What a great read. I enjoyed the hell out of it. I wish there were more details about his adventurous life. It seems that a great deal of the story came from Mr.Baca himself and if the way he lived his life is any indication; then the "facts" he relates must be taken with many many grains of salt. That said this book is one heckuva roller coaster ride, short but action packed leaving you thirsting for more. More! please.

This book is filled with examples of Noguchi's artwork, mostly sculpture. I am currently enrolled in a Sculpture Class and found viewing the pictures a helpful reference for the sculptures I produced. It is most important as an artist to be influenced by other artists, and I feel that this book was successful in doing just that.

I loved growing up a Patches Pal with JP Patches, Gertrude and the rest. This book if full of pictures and memories as well as great behind the scenes stories.
Like others who are quoted in the story, meeting JP Patches was a thrill in my life. Glancing through the book I started to read it and ended up reading it in one sitting; it was wonderful but could have been longer!!![.]
If you grew up in the Seattle area in the 50's - 70's you'll enjoy this book.
We love you JP Patches! (I rated this 4 rather than 5 stars as I wanted the book to be longer.)

After reading the two previous JLA story arcs from Mark Waid, which proceed this one, ("Tower of Babel" and "Divided We Fall"), I decided to pick up "Terror Incognita". I really enjoyed Mark Waids writing in "Tower" and "Divided", and although I feel that "Terror Incognita" slips a notch when compared to "Tower" and "Divided", it is still a solid book. Without giving too much of the story away, this run of the JLA is about the return of the White Martians who the JLA had faced earlier and defeated, The White Martians have induced toxins in the earths air which change the oxygen levels in the atmoshpere thereby making combustion impossible, in other words, no fire, which is a martians only weekness. They then create a plan to use all the pychics on earth to improve their mental abilities and control the universe without ever having to leave the earth which they have made fireproof. It feels like your basic "Alien Invasion" type of story, but there is so much more to it than that, also it was great to see Mark include "The Phantom Zone" and Krypto the superdog in his story. all in all a good read, but not quite as good as the superior "Tower of Babel" and "Divided We Fall". Definitely worth the money.

Historical reprint cookbooks are not the best place to go for exciting recipes, detailed instructions, and precise measurements. But they are a lot of fun to read.
With over 1000 recipes (and some very small print) this cookbook is even more fun than most. The recipes too seem more exciting than is typical -- the author doesn't just offer 20 types of bread, 10 over-cooked vegetables, and instructions for roasting or boiling plain meat. She gives real recipes, some of which look like they actually have flavor!
But be aware that the long list of recipes is a bit misleading. The book is sort of like a chinese restaurant menu, where the same basic cooking method is offered for, for example, beef, veal, chicken, pork and fish; or a dessert might be described with 10 different fruits -- as 10 different recipes.

Modern readers accustomed to reading about Western military interventions in the Mideast should take time to consider the other swing of the pendulum. Osprey's Campaign #114, Lepanto 1571, is an excellent introduction to a time when Islam literally wielded a knife at Christian Europe's throat. Written by naval expert Angus Konstam, Lepanto 1571 is a clear and concise account of one of the most decisive naval battles ever fought, and one that also marked the high-water mark for Islamic aggression. Konstam does an excellent job detailing the various factors of strategy, leadership and ship design that resulted in this epic clash off the west coast of Greece.

Lepanto 1571 begins with a short introduction and a campaign chronology. The sections on opposing commanders, opposing fleets and orders of battle cover thirteen pages. The section on opposing plans is quite good, followed by 17 pages on the early phases of the campaign and 39 pages on the battle itself. The maps are one of the strong suites in this volume and they comprise five 2-D maps (strategic situation in 1570-1571, the Cyprus campaign in 1570, the advance to Lepanto, the fleets close, the morning of Lepanto) and three 3-D "Birds Eye View" maps of the Battle of Lepanto. The three battle scenes (the battle lines close, the Venetian galleasses break up the Turkish line, and the flight of Uluch Ali) are decent - particularly for illustrating the colorful paint schemes of the galleys on both sides - but not great. It is also apparent that the author has done his research well on this subject and the bibliography is more than adequate for a volume this size.

Konstam notes that it was the diplomatic intervention of Pope Pius V that resulted in the creation of the Holy League - an alliance of Spain, Venice, Genoa and other Christian states - that was the only "force capable of standing up to the Turks." Without this Papal involvement (which included 15% financing and troops), the Turks would have picked off the Christian states piecemeal. Even so, the League was always tenuous and threatened to fall apart on the eve of battle. After the victory at Lepanto at the death of Pope Pius V, the League did indeed disintegrate. Lepanto 1571 is a fine example of the problems of coalition operations even when faced with a dire threat.

It is also apparent that even by 1571, Islam was beginning to fall behind the West militarily. Konstam notes that the six large Venetian galleasses "in the Christian fleet virtually amounted to a secret weapon, and represented the ultimate development of the oared warship." Indeed, the allies were so confident about the galleasses that they deployed them as an advance guard in front of the main battle line and these heavily armed ships were critical in disrupting the Muslim attack. It is also interesting that the allied fleet, under Don John, based its plan on firepower rather than maneuver. Although the rival fleets were equal in size, the Christians had 200 more guns than the Muslim fleet and they made it the centerpiece of their tactical plan. Indeed, Don John ordered all wooden rams to be removed prior to the battle in order to give the guns better fields of fire. While the Christians put their faith in artillery fire, the Muslim plan was based on maneuver. The Muslim fleet had a number of smaller, more maneuverable craft and they hoped to use these to envelope the Christian battle line. However, Muslim scouts erroneously reported that the Christian fleet was only about half its actual size and thus their fleet was committed to battle on the false assumption of numerical superiority.

Konstam also does an excellent job portraying the ferocity of the Turkish war machine in the 16th Century, when Islam was a dangerous and aggressive force. As a prelude to the Lepanto campaign, the Turks invaded Christian-held Cyprus in 1570; when the city of Nicosia fell after a brief siege, the Turks slaughtered virtually the entire Christian population of 20,000. The city of Famagusta held out for nine months and only surrendered when the Turks agreed to spare the garrison and civilians. Instead, the Turks abrogated the terms and massacred the unarmed Venetians. The Venetian commander was flayed alive in the town square. Throughout this period, the Turks were brutal aggressors and Europeans suffered many defeats at their hands. Indeed, it is amazing how this period of Islamic aggression - which lasted for centuries - is now conveniently forgotten by Muslim politicians in the Mideast who constantly denounce "Western aggression."

Lepanto was a tough fight, with 85% of the Turkish fleet lost and 30% of the victorious Christian soldiers and sailors killed or wounded. Although the Turkish tactical maneuvers almost upset the European battle plan, it was Christian gunnery and the courage of desperation that led to the final result. Konstam notes that while the Muslim setback in 1565 had been troubling, that it was not until the catastrophe at Lepanto that Islamic aggression in the Mediterranean was permanently contained.

This book is a simple, beautifully stated, well illustrated teaching about the life cycle for very young (3-6 years old) children. It's a wonderful book for parents and teacher of young children to share often, when there is no crisis, so that when there is loss, the child will experience it in a context.

I like the Osprey series in general in this book in particular. Like other Osprey books, this volume gives a brief history of the weapon's development, it's specifications and modifications through it's career, a lot of good pictures and accurate color artwork, and even a first-hand account of the weapon's effectiveness in combat.

It's a good, short primer on American armored car design and employment during WWII. The only thing I do not like is that these nice little books are still a bit overpriced for their length. I recommend it in spite of this small flaw.

This book successfully opened the horizon for those in search of Ottoman's late history, especially on its militaristic blunders exercised during the contest for Levantine.

Inside you'll find concrete facts and thoroughly researched materials focusing on the Battle of Megiddo. The outcome of this fight had eliminate any hope for the Ottoman's 'Army' to hold its already precarious ground, for the navy and air-force were mere paper-statistic then. The choice of giving the overall command to Liman von Sanders was Ottoman's biggest mistake. Although he was successful at Gallipoli, his defensive action was out of the question when facing the mobile cavalry (motorized and mounted) led by Allenby in an open ground. Who would guess that Sanders was a 'Jew,' a race who had sworn to annihilate Islam and any state proclaiming Islam as its foundation forever.

It also shed some light on the role of so-called T.E. 'Lawrence of Arabia.' His treacherous motive had sent the 'blinded' Arabs to attack its own brother-in-faith Ottomans who were accused of maintaining secular state. Look where he led them into now ?

The list goes a long way and it's full of surprises at every turn of the page, a must buy for any Muslim humble enough to look into his past and judge justfully his own faith.

It's simply continuing the excellent tradition of military writings done by Osprey Publishing. We should expect more to come from them.

This compact book is great for getting someone interested in the gunboats used on the Mississipi during the Civil War. Not a detailed reference, but a good overview with photos, plates and cutaways making this an interesting book that I have shared with many friends. The text and listing of boats used by both sides has led me to a whole new area of interest.