For those of us who will never attend a service academy, books such as "Return of Philo McGiffin" give us a glimpse of what it takes to get through these tough institutions. They are colleges in one sense but as a character in the book says "this is your first duty assignment in the Navy!" For anyone thinking about Annapolis or who has a friend or relation who will attend, this book is a must read. My grandfather went to West Point and spent almost 40 years in the Army - now I have an idea of how he got there. Philo McGiffin is great book for anyone who is a fan of our Naval Academy but wants no illusions of how hard it is there.
My hats off to all Annapolis Alumni!

I can only add to the plaudits below. I didn't go to Navy, but my father and brother did. I've always wondered if plebe year was as wierd and hard and fascinating as they said it was -- now I know the answer. But beyond the wonderful introduction to USNA life, this is a terrific story -- great, complex characters, inspiration as well as sardonic humor, and a terrific twist at the end. Anyone who is interested in military life will enjoy this book. I'm about to buy several copies to send to friends.

From all indications, the Naval Academy is not a place for humor but with this book, David Poyer has shown that humour can thrive in a military environment even though it really doesn't have a place. The characters were well developed and the ending had a surprising twist. A wonderful read for anyone interested in the military way of life

I am a fan of the U.S. Navy and especially the Academy. For anyone who wants a glimpse of what life is like there for the Midshipmen, this book is for you. The stories are funny, some sad. You really get a idea of the dedication it takes to make it through a service academy. In one sense, you are a college student - but really you are on active duty already! My hats off to all Annapolis Alumni!

_Tales from Annapolis: A Ring-Knockers' Bedside Companion_ (Omega Resources) by Rich Zino ('67) and Paul Laric ('49) is an amiable collection written by former midshipmen about the antics (and some of the antics are more serious than others) of student life at the Naval Academy. The contents will be best enjoyed by former midshipmen, but those who know little about Academy life will get to learn something of what the middies put up with. This is especially true of descriptions of fourth class (freshman) or "Plebe" year, which seem to be disproportionately represented here. My own memory (I am '72) of that year is really rather miserable and not much fun at all. The accounts here are generally upbeat, brightened, I suppose, by many years of chipping away by selective memories. There is a useful glossary which includes some of the tortures upperclassmen used to put us through, like "Shoving out: Positioning one's self in a sitting position without the aid of a chair; also referred to as sitting on infinity." (...)

The most surprising thing about this volume is how similar the tales from fifty years back are to my own memories or to the more recent classes. Mids were always, it seems, crawling down the steam pipe alleys underneath Tecumseh, zipping back just under the wire at curfew, and thinking up get rich quick schemes. The great difference in stories, those with no precedent, are those that involve female midshipmen or officers. Just a hint of sexual scandal is included in these pages.

However, an episode like rolling a bowling ball into the Rotunda through the ranks of the Watch Squad while it was in formation is a unique and classic prank for which a member of the class of '63 takes credit (for a "mystery bowler," of course). This tale was a legend even when I was there, and long may it and the other jolly stories in this book be retold and grow in the telling.

This book is something a little different from what you might ordinarily read. It tells the tales of men who served our country in the Navy, from none other than the very people who lived them. It gives a more personal look at the accademy, and paints a warm picture of what happens "behind the scenes" at the accademy.

I would certainly recomend this book of memories to any other retierd officers or alumni. I can assure you that it will bring a smile to your face, and bring you back to those golden days of Annapolis.

For true history buffs, this is a delight. Edward L. Beach, Jr., the author of "Run Silent, Run Deep" among others, has done a terrific job of editing and annotating his father's diary. I did not realize that both father and son were not only brave naval officers, but successful authors. As an amateur historian of the Philippine-American War, Beach Sr.'s account of the Battle of Manila Bay shed light on a mystery that has concerned a number of prior accounts of the battle: Was Dewey both reckless and lucky in evading the Spanish shore batteries on Corregidor Island when he slipped into Manila Bay? I'll leave it to the reader to discover the answer. And, I did like the section on Haiti, particularly in light of the recent history of that country.

Edward L. Beach, Sr., recounts his amazing Navy career. Ten years after he retired, he writes of these events with the clarity of someone who lived them just yesterday. His tale of the Battle of Manila Bay is an excellent first-hand account from a different perspective. The only thing he saw during the battle were the boots of a shipmate in the grating above him, thus his title "The Battle of Irwin's Boots." He tells of the sinking of the Memphis, a cruiser under his command. (His son, Beach, Jr., tells this in a recently published book.) Every account throughout the book is a tale told by this humble sailor that was just doing his job.
It is most incredible that nearly every important Naval and Marine Corps personality of the first half of the 20th century crossed paths with this sailor. Before they made a name for themselves later in life, he knew two future Marine Corps Commandants, four star admirals, CNO's, and Navy Secretaries. He met both Roosevelts, vice presidents, Senators, mayors and other political leaders.
The only drawback of the book (and a minor one at that) is the rather lengthy discussions about his workings in Haiti. These were important issues to the US and to the Navy in the early 1900's and Beach's impact was probably quite large. It just made for some slow reading in the middle of the book. This was not bad enough to change my rating to four stars, but I couldn't pick four-and-a-half.
His son, Edward L. Beach, Jr., (Run Silent, Run Deep) adds just enough comments to provide a little backgound without overwhelming his Dad's words.
This is an excellent autobiography of a man who truly loved the "soul of the Navy" and was very proud to serve his country.

This book was selected for use by the Lake Saint Louis Youth Sailing Academy after our lead instructor and our top student (age 10) both selected the same book from a group of 10 potential class text books. The kids found it easy to follow, and the adults found it easy to establish a lesson plan based on the structure of the book.

Never mind the reviews that claim this is the best book for young sailors just starting out. At 40 and in my first boat in 20 years, it is the perfect match. Every thing I need to get my feet wet without having to read volumes of nautical tactics. The illustrations are every bit as valuable, making the whole adventure a lot less overwelming. Thinking about getting your first boat, but your're unsure of what to do? Start here!

Since the collection of "Letters from Annapolis" spans a period of more than 120 years, they cannot help but reflect the events that shaped our nation. For example, the letters of Oliver Batcheller offers a student's view of the news surrounding the start of the Civil War. Upon the bombardment of Fort Sumpter, he writes "the Academy is likely to be rid of those who do not wish to resign just now, and most of the Sourtherners have tendered their resignations." But the book had some lighter sides too. Regardless of the year, letters to parents often included passages like "thanks much for the money you sent" or " believe me...it wasn't my fault!" Thanks to editor Ann Marie Drew for a great work. I would not only recommend "Letters" to any history buff but believe it would be especially valuable to a prospective student wishing to get a closer look at the life of a midshipman

I have read this book over and over again because it is unbelievable. It has letters from numerous former midshipmen from almost the time the 'Naval School' opened, till the time when a man became a Naval Academy midshipman in 1969. It is a great read and it has great details of the life of midshipmen.

If you've ever been in any branch of military service and have suffered through indoctrination, I salute you. As a former Midshipman (cadet) of the U.S. Naval Academy, I emphatically concur with each and every emotion James Webb conveys through his characters. I was both an ignorant Plebe, and soon thereafter, a "flaming upperclassman." If any enlisted person ever asked me the difference between a good and bad officer, I'd have an answer for this person: It wouldn't matter if this officer (or corporate leader) graduated from Annapolis. For if he/she survived Plebe Summer, you can bet that this officer will not only lead you through fire, but will smother you with compassion to douse the flames, as well.

Reading this book will humble you beyond belief. If you are climbing that ladder of success, you'll want this book next to your Palm Pilot. It will truly improve your relationship with both your employees, as well as your superiors.

I read this book last year and really enjoyed. Now I understand it and appreciate "A Sense of Honor" a great deal more. Why? Because I am a plebe at the U.S. Naval Academy. I'm struggling and having doubts like John Dean. Like Bill Fogarty I may end up leaving because of reasons I cannot truly comprehend. One thing is for sure, "A Sense of Honor" really stirred something inside of me and has helped me comprehend the magnitude of being a midshipmen, regardless of whether or not I graduate (I hope that I do)!

Like one of the other respondents, I read this book when originally released and ALSO re-read it every few years. Although set in a time some decades ago, the characters and themes of the Naval Academy are timeless. It should be "required reading" for anyone contemplating attending the US Naval Academy or for anyone trying to understand their loved one (father, brother, uncle, or now sister) who attended the "boat school". The book is basically a lesson on leadership at one of the preeminent leadership factories of the country by one of it's highly decorated alumni. As alluded to the ending is disturbing, but so is life.

John Rousmaniere has created a comprehensive text on the sport of sailing and seamanship which is enjoyable to read and very authoritative. By their nature, sailors have strongly held opinions on most subjects, but virtually every sailor I know of who has read John's book holds it in very high regard. The illustrations are clear and not too busy to get in the way of showing the frequently complicated topics which are inherent in the sport. I also find that Seamanship is not just a repeat of tired old sailing methods of 30 years ago, but rather integrates the classic techniques (storm tactics, navigation) with the modern (Crew Overboard Recovery, modern anchors and electronics).

I highly recommend this book, and encourage anyone to buy it if they want to improve their sailing skills.

I reviewed "Annapolis" for Good Old Boat magazine. The review, and an excerpt from the book is in the July/August issue. The book stands as the yardstick by which other sailing references must be judged. For this new edition, Rousmaniere did an excellent job of gender neutralizing the language without any awkwardness. He talks about "forehandedness", a state of being prepared for whatever the sea throws at one. This book is the best written resource to help one obtain that state. The book will be instantly accessible to the beginner. It will remain a good reference for the most experienced sea dog. Rousmaniere uses a lot of little tricks to help the reader retain the information in the book. While the book is chock full of facts, his love for sailing and the romance of the sea shows through as well. If you want to improve your sailing skills and knowledge, buy this book!

For me, a recreational sailor of over twenty years, this book has been like the bible. I've used it for voyage preparation, to teach new sailors and, when I wrote my sailing mystery novel, Inner Passages, this book was my first and primary resource!

Sometimes, late at night, nostalgic for the sensation of a sailboat deck underfoot once more, I pull it off the shelf and just dip inside. It evokes memories, reminds me of trips gone by, and I cam almost smell the sea air. This latest edition, replete with fine illustrations, should be a primary addition to any sailor's library.

Gabriel's Story was one of my favorite books of last year. Walk Through Darkness looks like it's gonna be a favorite for this year. This book will probably end up getting compared to other books about slavery, but to me it was more like Cold Mountain - but where the main character is a runaway slave instead of a runaway soldier. There's a similar voyage across a troubled landscape. There are meetings with a variety of characters. Like Charles Frazier's character, William in this novel is on a trek to reunite with the woman he loves - and as such it's a love story. The other main character, Morrison, is one of the best I've come across in a long time. He shows that white immigrants to America also had a tough time of it. He carries internal wounds that come to light only slowly but that build up to a helluva ending.

I'm ashamed to say that when I used to think of great American authors I tended to think of white writers. Not anymore. Mr. Durham is fast earning himself a place among our best. Color has nothing (but also everything) to do with it. Based on the strength of these two books I'd read whatever he writes next. If his third novel was about a mouse trying to chew through a paper bag I'd give it a try... Which is my way of saying that he's really quite good.

As he did with his first book, Gabriel's Story, Durham has provided readers with a book that works on many levels. First of all it's a hell of a story. This is an exciting adventure, an intelligent page-turner. Interesting, well-drawn characters, who, like people in "real life," can act in unpredicted ways. These characters rank with those created by Charles Frazier in "Cold Mountain."
If you've ever grappled with imagining the lives of slaves in 19th century America, their struggles and the response of whites to them, reading "Walk Through Darkness" will help.
The story concerns a slave, William, escaping a cruel master and his search for his pregnant lover. Durham intersperses this tale with relentless pursuit of the protaganist by a tracker.
While spinning this fascinating yarn, Durham offers a hard look at a time and place not so distant and the attitudes that pervaded American life.
This is Durham's second book, following the fantastic "Gabriel's Story". He is two for two, having hit both out of the ballpark.

Not every book has the ability to affect the reader as deeply as Walk Through Darkness affected me. David Anthony Durham, author of the critically acclaimed Gabriel's Story, has written a haunting novel about William, a fugitive slave. One may surmise that the force behind William's escape is freedom. Freedom is, of course, part of the reason William flees his harsh laborious conditions. But even moreso is his desire to find Dover, his wife, who is pregnant with his child and has moved North to freedom with her mistress. The story alternates between William's point of view and Morrison's, a Scottish slave tracker. Somehow these three people, who are separated by miles and life experience, are connected.

Durham's writing is refined, articulate, and descriptive. He makes you feel the fear, terror, relief, pain, joy, and a plethora of other emotions felt by the protagonists. The characters are in no way shallow, instead powerfully constructed with a certain profundity. The author uses a historical setting and breathes new life into it, providing the reader with a raw, fresh story in lands never traversed. Transcending race, time, and status, this Walk Through Darkness will make anyone see the light...

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in street art and the Baltimore area. It is packed with Tony's beautiful artwork and the authors' detailed stories of the area. Every Baltimorean should own a copy. Rita and her co-authors have done a superb job.

This book is like a trip down "memory lane" for those of us who grew up in Baltimore. It is apparent that a great deal of thought went into the prepartion of this book. The full page prints are nicely presented on glossy paper. This is also an inspiring story of a man's generosity to his family and his community via his artwork.

This lovingly crafted book Rita and Perrin French
traces the work of Rita's brother Tony DeSales.
The prints are warm,evocative and touch the spirit of
place, They show artist and scene as one; his trying to
make you observe the vision of Baltimore that he had embraced.
Many are hauntingly beautiful renderings and show a warm remembrance of his vision. You will see many nuances
of place and look again at places found in this wonderfully
crafted editon.