5 comments about Jack in the Box: A Shadow War Thriller.

1. The author does a great job moving into the covert world of spy's. The CIA has been taken over by the new type of non-risk takers, The Romanoff's. Sam Waterman,age 49, has been put out to pasture because he was a member of the old-style action oriented agency. The reader is taken thru some very interesting twists and turns as Waterman who was brought back in for a mission,looks for a highly placed mole in our government. The plot moves along realistically which is a pleasure since many action books these days seem to go over the top.One disconcerting thing though is that parts of some pages are blacked out as though having been censored. This is unnecessary.



2. I picked this book up on the strength of the author's earlier book, SOAR. That was a terrific read and I hoped for a similar treat from Jack in the Box. I was not disappointed. The tradecraft, twists and turns, doubles and redoubles, exciting action and interesting characters kept me up waaay past my bedtime. Another reviewer has suggested that the plot reworks the major themes that structured George Smiley's campaigns against Moscow Center. I'll concede that Weisman did not invent the "traitors in high places" plotline but he has decisively proven that he is a master of the genre. He acknowledges his debt gracefully in Jack in the Box by having several characters make contextually correct references to LeCarre's work.
   
   If you enjoyed LeCarre's Smiley books then run, don't walk, to get your hands on Jack in the Box. Even if you haven't read LeCarre's books, grab Jack in the Box for gripping espionage entertainment.



3. As usual John Weisman has delivered a thriller with the punch that only someone loaded with inside knowledge as well as a fine writing style could do.



4. This was a decent story, but it was so real that it was boring. I'm sure it was an accurate representation of spycraft, but who wants to read about the mundane aspects of it?



5. This was the first time I had read John Weisman's work and I would recommend "Jack in the Box" to anyone who wants a three dimensional chess match to solve. The characters are very well developed and have their flaws,but without the "super-human" characteristics of some other kinds of espionage novels. I would place this book alongside "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold", only for its informative and highly interesting look at the tradecraft used in the world of spies. The plot is well established from the first page, and there are no "grey areas" to lose your interest. I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Fire in the Night: Wingate of Burma, Ethiopia, and Zion.

1. I would just like to correct two statements of fact in an editorial review of Fire in the Night.
   
   Publishers Weekly states that Wingate is the "only foreign officer to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery".
   
   Whatever his achievements, Wingate is not unique in this regard. There is at least one other foreign officer buried at Arlington, namely, Field Marshall Sir John Dill. He was the British representative on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in Washington during the Second World War who died very much in harness and was buried in Arlington as a mark of the respect his US counterparts had for him.
   
   The same review also contains another error - the plane carrying Wingate crashed in March 1944, not 1943.



2. My mother thought Orde reminded her of Stonewall Jackson of American Civil war fame. There are many similarities between the two, but I think Trevor Royle's book title nails his character right on the head. Both Jackson and Wingate were average military scholars, but brilliant field commanders. They had no equal on the field in terms of battle tactics. Both were deeply religious, both eccentric, though in very different ways. Both were Gideons of the supreme, heavenly order. I am convinced if Stonewall were alive today, he would be an ardent zionist as Orde became when his command led him to palestine in pre-WWII years. Orde's first assignment was in the Sudan where he became fluent in Arabic. His Hebrew which he tried to learn was terrible according to Moshe Dayan. His few days in palestine, however, bore much fruit in that he taught the jews of palestine tactics which would help transform the IDF into the amazing fighting force today and which served them extremely well in the immediate days and years following.
   
   Orde's success in restoring the Ethiopian empire to Haile Selassie was definitely Stonewallian. How he routed the entire Italian fascist force residing in Ethiopia with a small force was little short of miraculous.
   
   I don't think Stonewall was as outspoken as Orde and was a bit surprised at how Orde got by with some of his very strong opinions which he was not afraid to voice. That for me was the biggest contrast between the two.
   
   Most important, I think, about Wingate was what he had accomplished in the jungles of the far east where he died in a tragic aviation accident during WWII.
   
   This book was thoroughly enjoyable, is well written, but I defer to the better judgement of one of my favorite Amazon friends and recommend Royle's book as being most accurate as to Orde's views of the jews and palestine. This book was a good prelude to me, a good introduction into the life and character of this most remarkable of British soldiers, Orde Wingate.



3. Like Lawrence of Arabia, Orde Wingate is a perennially fascinating figure of the later British Empire and era of World Wars I and II. Unlike Lawrence, Wingate was not a literary artist who immortalized his own career, so we rely on biographies to understand him. This work is thorough if not definitive, using a wide array of sources to describe his military/political adventures in Palestine, Ethiopia, and finally Burma where his long-range penetration strategy was most publicized and problematic, but at least partly successful. Such a forceful, idiosyncratic figure will always stimulate controversy, and the authors explore the disagreements well enough, though they cannot satisfy all readers. Why marginal? Wingate's and Lawrence's successes, and failures, occurred in peripheral theaters of both wars. Scholars debate whether such operations significantly influenced the outcome of campaigns in Africa, Southwest and Southeast Asia, or primarily served to expand or protect the Empire. But major (and costly) sea, air and especially land campaigns were essential to winning world wars; the character of 20th century total war effectively marginalized the efforts and the theaters where romantic individualists fought, though they remain dashing, compelling figures. "Fire in the Night" is exciting and deserves 4-5 stars taken on its own terms, but excess attention given to special ops ultimately obscures the nature of Allied triumphs. A. Mockler, "Haile Selassie's War" narrates the 1935-41 Ethiopian conflict. In "Defeat Into Victory" William Slim recounts the inspiring reconquest of Burma, with pointed critiques but general praise for his difficult subordinate. (The authors seem overly hard on Slim in this respect.) J. Nunneley, "Tales from the King's African Rifles" captures well the brutal, unglamorous experience of most Burma veterans.



4. Like many sources, this book praises wingate without enough
   careful examination of his flaws. The book focuses mostly
   on three chapters in Wingate's life. It starts with his
   service in palestine in 1936.
   
   Driven by religious fanaticism and his contempt for what
   he saw as uncivilized peoples (arabs or any non-europeans
   really), he attached himself to Zionism and zionist politicians.
   In the process he exceeded or ignored his orders, then after
   politically compromised himself in open alliance with zionist
   groups to a point where he could not possibly serve there.
   His great "vision" for the region was for a "sub-empire"
   with Zionists serving as a sort of spartan military elite
   to subdue and westernize those considered lesser humans. All
   as part of some sort of twisted fanatical vision of christianity.
   
   After having been booted out of Palestine, he eventually ended
   up in Ethiopia where he again ignored his orders. His goal
   this time was to force a royal government on Ethiopia regardless
   of what anyone else thought and in spite of serious reservations
   on the part of politicians and his superiors. His campaign
   was a wonderful "boys adventure" sort of a affair, but in the
   end it was army won the campaign. Wingate's great accomplishment
   was saddling Ethiopia with an unstable and territorially
   aggressive monarchy that eventually collapsed in a bloodbath
   in the 1970s.
   
   After, he went into open revolt against the entire leadership
   of the army in the area. He openly insulted them and held them
   in utter contempt. In his mind, though he had never held
   a position of high responsiblity in the army, he saw himself
   as being some sort of grand illustrious figure. And when
   his campaign of alination, insults and personal attacks failed
   to get him recognition, he attempted suicide. Contrary to the
   book, his megolmania and self-destructive behavior would indicate
   someone with serious problems rather than a great leader.
   
   He was rescued from career oblivion by a friend in India. He
   was sent into Burma in 1942 to see what could be done in the
   way of irregular warfare. For all his bluster, he did nothing.
   And beyond that, while other men were suffering and dying
   on the march back to India, Wingate arranged to be flown out.
   
   Back in India, he was given a brigade to test out his theories
   with. He whined about what he was given in terms of men. He
   only wanted british soldiers. He threw the men into jungle
   camps during the monsoon with the idea that by inflicting the
   maximum amount of suffering and disease, that british men
   who had his opinion been weakened by access to health care
   and doctors in britain would be made strong again. When the
   casualty rate reached over 50%, he moved the men into regular
   housing and they recovered. The book presents the self-serving
   fiction that the casulaty rate declined due to weeding out
   "bad men" when in reality it only improved because the monsoon
   ended and the worst of the camps was abandoned.
   
   Wingate's first mission into Burma served no real purpose. It
   was originally to be part of a broader plan, but when the
   broader plan was cancelled, wingate demanded that the operation
   go ahead anyway as a training exercise. He led the men into
   Burma, put a railway out of operation for a few weeks and
   then led his men deep into Burma where they accomplished nothing.
   Eventually, Wingate executed one of his brilliant strategies
   to solve the situation. He broke up his command and effectively
   gave the order every man for himself. The force or more
   properly what survived of the force returned in small parties
   to India.
   
   Once back, Wingate ignored his men in favor of launching a
   press and publicity campaign on his achivements. He wrote
   a self-serving account of operations and when his commanders
   raised objects to it, he arranged for a copy to be given
   directly to Churchill and the cabinet. Wingate decided to
   bypass the entire army and come under the patronage of
   politicians. The politicans heard about the brilliant victory,
   but they did not hear about the officer running naked in the
   jungle or of the man who believed bringing back flogging was
   necessary for real dicipline.
   
   When he returned to India in the fall of 1943, he fell ill
   because he had recklessly drank contaminated water in north
   africa on the way back. He had been given a blank cheque
   for any resources he wanted for operations in Burma.
   
   However, due to a combination of him being out of the country
   and ill, his operational role in developing the second chindit
   force wasn't very large. Eventually, an plan was thrown
   together for operations in 1944. Rather than being an evolution
   of his supposed theories, it mostly involved a new idea of
   fighting a special operations war with a division-sized formation
   operating from large bases in enemy controlled territory.
   
   Wingate died early on during the operation so its impossible to
   know what would have been the result if he had lived. However,
   the only other time his 1944 strategy was used was by the
   French in Vietnam where it led to total disaster.
   
   Wingate has a number of followers. Obviously, Israelis are
   greatful for the help he provided in forming what eventually
   became their army. There are also those who, like wingate,
   who see the british army as a failed institution and somehow
   see innovation in the form of a man who cut his own throat,
   ran around naked in camp, wanted to bring back flogging and
   credited broader access to good health care in civilian life
   as being responsible for weakening the british soldier.
   
   A good work on Wingate has to deal with the positive aspects
   and the negative ones. Too many draw a one-sided portrait
   (including this one) while sweeping the not so nice parts of
   the story under the rug.



5. Having been brought up on stories from my early years about the brave and often forgotten exploits of the Chindits I was very enthused to tuck into this book. Orde Wingate has been the hero of many, not so much because he was a military successful warrior, but because he was wildly unconventional at a time when staid ethics and methods of war were leading to defeats of the western allies on all fronts.

   A fierce Old Testament fear and learning of the bible bread in what would now be called a fundementalist christian family, he blended this with [...] eccentricities like, indifference to appearing nude before his collegues and newspapermen, a complete indifference to British Monarchy and the hierarchical class-bound society and way of thinking. An appreciator of new ideas and probably quite to the left of many of his superiors, he had no hestation in punishing and physically striking his recruits (no matter their colour), and could kill the enemy mercilessly, or order large groups knowingly to their death without a blink.

   Wingate pioneered unconventional warfare with his notion that large unit groups can function in the rear of the enemy for long periods of time if they were self-sufficient and well trained. He eschewed the entire idea of "special forces" as they are often called nowadays. In the end I do not think that he squared the circle large unit action and special forces --- he wanted both and got really neither. His tactics worked rather well against the Italians (but that was no surprise he realised), but they were problematic against the Japanese. The first operation, "Long Cloth" was an unmitigated disaster, with enough adventures from its many participants to fill an entire library (they still make some of the most heart thumping reads available). The entire operation broke down and became in some cases, every man for himself. Wingate himself giving the order.

   His second operation was more problematic. No doubt these operations had significant effect on the enemy and no doubt were very helpful in the taking of Myikyena and Mogang, but I really think that 14th Army would have rolled up the Japanese flank nicely anyway, as they did and win the Battle of Burma with overwhelming firepower and troops as well unmitigated air superiority.

   In the end the Japanese in Burma were beaten by traditional large unit engagements.

   That is not a defeat of the ideas of Orde Wingate, nor do they negate the incredible bravery of the men who served with him. What it does DO however is to put to rest the idea that Orde Wingate was a purveyor of "Truth" -- his ideas were worthy, but they were not the be-all end-all of jungle combat. His developments were prodigeous and his personal bravery never in doubt. But I think that, like Moses, he got involved too much in fanatical devotion to one idea and was willing to sacrifice a lot for an idea. In the case of Moses, his people --- in the case of Wingate, it was often his own troops.

   This books admirably chronicles the multifacted nature of Wingate. It is factual and comes across as neutral as possible, often citing critical sources and those men (also of incredible courage) that did not fall under his spell.

   The narrative is tight and WELL EDITED. Unlike your regular 1000 page biography Smith and Beirman are able to deal with the subject adequately in 400 pages with nothing substantive missing. Also there is just enough detail of almost all of his life. The final 150 pages deals with the Burma campaign the authors are very skillful in their use of detail. They include all of the crucial elements necessary of his many campaigns.

   I found the book to be a very admirable read. I think that it only deepened the questions I have about Wingate --- was he a daring experimenter or a madman? --- I think that one can add, bitterly-troubled person to the heap of other appelations surrounding this man.

   I still ask myself, if this man were my commander would I succumb and become a convert? Would I stand aloof and protest that something is terribly wrong? I do not know, and cannot judge because I was not born at the time these events transpired. I was not a part of this great crusade, the glory they gained or the horrors they endured.

No comments about (I am) A Real American: Memoirs of a 3rd Generation Japanese-American USAF Fighter Pilot.

5 comments about Confessions of a Spy.

1. This gives the best account of Ames' CIA career, particularly prior to the time he began to work for the Soviet Union, and corrects errors in several earlier books such as Wise's.



2. This is the only text I have read that provides a compelling and nuanced explanation of why Ames betrayed his country. The short answer is that he needed the money because he was living beyond his means. As a result of his work recruiting and handling spies he no longer believed it was wrong for a person to betray their country. Earley's well-written book explains how he arrived at that point. It also provides the reader with a credible look at what it is like to work for the CIA, and what it is like to work as a spy.



3. I was reading "See No Evil" by Robert Baer and he briefly mentioned Aldrich Ames and decided to read a book on him. While looking for books, I was pleasantly surprised to find one written by Pete Earley. I had read "The Hot House" a couple of years ago and found Earley to be a very clear and detailed writer. I really could not wait to receive the book. My expectations were high and they were met and exceeded. The book details Ames' life from birth, it details his parents, his entry into the CIA, and ultimately his betrayal of the country. The thing I love about Earley is that he leaves no loose ends. You're never left saying, "but what ever happened to..." or "I wonder who that is...". He's a very clear writer who introduces every subject in the book. He explains the facts sharply and thoroughly, and the pacing is perfect. Earley not only gives you the details, but draws you in with a story line that adds suspense. Earley is similar to other great non-fiction writers such as Stephen Ambrose, Jon Krakauer, Simon Winchester, Mark Bowden, or Kurt Eichenwald in that he takes a real event and tells it gripping way.
   
   On the negatives, there was not an index in my book which made it difficult at times. Also, Earley was not able to get interviews with everyone involved, in particular Ames' first wife, but at the time I'm sure not everyone wanted to participate with the media.
   
   The most important aspect of the book is that Aldrich Ames cooperated with Earley with face to face interviews while awaiting trial and later through letters. But Earley did not take everything Ames told him at face value, he is not lazy or sloppy, he fact checked and questioned everything. He even fact checked with Russian KGB which demonstrates how dedicated he was to the subject. Is it definitive? Definitely not because it came out so quickly after Ames arrest (before revelations of Robert Hanssen) but it is an excellent book.



4. Step by step we are moving to the truth.
   The fiction is banal. Hence - one star for the book. The reality is amazing. Hence - 5 stars for the next book on the Ames-Colby case. The next book will be based on Dekov's memoirs.



5. Ames was unduly lucky to have not been "netted" much sooner. Mr. Earley gives us a very well written piece of work.Ames was certainly not Kim Philby or 007;but He did get away with His betrayal for some years,and that alone makes it worthy for any 20th Century Historian. The little tidbit of a quite 'hot potato'betrayal story on Henry Kissenger is worth the cost of the book alone.Earley is also fair to Ames'American employers at CIA who finally pinch "the mole".

5 comments about Dress Gray: A Woman at West Point.

1. Donna Peterson was in the third class containing women (Class of 1982) to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She describes her decision to apply to USMA -- Peterson was in the enviable position of being nominated to two service academies and turned down the Air Force Academy to attend West Point. But the heart of the book is life at the academy, year by year. It starts with being a "Plebe"; going through "Beast Barracks"; being run ragged with chores and bothered by memorizing "Plebe knowledge"; and being "unrecognized" by upperclassmen until the end of the year. In her second year, Peterson gains some responsibility and finds herself in the position to correct other, younger cadets. During the summer, Peterson gets the opportunity to lead actual Army enlisted men and train to be a helicopter pilot -- her future Army career. Peterson tells us that she looked forward to her "Cow," or junior, year the most, but it was spoiled by a cadre of men who opposed her advancement to a leadership position. Finally, as a "Firstie," Peterson plans for her post-USMA future.
   
   Throughout all this, Ms. Peterson excelled as a cadet and took advantage of all West Point had to offer, from being a member of the Honor Board, to taking numerous leadership positions, to being a Public Relations representative, to singing in a choral group. What is also interesting is that in this very male environment Ms. Peterson was able to retain her femininity. Unlike many, Ms. Peterson apparently wore her uniform skirt, helped form a cheerleading team modeled on the USC dance team, and had more dates than one can imagine (sometimes juggling two or three boyfriends at a time.)
   
   This is the second book I've read about West Point's early female graduates. The other, "In the Men's House," by Carol Barkalow, is also well worth a read. Where Barkalow's account differs from this one is that Barkalow was in the first coed class, rather than the third. As such, her female classmates bore more of the brunt of harsh, misogynous behavior by older, all-male classes, and the book reflects it. Barkalow also includes some description of life in the army after West Point -- I hope Peterson writes another book to tell us about her Army experiences.
   
   This is a very well-written book about an unusually talented woman. I highly recommend it.



2. As an avid reader of career stories, I ordered this book through interlibrary loan. I wish some publisher would reissue this title, as it's much better than I would expect from its out of print status. Ms. Peterson should have searched more widely for an agent and a publisher -- and an editor.

   The book is extremely well-written (perhaps due to the editing of Ed Eakin, who undoubtedly is related to the publisher). What probably kept it off a lot of shelves is the introduction, where Ms. Peterson emphasizes that she was "harassed" and "betrayed." It's all too easy for a reader to say, "Oh no, not another one of those. Maybe she was a loser."

   In fact, Ms. Peterson was a sterling cadet. By her own account, she had a challenging but not particularly stressful sojourn at West Point. She was a natural, coming from a background that included such diverse activities as judo and cheerleading. Her room-cleaning abilities were legendary.

   Throughout her four years, she attracted great-looking dates, sympathetic leaders and a wonderful sponsor. She shows real humor, describing how she coped with a spazzy roommate during "Beast," the summer of basic training. Through her report of this episode, we learn about West Point's emphasis on "cooperate and graduate."
   More seriously, we get a cadet's eye view of the Honor system when Ms. Peterson describes her service on Honor Board.
   
   Throughout the four years, Ms. Peterson kept her humor and her standards. She accepted leadership roles easily and apparently managed to get good grades. In turn, she admits (without getting maudlin), West Point gave her some of the most wonderful memories of her life.

   Her only setback -- the "betrayal" she mentions in the intro -- came when a female Tac officer failed to respond responsibly to jealous complaints by males who were competing with Donna for a coveted command slot senior year. A female roommate inadvertently contributed to the problem.

   The only other flaw is the absence of a section describing what happened afterward. We get a very abbreviated description -- a sentence of two about a few characters. What happened to Mary Ann, the first-year roommate? What did the author do as a commander of helicopter companies? How did West Point really affect her later life? Perhaps she needs to write another book.

   If this book becomes available, I'd buy it. Some publisher out there is missing a bet. Meanwhile, investigate your local library and interlibrary loan.




3. I am a Court-at-Law Judge who just came across a copy of this book in a library recently and thought it looked interesting. That was an understatement! This book was well written, funny, thought provoking and entertaining. In fact, it was written so well that at times I felt as if I was actually there watching these events unfold. When I finished the book, I felt as if I had just graduated from 4 years at West Point. A marvelous effort for a first time author. This book should make Oprah's Book Club! Bravo and 5 stars!



4. Wonderful book! I attended West Point and I found myself with tears in my eyes reading parts of this book. It was nice to recall so many of the (rare) comical moments at the Point as well. I highly recommend this book for any graduate who wants to remember how it felt to be young,scared, excited, confused and far away from home as a new plebe! Best of all, it is an interesting read...you just keep turning the pages! I can't wait to read her next book! Please, please keep writing books, Donna!



5. I bought this book for my neice to read several years ago. It is soiled and stained now, having been through the hands of MOST of her friends, guys and girls! It is an exciting read, one that my husband, who had been in the Army, enjoyed as well as non-military readers like my neice's friends. I KNOW it inspired her to follow her dreams and not be stuck in the stereotypes others make for women. Captain Peterson (now a Major) is a wonderful christian role model as well ! Also, if you send her a request, she will send you an autograph you can attach to the book (or send her the book with return postage like I did!). I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to feel good about their country again, or for any young person thinking about attending a service academy! Well written!

5 comments about Touched by Fire: The Life, Death, and Mythic Afterlife of George Armstrong Custer.

1. I just re-read this biography, after several years, and I was reminded again what a great book it is. Barnett's Custer is not Custer-the-awful or Custer-the-hero -- but Custer-the-human. She is solid on her sources, and tells a story about Custer that develops his relationship with his wife in ways that I find fascinating. You get a sense from this about a person who was three-dimensional. Her description of the battles are solid, though if you want more detail, you will need to find that in other books. If you want to learn about the person behind the fighting, though, this is the book for you.



2. I agree with Bob Reece on that score. At the time _Touched By Fire_ was published, we also saw publication of another Custer biography by Jeffery Wert. Barnett's bio was by far and away the better of the two. Custer comes to life for modern readers in a way few authors have made him come alive. My personal favorite Custer "bio" is still Evan Connell's _Son of the Morning Star_, but Barnett's work is also one that I refer to regularly.

   Bob Reece spends a lot of his review addressing the issues raised by "a reader from San Francisco" covering the "experiment" that was illustrated in the A&E (and possibly the History Channel as well) documentary in "The New Explorers" series. The New Explorers documentary was seriously marred, I think, in swallowing hook, line, and sinker author Robert Nightengale's almost paranoiac ravings against Benteen and Reno. Any reader interested can refer to Nightengale's _Little Big Horn_ for details there. What I want to note about the "experiment" mentioned is an interesting fact, namely that it appears that those in the Reno-Benteen contingent who claimed to hear firing in the distance were also those who were younger officers who were not Civil War veterans. It is very probable that Reno and Benteen simply did not hear any firing in the distance owing to partial hearing loss induced by their Civil War service.

   But that's irrelevant to Barnett's biography. Don't ignore Connell's _Son of the Morning Star_ in your Custer researches, but for an excellent introduction to the life of one of the most colorful Army officers in U.S. History, you can't beat _Touched by Fire_.




3. I adamantly disagree with the reviewer, below, from San Francisco. This is one of the best biographies of Custer's life with his wife, Libbie. Their relationship comes to life in Barnett's book.
   
   The reviewer mentions the "New Explorers" program on the History Channel and its reference to Reno and Benteen not coming to Custer's aid when they knew he was under attack was a sham to historical research. Frankly, I was embarrassed for the History Channel when I viewed this program. It has always been understood by historians of the Battle of the Little Bighorn that the men under Reno and Benteen's command heard firing to the north coming from the Custer Battalion. Reno had just got whipped soundly by the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in the river valley forcing him to retreat to the high bluffs overlooking the river (now known as the Reno/Benteen defense site); it was from this position that they heard firing to the north. Reno had lost over 30 men during the valley fight and retreat. His men were demoralized and there were many men wounded. Custer was five miles to the north beyond the hills; it might as well been a 100 miles. The "New Explorers" premise is that it's some great mystery whether the soldiers' heard gun firing or not. So, they conduct a makeshift "experiment" with a tape recorder on the Reno/Benteen defense site. Over the hills, to the north, they have a few guys waiting to fire some carbines. So, the guys with the tape recorder are talking through walkie-talkies to the men who are waiting to fire their carbines and they begin to countdown to zero. At zero, the men fire their carbines and it's recorded on the tape. Wow! The "researchers" got all excited and said this was proof that Reno heard the firing and, because, he didn't come to Custer's aid, Custer met his death. What a joke! This "experiment" was conducted on a quiet afternoon. The "researchers" didn't take into consideration that the Reno/Benteen site, during the battle, would not have been so quiet. Most importantly, their premise is nothing new. It's their conclusions that are subjective and childish.
   
   Barnett doesn't stoop to such stupidity like these "researchers." She portrays the life of Custer and Libbie as one of genuine caring. After Custer's death, Libbie resolves to spend the rest of her life protecting her husband's reputation. Libbie was ahead of her time; she was a strong, independent woman who faced all kinds of hardships with courage and strength.
   
   And, Custer? He was a man like some people today. He was ambitious and wanted to move forward with his career, yet he didn't let his ambitions affect his decisions on the battlefield.
   
   Once you start reading TOUCHED BY FIRE, you will find it hard to put down. It is a moving story.



4. Sometimes overlooked in this book are Louise Barnett's fascinating sidebars on women on the frontier. She could make another book out of her research in this area.



5. Even though the book is 400 pages, there is very little of it dealing with Custer's life. The author will mention substantiating evidence, but then never provide it. For example, she refers to archaeology work done at Little Bighorn but never says what it is. The book focuses way too much on Custer's wife...for a biography of him. There are 100 pages dealing with her widowhood. After reading the book, I don't know any more about Custer than I did before reading it. I had expected some sort of biography since the title reads "the life & death" & then meaning of the myth from that, but the book didn't deliver. I didn't get anything from the book to change my preconceptions of him from history class. The writer puts forth a victim defense...nothing was his fault, the army failed him, etc. Bottom line is 270+ men died at Little Bighorn.

5 comments about The Cruise of the Sea Eagle: The Amazing True Story of Imperial Germany's Gentleman Pirate.

1. An interesting book! Some reviewers have commented on some inaccuracies within this tale; however, I believe that is the whole purpose of this book. The author and publisher have stated that many variations of this story exist and this is an attempt to set the story straight. Graf von Luckner is a legend amongst fans of the sea, both historical and fiction. In fact I've even encountered references to him in science fiction for his derring do and sauve nature. This book helps to set the story straight. The author has gone to great pains to even include a section where he has compared many of the myths versus the truth of the ship SMS Seeadler (or Irma or Hero or .....) and Graf von Luckner himself. I do not see this as an attack upon the man or his legend; rather, it makes him more human. This book also took an additional look at some of the other crew members of the Seeadler and their influence upon the cruise, a view which previous books and some articles haven't evenly covered. First Officer Kling had an enormous influence upon the success of the cruise and this book provides some insights to the strengths and weaknesses of him and his fellow officers. The view portrayed by the variety of prisoners and their nationalities also showed how detailed the author researched this legend.
   I was struck by a comment made by the author, paraphrased, he indicated how in our age we would look for the flaws in von Luckners character and trumpet them to the world rather than respect him for what he had done. I do not remember the exact wording but I believe the spirit of his statement is correctly shown. This book portrays a truthful look at a great man with all his faults. I would recommend this for book for all fans of the sea, fiction and non fiction.



2. To an avid history buff like myself, who reads anything he can about the Navel Warfare of WWI, this book was enthralling. I could'nt put it down.
   
   The flashes of insite into the Count's past, and his relationship with the Kiser, had me grinning, while the chase's and bluff's in his repertoire of tactic's had me on the edge of my seat. Derring do, and chivalry were the watchwords he and his crew lived and fought by. Even his captives loved and respected him.
   
   I can't say enough about Blaine Pardoe's book. WELL DONE, well done indeed



3. The life of Count Felix von Luckner is a worthy subject for a complete biography. He was with us well into the sixties, and is remembered as a German naval officer who fought his part of World War One with as much chivalry as the times allowed. Blaine Pardoe's book introduces a new generation of readers to this interesting man, and his beautiful ship, the Seeadler. The story is told in the typical light journalism of today, and covers the material fairly well. For those who have more than a passing interest in maritime subjects, you are going to be disappointed.
   If you have even a little knowledge of seamanship, Blaine Pardoe's cliched style will set your teeth on edge. Pardoe has the Seeadler's lookout call "Ship Ahoy!" The ship "lists" as she sails, and they sight a four masted brig, when a brig has two masts by definition. A few of these things might be overlooked, but he drops "clangers" on every other page. The Seeadler, a 1500 ton square rigger "pulls up and takes off" like a taxi-cab, while the small craft in the story are described as ships. For all his research, the writer states the Seeadler was an American built windjammer, when she was built in Scotland at Glasgow.
   There is a long tradition of journalist writing laughable accounts of seamanship, and in this style Pardoe follows Lowell Thomas's account of the same story. To his credit, he debunks the old story of the tidal-wave stranding the ship; something that was always hard to swallow. There are a good supply of references laid in with the story too, and for that reason only,the book will stay on my shelf.



4. This book talks about a time and place that is rarely covered by historians. In World War I the Germans were a far more honorable enemy than in WWII. This story exemplifies that. Imagine a Prussian aristocrat who goes to war determined to uphold the rules of war and maritime law. Captain Luckner ends up capturing and sinking over a dozen allied ships, but only kills one person. And he does it in a captured American clipper ship.



5. Having majored in History in college, with an emphasis on WWI and WWII, I was surprised that I had never heard of Felix von Luckner. Now, having read the book, I am astonished. Felix von Luckner was the type of man legends are made of!
   
   A true hero of the German Navy, this book details the adventures of von Luckner as the capitan of the Seeadler (Sea Eagle) and highlights the life of a man who managed to become one of the most feared raiders on the sea --- and who did so without carelessly taking lives.
   
   With sea battles, storms, deck parties, cross-dressing, and more -- this story truly embodies the thought that 'Truth is stranger than fiction'!
   
   I definitely recommend this book. A really great read!

5 comments about 1001 Nights in Iraq: The Shocking Story of an American Forced to Fight for Saddam Against the Country He Loves.

1. Let's be clear here about one thing. It is not possible to give a book 6 stars otherwise i would have done so. It is also not possible to rate something according to its peers quality. When I think five stars i think the classics. This book will perhaps be a classic one day. I really was captivated by his story the entire way through, really something else. To put it in perspective I understood the whole bioluminescent thing when i saw it first hand. After seeing it myself i can see what he must have went through mentally, wow!!



2. This is by far one of the most inspiring books I have read in a while. I am amazed by Mr. Kenderian's strength of character despite all the opportunities and justifications there was to have been less than honorable. It made me realize how much I take living in this country for granted. Yes, we have our flaws but how many other countries to people make such an effort to get to? Please continue to write Mr Kenderian!



3. I just finished reading Mr. Kenderian's book, and for me as an Iraqi (and Christian), it sheds light on many facts of Iraqis life under Saddam's rule. It is an interesting, must to read, story of a struggle of a man to reach his goals. What impressed me more is the strength of his faith that made him come through all these difficulties (the least his circumstances could be described with).
   However, Mr. Kenderian gave an impression that Armenian Iraqis were treated differently (less favorably) from other Iraqis. I see this as unfair description. Christians in Iraq were always been seen as harmless Iraqis, and I never witnessed or heard that there was any discrimination against them because of their religion or of being Armenians in particular.
   I enjoyed reading this book very much. Thank you Mr. Kenderian



4. There's a popular saying that "truth is stranger than fiction." In the case of Shant Kenderian, the saying certainly applies. In his nonfiction book (once the most popular selling book on BookSurge before being picked up by publisher Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster), Kenderian recounts his own tale of being drafted to fight a war against his own country.
   
   Born in Iraq as an Armenian Christian (already an outsider in a country populated with Muslims), when his parents divorced, Kenderian went to live with his mother and siblings in Chicago. Like many children of divorce, he felt torn between his parents, and after two years of living in the United States, he decided to go to Iraq for a brief visit in 1980. His goal was to see his father and reconcile their acrimonious relationship (because of his parents' divorce) before returning to the US to complete his schooling. Days before he was due to return to the US, Saddam Hussein closed all the Iraqi borders, ordering all men of draft age (between 17-55) into service to fight for Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War. Under the threat of execution for refusing to serve, Kenderian did his time in the Iraqi Navy and returned to Baghdad, where he continued his studies in engineering while awaiting the issuance of his green card from the US Embassy.
   
   Two days before he was scheduled to depart Iraq, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, thus pulling Kenderian into yet another war (Desert Storm) before he could leave. Thus begins the saga that is recounted in "1001 Nights in Iraq." As an Iraqi-born US resident, Shant Kenderian was put in the unenviable position of being forced to fight against the country he loved and considered his own--the United States.
   
   Kenderian recounts with depressing detail his time as an engineer aboard a ship in the Iraqi Navy just off the coast of Kuwait. Forced to service the ship with only a wrench and screwdriver, Kenderian tells of the depravity faced by most soldiers on the Iraqi side of the conflict. Of his crew, only 2 Iraqis of 15 had guns of any sort; Kenderian himself had none. Food was scarce, as were any other sort of supplies. Every day was a nightmare in which the Iraqi soldiers expected death at any moment by the Americans.
   
   Clearly, Kenderian had to do something to change his fate, and so he devised a plan--to surrender to the Americans at the earliest opportunity. Kenderian thus hoped to plead his case as a US resident forced to participate in a war not of his own choosing on a side he would not have selected. Kenderian eventually did get captured by the Americans, but not before his ship struck a mine, killing several of his Iraqi crewmates. However, even his capture by US forces meant extreme hardship. As a prisoner of war (POW), again and again, he was interrogated, forced to live in difficult conditions, and plead his desperate case, to return to his family in the United States.
   
   Despite this unbelievable story, Kenderian never lost his sense of humor, his humanity for others (Iraqi or otherwise), or his faith in God that he would eventually be returned to the country he considered home. Only a man of real courage and compassion could have survived this ordeal to tell this story of resilience and hope. Through his book, Kenderian has opened the door into a world few Americans understand or have experienced. His story been featured on public radio's "This American Life," and truly it is a unique one.



5. I met Shant Kenderian in the Gulf War. He braved many dangers, and many hardships. I met him and his family again last July in LA, Calif. when I was coming home from a 27 day trip to Viet Nam and Thailand. He still is a wonderful man. God had blessed him. His faith in God pulled him through many hardships. It was a wonderful reunion after 15 years. He remembered things in his book that I had forgot.His book is an easy read. First hand stories of his trials and experiences. Again God has blessed him and also God blessed me for knowing him.

5 comments about Taught to Kill: An American Boy's War from the Ardennes to Berlin.

1. There are far too many memoirs of WWII going into print recently. Hence, the overall quality becomes diluted. Taught to Kill is an exception. It is probably the best memoir of WWII that I have read. We go along with private Babcock from enlistment, through training, along with him to the European Theatre of Operations, into the middle of the Battle of the Bulge, and accompany him as he moves up the chain of command. You won't catch the Army using this book as a recruiting tool. Yes, General Sherman, "war is hell'. This book has little to do with infantry tactics, but focuses on the infantryman. Physical trauma caused by projectiles, bombs, and mines take a backseat to the incredible emotional trauma all infantrymen faced. Babcock, who considered suicide himself, airs out some dirty Army laundry. Going unreported by the Pentagon for many years, approximately 25% of infantry soldiers, suffered severe mental and emotional problems. It is unfortunate that we now have the tidy acronym PTSD - a convenient one-fits-all clinical term. Travel with Babcock from the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) to Berlin. How unworldly young men, from small town America, kept their bodies and wits intact during WWII, makes them truly deserving of the moniker "The Greatest Generation".



2. Solid memoir. Well written. Not the grisliest or gnarliest but an interesting take from the point of view of an infantryman, dogface, thrown on the front lines during the Bulge.
   
   If this is your first WWII oral history then there are better choices, but if you've already read all the standards, this is a good choice.



3. A very quick and easy read but one of the deepest that I've read from the view of the man on the ground without being highly political, sentimental, psychological, or maudlin. There's hardly a sense of bitterness or regret for the failings of the government and commanders during WWII, the slackers and sociopaths who avoided harm's way, the cowards and psychopaths who were in the attacking ranks,and the johnny-come-lately "heroes" at the end. It's almost as if the author was a detached objective reporter on the scene which caused me to think that perhaps that is how he was able to survive somewhat physically and mentally intact after enduring the last two years of the "Good War". Also, even though it was his story he did not attempt to make himself a hero in any way, although I did sense that he was probably part of some things that happened either by acts of commission or omission that he would never tell anyone.
   
   The author should be commended for conveying his personal story in a way that informs, entertains, and thrills, but at times can create empathy, anger, and disgust when he enables the reader to understand the "melting pot" of backgrounds and psyches that was stirred into survival situations. This is done simply by descriptive narrative without invoking emotional diatribes.
   
   An understanding of the macro picture of WW II would put this book into its right perspective. I doubt that it would have been printed 50 years ago but in view of the conflicts that we have entered into since 1950 and are now in at the beginning of the 21st century, every young man who wants to be in the infantry should be required to read this book before making his final decision to do so. It would also benefit any veteran who served during any time of our history and who had to carry a weapon as part of his duties.



4. This is one of the best memoirs written about frontline combat in WW2. Some veterans are able to put into words what actually is near impossible to put in words, and John Babcock does it extremely well. You will be moved by the misery these young soldiers suffered.



5. "Taught To Kill" by John B. Babcock. Subtitled: "An American Boy's War From The Ardennes To Berlin". Potomac Books, Inc. Dulles, Virginia, 2005.
   
   The writing in this book is excellent. Throughout the book, the author, John Babcock, WWII Veteran, uses alliteration, the rhyming of the first syllables of words, as little jewels which makes his writing sparkle. Despite the serious subject of the book, the author has made it easy and pleasing to read. And, the subject of the book is serious.
   
   Using a fifty-year old manuscript, which he had typed at the end of hostilities in Europe, he put together a genuine accounting of a "...small-town American college kid, transformed ... by government edict, into a foreign-soil combat soldier". Unlike so many other personal memoir books, Babcock has expended a great deal of energy on introspection, where his recorded observations are combined with an examination of exactly what his pains and his unit's hard work did for the war effort, in particular, and for mankind, in general.
   
   His description of the death of his "...first KIA (killed in action): Sergeant Coleman..." was particularly poignant. Sergeant Coleman's professionalism had convinced Babcock that Coleman was possibly the most invulnerable soldier in the company, and there was the sergeant with a "...chunk of his forehead ...shot away". On the other hand, the author's description of the collapse of Technical Sergeant Oaks during an artillery barrage was particularly chilling. Sergeant Oaks had been bold, brash and brave in basic training, but, after the first miss by an 88mm round, there was the sergeant "... huddled under his wet overcoat by the shelter entrance." The sergeant's improper behavior had all "... but disabled me." On the same page, Babcock includes an interesting fact: most German Artillery fire during World War II was, in fact, 105mm, not the famous (infamous) 88mm. (Page 31). And, for those who served in the Army specialized Training Program (ASTP), page 154 presents the reason that the ASTP program was reduced dramatically: "... (t)hat almost all (replacements) went into the infantry was a given. Forty thousand replacements coming into our ranks translated to ten thousand men per week leaving the front lines for hospitals or for Dutch or Belgian cemeteries". I have never read such a succinct summary of the horrendous ETO casualty rate that caused General George Marshall to downsize ASTP and to move so many Air Corps candidates into the infantry. Excellent writing; excellent story telling.

5 comments about A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country.

1. A TIME TO LEAD: An attention consuming narration of deeply studied soldier's experiences. General Clark projects a timely view of global political geography and the thrills of war action as if on a giant IMAX screen. He does so with appreciation-filled details commemorating all -- the fortunate survivors, the fallen, the injured, and the suffering civilians.
   Surely, we, the citizens protected by millions of the military's tedious work hours dedicated beyond gun battles to stopping violence and building consensus, have a cornucopia of reasons for being proud and supportive of the United States military. Perhaps, we can support it best by taking fair and peaceful footsteps in our personal pathways.



2. With all of the failed leadership going on in America today I found Wesley's book refreshing. I'm encouraging my two sons to read this book because Mr. Clark is a Great leader to look up to and learn from. If we had more leaders like Wesley, America would still be a great country.



3. Given the book's fantastic title, I wanted to love--or at least like--it. But I couldn't. It reads like a "just-the-facts-black-and-white" chronology of Clark's life, which the authors tried to warm up and add emotion to using cut-and-paste poetic descriptions (out of character with the rest of the writing), too many empty words--like brave, courageous, warrior, hero--and awkwardly tacked-on "lessons" about leadership.
   
   It's clear Clark has more than enough credentials and experience to back up his admirable convictions; unfortunately, a memoir with an agenda is an ineffective format for expressing them. I suggest he'll make a stonger impact if he sticks to writing topical essays backed up by personal experience.



4. Rather than rehash other reviewers' comments, let me refer you to pages 182 and 183, where Wesley Clark reports a warning he received from Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia to not have NATO become an occupying power in the Balkans because occupying powers "do not do well here." Instead, the dictator urged the U.S. and its allies to "treat people with respect." After the conversation, Clark reflected on his military and negotiating experiences and decided the principles of power politics among nations "had to be exercised through personal relationships. Ultimately, diplomacy wasn't about trade-offs; it was about persuasion. To succeed, you had to link the calculus of cost and benefits to charm, new opportunities and the promise of a better tomorrow. Success was 90 percent persuasion, backed up by 10 percent coercion." He adds: "If force was to be used, it was to be used only as a last resort, and even then alongside allies, if possible." As I finished reading this book on Oct. 20, 2007, a day when the Bush Administration's drumbeats for war with Iran continued to accelerate, I couldn't help but wish Americans had elected Clark or someone like him in 2004. I had the same thought in nearly every chapter of the general's combination biography and expression of lessons he's learned from going to war, listening to others, weighing alternatives and then making or recommending decisions. Listening and weighing alternatives before deciding is a foreign concept for the man Garrison Keillor refers to as "Current Occupant." I fear it will plunge us even deeper into the Middle Eastern abyss. Wesley Clark is an American treasure, and the nation should tap his wisdom, judgment and talents as soon as possible. We need leaders like him.



5. General Clark has written a book about his own life, about America and about leadership. Presumably, the project had begun as a presidential campaign biography but then was redirected somewhat when the decision was taken not to run for president this year. Predictably, then, the book is a bit of a hodgepodge, but, in the end, it works.
   
   Especially interesting for me were the insights into General Clark's own sometimes conflicting thoughts about the military that is so central to his life. I was struck by similarities to people who despite their deep religious convictions nevertheless must sometimes struggle with their spirituality. While Clark's overriding faith in and support for the U.S. military are unwavering, he has faced times in his life when he has agonized over whether or not American military power and soldiers are being used and treated properly (and if not what, if anything, can be done about it). It would be difficult for a thinking and feeling soldier to have come through the Vietnam experience as he did without having to work through questions of that sort. In reading these and other reflections, the reader observes Clark's humanity, caring, multidimensionality and depth. Leadership, we learn, is a lot about caring, and it means taking responsibility (and sometimes truly huge responsibility) for other people. General Clark takes that caring and that responsibility very seriously. There is nothing cavalier in this soldier's personality.
   
   As an admirer of General Clark, I enjoyed learning more about the man through his book. As an entrepreneur striving through inexhaustible challenges to build a strong and cohesive team and direct it to a collective goal, I found both leadership lessons and inspiration. As an American who is deeply concerned about the tragic direction in which our country has been led thus far into the new millennium, General Clark's book gives me reason to believe that America can do better and be much better led. It also offers substantial elements of a strategy for making both America and the world at large a more prosperous, peaceful and safer place.