"The Thousand Mile War" is an old and cherished friend, and tells the story of the Aleutian Island Campaign against the Japanese in 1942-43. I settled in comfortably with the first edition in 1969 on my way to another war, and became thoroughly captivated by it. I'm delighted to see it reprinted in softcover.

There are so many strong points to the book, and too many exciting tales to capture easily in a short review. It seems to me, though, that one of Brian Garfield's greatest strengths is his ability to unravel and relate accurately the joint and combined nature of allied operations in the Aleutians. The air, sea and ground operations, which the book richly details, sometimes occured in isolation, but more often were part of a concerted effort to oust the Japanese from the islands of Attu and Kiska. Although the fighting was borne primarily by U.S. forces, there were significant contributions by Canadian allies.

Then there is the weather. The Aleutians, a chain of rugged islands stretching from Dutch Harbor to Attu in the west, cover about 1,000 miles, and are subject to some of the worst, most inhospitable weather conditions on the planet. As much of Garfield's story is about fighting the elements as it is about fighting the enemy. Having grown up in Alaska, I can easily identify with the harshness of wind and storm, of cold and snow and freezing ocean spray.

To sum up, in Garfield's words: "The campaign in the grey and windy Aleutians was the United States' first offensive campaign of World War II -- the first to begin, the first to be won. Its major events had included the first extensive aerial bombing campaign in American history; the first mass military airlift ever executed; the longest and last classic daylight surface battle in naval history; the first land-based American bomber attacks on the Japanese homeland; and, in the Battle of Attu, the U.S. Infantry's first amphibious island assault landings and the second most costly infantry battle of the Pacific war (in ratio to the size of the forces engaged)."

Garfield is as quantitative as he is qualitative, something that helps give perspective to his gut-level reporting of events. His footnotes are well organized by chapter and are in themselves worth reading.

The only criticism I've ever heard was from a fellow who served in the Aleutians as an engineer sergeant. He was on Engineer Hill on Attu when Col. Yasuyo Yamasaki led his surviving soldiers in a banzai charge against the American position. Yamasaki attacked up the fog-covered Chichagof Valley with 600 men, all that was left of his force of 2,600. The surprise attack almost succeeded, but "Within minutes the Engineers and service troops had sprung to arms. Cooks, litter bearers, roadbuilders, and staff officers took shoulder-to-shoulder positions at the crest. General Arnold borrowed an M-1 rifle and crawled to a high point from which he could see the Japanese charging up the hill toward him. With calm, precise hand signals he directed the hand-grenade throws of his hidden troops as if he were calling artillery targets. The grenades blew gaps in the Japanese line but the charge did not falter." The attacking Japanese were within rock throwing distance when they were finally thrown back by a "withering point-blank concentration of bullets and grenades from the hasty, improvised American line."

In this battle the former engineer sergeant does not recall General Arnold's actions the same way that Garfield relates them. Whichever is the case, it would not be the first time an American GI disparaged in retrospect the behavior of a senior officer.

"The Thousand Mile War" is excellent history and a terrific read. I've enjoyed it more than once and have used it as a source for lecture notes and other research. You won't be disappointed.

Though little remembered in the public consciousness today, the Aleutian islands campaign was an epic struggle that featured some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific theater of World War II. Garfield's account shows how the American efforts there were hampered because military strategests were slow to recognize the strategic importance of Alaska. The Japanese invasion was belatedly countered by an intense American effort to save Alaska from becoming a Japanese base for operations against the mainland. The ensuing struggle was fought in perhaps the worst weather conditions of any campaign in the entire war. Garfield is an excellent writer and this book has the page turning quality of a suspense novel. This is yet another moving tribute to the "Greatest Generation" in action.

I read this book several years ago when I began discovering some of the interesting and little known facts about Alaska's involvement in the WW II Pacific theater. It was written in a style that captured my attention fully.

So few people realize to this day that some Aleutian Islands were actually occupied by the Japanese. The author clearly described the events, both large and small, which lead up to the final battles.

He left me realizing that the Americans recaptured the island in spite of their ignorance and inter-service rivalries. The book leaves you amazed at the blundering ways of both the American and Japanese militaries.

Everything I've since seen in the book rings out to be true and factual. From the bombing of Dutch Harbor to the final charge by the remaining Japanese on Attu, this book keeps you fascinated.

The book portrays many brave men on both sides that were ill-prepared for the harsh climate of the Aleutians but still pulled off some magnificent feats. The critical part that the heavy fog and weather played was described very well.

I strongly recommend this book as a primer on the war in the Aleutians.

Glendon's down-to-earth writing style and his epic adventure story make this book an addictive page turner. Included is everything from running world class dog teams across the icy tundra, to sipping Kava in the South Pacific. Read it for yourself and find out what draws a man to Alaska.

What an honest and brave guy to write this book. Glendon Brunk, one of those ultra-manly men, writes so honestly about what it means to be a man in a world dominated by men, and how, through the amalgamating forces of pain and growing self-awareness, came to see a different way. It's a book set in Alaska, with all the raw power of conquering the wilderness and living wild, with facing grizzly bears and extreme cold, but it's really not about Alaska. It's about growth and coming into consciousness. It's about driving sled dogs competively and coming to realize that winning the world championship of sled dog racing - a feat akin to any great athletic endeavor - was empty. It was because of a single-minded obsession to win, to conquer, to be the best, to control, all the manly perceptions that have the world in so much trouble today. Yearning Wild is about one man coming to see his responsibility for wounding, not only himself, but women and children and the land. It's about awakening. This book is a brave beginning, and it needs to be out there. I - a man - would encourage every man, every woman to buy it and to pass it on. Because it's one of those books that's desparately needed for the times we live in. Do it, please.

This is a heartfelt account of one man's struggle to overcome the archetpe of the "tough guy" and to soften into a realization of the power of love. R. Glendon Brunk, who could be one of the men in Pam Houston's "Cowboys are my Weakness" , shares his life with us in an engaging way -- sometimes sad, often funny, always keeping my attention. I wish that every man I know, from my brother and my father, to my cousins, to all my male friends would read it, too. Our world needs to find a new way, a way that isn't hung up onto the patriarchal ways of domination, the raw male energy that , undirected, may turn so quickly to violence and destruction. And here's a guy who was one of the toughest (he admits that that was the way he thought he should be) who openly shares his journey to become open and loving - therefore ultimately stronger. This is a great book about gender issues. Men and women alike should read it, discuss it, let it inspire new paths, and greater connected-ness with eachother and the world around us.

As a student, I found this book to be the greatest selection of current artists and techniques in ceramics today. Great color illustrations and glaze and firing information is included. Can't wait for the second one! A true coffee table book. This does not belong on a shelf, The Best of Pottery belongs in the studio!

I look through this book every night and see different things I want to try each time. Lot's of unique and great photos of ceramic art. Not a how to, but a pictorial showing the beauty and fun of ceramics.

Starting with a 36,000-year-old bison mummy washed out of ancient permafrost by a gold miner, zoologist and paleontologist R. Dale Guthrie discusses the events that led to Blue Babe's death and the preservation of his carcass.

That's what a bare-bones summary of this book would be, but that doesn't do it justice. In a clear, readable (but not grammar-school) style, Guthrie wanders through related subjects such as frozen mammoths, the ecology and behavior of "Ice-Age" steppe bison, wild horses, mammoths and even Alaskan lions, and how Blue Babe probably looked in life -- and makes them fascinating.

Readers may have trouble understanding chapters 8 and 9 of this book if they haven't read "Paleoecology of Beringia", another out-of-print gem which anthologizes the work of several paleontologists. Guthrie is a proponent of the "Mammoth Steppe" theory, which holds that during the Pleistocene most of Alaska and Siberia were not covered by soggy tundra or coniferous trees but by a cold, dry steppe or brushland that could support mammoths, horses, bison and other large grazers. In these two chapters, he turns away from Blue Babe to tackle and refute the objections raised by two other scientists in "Paleoecology..." (successfully, in my non-scientist opinion).

I suspect most readers will find this the dullest part of the book, but it's hard to discuss the big animals of the Pleistocene without talking about why they could exist then but are extinct or much rarer in our warmer modern world.

Written in a clear and enjoyable style, this book's description of the discovery, excavation, and the background of Blue Babe, a 35,000-year-old bison from Alaska's late Pleistocene is complete with many color and B&W photos as well as explanatory line-drawings. The discovery was made in 1979 about 15 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, at a goldmining operation. For the reader interested in ice-age mammals, how such specimens are found, recovered, and prepared for exhibition, this book is a good general guide through those stages. Dr. Guthrie has a long and outstanding career studying the Pleistocene mammals of Alaska, and his expertise and experience in explaining such topics to the lay-reader comes through well.

The most complete reference of the sacred artwork of Avard Fairbanks. This book describes the sculpture in great detail, along with photos of the works.

The contents of this book depict the love and devotion of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as they endured trials and tragedies during the early years of the Church's organization (mid 1800's to mid 1900's). The descriptions given about each piece of artwork are clear and concise. Avard T. Fairbanks was truly a professional in his time. His artwork is thought provoking and provides the reader with a clear insight as to the devotion and hardships the Mormons had to endure. Truly an amazing compilation of sculpture.

If you want to learn about the art of pewtering from a master craftsman, this is the book for you. If you're looking for ways to raise a large, talented, responsible family, you'll want to read these tales. If you want a book filled with interesting stories about a plethora of subjects, all warmly told with humor and intelligence, here's a book to try. Raymond Gibson has written a charming memoir about his double life as a Congregational minister in the winter and a pewter craftsman in the summers, where his children learn a craft that will help them all earn money for college, while spending valuable time together with this master story teller. This book is a must for the thoughtful person's library. You will love it.

This is the story of how a family can work together and create a business that takes on a life of its own. The creation of pewter items has a very long history. It has been used in many countries, and is still done today. This is the story of Ray Gibson and how he discovered that the passion that he has for living and his family could have an outlet in creating art. He was very lucky to find good teachers who were willing to share their knowledge and part of their soul with him. In return he shares this with his family and friends and customers. Ray is a talented author who is able to convey the excitement and sometimes the torture of having an artistic soul. He is able to explain the path of a developing artist/craftsman. It is also nice to hear of a family that was able to stay together and work on common interests. The development of craftsmanship brings with it the obligation to meet high standards, and these standards are applicable to "normal life" also. The story is charmingly told, the book was hard to put down, and it did convey some of the technical knowledge of the craft, but it is not a do-it-yourself book (unless the topic is how to lead a blessed life).

All the titles from the 'ASTD Trainer's Sourcebook' series are excellent. These are books that provide the trainer with a comprehensive reference on the subject matter, ideas on activities and games, as well as other tools.

For the beginning and advanced trainer alike, this is a wonderful and comprehensive book on teambuilding that can also be easily used by non-training professionals.

Excellent book for the novice facilitator as well as the pro! This comprehensive guide takes you through every phase of team development from start to finish. It presents the data in an easy to follow, step-by-step facilitator style. It includes reproducable handouts and slides. An excellent resource for establishing teams! I recommend all of the training guides in the series of ASTD Sourcebooks. I've used them all!

Es sumamente dificil dejar el libro por un momento, los autores nos muestran la realidad de porque los paises en desarrollo en Latinoamerica no han progresado. Y sobre el conflicto permanente entre el Gobierno y la empresa privada. Quien debe liderar el gobierno o la empresa privada?
Un acercamiento a las causas de porque no hemos progresado y porque se necesita una estrategia a nivel de País para ser competitivo.
Modelo y casos ilustrados muestran ejemplos de cluster en Colombia, Peru y Bolivia; pero son aplicables a todos los países.
Hasta ahora hemos arado en el mar, pero este libro no es la solucion de nuestro problemas (Soy Latinoamericano) pero nos da un marco conceptual y modelo para aproximar los problemas y tener exito en el futuro. Tuve la fortuna de que Stace Lindsay fuera mi profesor en mi programa de MBA en una clase sobre competencia, estrategia en los paises en crecimiento, la verdad, ha abierto mi mente acerca de nuestra realidad.
Estaremos mejor el día que dejemos de echarle la culpa a la vaca (lean el libro para entender esto)

This book is packed with very good, detailed information about colleges' use of early application options, particularly early decision. This book--more like a report--backs up what every good counselor knows: colleges admit applicants early that they may not otherwise admit. But this book is not an admissions process "how-to" guide. If you want that, try Allen's "College Admissions Trade Secrets." It's a very detailed and sometimes controversial book that reveals much of the same insider information that "Joining the Elite" reveals but in a more "how-to" format. Buy "Trade Secrets" with Princeton Review's "Best Colleges" and you'll have just about everything you'll need to tackle this process. Buy "Joining the Elite" if you need the fine details and justification for the things that Allen says.

This book is for those young people who have Ivy League dreams. Avery and his colleagues have written a guide for high school students and parents who don't know much about the game of early admissions. It's written in an accessible way. The authors bolster their advice with strong empirical evidence.

In the not-too-distant past, the college admissions process was fairly straightforward. It was not fair, but it was fairly straightforward. Some recent changes to the process have brought more fairness, some have brought more complexity, and some have reduced fairness while increasing complexity. A change that has both reduced fairness and increased complexity is the preponderance of "Early Admissions" (i.e., "Early Decision" and "Early Action") plans.

Whatever one's opinions on Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED), they are realities that present high school students, their parents, and their counselors with a dilemma: To EA/ED or not to EA/ED?

When looking for answers to this dilemma, students, parents, and counselors have had to rely on unclear messages, equivocal statements, anecdotes, and urban myths.

"The Early Admissions Game: Joining the Elite" shines a bright and needed light into the darkest recesses of a murky maze. The book combines irrefutable statistics and the words of high school students, college students, and admissions professionals to present a clear and readable picture of a complex, often hermetic issue.

I don't use the phrase "irrefutable statistics" loosely here. Statistics are too often used to "prove" a theory that looks a lot like the preconceived notion that the researcher brought to the research. However, in this case, the authors possess the objectivity to report their findings with clarity and without baggage. Also, their backgrounds in economics, public policy, and college admissions give them the qualifications and abilities to present a comprehensive and in-depth review of the subject.

"The Early Admissions Game" explains both how to play the game by the current rules and, at the same time, advocates for a better, fairer system for the future. Information for the debate on EA/ED and practical advice for those coping in the "Age of EA/ED" are well presented.

Whether you love EA/ED, hate it, or just want to better understand EA/ED and the rest of the admissions process, this is a great book to read.

Hiding Behind the Collar by Catherine Brittion Fairbanks is an interesting read about the author's struggle to rectify clergy misconduct in her church. It tells of her battle with the church hierarchy and the stinging disappointment she experienced when neither reconcilliation nor clergy discipline occurred.
Hiding Behind the Collar is a road map of one person's journey through a bitter and trying time in life and points the way toward organizations that can help in the healing process.

"Hiding Behind the Collar" is a meticulously written chronicle of one woman's attempt to hold her church accountable for the emotional exploitation she suffered as a result of the trust relationship she had with her pastor.

Often, spiritual and emotional abuse is described only in the context of sexual exploitation. Author Catherine Fairbanks helps readers understand how an exploitative clergy can use the power of position to emotionally manipulate, confuse, and attempt to destroy parishioners without overt sexual abuse.

One of the unique things about "Hiding Behind the Collar" is that the perpetrator is a troubled female clergy who gains perverse enjoyment from emotionally exploiting female parishioners.

The story touches the deepest part of one's beliefs about faith, truth, and justice. It is a memoir of an experience no one wants to go through -- yet a realistic view of what can happen to individuals in communities of faith when they try to hold leaders accountable. It is a "must read" for all who care about fostering healthy communities of faith.

In this well written and touching novel, it is obvious the courage of the author to bare all, in a tell all. Fairbanks recants her ordeal in dealing with the Episcopal Church, its conduct and ethics. I found myself rapidly sinking deep beneath the printed words with my heart racing, as I found that I could actually relate to her story... how ironic.

"There are no simple routes to find your way to the center of a maze, and when you do find your way to this resting place, you may find it difficult to find the way out. "

This is exactly what happens for Fairbanks in her candid recanting of events. "Hiding behind the collar," unveils a fragile state of mind searching for a lifeline in rare detail, and how US (meaning you or I) can fall under the influential power of one person! It also examines organized religion, its political strategies towards cover-up, betrayal and corruption. We cannot simply dismiss these stories of clerical misconduct, which span all religious judicatories. Fairbanks explains that first; we must accept that the problem of clerical misconduct exists, and then we must stop being silent on the issue and stop sweeping them under the rug. After reading this enlightening novel, in my opinion this book would have been a worthy Oprah's Pick!