of books for children) explores the happiness and hazards she encounters as she journeys from middle age into her sixties--the "youth of old age." "I might as well enjoy the view as I travel along from my birth to death, inhabiting this being I call myself," she writes. "I may be a passenger on the journey, or I may be the vehicle itself, but I'm definitely not the driver. I'm here, but I'm not in charge."
   
   Maybe, but she's not just along for the ride. In this collection of nineteen personal essays, she laughs at the pleasures of her rural Vermont life--the joys of reading, writing, raising lambs and boys and encountering turtles--and takes a sober look at the challenges of living in an aging body. The vanities of youth are gone (she quotes her beloved sister Anne, now dead of cancer: "After a certain age, there's only so good you can look.") and she is making "friends with reality." Not sure that she wants to wear purple, with a red hat that doesn't go, she looks back on a time when she wore lavender eyeshadow and white lipstick (do you remember doing that? I do) and laughs at herself. In fact, she knows that's the best thing to do: "laugh at myself when laughter is called for, weep when I need to, and feel all of it, every bit of it, as much as I can for as long as I can."
   
   As far as feeling all of it goes, the most remarkable essay is the "Brain Tumor Diary," an account of the months (July 2006 through May 2007) when Lindbergh was dealing with a brain tumor--benign, thankfully, but large, intrusive, undeniably there, and needing to come out. It was a difficult time for her and her family. The saving graces were her writing and her focus on daily life: "Dailiness outlasts despair," she says. "For a while the rhythms of daily life may seem to be submerged, even drowned in disaster, but that is never true." The "Brain Tumor Diary" is a report from the front lines of daily life, lived in the face of possible disaster.
   
   The Lindberghs are no strangers to life on the front lines and in the public eye. Reeve and her siblings have had to deal with as many as fifty men who have claimed to be the Lindbergh child kidnapped in 1932. But there is more, and in her final essay, she writes movingly about the way she felt when she learned that her father, the picture of rectitude, a "stern arbiter of moral and ethical conduct," had three secret European families and seven children. Indignation, anger, rage at her father's deception and hypocrisy, shame--it's all there. But in the end, there is compassion, and even humor:
   
   I certainly could have done with his [my father's] endless lectures on the Population Explosion...A man who fathered thirteen--I think, I still have to stop and count us!--children, haranguing one of his daughters about world population figures? Give me a break!
   
   And in the end, knowing her father to be at once "deeply intelligent and incredibly energetic," and "angry, restless, opinionated...obsessed with his own ideas and concerns," she has to admit that the multiple families made a certain kind of sense: "No one woman could possibly have lived with him all the time."
   
   "I'm hoping that as I get older I'll get braver," Lindbergh writes at the close of this splendid and moving book. I'm hoping that Lindbergh will take us with her as she bravely explores her future, forward from here, and that soon we'll be able to read the next chapter of her journey.
   
   by Susan Wittig Albert
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women

5 comments about The Airmen and the Headhunters: A True Story of Lost Soldiers, Heroic Tribesmen and the Unlikeliest Rescue of World War II.

1. The book is a fascinating and well told story of a crew of young aviators who were shot down during a bombing mission to Brunei Bay, Borneo, on 16 November 1944. The Japanese fleet was refitting after losing the naval engagements in the Philippines in October and the 5th Heavy Bombardment wing was sent on an air strike to further damage the fleet - flying in at about 9,000 feet - a pretty low altitude. Minutes before they would be overhead their targets, one of the aircraft was hit by a six inch shell in the cockpit area; the dying copilot managed to get the crippled aircraft over land, and the crew parachuted into the one of the most primative and unexplored areas on the planet... the middle of the highlands of Borneo. There the real advanture begins.
   I am the son of one of the airmen. I have known this story (most parts of it) since I found the "treaure trove" of letters, news clippings, souvenirs and photos at age 10. What I didn't know that in protecting these men, the native population started an uprising to free themselves of their Japanese oppressors, allowing the Australian troops to form up alongside a rebellion in progress. I was proud to read about my then 19 year old father and his equally young crewmates, and read how they "hid out" for over 8 months - and know about the bonds that formed between them and the natives of Borneo that lasted the rest of their lives. The unnamed airman on the right end of the photo of the crew during their jungle survival training is my father - no doubt about it, John Nelson.



2. This book reveals not one, but several alien cultures, not least that of a vanished America, and sheds an interesting light on the stories of today's soldiers overseas.



3. This engrossing book is a thoroughly researched tale of an amazing episode of World War II in the Pacific. Ms. Heimann, a career American diplomat who herself is fluent in Indonesian (Malay), personally met with all available American and Dayak survivors as well as tapping Australian, Dutch, Indonesian and British archival sources. One hopes that she will continue to write for publication. I found the clear descriptions of the now-disappearing life and culture of the Borneo "headhunters" fascinating, and the adventure of the downed airmen themselves is engrossing from first to last. The native people protected and hid the Americans for months in the deep jungle despite grave danger to themselves from Japanese reprisal. It is good that Christian missionary work in the Borneo interior pre-WWII was such a positive influence. I am glad that this story has been told, for many reasons beyond the enjoyment and information that it will provide for its readers. It is also a pleasant reminder that we are not superior. As one of the returned U.S. airmen told his wife when discussing the people of the Borneo jungle:
   "We're supposed to be civilized and they're savages, but they don't beat their wives or rape women, or even correct their children under the age of five. There are no orphans or old people left on their own. Everybody takes care of everybody."



4. This book is well written and well researched. It is not as exciting and adventure story as I was hoping. However, I was nonetheless eager to follow the heros and heroines.
   Although the people were well researched, the terrain and fauna and flora of Borneo are still somewhat mysterious to me. This is not a "Perfect Storm" type analysis of every aspect of jungle survival with native peoples.



5. This book is so good and it was amazeing how it all took place and that the tribe there were so creative and were willing to help American Airmen, they were all so young, a forgotten story that finally got told.
   I'm glad I found out about it. because Tom Capin was my cousin and I remember my Dad Talking about Tom being lost so I had a special interest in reading it.Despite that I just couldn't put it down, now my chrildren and are reading it. The author did a great job in the discription you felt like you were there and could see all the jungle. I was totaly suprised that the christens had make a impact on the people so long ago there that was a total suprise to me. Betty Capin had sent me a christmas card and a letter and told me about the book I'm so happy that were stil in contact with the family, Thank you

5 comments about American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in theNew China.

1. I couldn't put this book down. It's amazingly honest, incredibly funny, and makes one want to have lived the experience. If you don't like it you've got an iron heart.



2. I really enjoyed this book. Not only
   did I learn about the culture of China
   and Shaolin, but it was a gripping
   funny book. Truly a gifted author.
   I wish he would write more.



3. I just loved this book. It's such a useful glimpse into Chinese life of the period, and a really entertaining story of an ordinary American kid who just one day up and says, "I'm going to China and study at the Shaolin Temple"....and does it! Every boy's Walter Mitty fantasy come to life.
   
   The one major regret I have with it, and why I only gave it four stars instead of five, is that it comes to a stop rather abruptly. He comes home, goes to school, and years later comes back to visit the Shaolin Temple and remark on the changes that have taken place.
   
   But not a word on how his experiences may have affected his later life in any meaningful way. Maybe they didn't, but that would have been a shame since he put so much effort into the journey. Just a word on how he might have used his amazing powers for good back home would have been nice, or how it might have changed his attitudes and perceptions as he grew older.
   
   Well, it's still a great read and very rewarding. Maybe there's a supplement somewhere that fills in the gaps. If anyone knows of one, please let me know. Thanks.



4. I read American Shaolin over the past two days while visiting my brother in Austin and found the book to be incredibly inspiring. At no point while reading the book did I want to put it down. The anecdotes describing the Chinese mindset and language idiosyncracies were both amusing and educational. I would recommend the book to many Chinese language instructors to improve students' cultural understanding. The phrase "eat bitter" has become my personal mantra whether exercising or reviewing mathematics/statistics. I look forward to more books from this exciting author.



5. What a great, unique book. Matthew Polly is a gifted storyteller. In American Shaolin, he shares the true story of his decision (with just one year remaining until his graduation from Princeton) to take off to China, locate and train with the Shaolin monks until he can cross off "coward" from his "Things that are wrong with Matt" list. This list figures prominently in the book and proves a wonderfully entertaining and useful literary device.
   
   What Polly gives us is a very good, well-written personal memoir. If that's all this book were, it would be enough. You find yourself fully engaged in the journey of self-discovery and personal development and you find yourself constantly laughing at Polly's stories. What's great though, is that you get a lot more from this book while you are being entertained.
   
   At a time when China is emerging onto the world scene in a huge way, Polly provides a completely accessible glimpse for the average American into the Chinese mindset. You come away from the book with a much greater understanding of and appreciation for the way the Chinese live, the goals they share, how their culture is like ours, how it is different and how they think. It's a truly valuable education, but without the trouble of slogging through a dry social sciences book.
   
   Congratulations to Mr. Polly, who was clearly aware of the opportunity to educate while entertaining. He accomplished his goal in spades. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a great story and/or wants to know more about China.

5 comments about The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood.

1. I really enjoyed this book - any one with a soft spot for animals would find it worth picking up. It only fell slightly short for me during a few self-indulgent passages and the promotion of others' books. Regardless, it is a heart-warming story that will make you want to run out and adopt a pet, or hug the one you have.



2. I didn't expect to buy this book. I hadn't heard about it. I wasn't even familiar with the author. But after just a quick scan of the first chapter, I was fully engrossed in the story of Christopher Hogwood. I couldn't put it down. The author skillfully integrates personal details of her own life into the story which no good animal story would be without. It is listed as a "biography, non-fiction" book so if you are looking for specific information on pigs, this probably isn't the right reference book for you. This is the story not so much of a very lucky pig who was saved/adopted by a human couple but more the story of several lucky human beings who were inspired/enlightened/befriended by one very talented pig. Anyone who has been around pigs can test to their intelligence and Chris is no exception..yet his particular talent seems to be his ability to bring out the best in any human who meets him. An entertaining quick read..perfect for a longer plane ride or a rainy day on the couch!



3. The author being a self-described "naturalist," I thought this book would have some sort of insight into the nature of pigs. Nope. Mostly a lot of boring, self-indulgent tripe about how the author and her husband overfed this runt pig, whom they named Christopher Hogwood (how cute! -- NOT!), and Hogwood grew into something Montgomery calls "beautiful" but would more appropriately be called "grotesque." (She even admits letting him eat ice cream until he can barely move and becomes overweight). The author is what she calls "child free" (which one can fully support) but fails to see how her many animals are in fact substitute children. In one stunningly ignorant passage, she claims that the pig Hogwood is an "adult" and therefore her relationship to him is not one of adult to child. Hullo? It's a PIG for cryin' out loud. You can't converse with it, plan an event with it and (yes, just like a baby) you have to make sure all its poop is cleaned up and that it's taken care of.
   
   I lost count of the boring passages in the book about how Hogwood made the author closer to her neighbors and taught her how to "play with children" (gag). If you enjoy that type of sentimental fluff, this book is for you. Personally, I was very sad at the end. Not because Hogwood died, but at the waste of perfectly good meat! (they buried him...sob!)



4. This book was given to me by a friend as a birthday present.
   She gave it to me because I have a pig as a pet and she knew that I could probably relate to it.
   
   She was right. The Good, Good Pig is a very touching story. It made me laugh and it made me cry.
   
   My only criticism would be that Sy Montgomery got a little lenghthy on some explanations but I would still recommend this story to anyone who is an animal lover or especially to anyone who has a pig.
   
   I love my pig. My pig is a pot bellied pig. She is such a character. She inspired me to write my own story. Unlike Sy Montgomerys story, my book is fiction. A children's picture book entitled "Bubbles the Little Pig."
   
   Since becoming a pet pig owner, pigs have become very near and dear to me. They will always have a special place in my heart.



5. this book was an easy read with lots of laughing throughout. I enjoyed the information peppered throughout as well from Sy's background information and experiences as well as the associations her premise for the book was. I disagree that the pig was 'nothing special' as some poor reviews stated because it wasn't really about the pig but rather about the pig as part of a larger phenomenon.

5 comments about Coach, The A. L. Williams Story.

1. This is the story of the quintessential American entrepreneurial story. A group of inexperienced individuals did what books, articles, and regulators could not do. Change an old stogy industry.
   
   Though not the primary focus of this book, it does demonstrate that free-enterprise is the solution to a "monopoly", and not the government. Given enough time, freedom and motivation, someone will stick their head up and find a solution to a problem. The problem in this case is the overselling of "cash value" life insurance.
   
   A great read. Engaging. And interesting to see what transpired behind the scenes.
   
   However, if read carefully, it is NOT an endorsement of Primerica (the predecessor of A.L. Williams). In fact, when reading between the lines, it is clear that Art is NOT a big fan of PFS.
   
   Unfortunately, a lot of PFS'ers use this book at "advertisement", when it is in fact, not.
   
   PFS is NOT A.L. Williams. Citigroup is finally realizing this, and as of this writing is struggling to find a buyer for PFS.
   
   A great lesson of "Coach" is that when entrepreneurial companies become corporate, they lose their way. Microsoft is another illustration of this.



2. Art Williams shows in this book the strength of his character, the power of belief, and his ability to lea people on a crusade. I had a hard time putting the book down. He really helped open up and industry to new ideas and opportunities. His legacy will live on.



3. I am at least a dozen generations away from the original founders of Coach William's company but I feel as close to the top in desire and purpose as if I had started with them. Most time wish I had, just to prove my belief in his philosophy. I am not a great earner, nor a leader of many at this time, and for that same reason, I often revisit this 'bible' of the business to refresh my ire and stoke the fire that keeps me burning to be more sucessful and spread the TERM!



4. This book is clear, concise and a really fast read. It should be read by all those serious about going into business for themselves. There is no sugar coating here. It spells out, from someone who has done it, what it takes to win in business. Read this book if you just want to be somebody!



5. As a self-employed individual, I know that networking and referrals are the most effective ways to increase my business. Networking seems so simple but really is a learned skill. Al Williams is a pro. "Coach" gives a "start to finish" accounting of how it works and strongly emphasizes the old saying of "plan your work and work your plan." While I am at least 90 degrees from Williams' spiritual beliefs and political stance, those themes did not deter me from finding a lot of business-building style and posture.
   
   Strongly recommend the book to anyone who is thinking of starting his or her own business or wondering how to improve it. Particularly valuable to those on the service trades or network marketing.