The book tell a story almost forgotten, if known completely. Mr. Band surely has a unique backround to tell the story. Informative,entertaining and accurate!

Reading Bill Band's book was transportation in time. You get to know some of the young heroes who, with fire in their hair and determination in their hearts, were the Flying Tigers. Bill is a wonderful story teller, as giving of the truths of his own trepidations as the heroics of the 'Tigers' exploits. You can feel the adrenalin rush. You can see the tracers. And when you come back with a Japanese sailor's hat in your intake, you too will experience the thrill of combat - and the relief that you survive!

Bill Band is a natural writer. His thorough attention to detail but concern in keeping his story gripping makes a real page turner. I particularly enjoyed the spots of humor that he was able to find in this deadly serious mission. I was impressed with the words of Anna Chennault who with charm summed up the amazing feats and ultimate victories of our Flying Tiger Warriors. I happen to know this author and know him to be a winner in all the paths that his life has taken him. May God bless him and his wonderful family.

Lundy Bancroft has captured within this book the heart of one of the biggest problems being involved with abusive and controlling men - the constant and neverending struggle to understand why he can be so cruel when he swears he loves so much. It is at times a very painful read, especially when Mr. Bancroft tackles all the myths women have relied upon to rationalize and somehow justify or downplay the abuse. He has de-mystified these types of men and has explained the source of their actions and mindset with a clarity that can be as frightening as it is freeing. You will not find one excuse you've ever used to justify an abusive partner's treatment that isn't addressed in this book and shown for what it truly is. If you are, or even think you might be in an abusive relationship, or trying to recover from one, this book is an absolute must read. In fact, I would even recommend getting it in hardback; it will become your bible of liberation from the crazymaking created from being involved with an angry and controlling man.

This book is awesome. I was finally able to make sense of my verbally and emotionally abusive first marraige and how it affected everyone. It explains the thought process of an abusive person, and documents how the legal system continues the abuse. If you are a victim of abuse (past or present), an attorney, a judge, a victim's advocate, a police officer or a therapist, you MUST READ THIS BOOK!

When most women ask "why does he do that," they are searching for an answer that will help them to make an abusive relationship better. This book makes it very clear that the answer to the question has nothing to do with the abusive man's partner, and everything to do with a sick and destructive need for complete control over another human being.

I have read a number of books about abuse and control, and many of them are very good at deconstructing the dynamic between a controller and his victim. The difference for me is that many of those books have been by women who treat victims. This is a book by a man who has worked with batterers. I am not disparaging the work of women (and men) who work with victims--I was once one of them. What I am saying is that, as I read this, I felt a deep sense of validation, that the "other side" of the story, which many books get at through stories with victims, isn't something imagined or theorized. Controllers do know what they are doing. They understand that it hurts. They don't want to change. And I and other victims cannot change them. An outline of the specifics of abusive and controlling men makes it very clear that the "circle of influence" for women does not extend to the abuser. It may sound cliche to say you must save yourself, but after reading the many facets of abuse and the way they surface, a victim will understand will great clarity that her precious energy must be used to care for herself and her children. And pulling back that energy, for me, has been a critical step in surviving.

And for going through the family court system, if that is what a woman chooses to do. The other unique and invaluable aspect of this book is the way in which it pinpoints how the family court system--law enforcement, judges, lawywers, GALs--can and often does revisit the trauma of abuse on the victim by becoming triangulated with the offender. A woman who thinks she will find accountability in the family court system may be in for a big surprise. This book can prepare a woman for the reality of the process and help her anticipate what tactics her abuser may engage in. It is daunting, but had I had this book several years ago, my own experience might have been different.

This book is easy to read but I have underlining and notes on every page. Even after the fact it has helped me to understand my own situation better, and to give me hope for the life I can give my child. I recommend it strongly.

As an entertainment professional, I consider this book essential reading. Any aspiring or even working writer should pick this one up. In fact, anyone and everyone in the business of film-making would be well-served by reading this book. It's much more funny, informative, and relevant than the other similar books in the marketplace. The cost of the book is a small price to pay for an education that may help protect you for the rest of your career.

I had the pleasure of the meeting the author, entertainment attorney Brooke A. Wharton with agent Jonathan Westover of The Gage Group. As a former paralegal, I am often questioned by friends and there are few books available that tell me something I don't already know about writer's business concerns. This book is one of them. More than just a guide, this book is a valuable and essential resource tool for every writer. Though the book focuses on the film industry, universal topics such as how to protect your work, contracts, release forms, managers, agents and lawyers - to query letters and competitions are covered in plain English and the information can easily be applied to any form of writing. For example, "pitching" is an art form similar to proposals, while rights and options are a key element in all news-related and fiction writing involving real people. Also, many agents handle both book manucripts and screenplays. If you're like me, your bookshelves are cluttered with writing industry books. Trust me, this one is worth it. Having this book is like having a lawyer at your fingertips. With information on networking, competitions, legal organizations and cyberscribing, thi book can serve as a writer's business plan blueprint. It was the best investment I made in my writing career this year. I honestly don't know of any writer who could not benefit from the information in this book.

For all of you aspiring screenwriters, this book is a must-have resource. Very important information, but let's be honest, discourse on law ususally makes one's eyes glaze over. However, Brooke is an incredible writer and keeps her book engaging and entertaining to hold the reader's interest for this vitally important subject.

Dan Hurley Does Planet Earth . . . Oh wait. That's his NEXT book. I found The 60-Second Novelist to be very real, and easy to relate to. Dan's gentle psychological approach to people brims with humor, yet gets to the point. It is good storytelling, yet a unique take on very real people and situations. The spontaneity factor makes it all the better. And though I am partial to Dan's Evil Twisted Twin and his absurdist humor, I do enjoy Dan's warm and fuzzy side. I found the biographical element of the book to be especially fascinating.Dan followed his dream of being a writer, and set up his Remington on a Chicago street, eventually creating a wonderful success story. 'Just DO it!' his behavior seems to encourage us. It is difficult for me to choose a favorite story from The 60 Second Novelist. I especially enjoyed the romantic stories (Donna's Dream Lover, Walk Along The Ocean)and the absurdist (I Like Eyes, The Reclamation, Fly By Night Monkeys). In the book design, I really liked the copies of Dan's original stories, typos and corrections included, peppered throughout. But two questions remain. Who will play Dan in The Dan Hurley bio-pic? I suggest that we take a poll. And when is his next book coming out?!

I'll be honest: I gave this book 5 stars not for its deathless prose or vast literary quality, but because it does exactly and charmingly what it sets out to do. Author Hurley shares many dozens of very short tales he wrote on the spot in only a minute for people who were waiting right in front of him. Talk about pressure! But Hurley proves that writer's block can be conquered, sometimes, by giving yourself a deadline. And he does a lovely job of capturing some essence, some droll humor, some cosmic message in each of these vignettes. I'd say he was able to force himself into a state of flow (which I know a lot about from writing my own bestseller, WRITING IN FLOW)and let the words come without having the time to think about them too much. He seems to have a way of connecting with people quickly and he certainly has the ability of turning that connection into something quirky, fun, and surprisingly enjoyable to read. The next time you say you don't have time to write, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Everyone's life has a story to tell. Dan Hurley, the author of "The 60-Second Novelist," does an excellent job drawing out stories and writing about the people he meets all over America. The fun part about reading this book is that Hurley writes the stories in roughly 60 seconds!

Some of the stories will make you laugh, others will make you cry, and some will make you smile or laugh aloud. The 60-second novel may inspire you to write a 60-second novel about yourself or someone you know.

i first met jim quillen when i visited alcatraz on the 18th of march 1995 i talked with him a while and bought his book from him the book is really easy to read and gives a great outlook of his life from tragedy to tragedy as soon as i started reading i could not put it down congratulations on finnishing the rest of your life so well all the best jim phylip a visitor to alcatraz

I just want to start by saying that this book is the best that I have read about Alcatraz. It tells you about how hard life really was on the island. This book also tells you about one mans life that led him to reside behind the unescapeable walls of the most infamous prison in history. In my opinion Mr. Quillens book is the best! I have known him for about five years now and I think the only better way to hear about Alcatraz is to hear Mr. Quillen talk about it himself. If you ever get a chance to visit the island stop by the first desk you see and there you will find Jim Quillen. He is a very soft spoken, kind, and gentle man. Also he is one of the best people that I know. I consider myself very fortunate to have a friend like Mr. Quillen.

I just want to start by saying that this book is the best that i have read about alcatraz. It tells you about how hard life really was on the island. This book also tells you about one mans life that led him to reside behind the unescapeable walls of the most infamous prison in history. In my opinion Mr. Quillens book is the best! I have known him for about five years now and i think the only better way to hear about alcatraz is to hear Mr. Quillen talk about it himslef. If you ever get a chance to visit the island stop by the first desk you see and there you will find Jim Quillen. He is a very soft spoken, kind and gentle man. Also he is one of the best people that I know. I consider myself very fourtunate to have a friend like Mr. Quillen.

Richard Côté does it again! "Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy," like Côté's "Mary's World: Love, War, and Family Ties in Nineteenth-Century Charleston," gives the reader an intimate look at the life of an early-American aristocrat. Both biographies are tales of strong women living in a man's world. Weaving a tapestry of mystery and intrigue, Richard Côté transports the reader to a bygone era in which love and betrayal are not always what they seem.

Do you think chaotic presidential elections are an aspect only of modern society? Think again. "Theodosia" reveals the bitter struggles -- both personal and political -- of Aaron Burr, Theodosia's father and the third vice president of the United States. After the legal and provoked duel in which Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton, he was villainized, thereby bringing his daughter down into the quagmire with him.

Richard Côté has written the most comprehensive and unbiased biography about this mysterious lady. I found Theodosia to be a thoroughly good yarn that reads more like a contemporary novel than the historical biography that it is. For anyone with an interest in history, or anyone wanting a great read, I highly recommend this book.

Richard N. Cote, the author of this biography of Aaron Burr's daughter certainly did meticulous research. Add to that his skill as a storyteller, and this fascinating woman's short and sad life becomes real. It's not just her story, however, that comes alive. It is the story of the early days of America. The author traces her roots back to the 13 colonies, adding to the background of this family and its place in history. Living during those times meant living with medical problems and risking death from a wide variety of causes. For example, two of Aaron Burr's relatives died as a result of smallpox vaccinations.

Aaron Burr, a vice president of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, is known primarily for his duel with Alexander Hamilton. After that he fell into disfavor and had grandiose dreams of invading Mexico and making himself emperor. He later spent time in exile and finally returned to the United States to live to a ripe old age.

Burr had grand plans for his daughter Theodosia, his only child born in 1783. Unlike the women in her generation, he had her educated as boys were then. By the time she was 11, she was studying classical literature and speaking French. That's around the time her mother died and she took on the responsibility of running her father's New York home. She was only 18 when she married Joseph Alston, a South Carolina planter. Soon afterwards her son was born. The birth, however, was a difficult one and for the rest of her life, she was in constant pain.

The book centers on the relationship between Aaron Burr and his daughter. They were extremely close and their letters reveal that he even would write to her about his amorous adventures. After her marriage, they visited often, usually for months at a time. Transportation was difficult in those days. It took weeks to travel from South Carolina to New York. Even a sea voyage between these two places took five or six days. It was on one of those trips, when Theodosia was only 29 years old, sickly and mourning the recent death of her 10-year-old son from a fever, that she was lost at sea. It was a tragedy whose mystery still haunts history. There are rumors of pirates and her having to walk a plank. But nothing was ever proved.

I loved this book, looked forward to picking it up each night. It brought me to an age very different from the world we live in today. It was just as complex though, given the context of the times. There were intrigues and war and disease. And there was love and pain and loss. I also felt I got to know both Aaron Burr and Theodosia as more than just historical figures. And my understanding of American history sure was enriched. I thank Mr. Cote for writing this book and making a major contribution by preserving this story. Highly recommended.

At age 17 Theodosia Burr was reputed to be the best-educated woman in America. Her father was Aaron Burr, a brilliant New York attorney soon to become Vice President of the United States, and at the age of 17 Theodosia married Joseph Alston, scion of one of the wealthiest planter families of South Carolina and a future governor of his state. Over the next 12 years, Theodosia Burr Alston would be touted as a future Empress of Mexico, see her father charged with murder and treason, and finally disappear herself at sea in a mystery that would spark rumors and romantic novels for decades to come.

Although Theodosia's status as a woman in early Nineteenth Century - even if a highly intelligent woman from an influential family - and her precarious health after the birth of her only child prevented Theodosia from being a major actor on the political stage in her own right, her story nonetheless provides us with a lens to closely examine important events and social tensions in Jeffersonian America. The relationship between Theodosia and her father, as described by Richard Cote, was extraordinarily, even unhealthily close. Although her marriage was obviously warm, it never threatened to supplant the all-powerful bond between father and daughter.

Cote has crafted a vivid, compelling narrative detailing the lives of this remarkable woman and of her gifted, thoroughly amoral father, who in the space of barely two years went from presiding over the U.S. Senate to killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, to throwing the western territories into turmoil with his ambitious schemes for the conquest of Mexico and - perhaps - the destruction of the American Union, and to being tried for treason. While Aaron Burr's political career spun into a maelstrom of controversy, his daughter's life plunged into personal tragedy. Cote well balances the two main currents of his narrative, the public and the private lives of his subjects, at the same time exploring the realities of existence among the Northern political establishment and the Southern planter elite. He does this with frequent recourse to letters exchanged between Aaron Burr and his daughter and son-in-law, letters touching upon both mundane daily life and also great events. Numerous small illustrations distributed throughout the book add visual dimension to the words for a more complete picture of Theodosia and her world.

The concluding chapters of the book examine the circumstances of Theodosia's death - she vanished at sea during the War of 1812 while voyaging north to New York to visit her father who had recently returned from a self-imposed exile in Europe - and explore the mystery of a portrait of a young woman matching Theodosia's description, a painting supposedly looted from a vessel wrecked on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Is it Theodosia? As with several other riddles surrounding her and her father, Richard Cote can provide us with no final answers, but he skillfully presents the evidence so readers can judge for themselves in which direction truth might lie.

It has taken nearly two hundred years for a full-fledged biography of Theodosia Burr Alston to appear, but Cote's book is genuinely worthy of its fascinating subject.

This is easily the best "sports" book I have ever read. On the recommendation of a close friend and former Harvard rower, I dove into this book thinking only that I would know a few stories about a sport burried in the agate type of a few sports pages. I was wrong. As a competitive marathon runner, I related to everyone in this book. I know what Tiff Wood goes through every morning with his training. I understand why he does what he does to the dismay of family, friends, and teachers. Why would someone with an Ivy League education waste all that to row in relative obscurity? Why place money, family, and the other trappings of "normal" American life on hold? Because. Because some people aspire to things a little more than measly paper. Because some want to accomplish things. Because some haven't given up on dreams.

I always wondered why some people I know at school were totally into crew. All that training, winter on the rivers, getting up really early - why? Now I know.

Yes, I live to climb and climb to live. But rowing is unbelievably more intense. David Halberstam sure brings it alive. Not only the pain, the training, the loneliness and solitude at the top of an elite and obscure sport, but also the intense clash of personalities - the limited glory, the pain of loss, the pain of not even getting to row.

Who would think that one of the best books I've ever read is about rowing? Now all I want to do is go out and row, row, pull, pull, harder, harder...

When I first started rowing in 1987 I happened across a copy of the Amateurs at a local bookstore. thrilled with the fact I found a book on my new sport and written by one of our best journalists I devoured it in a scant five hours. Even though I was a novice to the sport I found that Habelstram captured the pain, fears, joys, and dissapointments of boat racing perfectly. Later as a coach I would reccomend this book to my rowers so they could see that the feelings they were experiencing are not unique to them, but also shared by even the elite scullers that Halberstram observed. I also reccomended this book to the parents of my rowers so they could better understand the level of commitment it takes to row . Halberstram has done a rare thing, he has written about a subject so precisley that it will not be scoffed at by those who row, and those who do not row will not be lost in the explanation of technique and rowing history.

Although this book is the biography of Nancy Randolph, who was the daughter of one of the great Virginia planters, Unwise Passions is rich with history of Virginia, and it has a cast of characters that includes not only the haughty Randolphs, but also Thomas Jeffereson, Patrick Henry, and John Marshall. This book offers a valuable look at the lives of historical figures that we have previously known only as public figures of great stature. Here the reader gets a "real" view of these figures. The research process for this book was obviously conducted painstakingly with excellent results. It is an delightful read. It brings all the characters to life. I would like to go back to some of the original documents. I hope tjhat Mr. Crawford will write another book, bringing the history of our country into real focus for us.

This is a fun and fascinating book. It is a great story, all the more so because it is true. The characters are among our country's founding families, including Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. The author shows us the very human side of the people involved. He smoothly works in quotes of letters to and from the characters to give us an eyewitness account of people and events. Crawford tells the story impartially so we are free to draw our own conclusions and opinions. I found myself unable to put the book down and read it in a weekend.

Highly recommended: If you're fascinated by true-crime stories, American history or just like a good read, you should really enjoy this compelling story about the Crime of the (18th) Century. Imagine a cross between Dominick Dunne, Stephen Ambrose and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," and you'll get a sense of the author's power at telling a gripping tale. The book tells the story of a young, tempestuous aristocrat, Nancy Randolph, part of the legendary Randolph clan of Virinia, who is accused of killing the love child she had with her brother-in-law, Richard Randolph. The two Randolphs were defended by Patrick Henry and even Thomas Jefferson was caught up in the family's crises. The book then traces the fate of Nancy Randolph in the wake of the scandal that clouded her name forever, as she tried to remake herself as the wife of Gouverneur Morris of New York, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence. The story is played out against the crumbling of the Virginia tobacco aristocracy and the politics and passions that swept America in the wake of the American Revolution. This is as riveting as any book published so far this year. I loved it, and I think you will, too.

I'm a cross country skier and avid hiker. I had never been to the Eastern Sierra before and this book piqued my interest. All the trails listed were true to their descriptions. You can really get the flavor of the area from this book. It includes driving tours, fishing spots and tips on how to fit in like a local. It's fun to read and I definitely recommend buying it.

About a decade ago, before I started an academic career, my wife and I reviewed travel guidebooks. We published several books on the subject, the last one covering about 3,000 books. I mention this only to underline the fact that I have looked closely at a lot of guide books, including myriad hiking guides. With that in mind, let me underline my overall opinion: Alpine Trailblazer is as good as they come.

The amount of thought and hard work embedded in this book is amazing. Alpine Trailblazer is more than just a description of hiking trails. It is much more versatile. If you are interested in outdoor activities (be they hiking, packing, biking, skiing, fishing or whatever), if you want to explore the Sierra Nevada mountains from Tahoe to Yosemite, but especially that less-discovered gold mine of a county called Alpine, Jerry and Janine Sprout will provide you with more well-informed, good ideas than any other single resource.

The Sprouts are long-time residents of Alpine County and have enthusiastically explored its trails and hidden pleasures for more than two decades. That they are willing to share their discoveries with you must have come after considerable soul searching. But we are all the beneficiaries.

And such attention to detail! From what should be an award-winning cover to the careful organization of materials, from the informative and beautiful black-and-white photographs to the practical hiking advice and Happy Jack's Campside Cookbook, this book has it all. Each suggested route is tied to the appropriate topo map and succinctly but informatively described. The types of outdoor pleasures most applicable to each route are clearly noted. The many choices are indexed in great detail. For example, routes that are best for wildflowers are then broken down into three subsections: early season, lower elevation; mid-summer, mid-elevation; and high elevation. Day hikes are organized under headings such as falls and cascades, old growth conifer quests, snow-free in late spring, short hikes with small kids and grandparents. And so on in incredible and useful detail. If you can't find what you want here, it doesn't exist.

The hiking tips are short and to the point, capturing the wisdom of years of trail experience. The only advice I take exception to is the choice of external over internal frames for backpacks (though, of course, they are entitled to their opinion). While external frames have certain advantages, as the Sprouts detail, the internal frame provides my back with a comfort I only dreamed of with an external frame--and that, at least for me, is priority number one. Then again, perhaps the Sprouts are made of stronger stuff. Let your own back be the judge.

In any case, I can't yell it loud enough (especially in print): grab a copy of this book without delay and visit the Alps of the Sierra Nevada. You won't be disappointed.

Alpine Trailblazer is a terrific guidebook that feels good in the hand, looks good, and- most importantly- works well at introducing folks to the unspoiled, less-explored Sierra between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. Everything in this book seems of the highest quality: the maps, the photos, the organization and indexing, the design, the writing. But best of all is its usefulness; it's hard to believe how much solid information these Alpine County locals have been able to fit into a guidebook that can fit nicely in the outside pocket of a backpack. Bookended by quotes from John Muir, this handy volume gives you essential information for hiking, backpacking, cross country skiing, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, rafting, horseback riding, camping, wildflower sighting, etc. etc. The heart of the book is the excellent, clear trailhead descriptions with good directions, advice, elevations, difficulties, maps, and so forth. In addition you can find driving tours, information on local flora and fauna, resource links to regional services and sights and events, fascinating historical background on this unique area, and even a campside cookbook. My favorite parts of Alpine Trailblazer, however, are the hilarious Glossary to Understanding Alpine Culture and Customs (Example: "Sign of summer: snow shovels are off the porches.") and the witty and wise :"Free Hiking Advice and Opinion." However, the best part of the guidebook is its practicality, usefulness, and abundance of information. If only all guidebooks had this combination of practicality and quality!