5 comments about Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.

1. The SAT phone used in an attempt to contact "HQ" for assistance was a Uridium SAT phone. The company went bankrupt in 1999 (try Google search); DOD funded in excess of 300 million dollars to "make the company work" because of the ongoing contracts with the Uridium company. It is well known, the SAT phone was poor and often did not function; the requirement to press in excess of 15 keys to connect made the task even more time consuming.
   
   During Operation Anaconda, the SEAL team atop Takur Ghar could not connect to Bagram AB, but had to call the duty officer in Norfolk, VA. All this while taking fire.
   
   In short, DOD contributed to the disaster by not providing these outstanding Americans with the communication required.
   
   I know, because I used a Thuraya SAT phone during my time working in Paktia and Khwost Provinces in 2003. Others who had the Uridium SAT phone would constantly complain..and as such, would ask to use my SAT phone.
   
   A tragic loss that did not have to happen..



2. A friend was reading this book and I picked it up at an airport lay-over having a friend who's son became a SEAL a few years ago.
   
   The odds of completing this most rigorus training among ALL the servies and earning the priviledge of wearing the Navy Trident, are very unlikly.
   This writer tells in page flipping detail what they must indure and those few who tolerate the unbelievable 24/7 punishment and make it past Hell Week probably will graduate. Sometimes less than 20% make it and these SEAL recruits are seasoned soldiers and most have made it through other demanding physical training including Rangers, Marine training ...some of the guys are even trying it for the second time! One comes away with the greatest respect and graditude for these Special Operations voluntered American Soldiers. No wonder they are respected around the world. Beyong True Grit.



3. After reading some of the reviews of this book on Amazon, I think a lot of people fell into the same trap that I did. I purchased this book hoping for a 360 degree view of this incident (i.e. Black Hawk Down), with a story line of not only the 4 seals on the ground but more detail on how the mission got picked, what was the plan if they got into trouble, and more importantly what was going on behind the scenes as this thing fell apart and the call was made for help. I guess, like many people I was expecting an expanded view of the situation and everyone involved, but like the title of the book states this is "The Eyewitness Account...." of this event. So Luttrell was not an eyewitness to the stuff going on behind the scenes, and so his story is about what he actually experienced. I can say without a doubt you will be floored by what this guy and his team went through. I don't think Hollywood could make up a story this intense and horrific and not have us all say "Come on, one person could not have had all this happen to him". But it did happen and the fact that he survived this ordeal is absolutely amazing.
   
   I must admit I had a problem reconciling that these 4 highly trained guys, would take time to rant about the liberal media while making such an important decision on top of the Hindu Kush, which ultimately sealed their fate. In the end it seems as though their own conscious and Christian fatih drove them to their decision and not the liberal media.
   
   The second half of this book is 6 out of 5 stars, but the first half is 2-3 stars out of 5 (though you will have a bigger appreciation for the supermen these Seals are after reading about the training they go through). Which is why I gave it a 4 star rating.
   
   For me and many others I think we were hoping for broader more researched view of the incident, but the book is not called "The Full Account of ...", it is called "Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of ...". So if you get through the first half of the book, the second half of the book is one of the most unbelievable stories of survival that I have ever read.



4. What an amazing story. An absolute must-read for anyone interested in hearing first-hand account of soldiers and their experiences in afghanistan. I think it is an important reminder of the heroism and dedication of these soldiers.
   
   Liberals who read this book are going to take issue with the author's stance on the media, ROE, and God. I'll just tell you that upfront. If you are not opposed to hearing the authors opinion on these subjects, then I think you may even end up liking the book.
   
   He is so passionate and opinionated on these subjects that I think it may detract from the ability of the book to raise questions about how we are handling this war and the enemies we fight.
   
   I find that this book - the SEALs experience, the moral dilemma they faced in the battlefield, and the consequences of their decision an important read for everyone - whether you agree with his politics or not.
   
   I'm going to give away a bit of the story now, so if you don't want anything ruined, I suggest you stop reading right now.
   
   There comes a turning point in their mission when they encounter three unarmed goat herders. They have a decision to make. Do they kill them right then and there and face the consequences at home, or do they let them go and risk the herders telling the Taliban about their presence, their numbers and location?
   
   Some reviewers try to wriggle their way out of making this decision by bringing out other possibilities - possibilities which were not there. They couldn't take the goat herders prisoner or take them with them. It was broad daylight - the Taliban could be anywhere, watching them at anytime. They couldn't risk it. They did try to call HQ and ask what they should do - but got no reply. They couldn't just get airlifted out of there ASAP because there is no place for the helicopter to land in the immediate vicinity. The journey to a safe location was miles away. A journey they couldn't make in the broad daylight because of the lack of cover and the fear of being spotted by the Taliban.
   
   Anyway, so back to the dilemma. Do they kill the goat herders, a violation of the Rules of Engagement which state that you cannot kill unarmed civilians or even unarmed combatants. Or, do they let them go, risking their mission and their lives. Their first instinct is to kill them, in fact, deep down, they know thats what they should do. However, because they were afraid of being labeled and tried as murderers back home, they made the decision to let them go. And that decision cost them their lives.
   
   I think this is where we need to stop and think. Do we think they made the right decision? Were the lives of the goat herders worth more than the three Navy SEALS (I'm going to leave out the soldiers that were killed in the helicopter crash because I feel that their deaths were not necessarily a direct consequence of the decision to let the goat herders free)?
   
   I'm not saying that we should give the soldiers free reign to murder, rape, and pillage. Definitely not. But, when soldiers encounter grey areas such as these SEALs encountered, should we stand up for them when they opt for their own safety over following the ROE? Or, should we follow the ROE at any cost? Obviously Lutrell has his own opinions on the subject. He is a soldier, and he saw many of his best friends killed as a result of ROE.
   
   I think this book does bring up some important points of debate and I wish people whose politics differed from the authors would be more open minded and rather than becoming defensive or put off, they would try to understand where the author was coming from rather than immediately writing him off as brainwashed, dumb, or arrogant.



5. I don't care what a persons political views are, this is a must read. I also don't care if Marcus Luttrell is not Hemingway, that is not the point of this book. Thank you to all the people who recognized this book for what it was instead of tearing it apart for something it wasn't even trying to be. Thank you Mr. Luttell for writing your story.

5 comments about The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport.

1. As a golfer, I could relate to the trials and tribulations of the writer as he suffered though his game but Hiassen's whining about his golf started to get boring and the book never really satisfied; it was like a sketch on Saturday Night Live that it went on too long.



2. It is delightful to encounter a book that, in addition to being an excellent read, strikes an especially responsive chord in the reader's mind. Such was the experience with Carl Hiaasen's THE DOWNHILL LIE, an entertaining and enjoyable saga about the midlife return to the frustrating and fascinating game of golf that many readers may have gone through in their lives. As one who gave up the sport in my late 20s, when spending hours on the golf course became difficult and I found time to return to the game in my mid-40s, the Hiaasen narrative brought back many memories and nods of recognition. Perhaps more important, it offers many laugh-out-loud observations that a wise and humorous writer shares with his audience.
   
   Many will recognize the Hiaasen name as a newspaper columnist for the Miami Herald and the author of bawdy and entertaining novels set in the State of Florida that poke fun at contemporary issues of American life. A Hiaasen novel skewers politicians, businessmen, retirees, rednecks and countless other denizens of the "Sunshine State." He has applied this formula to more than a dozen bestselling fictional works.
   
   Now the celebrated author has turned his wry humor inward. After a 32-year absence from the game that he first played with his father, Hiaasen, now a grandfather with bad hips and other equally bad appendages, decides it's time to return to the game he abandoned in his youth. Why? Because, as he ruefully acknowledges, "I am one sick bastard."
   
   While he may be "sick," he is wonderfully funny. Any golfer will appreciate his observation about a fine-looking new set of irons, too beautiful to throw in anger after a bad shot. As he attempts to explain the golf handicap system, most golfers will nod in approval. But, just like Hiaasen, they really have no idea how that tell-tale number that appears after their name bears any relation to golfing reality. Reading THE DOWNHILL LIE is a reminder to every golfer of the various circles of the inferno that constitutes golf, from lessons to gadgets to ecstasy and occasional humiliation. He experiences it all and shares it with readers in a fashion that every golfer will understand.
   
   Hiaasen, of course, is not just an average guy returning to the game of his youth. Indeed, his book allows him extravagances that the average golfer can only dream about. One day, in a moment of deep depression, he emails his friend, professional golfer and television commentator David Feherty. His tale of woe and torment results in Feherty sending him the latest model Cobra Driver and ultimately a second model after the first is not quite the correct club for Hiaasen's swing. For his effort, Feherty gets the back page of THE DOWNHILL LIE in the form of a complimentary blurb.
   
   Every gadget purchased, every club and indeed some of the most expensive lessons in golf from the prestigious David Leadbetter Academy are chalked up to research for Hiaasen's book. I must admit to pangs of jealousy that he has really come up with the perfect scam to have someone else pay the price for satisfying his every golfing whim. That envy is assuaged by two facts: unlike Hiaasen I can't write, and nothing he does seems to help his golf game. Frustration fills the pages of THE DOWNHILL LIE, and because it is a golfer other than me suffering ignoble fate, I have to admit it is pretty funny.
   
   I know Hiaasen will never read this review, but perhaps a friend will call it to his attention. Patience, Carl. Several years ago, just like you, I returned to the game I had abandoned. I struggled for a few years, but now at age 60 I am playing the best golf of my life. True, it is mostly attributable to equipment and the humility of moving up a set of tees, but it is improvement nonetheless and I am enjoying every minute of it!
   
   THE DOWNHILL LIE is a perfect Father's Day gift for your golfing dad, or the book to take along on your next golfing trip. Those who have never suffered through golf hell will not understand Hiaasen's anguish, but the rest of us have a wonderful reminder that there are many out there equally frustrated and tortured by the game invented by drunken Scotsmen.
   
   --- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman



3. I should have known. As a fan of Hiaasen, I should have realized that by leaving the reservation to write a book about his taking up golf again that he was walking out onto thin ice. As it turns out, he was trying to walk on water.
   
   Several descriptions of this "book" come to mind. The one that occurs the most is "unreadable." It is not funny. It is poorly structured. It has no sense of story.
   
   After several attempts to at least complete it, I have given up and last night it ended up in my trash compactor. I would give this effort NO STARS if Amazon allowed such a rating.



4. Millions of golfers could play like Tiger Woods only if they had his golfing skills. And millions of golfers who play and score like Carl Hiassen could write a book like this if they had his wit and writing skills.
   Chuckling about Hiassen's antics on the links reduced my tension and I think was a contributing factor to one of my best games ever (right after I finished reading the book). But I will wait to see if this relaxing-Hiaaasen effect lasts before I recommend this amusing work also as a golf psychology/ self-help book.



5. This book is one of the best golf related books I have ever read. I could not put it down! The author was so normal and honest and real that if you are a golfer who started playing golf again at an older age (40's) then you will really relate to his story. It is funny and just a great summer read!

5 comments about Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned On Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses!).

1. Take one part Erma Bombeck's humorous insight into the inanity of everyday life, add a big slice of David Sedaris' self deprecating raconteur style, fold in a heaping spoonful of Dr. Ruth's straight talk about good sex, add ice and shake (do not stir), and you have Douglas Brown's refreshing first book about 101 marathon days of sex with his wife.
   
   In a world where free wheeling sex is omnipresent, Brown has stumbled upon one of our remaining taboos: discussing the sex lives of married consenting adults. Carry Bradshaw we can handle, but...what will these married folks think of next? His book effectively summarizes 101 continuous days of married sex without being either salacious or vulgar, and he and his wife of 14 years learn a few things about maintaining a long term relationship along the way.
   
   The humor, the details of family life, the internal monologues (particularly about "where is home?") all give a delightful context for the daily sex. Even the reality of the "Not really in the mood tonight, dear"...which for most of us (all of us?) would just end it right there...and then knowing that right after they felt that emotion and said those words, they went ahead anyway....I mean...Wow. I almost can't fathom the dedication that this took! Brown's book is a delicious feast featuring all that it means to be a married father in the early 21st century, complete with face-painted flat tires, vertiginous sexual interludes, and the miracles of "Brazilian waxing".



2. "Just Do It" will no doubt "crinkle the fat" about the eyes of the prurient and cause the ultra-conservative to babble in shock. But such knee jerk reactions belie the true import of the book.
   On January 1, 2007, Douglas Brown and his wife Annie (at her suggestion) pledged to have sex with each other for 100 straight days. While the caring, tenderness, and communication between them was good after fourteen years of marriage, their experiment enabled them to bond ever more closely--in spite of the demands of children, careers, and life in the twenty-first century.
   The preparation for the project speaks of the seriousness with which the Browns tackled the chore. Besides defining parameters, there was a visit to the family doctor for both, as well as researching destinations for variety in locales and dietary considerations to enhance performance and stamina.
   One destination was THE Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, which Brown, a feature writer, covered for the Denver Post. Annie asked porn star, Randy West, for an autograph, prompting Doug to approach Smoking Mary Jane with the same request. Annie took his picture with his arm around the corseted woman "bedecked in subtle dominatrix attire." And while they were there, they picked up sex toys, to add dash to their daily endeavor.
   But in the way of things, glitter, neon, and swag can be supplanted by state-department-level negotiations for their two daughters' bedtimes, or tending to cases of strep throat and copious vomiting spells.
   Social commentary on current attitudes toward sexual practices vies with glimpses of family life, dealing with the sale of Girl Scout cookies and story telling. Titillating sex toys are described, and the couple's physical delight in each other is revealed.
   Yet the book's appeal lies in the delicate balance Brown maintains, never resorting to purple prose or raunch. The narrative is thoughtful, lively, and engaging. Annie says they have fun, and it's their fun that imbues the tale.
   Douglas Brown tells a tender love story here and pays glorious tribute to his wife. But he experienced an epiphany all his own. As a result of this madcap sexventure, he learned the definition of "home."



3. Thank you Douglas and Annie Brown! This book is exactly what married couples in their 30's 40's and 50's need. It is not a sex manual, but an intimacy and passion manual. It reminds us that sometimes we have to work to keep these things in our lives.
   
   The writing style is first rate. At all times comical, moving and sweet. And with the perfect amount of sexual detail. Not too much! This is a look into Doug and Annie's marriage and commitment to each other much more than a look into their bedroom.
   
   I recommend this to anyone looking to get the passion, intimacy and yes, SEX back into their relationship.



4. What a fun and funny book. My husband and I read it together, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It proved to us that a long-married couple can still have a frequent, joyful and fulfilling sex life. We decided to try it for a month. It was difficult at first, but then we bought another book that really kicked our sex life into high gear. The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex isn't a playful, fun book, but it's a necessary one for all couples who are trying to improve their intimacy. It's a flip over book, with one side dedicated to cunnilingus and the other side dedicated to fellatio. A MUST for couples.



5. A fun book about a seemingly impossible mission... to have sex for 101 straight days! At times I thought the book was funny, insightful, amusing and touching. I especially enjoyed the first 100 pages, which included the build-up and the first week or two of the marathon. It did get a little repetitive in the back half, but I enjoyed the epilogue. Doug Brown is a sweet guy who really loves his wife!
   
   The actual sex acts are described in some detail (mostly about the different things and new approaches that they tried over the course of the marathon) but, at the end of the day, I thought it was more of a love story with a twist. It's more about reconnecting with your spouse, through greater intimacy, and jazzing up your relationship.
   
   Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think it was fiction. I really thought that it more or less happened as written (failures or lack of interest are also described; it's not like they had great sex all the time).
   
   The light, witty writing style as well as the additional commentary about family life and kids reminded me a little of "Marley and Me", another recommendation of mine.

5 comments about Night (Oprah's Book Club).

1. Man's inhumanity to man from one who survived it.
   
   As Mr. Wiesel notes in the introduction of his book, words can not--do not--describe what it was like--must have been like--to endure man's inhumanity to man. We in this day and time can't imagine, can't begin to fathom, what Mr. Wiesel's words try to describe.
   
   The Holocaust, combined with the Russian Army's treatment of German women and with Japanese treatment of the Chinese surely must mark one of the darkest, most despicable times of man upon the earth.
   
   Where, in deed, was God?
   
   Yet, because we are still here--the Director did not come on stage and stop the play to use C.S. Lewis' imagery--there is still hope. God has not yet given up on man, but sometimes we wonder--at times like Mr. Wiesel describes--why He hasn't. He must see something, some possibility in man that we don't always see ourselves--and sometimes try very hard to hide and overcome.
   
   Mr. Wiesel's Nobel Prize acceptance, coming as it does, at the end of the book, is one of the most powerful statements ever made about man's responsibility--about our individual responsibility--to stand up for those who need our help and support.
   
   Abraham Lincoln may have said it best in his Gettysburg Address, "...That these dead have not died in vain...."
   
   Mr. Wiesel's work speaks powerfully toward that end.



2. This novel to me portrays the absolute depravity and madness that humanity can fall into. The beginning superbly portrays the false hope that many people had that this situation would just blow over until it was too late despite the warnings from many people that it was just beginning. The language is so heart-rending and drips with rhetoric and deep meaning that sears the soul. The authors portrayal of his loss of faith and soul is so beautiful and yet so devastating in it's simple clarity that I felt I was there with him losing my mind. The deaths of those around him and the way he explains it makes me feel like their deaths weren't in vain and are left unsullied by his beautiful words. There is only one thing I would wish for this novel and that would be for it to be longer...I was left wanting to hear more about what happened.



3. I liked this book but its sad. I got this book because I like history and wanted to know more about what happened in WWII.



4. A must read so we will not forget that the civilized world swore we would not allow this to happen again. To our shame our country turned a blind eye to Rwanda and Darfur because we have forgotten.
   
   This book is a quick read, but has a long lasting impact.



5. Night is the accounts of one man's one year survivial of one of our worlds worst atrocities. Clearly, while reading this book I too would question with every turn of the pages, "where was god?". If anything would test one's faith, I couldn't imagine anything more befitting. There are countless survivors of millions of different struggles. Mine has been a congenital heart disease. Many of us have a story to tell. But the underlining message here is how one man hung on to something special and dear in his heart, something more powerful that all the cruelty that was delt him could not penetrate and taint his sheild; ..."where god was". Many, obviously, did not survive the holocaust. Not because they didn't believe that god is love. And not because they didn't believe in themselves. But because a design beyond our control has a plan. Elie Wiesel knew god was with him the entire time, as with us all, always. And we are fortunate to read his story and listen to his painful lectures. Lest we forget our history, god delivered Elie Wiesel's survival to us. This is a highly recommended read for anyone. I, for one, am grateful to this man for sharing his life with me.

5 comments about A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father.

1. Although this is not my favorite Augusten Burroughs book, I enjoyed it from begining to end.
   It gave me new insight to Augusten that I didn't have when I read 'Running With Scissors' and 'Dry'.
   I hope that Augusten keeps on writing, because I will keep on reading his works.



2. I expected to connect with this author. After reading the 4 and 5 star reviews, I was eager to begin the journey into Augusten's past. Boy, what a disappointment! I thought I'd read a memoir replete with details making this so called "wolf" come alive! I desparately tried to create this monster, but simply couldn't with Borrough's lack of details and exaggerated accounts of his past. A sick man, indeed. An alcholic I won't deny, but Augusten mentions dad's debilating disease, his dad's own abuse he endured as a child. I think he could have been much worse! A killer, I doubt it. I think in the mind of a child, things can often be very much exaggerated and blurred. Details were spared in this memoir leaving the reader hanging, confused, and with no other choice but to assume things. Not really fair. I did cry while reading the epilogue, however. Coming to the realization that there are loving dads in this world that show affection and act on that affection is eye opening and can be depressing for someone never experiencing unconditional love of a parent.
   What truely shocked me was that for such an intelligent child with insight and terrific perspective, he chose to follow a similar path in life as the man he ultimately despised.
   That said, not a hair-raising book as cover depicts! Boo.



3. I have been a fan of Mr. Burroughs since the publication of Running With Scissors. DRY is right up there with one of the most memorable and influential books I have read. His writing is solid, often terse, and always captivating and intense, bringing the emotions and events of his life right into the room with the reader.
   
   So I was looking forward to his latest book - A Wolf at the Table - and sadly, I did not even finish reading it. It is such a sorry retread of where Mr. Burroughs has already so brilliantly and realistically taken us in the past. The prose is tepid and the topic is rendered tedious and inert because Mr. Burroughs has already covered his childhood through many lens' this one being the least engaging. Or maybe just one too many of the same thing. The protagonist and antagonist presented here do not come to life on these pages, something Burroughs has not had happen in his previous memoirs. I really did not care about these people in WOLF, even though one of them, Augusten, has already so fully engaged me in his life, that I thought that anything he did or put to paper would be as unique, insightful, and compelling as always, I did not happen in WOLF. Both father and son stayed glued to the paper, inert and dull, terribly linear and formulaic.
   
   It seems to be time to tackle other topics or events in his life that are beyond bad parents - awful, cruel, evil parents. Mr. Burroughs has such a wonderful sense of how to convey emotions, experiences, and observations that it should not be such a stretch for him to move on and outward. His keen irony about life, his ability to evoke laughter from circumstances that are truly beyond laughter, his ability to grab hold of a reader and keep her in her seat until one of his books is finished - all these talents are something I look forward to. And hope to again.



4. Augusten Burroughs just might be the greatest storyteller of the century. A Wolf at the Table is a raw, engaging, heart wrenching tale that touches the soul, provokes the psyche, and demands grieving -- for the lost shreds of human connection each one of us ultimately experiences at some point in our lives.



5. Much less a roller coaster ride than "Running with Scissors" none the less another look at the dynamics of a dysfunctional family relationship that explores a son's yearning for a fathers love. Although different from my own experiences, the basic theme of a father unable to show love or maybe even incapable of loving, and the consequences of growing up without knowing why our own feelings are subsequently stunted will resonate with many as it did with me. The anger we feel but don't know why. The love we are afraid to commit to and don't know why. Maybe we all react differently but yet somehow those of us who grew up in similar households will know this book deeply.

5 comments about Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest To Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass LookBig, Or Why Pie is Not The Answer.

1. For anyone who opts to read books instead of watching reality TV may be skeptical of Jen Lancaster's book and her continous references to television, mainstream culture, and her self enduced fat.
   
   buuuut- this lady's self deprecating humor is great. She's human and flawed, and doesnt claim or try to be anything but who she is. I also get the feeling that Jen dumbs herself down so that the reader gets to the end of the book taking away so much more than just another narcissist view of themselves. I'm glad I gave it a chance.



2. Jen is a self discribed narcissist who wakes up to realize, after years of stuffing her face...that she is Fat. She bacially whines throughout the book on how hard it is to loose weight and makes everyone around her pay for it. She is sharp witted and funny lots of times, but I wondered more than once that some of her "snarky" dialouge comes out of her imagination rather than factual events. She comes off as a cartoon chartacter, not a real person. She claims "fear" is what has kept her from growing-up, but she never lets the reader into what that is all about. She criticizes Weight Watchers Meetings because they talk about "feelings" too much and felt "those people" needed therapy. She may want to use some of her royalties on a good shrink. She is clearly a legend in her own mind. I was disappointed because what could have been a thoughtful, insightful journey ends up wetting the bed. She is a walking sterotype of the "bitter fat girl" who projects her own fears on to others. In her journey to loose weight she makes fun of the homeless, disabled and the poor and at the end, although more fit is still fat. It is hard to have sympathy for her when others, call her a "fat b" I think it is a sad commentary that weight loss is such a triumph and worthy of publishing..I am all for living healthy and spreading education about obesity but really these "personal accounts" are boring and pathetic. I am not sure why this book got published....I mean I go to Target all the time, do others really want to read about it??? All and All I got suckered in by marketing and what appears to be false, contrived reviews...a poor memoir*
   
   * The footnotes are a distraction and stupid, save your money



3. Book starts a little slow, but the last half is very funny. I found myself having to share some of the excerpts with whoever was in the room with me! I definately recommend!



4. I don't know if I've ever read a book that made me laugh this hard. Even though I'm from Chicago and loved hearing the names of all the attractions and suburbs, it's her writing that's so wonderful. I am going to immediately buy and read her other books!



5. Just like her other two books this one is an amazingly funny tale of Jen's life. It made me laugh out loud!

5 comments about Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History.

1. This is the most moving, realistic depiction of JFK I have ever seen. Many will forever rant and rave over his personal peccadillos, but this man was a leader. His speech at American University, which was his way of dealing with Soviet & American feelings about nuclear war included the following. "For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet; we all breathe the same air; we all cherish our children's future; and we are all mortal." I heard that speech as a young man. I am now 82 and it still rings in my ears. I was raised an avid republican, but I am proud to have helped vote him into office. His like hasn't been seen since.



2. Ted Sorensen subtitles his memoir Counselor as "A Life at the Edge of History." It is, in fact, a rarely candid and insightful account of a life at the very center of history.
   
   Sorensen is widely known as JKF's speechwriter, but he was much more. He was JFK's liberal conscience and go-to-guy for everything from the handling of the "Catholic issue" in Kennedy's run for the White House to the writing of the letter to Khrushchev during the Cuban missile crisis. The combination of keen intellect and inspiring idealism that anchored Sorensen at the center of JFK's political life is crystallized on the pages of a retrospective clearly aimed at bringing both the author and his country closure on the shattering of that brief window of greatness.
   
   Don't come expecting a tell-all from this member of the Kennedy inner-circle (not just JFK, but Robert and Teddy, as well). Surely Sorensen is the faithful keeper of many secrets. He traveled with JFK throughout his campaigns, competed with RFK in the White House, enjoyed a close friendship with Jackie, and jeopardized his own political future by helping the family "handle" Chappaquiddick; but beyond the general and widely known stories, you'll get nothing new from Sorensen. He remains, as he has always been, the loyal keeper of the flame. What Sorensen does provide is a clear-eyed and frank view of his own life and its sizeable impact on political history of our times.
   
   For anyone who still remembers where he or she was when the gunshots rang out in Dallas, this book is a behind-the-scenes revelation of a history we lived, but never really knew. For those too young to remember, the book is, as JFK himself would have wanted, a torch of liberal idealism passed to a new generation. To that end, Sorensen has accomplished with book the goal he set. He has completed his service to the President he loved.



3. Sorenson
   
   Ted Sorenson's autobiography is told in three parts: his early life, his years with JFK, and his post-November 1963 experiences. Within the three parts, the book deals with episodes or themes of Sorenson's life rather than a chronological, day in and day out retelling of his experiences.
   
   Sorenson's early years are interesting, but the book really takes off when he moves to Washington, DC. His rise is quick, as within a short time of his arrival in DC he is already the confidante and a top aide to a rising star in the Senate. It is in the chapters on JFK's Senate career and presidency that most readers will be most focused. While interesting, there are not too many new insights on the major events here that cannot be found in other works on Kennedy, including Sorenson's own book, Kennedy. What was enlightening for me was the extent of Sorenson's work and relationship with Kennedy. I knew they were close and that Sorenson wrote his speeches, but had no idea that Sorenson was basically Kennedy's Chief of Staff and a top advisor on every major issue. I imagined the Kennedy/Sorenson relationship, from what I had learned, as one where JFK turned to Sorenson at the end of the day to ask his opinion, not one where Sorenson had such a formal, central role.
   
   I also did not realize the extent of Sorenson's career after his departure from the Johnson Administration. Until picking up the book, I did not realize his extensive involvement in RFK's 1968 campaign, his own 1970 race for the Senate, or his brief nomination to be CIA Director (I was born after the Carter Administration). These sections of the book, and many others about his involvement in Democratic politics, demonstrate a continued involvement and impact that was far greater than just his years in the Kennedy White House.
   
   The book makes me nostalgic for a time I never experienced. Intelligent, hardworking people engaging in serious issues and trying to do their jobs well and make the country better, with politics not the driving force. Perhaps it was never as good as Sorenson makes it seem, but it sure looks better than today.



4. John Kennedy was a great man and would have been a transformer of Washington politics. That's why they killed him!!! Ted Sorenson tells the up close and personal story of why we no longer have Jack kennedy among us.



5. This is a very readable and enoyable book by a man who was involved at the core of JFK's decision-making process. Starting with a history of his family's background and proceeding through his life with Kennedy from his election as Senator till his death and beyond Kennedy, Sorensen weaves a story of being involved at many levels of recent American history. It is a treasure trove for students of recent American history as well as a great source of information for the everyday American.

5 comments about The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists.

1. I picked up this book along with Strauss' sequal how to book(s) "The Rules of the Game" with the intention of learning the secrets of the much discussed topic of this book, PUAs (otherwise known as Pickup Artists). What I got was something entirely different. This book is more or less Strauss' diary of events when he emersed himself into the PUA lifestyle. I was really suprised at the humor that Strauss directs at himself and his fellow nerdy PUAs who have turned socializing into something that seems more like computer programming. The terminology alone that these guys use really shows you what kind of life the majority of these guys lived before becoming PUAs (for the majority I envision nerdy computer programmers).
   The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because I did a little research on the internet after reading this book and one of the main characters named Extramask (who is actually now a comedian named Barry Kirkey) stated that Strauss never met him in person or went to the seminars with him like is described in the book. If that is true than all I can say is that I am deeply disappointed as Extramask a.k.a Barry, was one of the funniest people that I have ever read about and I would lose a lot of respect if Neil actually just wrote down what people told him about Barry.
   What's funny though is after reading this I don't think I would ever want to be a PUA. The majority of these guys are very superficial and are looking for superficial women to validate themselves. Still, I would recommend it to a friend, who would learn a thing or two about the community and get a good chuckle every chapter.



2. After watching a few episodes of the reality TV show The Pickup Artist, I decided to buy this book. I bought this one instead of Mystery's Method because Strauss wrote Jenna Jameson's autobiography which is in my mind excellent credentials. Still, my expectations were not really that high and I anticipated nothing more than a book filled with pickup lines or some sort of humorous dating guide. But The Game is much more than that. For starters, it reads like a story and has a fascinating plot and a diverse range of characters. Mystery is by far the most interesting character, but most of the other pickup artists are also entertaining to read about. The book begins with the author meeting Mystery and being introduced to a world he did not know existed, a place where guys without handsome looks or fat wallets can pickup hot women through technique and seduction. Mr. Strauss sets off on a journey where he transforms himself from a geeky writer to become one of the most talented pickup artists in the business. One of my favorite messages in the book is, "Don't be yourself, be your best self." This means you don't have to change who you are to pickup women, but you have to be willing to maximize your potential. This book is a great read and one that I will read again many times.



3. This is one of the best books I've ever read, both because Neil is an amazing author, but also because of the science it talks about. I've learned more about human sociology and psychology since reading the book than at any other time in my life. As mystery says so often, this isn't about picking up girls, but becoming better men. As a result, women are attracted but to get their you have to become a better person.
   
   The stories in the book are hilarious, exciting, and make you want to read the book in one sitting.



4. This book is not a how-to book, like some of my friends thought upon seeing me with it. What this book is, is an entertaining story of a man's journey in this community. He is a guy that many an average man can relate to, and learn from along the way.
   
   He shares his story while imparting some lessons along the way. Not to mention, it was very humorous!



5. A few years ago I was the archetype of the lonely man. I came very very close to commiting suicide in fact, because I felt trapped in isolation. I wanted friends, and I wanted lovers but I had no idea how to get them.
   
   This book quite literally saved my life, in my darkest hour this book introduced me to the concept that being SOCIAL, making friends and being liked was a skill. Until I read this it had never occurred to me you could practice those things and get better at them.
   
   
   This book started me on a path towards self-improvement in which I eventually realized EVERYTHING in life is a skill. Everything can be practiced you can learn how to be better at anything. Even being happy.
   
   The Game is not a how-to book, it does not teach you all the techniques of pick-up. It's a true story about how some of the first pick-up artists started out. But the Game is an excellent introduction into a sub-culture of men devoted to making their own lives better. It's a primer to the IDEA that if you want to be more happy, or more sexy, or more attractive, you CAN be. You do not need to stay miserable.
   
   Pick-up is ironically, about much much more than getting laid. It turns out that learning to love yourself (which ends up attracting women anyways) is also its own reward.

5 comments about Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other.

1. I gave this book as a Father's Day gift to my son, who lost his Dad a few years ago. We both read it. What an inspiration.



2. Like me Jim Nantz is from the Houston area, so based on that commonality I've always been a fan. This book details a professional career that's gone very right and a personal life that's posed one significant challenge. There are points where everything that is written, said, etc. has been so perfect that you just want a strong cup of black coffee to wash the sugary taste from your mouth. Then you read the challenges with his Dad and it makes you want to tip you hat to the man and hope that I would react in the same way that he's done.
   
   Great behind-the-scenes and name-dropping book that makes a good summer read.



3. I enjoyed reading Jim's book and gave it to my two sons-in-law as a Fathers Day gift



4. I am not a golfer, but Jim's book grabbed me and in many places brought tears. His relationships with his father, his family and his coworkers and friends was exemplary. The personal things he shared were great. It gave me an insight into the lives of the many people he has meet in his career. Everyone should have such lasting relationships!



5. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. If you follow sports AT ALL - especially golf - then you will love this book. Jim Nantz weaves the story of his career in with the people he has come to know, along with his reflections from those relationships on father-child connections. Have a hanky ready at all times!

5 comments about Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction.

1. David Sheff helps others learn a lesson it took him years, and a brain bleed, to learn. That lesson is that if you let him, the addict in your family will take down everyone in his path in order to continue to experience the pleasure of his high.
   It's a heartbreaking journey, but at the end of the book, the son is clean, at the expense of the rest of the family. But the father has decided not to let his son rob the life from him, his wife, and other two children any longer. This seems even more important than the son's sobriety, as the rest of the family can be saved, and the son's life seems uncertain.



2. "Beautiful Boy" is a harrowing, well written, and honest look at drug addiction. It will be sadly familiar to anyone who has known a meth user. Although Nic Sheff fares better than some, his life is frequently derailed by his addiction. His father (and mother and stepmother, although they play less of a role) is driven to the point of a breakdown by fear and worry about when Nic's next relapse will occur, and what it will entail.
   
   David Sheff writes with the clarity and attention to detail that you find in quality magazine writing; I particularly liked the sections about other addicts he encountered... some of the hard luck cases living along Stanyan street in San Francisco and encountered in drug rehab programs. Nic, in some ways, is one of the luckier meth addicts. (And when you read the book, you'll realize what an outrageous statement that is.)
   
   I enjoyed the book all the way through, although I was mildly annoyed by the slightly too optimistic ending. Every memoir feels the need to end on a grace note, and I often find that jarring.



3. After catching a bit of David & Nic Sheff's interviews on "The Today Show," I decided to read both of their memoirs. While waiting for "Beautiful Boy" to arrive, I read some reviews on it and some of them were fairly critical.
   
   I was really moved by this book. As a mother, I could feel his pain as he described the anguish of not knowing where his child was--out on the street, high, or possibly dead somewhere. David Sheff was very brave in writing this book--he is open and honest when he describes the decade of Nic's drug abuse and he clearly realizes that he had several missed opportunities to possibly help his son. He owns up to some very serious mistakes and bad choices he made that didn't help his son's situation, but perhaps contributed to it.
   
   I am fortunate, in that I have not been touched with addiction in my immediate family. David Sheff was able to clearly communicate the way addiction impacts a family--not just the addict. His memoir about the constant ups and downs, the constant anxiety, the ever present reality that a slip from sobriety is just around the corner--it allowed me to have an understanding of how incredibly awful addiction is and how all-consuming it becomes to those who love the addict.
   
   I would absolutely recommend this book to any parent--it opened my eyes up to how easily a "good" kid can slip down a very dark hole that is nearly impossible to dig out of, especially without the love and constant support of his family.



4. My heart bleeds for Nic-he never stood a chance with these parents!
   
   Though the author clearly loves his son-he did him no favors by treating him like his best pal instead of a son. Taking him to parties where people do drugs, having strings of girlfriends in and out of his life. He cheated on Nic's mother, moved in with the girlfriend and her kid. Then he gets dumped by her-more psychological damage on top of the divorce to Nic. I can't imagine how Nic's mother could have picked up and got married, and moved 500 miles away, hence ensuring the author would get custody of their son. How could someone do this? Then the author marries someone else and also moves, so more new schools ang changes for Nic. Is it any wonder this poor kid got so messed up? I gave the book 5 stars because it is well written, researched, and thought out. it is very readable, I am just so disgusted with how this boy was treated. Talk about putting your needs before your kids!
   
   I am most disgusted with the authors flippant attitude about drug use. Like it's no big deal he himself smokes pot at parties with friends. Umm yes it's a very big deal, and it's illegal. What a fine example you are to your son. And I just can't imagine how damaging it was to have his mother move away at age 5, and only see her in the summer and on holidays.
   
   I've also read Nic Sheff's book and it is heartbreaking, if not a bit disjointed. I hope he has success and can stay off drugs and is able to find some peace and happiness-no thanks to his parents.



5. I saw this book waiting on line at a Starbucks and bought it on a whim. I'd never read anything by David Sheff before and thought it would make some nice light summer pool side reading...it was much more than that. It is a captivating book that really gets into not just how and why young people become addicts but the effect that it has on their families and gives insight into how he coped in living through it. It is a really great book for anyone who has ever known, loved or had to live with an addict, alcoholic, or person with addictive-compulsive tendencies or anyone who has just wondered how or why some talented bright people who seem to have perfect lives have turned to drugs and addiction. Philadelphia has a large community of "street kids", homeless youth in their late teens and 20 somethings many of whom look like not too long ago they were living in nice suburban homes or going to college and I'd often wondered how or why they wound up that way. This book is about exactly that. Definitely the best summer reading I've found in awhile.