Book Description
Your business can take a lesson from the American military's fighter pilots. At Mach 2, the instrument panel of an F-15 is screaming out information, the horizon is a blur, the wingman is occupied, the jet is hanging on the edge -- and yet fighter pilots routinely handle the stress. It's not much different in today's unforgiving business world. One slipup and your company is bankrupt before your employees know what hit them.
What works on the squadron level for F-15 pilots will also work for your marketing team, sales force, or research and development group. By analyzing the work environment and attacking its centers of gravity in parallel, you'll begin to utilize the Plan-Brief-Execute-Debrief-Win cycle that will rapidly impact your business's future success. U.S. fighter squadrons have been using this program for nearly fifty years to reduce their mistake rate, cut casualties and equipment losses, and rack up an envious victory record. Now, with Flawless Execution, your business can too.
Customer Reviews:
Worth the read to learn about execution cultures.......2006-01-03
Not a great book but a good one for sure. Former pilots now consulting in business and trying to take their culture and help businesses do the same. Some hype but not bad and the author gives you some solid lessons that can be applied. Gives you an outline of what it takes in their world and how it might apply in the outside world. Certainly not 100% transference but worth the read if you want to know how to get things done
Inappropriate Generalizations.......2005-12-24
This is the latest in a never-ending series of books trying to generalize non-business world (eg. sports, armed forces, girl scouts, religion, NASA, etc.) management techniques to the business world.
Most, possibly all, are of little value because of major differences.
1)Members constituting the varying organizations are motivated differently, and face greatly significantly different situations. What does eg. a fighter pilot or football coach have in common with a pharmicist, nurse, professor, financial analyst, etc.? I have no idea.
2)Key success factors vary from one business to another. For Merck, it may be speed of developing new drugs, getting through FDA approval, and motivating physicians to use them. For Nucor Steel, it undoubtedly rests much more on low-cost production. Again, what does either have to do with fighter pilots - little, if anything.
One is better off reading books from similar situations - eg. about Wal-Mart (if you are in retailing), about Allied-Signal or G.E. (if you are managing a conglomerate), and about New York Community School District #4, as managed by Sy Fliegel, if you are in public schools
This is the official Afterburner handbook........2005-06-06
If you haven't had the opportunity to experience an Afterburner seminar yet, this book links you into their entire process top-down, from strategy to the flawless execution model to the people who carry out the mission. As head of Training for my organization, I was particularly interested in the section Murph dedicated to training. In the business world we don't place enough emphasis on the importance of training our people - in the military they never place someone in an environment they are not prepared to be in. Training seems to always get sacrificed because we're too busy carrying out tasks to get pulled away. Murph speaks on training to achieve a (specific) Desired Learning Objective, seeing how its done and then doing it - learning from experience. In the corporate world there is much we can learn from military processes. Flawless Execution is a process that can be applied to every business objective - its asks the questions: Did we plan right? Communicate to our people clearly? Give our people the tools they need to execute their job? And, did we capture lessons learned so we can sharpen the saw next time? It's a powerful tool we're applying in my organization with much success. I just hope our competitors don't read this book!
Pray this guy is never your competitor.......2005-05-13
Frank, practical advice with a no nonsense approach...just like you'd expect from guys that operate in a space where coming in second isn't an option.
This is a no BS look at how to improve any organization's ability to kick the competition's butt. You won't find "theoretical" discussions from a group of "academics." No charts and graphs. No fancy formulas. Just dozens of ideas that anyone with a desire to improve can implement. The "debrief" section and advice Murph provides has literally changed the way we operate in our company.
Read it...and you'll understand why the USAF is the best in the world. More importantly, you'll see how their training methods can make you better. I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Best Business Book I've Read!!!!.......2005-05-12
Just finished Business School and I think Flawless Execution should have been required reading! It gave me a clear path to connect my big picture strategy (both professional and personal) to things I can work on everyday. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and will make sure it is a part of every organization I work with in the future.
Book Description
A great American hero-a 20th-century warrior and military strategist who lived outside the spotlight but whose work has been enormously influential-is brought brilliantly to life in this acclaimed biography. John Boyd was the finest fighter pilot in American history. From the proving ground of the Korean War, he went on to win notoriety as the instructor who defeated-in less than 40 seconds-every pilot who challenged him. But what made Boyd a man for the ages was what happened after he left the cockpit. He transformed the way military aircraft-in particular the F-15 and F-16-were designed with his revolutionary Energy-Maneuverability Theory. Boyd dedicated his later years to a radical theory of conflict that was largely ignored during Boyd's lifetime, but that is now widely considered to be the most influential thinking about conflict since Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
Customer Reviews:
Painful.......2007-10-09
The book is a paean to a guy who misunderstood his role in life. It is uncritical, unblinking, and unabashed fan-gushing.
Boyd was a maverick looking for a cause that he never found. His "transformation" of the Marines after Vietnam could have been done by anyone with a new idea. "Energy maneuverability" translated into ground warfare was an embarrassingly wrong-headed review of military history and an overstatement of the obvious. OODA is a useless concept that only the American military could buy into.
All of these are examined without a scintilla of criticism or analysis here. Any dissent or disagreement with the general theme of "Boyd as visionary" is dismissed.
There's a tremendous need for a real, critical bio of Boyd, but this isn't it. The man did redesign fighter tactics but the rest of his work's value is questionable at this point. Those who say that the US now uses Boy's concepts in conventional land warfare are forgetting the Germans in Poland, who must have used the same concepts if this is the case.
An amazing man !.......2007-08-08
An unbelieveable life story about a man who believed in himself and in his convictions .He died and was buried in Arlington without a single person from the Air Force to pray for him. His work will continue to be used probably without any mention of his life.
Readable personal history, nice background on f15/f16/a10.......2007-07-27
A good biography of John Boyd that is well readable. I would have given it 5 stars if there would not be a reference to Boyd's Even Greater Work Later In His Life every other page.
The book gives a completely different outlook than you'd normally get on the USA military, especially on the pentagon. If you're interested in the USA military as a whole in the post-WW2 era, this is a good book. You'll get the background on the development of planes such as the f15/f16 and a10. With the f16 and a10 being planes that the airforce did not really want...
Boyd and some friends (look on wikipedia for "fighter maffia") take on the pentagon in the second half of the book, maybe interesting for people that see the need for change in other (big) organizations. For instance, the reasonably well-known story about the faulty testing of the Bradley fighting vehicle.
In the last part of the book, some of Boyd's ideas on strategy and tactics are explained by showing Boyd's own thinkwork progress. Chronologically. Which makes it a nice way of exploring his stragegy ideas. Read the book for what Von Clausewitz did wrong :-)
Why we need mavericks.......2007-05-07
This biography is not only about a fascinating person, but it helps give the reader insight into the military mind, both good and bad. The author understands the virtues and flaws of his subject as well, and helps us know the price and benefit of original thinking. The question: "Do you want to be or do?" is something everyone should ask themselves in their careers. Put another way: do you want to have a fancy title and status or do you want to accomplish something worthwhile?
Should be required reading for anyone in the military from sergeant on up, and I would also add the whole Department of Defense.
A brilliant man, a great hagiography. .......2007-04-10
A true innovator and truth-teller. I greatly enjoyed this this book. I think everyone in the military (and Pentagon staffers and anyone in Congress voting on war appropriations [i.e. everyone in Congress]) should be required to read this book.
However: I'm no military theorist, but I thought Coram left out much of the meat in discussing Patterns of Conflict and 4G Warfare. Luckily, we can use the citations he lists as Boyd's influences (Guderian, Lawrence, Moltke, Rommel, etc.) to walk the same path that Boyd did. I'm anxious to read "Mind of War" by Hammond and the rest of the writings by the "disciples".
Further, Coram treats Boyd a bit too much like a super-human being ... but after another reading, his humanity ultimately comes through. I'd suggest a re-read to get a feeling of both the man and his thoughts.
All in all ... excellent and much needed.
Book Description
The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) served with distinction in every theater of war throughout World War II. From its poorly equipped beginnings - it started the war with few suitable, modern, carrier-born fighters - to the final campaigns over the Japanese home islands, the FAA proved an effective fighting force wherever it went.
Desperate action over Malta and the Mediterranean during 1940-42, in the Indian and Pacific Oceans over Sumatra, the Atlantic battles and Artic Convoys, and the invasion of Okinawa, were just some of the famous and terrible actions they took part in.
FAA Pilots, despite the initial poor equipment, had the distinction of being responsible for both the first, and last, enemy aircraft to be shot down during the war.
Featuring first-hand accounts, combat reports, photographs from private collections, and an array of color plates depicting the range of profiles and symbolic markings that were used, this book will detail the history and combat experiences of these forgotten pilots who served with such distinction for the Allied cause.
Customer Reviews:
Exciting Exploits of Little-Known Royal Navy Fighter Aces!.......2007-08-20
Considering the aerial duds Royal Navy fighter pilots flew, especially in the early war years, it was an eye-opener to discover that 36 RN pilots made ace in World War II! The aerial exploits of this unique group of men is the subject of Andrew Thomas' latest book for Osprey, #75 in their Aces series. It's a wonderfully interesting story that all air combat fans should enjoy.
The Royal Navy only regained control of its Fleet Air Arm from the Royal Air Force in May 1939. Consequently, at war's outbreak, RN fighter squadrons were equipped with the underpowered Blackburn Skua, Gloster Gladiator biplanes and the gun-turreted abortion, the Blackburn Roc! Despite being saddled with these second-stringers, Fleet Air Arm fliers like Skua pilot Bill Lucy used their mounts effectively, Lucy becoming the first Fleet Air Arm ace of the war.
Lumbering Fairey Fulmars were next on the scene and again, enterprising RN pilots used their aircraft to the fullest. The top Fulmar ace, Graham Hogg, scored 12 kills! The subsequent arrival of first-class fighters such as the Wildcat, Sea Hurricane, Seafire, Corsair and Hellcat enabled later RN pilots to score the magic five kills.
Aside from flying an incredible variety of aircraft, RN fighter pilots served in all theaters. Thomas does an excellent job of relating the far-flung exploits of what were some incredible fighter pilots. This is an especially lively entry in the Osprey Aces series due, in part, to the 'characters' that flew RN fighters and Thomas' engaging writing style.
The book includes over 90 photographs and 12 pages of color profiles by Chris Davey.
In short, a very nice piece of work, well-written and informative.
Book Description
In
Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot, eminent neuropsychiatrist and bestselling author Richard Restak, M.D., combines the latest research in neurology and psychology to show us how to get our brain up to speed for managing every aspect of our busy lives.
Everything we think and everything we choose to do alters our brain and fundamentally changes who we are, a process that continues until the end of our lives. Few people think of the brain as being susceptible to change in its actual structure, but in fact we can preselect the kind of brain we will have by continually exposing ourselves to rich and varied life experiences. Unlike other organs that eventually wear out with repeated and sustained use, the brain actually improves the more we challenge it.
Most of us incorporate some kind of physical exercise into our daily lives. We do this to improve our bodies and health and generally make us feel better. Why not do the same for the brain? The more we exercise it, the better it performs and the better we feel. Think of Restak as a personal trainer for your brain—he will help you assess your mental strengths and weaknesses, and his entertaining book will set you to thinking about the world and the people around you in a new light, providing you with improved and varied skills and capabilities. From interacting with colleagues to recognizing your own psychological makeup, from understanding the way you see something to why you’re looking at it in the first place, from explaining the cause of panic attacks to warding off performance anxiety, this book will tell you the whys and hows of the brain’s workings.
Packed with practical advice and fascinating examples drawn from history, literature, and science,
Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot provides twenty-eight informative and realistic steps that we can all take to improve our brainpower.
Customer Reviews:
Underwhelming.......2007-09-01
Basically a book of memory and brain exercises, with a few anecdotes thrown in. I was expecting more about brain function in diverse areas of human endeavor. The title is one of the best things about the book. The exercises are probably effective, but seem so tedious I can't imagine doing them (physical activity has shown this need not be the case with exercise).
Worth a magazine article, perhaps, but not an entire book. Disappointing.
Summer holiday reading.......2007-01-23
In "Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot" Dr. Richard Restak extends in his capacity of acting as an intermediate between knowledge of brain functions and the people in general. If it were not for the title it is difficult to think about how to sell the book and spread that knowledge. The book describes in simple words and in short chapters, sites of brain activity as well as its functions combined with advises as to stimulate those areas and functions in order to maintain the nervous tissue activity. This combined with personal anecdotes and experiences. I found the whole book a very nice experience although some of the advises were somewhat difficult to follow due to personal circumstances (I agree with that of writing down). A remarkable paragraph is that where Restak cites the writer Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentinian as myself, as an example of making notable associations (and Borges' erudition). Indeed, that paragraph cites a painter from Uruguay, who I did not know till that moment but for the fact that I was in the beach, in Uruguay, and had seen that name at a Hotel one day before! This is indeed an astonishing coincidence which yet is to be explained by Restak himself. This was a summer vacation reading which I really enjoyed and although I did with Mozart citation I was not able to find that referring to the "Fighter Pilot".
Dr. Ricardo Drut
patologi@netverk.com.ar
The exercises in this book are really useful.......2006-03-21
Want to know why listening to Mozart could improve your brain? Check out this book. The author, a successful neuropsychiatrist, demonstrates (among other things) an exceptional awareness of the intricacies of the human brain. Based on his knowledge and professional experience (which includes decades of successfully treating numerous patients), he's come up with 28 suggestions that if followed can not only improve memory and mental alertness, but also expand cognition and prevent brain cell degradation (avoid dementia and Alzheimer's disease - read the book!).
For those interested in a summary of these suggestions, take a look at the book's `Table of Contents' (this way you can pretty much get the feel of what's examined in the work). However, the suggested mental exercises deserve a special consideration (and that's why I advise you to check out the book). Additionally, the author presents valuable details about the capacity of the human brain and effectively links it with its evolutionary development (another reason why the book is worth exploring).
Finally, I tried a couple of the proposed exercises (they truly work!!!) and came up with some good results, which I've posted in my other Blog "What Is The Meaning Of Life?". Dr. Rastak's language is smooth and easy to comprehend, the examples are quite useful and so I highly recommend this book.
- by Simon Cleveland
Good inforamtion and technique........2006-01-25
The book was a bit different than I was expecting. Whereas I though it would be more of an overview of brain function with games and tools to explore those areas it's more of a game plan for keeping your sanity. I agree with other reviewers that the writing was not always clear and most of the concepts were presented without argument. There is an assumed plasticity to brain function that is still under a lot of debate. The basic idea of the book is to keep thinking. Then think some more. The single thing that differentiates the book from others of this ilk is that Restak explains particular brain functions and then devises games to take advantage of the process. I like, too, that the author recognizes the confounding nature of the brain: he includes a chapter titled "Train Your Powers of Logic" and follows it with one titled "Develop a Tolerance for Uncertainty and Ambiguity."
A good book to keep and read through periodically
Good concepts.... takes time to implement.......2006-01-15
"Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot" is about how to increase your brain's productivity from being able to focus better, remember things longer, and how to keep your brain healthy and strong.
I found the first 5 chapters to be absolutely useless as author Richard Restak goes through different parts of the brain and how they interact. This information was interesting, but not useful for the rest of the book. If anything, he could have just summarized this into a single page.
The rest of the book gets more useful however. Restak suggests certain activities, such as puzzles, reading, and music, increase the brain's capacity for learning. Restak also suggested different memory increasing activities such as looking at a shape and trying to recreate it from memory or memorizing a list of words.
Probably most interesting was how Restak gets us to think in terms of brain geography. Certain activities, such as reading and writing utilize only certain parts of the brain. Therefore Restak suggests we switch to different tasks, such as something that involves music or patterns to work different areas of the brain and give the original areas a break.
I also liked the idea of a "reading journal". I read a lot of books but I really wish I could retain more knowledge. The concept of a reading journal involves writing down the date you finished the book, and then writing down everything you remember from the book. Then you can look over your notes with previous notes from other books and see connections and linkages.
Restak also gives a useful index of the games, books and activities he likes to use/read. I really liked the idea of the software program "Inspiration" for creating mind maps. I had been looking for something like that... and while it is older and could use some work, it is an interesting tool.
My only beef is that the exercises take a lot of time and work. While the exercises are definitely useful, it can be hard to fit all of these suggestions into a normal life.
Regardless, this is a good book to read if you are looking to "sharpen the saw" and increase your brain's potential. 4 out of 5 stars.
Book Description
no description
Customer Reviews:
Top Ace, Top Authors, Top Book!.......2007-06-07
There are more than enough reviews singing the praises of both the World's Top Ace, a fascinating individual with whom I use to correspond, and the most renown authors on the aces. You can't go wrong with this one and won't be disappointed. If you are only going to read one or two books on the German aces, you ought to make this one, along with one on Galland. I might add that Hartmann's wife Ursla wrote a book that was published by Schiffer that would make a great addition to "The Blond Knight". While short on text, it is almost entirely full of photographs relating to Hartmann that you will not find anywhere else, and makes a nice companion to "The Blond Knight".
The Unknown Ace of Aces.......2007-01-19
Who was the highest-scoring fighter ace of the first world war? Many people might offer Germany's 'Red Baron', but fewer could name him as Manfred von Richthofen.
Who was the highest scoring ace of the second world war? Most folks I've asked had no idea, and would be surprised to know that he had originally wanted to be a doctor, and that when the war ended he was a modest, boyish-looking 23 year old who had shot down 352 enemy aircraft - likely to stand as the highest score ever.
Germany's Erich Hartmann was an interesting character quite apart from his patriotism and outstanding military service. No Nazi dogmatist, he was a man of principle, and he would suffer for this both at the hands of his post-war Soviet captors and his superiors in the new Bundesluftwaffe. This is a well written book, by military men who actually knew the man and the subject. The only annoying aspect is their repeately referring to him as 'The Blonde Knight' as though he were some kind of comic character.
There is quite a great deal about Hartmann on the net, but I've never seen coverage of his horrific time in Soviet prisons, or the personal detail that tries to sketch the decency, and kindness as well as the audacity of the man like that in this book.
A great read, I found it hard to put down.
hell of a book about a hell of a man.......2006-07-28
Erich 'Bubi' Hartmann - the Ace of all Aces: 352 Confirmed Kills. And here is his story. What a read! I couldn't put it down! I read it all in one go (headache be damned).
This is a book that deals with major aspects of Bubi Hartmann's life with several epitomizing examples. Eg. Air combat, we get his first sortie (lost his plane), shooting down a Il-2 for his first kill, even fighting and destroying 7 Mustangs at Ploesti as well as taking on 8 Mustangs by himself. There is the love of his life: Ursula, meeting hitler three times (drunk the first time for his Knight's cross), his truly honorable decision at the end of the war, the disgracful behavior of the Russians at the end, the endless decade in the prison camp as a 'war' criminal, refusing to work with or for the Soviets, the the post war years, in particular Bubi's opinion of the f-104 and the mistake the luftwaffe made in adopting it.
What this book is not: a blow-by-blow account of air tactics on the eastern front, though Bubi's style is contrasted with other aces in JG52. His approach is also considered with the 2nd ranked russian aces who adopted a similar style. Nor is it the gulag archipelego (Solzenitsyn) as in an exhuastive coverage of the soviet gulag system. Instead it is balanced work that seeks to pay fair time to the major events in Hartmann's life. Consequently it reads quickly and well.
Often you will find yourself shaking your head at this amazing (and amazingly modest) man and the amazing things he did and survived. His was a life most extraordinary with extremes being the norm. There are also some very touching moments. I personally felt regret when I was finishied reading that I would never get a chance to meet this man.
The tone of the story could be construed at simpering, but I chose to look at it this way: the authors treated Bubi Hartmann's story as one worthy of the utmost respect and this is reflected in their writing style: profoundly respectful of the greatest ace (by 51 Kills!) the world has ever seen, all when he was still 22.
So read it if you are interested in a tale of modern chivalry, bravery, humility and sheer brilliance. And as the author's said: those 352 kills were verified in a system far more stringent than anything the allies used. EVen the soviets knew how many planes the Black Devil as he was known had shot down.
I find the statement 'war hero' somewhat paradoxical. But if there ever was a man worthy of such a title than Bubi Hartmann was that man. Read his story and you'll understand what I mean.
This book: two thumbs up. Brilliant!
Amazing life.......2006-07-19
I enjoyed this book about the life of Germany's (& the worlds) highest scoring ace of all time. I found the most interesting parts about the day to day life of life on the eastern front in world war 2. Perhap's the most gripping part is a norrow escape by Hartmann after he crashes behind enemy lines early in his career. If he never made it back things would have been much different.
He met Hitler several times & it was interesting how he noticed Hitler changing (deteriorating) every time he met him.
After the war Erich was turned over to the Russians after he had surrendered to the US side. Perhaps 1/3 of the book deals with this.
I think what I got most out of the book was what incredible pilots the Germans were ,that is when they had the proper training & weren't just thrown into battle. There were several German pilots with over 200 kills. Incredibly Erich flew over 1400 combat missions & never lost a wingman.
After reading this book & hearing several references to a legendary German pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille I think I may look for a book on him next. Erich Hartmann was an excellent shot & went in very close to the target before making his kill. Hans-Joachim Marseille had a reputation as a pilot that could do things no one else could do in the air & all of his kills were against Western Allies. Even Erich Hartmann says the German pilots regarded a kill against a Western pilot equivalent to three against the Russians. In Erich's own words Hans-Joachim Marseille had 158 kills against Western pilots (X 3 = 450 + kills) which is far more than Erich's 352 kills. Erich was also a humble pilot, most other pilots wouldn't admit they thought others were better.
One of the best books I've ever read.......2006-05-02
This book details the life of the greatest fighter ace of all time (and probably forever!) Seemingly forgotten, the story of Erich Hartmann is told with good detail and accuracy. It tells of his young life growing up in China with his physician father and mother, moving back to their homeland in Germany, and his entry into the Luftwaffe. Hartmann fought with JG52 in Russia and shot down an astounding 352 aircraft... in less than three years and before he'd seen his 22nd birthday! The book tells of his capture by the Soviets and the horrible 10 1/2 years of confinement he spent in the gulag. The only thing that kept him going was his undying love for his wife and her love for him. The Soviets could not break him. He was finally released and helped form the first all-jet fighter wing of the West German air force, flying for NATO. He even came to the US several times and instructed new fighter pilots in the art of aerial warfare (could there be a better teacher than the Ace of Aces?) This was one of the best books that I've ever read and that's saying a lot!
Average customer rating:
- One of the Great Aviation Books
- Best buy yet.
- One of the best of the genre
- Sierra Hotel!
- Full Afterburner
|
Once A Fighter Pilot
Jerry W. Cook , and
Jerry Cook
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Military & Spies
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
1945 - Present
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Vietnam
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Aviation
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Vietnam War
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Aviation
| Transportation
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Aviation
| Transportation
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Piloting & Flight Instruction
| Aviation
| Transportation
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Aircraft Design & Construction
| Aerospace
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Biographies & Memoirs
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Engineering
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
History
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Nonfiction
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Palace Cobra: A Fighter Pilot in the Vietnam Air War
-
War For the Hell of It : A Fighter Pilot's View of Vietnam
-
100 Missions North: A Fighter Pilot's Story of the Vietnam War
-
When Thunder Rolled
-
Pak Six: A True Story
ASIN: 0071399208 |
Book Description
* The true adventure tales of a U.S. Air Force fighter who flew more than 400 combat hours while on duty in Vietnam
* Provides a rare insider's glimpse into the world of the flying elite, detailing their education, training, emotions, and day to day experiences
* Poignant, sometimes funny, brutally honest, always exciting, and an eye-opening look at one of the most tumultuous eras in U.S. history.
Customer Reviews:
One of the Great Aviation Books.......2007-03-15
Jerry Cook's "Once A Fighter Pilot" is one of the books that occupies a small section of my shelf reserved for truly extraordinary books written by pilots. Many fighter jocks are good at BFM, formation, gunnery, instrument flying, and other skills, but the ones who can evoke strong emotion through the written word are scarce. My military flying career is past, but this book takes me right back into the cockpit, in a way few books do.
This book is the real deal, folks.
Best buy yet........2006-04-18
I first saw this book in a local bookstore and saw the cover. I didnt really now what it was about, but when I read it it was the best book yet. It is on my Absolute Favorite list.Since I bought the book I have read it over 5 times, and find something new each time. It has also made me want to be a fighter pilot in our Air Force. A must read for anyone.
One of the best of the genre.......2006-03-13
I've read "Once a Fighter Pilot" more than once, and greatly enjoyed it each time. It's an intriguing mix of stories about flying in Vietnam, flying at MacDill AFB while the F-4 was just becoming available, and many flight instructor tales. (And sometimes the flight instructor stories are scarier than the ones about flying in Vietnam!) He's opinionated, open, honest, and to the point.
I consider this to be in the top 5% of its genre because it covers such a broad area and does it well. There are perhaps better and/or more detailed autobiographies specifically about flying in Vietnam, but this one is one of the few which really covers Air Force life during the 60s. I also like the overall style, it's a series of short tales in chronological order rather than a more continuous work.
It's a fun read--you won't regret it.
Sierra Hotel!.......2005-11-10
If you want to get an idea of what it was like to be a fighter pilot during this time frame, this book is one heck of a place to start! Let me assure you, it is the way it was.
Highly recommended!!
Full Afterburner.......2003-08-25
I've had the pleasure of meeting Jerry Cook and I can tell you he is what an aerial warrior is all about. This means he appreciates not only the firepower that is his responsibility, but also the restraint that is necessary as well. Above all, being a pilot myself, I can viscerally place myself in his rapt descriptions of aircraft performance and raw power. His situational "awareness" and extraordinary flying skills easily flow off the page, and speak to the incredible edge that must be developed and maintained to fight and survive in ACM environments.
Jerry, thanks for your service to the country. Although the war was extraordinarily complicated, with no real winners, the fact that you gave your all to your Commander in Chief under the flag of freedom is appreciated and respected.
Book Description
Vice Admiral Stockdale was on active duty in the navy for thirty-seven years. As a fighter pilot operating from an aircraft carrier, he was shot down over North Vietnam in 1965. As the senior naval officer among the prisoners of war in Hanoi for seven and a half years, he was tortured fifteen times, put in leg irons for two years, and confined in solitary for four years. This experience was the crucible for his philosophical thought on issues of character, leadership, integrity, personal and public virtue, and ethics. Much of his philosophy is drawn from the stoic philosophers, especially Epictetus, whom he had read before his capture. The selections in this volume converge around the central theme of how man can rise with dignity to prevail in the face of adversity—lessons just as valid for the challenges of present-day life as they were for the author's Vietnam experience.
Customer Reviews:
Practical stocism.......2006-09-19
I am not qualified to review Admiral Stockdale's work. He is an officer and scholar of the highest order. I am rating it as five stars, not because of my opinion of his writing, but because of my conviction that this book serves as a starting point for learning about one's self. This collection of essays and speeches is a college-level survey course in what it means to be a warrior, a leader, and a man. Additionally, the book is an excellent bibliography for anyone looking for recommended reading on moral philosophy. I recommend this to all military officers, as well as anyone who wishes to overcome a "victim" mentality.
Put on your short list of books to live by.......2002-11-23
Stockdale mixes philosophy with his hard-earned wisdom as a POW in this incredible, honest inspiring book. Better than 99% of all self-help books. Read it, live it.
A Great Thought-Provoking Book.......2002-09-26
I do not normally choose to read a book based on the author's resume', but Stockdale's credentials (retired thirty-three year U.S. Navy Vice Admiral (3-stars), spent over seven years as the highest ranking U.S. prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam, Medal of Honor recipient, 1992 Reform Party vice presidential candidate, president of the Naval War College and the Citadel, holder of eleven honorary doctoral degrees, experimental test pilot, author, professor), compelled me to read his book. I am very glad I followed my gut instincts, for Stockdale wrote one of the best thought-provoking books about life, character, and leadership that I have ever read.
This book is a collection of essays, speeches, and articles by Stockdale (and one by a Stockdale friend and colleague) about his many and diverse experiences and how they have influenced his personal philosophies about life, character, and leadership. Many of his key points are repeated throughout the book, but the different purposes and audiences for the essays, speeches, and articles prevented those key points from becoming stale.
Stockdale's key points included, but were not limited to: character is demonstrated under pressure; his POW experience was the defining event in his life, a blessing (that I believe most non-POWs (like myself) will have trouble understanding or appreciating); the value of an education in philosophic classics (i.e. Stoicism, Epictetus, the Enchiridion, etc.); his first-hand accounts of the events leading up to the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which officially began our involvement in the Vietnam War (I was surprised); how the lack of character and integrity in senior U.S. leadership prolonged the Vietnam War and ultimately led to defeat and betrayal; and how Vietnam's U.S. POWs differed from our POWs in other wars.
Not one of the easiest books to read, but certainly one of my most inspiring and stimulating readings. I believe this book is one that I will use as a frequent reference, and it is already influencing my personal research and reading selections.
philosophy in the REAL world.......2000-06-13
I was introduced to Epictetus and his follower Marcus Aurelius (yes, the Emperor from Gladiator the movie!) in the book by Tom Wolfe: "A Man In Full". Briefly , in this Dickensian style novel, one of the characters with a hard luck life and misunderstood personality comes across "meditations" by Marcus Aurelius (yes he DID exist) and this inspires him quite profoundly and empowers him, the effects of which reveberate through the rest of the novel. Intrigued I bought meditations and then the original stoic text: "Handbook" by Epictetus. The introductions of both refer to this book by Admiral Stockdale. The philosophy stunned me with its insights into OUR challenges that we face everyday in our careers, relationships and friendships. But to REALLY see how powerful this philosophy is, is to read this book. Our trials and tribulatons of urban life are nothing compared to Admiral Stockdale's experience of being a POW for several years, tortured and humiliated during the Vietnam war. The insights of how epictetus helped in his (successful) effort to survive & thrive, make this philosphy come "alive" beyond mere "deep words" and UNREALISTIC conclusions that most of us believe philosophy is. If you thought that, read this. If philosophy could make a "gungho" fighter pilot get through what he did, imagine just how REAL it must be.
Average customer rating:
- A great tale of World War II
- Yah...my book has the authors signiture in it so HA!
- ACE is a winner!
|
Ace! a Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II
R. Bruce Porter , and
Eric Hammel
Manufacturer: Pacifica Press (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World War II
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0935553010 |
Customer Reviews:
A great tale of World War II.......2005-03-06
I could barely put this book down. It was a reviting story from the first page to the last.
The author also did not get into the "I'm so great" attitude that so many people do. Fighter pilots seem espcially prone to this idea.
It was also written in a nice simple matter that takes the time to explain what was going on for those who are not familair with the Second World War.
It is a great first person account of the air war in the Pacific.
Yah...my book has the authors signiture in it so HA!.......2004-11-17
Having met Bruce Porter, I can honestly say the guy is a jewel. Sure, I was all of ten then but he was just a nice, funny guy. His book is a illustration of this. His opening anecdote is of how the Marines "stole" him from the navy. From there it is the very best of history written by a man who was there.
I highly suggest this book to historians, Marines, vets and aviators the world across. Anyone else too.
ACE is a winner!.......2000-06-13
ACE is a good look at the world of WWII night pilots. It brings with it the Marine punch that delivers the grit and form to keep a reader enthralled.
Book Description
Second lieutenant Dick Curtis arrived in Italy in May 1944–twenty years old and part of a shipment of P-51 Mustang fighter pilots so desperately needed that they were rushed into combat with less than thirty hours of flight time in their new high-performance aircraft.
Six of the twelve pilots assigned to the 52nd Fighter Group were shot down in the first two weeks. By his ninth mission, Curtis was the only one still flying. A maverick, he barely escaped court-martial with his high-flying antics. Escorting bombers sent to pound heavily defended oil fields was risky enough, but strafing the enemy supply lines, ports, and airfields was even more dangerous. Curtis may chalk up his success to dumb luck, but these missions took exceptional skill and courage. This hair-raising account captures the air war in all its split-second terror and adrenaline-pumping action.
Customer Reviews:
Honest and informative.......2007-09-16
This is a wonderful account of the truth of a mustang. The plane was a danger as much as a wonderful fighter. The story is also great of a life and time most people have forgotten.
Dumb Book, Lucky he got published.......2007-05-07
My Grandma taught me that if I can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. God Bless Richard Curtis; he was smart enough to survive, and still lucky enough to get this book published. At the very least he contributed to the strength of our numbers at a time of World War, but he reveals precious little more about the times except to say that he was there, and lived to tell the tale. Perhaps that is all there was to tell; personally, I made a point of reading the book through to the very last page so I can be sure that I never buy the book again under the impression that it is substantive history of the time, and the war he went off to fight.
Dumb but Lucky!.......2007-02-08
Well written but ultimately lacking any big set piece action. The author had a major upheaval in his life caused by the war and his wartime service, and he explains the nuts and bolts of learning to fly, then training on, and flying a cutting edge fighter - the Mustang - very well. But his wartime service in Italy appears to be mainly long spells of grinding boredom interspersed with brief spells of action. For anyone interested in the day to day routine of learning to fly, then operational life as a normal everyday pilot in a fighter squadron, this is a well written and good book. However for anyone interested in the "edited highlights" of the cut and thrust of combat only, this book will be a disappointment. There are also no particularly shocking or even exciting "confessions"
Lucky I Read It ! .......2006-08-16
Well I have read in excess of 20 world war 2 pilots books and I very much enjoyed this one!
I was completely drawn in and read it straight through...I enjoyed reading about all Richards exploits and his ability to put you there with him during his time in the sky.
If you are a fan of the Army Air Force during WW2 then I highly recommend ready "Dumb But Lucky" and see how a regular guy managed to be very clever and yes a bit lucky as well!
Not so great.......2005-12-07
I have read several books from WWII fighter pilots. I found this one lacking in any description of what combat was like except for a few episodes. Lt. Curtis flew 50 missions but most of them are glossed over and are very short in what actually happened. This book is mostly about living in Italy and what happens in his off time. Interesting enough though that is, there are better books out there. I would recommend, "Gabby" by Francis Gabreski, "Thunderbolt" by Robert S. Johnson, "Fly for Your Life", I think by Robert Stanford Tuck, and Douglas Bader's biography.
I enjoy reading WWII veterans stories about the war but this book just didn't grab me. In the preface the author gives away the whole premise of the book and what happens to him during the war.
I would pass this one by and look for a better story.
Book Description
Palace Cobra picks up where Ed Rasimus critically acclaimed When Thunder Rolled left off. Now hes flying the F-4 Phantom and the attitude is still there. In the waning days of the Vietnam War, Rasimus and his fellow pilots were not going to be the last to die in a conflict their country had abandoned. They were young fighter pilots fresh from training and experienced aviators who came back to the war again and again, not for patriotism, but for the adrenaline rush of combat. From the bathhouses and barrooms to the prison camps of North Vietnam, this is a gripping combat memoir by a veteran fighter pilot who experienced it all. The wry cynicism of a combat aviator will give readers insights into the Vietnam experience that havent been available before and the heart-stopping action will keep readers turning the pages all night.
Customer Reviews:
Palace Cobra great book.......2007-10-08
Excellent fighter pilot's first person account of his second combat tour in South East Asia, flying bombing missions (mostly Wild Weasel, attacking Surface-to-Air Missile sites) in North Vietnam. Read Ed Rasimus' first book, "When Thunder Rolled," first.
Palace Cobra, Roll On!.......2007-04-17
Another excellent by Book Ed Rasimus, the author of "When Thunder Rolled". I had anticipated this book for months based on the strength of "When Thuder Rolled" and this book did not disappoint. I usually enjoy a good book over the course of several days like fine bottle of wine, but I guzzled this one down in one sitting like cheap hooch, getting uncontrollably drunk on the thrills contained inside. Mr. Rasimus delivers edge-of-the-seat action and a rollicking fast paced read. I also found it quite interesting how his experiences tempered his outlook and cynicism began to creep into his attitude about the war and the missions. To read his two books makes me appreciate what these men went through and to be thankful of their endeavours. Hopefully others are affected in the same way. It is my sincere hope that there will be more books in the future from Mr Rasimus.
Great Vietnam Air War Story.......2007-03-09
This book is an excellent story told by Ed Rasimus about his second tour in air combat in Vietnam. If you have not read his first book, When Thunder Rolled, you better get it! Not because you need to read it before this book (although it gives you some history leading up to this book), but because it is also a great read.
Mr. Rasimus tells the story of his tour as an F-4 pilot during the last part of the war in Vietnam. He tells it from a personal point of view and really gets the reader involved in what he was going through at the time. If you are looking for a in depth book about the F-4 Phantom, this is not the book for you. But if you are looking for a in depth book about a pilot's experiences during Vietnam, this is a must have!
Overall, I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed!
Palace Cobra.......2007-01-10
This is another one of those page-turner books that was hard to put down.
Great Book.......2006-10-08
I really enjoyed this book. If you love first person accounts of the Vietnam Air War you should definitely check this book out. Rasimus not only describes what it was like to fly missions over North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia but he also tells about what his off-duty life was like in Thailand. I was surprised at his honesty in relating some of the stories about his personal life. He's also doesn't pull any punches when talking about his peers and senior leadership at that time. You might want to read Rasimus' excellent first book, When Thunder Rolled, before reading this one. Both are superb!
Books:
- Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book)
- Fundamentalism and American Culture (New Edition)
- German Paratroops, Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in Wwii: Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in World War II (Schiffer Military History)
- Giants in Their Tall Black Hats: Essays on the Iron Brigade (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War)
- Guantanamo and the Abuse of Presidential Power
- Helmut Wick: An Illustrated Biography Of The Luftwaffe Ace And Commander Of Jagdgeschwader 2 During The Battle Of Britain
- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Survivors Club
- My Sister's Keeper: A Novel
- Charles Rose, Architect
- European Church Architecture, 1950-2000
- History: Fiction or Science
- Occupational Health and Safety Management: A Practical Approach
- Jane and the Man of the Cloth: Being the Second Jane Austen Mystery
- Case: Le Corbusier's Venice Hospital and the Mat Building Revival
- Creating Cottage Style: Stylish Ideas And Step-by-step Projects
- The Flowers Around Us: A Photographic Essay on Their Reproductive Structures
Business Is Combat: A Fighter Pilot's Guide to Winning in Modern Business Warfare
The Power of Alignment: How Great Companies Stay Centered and Accomplish Extraordinary Things
Please Don't Just Do What I Tell You, Do What Needs to Be Done: Every Employee's Guide to Making Work More Rewarding
An Autumn of War: What America Learned from September 11 and the War on Terrorism
Implementing Diversity
