5 comments about The Age of Napoleon.

1. If you are looking to get a general idea of Napoleon from his rise to power to his decline this book is on the top of my list. Herold clearly shows his dislike for Napoleon by questioning Napoleons beliefs. Each chapter is seperate from one another telling part of the story of the age of Napoleon. This is by no means an easy read but after understanding the impact Napoleon has made on our lives we realize how important it is to understand what Napoleon was all about. The book allows us to look at Europe from the eyes of Napoleon and understand his methidology. Anybody who critizes this book for Herold's dislike for Napoleon does not understand that in order to write a great book depicting the times of Napoleon, one does not need to worship the subject of the book. It is better to have the opposing points of view in mind when making a decision.



2. This is a dated but still effective general survey of the period and the man. Contrary to what is claimed in some of the reviews, it is not particularly anti-Napoleon, especially compared to some more recent works, such as the big biography by Schom, which virtually boils over with hatred for Napoleon. Herold wants to admire Napoleon, but can't quite forgive him for his faults. The result is pretty balanced. Also,unless you've got a 4th grade reading level, this isn't that hard to read -- my students prefer it to the well-known Markham biography. Highly recommended as an introduction to the Napoleonic Age. The illustrated Horizon version might be even better as an intro because of the visuals. Herold also compiled The Mind of Napoleon -- a collection of Nap's words and writings for those who really want to get a feel for what made the Emperor tick.



3. This is the very first book about the Napoleon I've read. I picked it among other similar works solely because it was avilable in the local bookstore and I read about it here.

   The author offers a balanced view of great French leader. He puts Napoleon in his natural surrounding of Europe on the verge of modern era. Despite criticism aimed at Napoleon's actions, the author shows how Napoleon's fellow heads of state weren't any better than him, only less known (or successful).

   The thing I liked in the book is that it covered not only the main events that are already known to the general public but also the affairs outside Europe (USA, India) or on the periphery of the main theatre (Balkans). There is one chapter entirely dedicated to the philosophers of the era which I found interesting, but too long and little boring by the end.

   The reason I gave only three, rather than four stars is that author shows his general ignorance of the military matters and tries to cover it by neglecting the battles as much as possible. It is inappropriate in my opinion to write a critical biography of one of the greatest generals in the history of mankind and then neglect the field where the subject of the biography was the most successful. It's like writing a biography of Einstein with emphasis on the Einstein's character with few remarks about physics.

   I would not reccomend "Age of Napoleon" as the first book to be read about French Emperor, if anything, it should be accompanied by some other work with more emphasis on the military operations since fighting battles was what Napoleon did best and what made him a subject worth of studying.




4. I am truly in love with this book. It is excellently written and immaculate in design and execution. This will give you the general picture of Napoleon and who he was.



5. Herold approaches Napoleon in a very different manner, if compared to other authors. While it is true he does not concentrate on military strategy or on the battles per se, he gives us a very clear view of what was going on around in Napoleonic times.
   
   This history book concentrates more on ideas than on anything else. You're given a picture of what was happening all around the world, at least from an ideological perspective.
   
   I also find it quite usefull that he dedicates separate chapters to the different empires (Prussia, Russia, Spain, Britain....), so the book is not simply a chronological set of events. He is not afraid to go back in time to let us understand a particular subject, and then in the next chapter go back in time again, but concentrating on a different matter.
   
   The book can't be considered too easy to read, but then again, it's not a novel, it's a pretty complete history of Napoleonic Europe. As a matter of fact it's probably the best one I have gotten my hands on.
   
   The book is very well documented, and it goes into a bit of detail when explaining the sources so you come out with a basic knowledge not only of who wrote what about Napoleon, but much more importantly WHY.
   
   The last part is a summary of what happened after Napoleon, in the times of Napoleon II and Napoleon III, which I also found useful. It helps you situate Napoleon within the history of France.
   
   Overall, it's an excellent book and I would recommend it for people who want a good insight into the age of Napoleon.

5 comments about Self-Portrait of a Hero: From the Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu, 1963-1976.

1. This book gives the reader a great insight into life in the Israeli army from the inside. Johnathon Netanyahu is a real hero, not a plastic hollywood screen actor. A man of great intelligence (top 1% at Harvard), Johnathon faces not only life and death through his exploits in the Israeli army, but also life's day to day problems we all face.

   A man cut down in his prime doing what he kows best, saving others was his mission in life. He questioned what he was doing, what Israel was doing, and what the future would bring.

   Johnathon unwittingly wrote this book - not knowing that his personal letters would become the basis for this book.

   I read this book over 5 years ago, and it is testament to the power Johnathon held that I can still recall these things from memory.

   Top notch. Get it and you won't be able to put it down.




2. having read this book many times over and will continue to read it again and again and discovering more & more about a national hero



3. One plausible reason for the serious level of Jew-hatred in anti-
   Israel Arab countries(see for example,Palestinianmediawatch.com),is because if some of their
   troops were aware of who they were messing with,they would think at least twice about fighting the Jewish army and there can be no more powerful document of the Israeli army they are fighting-rather than the Israeli army,they've demonized than 'Self-Portrait'. Yoni's letters to his family-from 1963-1976-he wrote his last one in the book to his girlfriend on June 29,five days before the July Fourth Entebbe raid which he led -and for which he died at 30- the only Israeli military victim.General Shlomo Gazit had this to say following the Entebbe operation(p.297-298)"...The IDF operation at Entebbe was a brilliant military victory,reflecting imagination,daring,courage and professional skill of the highest quality anywhere in the world.The success of the main objective-storming the terminal building,wiping out the captors and guards and speedily liberating the hostages so that nearly all of them remained unharmed-this success must be credited in decisive measure to the commander of the force who planned,prepared and rehearsed the breakthrough-that is ,to the credit of Yoni.Perhaps it may be said paradoxically that precisely the success of the operation after Yoni was hit and did not live to see its extraordinary conclusion testifies,more than anything else,to the extent to which he prepared the force for its mission,to its precise and meticulous execution,so that it could be completed flawlessly even without its commander..It is of course, difficult to know how Yoni would have continued and what height he would have reached in whatever course he would have followed-military or academic.But whatever that course might have been,we have all lost one of the most wonderful,promising and outstanding young men of Israel."



4. "...I don't think he wore his rank insignia...word spread our commanding officer had arrived...I don't remember what he said, but I remember the spirit...He was not merely a commanding officer but an educator-a great educator I believe".
   
   My favorite accounts of his bravery under fire are the ones listed in the last chapter "From the Yom Kippur War to operation Jonathan (1973-1976)".
   
   Another soldier recalled the first contact with the enemy on the Golan Heights in October 1973 on Yom Kippur:
   
   "We were standing on the road looking for the enemy when suddenly heavy fire was opened on us, killing one of our officers...I was very frightened. What I saw then was a picture I'll remember all my life: suddenly I saw Yoni stand up quite calmly, as if nothing had happened...he signaled to the men to get up...he began to go forward as if it were a firing exercise...he walked upright giving orders...I remember my thoughts then as his soldier: Hell, if he can do it, so can I!"
   
   I love this account given by his second-in-command in 1973 and his deputy at Entebbe airport in Uganda:
   
   "Yoni conducted a battle the likes of which I've not come across even in the books...the Syrians were firing at us...I shouted to Yoni to cover us...but before I could move, Yoni had taken his men and in a matter of seconds stormed the place...And the picture I always remember is that of Yoni running ahead of 8 men and destroying the enemy force...This was a classic example of leadership under fire with relatively small losses."
   
   Reading this for me was a real treat, stumbled upon this reading an Amazon friend's review. Would like for my nephews to read this. His life and attitude are truly inspirational, a great role model for youth. Hard to imagine in America the kinds of hardships and true tests of courage that daily meet these young men in Israel.
   
   Not all of his letters are about fighting. The letters reveal the life and thoughts of an outstanding Israeli boy from his teen years up to the last few days of his life 30 years ago (+7 days to be exact).
   
   I was laughing out loud in the car with family when I read what he wrote to his fiancee before the outbreak of the 6 day war in 1967. Israeli soldiers it seems like to tell jokes before the campfire to calm nerves. The joke goes like this:
   
   "An Englishman, an American and an Israeli were caught by a tribe of cannibals in Africa. When they were already in the pot, each of them was allowed a last wish. The Englishman asked for a whiskey and pipe and got it. The American, for a steak, and got it. The Israeli asked the chief for a good kick in the backside. At first the chief refused, but...finally did it. At once the Israeli pulled out a gun and shot all the cannibals...(they) asked him..."why didn't you kill them sooner?" "Are you crazy," answered the Israeli, "and have the U.N. call me an aggressor?"!
   
   He evidently wrote very little about his military activities as I've heard the wisest soldiers do. You simply don't say a word. And under such intense pressure day by day, an intense faith is surely required.
   
   For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion...He shall set me upon a rock. Psalm of David 27:5



5. I first read this collection of letters when I was 18 years old and was totally entranced by Yoni's style, the imagery he evoked, and his sense of connection with the vast memory of the Jewish people--all in translation from Hebrew to English, with little or none of the literary impact lost. He wrote of the beauty and wonder of Israel, of the day-to-day struggle to defend his country, and of his own hopes and doubts and dreams, and he did so in a way that binds you to him. He loves Israel intensely, believes passionately in the idea of Israel, yet he is also keenly aware of Israel's challenges, not only from outside but from within. Yoni befriends you and becomes part of you in these letters. In the past several years, I finally made it to Israel and volunteered with the Israel Defense Force and brought "Self-Portrait" with me, walking the same streets, climbing the same hills, even helping out at one of the bases where Yoni was stationed. From experience, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to you, for it is real and it is moving and it will help you to comprehend the wonder of Israel.

5 comments about Nathan Bedford Forrest's Escort And Staff.

1. Just about the time you think you've seen it all on Forrest, including the old rehashed yet another way, Michael Bradley comes along with some great new source material. My hat is off to him. The book is well written with nice overviews of material that many of the readers may already be somewhat familiar with, but it necessary and complimentary to the subject of Forrest's escort and staff, and the addition of his new material. The appendixes with the rosters are worth the cost of the book alone. Two others were an unexpected surprise that I enjoyed, "Forrest in Literature" and "Forrest and Race", both of which were exceptionally apt at putting both into their proper perspective, something I don't think I've ever seen done so well, concisely, or in one place before. While a few photographs are included in the text, I would like to have seen more, and perhaps they will be added in future editions. Maybe it is just a personal thing, as I like to browse and read sometimes. There are some interesting images out there on the escort and staff, as well as badges only issued to them after the war. Anyway, I'd latch onto a copy, as I don't think you will be disappointed, and the author has managed to find a new niche not previously explored.



2. I just read the book and I must say I couldn't put it down till I finished. There were so many little things from 1st hand accounts of Forrest that I haven't found in other places. I have read all the books on Forrest and wanted more details, this book gave me several. There were also some first hand accounts and quotes in here that make me know Forrest was not the racist some try to make him out to be. Many accounts clarified his personality. The more I read of him, the more respect I have for him. There could never be a more accurate statement than Forrest led by example,(for friend or foe). That point made clear in a never before tidbit about him. The 6th US Tennessee had a reputation as looters and rapist. When Forrest and his men entered Purdy, Tennesse, the hometown of Col Fielding Hurst, commander of the US 6th, he sent one of his men to Col's home to tell his wife he was posting a guard from his own escort around her house so that she wouldn't be harmed. Knowing what her husband's men had done to other women less fortunate, the woman broke down in tears. It was the "do unto others as you would want them to do unto you", No doubt when Hurst came home and saw how well Forrest treated his wife, the shame of his own actions must have humiliated him.
   As for the Escort, they were as incredible as Forrest. This book is a must for anyone who wants more info on Forrest.



3. Other than providing readers with mini-biographies of different members of Forrest's escort and staff this book brings nothing new to the study of Forrest. The book is relatively dry and does not flow well. A glance at the bibliography reveals the fact that the book is poorly researched and documented.



4. This book is a "must" for all Civil War buffs and especially those with an interest in the most interesting civil war character , General Nathan Bedford Forrest !
   
   This book give details of Forrest's special escort & staff , that has never been know until this book . These we truely unique & talented men who served a unique & talented Confederate general . It enables an interested person to understand how Forrest "knew so well what his oponents were going to do" from superior intelligence provided by his special escort .
   
   We see how Forrest used his escort as "shock troops" , that could respond in seconds to changing conditions , that Forrest saw developing ! They were the "best of the best" , hand selected by Forrest and utilized to their utmost !
   
   The background of these men & their lives after the "lost cause" is most fascinating !
   
   The point brought up , in this well written book , is "did Forrest make these men outstanding or was it a mutual uplifting ?" I think Forrest "infected" these brave & talented men with "heroic quilities" , but they enabled Forrest to "succeed in emplementing his genius at deciding the exact moment in a back & forth battle , when a lightening-like strike to a point of weakness could change the entire course of the battle to one of victory for your side !" Forrest had this genius in deciding the moment to strike , but it took his unique escort & staff to be "Forrest's lightening bolts" !!
   
   A most interseting book and highly recommended !



5. There is simply not enough information out there about General Forrest's staff. This book corrects some of that. My ancestor Captain John Watson Morton Jr. has been recently, since this books publishing that is, honored as his Battery has two obelisks erected: One at Brice's Crossroads in 2003 for his brilliant use of artillery. He broke the yankees and sent them reeling and ADVANCED his guns ala a tank attack in 1864. This threw the yankees into a rout. This had never been done with horse artillery before and was a precursor to the tank attack of the first world war. Also at Parker's Crossroads Tennessee 1862 his Battery was instrumental in containing and forcing the surrender of a yankee force and he was personally mentioned in the General's dispatches for his bravery. The second obelisk was raised and dedicated there in June 2008. This is a matter of historical record. Unique for a small slight man such as himself to have accomplished. In any event I wish to applaud the author of this book as he does detail something about Johnny as well as the rest of the GREAT man's staff. General Forrest himself was and remains THE natural genius of warfare, and he is beloved in the south by true patriots. His men were only a reflection of his best.

4 comments about Castro (2nd Edition) (Profiles in Power Series).

1. good book and easy to read.



2. The author describes how the U.S. had an agreement with its puppet governments in Cuba until 1959 to purchase annually half of Cuba's sugar produce. He shows how this quota could be lowered or threatened to be lowered if Cuba for instance, built flower mills that would compete with U.S. flour exports to the island or if the amount and quality of the rest of its sugar, that which it did not sell to the U.S. under the quota, competed with U.S. growers. The 1934 "reciprocal trade agreement" allowed U.S. exports to flood the island.

   The U.S. backed dictatorship of Gerardo Machado was overthrown in 1933 and Fulgencio Bautista emerged to crush the movements of workers who had overthrown Machado, while at the same time instituting through his subsequent puppet governments slight social reforms. The communist party declared Bautista to be a swell democrat and several communists assumed cabinet positions once he took direct control of the government himself in 1940. Bautista governed mainly by dispersing state funds to journalists, businessmen and others to win their favor. Castro entered Havana University in 1945 in the midst of a much worse political climate. The government of Ramon Grau San Martin, bribed remnant groups from the 1933 uprising to take over many government functions and serve as death squads against the regime's opponents. Castro entered the University of Havana in 1945 and developed a political philosophy heavily influenced by the social reform and anti-imperialism of Cuba's independence leader Jose Marti. He apparently read Marx but wasn't much interested in it, contrary to his own assertions after he became dependent on the Soviet Union that he had always been a commie.

   The author gives an excellent analysis of Castro's economic policies once in power. He writes that the U.S. campaign of terror and sabotage and hostility to Cuba's economic nationalism made Castro's turn to the Soviet Union inevitable. He observes subtly that the United States had decided to fund paramilitary activities against Castro in March 1959 when the anti-Bautista liberals that it favored where still, formally at least, in control of the government.

   The initial policy of Castro and Che Guevara until 1963 or so was providing basic necessities for the population while working them hard to produce initial industrialization and then use the wealth from the latter for further economic expansion and further social benefits. Agriculture was neglected in this process and the resources necessary for the industrialization drive were severely lacking. Soviet advisors then compelled a program where the workplaces would be governed by capitalist notions of material incentives for workers, from and to each according to his ability, etc. The indigenous communists were greatly irritated by the chaotic, one-man direction of the economy, which Castro engaged in. In March 1962, Castro attacked a faction of the communists led by Anibal Escalante for undermining the Cuban revolution and putting their friends and relatives in positions of power. He quietly asked the Soviet Union to replace its ambassador whom he claimed had been involved in this affair. In 1966, as the economy seemed to be going downhill again, Castro began to push for a decrease in the material incentives for workers and instituted "voluntary" i.e. more or less required overtime work. The Soviets were disturbed by this and particularly Cuba's insistence on supporting guerilla groups in Latin America that would help Cuba break out of its regional isolation when the Soviets were calling for a non-violent "united front" approach. Castro boycotted the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the Bolshevik revolution in Moscow in October 1967. The Soviet Union began dramatically reducing its aid to Cuba. In 1968, there were show trials against "micro factionalists," pro-soviet communists accused of various crimes. But with increasing discontent with the austere conditions and voluntary work, if the enthusiasm for Castro himself remained high, Fidel decided to return to Russia's guidance, particularly after the disasterous sugar campaign of 1969-70. In 1968, he had declared the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia as a violation of sovereignty but a necessary evil for he saw Czechoslovakia leaning towards Capitalist restoration and he believed this would empower the U.S., which was seeking capitalist restoration in Cuba.

   Cuba began to develop under the chairmanship of Soviet advisors and Cuban officials with economic plans based on layers of delegated authority in industries. The 1976 constitution enshrined the "People's Power." The People's Power are the legislative branches at all levels of govt. in Cuba. At the local level, the People's Power functions as a form of direct democracy, greatly engaging the masses(within fairly wide but strict paramters set by the party of course).

   Cuba's revolution brought great gains to the standard of living of Cuban masses. Before the revolution, Cuba's per capita income had been falling dramatically. The average wage of the agricultural labor, marked by chronic underemployment and unemployment was $80 dollars per month compared to $120 a month for factory workers. But thirty years after the revolution, the life expectancy had risen from 57 to 74. Infant mortality rate had fallen from 60 per thousand live births in 1958 to 13.3 per thousand in 1989 (It's like 7 per 1000 now). There were 400 doctors available per person in compared to 5000 per one in 1958. There was none of the widespread disease and misery that afflicts capitalist third world countries with the best economic growth statistics. But with the collapse of the Soviet block and the loss of most of its imports and exports and the tightening of the U.S. embargo Cuba found itself in a dire situation. In the late 80's a campaign of "rectification" against corruption in the economy, material incentives for workers were scaled back and extensive criticism of Castro and other officials was tolerated so long as they did not question the legitimacy of regime's basic institutions.

   He also gives some discussion of Cuba's involvement in foreign affairs such as in Ethiopia-Somalia. Cuba entered Angola in late 1975 to help block the South African backed UNITA from taking over the country from the MPLA. UNITA and its allies, he observes, had launched military warfare an early 1975, breaking an agreement brokered between the guerilla groups to hold an elections




3. Balfour's book is very good at charting the political waters through which Castro had to navigate. He understands the complex nature of the pre- and post- revolutionary political structure in Cuba, and the way Cuban history has been determinined (to some degree) by American and Russian policies. If this is what you're after, this book is for you. If you want to understand the psychology of Castro, or elements of his private life ("what makes Fidel tick?"), there are glimpses here and there, but that's not the kind of book this is.



4. Although Fidel Castro has been constantly reviled by a large part of the political establishment in the United States, and the list of actions against his regime is extensive, only his death or physical incapacitation will remove him from power. That list of actions includes the following:
   
   *) An invasion of Cuba, we know it as the Bay of Pigs action.
   *) A very tough economic embargo that has lasted almost fifty years.
   *) Several attempts to have him assassinated.
   *) An attempt to have his beard fall out.
   *) Repeated attempts by the CIA to destabilize his government.
   
   And yet, Castro remains in power, almost completely unchallenged inside Cuba. This is a tribute to his political skills. When the Soviet block collapsed, the Cuban economy suddenly lost all of the former subsidies, yet he survived. Whether you agree with his politics or not, it must be admitted that he is one of the greatest political manipulators of the last several centuries.
   While Balfour makes no attempt to write a definitive work on Castro, he more than manages to capture the essence of the Castro leadership and how he has managed to survive. However, he fails to answer what continues to be the major question regarding Castro. Was he a secret communist before he took power, or did he turn to communism because he was convinced that it was the only alternative to the American domination of Cuba? To understand that, one must have knowledge about the history of American involvement in Cuba and the rest of Latin America.
   In many ways, it is a story of economic exploitation and often-direct occupation by the U. S. military. Castro had many reasons to believe that he would be removed from power by (c)overt U. S. military action, so it is plausible that his appeal to communism was based on necessity. I was very impressed with the balanced approach that Balfour takes regarding Castro. He is free with his praise for the elimination of illiteracy and how the rural population of Cuba was provided with basic services, including quality medical care. It is very impressive when compared to the rest of the Western Hemisphere south of the Rio Grande. He is also quite candid in pointing out Castro's failings; some of his foreign political and military ventures have been relatively unsuccessful.
   It will be decades before a definitive version of Fidel Castro's political career can be written and I am sure historians of that time will have significant disagreements about the degree of his success. However, there is one feature that all will agree on, he was a political survivor, probably the best of the last several centuries. There is no question that Balfour explains most of the reasons for Castro's survival.

1 comments about Prince John Magruder: His Life and Campaigns.

1. You certainly don't need to read this--his role in the war being minor enough to be mentioned offhand in great works like Shelby Foote's The Civil War--but you should. Magruder was a truely unique individual, and has long deserved a spot on history's shelf all his own. From his days at West Point and his subsequent service in the Mexican war, to his time on the penninsula, where his masterful mind tricks kept the Union at bay, and his banishment to Texas, which would be spared the horrors of Total War thanks to him and Kirby Smith, Magruder would earn a unique place in the grand of history, not only of Texas, but of the United States.
   
   The book itself is a short read, written in a clear, concise style--with plenty of maps (useful when covering the attack on Galveston). Paul Casdorph doesn't judge the man for his flaws, nor does he build him into something he's not; no, his retelling of Magruder's life is unbiased and, refreshingly, non-political.

1 comments about The Gift of Valor (Random House Large Print (Cloth/Paper)).

1. I couldn't put this book down! Michael Phillips tells the story so well, and makes you almost feel like you are there.
   
   Great Book!

2 comments about The Black Prince And The Sea Devils: The Story Of Valerio Borghese And The Elite Units Of The Decima Mas.

1. Every major military in the world has it's special elite units. The British have their SAS. The Americans the SEALS, Rangers, and Special Forces. Strangely enough, this trend began with the Italian Navy. Their Decima MAS unit pioneered the concept of small, specially trained units that did damage to their enemies far beyond their size. Movie buffs will recognize their exploits as shown in the 1958 movie 'The Silent Enemy' where frogmen attack the HMS Valiant and the HMS Queen Elizabeth using specially modified torpedoes that they ride into the harbour.

   It is nice to see that the Italian military is portrayed here as something other than the bumbling fools so often shown in American films and books. This book treats the unit as they would any other unit, telling how it got started, their training, their failures and their successes. This book is also the basis for a new movie called 'The Sea Devils' although I understand that the project is now on hold.




2. Jack Greene and Alessandro Massignani's The Black Prince And The Sea Devils is the story of Prince Valerio Borghese and his infamous World War II Italian naval commando unit will intrigue any with a special interest in World War II history beyond the generalist topics and scope. Green has authored four previous military titles and Massignani brings with him a special focus on Italian naval history: the two draw upon official archival sources and veteran accounts on both sides to separate fact from fantasy.

5 comments about Home Fires Burning: Married to the Military-for Better or Worse.

1. Upfront I have to say that I have been a military wife for almost 20 years, so I speak from a voice of experience. Ms. Houppert didn't write this as a documentary, she wrote it as a political statement. I do not have blinders on nor am I a military version of the Stepford wife, yet I found this book riddled with Ms. Houppert's own agenda. Her anti-war bias comes across very strong, yet personally I am not worried about whether she is pro or anti war, as it is her portrayal of the military wife that matters. Her one example of a successful working military wife in the beginning shadows the rest of a very dark and depressing saga. Next in line is the ONE example of a stay at home mom, a high school dropout teenage Mom who sits her developmentally challenged child in front of the television 24/7. Of course this stay at home Mom is also a self confessed soap opera addict, and it is suggested she is only staying at home because she is trapped. Then comes the horrible SECRET of domestic abuse, and stories of our guys coming home from the war riddled with questions, amputations, and the urge to kill all their loved ones. This book is a slap in the face to most military wives I have known in my just shy of 20 years experience. I know wonderful, successful working wives, and smart, gutsy stay at home wives and mothers, who are staying home because they WANT to. Our lives are difficult and have more challenges, especially with long deployments and the job we face coping with work, children, and household responsibilities with our loved one away for very long periods of time. But the truth is...we are DOING it! And doing it alot more gracefully and bravely than Ms. Houppert shows! I have never been a robot who kept my mouth shut...I know wives who don't agree with everything their Commander in Chief decides to do with their loved ones...i.e. Somolia under Bill Clinton...but we are proud of our men and women regardless. Ms. Houppert further makes her political ideology known by referring the reader to the "helpful" anti-war Cindy Sheehan promoting website Moveon.org, in the cloak of providing help for military wives and families. Yeah, right!!! We already have the help we need....each other!!!! And we are alot stronger and braver than you give us credit for, Ms. Houppert!!



2. Home Fires Burning really does look at military family life for better or for worse. Ms. Houppert does not sugarcoat the life of the military spouse like so many other books do, nor does she claim that military wives have made their own bed by choosing to marry someone in the military and therefore deserve to be unhappy. Given that such a small proportion of the population is being asked to carry the entire burden of the current conflicts - a book like this is important for civilians (particularly civilian defense leadership) to read so that they might understand the impact of the demands that conflict has on the society and way of life they claim to be protecting. I'm glad to see that Ms. Houppert is mature enough to say critical things about the military in a way that does not demean or patronize servicemembers or their families. We need more than parades, yellow ribbon magnets, and other trite penitance dished out by a complacent and disinterested civilian public. Military families need decent housing, good schools, and most importantly, the safe and speedy return of their loved ones.
   On a personal level, this is the first book I've found that acknowledges the emotions and trials of women undergoing the strains of deployment. Other books, such as the oft-reccomended "Surviving Deployment" prattle on for paragraphs about keeping a log of your daily activities (as if any woman with a husband out of the country has the time) but offer only a parched sentance that vaguely addresses the nagging fear, lonliness, and frustration- feelings which the Army culture teaches us to keep to ourselves at great cost to our marriage and our own sanity. This book was a great catharsis.



3. As a military spouse for over 10+ years, and having been in the position as an "outsider" and "insider", having survived deployments living off-post, having been involved in "good" FRG's and "bad" FRG's, having gotten the call that my spouses plane had to make a "forced landing" or had "been injuried", you can easily say I've "been there done that". Consequently, I can relate either personally or through the experiences of other spouses I know to each individual interviewed for this book.
   
   Having said that, I find the book to be extremely subjective and one-sided. I can't help but feel that the author is excerising pyscho-self analysis to reach the root of or "cure" her own misgivings about her personal experiences as a military child.
   In some shape or form each woman's story is overshadowed by her own experiences all of which are portrayed in a poor light.
   
   Military life is like life in any other society- you take the good with the bad, you adjust and overcome. All societies have issues that could use some improvement, and all societies also have thier high points or areas of perfection if you will. The United States military has worked extremely hard over thier 200+ year existance to exceed and reach perfection in all areas especially those of the families. This is LIFE in general. Personally, I think the author should follow her own advice which she so often quoted in her book, "suck it up". Military life is what you make of it.
   
   As a military "career" spouse, the only enjoyment I received from the book was the mention of places I've been or bumper stickers that I own, and not on a mini-van, thank you!
   
   And with the exception of a few years that I CHOSE to be a stay-at-home mom, during a time of deployment, I have always held a career oriented job and have never been on the receiving end of any type of critism, etc. from Command for working outside of the home.
   
   This is not a publication I would ever consider recommending to a new spouse, as the "true" story of how a spouse keeps the home fires burning is overshadowed with the authors personal "smoke".



4. I only made it halfway through this book and I do not like it at all. At first I found it interesting, as I like reading about the experiences of other military wives. I was a Soldier before I was an "Army wife." It is an awkward role for me, and I am still trying to figure out my place. However, I am very familiar with the other side of the fence and have come across several instances where Houppert gets it all wrong. She paints an inaccurate picture of military life. Post is not some fabulous wonderland where we all get free education, free swimming lessons, and cheap gas. Okay, gas might be a couple of cents cheaper than it is off post. At the gas station on our installation the lines are really long most of the time, the pumps are really slow and several of them are typically out of order. At our last duty station the gas station closed at 1700 every M-F and all day on the weekends. Where we are stationed, our son's swimming lessons aren't free. Lessons and pool passes cost just as much on post as they do at the Y, for both Soldiers and their dependents. The movie tickets are pretty cheap, but the movies are pretty old and the theater is NOTHING like one you'd go to out in town. You're better off going to the dollar theater off post. Tuition assistance and reimbursement are only for Soldiers. The Army's not footing the bill for the whole family's education. Child care is subsidized and the day care center here is one of the absolute best. I have seen really nice gyms on some installations, but the ones where we are now leave much to be desired. We had better gyms in tents in Kuwait than we have here. The Army Family Team Building classes are definitely NOT mandatory for Soldiers, and I have never been encouraged to take them as a spouse. Fortunately, various counseling services are free, but the majority of us do not require them. We're not a bunch of financially irresponsible druggies and alcoholics whose marriages are falling apart.
   
   For our family and so many others, the military works. There are good days, bad days. Good assignments, horrible assignments. The experience varies for every person and every family. One book, written by an author who is obviously biased and does not have her facts straight, cannot begin to tell the stories of the families who choose to make the military their life. I would not recommend this book for anyone, military spouse or otherwise. It will leave you misinformed and possibly frightened, depending upon your familiarity with Army life. Your best bet is Jacey Eckhart's "The Homefront Club." Eckhart offers good advice and a realistic outlook, based upon her own experience.



5. As with Tanya Biank's book about Fort Bragg, Houppert is getting criticisms that sound suspiciously the same: supposedly this book is unpatriotic, untrue, and, since she has a connection to the military life, clearly the author has some emotional issues she's trying to deal with -- oh, and she should supposedly "take her own advice" and "suck it up".
   
   Except (did the critics read this book? or just scan other reviews?)... at no time do I recall the author suggesting advice that amounted to "suck it up" -- quite the contrary! She has made a very articulate argument that, instead of attempting to get wives on board through "hearts and minds", so as to keep their husbands to stay in the all-volunteer force... that the military should improve pay, housing, child care, and make it a viable place for families to thrive.
   
   She makes a great point that utilizing spouses as unpaid volunteers in key roles not only thwarts their careers (a place where they can gain confidence and community while their husbands are away), but also precludes a professional staff that could do a more thorough and regular job. Having seen what a mess our own family readiness group was due to poor volunteer leadership, I heartily agree. And by the way, she is very complementary about the work of the mortuary affairs and public affairs officers.
   
   Strangely, the negative reaction to this book perfectly proves the point Houppert is trying to make, which is the pressure families and individuals feel to make the official military position their personal position. A book that parrots the accepted "truths" about family readiness, unit and community cohesion, and the sacrifice military personnel and their families make -- would be accepted glowingly and without hesitation. Again, if our military is fighting for our freedom of speech, of thought, of assembly, why so threatened that someone might not agree? For instance, in one chapter of the book, a wife is upbraided by friends when she admits she has issues with the war in Iraq - even though her husband shares her doubts. She is told by one friend, "I can't say anything because he is a soldier by heart and soul and wants to be there." ... the wife notes, "It's as if she won't allow herself an opinion because it might not be the same as her husband's!" But isn't her husband risking his life for our freedoms, like freedom of speech?
   
   I'm a former military wife, with extended family in three - count 'em - three of the five uniformed services. I have had friends in the other two. I also recognized many of the situations in the book, because either I'd experienced them, or I knew others who had. I have a young relative who is already struggling to manage her passionate love for her career and her husband, with her concerns about the shoddiness and isolation of her base. I only wish that the book had come out before we left the military; I found it heartening. I'm going to send it to my relative in hopes it might help her.
   
   I'm thrilled that some women have found military life to be the great love of their life, but it is often a complex juggling game for most of us, and disillusioning for others. That doesn't mean those who dislike the life are weak, inferior, wrong, or whatever. In describing this world, Houppert's words were well sketched, sensitive, and clear.

1 comments about There and Then: The Travel Writing of James Salter.

1. James Salter's writing style reminds me of Ernest Hemingway's. It is tight, crisp and colorful, intense and meaningful. The 17 chapters of this book, each capable of standing alone, display Salter's ability to find essential meaning in ordinary people, events and places. Yet his prose paints such glorious and beautiful word-pictures.
   
   The settings are from cities and places you may or may never get to see -- Paris, the Loire, Trier on the Moselle, Basel, skiing in Kitzbuhel and other famous Alpine venues, the Tyrol, Sussex in England, rural Japan, the Colorado western mountains, memories of eastern Long Island and, to set the tone of what's to come, the experience of having to declare at customs what it is, exactly, that you bring back from your travels.
   
   But the times in which these stories are set, well, they are gone and lost forever. We can experience them now only through the recollections of those who were "there and then". And, Salter is one of the best when it comes to bringing his memories to life and making them meaningful for us now.

5 comments about I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story.

1. When I first heard about the Jessica Lynch incident, i thought like most other soldiers at the time we thought she was a hero. THat was untill the facts came out. I served with the rangers when the jessica lynch incident happened, and most of us had already heard about the mishap. When the facts finally came out most of us were angry. Ive read the ghost written book, and seen the ghost written movie. For those of you who dont know what ghost writter mean its a book about a person or biography that written bye another person without much or any input from the actual person. However the actual interviews and personal statments of lynch are mostly diffrent. After the stories of the other people involved in the incident came out i knew she was no hero and that the real heroes would never heard from.
   
   The resons for Lynches hero status are for 3 reasons in this order.
   Pretty face
   A Women
   Politics
   
   For those of you who still believe shes worthy of a bronz star i will explain why she not. Most of these facts came from her interview with times and other television media (though i hate times i will use them anyway.) All these facts here down are by Lynches own admission.
   
   1. Didnt fire her weapon. Most will say her m16 malfunctioned and it did, though the trouble it had was the most common malfunction and easily fixed, a bullet got stuck in the chamber. This problem is easily fixed and usually caused by dirt (aka) sand or not enough lube. (why they didnt maintian their weapons is another good question) Every person in the armed forces from navy army air force to marines is taught sports (slap pull observe release tap squeeze) in basic no matter what their mos. Its one of the most important facet of military basic training. If she wanted to fix it all she had to do was pull the chargiing handle back, but nope she paniced.
   
   2. She tried to get another soldier in the humvee to fix it in panic but when they didnt (because they were to busy shooting) she threw down her weapon.
   
   3. She then curled up in a ball and started crying
   
   4. She had atleast 45 minutes to get over her sulking and atleast hand out ammo, reload weapons or even fix her own m16. (i might be wrong on time frame of ambush)
   
   5. she countinued to sulk as each of her fellow soldiers died around her.
   
   6. she surrenedered. Though i cant hold it against her for surrenedering.
   
   7. she came back home proclaims herself a hero with help of media and makes million dollar book and movie deals off of her dead friend, which wouldnt bother me so much if she actually did something heroic. And do give me the bull she want to be left alone, got to here website aka shrine to herself and look at the opening picture.
   
   Some of you might say well she never experinnced combat before and just broke down, while that may be true its not deserving of a heros status let alone a bronz star. She broke all of the core army values and then some.
   What makes me mad is that she was made out to be a hero, though there were several others people during that incident that did way more then she did and are deserving of silver and other medals.
   
   THe real heroes
   The soldiers in her humvee that protected her and shot at the bad guys while she sulked.
   Pfc Miller who was in a humvee few trucks behind her who deserves a silver star for taking out a mortar position with a "cough" malfunctioned rifle that he fixed.
   the other soldiers who died fighing.
   The rangers and seals who rescued her
   If you can trust the story, the doctors who protected her.
   
   The double standard
   
   Though i cant remeber her name off hand, the black female pow and 2 other soldier who were captured while fighing long before Lynches story. They didnt get bronz stars or a heroes welcome, why because their not a pretty face.
   
   And for those bush basher out there, no i dont think this was a propoganda thing to flm the rescue inbed reporters asked to come along with the rescue unit and they did. The hype over the incident was mostly the media doing, aka fox and cnn. The pentagon didnt put out the same number of release for the previous POWs.
   
   If you want the truth about the incident read her interviews right after the incident aka times and walter i think was the other one. The book itself is a sham.



2. This book is just what it claims to be, The Jessica Lynch Story. And she IS a soldier. All the reviewers who have chosen this format to start spouting political agendas based on their own theories are in the wrong place. People read reviews to decide if they want to buy a book, if they want to hear a bunch of media spin and MIS-information, then they can watch TV or read the New York Times.
   If Jessica had been a man and been rescued, that soldier would still have been given media attention, and probably a book deal. The battle that was fought during the time of her capture was one of the bloodiest and most deadly for our troops. Whether or not she actually fired her gun does not matter to me.
   Any solder serving in our military is already a hero. Anyone brave enough to sign up and go to war for our freedom, including the rights to speak about whatever we want, are my heroes.
   The people who sit home in front of their computers and televisions, spouting off arm-chair politics without knowing the truth are not educated enough in the facts to declare who is a soldier and who is a hero.
   So while I got off track in trying to compensate for the political reviews, suffice it to say that this book is an easy read. Well told from a young girls' perspective and something I would have never wanted to endure as a 20 year old girl; Rick Bragg has the perfect style to compliment the story.
   
   Soldier: 1.a person who serves in an army; a person engaged in military service.2.an enlisted man or woman
   Hero: a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.



3. At first I didn't want to read this story. This woman was subjected to some great cruelity, and there is not much pleasure in reading about that. Lynch was a young West Virginian teenager when she enrolled in the U.S. Army. Her recruiter told her she could see a little of the world and earn some college money. Fast forward two years, and Jessica is in the battle of her life. Her humvee in racing away after an ambush and then an RPG slams into it causing her best friend to die and her to be critically injured. She is then subjected to three hours of cruelity by Saddam's Fedyeen. The Iraqi doctors at the hospital try to save her and then she is "rescued" by U.S. Special Forces. The rest of the story is about her homecoming.
   
   Jessie's story shows the cruel nature of war. Some of her fellow soldiers were executed in front of her eyes. She was abused for three hours by the Fedyeen. Jessie wishes this war was never fought because she lost her best friend. It also shows the friendship and sympathy she gained nationwide and especially in West Virginia. A nice story about the difficulties of the Iraq War.



4. I just saw on the news that she said this was fabricated. While I think what she went through was horrible, and she did survive it. There are a few issues. First of all she was out of it most of the time according to her. She did not fire a single shot. There were several real herose in the book who endured torture and stuff like that. It was dumb luck and she made money because of it.



5. Counter Terrorist
   I Am a Soldier, Too The Jessica Lynch Story
   The Jessica Lynch book, I am a Soldier Too, is about her time in Middle East, and her coming home. This woman was caught in route that every soldier has to go on. She was conveying in thirty-three vehicles operation. Lynch, was driving a truck, for the duration of five hours, and she was only going about nine miles. While driving the
   trucks, her transfer case broke. This rode, was very tricky for all; the commander was only given a cd-rom, and a global position device. The commander only hoped he could skip Nasiriyah, which was the danger zone.
   This battle in which many of the 507 Maintenance Company was attacked and killed was early in the war. This was a company of cooks, clerks and mechanics. The unit did not have any anti-tank weapons or grenades.
   Their where a lot of thing that soldier needed such as more land navigation training, and armored Humvee, and bullet proof vests, in the start of "Operation Iraq Freedom".
   Lynch wanted to serve her country, coming from a patriotic place, like Palestine, West Virginia. She entered basic July 20, 2001.She was only 18.She went to Ft Jackson were their motto read" Victory Starts Here". Her recruiter Sergeant Grady never lied, she joined to leave, Palestine, West Virginia for a little while and to see the world. Her birth control glasses, a army term referring to government issue glasses was what she got when she arrived, and a uniform that was to big but I guess the Army hoped she gain weight and get more muscle and fit into them. The drill sergeant saw her as weak, she learned Army values.
   The continue decline of needs of factories, and factory workers, leads to little chances for young people trying to come up. This predicament only gives the young people of many rural areas, the military. They can only survive, and still be able to leave their matriarch or patriarch rule.
   A soldier is not taught much in basic, often as a soldier you are told, you will get more when you get to your unit, or next time the unit decides to train on common task.
   Jessica as a young private first class was really not given enough training, and being supply, often times is to busy to train. This really hurt this girl, in my opinion. She had a great fear of being left behind, and this fear is very normal.
   The Iraq enemy was known for raping their captive women. This is always told by friendly, while discussing their enemy, throughout history. Although, during the time when Lynch was found, and brought to the hospital, in which she was treated, there was three hours lost, and some evidence of anal assault. Lynch is not sure what happened.
   Lori Piestewa had slightly more ready to go being a Specialist, but had a shoulder injury. Piestewa had not pick up Lynch she would not be home today. The sergeant that went with lynch was put in anther truck.
   One must think their where severely failure to this mission. Since this occurred basic training is longer, and most soldiers receive more land navigations training. The 507 Maintenance Company almost got wiped out; because of lack of basic convey proceeding.
   The weapons soldiers used, has long history of failing soldiers in combat. The M-16 needs to go. No soldier could keep this weapon clean in any terrain, this jammed weapons makes people die
   Basic convey proceedings include, having a working radio in every vehicle. Having flags on each vehicle, so they can be easily seen from a distance. Everyone traveling at a convey speed, establishing a catch up speed. Their must be a rally point for soldier, if some trucks get lost. Everyone who is part of convey, must know were they are going. It is also nice that everyone gets a, strip map. The soldiers must have grasp on mounted and dismounted land navigation. More Preventive Maintenance Inspection (PMI), these things did not happen in the beginning of the war.
   Jessica Lynch was taken to a friendly hospital. The hospital she was in made her a POW. While there she thought she was being tortured. She had a lot of leg trouble and Iraq doctor almost, decided to take her leg. The doctor had put a rod in her leg that was the wrong size. Jessica had a nurse that would sing to her. Iraq tried to move her Iraq ambulance could not get threw American check point. Changed to Saddam Hussein hospital, nurse would sing to her. Losing classes made it hard for her to see, she was not sure why she was saved. Cut her leg off to transport her to make her dog and pony show she worried about Lori
   While in hospital Lynch often times had thought of her friend Lori, Lori had a daughter named Carla and a son named Brandon and a son .Jessica Lynch did not know she died. The care Lynch got in hospital was the best the Iraq people had.
   Jessica was missing in action. Her boyfriend, Reuben thought she was all right. The Lynch family watched the news, for clues, to what had happened to their daughter. But, the Lynch family really knew that the military gave bad news in person. The family really felt like she was alive because she had a ability to hide even just within herself helped her in Iraq, where Jessica was from, the mountains. The family would say she was "Country Tough".
   Many things had to be done to the Lynch home for Jessica return. The whole neighborhood chipped in to make the home safer for Jessica. The town people were not sure how this girl would come back. A girl that got good grades in school, was a good kid and played basketball and softballs, Worried about her nails and hair, they were not sure how she would come home. The townspeople wanted to help the Lynch family, the father drove a truck, the townspeople wanted any way they can, since they can't go over their and do anything. The mom cut out horoscopes
   Jessica injuries were right arm shattered, made it useless.3 places in spine. During the rescue a Special Forces soldier put a patch in his
   
   hand to keep her calm her. She said to the soldier am an American soldier too.
   The army event of the 507 Maintenance Company there is phrase that was used to take the blame off other, and that is it was not a wrong turn but a missed one. The unit was hit by a rocket propelled grenades on a rode they should never have been near.
   Two years, has gone by since March 23, 2003, when Lynch ordeal began. In March 2005, there was a two year gathering, in which Lori Piestewa was honored. Lynch was given an award, by the Native American Veteran Council. This was multi Native American Nation event.
   The Siox and the Havasupai-Grand Canyon Tribe's tradition were represented, in the medal presentation.
   A Foundation was made to help Carla and Brandon Piestewa.This is called the Jessica Lynch Foundation. Later the foundation also helps other military veterans children and other veterans with injuries, am sure we will hear more from Jessica Lynch in the future.
   
   
   
   
   1)I Am a Soldier, Too, The Jessica Lynch Story, Rick Bragg, Alfred A .Knopf, Publisher, New York, 11/2003.
   
   2) I Am a Soldier, Too, The Jessica Lynch Story, Rick Bragg (Audio book, author reads book), Random House Audio.2003 Jessica Lynch, 2003 Random House, Inc