No comments about A Friend Like Henry: The Remarkable True Story of an Autistic Boy and the Dog That Unlocked His World.

5 comments about War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism.

1. This book is not an attempt to revise history, but rather to set the record straight. It was written by an author who was in a unique position to observe the Pentagon decision making process leading to the war in Iraq. Feith's attention to a detailed timeline and the facts as then known at the time in question, and his extensive documentation references are most impressive. I predict this will become recognized as a historically important work. Those who believe in "Cowboy Bush" and "Bush Lied" will not like this book. Many strategic and tactical mistakes are documented, and should be lessons learned. The war on terrorism seems destined to go on for a long time, and knowledge about it's beginnings is important.



2. This is an essential fact book for every person curious about the U.S. government's decision making that led to the Afghan and Iraq wars and their pursuit in the early years.
   
   Douglas Feith's memoir includes the period in which he served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. He covers discussions in which he was personally involved and clearly identifies information that he did not personally observe. As such, important pieces of the puzzle are left to the observations of the actual participants. One hopes that more books will provide additional first-hand information about the Iraq war and avoid the imaginative judgments of the uninformed. Michael Yon does well on the ground in Iraq, but all too many have built a big scaffold on which to hang President Bush and ignored their own limited perspective.
   
   Feith provides appendices in which he outlines the Washington decision apparatus, shows the memos that provided outlines of decision options, a series of charts used to brief the President on the Iraq transition, the implementation outline for the President's March 2003 policy for an Iraq Interim Authority, and a policy briefing on training the Iraqi opposition. All told good evidence for the decision process used.
   
   Feith explains that the chain of command goes from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the regional commander (Centcom's Tommy Franks handled the invasion of Iraq). The Centcom commander can (and regularly did) react negatively to any suggestions for change that did not come directly from the President or the Secretary of Defense.
   
   The Pentagon staff and the Joint Chiefs provide support and advice only, and are not in the chain of command. Thus Wolfowitz (the Deputy Secretary of Defense), Feith and General Myers (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) in the Pentagon made suggestions to Rumsfeld and the President. These advisors supported the President's vision of the terrorist threat as a world-wide phenomena. They noted many separate organizations, but recognized their common goal of injuring America and their deadly danger to Americans. They shared the President's view and designed policies to reduce that threat, deter terrorism around the world, and did not narrow their vision to only Afghanistan, as many recommended.
   
   Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld appears as a very demanding boss who was trying to refocus this largest of American bureaucracies into a leaner more flexible force. When the secretary's vision collided with officials who disagreed with him, he met a great deal of foot dragging. Never-the-less, he did move the army's divisional structure farther along the path toward brigade organization.
   
   Mixed into the debate were multiple opinions about the force levels necessary in Iraq. In retrospect it is very clear that the force levels in Iraq were too small to permit a traditional occupation. Feith suggests the President's selected occupation policy might have made a large force less necessary, but it never had a chance. Head of the Coalition Provisional Authority Paul Bremer III caused shock across the administration when, without consultation, he published an article in the 08 September 2003 Washington Post headlined "Iraq's Path to Sovereignty." The seven steps Bremer outlined effectively aborted the President's plan for early and piecewise transfer of sovereignty to Iraq. The planned Iraq Interim Authority was not to be.
   
   In retrospect it is easy to fault the President and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld for not immediately replacing Bremer. They must have felt "the man on the ground" had better information and in any event the shockwave from replacement would have been too high.
   
   Bremer's dismantling of the Iraq Interim Authority had serious repercussions. Feith quotes Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in his chapter title "from liberation to occupation;" a very brief summation. Our support in Iraq dwindled. Our casualty figures soared to new records in November 2003, April 2004, and November 2004 before easing back and then running up again to May 2007.
   
   On the other hand Rumsfeld's continual insistence on careful written arguments for and against many policies should help produce a wonderful historic record of his thinking as Secretary of Defense. Would that the Secretary of State would create such a record. Many government departments try to impose their policies with leaks and innuendo. Right or wrong Rumsfeld was clearly working very hard to produce a policy that was in the country's best interest and not necessarily just his turf. He regularly suggested that State be given more budget to handle some to the work that had fallen to Defense by default.
   
   It appears that both the President and the Secretary of Defense over-reacted to the disastrous experience of a President and Secretary of Defense micromanaging the Vietnam War. Possibly because of this unfortunate history they were extremely reluctant to reverse decisions made at the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and Regional Command (Centcom) level. They can be faulted for failing to push the Army to adopt a counterinsurgency strategy at an earlier date.
   
   Early mistakes in a war are a foregone conclusion since your enemy has studied your previous tactics and made adjustments to counter them. We usually bumble along, adjust and eventually get tactics that work inside the enemy's decision-response envelope.
   
   Adjusting strategy must be done more slowly, with much greater care, and requires careful communication to all levels. This takes time and can be seriously impeded by unclear or unrealistic goals. Rumsfeld did his best to generate clarity but some subordinates in Iraq were not able to operate at his level.
   
   Feith is to be commended for producing a very readable book that contains a great deal of important history of the Washington decision making for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was indeed refreshing to read an account of the Washington decision making by an actual participant that is not clouded by wild suppositions or accusations.
   
   Our present success in Iraq has built on the best efforts of a large number of men including the main characters of Feith's book. This success may not have been possible several years ago even if the troop surge had occurred then and General Petraeus had been the boss.
   
   This reviewer considers it unfortunate that the President's many critics do not share his vision of the war's scope, but it is a point on which reasonable men can fail to agree. To me the debate closely parallels the European debate in the mid 1930's, but this time Churchill was in power.



3. Although General Tommy Franks famously referred to Feith as "the f****ng stupidest guy on the face of the earth.", this book demonstrates that he is in fact one of the most brilliant defense strategeists who ever walked the face of the earth. Feith has openly admitted that he had no desire to serve in Viet Nam because he was afraid of getting killed or having his beloved hair mussed up. But as undersecratary of something-or-other at the Defense Department, Feith was one of the fiercest proponents of going to war with Iraq for no good reason. In this great great book, Feith chronicles the monumental efforts he undertook to fabricate evidence of WMD in Iraq and of Saddam's connection to 9/11. Feith's detailed recounting of how the White House and the State Department were determined to go to war with Iraq for no other reason that to demonstrate U.S. military might to the world, is simultaneously chilling and comforting.
   
   Although Doug Feith and John Bolton and George Bush and Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz and the many others who took this country to war have never had any desire to fight for their country when they had the opportunity, nobody can deny the patriotism and courage that these brave men have demonstrated in taking this great nation to war for no good reason against a country with a weak military but lots and lots of those Arab looking people who hate our freedoms.
   
   Feith may be the f*****g stupidest guy on the face of the earth, but he's our f*****g stupidest guy on the face of the earth and thank god for that.



4. Feith's book is largely an attempt to justify his actions and policies as #3 in the Pentagon under Rumsfeld, more specifically with regards to the Iraq war.
   
   Well, if your boss calls you in to grill on some mistakes you've made you can:
   
   - admit failure and throw yourself at her mercy
   - justify every single issue by saying that it wasn't your fault
   - tactically admit some failures and defend your record on the rest.
   
   Most people, but not Feith apparently, would recognize that rejecting any notion of having made a mistake is counterproductive. That is my main complaint with the book. It is very very defensive in nature. If mistakes were made, it's because Feith wasn't listened to. All the mistakes were made by Colin Powell, at State, or by the CIA. Later on, Paul Bremer, the 2nd US envoy to Iraq, becomes the book's scapegoat. Rumsfeld is brilliant throughout, except for _slight_ misgivings about his management style.
   
   Feith states that Rumsfeld, correctly in Feith's view, decided to achieve unity of command by having DoD in sole and exclusive charge of post-war Iraq. Given that DoD was now running the show, why is everybody, except for DoD to blame for what went wrong? Note that I am not really criticizing the military here, more the Pentagon. Bremer was reporting directly to Rumsfeld, except that well, he wasn't - according to Feith.
   
   Another interesting aspect is the focus on Iraq. The book starts at 9/11 and then takes about 150 pages (out of 520) to cover the invasion of Afghanistan and events up to mid 2002 at most. Past that? Nothing, no coverage of the decidedly mixed results in stabilizing the country. Just occasional pats on his own back to show how much better Afghanistan worked out than Iraq.
   
   Feith bemoans the lack of outreach to the Muslim communities but then dismisses Powell's insistence on finding an Arab-Israeli solution as a bunch of wishy-washy irrelevant thinking. I really don't think you can have it both ways. Feith neglects to mention his contributions to the 'Clean Break' paper in 1996, advocating war with Iraq and halting the Oslo peace talks. Odd that he forgot.
   
   Bremer's actions as head of the CPA are presented as mostly his. Well, who authorized things like the laws liberalizing Iraq's economy? I am pro free-market myself, but there is no justification for imposing capitalist laws on a country you occupy.
   
   Feith's regrets the insistence on WMD as the cause for war. I think that is hypocritical. WMD was the easiest way to convince the electorate to go to war. No more, no less. The intelligence was faulty but I give Feith the benefit of the doubt when he says that that only became clear after the fact. Regardless, if Colin Powell chose to emphasize WMD rather than other factors, I can't really believe it was over Bush's objections.
   
   
   Enough bad mouthing. This was a hard read - I don't like Feith and I don't like this administration. But there are some good reasons why this book is interesting:
   
   - Feith occasionally makes good points. For example, lack of nation-building capability in the US institutions. Lack of funding for the Department of State.
   
   - Difficulty of funding important initiatives by friendly foreign governments, as opposed to very loose purse strings to fund the Pentagon. I dunno about that one - what are the Cold War precedents?
   
   - Where the information is coming from. When Feith states that the President was already thinking about Iraq on 9/12/2001, it is coming from him. Not from some foaming-at-the-mouth 9/11 conspiracy theorist. It presents the administration's side.
   
   - Colin Powell looks a whole lot better coming out of Iraq than Bush's inner court. Rightly or wrongly, this book presents an alternative view of him as not having had the courage of his convictions.
   
   Finally, I find it sadly amusing that, coming as #37, mine is going to be the first 3 star review. Apparently, as is customary in debate about the Iraq war nowadays, Americans still can't get over the Democrats/Republican split. Everyone loves, or hates, this book. "A Drink In the Desert" vs. "Don't reward this war criminal by buying his book". This lack of common ground doesn't look good for future US foreign policy maturity.



5. This is an excellent background and first draft of history for the last seven years.
   
   Feith was a policy/ analyst guy. He is not a foaming at the mouth, neo-con ideologue. He is a DC area lawyer, that worked in the NSC under Reagan/ Bush the elder and then more law work during Clinton, while keeping an amateur hand in the defense/ policy world.
   
   As far as managing an office goes, I understood, that he was leading up an office of about a hundred civilian and uniform policy wonk type of guys, who reported directly to Sec Rumsfeld. In that sense, he offers a lot of interesting observations about how Defense Department of 2001 - 2005 worked, especially how it got along with the State Department and Rice's office, as Feith would often attend meetings with those folks for Rumsfeld, etc.
   
   Rumsfeld himself comes across as a hard guy to work for. Feith tells the story of, in late 2001, the SecDef coming into his office on a Friday morning, telling Feith to grab five trusted guys and that they will follow him on a five nation trip to Asia over the weekend, and be expected to be back at their desks by Monday afternoon. So they group travels to Russia, a few Central Asia 'stans, Pakistan, India, all while meeting top officials like Putin and Musharef. Feith's crew works virtually non stop, cranking out reports and speeches and memos. On the way home, Feith asks Rumsfeld to come to the back of the plane and give a morale boosting speech to the staff and thank them for dropping everything on a moment's notice to do some hard work. Rumsfeld refuses, and upbraids Feith about what a stupid idea that would be.
   
   But Feith is very clear that Rumsfeld is not particularly idealogical in his decision making. The SecDef did go to extreme efforts to search out every possibly solution to problems. In fact, he argues Rumsfeld wanted much of the opposite of what he has been portrayed as: a go it alone, shoot first, ask questions later guy.
   
   In regards to Iraq, Feith makes probably the best arguments I have yet seen on the real necessity of overthrowing Saddam Hussein. It essentially makes the argument made by Clinton in 1998, Blair about the same time, sums up the 2002 Congressional Resolution for Iraq, albeit far more cogently.
   
   I think he reads quite fairly. I got a lot out of Feith detailing a lot of the breakdowns in the decision making process in the NSC, especially Sec. Rice's lack of leadership and ability to move issues along. Essentially, he paints Rumsfeld as wanting to change and move the Federal Government to address the terrorist threats, and Colin Powell going along with the career government employee lines of operation. In a sense, Powell and Rice come off badly. The President is seen as someone who set policy, then trusted advisor's to figure out how to do it. Only in this case, the advisers had no real desire to work with each other and were often working in opposite directions.
   
   Feith is extremely critical of the lost opportunities of the Garner/ Bremer administration in post Saddam 2003/2004 Iraq. I think he accurately describes why decisions or the lack of them, made after the invasion, contributed to the full scale insurgency that is only now calming.
   
   Feith wrote a critical book of his work and the administration. He is highly critical of the US State Department, doesn't believe that much of value was added by the Committees on foreign relations and defense in Congress, and never doubts President Bush's good intentions for a moment, he really struggles with why the President or Rice, never stepped in and set clear policy and allowed things to drift as they did.
   
   Twenty five years from now, when college students are writing papers, or military officers are studying the events of the past seven years, they will be citing Feith. I don't agree with everything he says, especially the bit about disbanding the Iraqi Army, with a small Coalition invasion force. Yet, Feith has written a fair, critical, first draft of history. It is a must read.

5 comments about Down These Mean Streets.

1. This book was in perfect condition when I received it. My only issue with my purchase was when I received it. The only option for shipping when I ordered was standard shipping, not sure why?? Anyway it took about two weeks to get to me. All in all, it was worth the wait.



2. If you want to hear the truth about the old days, here it is. This was a perfect example of what many people in El Barrio saw and/or did. Its so real that if you read certain passages slowly, and then close your eyes, you could actually see how it went down. This book can help you look deep and realize that we, in this day and age, have it 50 times better than our fathers and grandfathers. Lets thank our stars and our parents. Praise to you "Don" Piri.



3. Down These Mean Streets is the story of Piri Thomas' journey into adulthood. The book is set in Spanish Harlem in the 1940s. The author's writing style is refreshing and lyrical. He uses some Spanish words here and there(readers might find the glossary in the back of the book helpful), and kicks in a few slang words as well, which makes the dialogs that much more genuine.
   
   Piri struggles through poverty, family troubles, and desperately wanting to belong. He fights with being a dark skinned Puerto Rican during a time when racism was strong, and trying to find his place as neither black nor white. Piri did some not-so-good things in his life, being in a gang, drug addiction, and armed robbery among other things, but throughout it all it is easy to tell that Piri is a good guy at heart.
   
   Overall, this is a captivating story. You might find yourself wondering what you would have done faced with the same situations. I even found myself rooting for Piri at times. This book is still a very accurate depiction of "the hoods" of New York, despite being published for the first time about 40 years ago.
   
   I was sad to have to finish the book, and in the end I felt like I knew Piri. I look forward to re-reading this book over the years. It is truly a classic. Everyone should read it. Anyone can find something in the story that they will be able to relate to.



4. This book really told me what it was like to live in Harlem in the 40s. The discrimination and racism is real and raw (although Mr Thomas does get a little jaded and think all white people are bad). The way he describes coming off heroin is realistic, colorful, and explosive. This whole book is very alive, as a memoir. It was funny to see the slang they used back then!



5. I've read this book more than a few times and have taught it to different level readers a few extra times. There was one high school student who came to me after the book was done and told me, "This is the first book I ever finished." Even if it's not the first book you've read, you'll find writing that is fearless, honest, and powerful. You won't forget it, and if you're really lucky, you'll get to share it with someone else.

5 comments about Rock On: An Office Power Ballad.

1. This is a hilarious satire based on the short amount of time the author spent after he fell into a job in the marketing department of a major New York music label. Kennedy pulls back the curtain on some hilarious office politics, similar to Joshua Ferris's AND THEN WE CAME TO THE END, and the insider music stories are pretty entertaining as well. The author has a likable, self-effacing humor, and although there's a fair amount of McSweeney's-esque fluff, some of it is very funny. The best chapter, though, both in the way it's written as well as the content, is one in which the author goes to an Iggy Pop concert. He sees this legend of punk on stage, in stark contrast to the manufactured pop groups he deals with on a daily basis, and it reminds him why he loves music. That chapter alone makes the book worth it. The rest is just fun candy coating.



2. When I picked up this book, I was hoping for a record industry version of Liar's Poker. And having just finished a book detailing the history of Clear Channel, I was interested to learn more about how the music industry has changed over the years. Unfortunately, I got neither.
   
   The book was written in a choppy style and I found it hard to get any flow. By going out of his way to make himself sound like a loser who was not qualified for the job - probably an exaggeration - the author put me in a position of not caring about him.
   
   Even the interesting tidbits, like how some execs made their careers by "picking" hit songs (after tons of research and focus-group testing), are made in such a sarcastic way that the points didn't really hit home.
   
   In the end, I've concluded that the author did what he's accused many bands of doing - putting out a lackluster product just to make a few bucks.



3. There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this book, especially those depicting the culture of marketing meetings and the you-wanna-be-a-winner-don't-ya attitudes so rife in corporate America. Mr. Kennedy's at his best when he's writing bits that could describe *any* corporation. Why? Because we already know that the music industry is more interested in money than talent and that it's out of touch. I wonder just how many people Dan Kennedy's age really are naive enough to think that there are cool rock-n-roll types running any big record (ahem) company.
   
   Mr. Kennedy skewers Jewel for selling out to sell razors (rightfully, IMO; I wish the sell-outs would just admit that they're selling out), but in his otherwise fabulous description of an Iggy Pop concert, he fails even to mention the connection between Iggy Pop and Royal Caribbean. Well, maybe it's easier to criticize a young woman than it is a middle aged man. Or maybe one can't criticize an icon.
   
   I found myself wishing for more details, more substance. Clearly, Mr. Kennedy had much to say about the music industry specifically and corporate America more generally; it didn't get said, though. Commentary on the American working life is lurking below the surface, as if the author is afraid to say it aloud.
   
   This is an easy read; it'll take you all of a single afternoon. But it's thin (as many easy reads are), and, therefore, forgettable. It's kind of like a blog--something interesting to look at during your lunch hour that you forget as soon as 1:00 rolls around.



4. First of all, I'm in the music business, so keep that in mind when you read this review. Also keep in mind that I listened to the audio book, which was strangely enough while on a plane from Nashville to LA, filled with music business people. :)
   
   This is a funny story. Lots of it very true. Like any industry, the music business has problems, and Dan Kennedy does a good job of looking at them in a funny way. I'd argue that you could do something similar with any industry though. When you look at something under a microscope, you see it all.
   
   And looking at Dan Kennedy under that microscope, he seems to be one of the people he loathes. From everything I could tell, he was just killing time. He's certainly not like most of the industry people that I know and work with.
   
   Sure, he likes Iggy Pop, but he was also playing the game of "follow the follower" that is killing this business. Take the money, don't make any crazy moves that will get you fired.
   
   He didn't seem to make the connection that the music industry is us, the people within it. It's not some nameless, faceless entity of old school people who are still in power, sided against the "cool people" who work entry level jobs and do all the work. Like any business, we have a mix of good and not-so-good people, but for the most part, this is a very passionate bunch who loves what they do...they'd have to in order to stick things out with the business the way it is now.
   
   It's a good book. If you're in your 30s and have woken up to the fact that your life isn't all it can be, you might relate. But don't expect any answers from Dan. Again, he was just riding things out, making fun of everybody else, rather than looking at himself.
   
   If you're in the music or entertainment industry, I'm sure you'll relate. We've all had to deal with crazy things in this business. Office politics, public opinion, bad decisions, or whatever... But isn't that what happens when you mix art and commerce?



5. Hey this is one funny book! Buy it read it laugh a lot. I loved it and I know next to nothing about music just about nothing about working in an office..and nothing about being a guy. BUT I loved it. Very funny. Very smart writer. !

5 comments about Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer.

1. This book was great... an awesome person who has done amazing things. You cant get over the crazy abilities the author has and the determination to succeed!



2. The most exotic descriptions of planetary waters ever experienced by a human female...Cox writes of swimming through Icelandic waters that stream from volcanic fissures and mix with glacial melt so that it feels as if her body is moving across liquid guitar strings...swimming through 38 degrees into 90 degrees then back into 38....Remarkable, astounding ferocity of will...fiercely visionary in her solo quests to swim all flavors (and terrors) of open waters and call forth the highest aspects of human nature...connectivity without borders of any kind. Maybe her greatest strength. Lynne Cox absolutely refuses to acknowlege pseudo human imposed limits, boundaries.....anywhere, anytime. Xtreme swimming adventures that are breathtaking in scope, risk and accomplishment.



3. This story is not only impressive in the athletic achievement; it is noteworthy that she refuses to abandon her goals even when faced with the impenetrable wall of the Kremlin's closed border mindset.
   
   Well worth reading.



4. Based on the other reviews, I was quite excited about reading this book as I generally enjoy books about athletic exploits by unusual athletes. However, Lynne Cox never quite explained why she was doing what she did. By the time she was swimming to Antarctica, I was left asking why??
   
   Unlike, say, Lance Armstrong's book, Lynne lacked a central goal, and so the book was really a series of short stories about the various swims she tackled. As one other reviewer pointed out, it became somewhat repetitive. The early stories about swimming in California and the English Channel were to me more interesting simply because it was the first time I heard the tale.
   
   The book isn't bad, but it's also not great.



5. For the first 150+ pages I was intrigued with Ms.Cox's swims.....her amazing endurance and determination. But then...page after page after page....more or less the same....far more than I ever needed or wanted to know about long distance swimming particularly in icy cold waters. When.....at the last chapter...she actually did swim in Antartica waters, although I was sitting in my warm office, I shivered.

5 comments about Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

1. This diagnosis is a complete fraud. Not just Mr. Walker's case, but almost all of them. In over 20 years as a therapist I have never seen one legitimate case of MPD/DID. It is a diagnosis created by unethical mental health professionals and claimed by patients with overactive imaginations. Read the book "Creating Hysteria" by Joan Acocella if you want the truth on MPD/DID.



2. This book was very informative. DID is a mental health issue that is not often spoken of in such a positive light. Hershel tells his story in a very intelligent and gripping manner. Please try it for your self.



3. Amazing that the title is My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder. He barely mentioned the DID unless it got him out of hot water. The final chapter of the book was a short explanation of what DID is. You could get this info from the Sidran web site and save the cost of the book. Most of his time was spent either stroking his ego or offering an excuse for all the controversial things he has been involved with.
   
   He claims that the splits in his identity occured because of nightmares and some bullies at school. Yet he was able to find solace in a loving and close christian family. Every DID case I have ever heard of, has suffered through horrendous abuse, usually from primary caregivers. Herschel Walker makes light of these survivors.
   
   Save your money.



4. This book was easy to read and informative. There was no bragging -- just a genuine quest to understand and to share with others his struggles. It was brave to reveal so much of himself in the effort to help others. To me, this book is his greatest victory.



5. Overall, I liked this book. One has to admire Herschel for going public with his diagnosis, one poorly understood by the general public and often associated with severe pathology. That took courage, which the author seems to have in abundance. His writing shows an intelligence not commonly associated with sports, and he gives articulate expression to the various manifestations of his version of DID. A real plus of Walker's account is that he describes an "up" side to this condition, stating clearly for the layperson that it has certain adaptive and self-protecting qualities.
   
   That said, I was left with some questions. While the book seemed forthright and honest, he describes about a dozen different "alters" (formerly called multiple personalities) that he claims have arisen from his being tormented as a fat and stuttering schoolboy--while undoubtedly painful, his schoolyard abuse is hardly the type that normally spawns this fragmented condition. And as a clinical psychologist, I have treated DID patients. A more common presentation than his involves distinct changes in personality including voice, body posture, emotional expression, etc. . . . like you are really seeing different people. He says that his shifts were more subtle, nothing that could be seen externally, more like discrete changes in mental state known only to him at the time. That raises (for me, at least) the issue of whether or not this devoted and highly focused athlete is not simply given to a rather strict compartmentalization of his feelings, a medium that he would admit he is not comfortable with. Even his most personal relationships have suffered from his tendency to be so self-contained. Or perhaps DID is best explained as a "spectrum" disorder, ranging in degree of severity, as we now know autism to be. Who knows?
   
   While he talks about his repeated "thrill-seeking" with Russian roulette, Walker notable leaves out of his story the fact that he several times put a gun to his ex-wife's head. And he glosses over a bit the fact that he had an affair despite his born-again Christian beliefs. When a "tell all" book tells not quite all, you are left wondering what more has been left out.

5 comments about Dan Rooney: My 75 Years With the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL.

1. This is a very good book, but I did not appreciate the black magic marker mark on the bottom part of the book. It made it look like that book was retrieved from the garbage pile at the printers.
   
   The book provides a very good history of the Rooney family and the Steelers.



2. There are few people who have been around for virtually the entire history of the NFL. Dan Rooney is the last survivor of the day when men who could think past the end of their own bank account ran the league. His stories about how his father and men like Wellington Mara and George Halas made the NFL are worth the time even for non-Steeler fans. Should be a mandatory read for Jerry Jones and Dan Synder.



3. Excellent history of the Pittsburgh Steelers especially now that there is talk of the Steelers possibly being sold. A wonderful family governed by Art Sr. A must read for Steeler fans and those who appreciate history of the NFL.



4. This book is an easy read. My husband, who is not much of a reader, however is a HUGE Pittsburg Steelers fan. I bought him this book for Christmas and he read it within 2 days. It was surely an easy read and quite humorous. There are several interesting stories shared, which allows you to peek in the life of Dan Rooney.



5. As a lifelong Steeler fan, this was a must-read, a tome that belongs on my bookshelf along with "Doing it Right" by Jim O'Brien. Mr. Rooney's accounting of history is first-hand and basically unscrubbed. He talks about the things he, his father, and the Steeler staff did right over the years, and the things they did wrong (e.g., Unitas, Marino). He tells you who are the good guys and the troublemakers. He takes you from the earliest beginnings of the NFL on through to the hiring of Mike Tomlin. It's a little tricky to follow chronologically because he gets off-topic and rambles now and then (I found myself thinking "wait a minute, that's not... what year was this supposed to be?). And there are some outright errors, which are mentioned in other reviews. The style is very (very!) homey, as you would expect, with an almost turn-of-the-century charm throughout. But in the end, you believe that Dan Rooney really is that sincere and genuine, and schmaltzy, and that's why so many people love him. Come to think of it, who doesn't like Dan Rooney? (Sorry, I haven't read Al Davis' book).

5 comments about Walking Through Walls: A Memoir.

1. As I write this, my best friend is lying in the ICU, and we don't know if he's going to make it. The irony of finishing this delightful book, which chronicles the life of the extraordinary interior designer/psychic healer Lew Smith, while someone close to me could sorely use his skills, is inescapable. Lew Smith's improbable story, refracted through his son Philip's eyes, is impossible to put down. This is a warm, wry and ultimately astonishing book that I originally thought might simply be an interesting diversion. It was that, but it also proved to be much, much more. Lew is an unforgettable figure, as are the spirit guides who come to surround him. So too, is the author himself, who evokes the angst of living with his unusual father (it's hard for an adolescent boy to harbor secrets when his father is psychic), yet tempers it with the wistfulness of the adult who recognizes how remarkable his formative years were. Intransigent skeptics may find some of the healing or other acts of paranormal derring-do hard to swallow, but for the rest of us, this is a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable read.



2. I enjoy a quirky memoir and boy, is this one ever quirky. Philip Smith grew up in 1960s Miami, the son of an interior decorator to the rich and famous, and an elegant if equally idiosyncratic mother. Smith has quite a few entertaining stories to tell about this early part of his childhood -- like his father's being held hostage by a Carribean dictator who really, really wanted him to decorate the palace -- but believe it or not, the story gets even weirder. Smith's father undertook a spiritual evolution, beginning with changes like a macrobiotic diet and ending up with the ability (according to Smith) to psychically heal people of physical and mental illness.
   
   I know, it sounds pretty crazy. The book is styled as a memoir, rather than fiction or "fictionalized memoir," so I believe that the author believes everything he wrote. You'll have to judge for yourself whether YOU believe it.
   
   In any event, whether you regard it as fact, fiction or something in between the two, Walking Through Walls is fascinating. Smith's father functioned as a high-profile interior designer by day, and faith healer and visionary by night. Smith poignantly talks about his own coming-of-age in an eccentric family, when all he wanted was a dad who drank beer and mowed the lawn instead of one who contacted spirits and cured terminal illness. His description of his father's spiritual evolution is interesting; depending on your familiarity with alternative remedies like homeopathy and flower essences, you may find it shockingly bizarre or merely quirky. Throughout, Smith's affection for his parents and the way that he ultimately comes to terms with his strange childhood and the idiosyncrasies of his parents -- not to mention the peculiar and increasingly powerful abilities of his father -- comes through loud and clear.
   
   A fascinating book, with colorful stories and compelling (if straining most readers' credulity) characters, and a whole new spin on the power of positive thinking. Dr. Normal Vincent Peale this ain't.



3. The cover comparisons on this are astute. It is funny and sweetly nostalgic if a bit too off-the-wall. I enjoyed the way the author relates his story and the warmth and humor with which it comes across. Too entertaining for me to want to pass judgement on the family - but you do have to pause every now and again.



4. Philip Smith's memoir of life with his Father is an incredible but true tale. Philip Smith's FAther was the only heterosexual interior decorator in Miami, and had an incredible career decorating for various mob and noveau riche types. Over time, he developed an interest in the paranormal. He began reading on reincarnation, metaphysics, the secret science of the pyramids, ectoplasm, etc. Over time, he began to visit people who were in spiritual trouble to attempt to "heal" them of their problems (homocidal/suicidal ideation, nosebleeds, erie noises in the middle of the night). He eventually decided he had a special aura that determined he was a psychic healer, and became extremely distrustful of all types of modern medicine. This does lead to some problems in his relationship with his wife (who developed an interest in alcohol/drug addiction research at this time) and they eventually divorce.
   Mr. Smith's accounts of his Father's baffling yet true predictions of peoples health problems, and his accounts of his Father's relationships with his spiritual guides (my favorite is Crystal) who "talk" to him through the air are bizarre but highly readable. This tale is fascinating. The only thing that could have made this book better is perhaps having some pictures of the author's Father engaging in a psychic healing, or using his pendulum, or communicating with one of his spirits. I would have also enjoyed seeing some pictures of the author as a young boy with his Father.



5. What a delight! Vignettes of Miami in the 50's, flower children in the 60's, a trendy decorator, a wacko family, and psychic healing. Hilarious encounters with spirits and oddballs mixed with the touching story of a boy growing up on the outside looking in and the wonderful love of a father felt over time and several dimensions. Where does fact meet fiction and how do you separate that from poetic license? Who cares, this is a wonderful read.

5 comments about Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir.

1. This is the life story of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the legendary founder of the Crips street gang turned America's foremost street peacemaker. This book greatly expands and clarifies the story told in "Redemption", the excellent cable movie starring Jamie Foxx
   
   "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" is an incredible piece of well-written literature in its own right---notwithstanding the ultimate fate of the author---and it is a damning indictment of a cold, callous society. It describes the unchecked poverty, violence and broken schools of South Central that spawned the Crip phenomenon. And it describes Tookie's Herculean efforts to redeem himself from within the walls of San Quentin.
   
   [The added material in this reprint by Tookie's friend Barbara Becnel is especially welcome in the context of today's ongoing debate over capital punishment in California.]



2. tookie lets you know a lot in this book on how it all got started. i always wondered how in LA it was many gangs but mostly bloods and crips. this book lets you know about the crips. but, then you can pretty much figure things out with the bloods. this is a good book to read to me. he started it him and some other guys. then new comers take it to another level. usually how it always go.



3. The other reviews are correct in that you have to read this book with an open mind. It appears all the reviews for this book were written by followers and friends of Tookie. Like I said, you have to really keep an open mind when reading it, knowing that it was written by a murderer who claims redemption but doesn't admit to his crime. Even the things he does admit, and profit from, lilke forming the Crips, he never fully achieves redemption. If so, then he would have cooperated with law enforcement to help dismantle the very gangs he preaches to children about not joining. He has not even so much as given up any other gang-bangers that he witnessed committing crimes. Its clear to see where his loyalties still lie. If I had to do it again, I would borrow the book to read so I wouldn't have to spend my money on it.



4. This book is seperated into two sections. The first half being, Blue Rage and the second, Black redemption. Their's different titled chapters compiled into each section. The first half of the book is about Stan's life from being a child in Lousiana until he gets arrested in South Central Los Angeles in 1979 for the four murders he was convicted of commiting. The second half is about his educational and spiritual transition in prison along with certain events and situations.
   
   Stanley's views are extremly intresting and worth thinking about with an open mind. Things like his views about what "dys-education" is, religeon, brotherhood, spirituality, drugs, cultural education and it's importance.
   
   His thoughts about his friend's Buddah, Evil and Treach are sad, and even uplifting at times. His educational studies on death row with Treach and Evil along with his exercising disiplines are very thought provoking also.
   
   We outside of prison seem to be getting a school-based education for the sake of financial success. Stan can't do that. His transition is based on studies we need to perform here in our daily lives along with our children.
   
   This book is not your typical urban-entertainment about being a gangster or a rap song compiled into book-form. This is a very articulated insight into the cycle of poverty, racism, violence, redemption, edification, transition and enlightenment.
   
   A must read for everyone.
   
   Rest in peace Stan. I miss you.



5. If you read this book with an open mind, you would learn that the Crips gang started out as just uniting other gangs around South Central. Stan was a mischivous little boy who I believe had potiental to do great things if only he was given the opprutunity. He says that living in South Central you had to have the mentality of "Survial of the fittest". And that's where the fights with other males really began, I believe. Much of the information about his case is left out but there are clues that connect someone else to the crimes. Hint: The people who let him keep his weights at their house after not having a permenant place to stay. Right before his grandmother died she said she had a feeling that Stan needed to get outta LA because something bad was going to happen.
   I'm going to stop there and hopefully this information has interested you enough to read this wonderful book that will hopefully open your eyes to a positive light.

5 comments about Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls.

1. Wide range of examples of designs presenting different approaches to green roof and living walls planting. Examples rarely accessible in other books. Described methods, plants selections and names of producers give real help in daytime work. Book for interesting reading! not only for looking on photographs.



2. I am a big advocate on using plants to create green walls and roofs. They can reduce the urban "heat island" effect and create usable green open spaces. I found this book's discussions on Intensive Green Roof, Extensive Green Roof, Ecoroof, Brown Roof, etc interesting. This book is a serious attempt on a difficult subject. The color photos inside the book are helpful also.
   
   There are still technical difficulties in using green walls and roofs: water proofing, how to handle the structural weight of large trees, how to integrate large plants with building structure, etc. All these technical discussions are needed, and they could be the subject of another book.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA
   
   



3. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls is an excellent book for any landscape architect who has not yet designed and detailed either. For myself, the most helpful bit of information was the data collected and presented from various green roofs.
   
   The living wall section on the other hand was thin. There was no mention of the living wall system Patrick Blanc developed which is much more interesting than putting up a wire trellis and planting vines next to it. The other comment i would have is that almost all of the examples are from Europe. We have fabulous examples in the US with more relevant plant materials and weather conditions.
   
   Finally I would say that the authors didn't seem interested in exploring native plant materials and instead focused on a few cookie cutter plants commonly planted all over the northern hemisphere. Not unlike McDonalds.



4. This book is great for those who may have trouble visualizing the possibilities of what you can do with a green roof. There are many examples of what you can grow, and what types of vegetation are suitable. The book is however not very technical about the architectural detailing considerations involved. Some sections and detail drawings would make this book much more valuable as a design resource.



5. Greenroof professionals and enthusiasts alike will be delighted with the easy reading and scope of content offered in "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" by Nigel Dunnett and Noël Kingsbury. Very well organized, the book's forte and major value is as an essential resource - especially in terms of plant description, characteristics and specification. It's also a great bargain in that the book is filled with color photos, drawings, charts and reference material. This indispensable hard cover reference guide contains a truly massive collection of appropriate plant information, and perhaps most importantly, extensive plant directories are provided for both greenroofs and façade greening.
   
   Organic Architecture with Plants
   Greenroofs, living walls, and various other bio-engineering techniques are introduced and the authors cite the associated benefits and reasons why we should be integrating these measures of organic architecture into our built environments. The authors refer to current international research and technology; background and history are touched on; and benefits and applications of these "ecotechnologies" are discussed at length. Yet, a "How-To Build" book this is not; basic principles are set out and tools for further research are provided.
   
   Benefits at a Range of Scales
   The section "Why Build Green Roofs?" explores hard evidence and the various benefits operating at a range of scales from amenity and aesthetic values to economic and environmental aspects. Increased roof life, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations, biodiversity and wildlife value, water management, air pollution, and fire prevention and risks are discussed with supporting evidence.
   
   Although previously well known, the biodiversity and wildlife value of greenroofs is expanded upon here, including the new British models of "brown" or "rubble" greenroofs - those which recreate the thin, infertile landscapes of disturbed brownfield sites. Spontaneous colonization is presented as an important natural occurrence.
   
   A Vast Array of Planting Opportunities
   The authors rightly note that "The majority of guides to green roofs and roof greening concentrate on the technical and construction aspects but have relatively little to say about planting opportunities - mainly because most authors are not plant specialists." Well, Noël - a well known writer of plants and gardens, and Nigel - a senior lecturer in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, most certainly are plant experts, and an entire 47-page chapter is devoted to the wide range of planting opportunities for extensive greenroofs, beyond the ubiquitous albeit hugely successful use of Sedum species.
   
   Prevailing site conditions will always dictate the plant selection, so designers need to know what plant species will not only survive but thrive in extreme local conditions. Desirable physical attributes of plants and how they may be established and managed are presented. Considerations of monocultures, single plant combinations and mixtures, and plant communities are useful as planting design tools. The form and physiology of suitable greenroof plants are nicely covered from a botanical as well as functional and aesthetic perspective. Issues of viewing considerations are pondered and design solutions are offered relating to the roof function and visual criteria. "Methods of vegetation establishment" is particularly detailed and thus extremely valuable. The authors point out, however, that current research is insufficient to show how long each species will live and how each species will interact over the years atop roofs.
   
   The very important aspect of different growing medium properties and functions is addressed in-depth, and comments are provided about particular types of materials, substrate depths, and accompanying vegetative possibilities. Maintenance issues and requirements are briefly noted, touching on feeding, plant protection, drainage, and weeding.
   
   Considerations of Natives and Introduced Species
   The unexploited opportunities of testing and using native vegetation are explored, in terms of increasing biodiversity and aesthetic benefits. Regionally native plants should be tested for many reasons, including ecological restoration. Non-native plant species with invasive tendencies can be a problem, therefore careful selection is critical to maintain healthy ecosystems. Yet many introduced species are appropriate, and there are many circumstances where non-natives offer considerable local wildlife value.
   
   Certain natural plant communities and their soil types are explained and presented as an argument for further study as suitable models for successful roof plantings. Trialing of appropriate local plant communities is therefore recommended and encouraged so as ultimately to be able to introduce more natives into the greenroof matrix of plant species.
   
   "The natural habitats of potential roof-greening plants" explores the potential to discover and trial the world's flora found in similar harsh habitats. Mountain, high latitude, coastal, limestone, sclerophyllous woody vegetation, semi-desert environments, and species whose plants are exposed to climatic extremes are regions with potential for testing of new roof greening plants.
   
   The Task Has Just Begun
   Philosophy and advice to greenroof plant enthusiasts can be summed up with these reflections by the authors: "With roof greening becoming an important part of the new built environment, it is increasingly important that more attention is paid to sourcing new plant material from habitats in the wild where conditions approximate those on rooftops and other problem urban situations...The task of selecting suitable plant species for roof greening has arguably just begun, and it offers potentially enormous rewards."
   
   They are quick to point out that the globalization of our knowledge base and the ready availability of certain aggressive species can threaten entire ecosystems, and care must be provided to the selection of greenroof environments (just as at ground level) so as to avoid invasive and potentially destructive non-natives or introduced species.
   
   Façade Greening and Living Wall Structures and Surfaces are the final two chapters of the book, offering both visual and ecological climbers, clingers, ramblers and scramblers. New support structures, materials, technologies and details provide practical and interesting information for this older yet equally fascinating design element of green architecture. The authors examine how the design of façade greening can equally disguise unattractive features while at the same time enhance existing surfaces. In either case, education and care are necessary to promote vigorous growth that is supported by a variety of vertical and/or horizontal structures.
   
   At the end of the book, 49 pages are devoted to the Roof-Greening and Façade-Greening Plant Directories, listed by botanical names, common names, cultivars and related species. The horticultural and cultural aspects are presented with definitions and listings of many specific plant characteristics.
   
   A minor grumbling on my part about the book is the absence of identifying greenroof project photo captions for the geographic locations and the building application types. It would be beneficial to know not only where each is located, but also whether the project is commercial, industrial, residential, etc.
   
   A Dovetailing of Living Plants, the Building, and Its Human Users
   Whereas Ted Osmundson's excellent 1999 "Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction" is considered the bible for the intensive greenroof crowd, Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury's "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is simply a must have for extensive and intensive greenroofers worldwide.
   
   "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is a comprehensive argument for integrating nature and architecture, and I highly recommend it. It's obvious that Kingsbury and Dunnett are first and foremost dedicated, ecologically minded plantspeople; here, then, is a very important work for those of us in the greenroof industry. ~ Linda S. Velazquez, Publisher Greenroofs.com