This was a great book, with the exception of some slow parts about different kinds of tractors and whatnot. Highly recommended.

"Home From Siberia: The Secret Odysseys of Interned American Airmen in World War II" by Otis Hays, Jr. (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1990. Pp. 232.)

Few people realize the extent of the cooperation existing between Stalin's Soviet Union and the United States in World War II, especially in the Soviet Far East. US air crews which were forced to land on Soviet territory were supposed to be interned for the duration of the war, but the Soviets helped to secretly get the US crews back into the war effort against Japan. Otis Hays shows how the US, through diplomatic negotiations which played on Stalin's fear of war with Japan, convinced him to assist the interned aircrews in making their "escape" from Soviet territory.

Stalin was terrified of being drawn into the war with Japan, which would have necessitated opening a second front in the Soviet Far East. US diplomats were able to convince him that the interned crews, which comprised 291 men, were absolutely essential to the war effort. There was no time to adequately train new crews, and a growing shortage of suitable candidates made this an untenable option.

If Stalin was to help, the mission had to be kept secret from Japanese intelligence services, or the USSR could be drawn into the war with Japan. Stalin directed the NKVD (predecessor to the KGB) to arrange four different "escapes." The escapes were arranged and conducted in the utmost secrecy, and many key players never knew the complete truth.

US diplomatic message traffic made formal complaints about the conditions in which the airmen were being held in Siberia, and demanded that changes be made for health reasons. The USSR agreed to move the men to camps in Central Asia, where the warmer climate would be more comfortable. The men were moved through a series of gulag camps until they reached Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan, and were helped by the NKVD in their escape across the border into Iran, where they were met by US personnel.

While other authors have examined the US/Soviet cooperation in World War II, most have focused on the Lend/Lease program and the transfer of US materiel and food through ports in the Far East. Home From Siberia is unique in that it traces the fates of air crews through their ordeals in the gulag to their eventual release. Hays' research gives a view of what life was like in the Soviet Union, and illustrates the kindness and generosity shown to the internees by many Soviet citizens, despite the harsh living conditions. It also shows that the gulag camp system was well-established, and that the Soviets were able to shuttle the captured Americans around in complete secrecy, which is of particular interest to researchers investigating the presence of Americans in the camps following World War II. A precedent was set, and the Soviets saw that they could conduct such operations with relative ease.

The alleged presence of American soldiers from Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War in the gulag is a subject that is being actively investigated by many agencies, both government and private. Hays' research serves as an important base document in the analysis, and shows that the Soviets were quite capable of conducting such operations.

Home From Siberia's strength is the thoroughness in which the American fliers are chronicled. Hays shows the fates of each crew member, using maps, pictures and interviews with the survivors to paint a picture in a clear and fascinating manner. His work fills in a historical gap, and covers previously uncharted ground. The book's weakness is the lack of foreign sources. Hays uses mostly US sources, and should consider writing an updated edition now that many Soviet documents have been declassified and access to archives is more open. An analysis of Japanese diplomatic and intelligence documents would be an important addition as well, because they may indicate how successful the Soviets were in maintaining the secrecy of the operation. Home From Siberia is an important work, and a welcome addition to the history of World War II.

Iread most of L.Hays books in the early ninty's,they were a knight in shining armour for me,my ex husband left me for an older woman,i was left with 2 children,after 14yrs marriage and been with this man since I was 17,and then been 32 I headed for a nervous b/down,with support from my family and counselling,I read Louise's book,and found that the negetivity and guilt I was shouldering was his guilt placed on my shoulders all the years we were together,I didn't know me anymore,so her books were a Godsend at that time,with Meditations and Prayer and guidance, I was able to lift myself up,and find my own identity,and feel worthy.Now in the Year 2000,I have found peace,I attend a Spiritual church,teach Meditation and Personal deavelopment and share my stories with others.Since my breakup I have gone thru Cancer,but my faith now is so strong am able to cope,I believe in nurturing myself,I have 5 yrs clear since Cancer struck and I feel I can conquer most anything. Louise Hay has been able to share her gift with many and feel she has reached millions of people,turning their negetivity into positive healing.

I'm ordering this book to use at a summer school for Baha'i children. Baha'is believe that we know the Hundreth Name which is also the Greatest Name of God and we often call ourselves the Community of the Greatest Name. To find this book in our local library was a gift. It is such a generous view of an Islamic family and shows much love between a father and son. It will be very popular story with my children.

These colorful 2-sided health affirmation cards are easy to read. These affirmations are very simple & general. Some of my favorites are:

"I return my body to optimum health by giving it what it needs on every level."

"I balance my life between work, rest and play. They all get equal time."

"I am the only person who has control over my eating habits. I can always resist something if I choose."

"My happy thoughts help create my health body."

"I go within and connect with that part of myself that knows how to heal."

For anyone who is trying to recover from an illness or injury these affirmations can be really helpful. These are also good affirmations for people trying to maintain or improve their health by strengthening their subconscious mind. Enjoy!

Charming 2-sided affirmation cards with colorful illustrations are very upbeat. Initially I thought these cards were created for single people to help bring them true love however these cards are more about love in general. The cards remind you to show love to your family & friends as well as your significant other.

Some of my favorite affirmations:

"From time to time, I ask those I love, "How can I love you more?"

"Life is very simple. What I give out comes back to me. Today I choose to give love."

"I am in a joyous, intimate relationship with a person who truly loves me."

"Love happens! I release the desperate need for love and instead allow it to find me in the perfect time-space sequence."

These romance affirmation cards are really pretty & very uplifting. Enjoy!

Louise te lleva por un magico viaje hacia tu interior, pasando por una revision de tus creencias y tu niño interior y te ayuda a encontrar en que parte de tu vida perdiste contacto con este. Te ayuda a liberar la tension acumulada a traves de los años y a comprender tu vida de una mejor manera.

This is a fine biography of a significant socio-politic-musical figure who was subsumed in the anti-Communist hysteria of the American 1940's and 50's. With Pete Seeger, Hays was a co-founder of two musical groups that were effectively blacklisted: the Almanac Singers (eventually joined by Woody Guthrie), and of the seminal folk-pop group The Weavers, whose hit recording of "Goodnight Irene" forever changed the relationship between folk music and popular culture. Hays himself is revealed as a complex and colorful man, of considerable musical and literary talent, personal flaws, and a blazing social conscience that propelled all his work and regularly made him a target of established political hierarchies. With ample excerpts of Hays' writing, photos from the period, and first-hand narrative (Hays roomed with the author's family, and performed with him as part of the "Babysitter's Quartet", which included then-folksinger-now-actor Alan Arkin) this book gives an entertaining and easy-to-appreciate portrait of a remarkable man. It also offers a fascinating glimpse into a period of important, still-difficult American history.

A little book of thirty Positive Affirmations encouraging prosperity to enter all levels of your life.

After the second day of rehearsing these short statements aloud there was a noticeable energy shift for the good. That day we received a notice in the mail of a long forgotten savings account that needed to be claimed!

A good companion to lift one's spirits and outlook.

After reading Hays book "You Can Heal Your Life", I wanted to share her wisdom with my son.With the audio/coloring book combination Hay sreads the same loving energy to young readers/listeners. Simple pictures are easy coloring for little artists. Maybe you too. will get the "Message of Love".