Book Description
James L. Nelson, "the American counterpart to L. Patrick O'Brian" (David Brink), writes breathtaking descriptions of the age when saliors became warriors and warriors became legends. Now his acclaimed Revolution at Sea Saga continues as General George Washington fights a loosing battle to keep Philidelpia from the hands of the British.
ALL THE BRAVE FELLOWS
It is 1777, the Year of the Hangman, and Captain Isaac Biddlecomb is bound for Philidelphia with his wife and child in the Continental brig of the Charlemagne. His orders are to take command of the newly built 20-gun frigate Salmouth and get her out to sea before she is taken by General Richard Howe's invading army.
Unbeknownst tp Biddlecomb, the entire British fleet stands between him and the new nation's capital. Forced to run his beloved Charelmagne aground, Biddlecomb comes face-to-face with his mortal enemy, Lt. John Smeaton.
Meanwhile, General Washington has yielded Philidelphia to Britain's might. As Biddlecomb and his crew battle to reach the prized Falmouth, only shipwright Malachi Foote and a ragtag band of deserters from the Continental Army stand between the vessel and the seemingly unstoppable British Army.
Customer Reviews:
Five in the series is not enough.......2006-07-19
I want more. I am in love with Isaac Biddlecomb, and with Jim Nelson for writing such a superb series.
More Mr Nelson please!
Five Stars for the Fifth Book.......2004-11-15
In the fifth book of what started as a trilogy and has turned into a saga, Isaac Biddlecomb has been given the captaincy of the United States frigate Falmouth. His ship is being built on the Delaware River below Philidelphia. What he doesn't know is that the British have taken Philidelphia and stand between him and his unfinished ship. The ship itself has been spirited away to a safe location by the shipwright who designed it and an unlikely band of deserters. As the story starts he is enroute to his new command on the brig Charlemagne, sailing with a small convoy when a British naval ship is encountered. Thinking that the British ship is no match for them, they attack. His convoy suddenly turns turtle and the battle goes against them, which leaves them beaching the brig, fighting off the British who are sent to take them prisoner and setting off over land to find a way to the Falmouth.
In the initial encounter and old enemy returns, Lt. Smeaton from the Icarus, who has lost his career in His Majesty's Navy thanks to Biddlecomb and who will die a happy man if he can kill him. Smeaton is bested in the first encounter, but the two shall meet again. (and again)
The story turns between the efforts to save the Falmouth and Biddlecomb's need to find it and assume command, all of which come to a cresendo at the end of the book. The pace of action and intrigue have not slipped in this fifth book and there is much of the Revolution at Sea to come, one thinks. That is good news indeed.
Only the Strong Hearted Should Read Nelson's Books........2004-02-04
If you have a weak heart, tire easy, or prone to sea sickness or startle easy by the sound sound of cannon fire ... dont read this or any other of James Nelson's books .. because as soon you open the book you realize you are going to sea and its going to be rough! Nelson's books (5 in the Revolution at Sea Saga series) are a truly the best sea sagas I have ever read .. including Mr. O'Brians. His close relation of history to fiction puts the reader into the history books and into the action. As a history major and amatuer historian of the period, I can find no fault or error. His charactors are depicted so completly they become real. You share thier emotions,thier excitement and thier adventure. Nelson's style of writing is
without doubt, amoung the best I have ever read. I highly recomend this as well as other books by James Nelson.
The best yet!.......2002-09-29
When you thought it couldn't get any better, Mr.Nelson pulls out all the stops for the finale.
Isaac and two privateers are en route for Philadelphia to take command of 'Falmouth', when they encounter a British man-o'war; what should have been a fairly easy victory is turned into resounding defeat, as the privateers decamp at the first taste of hot metal - leaving Isaac at the mercy of the bigger ship with the weather-gauge. He has no option but to beach his beloved boat, rather than be captured, especially as his sworn enemy Smeaton is aboard.
All the characters are fully-formed now and we reap the benefit of understanding their actions and their foibles; I think Smeaton is excellently portrayed - the aristo with a chip on both shoulders and an obsession with finishing Isaac off - he is pivotal in this gripping 'factional' tale of how the British were forced to abandon the occupation of Philadelphia.
Again we see Isaac's headstrong character take over and cause him trouble, as he loses two boats in quick succession (though not entirely his fault) and almost loses his wife and his life in the protracted vendetta with Smeaton.
The sub-plot of rescuing and fitting-out the 'Foulmouth' is a great counter to Isaac's stranding and attempt to find her, as the two plots run side by side, interspersed with Smeaton's gradual descent into mania.
Although this appears to be the last in the 'Revolution at Sea' saga, I suspect that there is more to come before Isaac is finished with the British - at least I hope for more...
Best of a great series.......2002-06-26
I have enjoyed all of James Nelson's books in the Isaac Biddlecomb series, but this one is the best by far. Nelson's skill at characterization is in full force here. He creates believable, riviting people put in often impossible situations and reacting the way real people will. It is just not right to say the British are portrayed as evil - they get the same even treatment that the Americans do - not good, not bad, just people. On top of that, the plot moves at break-neck speed. Great reading! Though the first three books say "Trilogy" the last two say "Saga". Nelson's web site says he hopes to finish the Biddlecomb series some day, and I certainly hope he does! Also don't miss Nelson's Marlowe novels, starting with The Guardship.
Book Description
In 1838, Nellie Starr, a young Cherokee girl, is caught in the political upheaval of America's westward expansion. Forced by U.S. soldiers to leave their home in Tennessee, Nellie, her family, and thousands of other Cherokees travel the long, dangerous "Trail of Tears" to a new home in the Indian Territory of modern-day Oklahoma. Using actual historical events as a backdrop, this brand-new children's novel teaches lessons of American history and the Christian faith. Can Nellie learn to forgive the people who've turned her world upside down? Nellie the Brave is a compelling read for girls ages eight to twelve.
Book Description
Charlotte is different from all the other sheep. She likes to explore the world around her, climbing up trees and wandering near the dangerous road while the wary old sheep “tsk, tsk.” But when danger strikes, only Charlotte is brave enough to go for help and save the day. This beautifully illustrated tale speaks to all shy little sheep who stand out from the crowd and aren’t afraid to follow their dreams.
Customer Reviews:
Good Charlotte.......2006-03-27
The translated picture book is slowly getting more and more attention in America today. It used to be that you'd see a foreign translated title maybe once or twice in a year. Now, however, books from Germany and Italy and all kinds of places are getting more and more attention. Finland, however, has never had an American picture book hit. So when "Brave Charlotte" came out, it looked like the Fins had a sure thing going. A cute plot. Lovely little illustrations by a German illustrator. And it's all about an adorable sheep who just want to help others. What's not to like? Unfortunately the book just does not hang together very well. I'm not certain if it was the translation, the nature of the story, or the odd plot arc but for all it's charms, "Brave Charlotte" definitely comes off as less than satisfying. It's perfectly nice to look at and all. But I seriously question the New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year honor it received. Nice but definitely no wonder.
You have your normal everyday sheep, and then you have Charlotte. Right from the start she was different. When the other lambs stuck close to their mothers she would go bounding off in pursuit of adventure. When they would sleep at night she'd find a secret spot far away in the countryside where she could look at the moon. One day, the shepherd who tends the flock breaks his leg. The sheep don't know what to do and old Jack the border collie is too old to go get help. Who's it up to to save the day? Why none other than Charlotte, of course! Off she goes to get help. She fords streams, bounds over fields, hitchhikes on the highway, and finally finds a farmer who knows her and gets a doctor for the shepherd. Having proved herself, now all the sheep turn to Charlotte for guidance and protection. And Charlotte takes Jack the collie to her favorite spot.
I had some problems with the story, I have to admit. Some of these were definite translation mistakes. Translator Alyson Cole may know quite a lot about changing Finnish words into English, but she knows bupkiss about sheep. Jack the border collie is repeatedly referred to as a sheepdog. But sheepdogs are very different from collies. A sheepdog looks like a big while wooly sheep and protects the flock because it thinks it IS a sheep. Collies do the herding and the work moving about the sheep. There are other mistakes in the book as well, though. Part of the problem is the ending. The last image in the book is of Charlotte taking Jack off to see her secret spot. Jack is mentioned several times in the book by the other sheep as being old, but he never says a word himself. There isn't any contention or friendship shown between himself and Charlotte until that very last image. So why end the book with Charlotte sharing a secret when her newfound friendship with the dog is without any cause whatsoever? Then there's the problem with Charlotte's inclination towards dangerous situations. Stohner plays up Charlotte's adventurous nature, and that's all well and good at first. She climbs comically tall mountains. She climbs high trees for the fun of it. But then she starts doing dangerous things as well. She leaps, on purpose, into a "fast-running stream" for no apparent reason. Worse still, the sheep find her one day, "on the side of a dangerously busy road, staring at the oncoming traffic". She doesn't want to tell the other sheep what she's up to. Now, the other sheep are portrayed like overly timid busybodies. Then you have a youngster eyeing a busy road and their worries come off as interfering and persnickety. What a great lesson for the kids! Hey, children! Great news! If you want to cross that incredibly busy street or leap into some nearby rapids, feel free! Anyone who tells you to be careful or to watch yourself is probably just a wimp. Do what you feel instead! Sheesh. I don't usually care if a picture book has a lousy message, but I doubt very much that I'd be the only person to view this scene in the book with a slightly critical eye.
I mean, the illustrations are lovely, yes. Of course they are. Artist Henrike Wilson really does make Charlotte appear to be a very pleasant bundle of warm cuddly wool. She has a lovely little benign face that fits the story very nicely. But the fact is, I found the pictures in this bok to be far far nicer than the tale itself. So when it comes to nice sheep pictures, this book excels. When it comes to coherent sheep-centered plots, it's less than fabulous.
If you'd like an especially nice sheep-centered picture book, find yourself a copy of Rob Scotton's, "Russell the Sheep". Or Mem Fox's, "Where Is the Green Sheep?". Or books like, "Sheep In a Ship" or "Sheep In a Jeep". These are all fine and frolicsome sheepish affairs. "Brave Charlotte" is perfectly acceptable as a book but it simply does not hang together as a whole. It's fine but there are many far better sheep picture books out there to choose from. A secondary purchase at best.
An engaging story of courage.......2005-11-04
Anu Stohner and Henrike Wilson's Brave Charlotte tells of Charlotte, who's different from other sheep. She likes to explore her world and wander, while old sheep stick close to home and go for security. When danger hits the herd, only Charlotte is brave enough to go for help in this engaging story of courage.
Book Description
In the darkness before moonrise on the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast on August 21, 1940, the night erupted in a fusillade of bullets and shells. The victim was a stalwart English tramp steamer, Anglo Saxon, part of the lifeline that was keeping besieged England in supplies. The attacker appeared to be a merchant ship from a neutral country.
As it neared its prey, the German raider dropped its disguise, unmasked its hidden armament and destroyed the target ship with an overwhelming force. Only seven of the forty-one man crew of Anglo Saxon managed to escape in a small boat. Seventy days later two of them stumbled ashore in the Bahamas, half dead.
This riveting account of the sailors' ordeal reveals how first the badly wounded and then the less strong died and were thrown over the side of a fragile boat carrying meager supplies.
As the two survivors reached the Bahamas, the Widder arrived in occupied France, her murderous voyage over. Her captain, Hellmuth von Ruckteschell, who had sunk twenty-five ships, was eventually tried as a war criminal.
All Brave Sailors -- a story of heroism, brutality, and survival -- tells the story of merchant marine ships fighting against great odds in the early days of the War.
Customer Reviews:
Great book.......2006-08-05
This is a great book and it covers the same material published much earlier in the book Two Survived by Guy Pearce Jones. I recommend both of these books highly.
Outstanding -- and disturbing.......2005-04-24
J. Revell Carr has written an outstanding and disturbing book that deserves a much wider readership than it will probably get. It centres on the fate of a group of survivors from a merchant vessel sunk by one of the Kriegsmarine's most notorious raiders, who found themselves in a disastrous survival situation, with the nearest practical landfall 2,700 miles away.
In a fluent and well-written narrative, he provides a wealth of convincing detail while never losing sight of the wider picture. In addition to telling the survivors' compelling story, he also provides a fascinating insight into the tactics and practicalities of raider warfare, and particularly, the career and complex personality of the raider's commanding officer, Hellmuth von Ruckteschell.
One of the great strengths of this book is the author's style, which will no doubt remind some readers of Martin Middlebrook and Patrick Mahoney's classic book `Battleship'. For those unfamiliar with this work, beyond a compelling story, this means a careful use of sources and an even-handed style that is never hectoring or partisan, that does not seek heroes or villains, and aims squarely at finding the truth.
Yes, there are a few minor errors - the name of the old battleship Schlesien is misspelt, for example - but these are quite incidental to the story and in no way undermine the book.
In short, this is a book that you will find difficult to put down and thoroughly deserves the highest possible recommendation.
All Brave Sailors.......2005-04-10
All Brave Sailors by J. Revell Carr is the amazing story of the sinking of the British freighter Anglo-Saxon by a German raider, and the seventy day voyage of the ship's seven survivors in a small boat. Carr also tells the story of the German raider, its captain and crew. Although the entire book is extremely well written and very interesting, it is the time spent in the small jolly boat that really captures the reader's attention and imagination. How the two sole survivors were able to hold on, how they found land is a remarkable tale. This book also very ably highlights the contributions made by the men of the Merchant Marines during World War II. These men were every bit of the heroes that the men who actually fought in combat were and it is about time a book singing their praises was written. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII.
Author does justice to this remarkable story.......2004-06-23
The remarkable tale of those lucky few that survived the sinking of the English merchant ship, the Anglo Saxon by a German raider is a compelling story. But author J. Revell Carr does not leave it at that. He also tells the story of the German raider who sunk it, most especially it's notorious captain. In relating the extraordinary life and character of Hellmuth von Ruckteschell, Carr has not drawn a stick figure villain, but has presented a fully realized and complex figure. This is the mark of top-notch storytelling and history.
Obviously the more inspiring story is that of those who survived on the Atlantic Ocean aboard the jolly boat for two months. Their struggles with hunger, exposure, thirst; injury and madness are the stuff of legend. That anyone could have survived on so small a boat from the mid Atlantic to the shore of the Bahamas is awe-inspiring.
Carr wisely lets their story speak for itself. While filled with admiration for those plucky few who survived (and those who didn't as well) he does not embellish. He doesn't need to.
Among the many attributes of this book -- perhaps most notably that it's a cracking good read -- is that it gives recognition to the merchant seamen who so bravely and at such extraordinary risk served the allied cause during both world wars (my father among them). Merchant seaman suffered the highest proportionate losses of any service group during World War II.
"All Brave Sailors" is the story of war and the terrible cost it extracts from ordinary people. Not just those who perish, but those who they leave behind. We also see the costs extracted from those who survive.
I would have liked more pictures and a few maps, but these are mere quibbles. This is a book worthy of the story it endeavors to tell and is highly recommended.
All Brave Sailors.......2004-02-10
An excellent tale, not only of the survival story of seven men from the Anglo-Saxon, but also of the biographical sketches of all of the characters in this tale and their association with the historical events of the time. Revell Carr has used his knowledge of the sea and his ability to ferret out interesting detail through hours of research and interviews to produce a story that is not only worth telling, but was very enjoyable to read. Highly recommended.
Amazon.com
"Community, Identity, Stability" is the motto of Aldous Huxley's utopian World State. Here everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young women has the potential to be much more than the confines of their existence allow. Huxley foreshadowed many of the practices and gadgets we take for granted today--let's hope the sterility and absence of individuality he predicted aren't yet to come.
Book Description
Recorded Live - One Cassette
Huxley narrates this 1956 radio dramatization of an excerpt from his best-known book, "Brave New World", with an original score composed and conducted by Bernard Herrmann.
Note: The inherent difficulities of live recordings and the age of some of the recordings can cause variations in the sound quality.
ALDOUS HUXLEY (1894-1963 British-born novelist, poet, essayist, philosopher and mystic, Huxley was fascinated by the wilder margins of psychology, medicine, the occult, drugs and religion. He was a man of exceptional vision and foresight, and his breadth of learning was astounding. He wrote over 50 books, including such classics as "The Doors of Perception", "Island", and "Brave New World".
"Huxley was a scientist and artist in one, standing for all we most need in a fragmented world where each of us carries a distorting splinter out of some great, shattered, universal mirror. He made it his mission to restore these fragments" - Yehudi Menuhin
Customer Reviews:
Flawed Cautionary Tale.......2007-10-03
The 'Foreword' explains why this novel was not rewritten to get rid of its faults: it could lose its merits! Aldous Huxley used the class-based society of England and projected it far into the future with modern references. Huxley imagined a sort of "scientific breeding" that seems to mock science. Dumping children to the care of lower class servants had a long history there, it is divorced from maternal care. [Does it work? Reports say this has a bad influence on children's development.] The name of Pavlov is strangely missing from this novel. Huxley says the problem for totalitarian states is to make their subjects love their servitude. Too bad he didn't live to see today's conditioning by advertising and other behavior modifications (like cell phones which let Big Government hear and locate you). Huxley claimed a diminished political and economic freedom leads to sexual freedom, but offered no proof. Orwell's "1984" handled this much better.
Most of the book shows Huxley's skill at an imagined future, a parody of the world of the 1920s (whose faults created the Great Depression). "Tracking" of students has been around for decades (their future is decided in kindergarten). Advertising sells everything from ordinary objects to candidates and political beliefs. Advertising creates "peer pressure", people who believe and think as they are told. Many people are no longer skeptical of corporate advertising; this might be the result of their schooling. Whoever controls the media influences the thinking of most people.
There are many echoes of real history in this clever story. Such as the surprise played on that Director by a long-lost relative (echoes of 19th century novels?). The office politics reflect unchanging human nature. But the ending chapters don't ring true to me. Certainly notoriety affects people's lives. The gawking of the ignorant and uninformed is always a problem for anyone in the news. Even if they are only show business performers! Huxley was correct in having an opiate that tranquilized people but damaged their health. Who will heed this warning? The use of chemical food was another subtle satire; they knew then of those dangers. One thing missing is the Secret Police to force people into desired behavior patterns by constant surveillance. Orwell was more realistic about England and the world of 1948.
A few thoughts from a "religious" viewpoint.......2007-09-04
This remarkable book was written around 1931. As far as I know, it is the earliest of the modern utopia novels ("1984" and "Fahrenheit 451" for example). You may not want to read my review if you haven't yet read the book,or don't want to be exposed to a summary of it:
It is a story, centered in London, of a world where life is lived out in controlled, contented bliss. Genetic engineering contributes to a smoothly functioning caste system. Sexual promiscuity is the norm, even instilled in children. Birth control is the norm. Behavior altering drug use is the norm. Physical attractiveness is at a premium and youth is artificially preserved throughout lifespan. Materialistic consumption is prized. Entertainment occupies non-work hours but does NOT include reading. Independent thinking is unacceptable. "God" has been replaced by "Ford", literally (science and industry!, not superstition).
A couple of characters are introduced, who behave counter to the culture. They eventually are banished. We get a glimpse into the true thoughts of a World Controller, who has a safe containing BOOKS. A central character (The Savage) is introduced, having been imported from the undeveloped American Southwest. Although a primitive, he was self-educated through study of an ancient volume of Shakespeare. He is rather pan-theistic, worshipping an assortment of gods that he has became aware of, including the Christian God. (He seems to be doing the best he can with the information he has). His love relationship with a beautiful but totally indoctrinated London girl destroys him (he is chaste - she is a cookie cutter product of the society and he is appalled by her ready sexual promiscuity).
In the end, The Savage cannot function in this society and takes his own life. The reader may assume that the society absorbs the entertainment available from this event and moves on blissfully.
Who wins, who is happy, who is right? My conclusion: If there is no God, the pleasure seeking utopians were right on track. The Savage was a superstitious primitive who squandered his life and a multitude of opportunities for fun and happiness. Conversely, if a Creator Deity does exist (whom The Savage clearly sought with a whole heart), then it would appear that The Savage moved on to a superior state, and indeed had lived out his whole life in a superior fashion of obedience. The utopians live out their reward in the present state, squandering eternity.
The Bible (mentioned in the novel, a copy hidden in the Controller's safe) asserts that The Creator is self evident through his creation, and all who reject him are without excuse. Correspondingly, there are multiple allusions in the novel to fascination with nature, such as the night sky. Such interest is supressed by the utopian society or course. I think that is the bottom line of Huxley's Brave New World. Living for this world (serving self), or living for the greater, unseen one (serving God). A great matter of faith, and the essence of all decision making.
Odd tale, but a classic.......2007-08-07
One of the first views of dystopian society, in response to Orwell's 1984. An intelligently devised future showing how a utopian society might form in the future from mass produced births, sexual liberation, legalized drug dependence, and social class conditioning.
Shrug.......2007-07-26
While going through my stack of unread books this summer I noticed that I still had a copy of this book from High School, at the moment I am two semesters from graduating from college. So, I figured I should read it as I am an English major and most English majors have read this book.
Why I bothered I do not know.
The plot to this book was poorly executed, the characters were weak and I just didn't really care.
Instead I suggest "1984" by Orwell or "We" by Zamyatin, if you are interested in this topic. Especially "We" as it was written before either or these two books and is my personal favorite, but is tragically ignored.
A Christian Perspective.......2007-07-21
First of all, a disclaimer: though this review is intended to display some of the ways I think Christianity illuminates this book, I certainly do not claim to be speaking for all Christians. These are just my thoughts...
That being said, I think the most important feature of "Brave New World" is that it illustrates what happens to humanity when it, en masse, begins to depart from the classical Christian worldview. By classical Christian worldview I mean that which was best described by St. Augustine in City of God (Penguin Classics). Without going into too much detail, the basic notion Augustine suggests is that salvation (in terms of deliverance from a fallen world) comes only in transcendent reality, and therefore people should stop expecting that a transcendently perfect reality can exist in this world.
I bring up Augustine because he was relied on to a large extent by Eric Voegelin. Voegelin's writing concerning modernity and gnosticism provides a philosophical framework for understanding how the central tenants of "Brave New World" are also the central tenants of our modern world (see especially Modernity Without Restraint: The Political Religions, The New Science of Politics, and Science, Politics, and Gnosticism (Collected Works of Eric Voegelin, Volume 5)) The connection between Augustine, Voegelin, and "Brave New World" seem to me to be this: when humanity rejects the lessons of classical Christianity and begins attempting to "fix" this world by way of various projects, disaster inevitable follows. Of course, Huxley is not espousing a Christian critique of the world. Nevertheless, I think "Brave New World" is an important book for Christians because the book illustrates the realities of humanity and the sad results that stem from those realities.
Christianity aside, I think this book presents an adult version of another great book, The Giver, by Lois Lowry. If you read "The Giver" and loved it then I think you will really enjoy "Brave New World". The central tenants of the books are roughly the same. Perhaps the most significant difference is that "Brave New World" is written in a voice that is inherently sarcastic and pessimistic concerning the principle characters whereas "The Giver" does not seem to pass as much judgment on the masses as much as it is concerned with society's leaders.
I've attempted to bring a couple of fresh perspectives to "Brave New World" that I haven't seen in the other 687 reviews out there. This is a great book that is an important read for our times. I would recommend this book especially for high school and college students because it is that generation who will be confronted with the challenges inherent in this book. To obtain a proper perspective a humanity's potentially damaging power is all too important for our future. I give this book four stars instead of five not because there's anything wrong with it, but simply because I reserve five-star ratings for the best. "Brave New World" is not one of the best books out there, but it is certainly a worthy read nonetheless.
Another book that I'd highly recommend that is short and presents the philosophical foundation of "Brave New World" without the accompanying storyline is The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis.
Book Description
Ramona the Brave
The summer before first grade sure isn't an easy one for Ramona. She’s worried about starting school and it doesn’t help that so many other changes are going on in the Quimby house. And when Ramona finally takes her place in her new classroom, she realizes that first grade is not for cowards.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Now that Ramona is eight, she can go to a new school with a new teacher and ride the bus all by herself. But after school, Ramona has to stay with Mrs. Kemp and be nice to bratty Willa Jean. Back at home, Mr. Quimby’s going to college and Mrs. Quimby’s going to work. All the Quimbys have to adjust, and Ramona gets her chance to prove that she's "big enough for her family to depend on."
Average customer rating:
- Getting inside fear: a man's perspective (finally)
- Highly recommended!
- You will identify with Joe Kita --- no, you will love him!
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Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All
Joe Kita
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1579544940 |
Book Description
In his last book, Another Shot, Kita decided to get over his greatest regrets by doing them all over again.This time, Joe determined it was time to face his fears. An example to the rest of us, he made a list of 10 and set out to conquer every single one. He picked deep, dark, knee-knocking fears, like being alone, flying, and death. He tried solitary confinementand discovered that he couldnt make it through the first night. He tackled his fear of flying by taking jet fighter lessons (the results are too embarrassing to reveal here). To face his fear of death, he planned his own funeral and then, with the wry humor that he is known for, he asked a knife thrower to use him for target practice. In a courageous coup de grce, he set about tackling his fear of emotional pain and sadness, using a profound and rare form of body therapy that challenged his bravery no less than Chi-chi, the professional knife thrower.
Customer Reviews:
Getting inside fear: a man's perspective (finally).......2003-02-19
Although many intelligent books currently in print address the subjects of fear and anxiety, I had yet to locate one that speaks so clearly to the male perspective, that is until "Accidental Courage."
Statistically, we are told that the majority of anxiety disorder sufferers are women, so this lack of attention to the peculiarities of the male experience of anxiety is understandable. Although not about anxiety disorder per se, Joe Kita has written a masterful work that explores what it feels like to be a man in modern times who feels his life being gradually but systematically eroded by fears, both big and small.
Not content to succumb, Mr. Kita sets out to face his (and our) fears in fascinating ways and lives to tell the tale in this remarkable book. His insights, wit and wisdom will make you want to read this book over and over again.
As a man who has suffered with anxiety, this book really spoke to me. Mr. Kita gets inside fear, experiences it, explains it. He speaks honestly and thoughtfully, leaving you with the feeling you just had a long conversation with a really good friend. In short, I highly recommend this book. Joe Kita shines the light on fear, and we see it's really not that scary after all.
Mr. Kita, thank you for writing this book.
Highly recommended!.......2003-02-09
Joe Kita's writting is wonderful! I wish I could thank him personally for writting such a great book! I have almost finished reading it and I can't wait to go back through it again! I have laughed, cried and felt fear right along with him. He has done many things that I have been terrified of even thinking about but now I feel that mabe there is really nothing in this life that I couldn't face.
You will identify with Joe Kita --- no, you will love him!.......2002-09-19
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this terrific book and contribute a book jacket endorsement. Having just reread it, I cannot resist giving it another plug.
Joe Kita understands that some fears, "like termites," eat away at us constantly, and some fears guide us, protect us, challenge us, and ultimately lead us straight through to the other side of our personal hells.
Read Accidental Courage for inspiration, for fun, or both. But definitely read it.
Book Description
Tucked away in the corner of country, Gonzaga University, a small Jesuit college in Spokane, Washington, was maybe best known as the alma mater of Bing Crosby. In other words, it really wasn't known at all.
That all changed in 1998. That year, Gonzaga's men's Division 1 basketball team won their first game in the NCAA tournament. Then they won their next game. And their next one. Suddenly, the funny sounding school with little basketball heritage and a fraction of the resources of most big time college basketball programs, was one game away from the Final Four. It stunned the college basketball world and made the once unpronounceable Gonzaga a household name.
Most remarkable of all, however, is that Gonzaga has continued to stun the college basketball world, making deep runs into the NCAA tournament almost every year since then—and without compromising on the small-school values that still separate it from the basketball factories in terrorizes each March.
Little Big Man is the inspirational and touching story of Gonzaga's rise from college basketball obscurity to near mythic status as everyone's favorite underdog. Acclaimed college basketball writer Bud Withers has covered the Zags since it all begin. In dramatic, and at times poignant, fashion he reanimates the events of the last few years, adding flesh to the personalities and summoning the details, great and small, that make up this unforgettable story. Readers will meet players such as big time high school recruit Blake Stepp, who chose Gonzaga because of what it wasn't, a big time school. They'll meet Dan Dickau, who transferred from the big state school to become an All American and cover boy at Gonzaga. They'll meet former coach Dan Monson, who instilled a fearless attitude among the players, and Mark Few, the current coach who parlayed that into even greater success. Finally, they'll meet Father Tony Lehmann, the longtime chaplain who died in March of 2002. The inspirational leader of the basketball team, Lehmann touched the lives of untold numbers of Gonzaga players, past and present, and his life and influence courses through the story.
Customer Reviews:
wow, what a bad book.......2003-10-10
seriously, probably one of the worst books i have ever read. in fact, i used it to wipe... i live in a shack, so i also used chapters 4, 5, and 6 as blankets.
Zag Fans in the Boonies.......2003-01-07
Zag Fans who live in the boondocks like I do (Reno, NV) have had to rely on the internet and the GU athletic department web-site for information on the Bulldogs' recent success. BraveHearts provides a succinct recap of the GU basketball program's up and downs over a longer period of time. I attended GU from Fall '75 to Spring '79 so much of what B. Withers covers in this enjoyable book was news to me. The chapter on ex-coach and athletic director Dan Fitzgerald was good reporting and while Withers may not be John Feinstein, he has certainly put in the time and research needed to portray the Bulldog basketball program in a complete fashion-- warts and all.
If you're a Gonzaga alumni or related to one, this would make a nice gift.
Good school, great team, so-so book.......2002-12-28
This was a light, fast, enjoyable read, but in the end, my pleasure stemmed from the subject moreso than the author's skill. Having read many of John Feinstein's works, I was expecting an "inside" look at the Gonzaga program: the story of a season through the eyes and words of players and coaches. Instead, Mr. Withers cobbles together a series of brief histories: of the school, of the coaching staff, of the team, of the WCC, etc. Although there are interviews with coaches, players and recruits, it seemed as though Withers spent most of his time compiling and recounting articles from newspaper achieves and school promotional literature.
If you like college hoops, and have enjoyed Gonzaga's seeminingly improbable success in recent NCAA tournaments, then you'll enjoy this book. If, however, you want to know what it's like to be a student-athlete or coach campaigning towards the "big dance" next March, this book doesn't deliver.
Average customer rating:
- Beautifully written memoir
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All the Brave Promises: Memories of Aircraft Woman 2nd Class 2146391 (The Mary Lee Settle Collection)
Mary Lee Settle
Manufacturer: University of South Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1570031002 |
Customer Reviews:
Beautifully written memoir.......2003-01-07
Mary Lee Settle is an American writer who tells us of her experiences as a woman member of the RAF during WWII. Because of her wonderful literary ability, these stories are vivid and thought-provoking. They deal with the cultural differences, class differences, and wartime conditions she experienced. A memorable read - you'll never forget her confrontation with some of her fellow women RAF members or how she learned to understand them. Highly recommended.
Books:
- America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
- An Artist against the Third Reich: Ernst Barlach, 19331938
- Anatomy for the Artist
- Ancient Coin Collecting
- Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature
- Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature
- AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law)
- Arsenio Rodriguez and the Transnational Flows of Latin Popular Music (Studies In Latin America & Car)
- Art Deco Interiors: Decoration and Design Classics of the 1920s and 1930s
- ART OF POCAHONTAS, THE
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