Wars and Peace is the work of a Vietnam Veteran, Rory Quirk, whose father, James served in WWII and later Korea, as a behind-the-scenes major player. For a seemingly humble, low-keyed guy, James is an eloquent writer as is his wife, Elizabeth; although we see far too little of her work, since it was apparently difficult for James to hang onto her letters as he traveled the front with the likes of Generals Bradley, Paton and Ridgeway. James' letters offer never before published insights into these leaders with some comical anecdotes about Paton that suggest we heard more of Quirk than Paton in earlier press releases, in stark, often amusing, contrast to post-Quirk Paton statements. The Korean letters, researched painstakingly by the younger Quirk, reveal frightening historic events that need to be responded to by those who might still know the truth. Matthew Ridgeway, about whom I read nothing in my history books, is depicted as an incredible leader and strategist deserving of great recognition and adulation. On the other hand, General MacArthur; about whom we spent so much time; comes off as an egotistical, narcissistic insubordinate. Go figure. It would have been good to hear and know more of Elizabeth Quirk, whose letters on VE day and the first birthday of their son, Rory, portray an intense love and loneliness that suggests that perhaps this is all we need to know. This is Elizabeth. Quirk brings us through the third family war with the devastating effect his service in Vietnam had on his father, the loyal patriot. Contrasted are his views of this war then and now, through his memories of 3 former college classmates who died young for something we either don't understand, or worse, for nothing at all. Quirk's father wrote his letters almost 60 years ago and they are remarkable if one thinks of his writing them late at night after, harrowing experiences. We are fortunate to read them unedited. It is uncanny to detect the similarity of style if not language, between father and son who have not exchanged a word in over 30 years. Quirk connects these human stories with flawless historical research, offering a context to the events depicted in the letters. I still don't know how I missed this when it came out. I hope it will be out in paper soon and in print large enough for seniors. It should be on tape for the visually impaired who may well hear this as their last human connection to their past. And if they haven't yet, and I believe I would have seen it, The New York Times must review this important work. This would be great book club material for serious readers interested in the human impact of war beyond the obvious.

This is a family memoir, in the form of parents' letters and a son's narrative, gracefully written by three individuals who lives were touched by World War II, Korea, and Vietnam: a father, who served with Bradley, Patton, and Ridgeway; a loving and supportive wife who served on the homefront; and a son who served as a U.S. Army Ranger in Vietnam. It's a fine memoir of an American family's courage and sense of duty during this American century.

A great inspirational book for young and older families. After all is said and done, whether success is achieved through financial rewards or attainment of immense power, the most cherished parts of our life are, and should be, our loved ones.

I highly recommend this book to interns. it covers most of the topics that you may encounter on your internship oncall. it cover the subjects stepwise and you will know what to do next. it is very helpfull if you are alone and nobody around to tell you what to ask or what to order or how to handle the case. it is very easy to use and not time consuming to find a topic fast when you are oncall and time is short.

This is one of the best books you will buy as a medical student or intern. It is a requirement for your pocket. At Barnes-Jewish Hospital they give this to all the interns in July. If you know read it a couple times it will make internship easy...except for the 100 hours a week you will put into the job...Honestly...BUY IT- I would have bought it in medical school if I knew about it.

Buy this book if you are a fourth year medical student or intern

This book is exceptionally well written with practical guidance for real-world issues. The Spark Plug's energy truly comes through in the numerous pages of wisdom, both from his personal experiences, and from guidance handed down through the ages.

This a good read. It wasn't designed as a "coffee table" display, or something that simply pads one's library shelf. It should be read and read...and read again. Whether on a train commute to and from work(my personal preference), during the day or in the evening.

One example of a brilliant inspirational quote(one of many) used by the Spark Plug to bring his topics punch..."The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire!--Ferdinand Foch. This is the essence of the quality of the material in this book.

My personal favorite topic was Leadership. However, equally as motivational are his discussions of Vision, Commitment and the Celebration of Life.

The Spark Plug has done it again with his newest book, When Times are Tough Everybody Needs a Spark Plug. This book is entertaining, but most of all inspirational! And if you haven't heard The Spark Plug speak, you are missing out on an unforgettable and motivational happening. He is a leader and a encourager; this man speaks from the heart whether from the platform or in his books. This book is a celebration of life by two people who set the standard for all of us. Thank you Spark Plug and Jacqueline Benjamin Thomas. Good things happen to people like you!

I am a grandmother of 25 and a great grandmother of 3. I feel like I do not have to run my mouth all the time to get my grandchildren to understand how to live life, and get through the hard times. I can just have them read this book. Sometimes, the things you tell them go in one ear and out the other, because they think that you are just old fashioned. The Sparkplug and his wife, say what I want to say. When young kids hear someone else besides their parents and guardians say something, all of a sudden, everything becomes clear to them. They would listen to him without feeling like they are giving up their right to make their own decisions. This book gives you such great advice. Why it is important to serve others, that you are never too old to get an education, that you can make your life better starting right now. I love the part where he says why do you ask God to do something that you can do for yourself. That is so true. Just get up and do something. The Sparkplug says never give up, and he makes you want to better yourself and not just sit down and feel sorry for yourself. I love the book. I can not believe they have so much wisdom to be so young. I will have all my grandchildren read this book. Thank you Sparkplug and Jackie.

This author is also one of my professors at my college. I must say - if you think his books are full of good information, you should try taking a class with him! A bit eccentric in person - I wish he wrote more that way! To me the best part of this book was the introduction to the idea of directory services in both Windows NT and Netware. I found it very fufilling! Unlike the previous reviewers, I found the MacIntosh stuff totally unnecessary - Who the heck uses those anymore?

Where has this book been? The previous reviewer was not kidding about the Macs! What is really sad is this book was out a year and a half ago according to the Amazon release date and it is the only book on NT that I have seen that even mentions Netware 5 let alone discuss the issues of interconnectivity (along with Netware/IP)

The diagrams could have been a little better and I don't know where to begin on that f@#$%-up cover. But it is solid. It is only for NT 4.0 - do not look for W2K - but the way M$ is doing the MCSE's, I would focus on making NT 4.0 survie integration and interoperability with UNIX and Netware which makes this book FOR YOU!

Order it here because you sure as heck will not find it anywhere else! (Oh yeah, the author's e-mail address is wrong - bounced back) Oh Steve! If you are out there - could you post an e-mail address please?

The chapter on integrating MAC's with NT is worth the price of the book. The author has clearly done every step himself before, rather than the large number of authors who simply rephrase information available from Microsoft documentation. The tips and warnings were extremely helpful and helped me solve a problem getting three Mac G4's connected to an NT server box.

This book sits by my computer and helps get me going when I'm not in the mood to do my work or write my next newsletter article. The book focuses on success quotes, but it's much more than that. A very nice addition to the junior wealth-builder's bookshelf.
In addition, I get Tom's free email newsletter every Monday Morning and it's quite a pick me up!

Perfect for quick bursts of motivation and inspiration. Everyone can use a quick pick me up throughout the day. This is the perfect book for that quick bust of inspiration. It's loaded from page to page with powerful quotes... Josh Hinds - GetMotivation.com

Not everybody is self-motivated and often times we don't have the time to read an entire book in one sitting. Tom Vilord's 1001 Motivational Quotes for Success is perfect for those times where you need a few quick "shots in the arm". What is most impressive is his collection of quotes from some of the greatest writers, philosopers and business titans. Even Tom Vilord himself has quite a few original quotes you can benefit from. I strongly suggest you buy the book for you and a friend. It will be the best [money] you ever spent.

I do believe this is the first novel in 40 years of reading SF that I can recall as an alternate history Aztec space empire. Characterization of Ms. Anderssen (the Russo-Swede xenoarcheologist) whose family remembers their conquest by the Azteca), Green Hummingbrid (Mexaca judge), the various aliens and the strong but "low ranked" Japanese warship officers and marines (sounding and acting like WWII warriors, albiet Azteca space navy). The story twists and turns from a bit of mental rebellion of the lower "class" europeans and aliens, the tough but subservient Japanese warriors and the ore "pirates" and their mining ship (and supporting but crucial role). Finally, a bit of a surprise ending, though one which says something about our own cultural/international clashes. If you like Turtledove, on some levels this neat novel is much more sophisticated - if not as action packed.

In Wasteland of Flint, Thomas Harlan creates not only a mysterious new world, but also plunks it down in the middle of a surprising and tantalizing new social order. Wasteland uses a slate of interesting and powerful characters to peel away layers of intrigue that surround the planet of Ephesus 3, which exists within the auspices of the futuristic society controlled by the Mexica, the eventual (future) result of an intact and hegemonistic Aztec Empire on Earth. The tale unfolds in only about 430 pages; it comes up to full speed quickly and holds the reader's attention fast throughout. The plot is well developed and the story grows more compelling with each chapter.

Called upon to reveal to the readers the elusive secrets of Ephesus 3 is one Gretchen Anderssen, a talented young xenoarcheologist with more than her share of backbone, a trait that will serve her well in this assignment. Directed to Ephesus 3 to investigate an accident that has befallen the Palenque, an exploration ship in orbit around Ephesus, the Anderssen character immediately brings the new Mexica social order into play for the reader. Anderssen is the future equivalent of a disenfranchised minority, a person of Swedish decent; we learn that the Swedes, final opponents of Mexica's bid to take over Earth in its entirety, have been banished to other planets and are now treated as second-class citizens. The resulting social tension between Swede and Aztec is painted well enough by Harlan that it survives the duration of the story, and begins the process of depicting the complicated social order in Harlan's universe. As the pages turn, the setting becomes increasingly compelling, and the underlying social interplay is a sub theme that adds an important and colorful dimension to the novel.

As powerful a character as Gretchen becomes, she often plays second fiddle to a number of rich and interesting secondary characters. My personal favorite is Magdalena, a Hesht (a feline alien species). Cat-aliens have always seemed to me to be a bit cliché in contemporary science fiction (plus, I'm more of a dog person), but "Maggie" is a cut above. Maggie's character literally flies off the pages, drawing on many layers of development to become a compelling supporting character. I was fond of the imagery surrounding Maggie's mannerisms -- in particular her claws and several amusing nervous habits.

Green Hummingbird, an Imperial Mexica judge, begins as a minor character, but develops into a surprisingly powerful one, and is an important tool for the reader to learn about Mexica. Gretchen and Green Hummingbird form an improbable, but highly effective team through which Harlan tells much of his story. Hadeishi, a Japanese ship captain and his first officer also form an interesting and rich subplot that I enjoyed quite a bit. Finally, it's difficult to know whether to consider the elusive scientist, Russovsky, a character or not, but she is extremely intriguing, and not like any other character I can ever remember reading about. If nothing else, she is a moving metaphor for the pieces of ourselves that we leave behind when we're gone.

The characters come to life amid crisp and readable dialogue and a compelling social backdrop. At the same time, Harlan shows his mastery of imagery in both subtle and dramatic settings, making the text very enjoyable to read. For me, he successfully brought together many difficult elements of a top-notch story: a truly compelling setting, a meaningful and agile plot, strong characters and gripping writing that depicts powerful and satisfying images. This is as good a novel as I've read in quite a while. I enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait for the next in the series. I give this effort five stars; you won't regret the time or money spent on this book.

Thomas Harlan has written a book that encompasses the styles of Isaac Asimov, Fred Saberhagen and John W. Campbell all in one book. The technology is very Asimov, the aliens and other techno-creatures are Saberhagen and the interpersonal relationships and suspense are Campbell. I would highly recommend this book to any Sci-Fi reader or any reader period. This book is truly worth buying.

I'm fortunate to have a brother with a master's degree in exercise science and a lot of experience in strength training, as he's always designed my weight training programs for me. But being the self-reliant kind of person that I am, and not wanting to impose too much on my brother's time, I asked him to tell me what one book he would recommend to someone who wanted to learn how to design their own weight training program. He immediately recommended Weight Training Steps to Success. After reading this book, I understand why he recommended it so highly.

The authors first explain the physiology behind weight training and give a detailed orientation on weight training equipment. They then take you step-by-step through learning a basic weight training program, choosing appropriate exercises for each major muscle group. They place great emphasis on taking things slowly and learning proper form for all the exercises before tackling heavier weights for training. The steps for performing each exercise are clear and detailed, and they provide a simple procedure for you to determine with what weight you should start training for each exercise.

After you have mastered the basic training program, they move on to discussing how to design your own training program based on your specific goals (strength, endurance, hypertrophy, or a combination). Their coverage of periodization is the most simple and practical I've ever seen, and it is one of the major reasons my brother recommended this book.

I had some experience with weight training before reading Weight Training Steps to Success, but I had just been doing what I had been told, not really knowing why I was doing what I was doing. I certainly didn't know what to do next after I had reached a certain point. Now I know the whys and hows, and will be able to design my own training program as I continue to progress. This book is also perfect for the absolute weight training beginner, as it assumes no knowledge or experience whatsoever. In short, this book is the perfect place to start if you want to learn how to design your own weight training program.

After digging through piles of books at the library about weight lifting we finally come upon this one and immediately went out and purchased our own copy...

This book is *excellent* for those beginning weight training. It's explanations of things are down-to-earth and simplified without being "dummy-fied".

I like to research any new endevor, before I commit to a course of action. As a beginning weight "trainee", out of all of the books I've read about this subject, this was the most clear, concise and comprehensive. It gave me all of the information I needed to not only tailor my own program, but where and how to begin, (i.e. how to calculate a good starting workout load, how many reps, etc...) The book takes you through the basics, but is flexible enough to fit anybody's particular preferences and resources. While a few more exercises would be helpful, there are plenty of them layed out to get a good program started.

Forget the high-budget, action-packed, grenade-fuelled war movies.

If you want to really know what the Vietnam War was like, you need to get hold of a copy of Jack Stoddard's 'What are they going to do? Send me to Vietnam?'

Stoddard arrived in 'the 'Nam' in 1968, a 22-year-old career soldier in his first war role.

Thirty years later he was impelled to write this book after his young son asked him what the war was really like.

Stoddard took on a difficult task - how can you relate the fear, the courage, the comradeship, the desperate times, the deaths in mere words?

But Stoddard completes his task admirably.

What's so refreshing about 'What are they going to do? Send me to Vietnam?' is the fact it makes no judgements. There's no political wrangling, no debate over the rights and wrongs of the war.

This is a soldier's tale - straight from the horse's mouth.

Written in a pleasant and easy style, this book takes us through Stoddard's life in the 'Nam.

From his first day as a tanker when he was attacked by vicious jungle vines, to his life as a special combat soldier - entering dangerous areas to 'sniff out' the enemy.

He talks about his own personal battles - from the humorous incident when he suffers from haemorrhoids to the heart-wrenching descriptions of the death of close friends.

He chats about his fellow soldiers - and the camaraderie and genuine love that built up around them in the most inhospitable of conditions.

And he talks of the effect the war had on his life. How thirty years later he was drawn to the grave of dead friend, how he talked to the families of soldiers who were killed in combat, and how he misses the friendships and purpose a war situation brings.

It seems wrong to call this an entertaining book - but it is.

At times it's hard to believe what you are reading is fact, not fiction.

I also found it a hard book to put down. It's more a collection of stories than a formulated record but even so, Stoddard possesses a rare gift, in that he draws the reader in and won't let them go.

It's obvious he wrote this book as a kind of 'letting go' of his own memories - a burial of the past - but this is not a criticism, it merely makes the book even more readable.

Finally a book that tells about the war without some overblown heroics. The story of one man and the close bonds that form with the people you relie on to survive. The days of boredom interrupted by moments of hell.

All Vietnam Veterans experienced the same war, but from a different perspective. Here is what I am talking about. As a helicopter pilot, I remember watching the Grunts and Tankers on the ground sitting on their tracks and thinking, "God!, am I glad I don't have to live like those poor bastards with all the dust, mud, bugs, heat and mines on the ground looking for the VC and Charlie." Little did I suspect that the Grunts and Tankers on the ground were saying, "God, I'm glad I am not one of those poor bastards who flys one of those frail little choppers, and have my as shot off by the VC as I fly around exposed in the sky!" You see what I mean? Perspective is very important.

So, do yourself a favor, whether you are a veteran or not. Pick up Jack Stoddard's book and read it. You will find easy reading with compact and colorfully graphic short stories which will amaze you. And, the stories will remind you that war, especially the unpopular Vietnam War, was fought by real men, just like you.

I found this book to be very helpful in the daily struggles of Positive vs. negative. Nice to be able to find positive input after dealing with the negative people all day. Thanks for the relief.

This book was given to me by a friend, and I've found it to be very helpful as I juggle work and family demands! Its format lets you focus on one or more tips per day, with great suggestions on how to reduce stress in this ever-changing environment. This would be a great gift idea for anyone living with today's challenges!

What a motivator!! Great book that is full of common sense motivators that we all need from time to time. When I feel myself falling back into old habits I pick the book up and read a few pages and can feel the motivation return and I am ready to face any and all tasks be it at the office or at home. I recommend this book to everyone that needs to be motivated toward any task or to manage their time efficiently. It even gets me back on track with my exercise program! And best of all the book is small enough to fit in my briefcase or purse so I can have it with me all of the time (I travel quite a bit).

Very well written, I am so happy I found it!

Mr. Fleming skillfully disects a significant year in US history, providing a detailed and fascinating tableau of the events that occured. As an American history buff, I was very surprised to realize how much I did not know about 1776. When I finished, I found myself hoping that the author would do the same for the other years of the American Revolution. I ran across this book and took a chance on it, despite not knowing about the writer. I was very surprised at how much I liked it and highly recommend the book.

Mr. Fleeming is one of my favorite historians when it comes to writing about the American Revolution. He brings up so many small details about the war that many other historians simply gloss over, but are important to understanding what really happened during 1776. I first read his WE ARE NOW ENIMIES (Bunker Hill) several years ago, and also highly recommend it.

I could hardly put this book down, a fascinating read from the page one. This book does away with all the myths about the American revolution, and tells the reader how things really happened.

Boy, are we lucky...