In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing

Book Description

In one of the most anticipated books of the year, Lee Woodruff, along with her husband, Bob Woodruff, share their never-before-told story of romance, resilience, and survival following the tragedy that transformed their lives and gripped a nation.

In January 2006, the Woodruffs seemed to have it all–a happy marriage and four beautiful children. Lee was a public relations executive and Bob had just been named co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight. Then, while Bob was embedded with the military in Iraq, an improvised explosive device went off near the tank he was riding in. He and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, were hit, and Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury that nearly killed him.

In an Instant is the frank and compelling account of how Bob and Lee’s lives came together, were blown apart, and then were miraculously put together again–and how they persevered, with grit but also with humor, through intense trauma and fear. Here are Lee’s heartfelt memories of their courtship, their travels as Bob left a law practice behind and pursued his news career and Lee her freelance business, the glorious births of her children and the challenges of motherhood.

Bob in turn recalls the moment he caught the journalism “bug” while covering Tiananmen Square for CBS News, his love of overseas assignments and his guilt about long separations from his family, and his pride at attaining the brass ring of television news–being chosen to fill the seat of the late Peter Jennings.

And, for the first time, the Woodruffs reveal the agonizing details of Bob’s terrible injuries and his remarkable recovery. We learn that Bob’s return home was not an end to the journey but the first step into a future they have learned not to fear but to be grateful for.

In an Instant is much more than the dual memoir of love and courage. It is an important, wise, and inspiring guide to coping with tragedy–and an extraordinary drama of marriage, family, war, and nation.

A percentage of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

Customer Reviews:

IN AN INSTANT.......2007-10-05

TOTALLY ENJOYED THE CD OF THIS BOOK. A HEARTFELT STORY OF LOVE, PAIN AND RECOVERY.

Up from the trenches.......2007-09-29

This is a story of remarkable courage and love. Medicine and therapy have come a long way, but the personal strength of one person doing the hard work, and another staying by their side, is (I believe) what brings people back to a life worth living after so tremendous a trajedy. Other books about brain trauma: The Shiloh Renewal and I'll Carry the Fork! Recovering a Life After Brain Injury

One of the best books I've ever read!.......2007-09-26

What a wonderful & informative book. I really enjoyed all of the background information. It was a very touching love story. Having gone through 3 brain surgeries myself and my daughter's brain surgery also, gave me a fraction of knowledge on the recovering brain, but the book certainly gives an abundance of information. I've always thought Bob was absolutely fantastic, but I really enjoyed Lee's side of the story. Bravo and Good bless you both Bob & Lee!!!

Interesting book.......2007-09-09

Interesting book - I read it because I was curious what had happened to Bob Woodruff after his injury, because the of the lack of information regarding his condition. It is interesting to me that insiders in the media can control what information gets out about them personally; however others are not so fortunate - their names, faces and not-so-flattering images are splashed across news screens every day.

The book was interesting, but I felt that Lee Woodruff ends up protraying herself as a selfish wife who is annoyed first at her husband's career and then annoyed at the inconvenience his injury caused their family. She describes herself several times as a "single parent" because Bob travelled so much. As a real-life single parent, this completely offended me. A single parent not only cares for their children alone, they also support them alone. A single parent is not a wife of a guy with a six-figure salary who happens to work a lot. If Lee had left these comments out, the book would have been much more palatable.

In An Instant.......2007-08-23

This book was excellent. I thoughthly enjoyed it. My sister is not reading it.

Average customer rating:

Against the war... any kind of war.
Unattractive topic made surprisingly interesting
George Orwell's interesting memoir of his experiences in the Spanish Civil War
Revolution & Politics: A Must-Read
Compulsively readable...

Homage to Catalonia
George Orwell
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Down and Out in Paris and London
The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939
Burmese Days: A Novel
The Road to Wigan Pier
A Collection of Essays

ASIN: 0156421178

Amazon.com

"I wonder what is the appropriate first action when you come from a country at war and set foot on peaceful soil. Mine was to rush to the tobacco-kiosk and buy as many cigars and cigarettes as I could stuff into my pockets." Most war correspondents observe wars and then tell stories about the battles, the soldiers and the civilians. George Orwell--novelist, journalist, sometime socialist--actually traded his press pass for a uniform and fought against Franco's Fascists in the Spanish Civil War during 1936 and 1937. He put his politics and his formidable conscience to the toughest tests during those days in the trenches in the Catalan section of Spain. Then, after nearly getting killed, he went back to England and wrote a gripping account of his experiences, as well as a complex analysis of the political machinations that led to the defeat of the socialist Republicans and the victory of the Fascists.

Book Description

In 1936 Orwell went to Spain to report on the Civil War and instead joined the fight against the Fascists. This famous account describes the war and Orwell’s experiences. Introduction by Lionel Trilling.

Customer Reviews:

Against the war... any kind of war........2007-08-13

Maybe the best plea against _any_ type of war. I recommend it strongly to everyone.

Unattractive topic made surprisingly interesting.......2007-07-18

George Orwell must be an excellent writer because, in all honesty, I wasn't overwhelmingly interested in reading about the Spanish Civil War. Nevertheless, I really, really liked this book.

Understanding the history behind the war isn't a necessity, but I definitely recommend bringing yourself up to speed via wikipedia before starting. That way, Orwell's personal recollections, which are the meat of the book, will be more relevant to you.

Orwell presents a refreshingly honest account of the war and his own evolving take on it. Spain's resulting chaos is a prescient warning for those who take too passionately and seriously partisan politics. Orwell shows that it never takes too long before ideals are thrown out the window to be replaced by the centuries repeated same old quest for power.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Spanish Civil War, human nature's struggle for power, or Orwell's insightful, often humorous observations.

George Orwell's interesting memoir of his experiences in the Spanish Civil War.......2007-05-23

"Homage to Catalonia" is a memoir of George Orwell's experiences during the Spanish Civil War. A committed socialist, Orwell was right in the thick of the action fighting on the side of the doomed Republic.

The book is at its best when it gives Orwell's first-hand account of life as a soldier, but is less compelling when he attempts to explain the complicated Republican politics, rivally, and in-fighting of the time.

Orwell's socialist politics also seem rather naive these days, given what has happened in the intervening 70 years.

Interesting for its personal insights, but read Anthony Beevor's great book for a comprehensive history of the Spanish Civil War.

Revolution & Politics: A Must-Read.......2007-02-19

George Orwell was one of the century's most honest, decent, and lucid writers about the human element in warfare and poltical revolution. His antitotalitarian novels "Animal Farm" and "1984," which made him famous, grew partly from his acute understanding of the events of World War II and partly from his personal experiences as a Loyalist volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, which is the subject of "Homage to Catalonia."

Orwell was a Marxist-Leninist in the 1930s, sufficiently committed to risk his own life in battle to help bring about a people's revolution in Spain. This memoir, written in 1937-38 while the war was still on, records how his idealism was battered by the cynical, pro-USSR politics he saw betray the Marxist ideal on the one hand, and the irreducible practicality of most ordinary people that makes it an impossible dream on the other. In the process, Orwell's contempt for the low standards of news-media accuracy only increased. Fans of Fox and CNN, take note.

By 1947 Orwell, the Marxist idealist, had become convinced that despite all their shortcomings and failures, the liberal Western democracies had developed the best form of political governance yet possible. Since the 1930s, one might observe, a leavening of socialist thought in these nations has brought about societies that are closer to Marx's egalitarian goals than the inflexible, authoritarian regimes that he directly inspired. The good intentions of "people's revolutions" are sure to be betrayed by the most ruthless leaders and factions they create. For every socioeconomic wrong they correct, such revolutions inevitably create many more of their own, totalitarian control and denial of due process being among the worst.

"Homage to Catalonia," written at the moment of Orwell's complete break with the Leninist variety of Marxism, is a model of fair-minded reporting. Anyone interested in the Spanish Civil War, the '30s, revolutionary politics, or even "For Whom the Bell Tolls," should read this book.

As somebody else mentioned, the fine recent movie "Land and Freedom" takes its inspiration from Orwell's book and ought to be watched in conjunction with it. Though fitted out with an imaginary love story, it is completely faithful to Orwell's spirit in "Homage to Catalonia."

Compulsively readable..........2007-02-16

As with most everything Orwell, this book will not have you leafing ahead impatiently to find out if and when things get good. If there is one book you read on the Spanish Civil War (and I bet it will be only one), this should be it.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War

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Confederate in the Attic
"Stonewall" Jackson's arm and other Civil War minutia
yet another batch of anti-southern stereotypes rehashed
New South and Old South
Well, the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression/War for State's Rights/Whatever Is Still Being Fought!

Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War
Tony Horwitz
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 067975833X
Release Date: 1999-02-22

Amazon.com

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tony Horwitz returned from years of traipsing through war zones as a foreign correspondent only to find that his childhood obsession with the Civil War had caught up with him. Near his house in Virginia, he happened to encounter people who reenact the Civil War--men who dress up in period costumes and live as Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks. Intrigued, he wound up having some odd adventures with the "hardcores," the fellows who try to immerse themselves in the war, hoping to get what they lovingly term a "period rush." Horwitz spent two years reporting on why Americans are still so obsessed with the war, and the ways in which it resonates today. In the course of his work, he made a sobering side trip to cover a murder that was provoked by the display of the Confederate flag, and he spoke to a number of people seeking to honor their ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. Horwitz has a flair for odd details that spark insights, and Confederates in the Attic is a thoughtful and entertaining book that does much to explain America's continuing obsession with the Civil War.

Book Description

When prize-winning war correspondent Tony Horwitz leaves the battlefields of Bosnia and the Middle East for a peaceful corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains, he thinks he's put war zones behind him. But awakened one morning by the crackle of musket fire, Horwitz starts filing front-line dispatches again this time from a war close to home, and to his own heart.

Propelled by his boyhood passion for the Civil War, Horwitz embarks on a search for places and people still held in thrall by America's greatest conflict. The result is an adventure into the soul of the unvanquished South, where the ghosts of the Lost Cause are resurrected through ritual and remembrance.

In Virginia, Horwitz joins a band of 'hardcore' reenactors who crash-diet to achieve the hollow-eyed look of starved Confederates; in Kentucky, he witnesses Klan rallies and calls for race war sparked by the killing of a white man who brandishes a rebel flag; at Andersonville, he finds that the prison's commander, executed as a war criminal, is now exalted as a martyr and hero; and in the book's climax, Horwitz takes a marathon trek from Antietam to Gettysburg to Appomattox in the company of Robert Lee Hodge, an eccentric pilgrim who dubs their odyssey the 'Civil Wargasm.'

Written with Horwitz's signature blend of humor, history, and hard-nosed journalism, Confederates in the Attic brings alive old battlefields and new ones 'classrooms, courts, country bars' where the past and the present collide, often in explosive ways. Poignant and picaresque, haunting and hilarious, it speaks to anyone who has ever felt drawn to the mythic South and to the dark romance of the Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

Confederate in the Attic.......2007-10-15

Just started reading the book thus far it is entertaining and delightful. I look forward to my quiet evening reading time everyday. It amazes me how
we continue to get Civil War info. from these wonderful writers.

"Stonewall" Jackson's arm and other Civil War minutia.......2007-09-21

Simply a fun read. If you are a civil war buff like me you will enjoy reading this John Stosselesque investigative book of Civil War facts, minutia, and why Confederate esprit de corps lives on 142 years after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Mr. Horwitz writes his book as a travelogue through the Civil War South. He recounts his travels as he meets new and interesting people and places, and how they still view the War between the States, as the Civil War is known in the South, as an ongoing struggle. He breaks down the book in chapters pertaining to the Southern states he visited.
The book is full of funny, sad, and informative facts like where and when was the first shot of the Civil War actually fired? And No, it was NOT Fort Sumter. But most important was his analysis of the continuing, living spirit of the Civil War South of 1861-1865. It lives today in a variety of ways that Mr. Horowitz points out and discusses.
All in all a must book for Civil War buffs of all kind. A good solid read, well written and factual. Not a tactics or war strategy manual of unit names and engagements, but rather a human interest book of who and what modern day Dixie is and why it lives on today in Southern people, places and things. I recommend it highly.

yet another batch of anti-southern stereotypes rehashed.......2007-07-17

I bought this book on the reccomendation of a fellow civil war buff. I was hoping for some fresh insights on the subject of the lost cause and it's continued effect on our (southern) lives. Instead it is a collection of overblown, trite, highly condescending, negative, hateful fiction. I have lived in the south/southwest my entire life (44 yrs) and I have never encountered anyone remotely resembling the ignorant, racist, borderline psychopaths that the author claims to have found on almost every street corner south of Mason-Dixon. This book is not what I expected. I will avoid further works of fiction by Mr. Horwitz.

New South and Old South.......2007-07-08

Tony Horwitz inadvertently sees Confederate Civil War reenactors near his Virginia home which launches him into an adventure across the South, attending reenactments but also comparing the New South to the Old South. He found out that some things have really changed, and some things have hardly changed at all. He looks into race relations, modern Confederate sympathizers, the Confederate flag controversy, and also gives a great history lesson on many parts of the Civil War, throwing in a lot of trivia that I had not read before. The Civil War continues to be a part of a lot of people's daily lives in the Deep Deep South and Horwitz writes with depth, understanding, and a welcome sense of humor. Recommended.

Well, the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression/War for State's Rights/Whatever Is Still Being Fought!.......2007-03-27

As a Southerner and lifelong American Civil War buff, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Tony Horwitz' account of traveling the various Southern states and to get an account of the war from mainly the Southern view. While not an advocate of the South's position, he did seem to be respectful of how some Southerners viewed the war over 140 years later after the war ended.

Horwitz traveled Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and parts of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas to various Civil War sites and to talk with people on their thoughts of what the war meant to them. While he finds pockets of people who still fight the war, he is appalled that most people do not know or really care to know what happened during 1861-1865.

Among the highlights:

1. How he became interested in the war.
2. His trip to Montgomery, Alabama and the irony of the exhibits on the Civil Rights and the First Capital of the Confederacy.
3. His "Wargasm" trip with Robert Hodge (the character in the absolutely hilarious photo on the book's cover) through several Virginia sites in a matter of a few days.
4. Watching Civil War reenactments at Gettysburg and other battlefields.
5. Touring the Civil War prison in Salisbury NC.

The narrative is smooth, interesting, and flows freely from chapter to chapter. As mentioned earlier, I am a lifelong Civil War buff and was able to visualize several of the battlefields I had visited that Horwitz mentioned in his book. I also enjoyed his insights as a Jew.

A great book to read about how some people still fight and view the war. My only complaint was some of the saucy language. Still, a great read.

Highly recommended. Read and enjoy!

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parvana`s journey
The Golden Rule in Afghanistan
Awards for this book
for teachers
Outstanding book....you'll want to read more

Parvana's Journey
Deborah Ellis
Manufacturer: Groundwood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0888995199

Book Description

In Parvana’s Journey, the Taliban still control Afghanistan, but Kabul is in ruins. Parvana’s father has just died, and her mother, sister, and brother could be anywhere in the country. Parvana knows she must find them. Despite her youth, Parvana sets out alone, masquerading as a boy. She soon meets other children who are victims of war — an infant boy in a bombed-out village, a nine-year-old girl who thinks she has magic powers over landmines, and a boy with one leg. The children travel together, forging a kind of family out of sheer need. The strength of their bond makes it possible to survive the most desperate conditions. Royalties from this book will go toward an education fund for Afghan girls in Pakistani refugee camps.

Customer Reviews:

parvana`s journey.......2007-05-16

the story was super good i loved very moment i don`t usually read but this time i finish the book in one day. i was brilliant that my opinion.
i fell sorry for parvana she was on a adventure and hassan she had to help and the two other children.the girl was trying to get food when the bomb fell as she stop putting food to the ground as she did not have any.

The Golden Rule in Afghanistan.......2007-01-28

When Parvana sets out on her long journey to find her mother, sisters and brother, she is a new person. For the journey she cut her hair and put on boys clothes. The Taliban is ruling Afghanistan and Parvana cannot be wandering around, alone as a girl. In the beginning of her journey, Parvana stops at a village, left in ruins after a bomb. While she is wandering around the village, she hears a noise. Not an animal noise, but a human noise. She looks inside the hut with the noise and finds a thin, crying baby. In front of the baby is the body of a woman, with the flap of her burqa (a long garment covering the whole body) flipped up. Parvana decides to bring the baby with her on her journey. She names the baby Hassan and treats him as if he is her son. Along the way Parvana meets two more people. Asif is a one-legged, selfish and angry boy and Leila is a curious, caring and young girl. Parvana does not get along easily with Asif and Asif tends to throw rocks at her and insult her when he is mad. Hassan can sometimes drive Parvana crazy with all of his crying and Leila wanders off into mine fields and goes into villages when they are being bombed even when Parvana tells her not to. The most interesting thing about the story is that even though she can get very frustrated with them and their not always nice to her, Parvana always shares her food with them (even when theres only a little bowl of rice for their food), shares her blankets with them and treats them as though they were never ever mean, frustrating or annoying to her. Parvana is a perfect example of the Golden Rule. She treats Asif, Leila and Hassan the way she would want to be treated.

Awards for this book.......2006-10-03

In 2004, a Special Commendation of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award was awarded to "The Breadwinner Trilogy". (Deborah Ellis' "The Breadwinner", "Parvana's Journey", and "Mud City".) It was given by the Jane Addams Peace Association and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. The Jane Addams Children's Book Award is given to books that effectively promote peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races, as well as, meeting conventional standards of excellence.

for teachers.......2006-08-13

Great edition to your classroom collection of books. After reading part 1, The Breadwinner, you want to know what happens to Parvana. This is a great story of a young girl living in warzone Afghanistan.

Outstanding book....you'll want to read more.......2006-08-04

I read The Breadwinner and couldn't put the book down, it was excellent. I just completed Parvana's Journey and I was even more thrilled with this book. As you read the book, you feel as if you are right next to Parvana as she travels miles and miles in search of her mother. I would recommend this book to any student 6th grade and above. Excellent!

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey (Studies in the Life of Women)

Average customer rating:

?
no title
A Comprehensive and Intimate Study
Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey
Some women's diaries

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey (Studies in the Life of Women)
Lillian Schlissel
Manufacturer: Schocken
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Covered Wagon Women, Volume 1: Diaries and Letters from the Western Trails, 1840-1849 (Covered Wagon Women)
The Women's West
Pioneer Women
Pioneer Women
Covered Wagon Women, Volume 2: Diaries and Letters from the Western Trails, 1850 (Coverd Wagon Women)

ASIN: 0805210040
Release Date: 1992-09-08

Book Description

An expanded edition of one of the most original and provocative works of American history of the last decade, which documents the pioneering experiences and grit of American frontier women.

Customer Reviews:

?.......2007-08-23

Excellent history of life on the Oregon Trail, circa 1850-1860, mostly from women's viewpoints, as no diaries kept by men have been found. The excerts from the diaries and their arrangement are excellent. You can't help but admire how accepting and stoic the women were in the face of hardships and deprivations that were beyond the imagination of people of today. Even pregnancies were not mentioned in the diaries, only an entry on the day of birth. The expansion of the book to include historical references and data was very enlightening.

no title.......2005-11-12

Utterly fascinating account of women's views of the overland crossing. God! how hard they worked, how many children they were always having, how tired and strong and enduring they were. They did not seem close to their husbands at all, but lived in a world surrounded by their children, sisters, mothers, and/or other females. How they found the time (or light) to write is amazing. Very few complaints. Journey of 2,500 miles! by walking, wagon, or horse.

A Comprehensive and Intimate Study.......2005-01-31

Lillian Schlissel did an immense amount of work in brining this book to light. The book is broken up into four main parts, three of which are dedicated to diary summaries. Schlissel has broken up the chapters according to periods of time (1841-1850, 1851-1855 and 1856-1867). The final chapter is the diaries themselves, along with a map of the Over Land Trail as well as some interesting but academic charts.

As a historical work "Women's Diaries..." brings as up close to the people, especially the women, who risked everything including theirs lives and the lives of their children to cross this once wild land. Pictures pepper the book of hard looking women as well as their ragged families, usually gathered to morn their dead. I can't think of a better book to learn about the personal sacrifices of the westward migration.

As a book read for informative pleasure "Women's Diaries..." still works, mostly because of Schlissel's strong attachment to her work. Granted she stays removed from her feelings (as a good historian should), but the organization of this book, the pictures she uses, the entry's she highlights, shows us that she has a great passion for these woman's stories. A passion she wishes to share with us. It's not a book that everyone can or should read for pleasure, but for those who love the west, history, or woman's studies...this is an important work.

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey.......2004-02-01

An excellent compilation of diaries of women traveling by covered wagons in the 1800s. Lillian Schlissel, the author, did extensive research, and, when possible, was able to give the reader information as to what happened to these women after their journies. The author was able to comment on the lack of personal details in the diaries by giving some history of "the culture of the times". What the women did share with us in their diaries was heartrending and I found myself brought to tears and full of gratitude for the comforts on my modern-day farm. A good read, and definitely worthy of keeping in the home library.

Some women's diaries.......2003-10-22

The pleasure of the book is the diaries and it is too bad that more space isn't devoted to them. Ms Schlissel spends a great deal of time talking about the diaries and her comentary does not add much to the women's words.

She points out numerous times that women do not discuss about bodily functions and pregnancy/child birth in their diaries. She points out that the women feared death, counting graves and dead animals along the trail. Well, the diaries were written in the middle years of the 19th century. Once the point is raised we have no idea if this is unusual for women's diaries and letters in America or England? She makes no comparison; the simple repetition adds nothing.

Her discussions are interesting, but her assumptions occasionally run hard into fact. She continually talks about women and children riding in the wagons, actually women and children walked to save the draft animals. She obsesses, like the diaries about indians. The obsession is false. More people died from accidents and many more died from illness than from indian conflicts. Perhaps a little more research in the writings of Dale Morgan or other historians of the west and the Oregon Trail could have eliminated these and other errors.

The focus on women's diaries is valuable. The 4 histories and diaries in the appendices are a treat. However, there are other better discussions of the Oregon and California trail experience.

Book Description

By the late 1930s, Europe sat on the brink of a world war. As the holocaust approached, many Jewish families in Germany fled to one of the only open port available to them: Shanghai. Once called "the armpit of the world," Shanghai ultimately served as the last resort for tens of thousands of Jews desperate to escape Hitler's "Final Solution." Against this backdrop, 11-year-old Ursula Bacon and her family made the difficult 8,000-mile voyage to Shanghai, with its promise of safety. But instead of a storybook China, they found overcrowded streets teeming with peddlers, beggars, opium dens, and prostitutes. Amid these abysmal conditions, Ursula learned of her own resourcefulness and found within herself the fierce determination to survive.

Customer Reviews:

Spellbinding Memoir.......2005-11-04

I loved reading this memoir. It was an easy read that was character driven and suspenseful. The language was not unnecessarily pretentious, and getting into the story was easy. Further, I knew nothing before reading this book about the European Jews who found a haven of sorts in Shanghai during WWII. While they suffered many indignities, shortages of food, medicine, shelter, and clothing, they were much better off than the European Jews who went to their deaths in the camps. Ironically, they also fared better than non-Jewish citizens of countries allied against Hitler and Japan during the Japanese occupation. Non Jewish civilians of the allied countries or captured POWS participated in tragedies like the Bataan death march. They were interred in Japanese prison camps and subjected to grueling forced labor. There they starved, froze, and died of injury and disease probably in greater number than the Shanghai Jews. The Shanghai Jews were subjected to some but not a great deal of forced labor. They were required to police their own ghetto and dig the occassional ditch. Jews did die because of a lack of medicine, sanitation and adequate nutrition. However, many Chinese civilians suffered the same losses even before the war. Still this does not excuse the ghettoization of the Jews into terribly crowded conditions, rules that precluded most of them from earning a living even though they had skills or precluded them from owning property. Luckily aid from Jews in the U.S., Canada, Australia and South Africa could reach them. For some this was their only means of support and they lived wretched lives. However, the narrator and her family arrived a little better off than most, and her father was a well liked industrious and optimistic businessman. Her mother took in mending and used her excellent seamstress skills to earn money. She tolerated her reduced circumstances without complaint and focused on the sunnier future she was sure would follow the war's end. When the author's father could not work much after the Japanese occupation, their circumstances were reduced. Because the ghetto was seriously overcrowded most occupants could afford little more space than 100 sq. ft. for every three people. Sanitation was completely lacking, and the description of the "honeypots" was truly odoriferous. Imagine several people suffering from amebic dysyntary using the same water closet outfitted with a rustic chamber pot. The author could have let her story fall into the trap of excessive sentimentality, but she did not. For this and her family's optimism I give her Kudos. I gave this four stars instead of five, because I don't think it rises to the literary level of a five star book. Still I highly recommend it. It is a great novel to take on an airplane, a vacation, or to read on an inclement afternoon. It can be read in a few hours.

MAKE A MIRACLE--You Can Do It!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-07-20

Several months ago I saw the author, Ursula Bacon, on BookTv (C-Span 2). I was very impressed with her; her lecture was excellent; and the true story of her life from the age of 10 to 18 was compelling. So, I immediately ordered her book. But the book sat on my desk for weeks making me feel guilty about not reading it. I too am a writer. So, finally after completing one book and revising another one, I took a break. And what a break that was--when I was transported to the CHINA of 1938-1946! Ms. Bacon, an only child of a Jewish family, left Germany with her parents as Hitler and his cohorts were rounding up Jews and transporting them to Death Camps.

By the time Vati, Dad, and Mutti, Mom, were looking for countries to immigrate to, every country had closed its doors to German Jews except Shanghai, China. And Shanghai was a total mess, worse than anything most Americans would ever see. But Ursula's family lived in the filthy disease-ridden slums and survived by bartering their few possessions for food. Ursula, up until then a very sheltered child, attended a Catholic school where most classes were taught in French. And most of the time she remained optimistic, made many European and Chinese friends of all ages, learned to speak Mandarin Chinese, encouraged her Mutti, and helped Vati with his business endeavors.

Ursula became an adult before becoming a teen! And she encountered many bizarre situations which she handled better than most adults. The worst was when she was 12 or 13 and killed a drunken Japanese soldier with her bare hands when he attacked her as she walked home from a friend's house late at night. She didn't tell her parents, though, because she didn't want to burden them with additional worries.

This intriguing and inspiring survival tale is about Jewish refuges in China during WW II, though it depicts the color of Shanghai and the many nationalities struggling to survive their wartorn world. I didn't want SHANGHAI DIARY to end! However, I couldn't wait to finish it, so I could pass it on to an friend whose daughter adopted the most delightful Chinese girl who I predict will someday be an important leader in some capacity.

The world has grown so small today that every American should go out of his or her way to become acquainted with other cultures and religions. And every American teenager should be given the opportunity to live in a foreign country to learn new languages and cultures. I give this wonderful book MORE than FIVE STARS! And I hope parents will share it with their teens and high school teachers will use it in their classes. Thanks, Ursula! K.J. McWilliams, book reviewer as well as author of Pirates, The Journal of Leroy Jeremiah Jones, a Fugitive Slave, The Diary of a Slave Girl, Ruby Jo, and The Journal of Darien Dexter Duff, an Emancipated Slave, winner of the Young Adult Fiction 2003 Royal Palm Literary Award.

interesting insight and perspective.......2005-07-07

I have enjoyed this book (only read half so far). I don't know how she might remember such detailed accounts, but she did have a diary. This is an amazing account during a terrible time. Worth reading.

Learn how most Chinese lived - Jewish girl in scheisse.......2005-06-04

This is not the best of wartime stories, but the author, an older Jewish lady now residing in Colorado, certainly has a good memory for the details of life in pre-Communist Shanghai. Her family fled with nothing, having entrusted jewelry to an old family friend, so they arrive in Shanghai with a precious few coins to survive. There are wealthy Jews in Shanghai who provide a very minimum bit of hospice space to sleep and some basic slop to eat, as supplies are stretched with the ever-increasing arrivals from all over Europe.

Those who like the dirty details of real life in a poor, overcrowded and ancient civilization will love this book. The author does not mince words at her horror of Chinese sanitation, more actually, the lack thereof. The paragraghs devoted to the honeybuckets, their cleaning, and the stenches of the alleyways could make even a reader vomit. I myself had toured China on the cheap in 1990 and can testify that things had changed little when one got off the main roads of Shanghai - though in the last 15 years, many of the old slums have been torn down to make way for skyscrapers and apartment silos. Going to the bathroom, usually squat Turkish style, was always a nightmare, and always to be postponed until perhaps a Western hotel could be found. Very easy otherwise to lose one's lunch! Oh well, if China was cheap, who cares about a lost lunch?

Not for the young Ursula is China cheap. The father, once a well-off printer and company owner, is now working as a pseudo-wallpaper applier, or rather, with A Chinese Partner, supervising 60 coolies to do the work. The mother has a way with needle and thread, some basic dressmaking, and begins to help other refugees with mending and adjustments. Ursula has learned English in school and from the streets, so she is also employed, as the teenager governess to three high-ranking concubines of a Chinese general. She learns all about the Chinese view of sex, marriage, views of women, and why baby girls are found dumped in the local trashbins all around her Hongkew slum. One days she even found a live, crying girl in the trash, and against all better judgment, fished it out from under the garbage and brought it to a Christian orphanage.

The luck of the refugees go up and down according to the politics and their own individual initiatives. After selling off whatever they managed to smuggle out from Europe (jewelry, winter garments, shoes, books, etc), they must become resourceful in order to eat regularly. All follow with interest whatever bits of news they can garner about the war in Europe, since it quickly moves to their corner of the world.
Then the Japanese arrive and take over Shanghai, with new rules.
Whereas before the Jews could, as foreigners, move freely through Shanghai and conduct business, rent properties, and so on, they are now rounded up and forced to live in one section only of the city, namely, the filthy slum of Hongkew. Families live all in one room, with a sheet hung between to share the room with yet another family "next door". There is no privacy, and Ursula suffers from this. They no longer can manage to do their business freely and become desperate scroungers and scavengers, as indeed are practically all the local Chinese under Japanese rule. A few Jewesses choose to make themselves useful to the Japanese rulers, to get money and presents, but they are despised by their own community.

The last years of the war are spent in this filthy condition, with neighbors and friends dying of the communicable diseases, despair, malnutrition, and random shootings and bombings. Ursula, for example, learned jujitsu, to protect herself against assault by Japanese soldiers. The girls and women learn to never go out alone, and never by night. One evening Ursula makes the mistake to walk back home alone (prescribed routes only for foreigners, by the way), and gets assaulted by a horny soldier. She aims a strong h andchop at his Adam's apple and kills him.

No one the next day commented on one more dead body in the lane, nor asked who could have done it.

My main complaint with Ursula's story is its ending. She and the other refugees dream constantly of USA, with such details as tennis courts, horseback riding and swimming pools, etc. These ideas came presumably from movies, widely shown in Shanghai. Meanwhile, although they're realists, they don't seem to realize that the bulk of the US population in the 1930's was in serious economic stress, with no such lifestyle possible. Even today, not everyone is a spoiled surburbanite by a long shot, especially new arrivals with no money, as they would be.

The fast Happy End, where they all somehow get to America, do well, get married and whatnot, with no struggle implied, is quite a letdown. HEre we have been dragged through the coals of the misery of Chinese life, in its minute details, and suddenly, presto! They somehow get allowed into their dream country (which strings did they pull, how much did it cost, etc.? why the sudden silence on how hard life maneuvers can be?) and do well. Oh? WHat did she study, what work did she find? She mentioned that her father found work with the Denver Post as a printer. Did he know English? Was it hard for him?
What did his wife do?

The main "thrill" of the book is in the details of everyday Chinese life, with its stench, its sexism, its obsessions and superstitions. These come through more clearly for a Western reader than if written by a Chinese, who takes such privations as normal. Indeed, they were, and still are, standard problems for the bulk of China and much of the Third World.

Ursula Bacon's family did not considered themselves Jews in any true religious sense, so their experience is not particularly Jewish, but German. Their German ideas and attitudes come through clearly, especially in their horror of dirt, in their love of literature and knowledge. They are open to all religions and put Ursula, in fact, in a French Catholic school, where she admires the true-believing nuns.

A great read! Just unsatisfactory ending, as if she were trying to wrap it up quickly... so maybe there's a second book coming out of this, the struggle to get a foothold in America, and their shock and horror at some of US customs, disregard for education, plenty of Jew hatred, and so on?

Apparently, also, a movie is coming out on this. Watch for it.

Ursula's Amazing Story.......2005-02-19

"If you can't change it, don't complain." Life is not about events, but it is about people. Life was truly a challenge. To escape Hitler the author and her family escaped to Shanghai, China. She learned to live one day at a time. She had a spirit of dreaming of America. America was a beacon of hope for her during this trying time. After the war she and her parents came to America after a two year struggle to get a visa and they located in Denver.

The author grew up in China as an escapee from Hitler's Germany. In China she learned to be grateful for everything. She had escaped to China as a child of ten. There with her parents she lived with 20,000 other refugees in horrific conditions. But she and her parents survived. The story is told with wonderful courage, sensitivity and even some humor. The author has learned not to hate but to love people, inspite of the hell she suffered caused by Nazi Germany. According to the author the most important emotions to have are love and gratitude. She lives her life with love of people and gratitude for all persons who have helped her during those difficult years.

For those who are interested, there is an author event available on C-Span2 Book TV for this book.

Dark Journey (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 10)

Average customer rating:

Kills the momentum Star by Star established
Depressing Let Down
Great Heart and Interesting Plot...
book 10
The worst book in NJO series

Dark Journey (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 10)
Elaine Cunningham
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Star by Star (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 9)
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Traitor (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 13)

ASIN: 0345428692
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Book Description

The New Jedi Order continues as Jaina Solo struggles with anger and despair after the Jedi Knights' harrowing adventure behind enemy lines.

Though the Jedi strike force completed its deadly mission into Yuuzhan Vong territory, the price of success was tragedy: not everyone made it out alive. In a daring getaway, hotshop pilot Jaina Solo stole an enemy ship, taking along her fellow survivors--and leaving behind a huge piece of her heart.

With the enemy in hot pursuit, Jaina is forced to seek haven in the unprotected, unfriendly Hapes Cluster, where the Jedi are held responsible for a past tragedy--and where the royal family has grim plans for their famous Jedi guest. Even more sinister are the intentions of the Yuuvhan Vong, desperate to capture Jaina for a hideous sacrifice.

Grief-stricken and obsessed with revenge, Jaina is blind to these threats--and to the overpowering evil dangerously close to consuming her. In the coming conflagration, Jaina will be fighting not for victory or vengeance, but fore her very being . . .

Customer Reviews:

Kills the momentum Star by Star established.......2007-09-26

After the jaw dropping (and heart wrenching) events of Star by Star (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 9), I was eager to see both how the Jedi community would react to the loss of one of its brightest stars as well as how the New Republic would deal with the loss of their capitol planet Coruscant to the Yuuzhan Vong invaders. Instead, Dark Journey gives us a tale of one Jedi's journey towards the dark side and a large serving of Hapan politics.

Under different circumstances, Elaine Cunningham's Star Wars debut would have been a perfectly enjoyable novel. She definitely makes great strides in further defining Jaina Solo's character, especially in terms of dealing with the death of one brother and the potential death of the other. Jaina's thirst for vengeance is perfectly understandable, even if not all of her actions are. Her interactions with hotshot pilot Jag Fel are a little too "romance novel" for my tastes, but her relationship with rogue Jedi Kyp Durron makes for very interesting reading.

The Hapan succession story, which was the other major focus of Dark Journey was relatively interesting, but ultimately unimportant in the grand scheme of things. This is not what the New Jedi Order series needs to focus on at this point. The Yuuzhan Vong invasion was still the main undercurrent of the book, but it should have been front and center.

Despite some interesting character development, Dark Journey serves as a brief (just under 300 pages to Star by Star's 600+) detour from the larger New Jedi Order saga. It's still well worth reading (at this point in the series you pretty much have to read everything), but is not on par with books like Star by Star or the Edge of Victory novels.

Depressing Let Down.......2007-06-23

First of all, I would like to state that Cunningham did the best job of at least trying to make the story look up a little, but she had very little to work with: Anakin dead, Jacen "Dead" and Chewie is just another excuse to mourn and moan.

This book is basically about Jaina's struggle through her grief of losing both her brothers in one day and then using outlets to deal out her anger. It's a annoying repetition of "Anakin and Jacen are dead, I'm sad and mad". It was somewhat plausible seeing as in real life people do mourn for a long time. But in books it can become annoying and boring all at once. The book went virtually nowhere. I had a different view of the story when I read the back: "Left behind a piece of her heart".
One, it was two pieces, Anakin died, and two, I first thought that Zekk would be the one to die. At least then it would make Anakin a possible hero in the future books to help bring the story back to its original glory.

No, sadly this novel didn't have too many heroes to work with and the ones left were too depressed and busy making a martyr out of Anakin to push the story further.

Jaina uses manipulation and one of the leaders of hapes to help her get her revenge and that's all that happens.

I'm not saying this is a bad book, it just didn't have a good predecessor and therefore had little else to work with.

Otherwise, it really doesn't do much for me. I read it with difficulty, hoping that someone would pop out and say "Hey people, Anakin" (Or another hero) "Is alive," or something to bring the series out of the dirt, but I lost hope as soon as they had Anakin's funeral.

With this book, I confirm that Star Wars has little potential to work with now that many new heroes have been killed off along with a few original favorites like Ackbar and Chewie.

I wish someone would just stop and write a new series that picks up on the original tone of Star Wars with all the characters restored somehow. But that's wishful thinking.

Anyways, if you can handle a book of depression and mourning, this is it. Or if you don't really mind that most of the heroes were killed off, this is a good book. I don't really reccomend reading it if you disliked Star by Star.

Great Heart and Interesting Plot..........2006-08-10

Dark Journey started out somewhat redundant, but once the young Jedi strike team reached Hapes, the plot took off. I like how this book's plot focuses more on one planet (especially with one as interesting as Hapes) and a few characters. I'm not saying that all NJO books should be this way but its a nice change. I LOVE the Kyp-Jaina and Jag-Jaina plots. Jaina desperatley needed a mentor with Mara taking care of her own child and Kyp was perfect with his experiance with falling to the dark side. Jag also adds some humor to the book by being properly bewildered by Jaina's behavior towards him. I also love how Tenel Ka's character is expanded and her feelings for Jacen were revealed. I also like having the old Han and Leia back. I didn't have high expections for this book because one of my favorite characters, Anakin would not be in it but I was pleasently surprised. I hope the new relationship between Kyp and Jaina will continue and I hope the next installment in the NJO series is just as good!

Mariel (Murl) Jorgensen, 13

book 10.......2006-06-25

you can rell this was written by a woman right off the bat.the entire book is based around leia and her search for answers and jaina solo and her inner battle vs the dark side.its really sugary and emotional as compared to the earlier books.it reasd more like a futuristic romance novel than a sci-fi action thriller.SPOILER.......oh yeah and if that wasnt enough ol elaine cunningham didnt wait for troy denning to write again and had yet another big name killed off.I CANT SAY WHO .but man i know theres a war going on and all but whats with you guys and killing off all the cool people?arent the good guys supposed to win?this was a good book but nearly as cool as the rest of the series so far.at the end jaina solo still usnt completely dark or light.id like to see her go bad just because everyone expected anakan solo too and he didnt.

The worst book in NJO series.......2006-05-14

I've only read the first 10 books of the NJO series currently, but this was by far the toughest book to finish. After getting to page 100, I had no clue where the book was going as nothing had happened. At page 200 I was still in the same mindset. Only at the end does it ever show any signs of having an advancing plot.

It's a tough book because 1) Very little happens - could almost skip this novel execept for a few key points 2) Her writing style is hard to follow. This did not feel like a NJO book, let alone a Star Wars book. It felt more like a soap opera in the middle then what it should have been. 3) The conclusion - the whole novel is built up to a long and slow point, and it just does a 180 and everything is fine.

It's sad to see other NJO books get cut while this made it into the line of books. Thankfully, it's near the middle of series so it won't detract readers from finishing the series (versus if it had been at the beginning).

They should have made this a 60 page e-novel, as they could have gotten the main points across in that much *and that's being lenient*

Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat

Average customer rating:

Battle throughout the ages
Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat
Brilliant!
Good, If Sketchy, Overview of World Military History
Excellent Survey and Gateway

Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat
Reg Grant
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0756613604

Book Description

Featuring the key developments in military technology, from the discoveries of bronze and iron, to the introduction of gunpowder and the creation of weapons of mass destruction, Battleprovides a dramatic overview of the conduct of warfare through time.

Customer Reviews:

Battle throughout the ages.......2007-07-17

Nice complilation of historical battles with maps etc... A basic synopsis of famous/importanat battles throughoout history. A recommended book for those with an interest in historic warfare.

Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat.......2007-07-16

Battle is the most complete military history reference book on the market. This amazing text contains short essays about famous/ infamous military leaders, summaries about particular battles throughout mankind's history (each complete with a map, approximate date of the battle, who participated in the battle, a short description of the whys of the incident, and in some cases an estimate of the number of casualties), and includes features that examine changes/ differences in military strategy and technology between various cultures and time periods from the ancient world to the current situation in Iraq. There are also some impressive illustrations showing military artifacts and details of some of the most interesting aspects of military technology.

Whether you are looking for a good military reference book for your kids, wanting to learn a little more about a particular battle, or are interested in the progression of war techniques throughout time, Battle is definitely your best bet. This is one of those books that gets read and used so many times that it pays for itself over and over again.

Brilliant!.......2007-01-17

This is an excellent source of military history information. Scholars may not think it complete, but to the novice or anyone interested in military history this is a great reference, learner and interesting read. There are thousands of battles included, each in a concise format familiar to the readers of DK books. Easy reading, without too many superfluous details - just the highlights and parts the average person needs to know. Highly recommended.

Good, If Sketchy, Overview of World Military History.......2006-07-15

This is another handsome book from DK.

The visuals are a combination of maps, timelines, weapons, uniforms, and portraits of military leaders. The text is mostly sketches of significant battles. Battles is a term loosely used in this book. Some of the sketches are actually of campaigns or entire wars. The organization is broadly chronological, with brief material on how warfare changed from era to another, and the battles grouped together by geographical areas. A latter section also covers some terrorist actions.

Grant starts with the war between the Sumerian city states of Lagash and Umma in about 2450 BC and ends not too far away in space -- the ongoing war in Iraq.

The book has the expected shortcomings. There is a very brief section on what we know about Pre-Columbian warfare in the Americans. There is no mention of sub-Saharan wars not involving Europeans.

There are some surprising typographical errors in dates and map scales but not enough to avoid the book.

Together with George C. Kohn's _Dictionary of Wars_, this book would serve as a good, quick reference on world military history or a memory refresher. Or you can simply use it to whet your appetite for more reading on subjects generally not taught in Western schools like the wars on the Indian sub-continent or between Korea and Japan.

Excellent Survey and Gateway.......2006-01-28

"Battle" can be described as a coffee table type book (although you may want to place it elsewhere when considering the subject matter) that is best suited for browsing. It surveys warfare throughout history and is quite sweeping and ambitious in scope. Generally, "Battle" is divided into eras/geographical areas and provides a briefing on the major powers and empires (and the rise and falls), strategic situations, weapons, tactics, and battles. The material is put together very well and contains many informative and striking pictures. In addition, it illuminates many periods and empires in areas such as India and China that are obscure to Westerners. Although probably not intended by the author, the reader is likely to grasp that any empire is fleeting when viewed in the context of history. Where "Battle" is lacking is in the descriptions of the individual battles. Generally that information is very brief and vague and those wanting details should look at other, more specific books. This is not surprising considering the immense scope. However, "Battle" is excellent for what it is and provides a gateway into the study of the many eras and participants of military history.

Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys)

Average customer rating:

A very good tour guide...not a detailed history book
A Short Guide with Substance
Informative, moving, and worthwhile
More than just a walk . . .
Inspiring and Informative

Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys)
James M. Mcpherson
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0609610236
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Book Description

“[I]n a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract.”
—President Abraham Lincoln

James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom, and arguably the finest Civil War historian in the world, walks us through the site of the bloodiest and perhaps most consequential battle ever fought by Americans.

The events that occurred at Gettysburg are etched into our collective memory, as they served to change the course of the Civil War and with it the course of history. More than any other place in the United States, Gettysburg is indeed hallowed ground. It’s no surprise that it is one of the nation’s most visited sites (nearly two million annual visitors), attracting tourists, military buffs, and students of American history.

McPherson, who has led countless tours of Gettysburg over the years, makes stops at Seminary Ridge, the Peach Orchard, Cemetery Hill, and Little Round Top, among other key locations. He reflects on the meaning of the battle, describes the events of those terrible three days in July 1863, and places the struggle in the greater context of American and world history. Along the way, he intersperses stories of his own encounters with the place over several decades, as well as debunking several popular myths about the battle itself.

What brought those 165,000 soldiers—75,000 Confederate, 90,000 Union—to Gettysburg? Why did they lock themselves in such a death grip across these once bucolic fields until 11,000 of them were killed or mortally wounded, another 29,000 were wounded and survived, and about 10,000 were “missing”—mostly captured? What was accomplished by all of this carnage? Join James M. McPherson on a walk across this hallowed ground as he be encompasses the depth of meaning and historical impact of a place that helped define the nation’s character.

Customer Reviews:

A very good tour guide...not a detailed history book.......2007-08-01

It is important not to mistake this book as a detailed history of the battle. It is not intended as such. If you want a detailed history see the series of books by Harry W. Pfanz. Rather, this is a guide for visitors to the battlefield that is clearly written and directs readers to the major points of interest while injecting a series of interesting anecdotes and thought provoking observations. To this end, it is very well done.

A Short Guide with Substance.......2007-07-24

I read James McPherson's "Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg" on my recent trip to Gettysburg. Although my visit was only for a day, the book provided a nice overview of the events of the battle. Although not designed to be a an in depth narrative of the entire three days of battle, it provided details for several events and battlefield sites that left me with a good sense of the important features of the battle. This is certainly a useful book for a first time visitor with a limited amount of visiting time.

Informative, moving, and worthwhile.......2007-05-13

HALLOWED GROUND operates on several levels. First, it is a concise history of the Battle of Gettysburg, describing the strategic and tactical decisions of soldiers during this bloody three-day fight, which claimed 50,000 soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. Second, this is a guidebook, which a reader can use to walk the battlefield, using its hundreds of monuments to identify where units fought and the outcomes of their encounters. Finally, the book offers its explanations for such lasting controversies and legends as Pickett's Charge, the forward movement of the Third Corps to the Emmitsburg Road, and the desperate charge of the 20th Maine.

HALLOWED GROUND also has clear maps and many humanizing anecdotes about ordinary soldiers. It ends with Lincoln's Address at the Dedication of the Soldiers Cemetery, which, while eloquent, seemed like a mere footnote to this terrible event. Highly recommended.

More than just a walk . . . .......2007-03-18

Every time I read McPherson I think the same two things: he is a national treasure as his research and knowledge of all aspects of the Civil War, military and non-military alike (political, social, economic et. al.) is unsurpassed by any historian, past or present. I also realize what amazing writing skills he possesses as his ability to communicate facts, ideas, theories is apparent in all of his works. If Professor McPherson takes the time to write something, I will always take the time to read it.

Hallowed Ground is no exception to the above. It follows a different format, still enjoyable and informative, in "walks" from the Crown Journeys Series. I was initially reticent about this short read as, while I have read much of the period, my interests do not lie in the military campaigns of the time but in the political and constitutional questions and theory of this period. McPherson quickly dispelled any of my hesitancy as he walked the reader through Gettysburg. His stories of this epic battle are insightful and highly informative. He dispels myths with dispatch and shortchanges no heroics that some of the more modern and commercially successful writings, novels and documentaries seem to have missed. He places the battle in terrific context. He does not get into speculative writing but does ask the questions rhetorically. The reader is left wondering what McPherson's own beliefs are on the many "what if" of that 4 day period in July 1863. But this book is not about answering the questions, it is about a pivotal event in American history and he handles it with excellence.

As others have commented, not only does it leave one wanting to (re)visit the Gettysbury site but also makes one envy his Priceton students who get the finest guide one can imagine for this trip. Another outstanding work, and a wonderfully easy read, by America's Civil War Historian.

Inspiring and Informative.......2006-11-10

Whether you are a "history geek" like I am, and read every historical marker or you want something to loosely refer to while visiting Gettysburg, "Hallowed ground" is very much like having your very own history professor serve as a travel companion. Beautifully written, James Mcpherson's prose is the perfect travel accompaniment. He shares with you what you need to know to imagine the people and events, but doesn't interrupt your experience with needless "chatter". On more than one occaision, his commentary coupled with what I was seeing, moved me to tears. I toured the battlefield by bike, which worked particularly well with his recommended tour.

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