Book Description
IN combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. We are fighting guerrilla wars, against insurgents hidden in remote regions, often deep among the local population. In battles such as these, squadrons of billion-dollar bombers and naval fleets mean much less than on-the-ground intelligence and the ability to organize local forces. That’s why, more than ever before, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces—the legendary Green Berets.
In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch—a former Navy SEAL widely admired for his books about SEAL training and operations—offers an unprecedented view of the training of the Army Special Forces warrior. Each year, several thousand enlisted men and several hundred officers volunteer for Special Forces training; less than a quarter of those who apply will complete the course. Chosen Soldier spells out in fascinating detail the arduous regimen these men undergo—the demanding selection process and grueling field exercises, the high-level technical training and intensive language courses, and the simulated battle problems that test everything from how well they gather operational intelligence to their skills at negotiating with volatile, often hostile, local leaders.
Green Berets are expected to be deadly in combat, yes, but their responsibilities go far beyond those of other Special Operations fighters; they’re taught to operate in foreign cultures, often behind enemy lines; to recruit, train, and lead local forces; to gather intelligence in hostile territory; to forge bonds across languages and cultures. They must not only be experts in such fields as explosives, communications, engineering, and field medicine, but also be able to teach those skills to others. Each and every Green Beret must function as tactical combat leader, negotiator, teacher, drill sergeant, and diplomat.
These tasks require more than just physical prowess; they require a unique mix of character, intelligence, language skills, and—most of all—adaptability. It’s no wonder that the Green Berets’ training regimen is known as the hardest in the world. Drawing on his unprecedented access to the closed world of Army Special Forces training, Dick Couch paints a vivid, intimate portrait of these extraordinary men and the process that forges America’s smartest, most versatile, and most valuable fighting force.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2007-09-20
Very well written and hard to put down. An excellent insight into SF traing from beginning to end. I've seen many books on the subject of SF traing but none as complete as this one. WOW, brings back a lot of memories! This is a MUST READ for anyone thinking of going SF.
Great job Mr. Couch!
Great!.......2007-08-31
This book is great! Of course, I am partial since it is from my son's training and all those with him. I believe anyone interested in finding out just what a special type of man it takes to become a Green Beret, you will thoroughly enjoy it. Throughout this book the author made it possible for me to go through each part of his training and feel even more proud of not only him, but all the men that would dedicate themselves to such unbelievable physical and mental training, dedication, and tasks to learn and become one of the strongest, smartest, educated and trained special forces for our country and for our freedom.
book review.......2007-08-23
One of the most interesting books about soldiers I've ever read - it certainly sheds quite a different light on SF training and the quality of our people.
Good book, but needs a step back?.......2007-08-14
No question Couch does a great job explaining the incredible training and selection of SF soldiers. He knows the ground and covers it well. But, the role of SF seems to have changed, and could be viewed with some thoughtful questions. Has the SF mission been changed and more emphasis placed on their being small scale Ranger units or substitute CIA para-military units? Has the Blackwater thought process taken over? The SF I knew was "the best and the brightest". True warriors who knew that sometimes having to shoot it out was the first sign of a failed mission. I'd love to see Couch explore what the role of these heros has evolved into.
Great book, explains the challenges an SF canidate must endure........2007-08-05
Overall great read! As an american soldier with a significant time in service,both stateside and overseas, I found this book to be very informative and motivating. It shares with the reader all phases that an SF canidate must endure to earn the sacred Special Forces tab and be able to call himself a special operator. I have been considering a life in SF and I think this book might have pushed me over the edge and motivated me enough to try out. As I said before, great read and very well written.
Specialist M
US Army
Book Description
Exceptionally up-to-date, this book provides a broad introduction to basic analog and digital principles and their application to the design and analysis of real- world communication systems. It provides readers with a working knowledge of how to use both classical mathematical and personal computer methods to analyze, design, and simulate modern communication systems. MATLAB is integrated throughout.
Study-aid examples and homework problems are included, many of which require solution via a personal computer. MATLAB illustrative examples and plots are included. Balanced coverage of both analog and digital communication systems with an emphasis on the design of digital communication systems. Case studies of modern communication systems are provided. Over 500 problems provided.
For electrical engineers.
Customer Reviews:
confusing.......2007-01-26
I had to use this book for one of my undergrad classes. It was not at all helpful. The material is presented in a very boring fashion with not enough explanation to do any hw problems on the material. The least it could do is do some examples that actually show you how they got the solution. The instructor did not help much either which made me hate communications.
One of the Worst Books on the Subject .......2006-05-09
I had a very strong intrest and like for the subject of communications before using this text. Fortunately, I don't judge subjects by a text or an instructor. I realize that just because an instructor or text is bad, does not mean that the subject is bad. In fact analog and digital communication is very intresting. The Schaum's Guide and the text written by B P Lathi are both excellently written and develops an appreciation and intrest for analog and digital communication. Couch's text, however is the worst that I have seen written on the subject. The first problem with Couch's text is the begining oder of presentation. He introduces pulse code modulation immediately after the Fourier series and transforms. AM and angle modulation(FM and PM) should have been presented after Fourier transforms. Also Couch acts as though he has never heard of the concept of modulation index, during his presentation of AM. The book has pages and pages of nothing but mumble jumble empty words. It does not teach you the subject. He hardly has any good examples relative to the problems at the end of the chapters. AM and FM should have been presented in seperate chapters. I cannot understand why anyone would recommend use of this text. The Schaum's Guide teaches the subject much better.
Excellent book !.......2002-05-22
This book covers all the communication basics (analog and digital). I found it VERY useful to understand all the topics related to the Communication Systems course at University of Toronto
Warning: Bad book.......2001-10-29
This is the worst book I was every forced to buy for my undergraduate degree. Bad examples, bad questions, just a very poor book. The idea of the class is good, but the way the information is presented is awful and you do not learn anything. The book assumes you know everything about circuits because it doesn't explain anything. Trust me VERY VERY BAD book from learning prospective.
Do not rely on this book as an introduction!.......2001-03-28
If you are new to communications, you may want to get a more in-depth exploration of the topics Couch covers (particularly the mathematics). I took this course at the University of Florida (although not with Couch). We were required to buy this book, but the instructor I had DIDN'T USE IT (school politics, I guess).
I didn't find it very helpful...not nearly enough examples.
Average customer rating:
- i almost lost my sentient mind, i was laughing so hard
- A Great Book
- She Got Up Off the Couch
- Pretty good but I guess I just don't "get it" like other reviewers
- The Best Memoir You'll Ever Read
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She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana
Haven Kimmel
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Authors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Midwest | Regional U.S. | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Women | History & Criticism | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Women Writers | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 074328500X |
Amazon.com
Haven Kimmel's memoir She Got Up Off the Couch might have been called The Further Adventures of Zippy, since it picks up where her bestselling A Girl Named Zippy left off, and is reeled out in much the same vein. The person who got up off the couch is Zippy's mother, Delonda, who for years sat on the titular sofa, ate, read, and watched TV until she weighed 268 pounds and life was nearly unbearable. You would never know the bad parts from Haven Kimmel, who always concentrates on the bright side, even though she lived in a house without heat, food, indoor plumbing, a dependable water supply or even a modicum of cleanliness. Kimmel loves her parents inordinately, even at their most unlovable.
Delonda takes a College Entrance exam, passes it and enrolls at Ball State, where she completes a degree in two years, goes on for a Master's and gets a job as a high school teacher. That sounds fairly straightforward but it wasn't easy. Bob Jarvis, Delonda's husband and Zippy's father, gave her no help at all; in fact, he ridiculed her and ignored her progress. Eventually, he found someone else while Delonda was busy reclaiming her life. We could read this as a tale of the times, where a woman takes charge of herself, loses 120 pounds and, against all odds, gains an education and a livelihood. It is all of that, and more.
Life in Mooreland, Indiana, in the 1970s is not very exciting, but Zippy finds wonder everywhere and often laughed until she "tipped right over." There is an unquenchable spirit in the girl, and then in the woman, that keeps popping up despite a very sketchy upbringing. The neighbors fed and bathed her, she wore the same pair of pants to school every day for an entire school year--without benefit of laundry. Her brother and sister lit out at the first chance they had--though Melinda ends up only a few blocks away and becomes another safe port for Zippy. She is a victim of benign neglect, not malice or meanness.
Her tales of church camp, days with her friends, driving with her Dad, going to a play with her Mother, her love for her niece and nephew and her discovery that her Dad is having an affair are all told in typical Zippy-style: they are humorous, poignant, exuberant, and often breathless. Stay tuned: this book ends when Zippy is only thirteen. Hopefully there's more to come. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
After twenty years of burrowing into the corner of the family couch, eating junk food, and reading science fiction, Indiana mother Delonda Jarvis did something that shocked her family: she went to college. Or, as her younger daughter, Haven Kimmel, writes, she "stood up, brushed away the pork rind crumbs, and escaped by the skin of her teeth."
Despite having no money, no car, and a resentful husband, Delonda managed to obtain a master's degree in English. The former teenage bride also dropped one hundred pounds, learned how to drive, and became a breadwinner. But as she reclaimed herself, her marriage disintegrated.
Download Description
A true pleasure for old fans and new ones alike, She Got Up Off the Couch is a gorgeous encapsulation of an innocent time when a child didn't understand that her mother was depressed or felt stifled, but just noted on her way out the door that Delonda was a fixture in the living room. Kimmel captures the seminal moments of her mother's burgeoning empowerment with the full strength of her distinctive, deft storytelling, and with the overflowing sense of humor that made A Girl Named Zippy a favorite of readers everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
i almost lost my sentient mind, i was laughing so hard.......2007-10-04
After A GIRL NAMED ZIPPY, i didnt think i could love another Kimmel book as much as SGUOTC. I was wrong: it's every bit as uniquely brilliant and screamingly funny as Zippy, with tender moments that come at you from the SKY. No sequel comes to mind that IU've cherished so as SGUOTC. The specially chosen photographs for every chapter made it so satisfying and real; I honestly feel as though I know this town, I know these people, and as always with Kimmel's stories? I want more! STILL. I could easily devour a book about every one of the stages of adulthood from this talented author. This book focuses on Kimmel's mother, Delonda, an ordinary SEEMING mother -- a mother who sits on the couch reading voraciously and one day she GETS UP OFF THE COUCH. and away we go! Delonda evolves into an intelligent, complex and almost holy character and role model. I was also charmed and intriged by Kimmel's father, Bob, and engrossed with the eccentricities of all of Kimmel's glorious girlhood friends. The way she talks about her hair is enough for the price of the entire book. LOVED the Rooster haircut and the wig hat with the red braid. It's a delectable and marvelous alchemy, the way Kimmel throwns down words into magic and fashions storylines into feelings that strike at one's heart with cobra-like accuracy and deft wit. The intricacies of girlhood, small towns, the seventies are explored; Kimmel's genius for dialogue is once again poured onto the page with liberal amounts of generosity and kindeness and the laugh-out-loud moments that make reading a joy. I don;t blame Katie Couric for choosing Zippy as a TODAY SHOW book, but this one is just as good and even deeper in some ways that kept me engaged and thrilled throughout. Highly recommended for readers of all ages and genders and species.
A Great Book.......2007-09-16
This was the first of Haven Kimmel's books I read. I'm now on my third. She's absolutely delightful.
She Got Up Off the Couch.......2007-08-29
I laughed until tears ran down my face. Haven Kimmel has a wonderful way of telling a story with comments that jump right up and hit your funny bone. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Pretty good but I guess I just don't "get it" like other reviewers.......2007-06-26
I guess this book was a victim of bad timing. If I'd read it BEFORE I read The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (PWDO) I might have been more sympathetic towards Delonda and enjoyed it more. I know that few women can live up to the example set by Evelyn Ryan in PWDO, she is supernaturally energetic, resourceful and capable. But it ruined me for both A Girl Called Zippy and She Got Up Off The Couch. Throughout both books (and I read them back to back, right after I read PWDO) I wanted to smack Zippy's mom and yell, "get up and do something about your crappy house, narcissistic hubby and dirty kids!" I had to keep reminding myself that I would probably react to her circumstances like she did - escape into books and deny that my life was crumbling around me. In Delonda's defense, I would have traded my mom for Delonda and her benign neglect in an instant. As I think about it, I would have traded my dad and step-dad for Bob Jarvis in about a nanosecond. No doubt about it.
I wish I had liked the little girl, Zippy. I really wanted to like her...but I didn't. She seemed like a mean little brat, self-centered and someone I would have avoided like the plague. And for the life of me, I cannot figure out what the other reviewers found so funny. I chuckled a few times but that was it. Another reviewer said that too many things were left unexplained and I agree. People appear and disappear and you don't know if it's because Zippy just didn't think about them all that much or because they were minor players in her life (ex: Olive, Big Fat Bonnie, Bob's Mom). I would have like to know more about these people.
This book was OK, but not one of my favorites. I enjoyed the nostalgic feel of it (I'm Zippy's age and I grew up in Ohio, which is pretty much a clone of Indiana); I certainly identify with the music she liked, the way she talked, the celebrities she had a crush on and even the bike she rode. That part was great fun and the reason I gave this book 3 stars.
The Best Memoir You'll Ever Read.......2007-05-31
This book is simply wonderful. I read "A Girl Named Zippy" first, but you certainly don't have to. I actually liked this book better than the first. The characters are much more developed and this was a much more sentimental view of the people and places in Zippy's life. The book is hilarious, beautiful, and you will see many of your own childhood experiences here. Anyone who grew up in a small town will feel right at home. I don't know how to express my love for Zippy and her books; it's unlike anything I've ever experienced. I am fiercely protective of my copies...you will be, too.
Book Description
A renowned Washington, D.C.–based psychoanalyst examines George W. Bush's public persona–and asks serious questions about whether he is fit for the office he holds.
In Bush on the Couch Frank offers a comprehensive psychological profile of President George W. Bush using the principles of Applied Psychoanalysis, the discipline of psychoanalyzing public and historical figure pioneered by Freud. With an eye for the subtleties of human behaviour sharpened through thirty years of clinical practice, Frank traces the development of Bush's character from childhood to present day, identifying and analyzing Bush's patterns of thought, behaviour and communication. A thorough and authoritative examination of Bush's public appearances and speeches, along with historical, biographical, and journalistic records, Bush on the Couch is a compelling portrait of George W. Bush, filled with controversial and disturbing revelations about our nation's leader.
Insightful and accessible, courageous and controversial, Bush on the Couch sheds startling new light on the Bush psyche and its impact on the way he governs, tackling head–on the question no one seems willing to ask: Is our president psychologically fit to run the country?
o With the wild popularity of Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, his #1 New York Times bestsellers Stupid White Men and Dude, Where's My Country?, and anti–Bush reads by writers like Al Franken and Molly Ivins, the Bush–sceptical audience is more engaged and highly motivated than ever.
o From the contentious presidential election of 2000 to 9/11, from the War in Iraq to the War on Terrorism at home and abroad, Bush's presidency is one of the most controversial in the history of the U.S. In Bush on the Couch, Dr. Frank dissects the psyche of President Bush and unearths shocking revelations about the mind of the leader of the free world. With three decades of experience, Dr. Justin Frank is an expert in the field of psychoanalysis. He has written and lectured widely on psychoanalysis and politics. A former columnist for Salon.com, the recipient of numerous teaching awards, co–director of the Metropolitan Centre for Object Relations in New York, a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at George Washington University Medical Centre, and a teaching analyst at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Dr. Frank's copious credentials speak for themselves.
Customer Reviews:
Bush On The Couch Review.......2007-10-09
Clearly I am not a Bush fan. I bought this book to shed some light on this madman's approach to politics. While the beginning was good the book gradually turned me against the author. The author goes on to state how he doesn't take anyone seriously that is not a member of AA, yet he also says it only has a 10% success rate. He goes on ad nauseum to state that AA is the only way out, and if you don't choose this route you are in for many problems even if you have stopped drinking for decades. In the next chapter the author contradicts himself because AA is based on believing in a Higher Power. In this chapter the author tells how Bush is using his religion as a "crutch". So what is it, belief in a higher power or not? I found the author had similar problems as Bush, in that he was very stubborn on his beliefs and made generalizations. I would not recommend this book to anyone as it is very biased with the author's beliefs. Perhaps author and Bush should be evaluated/analyzed by another person.
It doesn't take a book.......2007-10-02
Although the author who clearly has impeccable credientials makes excellent points about the President and the entire Bush dynasty regarding the psychological motivations for all of their behaviors, particularly W's, this could have all been covered in a long article. The author did offer very intersting biographical information to flesh out the story but the end result was still very repetitious.
Oedipus Wrecks.......2007-09-12
Like some Grimm's Fairy Tale, you know not to open the door - but you do anyway. And what you find behind it confirms your worst suspicions. To sum the book in one sentence: We, the United States of America, are George W Bush's extended family and we are getting the fatherhood from him that he got from his biological father. (Bush's father was never home and his mother was a cold disciplinarian.)
Bush on the Couch is a well-written nicely paced read. The book could easily descend to becoming a hit piece, but it appears to retain a clinical objectivity throughout. While mildly ponderous with Freudian theory, for anyone unfamiliar with basic Freudian concepts that is a plus. The presence of such theory makes it plain, page after page, that Dr Frank is avoiding flights of imagination as far as possible and sticking close to theory and the facts at hand. The facts at hand are seven years of televised speeches, interviews, press conferences, and as much of the Bush family's biography as is known.
The dramatis personae playing upon the psyche of the world's most powerful man, according to Dr Frank, read like a Who's Who from the Seven Deadly Vices of some medieval morality play: Lust (for power), Envy (due to lack of nurturing), Sloth (woeful academic and professional performance), Gluttony (alcoholism), Pride (political power combined with amoral behavior), Anger (sadism), and Greed. For good measure, ADHD, Religious Inflation, and False Witness make cameo appearances. Meantime, the brain that these Vices inhabit works out its childhood traumas on a global stage.
"His behavior is what psychoanalysts call ego-syntonic, meaning that his actions - the lies he tells and the harm he inflicts on others - don't appear to cause him much conscious anxiety" (page 232).
Dr Frank suggests that this steaming cauldron of psychological witch's brew overspills its edges in Bush's repeated Freudian slips: "I am a person who recognized the fallacy of humans".
A good read that pulls together everything you ever wondered about the president - and leaves you wanting no more of it. Recommended.
Life long Republican - USMC veteran.......2007-09-09
I couldn't agree more with this books apparent conclusions. Most of the things I suspected now are clearer to me about our president. he simply seems incapable of doing the right thing ever. Almost like a contrarian. Seemingly just happy being an obstacle to just about anything positive. This book explains it clearly, the guy is a psycopath, you know it, i know it, hell only another wacko couldn't see it. I am as conservative as the come but i can spot a wolf in sheep's clothing a hundred miles away.
Nation now on the couch.......2007-08-18
I would have given a higher rating if the author interviewed Bush. But the analysis of Bush's thinking (or lack of) and his simplified all or nothing way of looking at the world along with a heavy dose of narcissism beginning in his formative years shows the reader why we are in the mess we find ourselves in. I would have liked to have more information about his relationship with his wife Barbara. Overall, an interersting book about the worst president to date.
Book Description
In America’s battle against al-Qaeda and their allies, the goal of the Navy SEALs is to be the best guns in the fight—stealthy, effective, professional, and lethal. Here for the first time is a SEAL insider’s battle history of these Special Operations warriors in the war on terrorism.
“Down range” is what SEALs in Afghanistan and Iraq call their area of operations. In this new mode of warfare, “down range” can refer to anything from tracking roving bands of al-Qaeda on a remote mountain trail in Afghanistan to taking down an armed compound in Tikrit and rousting holdouts from Saddam Hussein’s regime. It could mean interdicting insurgents smuggling car-bomb explosives over the Iraqi-Syrian border or silently boarding a freighter on the high seas at night to enforce an embargo. In other words, “down range” could be anywhere, anytime, under any conditions.
In Down Range, author Dick Couch, himself a former Navy SEAL and CIA case officer, uses his unprecedented access to bring the reader firsthand accounts from the warriors in combat during key missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Couch creates a pulse-pounding, detailed narrative of the definitive engagements of this war, while painting an unusually intimate portrait of these warriors in the field. The performance of the SEALs in difficult, changing environments—in the heat of the Afghan desert, in the snow-packed Hindu Kush, on the high seas, and in the urban chaos of Baghdad—has been nothing short of extraordinary. The SEALs, coordinating with other American forces, the CIA, and foreign special operations units like the Polish GROM, have once more shown their genius for improvisation and capacity for courageous action in leading the fight against this new and vicious enemy.
The first battle history of its kind, Down Range is a riveting close-up of some of America’s finest warriors in action against a deadly foe.
Also available as an eBook
Customer Reviews:
Not up to snuff.......2007-08-07
I thoroughly enjoyed "The Warrior Elite" and everything I enjoyed about that book was gone from this one. Dick Couch did a good job of making the trainees of BUD/S Class 228 personable, but "Down Range" is a very dry read. It might be due to increased security concerns and classified operational details, but I did not enjoy this book as much.
the filler thriller.......2007-06-21
Well, I picked up this book because I thought, "Sweet. SEALs, middle east, covert ops, what's not to love??" Well the book was more like a documentary or briefing most of the time. It focuses far too much on the development of a SEAL and their organization. If I wanted to read about that, I would've picked up a book about the making of a Navy SEAL. I was disappointed. The story really only had a few exciting parts and those tended to come towards the end of the book. Let's put it this way, he spends around ten pages telling what should've been an exciting mission aboard a ship, only to tell us that the men on board were not dumb enough to carry weapons. Hmph. If you are looking for enemy contact, look elsewhere.
Decent primer for casual military reader.......2007-05-19
Like some of the other reviewers here have commented, based on the background of the author and the notes on the book's cover, I was expecting a much more exciting read. The reality, however, is that Couch hides behind the excuse of "classified details" for most of this work. The early pages are all extremely redundant if you have ever read anything at all about the SEALs; there is nothing new there. And much of the mission details are very sparse and vague. I do "get" that the very nature of the work these men do requires secrecy, but I always feel a little taken when a book promises to divulge some of this information and then ultimately fails to do so. Couch hints more than once at a seething tension between the different service branches by taking every opportunity to make sure many pats on the back are handed out all around. It starts to feel very plastic and forced after a while. Overall I would not recommend this book to anyone who has done much reading in this genre. Frankly it's just boring, light on operational nitty-gritty, and way too easy to read. It took me about 4 hours to read cover to cover, and for $15 for the paperback I feel a little ripped-off. It's an okay way to get an overview for what these incredible men do for our country, but a waste of time for anyone who has a few books under their belt. I won't be reading any of Couch's other works based on this piece.
Depends on what your read first..........2007-05-18
If this is the first Dick Couch book read, it's a good one. Other people have commented that it seemed fluffy and not authentic (leaving out the bungling of bureaucrats and the inter-service rankling). I see that differently, I appreciate the way Couch focuses on the positive. There's no denying that those things happen but when you read Down Range, you get the best of who "we" are in this elite arm of the military. If you have read Warrior Elite or other Couch books, you will see plenty of overlapping detail. Bottom line: this is a good book by an author I really like, but not his best.
A good book, but not great..........2007-02-14
Down Range reads like a Pentagon de-brief, with little action. Couch, a former SEAL with extensive street cred (mainly Viet Nam) is a terrific writer and even gives over-due credit to the Air Force Combat Controllers, who are often overshadowed by SEALs and Green Berets. This book is detailed, but with the wrong details. I'd much rather read about the men on the tip of the spear, the real war fighters with guns in the fight, than the brass back at HQ calling the shots. Problem is, many of the brass are Couch's personal friends or former students.
The Warrior Elite is a great book, this is just good.
Amazon.com
There is plenty of lying going on in psychotherapy offices to be found in Irvin D. Yalom's novel Lying on the Couch, and the lying is of every type defined in your average modern dictionary. Among those doing the lying are Carolyn, who hopes to ruin the career of psychotherapist Ernest Lash because she believes his advice led her husband to seek a divorce. Then there is the gambler whose plan is to lure another psychotherapist into malpractice so he can sue and pay off his debts. In Yalom's world, the relationship between therapist and patient is a tricky one indeed, and it's sometimes hard to tell who needs advice and counseling more--the patient lying on the couch or therapist sitting nearby.
Book Description
From the bestselling author of Love's Executioner and When Nietzsche Wept comes a provocative exploration of the unusual relationships three therapists form with their patients. Seymour is a therapist of the old school who blurs the boundary of sexual propriety with one of his clients. Marshal, who is haunted by his own obsessive-compulsive behaviors, is troubled by the role money plays in his dealings with his patients. Finally, there is Ernest Lash. Driven by his sincere desire to help and his faith in psychoanalysis, he invents a radically new approach to therapy -- a totally open and honest relationship with a patient that threatens to have devastating results.
Exposing the many lies that are told on and off the psychoanalyst's couch, Lying on the Couch gives readers a tantalizing, almost illicit, glimpse at what their therapists might really be thinking during their sessions. Fascinating, engrossing and relentlessly intelligent, it ultimately moves readers with a denouement of surprising humanity and redemptive faith.
Customer Reviews:
So good it is disturbing...........2007-08-04
I did not give this 5 stars because I think if you are not in the mental health field, the story is not as meaningful to you. As a grad student in counseling, there were times I gasped out loud at the story lines. GREAT BOOK!!!! I suggest all of Yalom's books, fiction and nonfiction.
good therapy in 369 pages........2007-07-19
I am addicted to Yalom's book. I like the way he writes and love the insights you get from each patient/story.
Lying on the couch puts YOU on the couch till the last page.
Tight story... makes you think... and think again.
Maybe I need therapy!!!!!
Unputdownable book.......2007-05-09
At the end of a book, if you want more and would have loved the author adding more pages instead of leaving some things to your imagination, the book is a success. Quite naturally, you'll dwell on such a book even after putting it away. "Lying on the couch" by Irvin Yalom is one of those successful books.
Based on accepted popular precepts about honesty and greed, that honesty is good and greed is bad, the author weaves a very interesting story with psychoanalysts and analysands as primary characters. One doesn't have to know transference from countertransference to love the book. The author throws psychoanalysis jargon at you thick and fast, frequently quotes many great authors and eminent personalities of the field and makes his characters make their points using Freudian (and his likes') research findings - but he also writes them in a way a lay person can understand and not feel the need to read between the lines or reach for a 'Dummy's guide to shrink's world" to get the plot.
The most interesting aspect of the book to me was Dr. Ernest Lash's resistance against the advances of a female patient, Carol who with intentions of ruining his practice comes on to him filling the therapy sessions with her fantasy erotica. Whether (or how) Dr. Lash works his way out of this hole makes a racy read. There are a couple of con-stories embedded in the narrative as well; they aren't great - it is easy to see through the stings - but they make interesting read all the same. The denouement in both cases gave me a good deal of satisfaction.
Common wisdom suggests that Shrinks are very good at getting to the unstated and that puts them at a distinct advantage in detecting lies. The author proves that wrong and shows how even the hardiest of psychotherapists fall for 'lying on the couch'. For many practitioners of the profession it is unthinkable that a patient would pay money to lie. The author also gives us a peek into various extra-therapeutic relationships that could ruin a therapy (and the therapist).
Though there has been a large corpus of psychoanalytic research of over 100 years - it is clear that the field hasn't progressed towards any unified scientific approach to problems. Understandable, `each patient is unique' as the author points out. Consequently, therapists though sharing affiliations with same professional groups sometimes vary vastly at their treatment methods. Added to that, there are many schools of thought completely at loggerheads with others creating much politicizing and back-stabbing in their elite circles. This kind of internal strife within professional bodies is brought out very well in the book.
Characters in this book are either therapists or patients. Every non-therapist you encounter has had shrink sessions for emotional, financial, legal, marital or any other conceivable kind of problems. Funnily enough, there is one character who gets a shrink to help him with his gambling problems; that is not to get rid of gambling habit, but to observe him closely during a card game and find all the tell tale signals he has been giving out unwittingly to his gambling partners.
==
While reading the book, at times I was convinced that if I chose to walk into a shrink's office, just for fun, he would still find some problem with me that I have been unaware of, and then resolve it to my satisfaction.
==
All in all, a very good book!
Great Recreational Read.......2007-05-07
A fictional book that brings up the issue of therapist/client boundaries. I would recommend to anyone going into the psychology profession.
6 stars.......2006-02-24
If you like existential philosophy, or if you had never read Yalom before, this is a good way to start with this autor. At the same time, you are going to see in a great point of view the dilemmas that faces the therapists in the here and now in front of the patient, revealing the human sense of the therapist and in the same way where goes the objectivity in Science.
Book Description
With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military
training in the world.
What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep? In The Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch documents the process that transforms young men into warriors. SEAL training is the distillation of the human spirit, a tradition-bound ordeal that seeks to find men with character, courage, and the burning desire to win at all costs, men who would rather die than quit.
Customer Reviews:
Seal Mom.......2007-10-09
Wow! I can not imagine how these young men go though this. They are truly inspiring. Couch's detailed descriptions allow you join these warriors in the making on their journey that forges our elite warriors; the navy seals.
I had no idea........2007-09-26
What does it take to be one of the few? A true Warrior in the skeptical face of a modern world and a people who often find the idea more fantasy or idealistic than reality.
Take a cultural, personal and life-changing journey with Seal Class 228 as they go through the long process of becoming Navy Seals. What do they have to do, why these men, what is the cost, what are these men willing to do to receive the coveted title of Navy Seal?
Dick Couch, a former Seal himself, gives an intimate look at what these men must go through: from physical training, the most difficult in the world, to more advanced techniques such as combat and sharp-shooting skills. By telling the stories of these men, from the students to the teachers, Couch gives us a unique perspective of Seal ideals that began decades ago, based on the honor, blood and sweat, dedication and bravery of Navy frogmen before them and tenants that remain true to this day.
I had no previous knowledge or understanding of the Navy or the military in general, so I was initially worried about jargon and how in-depth the history would be. As it turns out, while Couch does give a brief outline of how the Seals were created and the divisions of the teams and history of the training, it is not so overdone in technical descriptions but enough for the general reader to get a grasp of the organization of such a force. It is not a historical description of the Navy or of Navy Seals, but the human element of a special forces team. The wonderful element is the personalization of the men that Couch is allowed to interview and interact with. Real men, real stories, nothing but.
It's obvious that Couch is very proud of the trade and of the men who have the strength and mental determination to bear through the physical pain. His enthusiasm, detailed, well-written and subjective perspective is why I enjoyed this book so much. Some parts drag on but it's well worth the read, a book that everyone should read...
I Love This Book.......2007-05-18
I think one of Dick Couch's great strengths as an author is his ability to put us in there and help us get to know the people in his pages. Warrior Elite was exceptional for that reason. I have a huge amount of respect for SOF and seeing what these guys go through to be selected and prepared for their work only deepens that respect. Couch's style is not overly "military." The book is easy to read and truly enjoyable. You don't have to have a lot of knowledge going into it, but people who really know their stuff will appreciate the attention to detail shown by the author.
Awesome, couldn't put it down........2007-01-30
This book is a very interesting description of the beginning of some of the best warriors in the world. The heart and dedication of the young men who put themselves through BUD/s training is unbelievable. Dick Couch captures the essence of the training better than any other book I have read on the Navy SEALs. Highly recommended.
Awesome book. Reality check for SEAL wannabees.......2007-01-07
This book is no joke. A SEAL wannabee myself, I found myself questioning whether I had the pure guts it takes to finish this thing. If you haven't fallen flat on your face from exhaustion and your not dead, then you haven't given it your all. That's the most important point I took away from this book. I would suggest the follow up book to this one, "The finishing school". It's about the SQT following BUD/s. It's dry if your not interested in becoming a SEAL, but informative if you are.
Book Description
In America’s new war, the first guns in the fight are special operations forces, including the Navy SEALs, specially trained warriors who operate with precision, swiftness, and lethal force. In the constantly shifting war on terror, SEAL units—small in number, flexible, stealthy, and ef?cient—are more vital than ever to America’s security as they take the battle to an elusive enemy around the globe.
But how are Navy SEALs made? Dick Couch, author of the acclaimed Warrior Elite, follows SEALs on the ground and in the water as they undergo SEAL Tactical Training, where they master combat skills such as precision shooting, demolitions, secure communications, parachuting, diving, and first aid. From there, the men enter operational platoons, where they subordinate their individual abilities to the mission of the group and train for special operations in specific geographic environments.
Never before has a civilian writer been granted such close access to the training of America’s most elite military forces. The Finishing School is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what goes into the making of America’s best warriors.
Customer Reviews:
Good Story - Excellent Detail.......2007-05-18
What I appreciate about Dick Couch's books is the way he takes us inside. This book does a fantastic job of that! Everything you could ever want to know about SQT is here. It also has the same, wonderful "human element" that Warrior Elite has, but possibly to a lesser degree. Probably because of the technical aspects of the training itself, I did feel like some of the people got lost in it all toward the end. All in all, I have nothing negative to say - this was another awesome Dick Couch book.
i love it .......2006-04-24
I LOVE IT SO MUCH THAT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL I WANT TO TRY BUD/S FOR MYSELF TO SEE I CAN DO IT.. I KNOW IT WILL BE HARD BUT I THINK I CAN MAKE IT....
Disappointing.......2006-01-01
One of the things that reveals itself throughout the book is that Dick's writing style gets old. If it wasn't for the ongoing story in "The Warrior Elite", I would have been bored with Dick's narrative. In "The Finishing School", the pace is slackened due to the fact that the men are all BUD/S grads and have less to worry about. It takes more patience to read and at times it feels like the pace is very slow. Another thing you'll notice is that Dick doesn't reveal much about the details regarding finishing schools. During BUD/S, people can actually see the candidates train in Coronado and the suffering is no secret. However, when they continue on, the training they get is much more classified. This is understandable, but at that same time it feels like Dick is talking much without revealing much. For someone who wants the details, this was frustrating and took out a significant amount of my interest. I haven't read the latest Couch book on SEALs, but I hear it's the same. Here's an advice for Mr. Couch - don't write a book that people will read for its details and not reveal anything. Better off waiting for several years and disclosing the info (like Haney's Delta Force) than beating around the bush. On the other hand, you'll get the big picture about what BUD/S grads do after BUD/S on their way to earn the trident.
one of the greatest books i have read.......2005-11-29
If you have ever wanted to be a NAVY SEAL, then this is the book for you. This book takes place from the Vietnam War up to the 2000's. This book is about the training a NAVY SEAL has to go through before earning his trident. The story is told by the author, Dick Couch. This is an action packed book. The characters in this book are changed about every five pages because there isn't really any main characters. The conflict in this book is about trying to get the NAVY SEAL trident. I believe you would like this book because it tells about NAVY SEAL training. Dick Couch has wrote 8 books including, The Warrior Elite, Covert Action, and SEAL Team One. Dick Couch commanded a SEAL platoon in Vietnam that conducted one of the few successful POW rescue operations of the war. He also served in the CIA. Dick and his wife ,Julia, live in central Idaho. Also his style of writing if very easy to understand. This book makes me think about how hard it would be to become a NAVY SEAL. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the NAVY. This is a fun read.
one of the greatest books i have read.......2005-11-29
If you have ever wanted to be a NAVY SEAL, then this is the book for you. This book takes place from the Vietnam War up to the 2000's. This book is about the training a NAVY SEAL has to go through before earning his trident. The story is told by the author, Dick Couch. This is an action packed book. The characters in this book are changed about every five pages because there isn't really any main characters. The conflict in this book is about trying to get the NAVY SEAL trident. I believe you would like this book because it tells about NAVY SEAL training. Dick Couch has wrote 8 books including, The Warrior Elite, Covert Action, and SEAL Team One. Dick Couch commanded a SEAL platoon in Vietnam that conducted one of the few successful POW rescue operations of the war. He also served in the CIA. Dick and his wife ,Julia, live in central Idaho. Also his style of writing if very easy to understand. This book makes me think about how hard it would be to become a NAVY SEAL. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the NAVY. This is a fun read.
Average customer rating:
- GREAT book!
- Subtle and funny tale of acceptance
- The Strong Silent Type
- Love illustrated through humor... Great!
- A treat for little ones
|
He Came with the Couch
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Friendship | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0811844307 |
Book Description
Sophie's family has found the perfect couch, but it comes with something extra, and getting rid of that extra something is impossible. In the end, though, who would want to?
This zany tale of upholsterosis (a chronic state of couch-potato-ness) is sure to tickle the funny bones of young readers and not-so-young-readers too!
Customer Reviews:
GREAT book!.......2007-05-07
We got this book for our 3-year old as a birthday gift and we've read it almost every night. The illustrations are great fun and the story is a riot. Highly recommend!
Subtle and funny tale of acceptance.......2006-10-26
He Came With the Couch tells the story of Sophie and her family, who find themselves in need of a new couch after the family dog, Roscoe, destroys the old one. They pick up a suitable couch at a rummage sale -- but it happens to come with a silent blue creature who is not budging despite the parents' best efforts to relocate him. By the end, of course, they are happy to make him part of the family. This story is quite subtle -- much of the action occurs in the pictures and the text is rather sparse. That's not a complaint -- my 3 year old understood the story perfectly -- just a heads up to parents who may wish to spend some time talking about what goes on in the illustrations. My 3 year old finds the whole story quite hilarious, from the way the dog destroys the couch, to the last line: "She came with the chair!," which she likes to shout out. A great book for some family fun at reading time.
The Strong Silent Type.......2006-10-18
This made me think of the saying "the strong silent type!" I think that the thing my child and I got from this is that some people we meet are quiet, but that doesn't mean that they aren't a big part of our lives. We all have different personality characteristics and he's more aware of that after this fun story.
Love illustrated through humor... Great!.......2006-09-27
This is a favorite of my girls', ages 4 and 6. It's the story of a little girl named Sophie who sets out on a quest with her mom and dad for a new couch. They find one, but it comes with a cute, Jim Henson-type "person-thing" sitting on it, and he won't budge or speak. Sophie befriends him anyway and she and her family try to help him get over his acute case of "upolsterosis". In the end, the "thing" helps Sophie and her family in a very selfless and heart-warming way. It's a bit off-the-wall and full of humor and visual stimuli that will really click for those who are paying attention. It shows just how powerful and healing love and acceptance can be.
A treat for little ones.......2006-03-25
I found this book to be a visual and stimulating treat to share with nieces and nephews - a great little book with clever and engaging illustrations. I will definitely order a handful more to hand out to friends & acquantances for their small children.
He Came with the Couch is a must have for a small childs Library.
Perry Wilson
Book Description
Exceptionally up-to-date, this book provides a broad introduction to basic analog and digital principles and their application to the design and analysis of real- world communication systems. It provides readers with a working knowledge of how to use both classical mathematical and personal computer methods to analyze, design, and simulate modern communication systems. MATLAB is integrated throughout.
Study-aid examples and homework problems are included, many of which require solution via a personal computer. MATLAB illustrative examples and plots are included. Balanced coverage of both analog and digital communication systems with an emphasis on the design of digital communication systems. Case studies of modern communication systems are provided. Over 500 problems provided.
For electrical engineers.
Customer Reviews:
This is what you need.......2007-01-05
For an undergraduate courses on digital and analog communication systems, this the the book that covers not only the essentials of communication systems but provides some indepth analysis as well. Luckily I got the solution manual and powerpoint slides from Pearson on their instructor resource site and this helped me a lot in preparing my lectures for the EE students. Though I am using other books likw Haykin's, Proakis's, Lathi's as well, yet this book has been consulted by me the most. The sequence of topics is different than the other books which treat analog part first. I recommend this book for all instructors who wish to teach communication systems. I purchased this book through amazon.com and is costly for us in Pakistan. The edition for subcontinent is yet to be available in Pakistan.
well done professor Couch.
javaid Iqbal Zahid
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- Christmas in Heaven
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- Concepts and learning in the Maori tradition (Working paper)
- Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men
- Cover of Night: A Novel
- Crafting and Executing Strategy : The Quest for Competitive Advantage - Concepts and Cases (Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases)
- Culture Warrior
- Desire in the Sun
- Dragon of the Red Dawn (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
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LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING FOR THE FIGHT: A FEW THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING FROM A FORMER SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIER
