5 comments about Alexander Hamilton.

1. Chernow chronicles Founding Father Hamilton from birth to death, including a brief look at the Hamilton family after his death. This biography of one of our more controversial and less understood founders is excellent. While Chernow seems to be sympathetic to Hamilton as a misunderstood founder, Chernow neither denies nor glosses over Hamilton's mistakes and personal faults.
   
   This biography makes an important contribution to our overall understanding of Hamilton and the other founding fathers, who argued over states' rights and federalism, capitalism, and the intended course of the revolution to name a few. These men (and their wives) were petty, vain, self-interested, and hypocritical, not unlike politicians today, but as we learn from Chernow, Hamilton and the other founders created a system of government, proving the test of time.
   
   I have always believed Hamilton deserved more veneration as a founder and Chernow explains in detail why. Hamilton is much more than the man who dueled Burr and appears on the US $10. Hamilton was a Revolutionary War hero, advocate for the Constitution (Federalist Papers), and founder of our market economy and financial system. Hamilton was a leading supporter of a strong executive, implied powers, European neutrality, a standing army and navy, and abolition of slavery. In many ways, good or bad, we live in a country much closer to Hamilton's philosophy than Jefferson's or Madison's.
   
   As excellent as Chernow's biography of Hamilton is, there are instances in which the author "channels" Hamilton and draws favorable conclusions impossible to make, such as Hamilton's warmth for Washington, love of Eliza, and feelings prior to the duel. Perhaps, all true, but we cannot know for certain. Contrarily, Chernow corrects assertions that Hamilton was an "out-of-control" amorous man and does not dwell ad nausea on Hamilton's one known extra martial affair.
   
   Overall, this is an excellent biography that narrates an extraordinary life of an exceptional and flawed founder.



2. Here is another riveting, fascinating, compulsively readable biography from the greatest practictioner of the art now in business. This man could write the history of paperclips and make it fun and exciting to read. While it helps to be retired or unemployed, or laid up in bed with a broken leg to find the time to read his biographies, it is time well spent. The narratives never flag or fail. I salute you, Ron Chernow, and nominate you for the Medal of Freedom for your contribution to American letters.



3. This book is tremendous. Before you even pick up the book, you know that the man is going to die in a duel, so reading a book where you know the violent ending could be interesting. Chernow brings you into the life of Hamilton to realize the true genius of this foreign-born, founding father. Many biographers paint Hamilton in an evil light. Chernow doesn't write about an angel. He writes about a human genius with faults like all of us. A man who, one may say, created the backbone of our government. Reading this book is like reading a longer definition of the American dream. While not born on our soil, Mr. Hamilton did more than most of us could even dream of doing. Chernow is incredible in writing a biography that satisfies any curiosity one could have on Alexander Hamilton. He touches on the historical (past, present and future)and personal aspects. This is hands down one of the best biographies ever written.



4. Alexander Hamilton was one of the brilliant men whom we acclaim as a founding father of the USA. Solider and staff officer in the Revolutionary War, co-writer of the Federalist Papers, the first Secretary of the Treasury, and leader of the Federalist Party. But, like all of the founding fathers, Hamilton was a complicated, flawed human being whose national accomplishments were mixed with personal folly and occasional bad judgment.
   
   Ron Chernow's magnificent biography, simply titled "Alexander Hamilton", manages to capture the subject in all of his intellectual brilliance and illustrates his invaluable contribution to this great nation. Chernow shows his childhood in the Caribbean and the circumstances that led to his migration to New York to attend King's College. We see his brave and reckless turn during the revolution that first brought him to Washington's attention. The portrait of Hamilton as agitator for the constitution and leader of the Federalist Party is wonderfully detailed. Chernow examines Hamilton's attitudes on race, and clearly shows that Hamilton was a man ahead of his time, not only deploring slavery, but actually believing that the races were equal under God. Hamilton's sex scandal, which rocked his life and threatened his political career is also given its due, once again pointing out that giant that Hamilton was he was also all-too human. His rivalry with Jefferson and his close relationship with Washington are also deeply explored, as is his bitter disappointment when President John Adams refused to go to war with France during his term and thus allow Hamilton the military command he so desperately wanted.
   
   Chernow clearly laments Hamilton's early death, the result of a politically-motivated duel with Aaron Burr, and offers clues as to what might have been. When the time is considered that it took Hamilton to author his portion of the Federalist Papers, and with the knowledge that he planned even more political tracts before he was killed, one shares Chernow's frustration that the world was robbed too early of one of its great political geniuses.
   
   Written in a clipping, easy to read style, Ron Chernow's biography will inform the reader of this great American and offers a good deal of history of the earliest days of the republic.



5. Thank you, thank you Mr. Chernow, for paying this much-deserved tribute to one of the greatest, if flawed, Americans of all time. This sweeping 731-page retelling of Alexander Hamilton's life is educational and entertaining - the combination of in depth research and evocative prose delights both scholars and the casual reader. The author readily acknowledges Hamilton's personal flaws on the same pages where he clearly, and sometimes humorously, voices his obvious admiration for the man, creating a fuller, more balanced view of Hamilton's unbalanced life.
   
   Although the enormous achievements of Alexander Hamilton may always be overshadowed by those of the more politically agile Jefferson, I hope more people come to understand the contributions made to the formation of the American government by the brilliant, fiery Hamilton, whose biggest political flaws may have been his steadfast dedication to reason and undiluted honesty.

5 comments about Desperate Lands: The War on Terror Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier.

1. During the first decade of the 21st Century, Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata was a Special Forces soldier assigned to the Horn of Africa, and then Afghanistan, to fight the War on Terror.
   
   His book, "Desperate Lands," is a first-hand account of the United States' military structure and operations in those theaters, told from the viewpoint of a member of the American armed forces on the ground.
   
   Zapata delivers with the devastating power of a .50 caliber machine gun. Moreover, he provides meticulous details only someone truly in the fight could possibly know. You will go on sorties with the US Special Forces and their allies, the Afghan Army-in-training. And you will come under the guns of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and Afghani warlords, all seen through the eyes and minds of US military personnel on the front line.
   
   "Desperate Lands" is a story you'll never get on "60-Minutes," CNN, or the nightly news. The reason? Those reports come from journalists.
   
   Zapata's is a soldier's story, recounted in the blunt language of a modern day warrior.
   
   If you have an interest it some of the most important military action of our times, you cannot miss Regulo Zapata's "Desperate Lands - The War on Terror through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier."
   
   In researching my novel(s) set during WWII in the South Pacific, I read hundreds of books of the history and military action of the time. Some of the most compelling are those written by real fighting men. They may not have the structure and polish of armchair historians (and wannabe quarterbacks), but they have a dramatic advantage: they were written by those who were in the firefights, who saw the truth, and told it in their own words. Zapata's blunt-force "Desperate Lands" is just such a priceless record.
   
   Timothy James Dean
   author, TEETH - The Epic Novel With Bite



2. A review of Desperate Lands by Regulo Zapata Jr.
   
   There have been many books written about the War On Terror focusing on the role of Special Operations Forces. Desperate Lands provide a glimpse into part of the war that is not well publicized. The book tells the story of a National Guard Special Forces Group. The 19th Special Forces Group has played a key role in various parts of the world in support of the War On Terror. Other books may mention the 19th Group but this is an actual personal account. Americans should read the book to gain an understanding of the fact that all parts of the military (be it Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard) are playing a part to defend our nation's freedom. I enjoyed the book for two key reasons. First, the chapters were short and not bogged down with unnecessary detail. Second each part of the book had photos. I hope that this book will encourage other Special Forces members past and present to tell their stories that will enrich our nation's history!! I highly recommend the book! Thank you MSGT Zapata for telling us your story!



3. MSgt Zapata's book is a great addition to the professional's tactical library and a great read for the general public as well. It gives an inside look at the workings of Special Forces in hostile territory through the eyes of a senior SF NCO. The book is a fast read. The prose is compact and to the point and the text is well illustrated with excellent photos.



4. Sgt. Zapata Has placed in print, the first hand account of what it is like for the Spec Forces Soldiers to live in a constant Battle zone. He brings the war home in his book and places, You the reader right in the middle of the War on Terror, seeing it through the eyes of the Spec Ops Soldier. This is an excellent read. This Soldier helps You to understand the real War and what Our men are Fighting for!!!



5. Think you're having a bad day, a bad week, a bad year?
   
   This story gives the reader a glimpse of all the difficulties, obstacles and annoyances of what it is to serve as a special forces soldier in a war where the enemy wears the same uniform as the civilian, and another army (Pakistani soldiers) are less than cooperative.
   
   Master Sergeant Zapata takes you on a journey from the U.S. to different outposts of the War on Terror, from Africa to Afghanistan. It is a journey of uncertainty, and constant change, of always having to deal with the unexpected, and never knowing what the road ahead will be. Along with fighting, there is the task of having to establish relations with warlords, and everyday citizens, to gain their trust, and their help.
   
   This is no easy war to fight, and Sergeant Zapata's story provides an explanation as to why.
   
   My humble respect goes to him and all those like him. We are in good hands.

5 comments about Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (The American Civil War).

1. U.S. Grant is often viewed as the hero of the Civil War. In many ways, his heroic leadership did bring hostilities to an end. But this book of his personal memoirs is simply superb. For a military leader, Grant writes with tenderness and strong opinions about the United States' role in taking Texas away from Mexico. He shows the heart of a man who wanted to see men go back home to wives and children. He laughs, he loves, he weeps. The style of the books is a fast read (well, fast for 500 pages!), but it moves along. While it does a great job on history, Grant is not bashful about putting in his view and commentaries on the actions of other leaders, his insight in leadership, his love for the people of all races, and his hatred for death. While his legacy stands side-by-side with Lincoln, for many people in the American west (especially the Mexican people) he was a man that was not to be feared. When a town was taken over, the people ran in fear, but only to come back, open their doors, shops, and windows, and welcome the kindness of a general who simply learned to live among other cultures and people. In the end, you are left with the picture of man, not a General. It gives the reader great hope that our jobs and tasks do not define us--our hearts define us.



2. It's interesting to know what men of noteworthiness think during great challenges, but we must not forget that Grant was a failure many times over - both before and after the War Between the States. A drunk, a failure at business - but finaaly, a leader who followed Lincoln's orders. What the previous generals failed to do, Grant did it and changed history. A unique man and a unique leader in American history...



3. I've always been a Lincoln fan and have read a lot of biographies and other things about him but have not had too much interest in the military history of the Civil War. I certainly know enough to get by with someone who does know more but only as happenstance in reading about Lincoln. I actually don't know why I bought the Grant book because I rarely buy biographies or autobiographies and certainly not by Civil War generals. I think I had read that Grant was a very good writer, like Lincoln, and that it is considered amongst the best autobiographies by a military person since Julius Caesar. Also, and this intrigued me for some reason, I'd read that one of the reasons given for Grant's success was his ability to "on the fly" write out clear, succinct orders on the battlefield that his generals or subordinates could follow and win. In the book a good number of these Orders are re-produced and I'd swear that if I had a map and knew how to move military units around I could follow his orders, they are that clear.
   
   Anyway, I picked up the Grant book and I thought it was absolutely fascinating. He IS a very good writer and his analysis of what happened during the Civil War (and the Mexican War before it) is really fascinating. I think it is the first "primary source" (e.g. a participant in the history writing about it) that I've ever read. What I found most fascinating were his character sketches of the Union generals and of his Confederate opponents. One of the many things he said that struck me is that it is very easy in war for an army or a general to become over-awed by the reputation of the enemy or its generals. But because he had gone to West Point and fought alongside (even if very indirectly) almost all the Confederate generals, including Lee, he knew they were human beings and good as they were could make mistakes and be fooled. The other thing was his relationship to General Sherman as compared to the other Union generals. With Sherman, his orders were always general, focused on the goal. He left it to Sherman how he went about accomplishing the goal. Almost every other General received explicit orders from Grant with clear and specific tasks they needed to accomplish. Sherman, for his part, knew he had the total trust of Grant but never presumed upon it, he always ran his plans by Grant first and Grant willingly would do what he needed to do from his end to help Sherman succeed. His opinion of Lee was very high and he worked hard to move fast against Lee because he knew Lee could get himself out of jams if given half a chance.
   
   That is the other thing about Grant - the thing he hated most was not jumping on opportunities to push the enemy when they came available. My impression was that that was the most unpardonable sin in his book, he would tolerate just about anything else. It was also what Lincoln valued most in him. I'd read this elsewhere but Grant confirmed it that Lincoln stated upfront that he did not know how to fight a war but his job was to do whatever Grant needed him to do to help Grant win. Finally, I learned a lot about the battles in the West that I had not known before. As Grant noted, the West was important but still a back-water theatre compared to the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac. I had not realised how "Eastern biased" most of the books I'd read about the Civil War were until I read Grant's book.



4. This book is simply brilliant. Perhaps the best insite into the American Civil War. A must read for history buffs. Read and learn how smart and savy U.S. Grant really was.



5. an honest down to earth well written account of a great general`s trials and tribulations.

4 comments about The Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee (Civil War Library).

1. The book was in good condition (as I ordered) and it arrived in a timely manner, the price was excellent. My expericence was good and I would recommend them to any future buyers.



2. 
   Great book to read, full of information about a great general that fought with dignity, and pride for the Southern States. I quote the following:
   
   "I can quote Lincoln upholding slavery. I can quote southerners that wanted to abolish slavery. I can prove that Lee had greater morals than Lincoln"



3. This is one of the best books about Lee! It is written from his youngest's son's point of view. It's a great book for every library.



4. Robert E. Lee never had the chance to pen his own autobiography as U.S. Grant did. He meant to, but kept holding it off until heart disease claimed his life five years after the surrender of Appomattox.
   
   Many of those who served under him during the Civil War wrote biographies of the great Confederate General, claiming to know how he felt, and what he thought. But only two of them really came close. The ponderous but solidly written "Memoirs of Robert E. Lee" by his Aide, Colonel Long, and this volume, comprised of letters actually written by Lee, and the remembrances of those who knew him well, and none more so than the author of the book, his own son, Captain Robert E.Lee, Jr.
   
   Captain Lee describes his childhood in the Lee household, of General Lee's love of animals, especially horses. He describes a man who smiled, was warm, as compared to the austere, solemn descriptions and illustrations of him once the Civil War commenced. He writes how Lee agonized within his own family of the decision to leave the U.S. Army, and then join the Confederacy, even though wishing for a quiet, neutral life, and of Lee's personal losses during the war - a daughter who passed on, a son wounded and captured, the son's frail wife also passing on, and the known loss of their dearly beloved home in Arlington, which was turned into the national cemetery of the same name.
   
   Captain Lee studiously avoids the controversial sides of Lee, his stand on slavery or the rights of the South, concentrating mainly on the personality of man and how he dealt with others.
   This is a volume that belongs on the shelf of any Civil War buff, especially those interested in the life of Robert E. Lee.
   I recommend this book, and Burke Davis' "Gray Fox" be purchased together.

5 comments about The Good Soldier: From Austrian Social Democracy to Communist Captivity with a Soldier of Panzer-Grenadier Division "Grossdeutschland".

1. Excellent book detailing the life of an average German soldat on the Ostfront including his time as a POW in a Russian camp. His story is a quick read packed full of interesting tidbits that made it hard for me to put down.



2. Fred is a common soldier who fought for what he thought was right and for his country, he was a "Good Soldier". I've met Fred on several occasions and he is a righteous man. His book depicts a first hand account of a normal soldier and the problems and challenges he faced. He was un-justly held in russian captivity as payback and survived, not many have.
   
   I highly recommend this book.



3. This is a really great book written by someone was there and belonged to the proud Großdeutschland division. The book is softback and is about 150 pages but is full of photos, drawings and notes that help the reader get a sense of the writer's experiences in the general sweep of WWII history.
   
   This should be on every Historians or Living Historians bookshelf, not as a reference guide but as the real life story of Alfred Novotny.



4. Novotny's memoires are written from a survivor's perspective and thus adds sociological as military historical interest. Like "Band of Brothers," "The Good Soldier" recounts life inside an elite unit and the contrast in equipment, rationing , and mobility contrast starkly with the accounts from ordinary Wehrmacht landsers. Novotny's Austrian youth forms a valuable snapshot of life after Anschluss while his observations on combat attrition of Germany's elite "fire brigades" and the subsequent poor quality of post-1943 replacement troops are telling. The image of a technologically and racially superior division overwhelmed by Russian untermenchen is common among such veterans, as is the total seeming ignorance of the work of the Einsatzgruppen. From Prokhorovka to Peoria, Nolvotny's life resounds with adventure if not insight.



5. Personal accounts of the events leading up to WWII and of the suffering of those who took part in it as front line combat troops abound. This one, however, stands out for the sheer modesty of the author who, far from trying to over-dramatise things, in the hope of improving his sales chances, hands down a measured but, at the same time, very emotive account of his rich experiences from his childhood in Vienna, in the early thirties, until his release from Soviet captivity in the late forties and beyond, as an immigrant in the US. A genuine page-turner from an everyday hero who 'tells it like it was' and who comes through as somebody who managed to preserve his humanity, despite unimaginable adversities.

5 comments about Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn.

1. There are flashes of genuis and numerous instances of coherent writing and lucid presentation of historical facts in this celebrated and popular biography of George Armstrong Custer. As much as I enjoyed the Evan S. Connell's book, it seems clear that he is much more of a novelist than a historian.
   
   Some readers will be frustrated by the fact that the book is poorly organized and this haphazard approach really interferes with the quality of historical narrative. Connell made little or no effort to format the materials contained in the book in terms of exposition or sequence. For example, none of the chapters are numbered or titled. Custer, himself, remains an elusive figure through the first hundred or so pages of the book when the author belatedly introduces him to the reader.
   
   Through the efforts of his widow, Custer, who graduated last in his class at the United States Military Academy, became much more famous in death than he would have been had he survived the battle to collect his pension. Given his recklessness, one wonders how he managed to survive combat in the American Civil War?
   
   If you prefer history to be explained in a chronological manner, this is definitely not a book that I would recommend to you. I was able to soldier on because, thankfully, I was already familiar with subject. To a first time reader, this account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn may prove to be difficult to follow. The book is worthwhile in many respects, but it should have been edited more skillfully.



2. If you have developed a recent interest in the Custer legend and the battle of the little bighorn battle, don't start with this book because it will kill it. This has to be the MOST DIFFICULT book to read I have ever encountered. The sentences are tortured and hard to follow. It isn't relaxing to read this book, it's tiring. I was only able to read three chapters before I finally gave up.



3. The previous reviewers are right, Mr. Connell's style in this case is unorthodox. I tried reading the book but was stymied by what seemed to be random wanderings.
   
   However, I bought the Recorded Books version and everything fell into place. Mr. Connell used an oral storytelling style for his book.
   
   Listening to it is fascinating and the "random fork taking" becomes interesting little explorations that circle around until they come back to the main track. The narrator, Adrian Cronauer,is excellent.
   
   Even though the used price of the Recorded Books version is about $40, it is worth it. I have listened to it over and over again on long trips etc. There is so much here that it never gets old.
   
   It has one of the best descriptions of the Battle of the Rosebud ever written. You will learn more about the history and culture of the Plains Indians, as well as, the advancing Americans in this one volume than a half dozen other books.
   
   This is the only case that I have found so far where the audio book is markedly better than the paper one. So buy the Audio Book with confidence.



4. Recent contrasting highly perceptive reviews by my Amazon friends R.M. Peterson and Ethan Cooper of Evan S. Connell's "Son of the Morning Star" (1984) prompted me to read the book. Connell's book is difficult to classify because it is a broad meditation on Custer, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the American West. The book is too digressive, introspective, and meditative to be considered a historical narrative. The description of the event at the focus of the book -- the massacre of Custer's Seventh Cavalry at Little Bighorn -- on June 25, 1876, is hazy indeed. Connell largely talks around the famous battle. The book lacks an index to allow the reader to track the specifics of the discussion and to return easily to particular topics --- and I think this is deliberate rather than an oversight.
   
   Apart from this book, Connell is most famous as the author of the novel "Mrs. Bridge" (1959)Mrs. Bridge: A Novel which I read many years ago. In understated, eloquent writing, Connell's novel tells the story of an upper middle-class American family with its characters limited in their outlook on life, overly cautious, lonely, unfulfilled, bored, and sexually frustrated. The subject of Connell's history could not be more different than that of his novel. Whatever else it may be, in Connell's West we have vigorous, passionate, free-wheeling, and romantic individuals, both Indian and non-Indian. At one point, a character in the history remarks in impeccable French to the effect that "here we are all savages." The West is a large-scale world of passion and action. Describing its excesses, brutality, cruelty, and stupidity, Connell seems to me a romantic, preferring the vigor and eccentricities of these days and people to the quiet conformity of the Bridges. The title of the book, "Son of the Morning Star" bears comparison with the prosaic title "Mrs. Bridge". The Indians bestowed this poetic nickname on Custer. He was a man of notoriety during his short life and of many nicknames, including "Long Hair" or "Yellow Hair" and the cruder sobriquet, "Iron Butt".
   
   Literary works are made by style. Connell's organization of his material and his apparent prolixity can create a sense of frustration and disjointedness in reading; but it makes his tale. Without an introduction or other preliminaries, Connell begins in the middle of his story with the fate of Custer's subordinates, Reno and Benteen, at Little Big Horn. Custer's own fate is indirectly described, through their eyes. The author presupposes, as he may for this event, that the reader already knows the outlines of the famous story. The book then flits forward in time to discuss Reno's subsequent Court of Inquiry over his role in Little Bighorn and the lives of both these characters in the story. Then, Connell leaves Little Bighorn to move back in time to the early days of settlement. We get an introductory overview of Custer's early life, his West Point days, his Civil War service, his courtship, and then the book moves on to other things.
   
   In the process, Connell offers portraits of many participants in Little Bighorn. There are innumberable digressions. Connell picks up a character or event and cannot let it go. The reader learns a great deal and also sees the conflicting evidence and the many different ways of understanding a historical situation. The book does not work as a narrative that tells a coherent story from beginning to end with a perspective that the author outlines for his reader in advance to ease the way. Instead Connell offers a circular account, that shifts focus and time frames and that remains as obscure as does Little Bighorn itself, for all the iconic and legendary character it has assumed. As the book progresses, we get a history of Custer's life in pieces, as well as the of the conflict that led to Little Bighorn and its aftermath. I described Connell as a romantic above for the passion he brings to his story and for the life of adventure, risk-taking and feeling that he obviously treasures. But he does not romanticize characters and events. Gruesomeness, wantonness, death, and human pettiness pervade his account.
   
   Besides its digressive character, Connell's writing is also understated and subdued. His writing is inobtrusive and allows the events and characters he portrays to be shown in their complexity. The book is difficult because it is history, a book about the history of a history, and a personal reflection. More than on Little Bighorn or on the West, Connell shows the reader how perspectives on Custer and on the Battle have changed with time, especially as reflected in art and literature. Many passages of the book explore his own attitude towards Custer and his other protagonists. As battles go, Little Bighorn was small. Custer himself could fairly be regarded as a minor figure rather than as the stuff of legend. Connell shows why Custer, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and the many other characters in his book matter.
   
   "Son of the Morning Star" is not the work to read for a basic history. But it is a work of art and a meditation on the American experience.
   
   Robin Friedman



5. Chronology? Forget about chronology. No point of view as to the history? Forget about that. Wry wit. It's got it. Do you want the etomology of the word Cheyenne? Do you want to know what Reno and Benteen did for the rest of thier lives after Little Bighorn? Do you want the life stories of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull and Gall and Rain In The Face? Do you want alternate versions of the same event, told by various people, with ther veracities analyzed? Do you need to know how the Indians used the bison? What songs the 7th Band played? What Custer did in Oklahoma? In the Civil War? At West Point? Do you crave information about the topography of the river system of Wyoming and Montana? Do you want to know who avoided the great battle? Where they left the column? Where they stood? What they saw? Do you need to know who fell where and how? Don't be squeemish, now. There's plenty of arrows, bullets, scalps, blood, bones, skulls, body parts. The book is a tour de force. A journey through the West, with enough digressions and asides for several volumes. You'll love it.

4 comments about Tin Can Man.

1. It was with their introduction in World War II that destroyer class ships were originally referred to by the men who manned them as 'tin cans'. "Tin Can Man" by E. J. Jernigan is the personal story of an enlisted man who served aboard the USS Saufley during the war. It provides readers with insights into what it was like to live, work, fight, and die aboard these ships. A superbly written 206-page memoir, "Tin Can Man" is especially informative and recommended reading for military history buffs in general, and academic library 20th Century Naval History reference collections in particular.



2. for wanting to get away from home. Like many who entered the service, he did so to get away from grinding poverty and to support his family. Don't blame him for getting into scrapes, fights and disastrous liberty ashore. He was a kid, at war. Don't blame him for stiffness in prose; all he knows about writing is what he learned in high school, and, besides, he's entitled to his own style. Don't blame him for writing still another first-person account of the life of an enlisted man in the U. S. Navy during WWII; each such book adds something new. He witnessed the cliff-jumper suicides at Okinawa, for example, and he reveals that even enlisted men knew, at the time of Yamamoto's death, the Japanese Naval Code had been broken. Don't blame the man; blame the book. It's written from memory rather than contemporaneous diary, so anecdotes lack breadth and detail like James J. Fahey's "Pacific War Diary" or insights like Shelly Robinson's "10,000 Miles Aboard the Destroyer Cotten." Also, it amplifies memory with research, but lists no bibliography. Its motivation, I guess, is to write things down so memories wouldn't be lost; to honor friends; and to amuse the author--good enough reasons to spend time with a sailor who served in a death trap of an action station, sixty years later.



3. This book was published around the time of the "Greatest Generation" phenomonon (generated largely by Brokaw's book and the film "Saving Private Ryan"), and is surprising in that it presents the story of marginally honorable service and was published in an era when the warriors of WWII were (justifiably) being lionized.

   This narrative of this US Navy Sailor's service during the war includes a recollection of the author's going AWOL ("get me some liberty") resulting in missing the departure of the aircraft carrier on which he "served" from New York Harbor. He got out of the brig following that scrape by agreeing to serve in destroyers, which is how he became a "Tin Can Man". What a guy!

   Once a destroyer sailor, Jernigan got into a fight with (and allegedly beat bloody) his CPO. In yet another passage, Jernigan's skipper (after reviwing the author's file) warned the author that he was well on his way to becoming the ranking mess cook (equivalent of KP) in the Navy. This is not the kind of person I would have wanted to serve with, let alone know. He seems like the type who could get anyone around him in trouble.

   What makes the recount of these incidents surprising is that they are probably superfluous to the story. What makes it scary is that the author (after all these years) expresses no regret.

   I do suppose that there is some appeal to the adolescent or post-adolescent crowd in this man's story, but if one is interested in WWII history, the only reason to read the book is that it is the recollection of an enlisted man who was not a senior NCO. There are all too few such works available. However, I would suggest borrowing this book from the library or purchasing it second-hand so as not to further allow the author to profit from his "service".




4. If you are interested in naval history, especially of the World War II era, you will find this book to be a good complement to the usual "this happened there" chronicle. However, if you are merely a casual reader of such things, you will probably want to give it a pass.

   The book is unique in that it tells the personal saga of a destroyerman's five years in the Navy, most of it while serving on the USS Saufley, a Fletcher-class destroyer. We don't often see this type of story reaching bookshelves. In this biography, E.J. Jernigan comes through as a hard-drinking, hard-fighting, hard-loving "devil may care" sailor, almost a stereotype of our image of pre-war and wartime sailors. It briefly covers his early years in Florida, then follows his career from battleships to destroyers to home after the war; from Atlantic to Pacific and back again.

   His story is sometimes funny, sometimes somber, and sometimes mundane, much the same as the experiences of most of us who have served in the military. Mr. Jernigan also had his "warts", and is more than willing to tell us about them.

   My interest in the book comes from the fact that I am engaged in a naval history project with a similar outcome: telling the story of a destroyer crew in World War II. In our story however, the ending is not so happy: our ship, the USS Pringle, was sunk off Okinawa by a Kamikaze in April 1945, with the loss of 70 officers and men.

   What's good about Jernigan's book is (1) getting this story out on to the bookshelves; and (2) the "common man" approach to the narrative... it is not elegant, but it *is* compelling.

   However, the book suffers from some faults too. First and foremost, it needs an "editor's touch". Some of the prose is quite awkward (but then some is almost lyrical in other places). It is also disjointed in a few spots, as if parts of the story got mixed up somehow. There are a few historical inaccuracies and omissions too, but few enough not to detract from the thrust of the book. Perhaps the biggest problem is that the story reaches something of an anti-climax about three quarters of the way through, then just pretty much peters on out.

   If the publisher (Vandamere Press) had assumed its proper editing role, I would have given it a 5-star rating. In any event, it is a "must read" for the naval history enthusiast who wants to see what life was like below decks on a WW2 warship.

   Please note that there are more than a few scatological and sexual references in the book. I would not recommend it for the "younger" set.

5 comments about The Crossing of the Suez, Revised Edition.

1. This is a fantastic book about The October War 1973 from the Arab's point of view. So many book have been written thus far, mostly from the Israeli perspective but reading this book will really give a new dimension towards the war. This book is totally superb.



2. This book answers several minor mysteries surrounding the 1973 War (for instance, why did the Egyptians stop just under the air defense umbrella? Why didn't they continue their offensive?) and also highlighted the planning and execution that went into the crossing of the Suez Canal. Far from being a desperate and unrealistic attempt to crush Israel, Shazly illustrates the thought processes that went into the war. The crossing itself was not only a realistic exercise (as the Egyptians proved) but was also an example of excellent planning and staff work. The Egyptian generals went to war with realistic goals but allowed themselves to be talked into POLITICAL objectives, with disastrous results.
   
   This book is an excellent work, well worth the effort to find a copy. It's too bad that many of the typos of the original edition were not eliminated in the 2003 edition. But, it's good history as well as a good example of military philosophy.



3. General Shazly,the Egyptin cheif of staff of the combiend army,navy and air force,records his historical testemony about the era before and during Yom Kipor war 1973. His book adds a reliable personal angle to the political and millitary factors during that era.His testmony comes from a self build, well educated,highly decorated patriotic egyptin military leader. He had such a reputation that you want him to be on your side to assure winning. Reliabeilty of the factual accounts of the book are readly tested by raeding other accounts about the yom kipour war.Furthermore his (account) is the only reliable one comming from the Egyptian side.The book is very interesting, easy readable and provides maps and photo rarely or never been seen before. I only wished that the book to contain more photo about the war activities eg. aireal photos and more the role of the Egyptin paratroopers in the 1973 war. I,Realy, had enjoyed reading the book. It gets 5 stars for a 5 star general.



4. This book does a great job covering the planning, preparation, and execution of the Egyptian crossing of the Suez and taking the Bar-Lev line. While it is probably necessary to include all of the political discussions, it seems to devolve into covering ones own backside and pointing the finger at others. Who knows if we will ever know the truth about the attack to the Sinai passes. Aside from those political sections though, the book is a good read.
   
   I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the operations itself, or interested in the planning of an operation based on your capabilities.



5. Out of many books I read about the Yom Kippur War, this was one of the best. It is the only book in English that I know of that was written by an Egyptian top commander, giving details about the Egyptian side of the story (having in mind that most of the other books about this war was written from the Israeli point of view). Shazly is a war hero, who fought in five wars, finally reaching Egyptian Chief of Staff during the Yom Kippur War.
   The author's military career and charisma can be felt through his style of writing, which greatly simplifies complex situations. He is clear and organized. He carefully lists military hardships faced before the war and the necessary equipments and training the Egyptian army lacked. Then, he goes on explaining the political implications. He continues then listing the war details, day by day. The most amazing thing is the book is still banned in Egypt and the man was exiled from Egypt and sentenced to jail, which he actually partly served after returning. So sad to see such a war hero be humiliated instead of received with honor.

5 comments about War of Numbers: An Intelligence Memoir.

1. Adams' book is not so much a book about Vietnam as a chronical of what happens when intelligence units and agencies report what the commanders WANT to hear. The CIA and J2 of MACV in Adams' book become pawns in the politics of Vietnam. They ignored facts and basic tenents of intelligence reporting. The agencies feared reaction to the facts and its possible effect on public sentiment to US involvement. Because of that they purposely, according to Adams, reported and knowingly maintained false information.
   
   Even more disturbing are Adams' insights into the CIA of the middle and late Sixties. Though deeply entrenched in war in Vietnam, they seemed to take an overall cavalier approach to the mission. Adams notes after Tet-1968 there were "considerably less than 6" CIA agent handlers in Vietnam who spoke vietnamese. These same case officers received a grand total of 2 hours orientation on Vietnam and their enemy prior to assignment.
   
   This book is a MUST read for intelligence personnel, policy makers and anyone who wants to learn how, the hard way, not to run an intelligence organization.



2. Can you imagine how difficult it is for an Intelligence Professional to maintain his or her integrity? At every juncture, the suits, the E-Ring Horse-Holders, do their best to discredit your advice. No matter that you and your associates down at the worker-bee level are correct and have provided irrefutable proof of your analysis.
   
   No, the suits will always fight to bring you down. Remember: They are political and you are not.
   
   When the Analyst loses Integrity and Goes Political, then the process of honest intelligence production ceases. The War of Numbers shows so many who took the dishonest road.
   
   This book precisely demonstrates how, even while being pummeled by the suits, Mr Adams remains true to the Intelligence Analysis Profession.
   
   RIP Sam, we miss you and need you.



3. This book is one of the most illuminating "lessons learned" biographical studies that is absolutely essential in the current conflict we face in Iraq and the war on terrorism.



4. War of Numbers is an essential book for intelligence analysts as well as students of the Vietnam War. Adams provides key insight to strategic policy failure. In order to fully appreciate Adam's contribution to the intelligence history of Vietnam, it is important to understand that wars are fought by nations in the pursuit of interests and that for Americans, the decision to go to war should address seven considerations: Problem Identification, Interests Assessment, Objective Identification (including End State Assessment), Strategic Self Appraisal, National Power Assessments of The Enemy, Strategy Development, and the Identification of Gaps between Policy and Means.
   Adam's book addresses errors in the National Power Assessment phase which had a negative cascading effect in subsequent decision making. Flawed enemy strength calculations contributed to flawed strategy development which contributed to a gap between policy and means. When Adams identified the flaw, the Johnson Administration was too heavily committed to a war of attrition to tolerate public exposure of the gaps between policy and means. Strategically, telling the truth about the numbers of enemy forces would have required larger commitments of U.S. forces increasing the strain on public support for the war. The strength of Johnson's political will and McNamara's quantitative analysis approach to war deeply affected the way the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, counted the enemy (called, Order of Battle).
   MACV kept three sets of books; The first set of OB was the official version sent to Washington. The second set belonged to the OB Analysts themselves, and the third set was a blend of the first two. The first set was an undercount to keep official Washington placated; the second set was the honest count but did not go anywhere, and the third set went to Westmoreland who kept it close hold.
   Adams contribution to the intelligence discipline is his description of how he found the flaw in OB accounting and the political correctness that resisted him within the intelligence community. The key to his breakthrough was to have actually gone to Vietnam, worked the Order of Battle issues on the ground, understand the enemy from "the enemy's" perspective and then double check how U.S. reporting of enemy strength matched that of how the enemy was reporting his own strength. This is when Adams discovered that MACV was undercounting troop strength. He performed a validity and reliability check on MACV and found their procedures and results wanting. The technique he used is described in detail and serves as a lesson learned for today's OB analysts.
   The second lesson is how Adams' persistence caused a rift between the CIA and MACV over the integrity of the OB counting. The CIA is evenhandedly portrayed in the book. Individual analysts who looked at the numbers invariably sided with Adams; those in responsive political positions and vulnerable to the political influence of the Johnson-McNamara Administration behave in the subtle manner normally associated with behind the scene politics. Adams illustrates how assessments were watered down, reports delayed, egos clashed in the briefing rooms, and all of the suppressive efforts were brought to bear to keep him muffled and how he countered them. Basically, his operating principle was that the truth should be allowed to surface and he describes how he created those opportunities; back channel copies of reports; boot leg copies of reports, analyst to analyst contacts (CIA to DIA, for example), as well as maintaining contact with the honest brokers at MACV.
   This is an important book for students of Intelligence Analysis. It serves as a guide on how to double check the validity and reliability of Order of Battle data; it gives insight to how politics heavily filtered ground truth under the Johnson Administration, and it lets the world see that the CIA wasn't evil incarnate. Like every other agency in Washington, it simply surrendered to political pressure from the White House.



5. Adams' book is not so much a book about Vietnam as a chronical of what happens when intelligence units and agencies report what the commanders WANT to hear. The CIA and J2 of MACV in Adams' book become pawns in the politics of Vietnam. They ignored facts and basic tenents of intelligence reporting. The agencies feared reaction to the facts and its possible effect on public sentiment to US involvement. Because of that they purposely, according to Adams, reported and knowingly maintained false information.

   Even more disturbing are Adams' insights into the CIA of the middle and late Sixties. Though deeply entrenched in war in Vietnam, they seemed to take an overall cavalier approach to the mission. Adams notes after Tet-1968 there were "considerably less than 6" CIA agent handlers in Vietnam who spoke vietnamese. These same case officers received a grand total of 2 hours orientation on Vietnam and their enemy prior to assignment.

   This book is a MUST read for intelligence personnel, policy makers and anyone who wants to learn how, the hard way, not to run an intelligence organization.

5 comments about Tommy: The British Soldier on the Western Front 1914-1918.

1. Richard Holmes continues a fine series of books about the British soldier, allowing the individual soldier full voice throughout this excellent book.......and covers both the campaigns and mundane army life during one of the few times that a British Army has been forced to directly engage with the main army of the enemy in an European War.
   
   Rather than follow a strictly chronological approach, Holmes intersperses the individual recollections with perceptive and balanced background information on the topics that most impacted "Tommy" in his day to day service. Of course, he gives full attention to the "day of battle" as well as training, life in the trenches, views on spiritual matters and their opinions on their officers and generals.
   
   All in all a very informative read.



2. "Tommy" is Richard Holmes's exploration of the experience of the British soldier and the British Army on the Western Front of the Great War, 1914-1918. Through a narrative rich in detail and anecdote, Holmes provides context and some necessary correction on the life of Tommy Atkins, prototypical British soldier, at war.
   
   Holmes, an experienced historian, has provided a study very much in the vein of "Redcoat", his earlier work on the British Army from Waterloo to the Crimean War. In this book, Holmes details how the small standing British professional army of 1914 became the mass army of 1918 and how it generally acquitted itself fairly well in four years of horrendous combat with the elements, its own bureaucracy, and the German Army. It is a story of the men who became soldiers, their weapons, their leadership, their food, medical care, and their sense of the fighting. Holmes includes a fascinating collection of photographs of the Western Front.
   
   Holmes has done his extensive research. The traditional regimental system comes in for some considerable praise for its contribution to unit cohesion and morale. The willingness of the Army to adapt to the demands of mass warfare, on a scale not practiced by Britain in over one hundred years, is commendable if often uneven. The leadership of the Army, especially after the first year of war, generally did as good a job as the circumstances of combat allowed. The fate of mounted cavalry and the introduction of modern warfighting technology such as tanks, airplanes, radios, and indirect artillery fire are discussed. Above all, the stubborn and patient devotion to duty of Tommy and his fellow soldiers shines through.
   
   At roughly 700 pages, this is an exhaustive if not exhausting study that will appeal the most to those with a keen interest in the First World War, especially to those looking for the story behind the battle histories. It is highly recommended as a reading experience to students of the history of the British Army.



3. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the Great War, the Western Front, or the history of the British soldier. In his wonderful narrative style, Holmes weaves numerous first-hand accounts into a smoothly flowing story that never becomes ponderous despite the enormous size of the book. Highly recommended.



4. Richard Holmes, the author, provides a fascinating, masterful portrait of British soldiers' everyday lives during WWI. This book is about the British army itself; it is NOT a campaign history, a strategy essay, or a biography.
   
   Despite the plethora of books produced about Britain's WWI effort, Holmes manages to include a great volume of hitherto negelected information. Some of these topics include: commissioning, pay, ranking differences (permanent, temporary, brevet), compulsory requisitioning of horses, medical treatment, replacements, promotions, religion, liberty, leave, discipline/punishment, mustache regulations, combat training, demobilisation, and return to civilian life.
   
   Thankfully, he also explains the highly complex war-time formation, structure, varying roles, and evolution of battalions, regiments, brigades, divisions, corps, and armies. Holmes also defines the differences between formation types (regular, Special Reserve, territorial, and New Army). In addition, he also relates the jobs of various staff and admin unit members (e.g. Chief of Staff, Adjutant, Regimental Sergeant Major, etc.).
   
   Besides all the above, the book includes the more commonly discussed trench life routine, weapons, personal accounts, a typical attack, morale, and the army's various branches (infantry, artillery, sappers, cavalry, tanks, machine guns, supply, general staff, etc.). The author unusually presents a few striking, small-scale examples of successful cavalry charges and a costly episode of firing guns by direct sight.
   
   This is an excellent, well-researched book that is a pleasure to read. Bravo!



5. Richard Holmes does a TV series in the UK called War Walks.
   In the series he basically walks through a battlefield pointing out where a particular action took place, where a dug out or ridge was and then turns to camera and deliver a short, precise monologue.
   He dresses smartly, invariably wearing a tie or cravat; with a neat trimmed grey moustache and fixes the camera from behind silver framed glasses. When he speaks to the camera his voice carries a gravitas and intensity that conveys respect and concern with cold hard truths. He has the same persona on the page and this is what drives Tommy forward
   
   Holmes is like a kindly uncle who knows every minute detail on his subject and will tell you everything you need to know, in a slow studied manner. Despite his slow, at times ponderous style, or perhaps precisely because of it, he ignites your interest and takes you through the story, even when it gets a little complicated and dull, regimental names and badges for instance.
   
   And like a good story, told by a kindly uncle, it stays in your head, the characters vibrant and their lives and deaths meaningful and justice done to them.