5 comments about Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America.

1. Excellent book. Written like a novel and use of real documents well placed. I had a hard time putting it down. Gave greater insight to the Movie "Breach".



2. More gripping than any novel because it is true. Shocking. The lack of remorse in Hanson is chilling in its completeness. Wise is a great author. Highly recommend this book.



3. Normally, I do not read spy stories or thrillers, but after seeing the movie "Breach" I wanted to know more about Robert Hanssen and how he managed to send sensitive American security information - that put our country in danger - to the Soviets for 22 years without being caught.
   David Wise has told his story well. On page after page, he describes Hanssen's activities as an FBI agent, his savvy computer skills, his marriage, his large family, his staunch Catholicism. Wise also describes a man who loved pornography, described his sex life with a loyal and loving wife to his best friend, (as well as taping their bedroom activities and showing them to him). He also visited strip clubs, bringing one stripper with him on a government mission to Hong Kong.
   Wise details each secret "Drop" which took place in a Washington D.C. park, Hanssen's Soviet counterparts, and above all his betrayal of everyone around him while calmly continuing his double life - until one day - one small detail tripped him up. I couldn't put this book down - astonishing!



4. After watching the movie Breach, I decided to check out this book. It's very comprehensive and easy to follow for myself and fellow novices to this subject. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.



5. Author David Wise did a remarkable amount of research in a relatively short period of time as preparation for writing this fascinating real life story of treason and betrayal. Robert Hanssen joined the FBI in 1976 and over the subsequent 25 years rose through the ranks to the very highest levels of the bureau's counterintelligence unit. The trouble is that for the latter 22 years of his tenure, he was a paid spy for Russian intelligence.
   
   Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America gives an unembellished view of what is known about Hanssen's early life. his marriage, his career and how he systematically used his top secret clearance to sell out his agency and his country to three different Russian intelligence services, most notably the KGB.
   
   This fact filled book spares no detail in describing Hanssen's lengthy career. Some chapters make for rather dry reading while others are absolutely riveting. In the course of describing the treasonous acts of Robert Hanssen, Wise also touches upon the facts surrounding some other very interesting espionage cases. For example, the strange story of Felix Bloch to name just one.
   
   The Robert Hanssen story is a shocking one for a number of reasons and this well researched book lays it all out for the reader in relatively straightforward fashion. A worthwhile read worthy of a 4 star rating.

5 comments about Churchill: A Study in Greatness.

1. this book by geoffrey best will rank as one of the greatest book ever written about churchill full of wise summations and not too long thi work is recommended by the churchill society . for sure one of the very best one volume work



2. Best nos presenta una panorámica de la vida de Churchill. Algunos capítulos están mas inspiradoa que otros. Trata de mostrar una perspectiva imparcial del personaje aunque claramente se comprueba que le admira grandemente, pero no tanto como a su esposa Clementine. La extensión de la parte que corresponde a la segunda guerra mundial es mucho mas amplia (quizás la mitad del libro). Casi no responde las preguntas o dudas sobre asuntos controversiales que existen sobre la vida de este personaje.
   
   Como se comprende, al escribir sobre Churchill es necesario mostrar una parte de la hisoria de GB y del mundo pero esta se queda corta a veces para ayudar a comprender a cabalidad la circunstancias que rodearon a los hechos.
   
   En general el texto es bueno, muy bien redactado, fácilmente comprensible. Algunos artículos mas inspirados que otros pero todos interesantes.



3. A very readable book that provides balanced and insightful coverage of the whole of Churchill's life. I would highly recommend this book either to those who have not previously read much about Churchill or equally to those who have read other Churchill biographies or war histories and wish to take a fresh look. Of particular value is the way that the author take the occasional opportunity to dispel certain myths and revisionist ideas about Churchill.



4. Not a true biography but more than just a compilation of essays concerning Churchill's life and times, the author provides us with a 300+ page synopsis/chronology with a sprinkling of his thoughts, insights and conclusions. I found nothing new or "earth-shattering" here. On the other hand it makes a nice supplement, (i.e. much like Meachem's book on FDR and Churchill), to biographys/books I have read. If you are looking for a full-fledged bio start elsewhere, (Manchester or Gilbert), and if your interest is piqued as mine was, come back to this one.



5. A compact biography (384 pages) by Oxford Historian Geoffrey Best is far and away the best I have read on Churchill. The many facets of Churchill's life are covered in a series of essays from the author. Best summarizes Churchill's life with clarity and high degree of accuracy.
   
   If you're looking for a comprehensive study on Churchill, this isn't it. You won't find page after page of stilted verbiage here, but you will find a well written presentation of this fascinating man, perhaps the savior of England. If it is possible to write a detailed account of such a varied figure within the brevity of such a small volume, the author has done so admirably.
   
   Though the author clearly admires the subject, this isn't just another "I love Churchill" book. Best gives a fair and balanced account of many areas where Churchill may have erred, such as Gallipolli. The book is fair, and it is no-nonsense, to the point, without a lot of ambivalent inflection.
   
   I have a number of volumes on the life and times of Churchill. I may go to other volumes for research purposes, but this is probably the most enjoyable read I have encountered on the man.
   
   Monty Rainey
   www.juntosociety.com

5 comments about In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front (Modern War Studies (Paper)).

1. I was glad I bought this. I have read about 10 autobiographies of German soldiers who served in the East. This is one of the best. For reference, I have read about 50-60 biographies of western Allies of the WWII period.
   
   The Russian Front was truly different than the war the US and UK experienced. The battle careers of most of the western Allied soldiers were much shorter and were characterized by less gruesome conditions sustained over a period of years.
   
   For example, a majority of the US forces didnt' hit the battle line until 1943-1944. This meant one or two years of Hell. Men like this German spent two to three times as long in heavy combat.
   
   It doesn't mean the western Allied soldier was any less brave.
   
   What it provokes, is the question...how did they bear it so well for so long? Many German units were still fighting effectively until 1945 having started in 1939-1940.
   
   It is a wonder that most of the Landsers that spent years in Russia were not raving mad at the end. This young officer (risen from the ranks) shows an insight into the mind of a man of (in my opinion) near super-human endurance. Not cartoon heroics---rather keeping control of oneself and doing one's duty while serving an endless sentance in Hell.
   
   There are truly men who can endure in War far, far better than others.
   
   And, I believe there is no way to determine who these will be until many battles have been fought. You certainly cannot judge by appearances.



2. If the narrative ended with the fall of Sevastopol, I would have given this book a 5. However, the last third of this memior had several problems. During the final agonizing 2 years fighting around Lenningrad and the Courland, Biederman attemps a few narrative gimmicks that I found confusing if not distracting. He jumps to the omnipresent mode for a chapter and gives the account of the Soviet fighters engaged in combat against his unit. At other times (mainly during the Courland fighting), he jumps and gives a high level account of the campaign from the point of view of the Army Group or Corps level. These gimmicks seriously detracted from the overall flow of the dramatic events that led to his capture and imprisonment.
   
   Yet, despite these failings, In Deadly Combat gives the reader a birdseye view of the common German foot solider who spent his entire time on the Eastern Front. There were no glorious panzer battles or dramatic climaxes to famous campaigns. For Biederman and the hundreds of thousands of other Gefrieters, Russia was a place of torment, danger, and death. Of the 12 men orginally assigned to his heavy weapons Pak squad, only Biderman and a comrade survived. Biderman doesn't mince words for the German equivalent of the REMF. Despite the evil nature of the regime he served, and the terrible pyschological scars he incurred, Biderman remained proud of what he and his fellow gunners endured. Like soldiers all over the world, he found true friendship and comradeship with the men he suffered with.
   
   The memiors open with his units deployment into Southern Russia and the Uman Campaign. As part of the 11th Army, the 132nd Infantry Division is then deployed into Crimea. The Crimean Campaign, a battle totally void of panzers and mechanized units, was won mainly by the 6 German and Romanian infantry divisions that suffered through 10 months of pure hell. The reader will find this portion of the memior the most riveting. Biederman's division was constantly on the march either engaged against Soviet counter offensives or involved in the horrific assault against the Fortress Sevastopol. Biederman's account of the figthing, the climate conditions, and his interaction with the Tartars is griping.
   
   The last portion of the memior is concerned with his time serving with Army Group North. As stated above, this is where Biederman's narrative suffers. Which is unfortuante, as what he and fellow soldiers went through must have been beyond words. The visciousness of the fighting and deprivation of Army Group North during the 1943-1945 timeframe would be difficult enough without his meandering and narrative problems. Still, Biederman does offer some enlightening commentary. He sheds light on the Army Group Commander, Generaloberst Schoerner, that I've never read before. Schoerner appears to have possessed all of the qualities that comes to mind when describing that breed of officers one all too often reads about -the political General. Schoerner took great pride in handing out punitive sentences to any enlisted man he found wanting. According to Biederman, many rear echelon NCOs found themselves assigned to front line duties for even the smallest offences. Biederman, as a lieutenent, had one such run in with Schoerner. It appears the general didn't like Biederman's siutation report, and as punishment Biderman was assigned digging trenches. There is also a gripping account of the death of the 132nd Division commander, General Lindeman. Lndeman was one of the officers involved in the July 1944 plot to kill Hitler.
   
   Biederman, like the other members of Army Group North surrendered in May 1945. The Epilouge details the 4 years he spent in various Gulags. I think many readers may be offended that Biederman wasn't more contrite for serving in the German Army during World War II. What I think many people have to realize is that Biederman and the millions of enlisted men who served that evil Regime were survivors. Thier torment had to have some meaning; Biederman was wounded 7 times, and had few combat honors or medals. He witnessed untold, unwritten heorism at the platoon and squad level. The fact that he survived the war and imprisonment bespoke of a toughness that few possess. I'm sure he witnessed the occaisonal "war crime". But what combat soldier didn't? There were accounts of US and British soldiers killing wounded Germans or Japanese, but you won't find them in memiors. Those kind of actions have always occured during the heat of battle. But for the most part, the German soldier was not responsible for the atrocities that occured on the Eastern Front. The Waffen SS and SD have that honor.



3. I loved reading this book. It is full of great stories of near misses and high adventure in the face of certain doom. This book was given to me by someone who thought it looked "boring" and it had been left to them when the former tenant moved and was not bothered to take it with them. Their losses were my gain. I will read it again. Personal accounts are always subject to mistaken remembrances, fantasizing, over-indulgences, etc., but this story still rings true. As the son of a WWII US army infantry veteran, I am sure that my father would have enjoyed reading this book. Thank goodness this information was resurrected and preserved.



4. The book was originally written for the survivors of Bidermann's regiment and division, not for the general public. Bearing this in mind you will have a better understanding and feeling for the author's account of his experience of fighting on the Eastern Front during WW2. At times you might find the narrative old fashioned and even cliched but this is definitely not the case, it has to be taken in context of when and why this book was first written. This is a combination of a combat history of the 132nd Infantry Division and the author's role and experiences in the fighting on the Eastern Front. The author, Gottlob Herbert Bidermann, won the Iron Crosse First and Second Class, the Crimean Shield, the Close Combat Badge, the German Cross in Gold, the Golden Wound Badge (wounded five times), the Honour Roll Clasp and the Tank Destruction Badge. What is remarkable is that the author survived five years of combat on the Russian Front fighting in Crimea (in Manstein's legendary 11th Army), Leningrad and later in the Courland Pocket under the most attrocious conditions. I found his stories about his early years fighting with an anti-tank section using the Pak 37 "doorknocker" very interesting, I had always believed these weapons to be next to useless on the Russian Front however I was surprised. Generally, I found this book to be a very fascinating account of the fighting conducted on the Eastern Front from the perspective of a young German soldier. It offers some very interesting insights into combat and its effect on men who in the end just tried to survive against immense odds, but also some light moments which reveal the true character of the typical German soldier. The last chapters deal with Bidermann's imprisonment in various camps in USSR and the many hardships that the German soldiers suffered there. There is a number of absorbing black and white photographs supplied from private sources that give the book a human touch. The only real problem that readers may find with this book is the lack of maps detailing the movements and battles of the 132nd Infantry Division. Overall this is the sort of book that should be in the library of every serious reader or student of the war on the Russian Front during World War Two.



5. There's not much more I can add to all of the glowing reviews for this book. I'm fascinated by WWII history and have read many accounts, and this is a rare and excellent look from the German soldier's point of view.
   
   I would have given it 5 stars but for one thing: the publishers have included only one map. This book needs many more maps to illustrate the remote locations and battles described by the author.
   
   Unfortunately, this is often the failing of too many historical books about various wars. This book has a single map at the beginning, illustrating a vast area from Finland down to the Black Sea in almost no detail. It is nearly useless for understanding the movements of the troops as described.
   
   I would strongly urge the publishers to include more maps for the next edition -- surely there will be one?

5 comments about Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution.

1. Gerald Carbone has written a book that every Rhode Islander should read.
   Nathanael Greene was a true Patriot and unsung hero in this country's fight for freedom.
   
   Mr Carbone's journalist's background can be seen in his absorbing portrait of a true American hero.



2. In "Nathaneal Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution", Gerald Carbone provides the reader with an outstanding view of the American struggle for independence, at the same time providing tremendous insight into one of our country's most significant (and perhaps tragic) figures.
   The author's skillful use of the subject's own writings, as well as those of his contemporaries, provides the reader with an exceptional insight into both the characters and the tenor of the times. Exceptionally well researched and well written! An excellent read!



3. It is amazing that after hundreds of years of review and many factual accounts being written that an author can bring new life and perspective to the American Revolution....but Gerald Carbone has done it with this book.
   
   This review of the General Nathanael Greene's personal life and war time thoughts and actions are documented in letters to his family, friends, General Washington, and other major military players. These letters are woven into historical accounts of this war providing a play by play to the game of cat and mouse he played with British Generals in both the northern and southern fronts over many years. The race to victory over the second half of the book is especially exciting for a story which we already know the outcome.
   
   Over and above the insight into Greene's thoughts and never ending planning for the war, the book provides an interesting perspective of the communication, travel and logistics of operating a war in that time period. His personal thoughts of balancing the responsibility of leading an army in war time and family duties are also intriguing.
   
   Definitely worth reading for the whole family.



4. Gerald Carbone writes that Nathanael Greene's involvement throughout the entire war results in the general's biography being quite similar to that of the American Revolution itself. This is a good summary for the book. In fact, Carbone even provides a refresher on the litany of acts imposed by Parliament that precipitated the war and discusses some of the battles in which Greene was never even involved.
   
   The writing is succinct and moves quickly through the events. Largely, based on Greene's Letters (but, unfortunately, not those of many others), Carbone describes Greene as a meticulous tactician and fervent patriot. The reader learns exactly how Greene was so successful in battle. After initial defeats in New York and Pennsylvania, perhaps due to over-optimism, Greene distinguished himself in New Jersey - at Springfield and in a victory of sorts at Monmouth. His ability to impose discipline and thoroughly understand local geography and use it to his advantage was extraordinary.
   
   The second part of the book deals with Greene's Southern command leading to the British surrender at Yorktown. This is quite a thrilling read about partisan warfare and daring tactics. For a further account of the less discussed, but highly important Southern Campaign, refer to Walter Edgar's Partisans and Redcoats.
   
   Through all the battles, however, the reader learns little about Greene's character. Why was this man, raised as a Quaker, so intent on leaving his new wife and family and successful business to fight against the British? Was it ambition and glory that propelled him to seek positions of authority? Or was it genuine support for the Patriot cause? And if so, what had turned him against the British?
   
   Furthermore, Greene commanded the first segregated regiment in Rhode Island and he was not an insignificant slaveholder himself; however, there is scant discussion of his views about slavery. We know that most of the other Founders were against it, many of whom were from a Southern society dependent on slavery, yet they vehemently renounced it (at least in writing) and declared it to be opposed to the egalitarian principles of the Revolution.
   
   The author pays homage to Greene's military successes, but Greene, despite his absence from politics, was an important leader and deserves further analysis. Fittingly, the author notes that Greene was buried in an unmarked tomb - after reading this book we still don't really know who he was.



5. After reading Mr. Carbone's Nathaniel Greene series in the Providence Journal, I contacted him and asked if he had plans for a book. I felt that it was extremely well written. It kept my interest so much that I was anxious for the next morning's paper to arrive. It was written in such a way that you feel that you are there. As a big history buff and with the success of HBO's John Adams, I think that this book should be made into a major movie. Congratulations, GED!
   I highly recommend this book for all that are interested in American history.

No comments about SOE Agent: Churchill's Secret Warriors (Warrior).

5 comments about Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal.

1. Novelists and scriptwriters would do well to study this book. Macintyre weaves a tale from archives and actual accounts, which few spy thrillers have equalled. Eddie Chapman is painted as a unique and complicated character. His British and German handlers come to life as the brilliant and flawed individuals they must have been. Should make a helluva movie!



2. Great story would make a terrific film. Jaw-dropping exploits combined with a cluelessness that's very engaging. A great read. I see Clive Owen as Agent ZigZag, 'cause he's a ladies' man, a funny guy (who thinks he's suave) and hysterical as a spy.



3. First: what a character! Eddie Chapman, common criminal, daredevil, ladies' man, double agent extraordinaire recipient of the Iron Cross from Hitler, hob-nobbing with London elite...a blue-collar "To Catch a Thief" spy story.
   
   Second: a gripping can't-put-it-down tale, written like a great novel, chock-full of larger than life characters in larger than life circumstances.
   
   And, as it ended, I was sad that they're all gone...but enriched for having, through Ben Macintyre, known them.
   
   A great book waiting for the film that will do it justice.



4. This book doesn't just cover the technical aspects of Eddie Chapman's double agent adventures; it uncovers the man behind the story. And he's quite a character. The author has done extensive research on all the people behind the scenes who represented the brains (and the humanity) behind Chapman's work - on both the German and the English sides. It also touches on the amazing contribution of the folks at Bletchley Park who deciphered the Enigma code. Enjoy!



5. Ah, the story of Eddie Chapman; long awaited and finally produced (actually two of them on the same day, but the thrust of "Zigzag" by Booth ruled it out for me.) I had read Masterman's "The Double-Cross System in the War from 1939 to 1945" which gave Chapman six pages, seen the movie "Triple-Cross", and wondered what the story really was. The movie bore no resemblance to the truth as usual, but finding out the truth in spy stories is always a realm where educated guess and conjecture must fill in the frustrating blanks. Chapman's story rings true in every respect and well worth the read over the 2-4 nights it provides.
   
   Earlier reviewers have exalted or condemned Chapman, so allow me to state that essentially all spies/agents have a screw loose and a yen for danger, excitement and feeling special. They operate with governmental assistance well above the law -- a heady role that must in itself be its own reward. Few if any spies for western democracies have been justly rewarded for their endeavors, as such rewards are generally denied under the rubric of maintaining security. Most ex-agents are relegated to obscurity and penury while some are "terminated with extreme prejudice" (killed) if they are considered as security risks. In this respect, working for a totalitarian government like that in the old USSR has its rewards, as they tend to resettle ex-agents in government positions. There is something about a democracy that makes a spy untrustworthy to the public and unworthy of its respect. As such, Chapman was no exception.
   
   Agent handlers or case officers are usually like Ryde, Chapman's last British handler -- bureaucrats playing it safe and willing to sacrifice their agents. The agents themselves are often despised for their courage and exciting lives -- things well beyond the capabilities of their handlers. In order to be successful, an agent must outwit the enemy and fend off bungled, misguided and often hostile actions by his "friendly" handlers. In Chapman's case he was under suspicion from both sides and faced dangerous situations that would have been insurmountable for a man with less larceny in his heart. That's what makes his case so extraordinary and improbable. But true.
   
   Yes, Chapman was a cad and a career criminal, but many agents feature a dark side. So do many heroes. The difference is that the agent operates outside the law to be successful, and the best training for such activity is survival in a criminal world. Ask any under-cover police officer.
   
   Other reviewers have made an issue about what Chapman accomplished. Few spies other than Burgess, Philby, Hollis, Alger Hiss, Ted Hall, the Rosenbergs, or Penkovskiy make a lasting difference -- even Richard Sorge's impact is disputed from the Soviet archives. Intelligence is made up from a number of small fragments or information, often obtained at great personal cost by unknown sources. And I'm not talking about a case officer like Valerie Plame who becomes a media darling without taking risks. Chapman was an real agent who risked his life repeatedly, made some contributions, and that should be enough. If the reader wants a story with great successes, he will have to look to stories of those traitors listed above who had unusual positions of access to information of particular value to another country. Not every agent saves the world, but many taken together just might. FYI, I was disappointed to see the author use the trendy term "mole", coined by John Le Carre, instead of the proper term "resident agent" that was in use until the 1970s.
   
   With respect to the danger Chapman faced in Germany, it should be remembered that a number of individuals were constantly seeking to discredit or expose him, and if any single one of them had been successful, his life would have been forfeit after a period of torture. I suspect that none of the complaining reviewers would be willing to undertake such risks. Perhaps this is the "Mission Impossible" syndrome whereby we have become conditioned to expect truly impossible feats as requirements to hold our attention.
   
   The author takes great pains to limit his presentation to facts that are confirmed through multiple sources rather than relying on Chapman. No doubt we all would have wanted more of the story, but with the available sources exhausted by this book, we will have to fall back on our own educated guesses and conjecture.
   
   Read the book -- you'll learn a lot about how human intelligence is obtained or not obtained. The author does a good job of research and writing, and if the outcomes are not what we would want -- well, then, that is our problem.

5 comments about Hill 488.

1. Hill 488 is one of the most heart wrenching and unbelievable true stories about the Viet Nam war. Once you start reading you will not be able to put it down. These men are true American Heros



2. DEFINENTALY A BUY. this is a great book, even though the fighting starts half way through. Once the fighting started i couldnt put it down. Literally. I was up for 3-4 hours straight finishing it off. great for anyone with a love for touching war stories. this book hits real deep. Semper Fi. (this is the son reviewing on mothers account)



3. This book is a welcome change from any thing about Nam to come out of Hollywood.The courage,selflessness and grit will leave you feeling proud to be an American.



4. The ghost writer botched a decent history by trying to combine separate venues; i.e., history and story telling. Tried to immitate what was thought to be a Marine in combat - missed the mark - if you are interested in an intelligent first hand narrative of a Marine under fire read Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed" - you'll never forget that one.



5. Great read, this book tells an interesting story with a good buildup and appropriate detail. Not specifically a history book since it's more a personal retelling of a specific incident, it reads a bit more like historical fiction, and is thus interesting and worth reading for more than just history buffs. Of course, it is a true story and almost an unbelievable one at that.

5 comments about Soldier's Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point.

1. I read a lot of military memoirs. Here's a well-written book about all the fresh-faced young men and women who will - and now do - lead our modern army, and how they change as they progress through West Point and then go out into the frightening world of modern warfare in "the Ghan" or the "sandbox." Samet, Harvard and Yale educated, knows her literature and she uses it well in trying to produce well-rounded young officers. From Pericles & Plutrarch, Homer, Shakespeare and Malory all the way down to Randall Jarrell and John Irving - she uses them all as tools to make her young charges think, in the classrooms of "the last outpost," as she calls the English Department, which is apparently set somewhat apart from the main campus. "Yet we are, in our remoteness," she notes, "on our best days a place where curiosity and imagination can find refuge." Her methods must work, because Samet keeps in touch with her former students, and their letters are windows into their thoughts. These former cadets are no military automotons. They are "thinkers." I actually read this book last year, and was recently reminded of it while reading Bill Murphy Jr's book, IN A TIME OF WAR, about the USMA Class of 2002. Some of the people in Murphy's book probably once sat in Elizabeth Samet's English classes. Murphy's book will make you weep. Samet's will at times do the same, but it also makes you think, just like her lectures made her students think. As a female and a civilian in a military male-dominated place, Samet has a unique perspective, and one that is worth reading. This book is labeled a memoir, but there is very little about Samet's own life here, aside from a few tantalizing glimpses. That part of the book - the personal side - could have been fleshed out some; I think it might have made the book even better. Nevertheless, this is a very good book. - Tim Bazzett, author of Soldier Boy: At Play in the ASA



2. I met Professor Elizabeth Samet a few months ago when she came to Boston to do a reading and book-signing of her new work: "Soldier's Heart - Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point." One of her students, now 2LT David Addams, told me that I would enjoy meeting her and reading her book. Lieutenant Addams was right on both counts. Dr. Samet is a bit of an enigma; she is a civilian professor with solid Ivy League credentials - Harvard and Yale - who has chosen to teach at a military academy. In this book, she blends together artfully the worlds of literature with the world of a warrior.
   
   Professor Samet chronicles her process of acclimating herself to the unique West Point culture and ethos. She describes Dan, one of her colleagues in the Department of English: "Dan's speech is a wonderfully improbable amalgamation of the scatological and the academic. He wrestles with philosophical theories as if they are calves to be roped or deer to be butchered." (Pages 6-7)
   
   Samet does a nice job of highlighting some of the ways in which West Point is unlike most institutions of higher learning, especially with regard to the relationship between the Academy and the parents of cadets:
   
   "Organized parental visitations have always struck me as somewhat infantilizing. I remember my mother and father going to elementary school, even high school, open houses, but they never met any of my college professors, nor did they know the names of the courses they were paying for. Mine are not parents anyone would call uninterested, but there was a stage after which it became unseemly to manifest their interest on site. Yet my parents didn't drop me off at Harvard Yard for freshman orientation with the fear that I might one day be returned to them in a flag-draped coffin. One of my former students, Joey, while serving with the Old Guard in Washington, D.C., routinely escorted such coffins from Dover Air Force Base, and he has told me it is the most difficult assignment he's had, more brutal in its way than his tour in Iraq. The administration of the Academy recognizes the deep-seated need of the parents whose children it admits to see firsthand something of day-to-day operations. The opportunity to visit with an English professor for a few minutes and to get a report on their children's progress is therefore something, if not always enough, for parents wrapped in apprehensions as tightly as they are in those black parkas. Some trepidation must always accompany pride for the families of soldiers, but the imaginings of those parents in October 2001 were far more desperate in view of the fact that the stakes of American soldiering had suddenly been raised." (Page 10)
   
   The author makes it clear early in the book that she wrestles with complex emotions around the issue of teaching cadets who will soon be sent to war:
   
   "I imagine it would be difficult to know your students are going to war under any circumstances. As it happens, I remain unconvinced by any of the stated reasons given for the invasion of Iraq and dismayed by its civilian architects' apparently cavalier lack of foresight, and because many of my former students, in whom I very much believe, participated in the invasion and continue to serve in the occupying force, it is an adventure that has provoked in me deep sorrow and anger. As I look back on the last few years, I realize how frustrated I've become about not only the prosecution of the war in Iraq but also the ways in which our own country, even as it celebrates the abstraction of the military's sacrifice, has become disconnected in the absence of the draft from the individuals who fight." (Pages 13-14)
   
   In each of our nation's prestigious service academies, there is always a healthy tension between seeing the institution as a liberal arts college preparing the whole person to deal with the vicissitudes of life and leadership and the tendency to view it as a "trade school" that teaches warriors the nuts and bolts of their trade. Dr. Samet addresses this tension:
   
   "Champions of the liberal education cadets receive at West Point - and those champions include the general officers who lead the institution - are fond of the following quotation, sometimes attributed to Thucydides but in fact penned by the British general Sir William Francis Butler: `The nation that will insist upon drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its fighting done by fools and its thinking by cowards.'" (Pages 75-76)
   
   The English professor has an interesting perspective on how she views her teaching as providing another kind of weapon in the arsenal that her former students take with them into battle:
   
   "From the Alien and Sedition laws of 1798 to the USA Patriot Act of 2001, American presidents have tended to meet crises with legislation designed to curtail and suspend rather than to enlarge freedoms, including intellectual freedom and freedom of expression. That's why I relish the idea that `books are weapons.' It is terminology sufficiently combative for someone teaching students who may very well find themselves at the violent margins of experience, and over the past several years I've come to understand the many ways in which books can serve as weapons: against boredom and loneliness, obviously; against fear and sorrow; but also against the more elusive evils of certitude and dogmatism." (Page 88)
   
   In one of the most poignant passages in the book, Dr. Samet shares what it is like to be a woman left behind waiting to hear about the fate of the fighting men - and women -she has come to care about:
   
   "In the spring of 2002, I embarked on the Odyssey with the plebes. One of the things that surprised me about this group was their impatience with Odysseus, in particular their anger at his sojourn with Calypso, the beautiful nymph who effectively imprisoned him on an island for seven years, thus delaying his homecoming. This isn't what good soldiers do, they insisted with a ferocity I couldn't account for, and it wasn't what good husbands do. To the extent the poem awakened their sympathies at all, they seemed to be drawn to the hapless Telemachus, searching for his father, and to Penelope. Odysseus' wife wards off the greedy suitors feeding off Ithaca's treasure in her hall, with the ruse of the tapestry. Promising to marry one of them once her weaving is done, she sits alone each night undoing the day's work and thinking about her absent husband.
   
   Given that we were newly at war, it is likely that the cadets would have preferred the exploits of Achilles and Hector to the meandering of the disillusioned Odysseus. They weren't feeling disillusioned then, and their eyes were on the voyage out, not the coming home. If those plebes, some of whom are now no doubt in Iraq, ever think about the Odyssey today, perhaps its vision seems more explicable. Back then, they just wanted the poem to end. The war has also placed me in a new relation to Homer's ambivalent Penelope, who sits at home waiting for news of soldiers who have gone to war. I can tell myself I'm not a mother - not a listener and a watcher left behind - I can weave that tapestry every morning, but at night it all unravels to reveal that the fates have conspired to cast me in the most ancient woman's role of all." (Pages 120-121)
   
   In a wonderful coupling of literature with the emotional landscape of West Point, the author shares these thoughts:
   
   "West Point is no prison, even if cadets like to call it one, yet in recent years, against the backdrop of NSA wiretapping and the Patriot Act, the feeling that we are all under constant surveillance has grown more intense, and not just at West Point. When, in the context of this course on London in 2004, the seniors encountered Foucault's theories of disciplinary mechanisms in the Victorian city, they saw a parallel to their own lives. Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and Charles Dickens's Bleak House provided fictional accounts of watching and being watched that prompted them to reflect on their own status as disciplines bodies. One senior fond of reminding me that cadets are `national treasures' also knew that valuable things tend to be kept under lock and key. When he read in Bleak House of poor Jo the crossing sweeper, who believes that the eyes and ears of the police are always upon him and that Inspector Bucket is `in all manner of places, all at wanst,' the cadet announced, `That's us, ma'am, they are always watching us.' People who believe themselves under surveillance begin to understand life as a performance." (Pages 132-133)
   
   In a seminal passage near the end of this fine book, Dr. Samet highlights the skewed and distorted image that much of our society has of West Point, its cadets, and the military in general:
   
   "What worries me far more than any cynicism I see on the part of cadets is a certain cynicism about cadets - the cynicism of Brad's friend, for instance - on the part of those people who respond to the news that I teach English at West Point with an openmouthed stare of disbelief. My mother reports that on more than one occasion when the subject of what I do has come up in conversation, acquaintances have exclaimed: `You mean they read?' She thinks that such responses stem primarily from ignorance about the nature of the Academy's comprehensive undergraduate curriculum; she's more generous than I am. `Oh, they can read? That's a relief. What do they read?' asked an incredulous clerk at a bookstore one day, holding my bag of purchases out of reach until I gave him a satisfactory answer. As the Army, in the wake of Vietnam, became more profoundly isolated from certain important sectors of the civilian society it serves, the impression grew in certain quarters that the military was, to borrow a phrase from Tim O'Brien, a `jungle of robots.' In the context of today's conflict, moreover, the transformation of robots into martyrs, heroes, and other symbols of sacrifice has done little if anything to rehumanize soldiers. It is precisely to their ability to wrestle with faith and doubt that cadets most effectively refute the accusation that they are nothing but automatons or victims." (Page 178)
   
   By telling her story of the role that she and her colleagues play in integrating the wisdom of literature with the machinery of warfare, Dr. Samet has taken a large step in the direction of helping her readers to rehumanize their conception of cadets and the soldiers that they are being trained to be. I am personally grateful for the role that she plays in helping cadets, like David Addams and his ilk, become a more fully realized human beings, so that they can become more effective leaders - in war and in peace.
   
   Enjoy.
   
   Al



3. "Soldiers Heart" is a good idea for a book. Ever since reading the current Remick book "Understanding West Point" and his 1999 forerunner "Mr. Jefferson's Academy", both of which were unique in making extensive use of literature, I have liked the idea that soldiers can go into combat armed with literature in their psyche as well as courage in their hearts. The authors show that you can have both. Truthfully, however, I must say, I do get the impression that, before this book, the good Ms. Stamet had not done anything too remarkable in her life to warrant her making this book into somewhat of an autobiography. Though I do not like the author's liberal flavor of current events and her political correctness (and surprised West Point has someone like that teaching there) she HAS accomplished a remarkable feat writing a book like "Soldier's Heart" right under the noses of those who are supposed to be the Army's watchdogs of officer education. So, congratulations to Ms. Stamet on a well written book and on pulling this off.
   "Soldier's Heart inspired me to read other books on this same "west point" web page of Amazon.com. Speaking of the Remick book, one of those books (that I now think is probably the best practical book on leadership I've read) is the other current Remick book, "West Point: Beyond Leadership of Character". I would highly recommend it to every cadet and graduate who cares about their own future. As Ms. Stamet "dared" to write the politically correct book, "Soldier's Heart", Remick "dared" to write a book about going even beyond the leadership of character they teach at West Point. In any event, I commend "Soldier's Heart" as good, and I also recommend you go from good to great by reading "West Point: Beyond Leadership of Character"



4. This is a book by a civilian English Literature professor teaching cadets at West Point. The focus is on her relationships with students and colleagues. It is not evaluative or critical of West Point nor the United States military as much as it is a self evaluation. Samet's colonels and cadets provide us with some valuable lessons about how well this nation has accomplished the purpose of higher education and a national military academy in its free society rooted in the founding of both the Republic and the USMA. Adams and Jefferson, with their particular wisdom encouraged the multiplicity of educational paths which has given such strength to the confidence we have in our military services. The role of the volunteer citizen-soldier is well known to all of us via ROTC of our public and land grant colleges, but we may have less contact with the professional soldier who is a product of West Point or the other service academies.
   This book presents these people( women, now, as well as men) as both typical American college students and as somewhat different, shaped as they are by a precise career path, conditions and expectations. The career officers, typically graduates returning to the West Point staff after a variety of duties, are similarly depicted by means of anecdotes about classroom experiences and letters and meetings. This humanizing portrait, not always flattering, helps the reader to appreciate the complexities at the heart of at first sometimes seemingly silly situations. An incident of a hat left behind after class and a hatless cadet, torn between hatlessness in this most uniform of environments and unofficial borrowing of the hat unquestionably left by the taker of his hat, as well as an upperclassman's practical solution makes the value of a philosophical discussion of ethical choice understandable; although, the author does not draw the moral, we see the importance of balancing scruples vs exegency in a future life and death situation. What guidelines are there to deal with the always new nature of command.
   Samet offers some literary models to her students. I might include a few more, especially the studies of command in Conrad's Secret Sharer, Crane's Red Badge, the dilemma of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and clearly more Shakespeare, but the subjects she discusses are valid points of debate in literature classes. I must disagree with other reviewers on the author's "politically correct" attitude and style. We are trapped in English by our gendered pronouns, and sometimes "P.C." attempts are absurd, but this author's use is clearly situational. So, too, she takes care to discuss teaching, not the war. I was envious, however, of the continued contact she seems to maintain with former students. One of the pains of the academic life is that after a long career so many young people who are for a semester or two the focus of attention become sparks of a moment in a professor's life. She gives us a picture of a caring mentor to whom her students return.



5. I agree with the other grads. Find another book to read. This is too liberal, too politically correct, and too critical of our government. They're supposed to be creating leaders who are tough in mind and body, not cynical apologists. Anyone on staff who recommends this book should be separated, in my opinion. What is happening to West Point when things like this are not disparaged up there?

5 comments about Company Aytch.

1. Sam Watkins is amazing and a part of you wishes he were still around signing books.
   
   There are primarily two first hand accounts of the Civil War that get qouted a lot this one and Eliha Hunt Rhodes's "All for the Union." I like this one the best because unlike the guy who wrote "All for the Union" Watkins never moved beyond the rank of corporal. When Sam Watkin's joined the "glorious cause" in 1861 1,200 marched away from his home town 65 returned including Watkin's himself. Sam states many times that this is not a history of the war, just a few things that have stuck in his memory 20 years later.
   
   The book flows in a mostly chronological order and includes personal observations of Jackson, Bragg, Johnstone, the Honorable Jefferson Davis (who shook Sam's hand) and many others. These accounts are extremely insightful and even eloquent.
   
   There are the accounts of battles in which Watkins fought 1861, Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryvile, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and the darkest of all Frnaklin.
   
   There are also extremely entertaining elements of social history that are not directly related to battles but give you a good idea of how an average solider of the south lived and how they had fun; of these the segment "pass the butter" is probably the most hilarious. Then there is also the story of how Sam was arrested while on leave and one of his old friends from his home town got him out of trouble.
   
   Overall-This book has something for everyone and if Watkin's is correct and this book was not intended as a history it is definatly one of the most entertaining not-histories that I have read.



2. This book lives up to its reputation. If you have any interest whatsoever in the Civil War, whether you're from the North or South, you need to read this book. It has an immediacy that's lacking in history books, because the author was there and lived through some of the most hellish events in the war. And the kicker is that he was a great writer... Imagine if Mark Twain had fought in the Civil War and then wrote about it afterward. He has a gift for making you feel the exhiliration, terror, heartbreak, and drudgery of life as an infantryman in the Civil War... with a degree of literacy and introspection that raises the writing above merely a 'this happened and this happened' sort of account. His writing style is very accessible, too- this book is timeless.



3. My wife and I enjoyed reading this book together. It captured the day to day grind of life during the war years that southern people love to read about. We both recommend this insightful book.



4. 
   While this book is not for the beginner Civil War reader it is a must have for those that want to understand just how it must have been. Along with "All for the Union" "Bayonet's forward" and other Company level collections.
   
   This is an editted version and has cleaned up some of the grammer and errors per the author.
   
   Further the text presumes that the reader knows what is going on and makes scant reference to the common names for the battles he fought in or other forms of reference, hence the not for the casual reader comment earlier.



5. This book was written by a Confederate private who served in the Army of Tennessee for nearly the entirety of the Civil War. Published in serial form after the war (one reviewer suggested that his material was written during the war, such as a diary would have been; however, that reviewer is simply incorrect, and the distinction is important enough to warrant mention) and then in book form in 1880, this memoir of civil war experiences from a private's perspective is priceless in terms of primary source material. Watkins is frank and unapologetic, a quality that provides the historian with unique material in terms of dealing with the sentiments that the non-elite confederates often held.
   
   Watkin's candor is probably the most important feature of this work. His hatred of Yankees and often equally strong hatred of some of the Confederate command suggests an individual who probably defies current simple notions of Yankee/Rebel mentality. Watkins is often witty, especially when reflecting upon feelings that we would now understand as being imbedded in "class struggle". Of course, Watkin's frankness extends to his views of blacks and slaves, illuminating an individual who was both racist and yet not in the generally held stereotypical manner.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the Confederate experience from the perspective of the non-elitist point of view. This book would be great for a high school curriculum covering the Civil War era, and would also be a good part of any similar college-level syllabus. This is a relatively quick read (especially when compared to such works as "Mary Chesnut's Civil War" or "The Diary of Edmund Ruffin"), which makes it ideal for those just beginning their exposure to the Civil War or more specifically to the Confederate experience.

5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Veteran's Soul: Stories to Stir the Pride and Honor the Courage of Our Veterans.

1. This book is full of short stories by veteranns about veterans. I must recommend this book for anyone that has any affiliation to a veteran, simply the best, short stores from all wars and conflicts that will cause you to swell up with love and pride. This is a quick read and a must read, it certainly gave me pride to have worn the uniform. Mike - Des Moines, Iowa



2. If you never really appreciated a veteran, you definitely will after reading this book. This book has so many wonderful true stories about American veterans. Some of us never realize what they have to go through. I loved the whole book - it's hard for me to say which stories were my favorites.



3. This book was sent to me from a dear friend and I love this book so much. I think all Veterans will love it and heck anyone should. It is a book I will cherish always!



4. This book was given to me by a good friend. He thought I, as a Vietnam vet, would identify with some of the stories. It is one of the absolutely most enjoyable books I have ever read. I even slowed down my usual reading speed to savor the stories . Each day, in the sunshine of my patio, I read two or three stories. Every story got my full attention. I even found one story about a man I knew in the army. I adamently recommend this book to any veteran.



5. A truly wonderful book with numerous short tales about veterans.
   Perhaps I am prejudiced, being a retired USN radioman. These
   stories will uplift your spirits tremendously. Reading of the
   selfless actions of veterans throughout our nations history may
   add a new dimension to your life. What impressed me besides the
   shear joy of reading these stories is that each and every one
   was new to me. I suggest you keep some tissues nearby, this book
   will truly tug on your emotions. I've sent this book to 3 others
   so far. There's a huge series of Chicken Soup books. They all seem
   to be written with the same care as this one.
   
   
   UPDATE:
   
   At the start of 2007 I had one of those V8 moments and decided to start a mission for myself. It would be pretty
   easy. Simply it is to hand out a copy of this marvelous book to any veterans I might run across. Just a simple
   "thank you for your service" gift. I carry three in my car's glove box. I usually order 10 at a time here. So far I've handed out 50 copies. I really get into this! I was beside a guy in a truck at a red light with a VietNam decal on the bumper. I yelled over and asked if it was his. When he nodded yes I asked him to pull over I wanted to give him something. He pulled into an animal vet parking lot. Give him one, he had been in the USAF. I typed up a short note and staple them inside the cover telling a little about my service and what my mission was. Now that I have blown my own horn way too much I would like to toss out an idea. How about doing a similar thing where you live? You meet the greatest folks and feel super when you've handed another one out.
   
   Best Regards