No comments about Thailand.

No comments about Arctic Ordeal: The Journal of John Richardson, Surgeon-Naturalist With Franklin 1820-1822.

No comments about Matabeleland and the Victoria Falls.

5 comments about A Voice in Our Wilderness: John Husar's Timeless Writings on the Outdoors, Strange Meals, and Life's Simple Moments.

1. John Husar's writings don't only apply to fishermen, hunters, or any denomination of people, but to anyone who loves to experience travels, adventures, or living in general, because he wrote not just about the outdoors, but how extraordinary life is. This book is a must-have for anyone who likes good stories told by an exellent storyteller. And who knows, you might learn somthing. Read it, you won't regret it



2. Reading this book filled me with inspiration to get out and enjoy the outdoors. John Husar's writing is absolutely poetic. He was an artist who painted with humble words. It's an easy read -you can pick up any page and start from there, because it's a collection of his columns. Thank you for making this book!

   After reading a few columns, I took my kids out for a walk in the woods for the first time this year. This book is not just for the fisherman/hunter, it's for anyone who loves the outdoors and appreciates natural beauty. It's timeless and classic. I even gave it to a few friends for Father's Day.




3. The writings of John have been missed in the Chicago Tribune. Thank you for the wonderful book ! I look forward to the next book with more stories.
   He has taken me on advertures around the world with such respect for nature and the environment.



4. Mr. Husar was an avid hunter and fisherman but this book should appeal to anybody who loves the great outdoors. He didn't write about how to catch big fish but about how to have fun while doing it.

   I really like that it's a collection of newspaper columns -- you can grab it and read one or two columns at a time, depending on how much free time you have, or read it straight through.

   I'll keep this one on my shelf for a long time.




5. What a wonderful book.....Mr. Husar has a way of capturing the essence of the outdoor experiece in a artfully brilliant and often humerous way......showing great respect for all God's creatures.

5 comments about A Promise to Persevere: It's not where you start, it's where you finish!.

1. I think this story sends a terrible message to children. Michael Miller bullies his way through the court system and vilifies the multitudes of professionals that attempt to help him on his path. One of my favorite negative blanket statements that he makes is on page 110 when he states that many social workers just "seem to be lazy or they have too many cases to manage". Wow that is a powerful statement coming from someone without a job who decided after 6 years that he felt like finding all the children he fathered and ignored while he was selling drugs on the street. I also enjoyed the part where he glorified his drunk aunt "cursing out a police officer" that pulled him over.
   However, my favorite inspirational lesson came in chapter 9 when Mr. Miller claims that he drove to Morehouse college, told the secretary to the Dean of Admissions that he would not take no for an answer, only to be welcomed to an unscheduled meeting with the Dean. During this interview, Mr. Miller claims that he told the Dean that Morehouse college would be funding his tuition in its entirety simply because he didn't want to stress about it anymore. Here's the excerpt...
   He said, "Okay. Well, how do you plan on paying a hundred thousand dollars to go to Morehouse College, Mr. Miller?"
   I said, "Now, that's a good question! Well, I guess Moorehouse is going to pay for it. I know this college doesn't offer transfer scholarships, but I'd love to have my matriculation funded by a scholarship from Morehouse College. I can't go back to Baltimore to finish my last semester and worry about paying for Morehouse College. Now, I think you think I'm crazy. That's because I am. Now, what's it going to be?"
   He Said, "Okay, I'll tell you what; give me some time next week and we'll see."
   I said, "Ah, ah, no no. I need to know this right now. I've been stressed out over this for too long, and I don't want to be just another phone call. Can we make this happen? Do we have a deal?"
   
   After which of course the dean tells him he likes his style and gives him a full ride.
   I don't know what world he is living in, but I work with at-risk children, and this is not what I would recommend for them to try in order to work towards their dreams. If this did happen, which I question, it does not happen normally, and this book that is supposed to be inspirational gives terrible messages about the means by which this man reached his goals. I commend him for getting his education, but there are multitudes of people who have turned their lives around in this country who came from atrocious childhoods, who chose not to ignore their many illegitimate children, sell drugs, curse out cops, judges, college counselors, and secretaries to achieve their goals. I'd rather read their books.



2. This book is absolutely inspirational. I look forward to what is sure to come next - Part II.



3. I heard about Michael Miller thorugh my sister-in-law. She went to a graduation at Oxon Hill High School. She was so touched by his speech, she told me about it. I was so touch I got on line to check him out. I found the book and read it. What a wonderful testamony. It has changed my life, big time. I've been wanting to lose weight for so long, I have tried everything on earth. After reading his book I know I will get to the finish line. With this as an insparation and my Lord Jesus Christ I can't and won't lose. Everyone should have a copy of this wonderful book. I just mailed my copy to my sister-in-law for her and my nephew to read. I am tellling everyone that I know to read this wonderful book. Thank you Michael



4. A Promise to Persevere is a must read for of all ages. Miller is transparent and motivating throughout the entire book. From the first chapter, Miller challenges the reader to look within and reflect upon goals while also making it clear that success can become a reality. Further, A Promise to Persevere proves that forgiveness is one of the necessary steps to experience greatness and success.



5. What a powerful story! This book has truly inspired me to finish what I've started. It is defintely a page turner! Since the first day I've read A Promise to Persevere, I have been on a emotional roller coaster ride. It will make you laugh out loud, cry, excited, touched, and become inspired and motivated all at the same time. What amazes me so much is how he is able to paint of the picture of the scenes with his writing. I mean, I felt like I was there withhim the entire time. This is truly the best book I've ever read! It was so good that I've read it 3 times.

5 comments about Broken Badge: The Silencing of a Federal Agent.

1. Nick has a very special way of relating real events. I found this book very compelling and exciting to read, not only because of the author's straightforward style, but because these were real events.

   If you like intrigue and real-life crime type stories... buy this book!




2. Mangieri's books bring to mind the nonfiction of Peter Maas, author of Serpico. However, Mangieri's work has a sharper edge, simply by virtue of the fact that it is based on his personal experiences and is told in his own words. His books are well worth our attention.



3. Outstanding read. I salute the author for his honesty and resolve. Having been assigned to Washington,DC as a member of the armed forces my observations paralleled that of the author's. As a Federal Investigator the author uncovered wrongdoing and by the oath of his office pursued the corruption. A Great Read! This is the Real World Folks! Read it! You won't put it down until you close the rear cover. The author should have received a medal.



4. This book gives the reader a vivid experience of the day-to-day reality of a white-collar crime investigator. Although the blurb tells us that the author didn't get his main targets, nevertheless he came very close to thwarting his adversaries (who certainly knew they'd been in a fight), and readers will be surprised to see what successes Mangieri had and how his efforts fell short. It's also encouraging to read about some of the allies Mangieri picked up, groups who work largely out of the spotlight but help greatly in keeping corruption and incompetence from wrecking our system altogether.



5. I really enjoyed this book, which tells of corruption in an important government investigator's job. Nick Mangieri dealt with very difficult issues that most of us don't have to face in our day-to-day lives. Despite the pressure, he kept his head and his integrity intact. We can all learn a lot from his story.

2 comments about Boundless Horizons: The Autobiography of Chris Bonington.

1. This is a wonderful collection of three autobiographical books by Chris Bonington. Unlike expedition accounts, these cover broad swathes of time -- about ten years each. This approach gives the author a chance to describe the advances in his technical climbing capability through the years.

   More significantly, however, the collection gradually downplays the technical side; the length of time that he surveys gives Bonington the space to describe his evolving philosophy towards climbing. The technical aspects of climbing seem to diminish through the book and the storyline is replaced by the inner exploration of what it means for him to climb. As he grows older, the changes in personality that it takes to become a successful leader of climbers are also increasingly demonstrated.

   Bonington has certainly lived a charmed life; except for his injuries suffered on the Ogre, he has been blessed with luck that few other climbers have sustained over a 30-40 year span. He has also been blessed with an ability to write that few other climbers (perhaps Greg Childs, Joe Tasker, Peter Boardman, and Joe Simpson?) can match.

   Highly recommended.




2. I had the rare advantage in the early 1970s of contributing to Cassell (UK) publisher's publicity when I worked with Chris Bonington and the genius mystic climber Dougal Haston's "In High Places".

   This is a bumper volume of 3 books and I'll leave it to the experts to discuss the technical side. What leaves a lasting impression is Bonington's (now Sir Chris, I believe) felicity with words while at the same time preserving a gentlemanly diffidence; his willingness to bare his soul in a way that tapped universal truths.

   Mountaineering types will read assessments of this collection in their favoured climbing press, but I urge *non* climbers to give this a look-see. In one collection, you're in the hands of an athlete and a soldier and one who can write.

   Here's a man who passed up a prince's salary as a Suit to pit himself against the peaks. More than that - and here's where you'd never have got Haston or Whillans dissecting it with such skill - Bonington describes the *commercial* side of having to fawn and press flesh to squeeze up the cash.

   'The Everest Years' is a real bonus here, and what comes home is the author's expert rhythm and poetry. The canvas is wide - vertiginous Changabang, Ogre where CB bust himself up something awful - but the writing transcends the mountain and seems to spell out universal truths. Only God knows why He chose Chris to survive when so many others- infant and adult, climber, kin - have been 'gathered'. Perhaps to place with us these incomparable records as a bridge between those like him who need to tackle those heights, and their courageous loved ones who take this lunacy on trust. Go seek this rare writing out.

No comments about Frederick Russell Burnham - The King of Scouts (Biography).

1 comments about Columbus: And the Conquest of the Impossible.

1. While not an attack on the historical Columbus or his achievements, this volume is a highly readable and enjoyable debunking of many of the myths that have grown up about Columbus: highly recommended.

No comments about The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph.