1 comments about The Intuitive Warrior: Lessons from a Navy SEAL on Unleashing Your Hidden Potential.

1. Like many of his Navy SEAL brethren, Michael Jaco has served his country with honor and courage. I was fortunate to obtain an advance copy of The Intuitive Warrior and found it to be a terrific read in a number of ways. It is useful as a practical self-help book but it's so much more. The author presents an overarching philosophy of how we can transition from the old industrial age to the new information age and leverage that change to spread love and end war as we know it.
   
   The author will help you develop your mental and physical capabilities as only a former Navy SEAL can. We are all capable of amazing things. By developing his intuition in conjunction with his formidable willpower, Michael Jaco has set an example from which we can all benefit. I predict that this will be the best book of 2010. Read it, enjoy it - and incorporate these lessons into your life.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Navy Seal Fitness, Third Edition (Includes Free DVD): Updated for Today's Warrior Elite.

1. Man this is one serious workout, it's simple you want to pass BUD's Or be in the best shape of your life. Don't only read this book, do what it says.



2. I bought this book after taking the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge in May. I wanted to incorporate some Navy SEAL conditioning into my current fitness routine. This is an excellent book. The SEALS are among the most most fit individuals in the world, and there are some great routines in this book. I have no aspirations of becoming a SEAL, but I love the challenge of new routines, and pushing myself. This is a great book to have in your fitness library, a lot of basic bodyweight routines and basic stretching to add to your own routines. There is a great pullup routine consisting of 150 reps that is very challenging and a great addition to your standard routine of 3 sets of 10.



3. If you are looking to get in shape, look no further!
   
   Over the past 30 years I have done P90X, powerlifting, marathon running, tae kwon do, Crossfit, wrestling, 10K running, bodybuilding, etc.
   
   This book kicks [...] and takes no prisoners.
   
   It IS NOT hardcore weight training.
   
   It IS an excellent strength and conditioning book that will tax even very fit people.
   
   If you follow this routine, you WILL be pushed to the max.
   
   Bodyweight exercises, abs, swimming, running, and stretching are the core of the program.
   
   If you want to get in shape, eat clean, watch your calories and workout with the SEALs.
   
   Have fun and good luck!



4. THIS BOOK COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF TRAINING TO BE FIT PROVIDING YOU HAVE A GOOD BEGINNER LEVEL
   OTHERWISE YOU MAY BE DISCOURAGED BY THE 50 PUSH UPS TO BEGIN BEFORE TO BE AS FIT AND TOUGH AS A NAVY SEAL.
   MORE A BOOK TO PREPARE FOR BOOT CAMP THAN TO TRAIN IN YOUR FLAT .



5. This is probably the best book here in this catagory and I have about ten of them.

5 comments about Hard to Hold: (Hard to Hold Trilogy Book 1).

1. 
   I bought this book because it looked like one of Cindy Gerard's books and I hoped it would be as good. It wasn't! It lacked passion and character depth, the plot didn't engage me and I stopped reading after 70 pages! I wonder if the cover, so similar to the one used in Cindy's Black Ops series, was purposely done to snag sales!



2. I was happy enough when I was reading it, but a week later I can barely remember anything about it. Super tough macho ball of steel SEAL Jake Hansen rescues fairy princess, whoops no, doctor selflessly working for Medicine sans Frontiers (which is an excellent organization which I support) He kisses her, she kisses him, kisses are exchanged, and then he saves her and never sees her again, because he knows that rescuing has a psychological impact and isn't true love. Except... she still has the malevolent impossible to catch villain after her, so has to guard her, without letting her know why, so she starts to think.. what, that he likes her? that they could be friends?
   
   It was all a bit too crazy. The three seals were like teenagers in their rage and testosterone, and all too perfect in their cool heat. Isabel, the heroine, was better, in that she was more real and more relatable and frankly more fun. The sexual tension worked. but this is a library loaner, not a keeper, and I don't think I'll take it out to reread again. So I rate it a B -



3. If you love military romantic suspense at all you will LOVE this book. It is action packed with just the right amount of romance. Both of the lead characters were well written and had a good emotional depth to them. The storyline itself was good. I don't think there is a lot that I would personally change about the story. I am really looking forward to reading more from this very talented author!



4. STORY BRIEF:
   Rafe is a special forces soldier gone bad. Isabelle is a doctor working in Africa. Rafe kidnaps, rapes and beats her and then leaves her tied up in a hut. Navy SEALS receive an anonymous tip, rescue her, and bring her back to the U.S. She is so fearful of Rafe coming for her, that people close to her lie and tell her he is in prison. But he is not. After she heals she works in the Navy clinic where Jake is currently stationed. Jake was one of her rescuers. She is drawn to him. They have a developing relationship. She wants intimacy with Jake, but he keeps pushing her away (for her own good) because he knows she needs more mental healing time before she can have sex with anyone. Meanwhile Jake's commanding officer Cal orders Jake to stay close to Isabelle to protect her from Rafe coming back. Cal also orders Jake to lie to Isabelle and tell her that Rafe is in prison.
   
   REVIEWER'S OPINION (WITH HINTS OF SPOILERS):
   There were some excellent plot ideas, but the execution was lacking. The problem was that almost everything was "told not shown." What a disappointment. There was so much potential. There are various mysteries introduced early in the book. Later in the book for each mystery someone "tells" the story behind the mystery. We don't get to experience what happened using action, conversations, and feelings. For example, Isabelle later tells what happened when Rafe kidnapped her. Cal later tells the story of his past connections to Isabelle's mother and Rafe. Sarah later tells someone about things that happened in her past. And the worst telling was done in the final climactic scene. A kidnaps B and C. But we don't see A's actions leading up to the point where he is able to grab them. H is going to be the hero. I thought good, now I can watch some action actually happening - but no. I don't get to see H's thinking or action that allowed him to follow A. A just says how did you find me, and H "tells" him what he did. After that scene resolves, H finds C tied to a bomb. The next scene has the sound of a bomb going off and then H and C are in a different location talking to another guy. We don't get to see how H disconnected wires or whatever and got C free. In addition, there are other parts of the story which are told and not shown.
   
   By the end of the book, I had many unanswered questions. (I have a list but I'm not printing them here because that would be too many spoilers.) Providing answers could have been so rich. There was potential for so much more depth with interesting motivations and actions, but it wasn't done.
   
   I liked the characters, but their relationship was disappointing. Jake kept distance between them for Isabelle's own good. Another problem was the "separation/conflict scene." When Jake told Isabelle that he was ordered to lie to her about Rafe being in prison, she got mad at "him" for lying. He could have been court-martialed for disobeying an order. Why is she mad at him? Then Jake has his own inner monologue feeling "guilty" thinking "He'd betrayed her by not telling her the truth." Page 308. What? He was following orders. I was annoyed. The author should have come up with something better.
   
   I thought about giving it 1 star, but because I had some interest while reading it, I brought it up to 2 stars.
   
   DATA:
   Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 9. Total number of sex scene pages: 16. Setting: current day Africa and U.S. Copyright: 2009. Genre: romantic suspense.



5. I did not even finish this book. In my opinion it was just too scattered and did not flow well. I just didn't like it.

5 comments about Hold on Tight (Hard to Hold Trilogy, Book 3).

1. The Joint Task Force mission rescued the U.S. ambassador and his family from a hostile takeover of an embassy in Djibouti, Africa but left team members Navy SEAL Mark Kendall and FBI agent Josiah Miller dead in an explosion. Navy SEAL Chris Waldron and Delta Force operative Cameron Moore survived.
   
   FBI Special Agent Jamie Michaels questions Chris, who has some memory lapses from the moment of the explosion, and Cam to tell what went wrong. Chris and Cam separately insist leader Josiah ordered them not to enter the embassy, but Mark disobeyed the command. Later that night Chris sneaks out of the hospital to spend time with Chris alone as both remember the heat from their last mission together two months ago. Each wonders where their relationship will go as both have ghosts from their past haunting them. However, her boss informs her that Josiah did not die from the explosion as first thought. Instead he was murdered from a bullet between his eyes; a bullet that super sniper Chris could have fired using a war scenario as fog to cover up the crime. He is the only suspect. When someone breaks into her home, Chris vows to uncover the truth and keep his woman safe.
   
   The third SEAL romantic suspense (see Jake Hansen in Hard to Hold and Nick Devane in Too Hot to Hold) is a terrific investigative tale as the hero is the prime murder suspect and the woman who loves him is the Fed assigned to prove he committed the homicide. With a second romance enhancing the exhilarating story line, fans will want to hold on as Stephanie Tyler completes her best friends' SEALS trilogy with a rousing roller coaster finish.
   
   Harriet Klausner



2. HOLD ON TIGHT is the enthralling conclusion to Stephanie Tyler's Navy SEAL trilogy for Bantam Dell (Feb. 2010). In Djibouti, Africa, Navy SEAL/expert sniper, Chris Waldron has been hospitalized when he's injured from a mission gone bad. The Joint Task Force team is all killed except for Chris and Delta Force, Cameron Moore while rescuing a U.S. ambassador, his movie star wife and two kids from a hostile takeover of an embassy. Unfortunately Chris was knocked unconscious and doesn't have total recall of the event that killed one of his best SEAL friends, Mark Kendall and FBI agent, Josiah Miller. The FBI sends Special Agent, Jamie Michaels to the hospital to question both Chris, whom she has a past involvement with, and Cam. Their stories seem to agree of Josiah, the leader of the mission, ordering them not to go into the building but Mark disobeying the order first and then the rest of them following him. Jamie has to act all business with Chris during her initial interview with him due to his CO being present. However, later that night Chris secretly sneaks out of the hospital and visits Jamie in her nearby hotel room. Jamie and Chris' chemistry is just as hot as when they initially had sex in a downed plane on a mission two months ago, except this time Chris remembers to use protection. They both think they have a chance to pursue their relationship when they return to the U.S. However, Jamie has a dark past and was recently involved with her FBI partner, who was killed and Chris has had trouble breaking ties with his childhood sweetheart, who is now a famous actress. Shortly after, Jamie gets a phone call from her superiors letting her know that Josiah wasn't killed from an explosion but from a bullet between the eyes which makes Chris the primary suspect! Upon his return home, Chris first reports to the JAG office but then goes to visit Jamie, who suspects an intruder has been in her home. Chris takes after his Cajun father, who has second sight and his gypsy mother, who also had special gifts and died of cancer when Chris was a teenager. His parents raised not only Chris but also his friends, Jake Hansen and Nick Devane, who were troubled teens with bad childhoods, all joined the Navy SEALs and still share their family home in Virginia. To further add to their problems someone is after Jamie. Can Jamie and Chris figure out what really happened on Chris' mission to get him out of trouble and perhaps clear the way for them becoming a family? Stephanie Tyler not only delivers her signature passion but really ratchets up the suspense in the fantastic HOLD ON TIGHT with another hot double love story. Romance fans will not only want to hold onto this book for their keepers shelves but also its two predecessors: HARD TO HOLD (Jake's story/Dec. 2009) and TOO HOT TO HOLD (Nick's story/Jan. 2010). Plus the anticipation will be great for more terrific military romantic suspenses from Ms. Tyler coming fall 2010 with LIE TO ME (Cam's story) and PROMISES IN THE DARK (Zane's story).



3. I am a fan of Stephanie Tyler's writing, though I do not always like the way her books end up (see my one star review of book two). But here, in the final book of the trilogy, all that's good about Tyler comes together. I enjoyed this one.
   
   My favourite story was Jake and Isabelle's - the first one - but this is by far a better book. It is more focused - earlier books had many tangents - and all of the characters come together to work towards the same thing.
   
   Chris and Jamie's story started in the last book, when they travelled together to Africa to find Jamie's sister, and ended up as lovers. But they walked away from each other, and now an investigation into a murder has thrown them back together. Jamie grew up in Witness Protection and now her past is catching up with her. Everything comes together so well - something Tyler was unable to do in the last installment - that I found I just couldn't put it down.
   
   I wasn't certain I was going to like Chris all that much - he came off as a weirdo in the first two books, and I wasn't interested in him delivering any more babies here (he doesn't). But I fell a little in love with him in this story. He's a strong, powerful character.
   
   I also wasn't so sure about the psychic aspect of some of the characters in earlier books. I love the paranormal as much as any other genre, but when I picked up a book about Navy SEALS I expected reality, and wasn't a fan of the mix. However, in this book the psychic characters are not secondary, an afterthought, and because it is so ingrained into the entire plot I was better able to accept it.
   
   On the negative front, I found it strange that there wasn't much in the way of character description. My image of the characters came from the earlier books - I'm sure Jamie wasn't described once in the entire book. Perhaps I missed it, but I don't even remember being told her hair colour in this one. Good thing I read the others!
   
   Stephanie Tyler is up against some tough competition when it comes to military romantic suspense - anybody who likes this series needs to read Cindy Gerard, Shannon K Butcher, and Christy Reece just about fits into the genre too. I think with this book she has proven she has what it takes, and I was very, very happy to see how well she managed here. There are more connected books on the way, and I will definitely be reading them.



4. Chris's story is the finale of Stephanie Tyler's "Hard To Hold" trilogy and I loved this book and the trilogy so much I was sorry when it ended. I have to admit to being a little bias about this novel because I had a thing for Chris Waldron right from the beginning when he was introduced in "Hard To Hold". As his character was developed and integrated into the plot of "Too Hot To Hold", I new he would likely become my favorite. There is the fact certainly that I am attracted to heroes with a New Orleans drawl, but there is far more to Chief Petty Officer Chris Waldron then just an accent. He is the SEAL team's sniper and therefore focused and lethal, however he is also their medic, is sensitive and very intuitive, he in fact has a psychic gift. Chris is like a force of nature, he ia driven, charismatic and has a special way with women, a "magic touch" as it were, likely related to his `gift' which he never really wanted or appreciated.
   
   FBI Agent Jamie Michaels is a complex heroine, raised in witness protection under the US Marshal's jurisdiction she built a thick wall around herself, sharing the secrets of her family with no one. Jamie met Chris as part of a romance/suspense subplot in "Too Hot To Hold", and their sexual chemistry and attraction was instantaneous and undeniable. In a downed plane, surrounded by danger and under the worst of circumstances they became intimate. Chris wanted to be with Jamie, but she wasn't ready to make any sort of commitment so at the end of the day, she let him walk away.
   
   As the synopsis of "Hold On Tight" indicates Chris and Jamie are thrown back together following the dismal failure of a high stakes mission in Africa. Chris and other SEAL teammates were part of a Joint Task Force, the leader of the mission, an FBI agent `Josiah' is killed during a chaotic riot outside an embassy. In addition, Chris's friend and teammate Mark is tortured and killed by the rebels. It was a horrific mission marked by tragedy and loss as only Chris and one other SEAL escape. Chris wakes up in a military hospital in Africa wounded both physically and emotionally.
   
   Jamie Michaels is the FBI Agent assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding Josiah's death. Following an initial investigation into what happened Chris is suspected of killing Josiah for a variety of reasons. It is under these unfortunate and unlikely circumstances that Chris Waldron and Jamie Michaels are forced back together and while she particularly is reluctant to get involved with him again, neither can deny their feelings, or attraction.
   
   Upon their return to the United States, Jamie's past comes back to haunt her, there is a break in at her home. Then Chris, against best advice arrives on her doorstep and shares some shocking personal news that will either help to bind them together or push them apart. The love scenes between Jamie and Chris are erotic, special and amplified by ever present danger. I have to comment that Chris Waldron has the best medicine for migraine relief on the planet. *g*
   
   As the investigation into the failed mission in Africa comes to a close, the threat against Jamie escalates resulting in a life and death situation that requires Chris, Jake, Nick and their commander John "Saint" St. James" to work together to protect and save her and her sister Patricia Jean or "PJ". The plot of this story is extremely fast paced, complex and full of twists and turns.
   
   I really liked Saint, as with Jake, Nick and Chris, he is career military and a "tortured" hero. Saint meets PJ on the beach outside his home and their relationship quickly turns from adversarial to lovers. PJ's story is a complicated one and both she and Saint help each other to `feel' again.
   
   There are some particularly heartbreaking scenes in "Hold On Tight", and I was moved to tears on more than one occasion. Chris is suffering from significant PTSD because of what happened during that last mission in Africa, he has a secret and he is keeping it close. As a result, he hasn't been able to fire his weapon since returning from Africa. During a tense, frightening climax to this story involving a deranged psychopathic killer and a hostage standoff he is faced with having to use his exceptional skill as a Navy SEAL sniper or lose someone that has become very important in his life.
   
   If you enjoy military suspense stories involving tough, focused and exceptionally strong Navy SEAL's that are thwart with danger, intrigue, packed with action and sensuality, you may like to give Stephanie Tyler's "Hard To Hold" trilogy a try. I do think it is important to read the books in order.



5. Hold on Tight is the 3rd book and the conclusion to Stephanie Tyler's Navy Seals trilogy featuring three brothers who are bonded together not by blood, but are family none the less.
   
   This series for me was an OK read. Not so great that I raved about them, and not so bad that I couldn't finish them and read the next one. I love stories featuring hot, alpha, navy seals and some of the best books in the genre have been written by Suzanne Brockmann, Christy Reece and Cindy Gerard and Tyler's books fall just a little short of that mark for me.
   
   If you read the books in order(and I suggest you do), then Chris and Jaime are already familiar characters as they are featured quite prominently in a suspense/romantic subplot in book 2, Too Hot To Hold.
   
   In Hold On Tight, Chris Waldron is being investigated for his actions during a mission in Africa that resulted in a tragic end when an FBI agent assisting the mission is killed along with one of Chris's good buddies and teammate Mark, who is captured, tortured and killed by rebels.
   
   Special FBI agent Jamie Michaels just happens to be assigned to investigate the tragedy, bringing her right smack dab back into the centre of Chris's life. As mentioned above, they have a past including some wild sex in a downed plane in Africa, but it's been a few months since they've had any contact.
   
   Jamie is keeping a major secret from Chris, but as learned in previous books, Chris has a special gift. He's somewhat psychic and has a special affinity for pregnant women, who always seem to go into labour when he's around. So it doesn't take Chris long to unravel the secret that Jamie is pregnant and with his child. That's not the only secret she has tucked away, in fact she's got a lot of skeletons in her closet.
   
   Jamie and Chris had quite a hot and heavy romance in book 2, so part of my problem with their relationship in Hold On Tight was that Jamie was such a hard-ass when it came to believing Chris and his side of the story. He's having a hard time remembering exactly what happened due to some injuries he sustained during the Fubar mission. Jamie's excuse is that she's just doing her job and wants to keep things professional, but that excuse went right out the window the minute she slept with him before they even left Africa to return to the United States to start the investigation. I just didn't comprehend her actions and felt she should have recused herself from the case right from the start.
   
   I found the love story between the secondary characters PJ (Jamie's older sister) and Saint to be far more interesting. It had more bite and grit and was down and out dirty.
   
   With all that being said, there was lots of action and suspense and intrigue; things got blown up and people got shot at and lives were in danger.
   
   Nick and Jake make appearances as do their girlfriends and once again one of the highlights for me was the banter and interaction between the three brothers.
   
   Of the 3 books in the series, this was probably my favourite. Will I pick up Cam's story Lie With Me when it comes out? Yes I probably will.

5 comments about The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228.

1. Great book on what it take to become a Navy SEAL. Great book to see if this is what you truly want to do.



2. Very Interesting book. It gives a new insight on what people do for this great country of ours!



3. I bought this book after reading reviews about the top Navy SEALs books out there, this book was constantly mentioned as one of the top books. This was one of the best books I ever read, period. It really gives you an insight into BUDS training and what these guys go through. I felt connected to the guys in the book, which is a testament to excellent writing. After I finished the book, I found myself re-reading the book again so I could read again about some of the guys who made it all through to the end and graduated with the class. A definite must read, and not only for those aspiring to become a Navy SEAL, I read this book for pure motivation and inspiration to try and be the best at daily life, and be "elite" in my own workouts. I would highly recommend this book, quick, easy read and you won't want to put it down. You find yourself somewhat attached to the guys going through BUDS and you are anxious to see if they make it all the way through. An interesting side note: Marcus Luttrell is in the book. True SEAL fans know his name, he needs no introduction. I won't spoil anything, but when I came across his name in the book, it was kind of a "wow" moment hearing his name b/c the book was written long before Operation Red Wing. Get this book, you'll love it.



4. I read "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell first and then found out about this book. I would read this book first. Both are excellent reads and well written. I have a new found respect for our Navy Seals who show profound courage under extreme situations.
   I am a 58 year old Grandmother who has a loving nephew serving our wonderful country in Afghanistan.
   My love and prayers go out to ALL those who serve in all branches of our armed forces. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
   Susan Alfier Dulak



5. Like most readers, I bought this book based on glowing reviews in print publications and on Amazon.
   
   The description of the incredibly rigorous training program that Navy Seals must endure, and how that program culls out so many otherwise outstanding candidates is interesting. Citizens and residents of the US are very fortunate to have such soldiers defending the nation, and what Seals endure to serve their country is inspiring.
   
   The writing is simple and clear. But the characters are uniformly portrayed in a two-dimensional way and so ultimately it's kind of a gung-ho but boring read.
   
   As with many non-fiction books, it could have been done as or more effectively through an in-dept magazine article.

5 comments about Special Ops Fitness Training: High-Intensity Workouts of Navy Seals, Delta Force, Marine Force Recon and Army Rangers.

1. I've used Mark De lisle book "Navy Seal Workout" and gained 7kg of muscle rather quick! I loved the book, it's exercises, the style and intensity! However doing the same workout over and over again isnt good
   so I decided to buy this book that he also wrote! I must say that these workouts are excellent and has more information on training the legs. It's great for muscle development to switch exercises and intensity!
   Since I've been doing the Navy Seal Workout for months I started off with the Army Ranger workout and aim to complete that level and then moving to a more demanding workout for the upperbody!
   
   As always with these kind of workouts! Do no not underestimate it even if it might seem like "easy workouts" they are everything but easy and takes alot of stamina, strength and endurance both mentally and physically!
   It is the combination rather then individual exercises that leads up to impressive results! As I've said I gained 7kg. The only thing that is missing is information on what to eat after the workouts! I recommend milk and bananas as close to the workout as possible, I would also recommend to stretch after the workouts and not only before.
   
   /Pontus



2. This book has some great workouts but after the twelve weeks you are left wanting more.



3. This is an excellent set of workouts. They are mostly body weight exercises, so relatively cheap to do at home, but there are a number of weight routines to suppliment them.
   
   It would be easy to get wrapped up in the Special Ops hype or equally easy to be put off by it, but once you actually read past the brief descriptions and histories of the various military units, the book settles down to a first rate discussion of fitness, a set of exercise routines based on different special operations units and their specific needs, and thorough descriptions of all the exercises. The book is written for a 'user's level', so there is not a lot of sports medicine or detailed anatomy, but this makes it easier to use (for me).
   
   The most important point I came away with was that you do not need to spend a lot of money on equipment or gyms, you do not need to join a club, and you do not need a vast range of exercises to get into shape or stay in shape. You need the perservence and the self-discipline to make exercise part of your daily life, and the strength of character to avoid cop outs like "it's boring", "I couldn't get to the gym" or "it's hard"
   
   This is an excellent program for someone who does not have any medical issues, but wants a clear roadmap from where they are with their fitness to where they can go.
   
   E. M. Van Court



4. This book not only goes into all of the exercise routines used by various special forces, but also helps you to plan a workout schedule to measure your progress. The book also goes in stretching and warm-ups, which is sometimes neglected by people exercising. The background information on the different special forces is also very interesting.



5. This is a great book for someone looking for a good workout routine.
   It has great workout schedules and has many different workouts with pictures to show how to perform them correctly.
   This book has more then enough info to help you get buff.

5 comments about The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour.

1. As former "tin Can" sailor on a WW2 type destoryer I can tell you, this book tells it all. Our Gearing class destoryer had 6-5 inch, 6-3 inch, and torpedoes. We also were lucky to have a John Wayne type skipper and we all knew what we would have done if we were a part of Taffy-3. I think General Patton would have summed it up about those guys on the DE SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, "They were a bunch of heroic son's of bitches" If you would like to know what a Naval battle at sea is like when you're out numbered and out gunned, read this book and you will see what the "Greatest Generation" was all about. There was one not so heroic skipper in that battle. Hornfisher did a magnificent job and you won't want to put it down. If you liked this book, you will probably be compelled to read "HALSEY'S TYPHOON" by Drury & Clavin.



2. Not often, but every now and again you run across a book you cannot put down and this is one of them. It reads like a suspense-laden, action adventure and one must continually remember it is really a history of actual events. By the halfway point you get to know the characters personally and the need to know how events are going to unfold begins to grow beyond the point of putting the book down until you know. I read a lot of military history and this book easily ranks in the top 5 best of all time. Very highly recommended.



3. This should be required reading for all those who serve in the Navy--on or above the sea. It is the story of Taffy 3, a WWII force of America's smallest ships--Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts. Tasked with protecting the carriers that were part of MacArthur's return to the Philippines, they ended up the front line against Japan's largest collection of battleships and the island nation's last gasp to turn the tides of WWII. No one expected these tiny ships--therein lies the name, 'tin cans'--to face down Japan's massive force of light cruisers, heavy cruisers and carriers. In fact, one of the Destroyer captains said, "This will be a fight against overwhelming odds, from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can."
   
   And damage they did. They flitted in, their tiny guns booming and flashing. When they had no more torpedoes (each only carried 10), they charged anyway, shooting their small caliber deck-mounted guns. Wave after wave of aircraft buzzed the Japanese ships, American pilots continuing to attack even when their bombs ran out, hoping to frazzle and frighten the enemy. Despite the bravado, the sailors knew they had no chance to stop such a superior force. They could do little but pray for the best, understanding if the enemy got past them, they would get to the carriers.
   
   But this isn't as much an historic account of the Battle of Leyte Gulf--that can be found in other books--as it is the story of the men who fought, their all-American roots, their unquestioning commitment to fight the good fight, their bottomless courage. They joined the war in response to Pearl Harbor, giving their brains and muscle to defend what was most important to them, and ended up giving their lives.
   
   Hermon Wouk wrote of this battle, "The vision of Sprague's (the commander of Taffy 3)three destroyers--the Johnston, the Hoel, and the Heermann--charging out of the smoke and the rain straight toward the main batteries of Kurita's battleships and cruisers, can endure as a picture of the way Americans fight when they don't have superiority. Our schoolchildren should know about that incident, and our enemies should ponder it."
   
   When the battle ended, Japan lost almost 10,000 men while America lost 800+ brave sailors, three of the tin cans and only one of our carriers--the only American carrier ever sunk in a naval battle. When the tiny ships sank and the sailors tredded water, fought off the sharks who smelled their blood, one incident stood out: A Japanese heavy cruiser approached. The stranded sailors didn't know if they'd be killed or captured. Instead, as the ship sailed by, the Japanese lined the side and saluted the bravery of their enemy.
   
   If you are an American soldier or the parent of one, read this to see what will be expected of him or her. If you are our enemy, read this and beware.



4. The book was shipped on time and the condition as described. I would gladly use this seller again in the future.



5. Last Stand... is a decent collection of anecdotes from the men who fought off Samar, assembled with some unreliable historical narrative and mediocre-looking but useful maps. It is clear in the book that the author focused most of his attention on telling the story of the men, combining new interviews with material previously published by the various ship memorial associations. By and large, I think Hornfischer succeeds in telling the stories of these men's experience as they remembered it. It is always difficult to draw together narratives from people telling different levels of detail and using different kinds of vocabularies, but Hornfischer meshes the stories together well. His ability to jump from man to man in a given ship and then from ship to ship is impressive. The only time the narrative starts to break down is about the time the Hoel is sunk, and so much is happening in that time that I think a completely coherent narrative isn't possible.
   
   What fails in this book, though, is the material that Hornfischer himself brings to the table. He clearly has little experience dealing with Navy terms, and so has ships arrive in port and "weigh anchor" when weighing anchor is, in fact, the process of raising the anchor. He gets himself completely turned around a few times on the difference between a naval gun's shell and its round (the former is what leaves the barrel, the latter includes the power and casing), and he uncritically accepts the memories of the veterans as to how many people were at a given battle station, despite the lack of room for that many people. He twice notes that the Gambier Bay was the first carrier sunk by surface gunfire, when that fate had befallen HMS Glorious in 1940.
   
   Perhaps the least professional element of Hornfischer's scholarship is in recounting the damage inflicted by the Taffy 3 escorts (particularly torpedo hits and the effects of strafing) without checking them against Japanese records of the battle. There is nothing wrong with reporting what the men claimed, but there is something wrong with leaving the impression that these claims were all valid. It takes away nothing from the bravery of these men to note that none of Heerman's torpedoes actually hit (contrary to what the her crew believed).
   
   The book makes an attempt to provide tactical maps of the engagement at key periods, which I applaud. Maps are getting all too rare in history books. These maps are usable but ugly, the artist having chosen to represent the ships as black squares rather than as hull shapes. The maps do a nice job illustrating how the weather affected visibility at these points in the battle, though, and that is a welcome change from the style of naval maps I am used to seeing. Taking the time to do the maps as snapshots, rather than a single plot with tracks on it, makes the action far more understandable.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story told by the people who were there, and who either can filter out the inaccuracies or doesn't care about them. I wouldn't recommend that anyone use this book as a reference for more than sailor's anecdotes, because it just isn't reliable.

5 comments about ASVAB For Dummies.

1. I just took the ASVAB last week. I scored an AFQT percentile score of 90. I'm currently going Air Force and the scores were:
   
   M 73 did not study for it at all, hardly gave any effort and still scored 73
   
   A 91 my recruiter said that this part is always easy
   
   G 88 The book helps a great deal
   
   E 81 The book helps a great deal too except the electronics sub test
   
   So here are my recommendations concerning those going Air Force. Study this book if you need high scores in the AFQT, general, and electronics. I would supplement this book with the online tests on [...] and a specific book concerning electronics. Hardly any of the electronics material from the book was on the test, so you may have to buy a Electronics for Dummies. Take all 3 of the full tests on [...]. That's it! You will need nothing else except 7-8 hours sleep, a hardy breakfast, some coffee, and self confidence. Remember, you are being scored on how well you do against your competition. Most of the tests were only 16 questions and you will have ample time to answer. Just stay calm and be confident. Make sure to have a small snack, like an oatmeal bar, and use the restroom before going to take the test. It is a freakin' cake walk!
   
   Oh, and one more thing some of the military people there are rude. You think they would have some decent manners.



2. This ASVAB Book is very detailed and really goes into everything you would like to know for the test.



3. I borrowed a copy of the ASVAB for Dummies from my local library. While I used other study guides after this, I enjoyed this guide the most. I completely forgot all of my highschool mathematics and needed the review. The for Dummies series makes light of dense and boring subject matter and actually encouraged me to enjoy studying! *gasp* For an overall review this is a great book and it makes studying several entirely different subject matters fun and easy. If you need a serious mathmatics review like I did I recommend this book and picking up another ASVAB study guide to make sure you cover all theories and practices. I received an 80 on the ASVAB and am very happy with my score.



4. My husband said this book was excellent, its really helping him study for the ASVAB, he hasnt taken it yet so we dont know what his score will be but he studies everyday using this book.



5. THIS BOOK IS AWFUL. The cutesy little jokes and wisecracks can't hide the fact that there are a HUGE NUMBER OF ERRORS in the tests and in the review sections. It's obvious on many test sections that the answer is for a different question...how can you trust ANY information in this book? Very sloppy! PLUS, the questions are WAY TOO EASY--like training with matchsticks when you're going to have to move tree trunks! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!

5 comments about The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War.

1. Wish I hadn't.
   
   Nasty revisionist stuff.
   
   I can get all the made-up history attributing retrospective motives I want from other sources.



2. I appreciated the author's previous books so this one was a great disappointment. Despite the title of the book, very little of the contents are actually devoted to the "cruise". The subject seems to get lost amongst all the very one-sided attacks on western civilization, Christianity, the United States and most of all Theodore Roosevelt. Among inumerable personal and political failings repeatedly pointed out by the author you will learn that TR himself was actually the one person most responsible for starting the Second World War in the Pacific theater. All this time I'd been led to believe that Japanese aggression in China and throughout the Pacific had more to do with bringing on the war. Oh, and there was that incident at Pearl Harbor, according to Bradley the Japanese were just following the example set by the Aryan controlled United States. A more balanced recounting of the historical events in question would have done far more to lend some credit to the author's viewpoint. As written the knowledgable reader is led to question most all of the author's recounting of events along with his conclusions.



3. Most of what I've previously read about Theodore Roosevelt (most recently Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris) bought into the image that was deliberately crafted by Roosevelt, however Bradley goes much deeper in attempting to uncover the man behind the image. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised to learn that over 100 years ago politicians were deliberately manipulating the press to craft an image that would impress the electorate, much as is done today, but somehow Roosevelt has escaped the scrutiny that Bradley now brings to bear. I found the book informative and well researched, and the conclusions that Bradley draws are new and provocative. Judge for yourself if you agree with him, but I like the background and perspective he places on what the Japanese were thinking almost 4 decades before Pearl Harbor, and how Roosevelt's and Taft's actions may have influenced the direction of subsequent events.



4. There are a lot of people in denial out there who have attacked this book . Our country ' s history is very well documented . Mr Bradley
   recounts a number of events that lay a foundation for the Japanese government / military ultimate behavior . Racism exists and will as long
   there are different peoples , and or , human nature .



5. This is the second time that I have begun a review on this book. I heard the author preview his book on Book Events and got it immediately. He had great pictures and lots of data concerning the racism of our political leaders, stemming originally in England even before the colonies. I always felt our country was to be admired for refraining from aggressively interfering in other countries' affairs, except for this last action in Iraq. Because the author had so many end notes to back up his statements, I naively took it at face value until I read some of the reviews made before me. Regardless of how vigorously the author pursued the actions of Roosevelt and Taft, I always wondered why we were so involved in the Philippines and if such implied agreements were made by Roosevelt encouraging the Japanese to extend their authority are true, then we certainly had helped to create the attack on Pearl Harbor and the results thereof. When reading the story of Amelia Earhart, it showed how the Japanese were spreading out through the islands near Asia, and I was not aware of the interference of Roosevelt in the Japanese-Russian affairs. Our history books leave a GREAT deal of the actual facts out and so modern historians are an important asset in our lives. If the author exaggerated beyond the truth, then I am truly disappointed in the book. As far as Roosevelt's daughter is concerned, I do think he overplayed her importance when she actually did nothing but make a visit.
   For any new readers, I suggest you take the first reviews seriously while reading this book and then make your own conclusions about the validity of it.

5 comments about It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy.

1. This is one of the most inspirational books on management I have read. It was quick, easy and fun to read!
   It has something for anyone in business, management, or in a position working together with people.
   The subject of managing (commanding) a ship in the Navy was also very interesting. I highly recommend this book!



2. I purchased this book and handed it out to students in one of my leadership classes. It provides good insights, examples, and stories about how the Captain was able to gain the trust and respect of the men and women under his charge. Even though the book is about the Navy and there is an obvious hierarchy that must be followed, the lessons learned can easily be translated into non-military and non-government. This book is easy to read and provides excellent lessons in leadership.



3. Before reading this book I had the opportunity to have Captain Abrashoff speak at a National Sales Meeting for my company's sales force. This guy, as he will admit, is a normal guy and you will not be overly moved by his appearance or his speaking ability. It is the content he brings forth and the inspiration of hundreds of young men and women that will move you. He took understanding people and getting the most out of them to new heights. This is a feel good and inspirational book for anyone to read!



4. Nothing new in this book. If you've done any reading on leadership, it's unlikely you're going to get anything from this. I did find it interesting to see how leadership techniques worked in an organization I cannot relate to so it was an interesting read nonetheless. Wholly self-indulgent however, and the author tends to repeat the same points over and over (yes, we get it, the job of a ship's captain is operational readiness - I didn't need to be told that 100 times over).
   
   Net: If you're an experienced leader looking for an entertaining read it might be fun. If you're a new leader you'll probably find some things useful in the book.



5. Business books seem to come in two genres: good and really, really bad. The good ones can be divided into a couple of sub-groups: technical ones that present a lot of principles (e.g. The Toyota Way) and readable ones that seem to relate to you as a person (e.g. Good to Great). It's Your Ship is a Good to Great kind of book.
   
   Although presented as a (true) story, it is not one of those business-fable sort of books that I find tire me out in about 50 pages. These are solid examples of tough business team experiences that happened to play out on a Navy ship. Captain Abrashoff writes well and is introspective enough that any of us normal managers can not only see our own faults at work but can also see practical ways to motivate our teams.
   
   I would highly recommend this book for a group read or book study. It is very effective for teams of front-line managers and new teams of leaders. A really great business book.