5 comments about A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon.

1. In "A Bright Shining Lie" Sheehan mastered the technique of writing the history of a complex subject (in that case, Vietman) through the biography of one man. In "A Fiery Peace," Sheehan attempts to duplicate the feat by telling the tale of the Cold War through the story of the creator of the American ICBM program, USAF General Schriever.
   
   Sheehan's gifts as a writer and the compelling nature of the classified subject of the U.S. missile program that has not been sufficiently addressed before combine to make this a wonderful book. It is an entertaining and informative read.
   
   At his best, Sheehan is able to show the combination of "victory disease" and the well known failing of generals who fight the last war to explain the complacency of men who went with an enormous B-52 force that was hopelessly vulnerable to first strike by missile technology that was initially ignored by the Americans. The portrayal of LeMay, who went from a truly great and creative WWII commander to a close minded tyrant lacking any policy and technology insight, is terrific.
   
   Also well done is Sheehan's brief recount of the the Cuban missile crisis in light of everything the reader learns from the story of the American missile program. It's clear that the Russians had tactical nuclear weapons and some warheads that were mounted and then unmounted from missiles in Cuba. Had Kennedy gone along with the military's recommendation for a massive strike and invasion, these weapons would have most probably been deployed on invading troops and possibly on some American cities. Then the massive American aresenal would have obliterated the Soviet Union and possibly created a nuclear winter for the rest of the world. Kennedy's choices are vindicated by this retelling.
   
   Also fascinating is the huge missile gap in the American's favor by the 1960 election. Sheehan portrays Sputnik as a great feat but as something of a publicity stunt. The Americans had the lead in deployed intermediate range ballistic missiles and in a practical ICBM at the development stage. It was not until the end of the 1960s did the Soviet Union begin to deploy practical missile technology that threatened a credible second strike capability.
   
   The problem with this book is that Schriever is not as complex a man as John Paul Vann, and that the Cold War is remarkably more complex than even Vietnam. As a consequence, it is really not possible to capture the Cold War through the biographical device used so effectively in "A Bright Shining Lie."
   
   Still, this book is absorbing and haunting in its depiction of men very comfortable with the deployment of massive nuclear strikes and even with the possibility of a first strike preemptive war. In the end, Sheehan is comfortable with more sober minded men like Schriever and sees his technology as having successfully deterred World War III. Perhaps -- but I get the nagging feeling after having read this book and others that we were very, very lucky to have escaped a nuclear holocaust during this period.



2. This is a definitive biography of General Benard Schiever, an immigrant from Germany who rose to the very top in the US Air Force. The book traces the history of the US air defense from the very beginning as the US Army Air Corp through the formation of the US Air Force. General Schriever contributed to the evolution from winged aircraft to the establishment of the US missile supremecy that contributed so much to the winning of the cold war, and laying the foundation for manned space flight.He had to fight incredible resistance, especially from General Curtis Lemay who believed passionately in the manned bomber. Woven into this true story is so much history up until this book has not been readily reported, especially interesting are his exploits during WW II. The contibution of so many immigrants fleeing the Nazi tierney during the 1930's is remarkablely described here.



3. This is an excellent history of the role of one American general and the development of the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). This weapons delivery system capable of touching any place on earth had a dramatic impact on the creation of the early Cold War and the interaction of states. The impact on the strategic outlook of many countries political leadership is hard to overstate. This is an excellent read for those interested in these topics. I highly recommend this book.



4. I knew I had to read this book when I first saw it. I had previously enjoyed "A Bright Shining Lie" and knew Sheehan is a good storyteller. In telling the story of Bernard Schriever, he's done it again with the "only in America" of an immigrant boy who made good. I am a former USAF missileer,and have spent time in Schriever's legacy organizations doing work on missile and space R&D, so I could relate to much of what is discussed in the book. Contrary to some of the reviewers who complains about the discussions of programmatic or bureaucratic details of Schriever's battles to get his programs on track, I found them to be fascinating and illuminating to the extent of what he had to do to accomplish his goals. I will quibble with some of Sheehan's technical errors in discussing some of the missile systems, but that's to be expected in a layman's work. The book is almost too short, and too many details skimmed or passed over to make it readable. I would have loved to learn more about some of the characters like Ed Hall, and to read more about the legacy Schriever left the USAF after he became the head of Systems Command. But these are minor complaints in an otherwise great read.



5. I bought this after hearing Sheehan interviewed on NPR.
   
   It sat on my desk for about two months. I've finally gotten to begin reading it and I am having a hard time putting it down.
   
   I'm fascinated by it-I think it's fantastic. If you're any kind of political junkie, if you want more back story about the Truman and Ike years, this book really fleshes things out.
   
   I think this was well worth the price.

2 comments about Tom Clancy's HAWX.

1. Decent novel. The characters aren't particularly likable (has "Michaels" ever even met a woman from Arkansas?) and there are a few technical mistakes involving which missiles are which, but the story is intriguing enough to make up for that. It has no ties to the game of the same name aside from a vaguely similar plot, but, unlike the game, the novel actually involves the program the franchise is named for. Plenty of action, suspense, surprises, some wonderful dogfights, and a clear setup for a sequel make this a must-read for anyone who's been keeping up with the other Ubisoft/Clancy franchises the mysterious pseudonym "Michaels" has been novelizing.



2. Overall this was a decent book. Not the best, but good enough to keep my interest engaged. However, all of the characters in this story are very shallow. Relationships are seemingly focused only on lust and sex. And the time in between many of the scenes in this book jump ahead suddenly and unexpectedly. The best thing about the story were the detailed dogfights that take place up in the air between advanced aviation aircraft. I envisioned the flight scenes from the movie, "Top Gun" throughout this storyline as good pilot takes on bad pilot.
   
   If you like a book with a fast read, shallow characters, and lots of adventure, then this book is good for you. Otherwise, save your money and stick with a real Tom Clancy novel instead.

No comments about P-38 Lightning vs Ki-61 Tony: New Guinea 1943-44 (Duel).

5 comments about Serenade to the Big Bird (Schiffer Military History).

1. First, the author was in my dad's squadron when he was killed in action. But his thoughts about the war while he was a bomber pilot sounded a lot like some of the times that are being saidnow about the current conflicts around the world.
   
   Bert's narrative of the different missions he flew showed the fear or devil may care attitude of other people who also flew bombers during WWII.
   
   Overall.. after 64 years the insite is remarkable.



2. In my vast collection of books on the 8th Air Force, this is the only book I have actually read twice. The first time was back in 1978 when it was titled The Keystone Mamma. At the time I was in high school, not much younger than the actual author. I found the book haunting in it's descriptive detail and non-flinching way in which the cost of the mission on friends, planes and the author is described. Years later, I (unknowingly) purchased the same book of a different title Serenade to The Big Bird. Soon realizing my error, I kept reading anyway as I found the book even more engrossing the second time around. This book does describes war in the only way it should be, stripping away all the glory and Hollywood, it puts you in the plane, and then punches you in the stomach with the descriptions of combat and the loss of members of his crew. When I finished this book (both times) I had a new appreciation for those who fought and flew for themselves and the United State of America. God Bless Them All.



3. The book arrived amazingly fast and was in the condition as described...............good service, good product.



4. Paid for with American Express to date have not received. Seller states that they will give refund, guess we will see.



5. After reading all the great reviews, this seemed a no-brainer. I waited for weeks for this book to arrive. What a disappointment. It's a very short read. Only 152 pages. I can't argue with those who were "there" who say "this is the way it was". Perhaps, but the book is rather boring. There are pages of text that include Stiles' musings while staring at the sky during the wait to load up the B17, or on days without a mission. He was thinking to be sure, but there is no deep philosophical thought here. Just: "I hate the ware and wish it was over" type stuff. It might have been "real", but it was boring. He has some flair in writing, but nothing really remarkable....certainly no Heminway by any stretch. I found myself just skipping paragraphs and then pages of boring material. If you expect this book to grip you with the intensity of the european air war, look elsewhere. It's just not there. Stiles was by his own account, a below-average co-pilot who didn't do much more than ride aboard his B17. I just can't see what all the fuss is about for this book. Mediocre at best.

2 comments about McGraw-Hill's ASVAB, Second Edition (Mcgraw Hill's Asvab).

1. I am very pleased w/ this guide. It is very thorough and well written. I would recommend it to anyone in the market for an ASVAB study guide. I haven't tested yet since reading this book, so I can't tell you how well it worked. I did, however, take the test right out of high school and I expect to do better after using this guide.



2. i ordered this book for my grandson who is going into the military. he says it has been very helpful

5 comments about The Right Stuff.

1. From the first lines of this book, I was hooked. Tom Wolfe has such an easy way of bringing to life such an amazing time in American history. I have always considered the Mercury-Apollo missions the pinnacle of American space flight. Plus, as a child at the tail-end of the cold war, I grew up with a natural distrust of the Russians. The Right Stuff blends the history of the beginnings of the Mercury program while combining a healthy dose of patriotism; and it does all this in with such a conversational tone that I almost felt that I was listening to stories from my grandpa. Lately this has been the non-fiction book that I recommend to most and I don't hesitate recommending it to anyone. Don't miss this one.



2. This book covers a fascinating period in America's history, and the fascinating handful of men who became America's first astronauts. However, I am sorry to say that it is not very well written. In many cases it is factually inaccurate, and if you know anything about flying or the space program, than certain mistakes or misconceptions become glaringly obvious as you read this book. Furthermore, the book is just plain too sensational. It over-states and hypes up the danger and the thrill-seeking, without paying enough attention to the technical expertise and scientific knowledge required of test pilots and astronauts. Tom Wolfe does no justice to the space program, to test pilots, or to astronauts, in this over-hyped, under-accurate book. If you want the real story of NASA, read about it from someone who was in the program, or at least from someone who is going to take the time to research their facts and write a good book. Several other authors - Michael Collins, Chuck Yeager, and others, wrote much more enjoyable, much more accurate, and much more meaningful contributions to the history of the space program and the test pilots of the 60's.



3. I picked up The Right Stuff, expecting to read a detailed history of the US space program; from the breaking of the sound barrier to the Moon landing. Instead Wolfe has written a book about the rare breed of men that have the necessary ice water coursing through their veins to fly the experimental fighter jets, and to sit on the tips of rockets. This isn't a book about the science and bureaucracy of aviation in the 50s and 60's, but instead a study of the psyche of the pilot.
   
   This is a fast past paced narrative which portrays the pilot of the cold war as a near mythical figure - an American David to the Soviet Goliath. In doing so Wolfe also examines the psyche of the American people during this time, and provides an interesting commentary on society. It harkens back to a time when America could accomplish what was thought unthinkable, by the sheer determination and true patriotism of its people. In a way that is almost hard for us today to imagine, these pilots not for monetary gain, risked their lives for their country and for the prestige of being called a true brother among pilots. Society today has a strange way of making celebrities out of the nobodies and the untalented. Reading The Right Stuff in 2009, is a reminder that America once extolled the virtue of real accomplishment, of being chosen from the select few, and from the select few proving to have the right stuff.



4. Wolfe really keeps you on the edge of your seat, and despite being accused of taking liberties with the literal truth still creates a book that will teach you a great deal about the history of the early days of the American space program. This is one of the only nonfiction books I've read that reads like a well written novel. I will be diving further into the Wolfe cannon because this book was so good.



5. Great book, completely flubbed by Amazon. Is it so hard to run a spell check on a Kindle manuscript before publishing it? This book is filled with ridiculous OCR screwups: letters cl being turned into a nonsensical d, for instance. And there are a lot of them. Amazon needs to fix this book and send us all an updated version that doesn't hurt our eyes or our brains.

No comments about F-105 Thunderchief Units of the Vietnam War (Combat Aircraft).

5 comments about Barron's Military Flight Aptitude Tests.

1. I began using this guide tonight and found out there are quite a few errors in the text. Enough to really piss you off. Save your money, its not worth the frustration.



2. I am a cadet in an Air Force ROTC program and just took the AFOQT. Other cadets and myself spent a lot of time studying together and I saw several different test prep books by this one was by far the best. I say this because the rotated blocks and instrument reading in THIS book looked EXACTLY like how they are on the actual AFOQT. Even the hidden figures used in BARRON's book were the same figures that I had to look for on the test (of course they were different puzzles though).
   
   And let me tell you... some other test prep books didnt even come close to looking how the actually AFOQT does. Also, all of the review sections in this book really help freshen up those verbal, science, and aviation information questions with detailed explanations of the answers so you can learn the concepts! 5 Stars!



3. For the AFAST section, there were several mistakes in the Barron's book in the test portion almost to point it was misleading me. The only thing the book really helped me with was Complex Movements. Everything else (Mechanical, Cyclic Orientation, Helicopter Knowledge) was just wrong. If you are going to take the AFAST, buy another book.



4. I am reviewing this book with respect to the AFOQT, which I recently took and achieved a near-perfect score: 99 (highest possible) in Pilot, Navigator-Technical, Academic Aptitude, and Quantitative, and 95 in Verbal. I credit this book in large part for my score being that high. (Although, obviously, not everyone will score that high just because they studied this book. I've always been a good student and test taker.)
   
   I want to stress right now, before I rip the book to shreds, that __I found it very helpful__ in preparing for the AFOQT. I managed to complete every subtest, which I'm told is very rare; I definitely would not have accomplished this without having taken practice exams first. (Two AFOQT practice tests are in this book.) I recommend this book to those who are studying for the exam, but with some significant caveats. So, with that said, I must be bluntly honest about the contents of the book itself.
   
   SHORTCOMINGS
   
   1) The book is fairly poorly put together. For example, I didn't even read Chapter 2 (pp. 19-68) because it's fifty pages of irrelevant information: specification tables and associated descriptions of aircraft after aircraft currently in use by the US military (weight, dimensions, payload, range, manufacturer, etc.). Who cares? The book's declared purpose is to help people prepare for the military standardized exams, and that's why I bought it. But, those tests do not cover this information. So, while this chapter may be interesting, it is completely useless for studying for these exams, and it should be omitted. It is a waste of time, and it fills nearly one quarter of the text proper. (The non-practice-test portion ends on page 228.)
   
   2) The book contains many errors, even within the practice tests/answers (at least for the AFOQT, which were the only two I took). This didn't bother me much because I'd read this about the book before buying it, and I'd decided to turn it into a challenge to identify such errors---you know you understand the material when you can do so. (You shouldn't ever just memorize what you read, in school or in this book; always seek to *understand*.) A simple example: the diagram at the top of page 162 is just flat-out wrong. It depicts the three axes of motion for an aircraft, but all labels associated with the lateral and longitudinal axes are swapped. (Search Google *Images* for, precisely, "airplane axes aviatorthings" for a very similar, but correct, diagram. See the difference?)
   
   3) One study area I specifically found to be lacking in this book was a section on basic aviation systems and protocols. It wouldn't need to be exhaustive, but a little coverage of some ubiquitous systems would be helpful. For example, a brief description of VOR. What do taxiway or runway lights do? (e.g. for glide slope, on landing) Or plane lights? What colors are all of these, and what do they mean? Are they solid or flashing? etc. I found a few of these sorts of questions did actually show up on both the practice and real exams. There were only a few, but it's enough to justify at least a short section covering them. (Omit Chapter 2; add a sub-section or two containing this information under "Aviation Information" in Chapter 7.)
   
   OTHER COMMENTS
   
   I did not read Chapter 6 (Mathematics Review Information), although I did quickly flip through it. This is because my formal training is as an engineer, and this level of mathematics was surpassed long ago. It appears to me that the section should be sufficient review for the test, although I'd definitely recommend that people practice the really basic stuff to attain speed and accuracy. In other words, practice your multiplication and long division skills on paper, because they're major time-consumers on the exam, and they crop up a lot. And learn to estimate if your answers make sense.
   
   Also, I read much of Chapter 5 (Language Review Information), but not all of it. Specifically, I did not read through the full listing of definitions for the nouns, verbs, and adjectives. I have a decent vocabulary, and most of the words were already familiar to me. This section might be useful to some, but I find that word knowledge and understanding comes more with use than just with a reading of a definition (though that is important as well). Personally, I found the information earlier in the chapter to be more helpful, but I can understand why the vocabulary lists are included.
   
   SUMMARY
   
   The book itself is only mediocre. But, the practice tests are invaluable. If you buy this book, TAKE THOSE TESTS! And, do so in as close to real-test conditions as possible. They more than make-up for other short-comings, errors and all. Also, skip Chapter 2, since it's simply a waste of time; instead, do a little outside reading on common aviation systems (e.g. VOR, compasses, meanings of light colors+flashing/solid on planes/runways/whatever, etc. You don't need to get into extreme nitty-gritty details, but look at the basics of the common systems.). Above all, take those tests, and apply what you learn! Time constraints are MAJOR factors in taking the AFOQT.
   
   Read my two comments below if you want to see how I compare the book's practice tests to the real test in terms of difficulty, and also if you want to see a listing of the errors I identified in the two practice tests. (I felt that including them in the review itself, while still relevant, would make it far too long.)



5. I can only speak for the AFAST. Barron did a horrible job with the Cyclic Orientation. It's more than obvious that who ever created this portion of the practice test hasn't the slightest idea of what it is like in a cockpit. For instance, Question #96 on AFAST #1 shows a horizon tilting to the left (the right side of the horizon drops while the left side rises). This is clearly a left bank indicating the cyclic is being applied to the left. Also the horizon is getting lower, indicating nose up. So the conclusion is aft-left. But no, the dyslexic SOB that wrote the book states the correct answer is forward-right. Most of the other answers are just as bad. #95 of AFAST#1 shows the horizon rising and just barely , i mean barely, tilting to the right. They state Forward-right for the answer, anyone with stick time knows that a applying the cyclic that far to the right is going to send the helicopter into a far greater bank than what is shown. Question 100, clearly a hard left, they state aft-right. Yes, i do fly helicopters, yes i can recognize the maneuvers and yes I am trying to apply for the extremely competetive position of Army Aviator. So yes this pisses me off. Barron, if people are going to PAY you to make a book to help them prepare for a test THEN GET IT RIGHT. Don't prepare yourself to fail with this book.
   
   Don't waste your money.
   
   
   Peterson's "master the military flight aptitude" is better.
   
   AJ

4 comments about Master the Military Flight Aptitude Test (Master the Military Flight Aptitude Tests).

1. I would highly recommend this book to anyone taking the AFOQT. It helped me out a lot. I think the only reason I didn't get 100 on the exam was because I ran out of time on a few sections. So definitely take the practice exams in the back of the book with proper timing, It will really help. Before the exam I was the most worried about the math portion and after studying the book, Im pretty sure that was my strongest section.



2. This book has been helpful and I actually heard about this book from a friend.



3. I do like this book for AFAST prep. The one downside to this book is the sections that ask questions based on pictures. The pictures in the book are poor at best and are in black and white.



4. I gave up trying to count the small typos in this book--and that was before I got to the technical parts! How can you have any confidence in the complicated information if they can't get the simple stuff right? Plus, they treat being a military pilot like any other ho-hum just a job...in case anyone hasn't noticed, this "job" helps defend us against people who hate us just because we are breathing! The book is mediocre--get the Barron's one instead.

No comments about Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds.