5 comments about Amelia: A Life of the Aviation Legend.

1. I read this book with high expectations, being familiar with Goldstein and Dillon from their earlier works with Prof. Gordon Prange on the Pearl Harbor attack. As a short biography of AE it passes muster; however as a serious attempt to investigate her disappearance in 1937 it falls short. The authors rely almost completely on an unpublished manuscript by Capt. Laurence Safford USN (famous to Pearl Harbor conspiracy buffs from his role in the "East Wind Rain" controversy). In the few places where this source is quoted directly, serious errors can be detected. For instance on p.236, Safford rejects the generally accepted theory that Earhart's 157-337 line of position was a sunrise observation by Noonan, on the grounds that she was using magnetic bearings and "A discrepancy of nine degrees is hard to swallow". On p.239 we learn that the difference between true and magnetic bearings near Howland Is. is exactly nine degrees! It is clear from this that Earhardt and Noonan were following the standard practice in celestial navigation of working in true bearings. Evidently none of the authors or editors had even a cursory knowledge of air navigation. These kinds of errors make me doubt all the information in this book.



2. What makes a person become a pioneer? What was it like to be the FIRST PERSON to fly solo from California to Hawaii? The 1930's were a time very different from ours, but people still have to reach for the best within themselves. This is were this book reaches new ground. The authors have stripped the layers of myth away to reveal the wonderful and gifted human being that Amelia created. Trusted and respected author/historians Goldstein and Dillon (those wonderful folks who gave us the Pearl Harbor books, Photohistories of D-Day and Battle of the Bulge,etc) turn their trained and impartial eyes on this most enigmatic person. (The book has extensive notes and a bibliography). Amelia believed a women's place was equal to that of a man's, in not only aviation, but in all areas of American life.



3. (...) As soon as I started to read this book I couldn't set it down. It was really and truly inspirational, it shows you don't have to be a man, to do something thats considered a man's job, all you need, is determination and to have your heart in soul in it... but most of all do it for fun, do it becasue you love it! I read a lot of books and I know that you always have something to say or a lesson you get out of the story. Out of this book I've gotten knowledge of women heroes, of women leaders, and it also showed me to do what i want to do, when I want to do it, because you will regret it later. That's why I gave this book review 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!!



4. This is book worth reading because it incorporates for the first time in any published book the unpublished and uncompleted manuscript on Amelia and her disappearance entitled "Flight into Yesterday, the Amelia Earhart Enigma" by Laurence Safford, CPT USN (Ret). Safford was a famed cryptographer and a US Navy Intelligence Officer who gained fame for his role in intercepting Japanese codes prior to Pearl Harbor and for his insistance that Roosevelt and others had received the decoded "East Winds Rain" message signifying the imminent attack by the Japanese.

   They also include for the first time in any book, significant information provided by Earhart researcher John Luttrell.

   The book by Goldstein and Dillon makes good use of both Safford's manuscript and Luttrell's information and correspondence, but also incorporates several mistakes that Safford and Luttrell made and their (Goldstein and Dillon) book should be read with an awareness that it is not the final authority and that there are other books published concerning Earhart's disappearance that should be read for a balanced opinion of any conclusions. Those would include "The Search for Amelia Earhart' by Fred Goerner, "The Sound of Wings" by Lovell, "Amelia Earhart, The Mystery Solved" by Long and Long, "Amelia Earhart, The Final Story" by Loomis with Jeffrey Ethell, and "With Our Own Eyes, Eyewitnesses to the Final Days of Amelia Earhart" by Campbell with Thomas E. Devine.




5. "Amelia: A Life of the Aviation Legend". D. Goldstein and K. Dillon, Brassey's, Washington 1999, ISBN: 1-57488-199-X, PC 288 pages, plus 10 pgs. Notes, Glossary, Biblio., Index and 33 suitable B & W photographs.
   
   Both authors are well-published, and are excellent writers. Whilst a thorough coverage on Amelia is provided, emphasis is primarily focused on her character, but the book covers the usal A to Z's previously reported, thus nothing new was forthcoming. The Book is new enough to discuss some of the more recent searches including those by TIGHAR. The book is divided into 3 parts: I-Takeoff, II-High Flight, & III-Flight Into Mystery - and each part has chapters for easy reference.
   
   I did not detect any especial errors or omissions or novel features in this writing, but it is a somewhat tedious, neutral-ground read: in short, a truly wordy but accurate and lengthy overview, one appearing to be largely a straight-forward journalistic compilation or recitation of everything reported in previous works. Fortunately, not too great of space was provided to the immediate search attempts as the explanation of the radio communication attempts, etc. is best left to technical expert's interpretations.

No comments about Robert Louis Stevenson in Samoa: Home from the Sea.

1 comments about Language of the Mormon Pioneers.

1. Compiled and organized by Mormon historian George W. Givens, The Language Of The Mormon Pioneers is a straightforward dictionary of English words that were commonly used in the mid-1800s -- especially those by Mormon Pioneers -- and yet which have mostly fallen into disuse today. Terms such as "catechise" (verb - to question or interrogate); "priest bound" (adverb - overly controled by religious rules); "tippling house" (noun - a public house where liquor is sold by the drink), and more, these colorful archaic terms are succinctly presented with cited examples of usage drawn from historical real documents. A superb reference for anyone studying primary sources of American and Mormon history, The Language Of The Mormon Pioneers is a welcome and unique contribution to personal and academic Language Studies reference collections.

1 comments about Hudson's Bay Company Adventures: The Rollicking Saga of Canada's Fur Traders (Amazing Stories).

1. The early fur-trading history of Canada was not about exploring as much as it was about making money...and the author has brought to the book some of the most exciting stories and adventurers of that era. I liked how the author included stories about Native peoples and their importance to the fur-trade in early Canada.

2 comments about Wings of the North.

1. Dick starts off as a trapper and endures many hardships. He later becomes a barge operator and tells of many misfortunes as well as good times. Dick decided to take flying lessons, and becomes a well known bush pilot, living at Nahanni Butte on the Nahanni River. He tells many anecdotes not only about his friends, but also about himself. Prized reading for pilots. I donated my copy to the Avaition Heritage Museum and now would like to replace it.



2. Deciding to become a bush pilot at 47. Not the average! To do just a portion of the things that this man has done in his life would fulfill most. I read Nahanni first and couldn't wait to get Wings of the North through the Z-Shops. A well written joyus read. If you are a pilot, an outsoorsman, a hunter or just dream of a life without phones, faxes and the daily 9 to 5 drudgery, this book will take you away for awhile into the life of someone who has truely LIVED life. Most importantly, you never get the impression that the many things Turner has done are just "too much". That can happen sometimes with books like this. The photos are a wonderful edition. Escape for awhile or be inspired. It's up to you.

No comments about Frederick Russell Burnham - The King of Scouts (Biography).

No comments about Barefoot Conquistador: Cabeza De Vaca and the Struggle for Native American Rights (Exceptional Biographies for Upper Grades).

No comments about Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage.

5 comments about Journey Among Nations.

1. This book was wonderful. I felt a deep connection to the author through his extremely detailed narrative. His story of struggle, commitment, and growth is one we can all relate to. The author's eye for detail helped me to relate to what he went through and gave me a strong desire to see how his story turned out! I enjoyed following his from his homeland of Afghanistan to Israel and, eventually, America. This story is very interesting and heartfelt, and I strongly recommend this book to all!



2. This book took me on an unforgettable journey. The author openly and with great detail captures your attention and keeps you wanting more. His life as a young boy growing up in Afghanistan is fascinating. His move to Israel with his family as well as his time serving as a soldier in the Israeli Army is captivating. There are times you laugh and times you cry, as he brings you into his world. Its a great book and I strongly recommend it to anyone!



3. From the moment that I began to read this book I felt as if I was embarking on a journey with the author. He vividly describes his childhood in Afghanistan, and his family's struggle as they left their homeland and relocated to the land of their faith, Israel. The author's fascinating stories about life in Israel and in the army make you feel as if you are experiencing these events alongside him. They add a personal touch and with it a whole new level of depth to the entire narrative. I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to one and all.



4. Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali
   
   In Journey Among Nations Cohen chronicles his life and narrates where his experiences led him. The first seven chapters of the book record Cohen interviewing his parents and two of his uncles on life in Afghanistan. Cohen then relates his experiences for the remainder of the book.
   
   From the anecdotes and descriptions that Cohen provides, it is clear that Cohen's family is deeply religious and very close. The Jewish community they live in is also tightly knit. Jews help fellow Jews even if they have met for the first time. The Jewish identity within the Cohen family and in their Jewish community comes across as a strong and proud tradition.
   
   Cohen's family had been doing well in Afghanistan, but migrated through Iran to Israel as political conditions deteriorated in Afghanistan. In Israel, conditions were harsher than the family had initially expected, but they adapted. Cohen joined the armed forces and recounted some of his experiences during the Arab-Israeli conflict. A decade later, he moved to New York and traded in precious gems. Towards the end of the book Cohen moved back to Israel after spending a decade in United States.
   
   While Cohen has a lot to share, most of the book describes religious and family traditions and relates anecdotes. One does not get a sense of a typical day in Kabul, Tel Aviv or New York. While the book recounts events chronologically, one does not get a sense of how much time has elapsed from one section to the next. The anecdotes relate unusual and memorable events, veiling the humdrum of daily living from the reader.
   
   Cohen quotes several people throughout the book. Sometimes it is not clear who is speaking, or if a particular paragraph is a quote or the author's narrative. Some of the italicized terms in the book are not included in the glossary. Some of the entries in the glossary are not defined as sharply as "dictionary definitions" are.
   
   Cohen has led an interesting life and his story would be exciting to read. In my opinion, Journey Among Nations does not do justice to Cohen's rich and varied life.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: The life and times of the Cohen family.



5. As an avid reader and editor I am presented with works constantly for review, but this book by far blew away all competition. I laughed, I cried, and laughed a lot more. Very few authors are able to capture emotion and details as well as Michael Cohen does in this work.
   
   I can only hope he chooses to write more. Such an enthralling story it feels like a historical fiction - but it's entirely true!
   
   I recommend this to everyone, young and old, enjoy!

No comments about They Married Adventure: The Wandering Lives of Martin and Osa Johnson.