This compilation of short stories are reportedly actual sexual accounts of military personnel with their same-sex colleagues, and "Basic Training" leaves nothing to the imagination and impresses on us the power of the written word. Laced with graphic sexual descriptions, some of the narratives relate less to homosexual encounters and more to the essential need of man to have some human touch, even if it's from another man, an essential that is more an emotional than sexual need. Depending on who you're reading this to as a nighttime story, it's a great collection of shorts that permits the privilege of using a boundless imagination. After reading many of the stories, don't be surprised at the need for someone's human touch.

In this pioneering book, soldiers write in their own words, no-holds-barred, about their true sexual experiences. These are men who are (or were) serving in the military and who often, because of fear of persecution, have to use pen-names. Contains about 20 in-depth stories on what really goes on behind barracks walls and inside ships when the military brass isn't snooping.

Winston's essays are chock full of interesting insights into a variety of biblical passages. Though his writing style can be dense, you'll finish each essay with a more thorough understanding for how to manage and lead better.

Essay 7 was my favorite.

Even as an enlisted member in the US Air Force this book is a real tool on how to be a good leader and follower. It gave me great insight on how to give the most to my leadership and receive the best out of those I lead. As this book helped spark a desire to improve my personal and spirtual life, it also gave me a matched desire to improve the quality of my every day work.

I was impressed upon receiving this book, as I had no idea of its size. The book is large in dimension- which is a nice change from all the field guides to birds whose pictures make bird identification challenging. Beyond the visual effects, the author seems to have a bit of wit as exemplified in his writing style. This is not one of the best reference books, as it lacks specific detail on habitat, migration, species, etc. I don't think the author intended to compete in that forum anyway; however, I do wish there was an index for quick reference. All in all, a book displaying good writing with moderate description- but with stunning photography.

I love this book! Even my non-birding friends sit enthralled by it. The photographs are arresting - colors, composition, action - and the text is substantive and charming.

Also, the pictures are big enough to see details. They make the "LBJ's" (little brown jobs) of the Northeast distinct, highlighting their individual characteristics. Photographs of showier species such as the bluebird on the cover are simply stunning.

As with the other volumes in his monumental history, Churchill's language is sparkling and, from a literary standpoint, practically genius. The man really knows how to turn a phrase, to use the English language to its best advantage. As literature, this book is wonderful, and I recommend it highly. As history, it may be less important. Everyone acknowledges the work's idiosyncracies; it's Churchill's view, not a balanced attempt to cover the whole war. To be fair to WSC, he knew what it was, and made no pretense about it. But, after the USA came on to the European scene in mid-1943, Britain's position of authority declined, so there's less for Churchill to describe or represent. He's reduced to saying innumberable times "We were forced to accept our Ally's view." The reader, especially one who has read the first four books, can tell that he's no longer so engaged by the magnitude of events. He covers a year here in only 2/3 the space it took him in any previous volume. Maybe he's just exhausted, but whatever the reason, *Closing the Ring* lacks the grandiose-ness of the previous entries.

It is fortunate for us as readers that Winston Churchill not only had the qualities of a writer, but that he also found the time to put them to such good effect. Many a retired politician has written his personal memoirs-few of them have ever done so quite as completely. In the war, Churchill used secretaries to help him cover the multitude of daily tasks he needed to get through and afterwards, when living at Chartwell, his home in Kent, he kept up the practise of using an amanuensis instead of writing himself. This allowed him to get far more work done, since he could literally do it with his eyes closed. Nevertheless, we may feel sure that the text is his own. Proud man that he surely was, there is little chance that he indulged anyone in much editing. When we see his virtually unedited copy sent from the field from India, the Sudan and South Africa at the end of the last century, we can feel sure that by the 1950s, he was a competent composer of text indeed.

"Closing the Ring" is the story of the climax of the Second World War. Although he refused to admit it, Hitler probably knew deep down what everybody else could see very clearly after Stalingrad. The once mighty armies of the Third Reich were being forced to withdraw; some of the best divisions had by then been so savaged that little remained. Berlin was being mercilessly ground down to rubble by legions of British and American heavy bombers that ended up attacking their targets almost unopposed. It was the time when madness reigned in the Fuhrerbunker and when the Allies could see the fruit of their careful planning starting to ripen. Churchill was at once rewarded by the knowledge that he had been right in thinking America invincible, and at the same time he was sadly aware that an era was passing and the British Empire was fading away in front of his eyes.

This is a long sustained narrative, written by a man in full command of his enormous personal resources. In addition, Churchill had access to a vast quantity of documentation concerning the period, because he had written much of that too! Frankly, this is an admirable work of history, told with a writer's gift for spinning a yarn and I enjoyed every word of it.

With the current biodiversity crisis and the need to describe the majority of the diversity of species on earth, this is an especially timely addition to the literature on alpha taxonomy (describing new species) which is approachable to the nonspecialist. Being an ecologist who must occasionally put pen to new species discovered in the course of field work, I would have loved to have had this book available while I was in graduate school.

Without too much depth, Winston walks (at times seeming to literally hold one's hand) non-taxonomists through the process of not only describing species that are new to science, but also the critical steps to ensure that the organism you are describing is actually new to science. Winston stresses the pitfalls of making this disastrous mistake as well as the intricacies of working with specialists at museums and universities who are necessary collaborators, at one level or another.

Two complaints with the book are a number of typographic errors, especially with incorrect articles (a, an, the) and that I think Winston could have more strongly stressed (1) the importance of examining material directly before deciding that something is indeed new and (2) the importance of complete synonymy (researching all the possible names that a particular species [or higher taxon] may have had in the past). This is hard work and is usually not as good as it should be to be useful for future researchers.

Having visited a number of museums during the course of my work, I have found the curatorial staffs as well as the curators to be extremely helpful but I believe that they will all be appreciative if every nonspecialist who walks through their door has already read and mulled over the advice and procedures in Winston's book. Overall, a clear guide to a sometimes confusing and daunting task.

Although far from being a Taxonomy for the Utterly Ignorant, Judith Winston's Describing Species provides a basic and thorough grounding in the history, concepts, and procedures of describing and naming species. The book is intended for [graduate] students, scholars, and researchers -- systematic biologists, palaeontologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, ecologists, et al. -- who want, or need, to research and publish taxonomic descriptions, and as such is not for those who have little to no knowledge of such matters. Although it does to some extent cover systematics as such, at least enough to provide a framework, it concentrates on taxonomy (that part of systematics that is concerned with description, naming, and classification of organisms) and is designed to be used as "a desk reference and guide to nomenclatural procedure and taxonomic writing", to use Winston's description from her preface, in the context of a course in systematics, or as a supplement to a systematics textbook. It even has a chapter ("Visiting Collections: What to Expect and How to Behave") on how to approach, and get along with, professional researchers -- a chapter that, mutatis mutandis, would be generally applicable to any student in any field. It walks the reader through the processes of diagnosis, description, writing, and publication, giving enough background and explanation to put each step in context of the larger picture (a why-to as opposed to merely a how-to, in other words), all in a professional yet informal style that makes the book very accessible as a whole -- even I, not a scientist but a thorough-going humanist (a stranger in a strange land, so to speak) seeking to increase my knowledge and understanding, found it comprehensible, albeit by no means easy. In addition, it offers many bibliographies for those who wish to delve more deeply. In short, with the caveat that (a) I am not a biologist and (b) this book is not for the utter neophyte, I would commend this book to the attention of those whose interest is professional or would-be professional, as well as to those who are interested in the field but are for whatever reason beyond the "for Dummies" (TM) level.

The author shares a tale of excitement and danger, as the main character and his friend involuntarily enter the world of espionage. Only to find out it's more of a family business. He takes you around the world and back offering a character I would love to see again. I can't wait for the next book in what I can only assume will be a great series.

i thoughly enjoyed this book and would like to know when the next one will come out

A work of historical fiction, this book is not only a great read - it provides many new and surprising insights into slavery and the South as well. Characters are memorable and the plot is one that grabs the attention and holds it. This book allows you to view slavery from the eyes of Black slave owners and is told from the point of view of all characters involved including the slaves themselves. A must read for anyone interested in the South and The Civil War!!

It touched my heart with the message it portrayed. You have empowered me to learn more about my southern history. Now, I know I have something to be proud of being from the south I always felt we never measuered up. Today, and from this day forward I will feel differently. There is a sense of pride and knowledge I never had never being taught about our rich past was the problem it's important to any child to feel good about their families past. Everyone today especially our youth need to know their history and the history of others especially African Americans who have a large piece of their history missing from the history books. African American's during this time in America were educated and had a substantial amount of wealth and owned slaves? I never knew... Mr. Jones I commend you on getting it right on this very comlex issue. Writing this book no matter what others thought... Proud to be born and rasied in North Carolina...Kara

This book wasn't the best Remarque book that I've read. In short it is about a race car driver, Clerfayt, who falls in love with a terminal ill patient, named Lillian. She finds a new lease on life after leaving the sanatorium with Clerfayt. Clerfayt leads a risky life on the edge, where as Lillian has lead a quiet, "safe" life in an attempt to be cured. Realizing her time is growing short, she feels she is ready for a big change.

Their roles reverse as the course of the book plays out, each gaining insight to the fallacies of the other person's lifestyle. Remarque throws a lot of wit and wisdom in the conversations and thoughts, which to me didn't seem normal. However, Remarque's characters, in all of his books, tend to be deep and thoughtful.

Overall, though, it was enjoyable departure from his typical WW2 books. Worth reading, but he has other better ones.

Even if you are the type to read Remarque's works, this is the most touching and real book i have read. It gives deep insights into love and live in general. The perfect book any hopeless romantic. I will remember this and insights forever.

This is a fascinating story of a German aristocrat, Libussa and her family, who had to survive the Russian invasion of Pomerania Her family had owned an estate but were struggling to survive after 1945. Libussa was a courageous young woman who had her first baby while fleeing the Russians. She was able to rescue her father from a Russian prison camp.This points out the cruelty of war, but also shows that this family met kind people, both Russian and Polish, on the "enemy" side. The story points out the drastic change in lifestyle.The Krockow family had lived in a manor and enjoyed wealth, and devoted servants. It...shows the horrors of war for civilians, especially women. Many German women were [taken] by Russian soldiers. The author incorporates excerpts from other books into the story.

Libussa von Krockow is an inspiration to everyone who reads her story. It is a gripping tale of incredible courage and smarts, of great hope and love, in the face of unfathomable hardship and danger, at the hands of the cruelest specimens of mankind,in Germany, during the latter part of World War II. Many Germans were dispossessed and forced to leave their homes at that time, with only the clothes on their backs, for points unknown. Such was the fate of the Von Krockows, Libussa and her family. The father wanted to put an end to all of their lives, but Libussa felt the baby kicking inside of her and beseeched her father to let them live. He gave in to her pleas and abandoned his plans of shooting himself and the other family members. So begins Libussa's long and bitter but brilliant struggle to lead them collectively to a new world and a new beginning.
Spurred on by the love for her unborn child, she refuses time and again to let fear paralize her. She fights unrelentingly, agains all odds for her own survival and, at first, for that of of the new life inside of her. After giving birth to a healthy daughter, she fights on with the same undaunted ferocity of spirit, to find a better life for both of them, and she succeeds brilliantly.
Libussa von Krockow gives all of us hope that we can overcome the most horrendous hardships and difficulties and go on to a better tomorrow.

Deck's twin sister, Genie, is killed in an accident and for years, Deck has blamed her death on Cal McCall. When Cal McCall comes back to town with his own sister in tow, Deck knows just how to extract the best revenge.

Sister for sister.

About the only thing positive I can say about this one is there was lots of steam between Deck and Silver. So much steam, in fact, that I do believe they spend most of the time making your glasses fog and almost none of the time making you fall in love with them.

The book is decently written and the dialouge is good. But to tell you the truth, I didn't feel much for the characters. I just hate it when relationships are built on lies!! Deck is purposefully keeping his hatred towards Cal from Silver. grrr.

Even though Deck has feelings for Silver, he is intent on throwing the relationship up in Cal's face. Even after Deck is aware that Silver is in love with him - he wants it all! He wants to keep having sex with Silver AND make Cal suffer.

Gee. Seems like a swell guy, huh?

Save your money or borrow from a friend - I wish I had.

This is a great love story, though it has some small quirks. First of all, repeat the montra "This is only FICTION" and don't get mad if the characters act stupid (fiction, fiction). Deck (what kind of name is that) is H-O-T! He isn't so romantic as sexy, he sure knows how get what he wants. Silver (whats with these names?) is a funny, precious, ignorant lady who falls hard for Deck who is using her to hurt her brother (her bro happens to be indirectly responsible for Deck's sister's death in an accident). You've read enough love stories to figure out the jist of what's going to happen. Deck ends up regretting using Silver and tries pridelessly to get her back when she figures out his moronic plan (comendable I'd say). Lets just say that after reading this book I had a strong desire to cuddle and love on my man for a long time. Trust me, this is a good book.

I really liked this book. I love books with cowboys and this one was a really good one. There is a lot of chemistry between the characters.