This is a somewhat difficult book to work through, one that at times adapts a very scholastic tone. As an Anglo-American I found all of the Arab placenames and surnames a bit challenging, but that was expected. So I am certainly not criticizing the book on that count; you should just be aware that if you don't have extensive previous knowledge of the Arab world, this book will demand more concentration and time of you than most biographies. Now three points of criticism: First, I would like to see more background information as to the history of the crusades, and how Jerusalem and other territories in the Holy Land came to be under European rule. Even a few paragraphs would have been appreciated. Second, the writing style is a bit dull. I don't expect prose worthy of Thomas Wolfe from a biographer, but in some sections I felt like I was reading a doctoral thesis. Third, Lyons and Jackson wait until the very end to comment at length on the qualities and motivations of Saladin, and on his importance in the grand scheme of things. I think that such commentary should be injected more than they are throughout the book, as critical events unfold. And then the final analysis should wrap up on themes already developed. The greatest strength of this book is that it is written truly from an Arab perspective. The European viewpoint is represented, but I always felt like I was observing from within Egypt, or Syria, or Palestine. I did not feel like an envoy from the Vatican - on the outside looking in. This is an accomplishment for the authors. What I found most interesting about Saladin's life was the paradox he faced: to consolidate power within the Arab world he needed the legitimacy of being a true believer, fighting the infidels in the holy war. However, to effectively fight the Europeans he needed soldiers from throughout the Arab world. So you see him in the book alternating his attention between his external battles and his internal ones. Lyons and Jackson do a good job in providing the details of these struggles - the dates, the places, the people, the numbers. But somehow they don't effectively convey the big picture; they don't explain the significance of the events as they unfold. The authors might argue that it is best for the reader to decipher that for his or herself. But I think the best historical books offer an opinion, with which the reader is then free to agree, or disagree.

In Malcomb Cameron Lyons and D.E.P. Jackson's "Saladin: Politics of the Holy War", the fact that Saladin was one of the greatest-known figures of the Middle Ages is proved very easily. This is true, various events proving it. An example of one was his attempt to unify the Muslims. In addition to that, he was a great military leader and at the same time a wonderful politician. The authors make great use of the many documents and letters collected of the Arabs. The sources are used very often and are quoted from. I think the Arabic sources were one of the greatest features of this book, even though they may have been confusing at times. Saladin is often compared with Richard the Lionhearted, an equally powerful ruler from the Christian lands. Was Saladin stronger than he was just because he held Jerusalem against him?

After the Turkish invasions, the Arabs were unorganized and didn't have a common goal or leader. Saladin unified them and was able to achieve a common goal, the Jihad, equivalent to a Christian Crusade. The goal was to gain control of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was important to them because it was their third holiest city, after Makkah and Medina. Saladin's leadership ability lies in the battlefield as in politics.

In order to restore order to the Muslims, Saladin had to be very persuasive. He used politics in order to swing people to his side and also to develop a stronger army. Saladin was able to conquer those that did not follow, a tactic that the Persian Empire also used.

One of the greatest features of this book was the various references to actual historical documents. One of my favorite ones was an excerpt from a letter that Saladin wrote to his father after witnessing his first battlefield, "This letter contains the first good news given to the master of the prey seized by his cub, who stood in his father's place and struck with his sword." (Page 250) This letter showed the significance of Saladin's first battle, he is coming to leadership. It is as if Saladin is now replacing his father, assuming a role of leadership.

It is inevitable that Saladin would be compared to Richard the Lionhearted of England, since he was Saladin's greatest opponent. Personally, I don't think that Saladin was as strong a ruler as Richard. Richard traveled to Jerusalem (maybe its only a rumor, but it is said that he only came within sight of the city); this is amazing because he was able to penetrate all of the defenses along the way. Saladin had a number of advantages: he had the element of surprise, he could ambush Saladin's troops as he wished among their journey; and Saladin was also fighting a home battle - he knew the land in which he was fighting and so he could take advantage of the locations for his troops to assemble (From reading about Saladin, had the situation been reversed with Richard defending against Saladin, I don't think that Saladin would be so successful). Saladin seemed to be more of a defender than an attacker.

One of the criticisms that I have of this book is reading. This book is more suitable for a senior in high school, rather than a freshman. I often found it very difficult to follow. The text seemed a little strange, there were many Arabic words and names and accent marks throughout almost every page of the book. This problem is very trivial when compared with the overall knowledge gained from reading in context. In summary, "Saladin: Politics of the Holy War" is a very tough read meant and for students who have enough time to read it in full context.

There wasn't enough politics of the Holy War, or Jihad. I don't think that the author spent time upon the wheeling and dealing that Saladin had to do in order to achieve unity in the Muslim army and assume a leadership position. Instead, there were too many details on every battle. Text could have been used explaining other points.

In conclusion, "Saladin: Politics of the Holy War" is a read only advised for skilled students who have the time as well as the determination to thoroughly read this book in context. Only at that point will he or she be able to fully understand the significance of Saladin's life as a military leader and politician.

I picked up this book a while ago and only got around to reading it recently. It is an extremely serious piece of scholarship, well-researched and thoroughly documented; this is no glossed-over wannabe history treatise.

I could detail its strengths and weaknesses but I believe the previous reader has provided a fairly thorough analysis. It is no easy read and is made, in my opinion, made tortuously difficult by two unnecessary things: (1) The publisher's stubborn insistence on not providing comprehensible maps that illustrate the campaigns being discussed throughout the book and (2) the disregard of the difficulty that Arab names pose for most Western readers.

I hope first that there will be future editions of this book for it is a very worthy effort and, I think, probably the final say on the topic for years to come. Secondly, I hope those editions will be more user-friendly -- including clear maps (showing rivers, marshes, mountain ranges, deserts, combatant positions, itineraries, etc., etc.) throughout the chapters, providing an Appendix detailing who the different players are, family trees for the major players and, perhaps, more sprinklings through the text as to who people are.

Fans of Cameron Judd will be somewhat dismayed by the gore contained in this work. While still very tame compared to many books, much of the violence found here is far more graphic than other Judd efforts such as Bad Night at Dry Creek, Corrigan, and Mr. Littlejohn..

The story line is as engrossing as usual, and the charcters typically come to vivid life. However, a disturbingly high number of likable folks meet tragic endings-another disappointment to this story.

From an unfamiliar author, I might have given this book higher praise, but from Cameron Judd I have come to expect a more enjoyable read, which he has always delivered in the past.

While Glory River is strikingly similar to his 1996 publication, Passage to Natchez, this is still a page turner. Mr. Judd seems to have a knack for the period (early 1800s) and brings to life an exciting time in American History, with all the color, vilence joy and tragedy of the real thing. In fact, the book is faithful to the history of the Natchez Trace and the surrounding areas. I gave four stars rather than five because the characters, their surroundings, the plot line, etc., do seem in many respects to be duplicates of those in Passage. But it is a great yarn and I recommend it to lovers of historical fiction. I think the other Underhill novels might be a good bet as well. After all, if Jack Higgins can re-work old plots, why not Mr. Judd?

This is the tale of a clueless lady lawyer who stumbles into a solution for her mothers murder. Hollywood name dropping can't substitute for the shallow characterizations of the forgettable main characters. A tedious plot line leads to a string of implausable circumstances in the final chapter. The author's research shows through in some nice scenic descriptions, but there's not nearly enough of travelogue to make up for the crumby plot.

This book is like none that I have read before it combines Love, Sex, Muder, and the hurt the character faces along her way. If you love books that in a way deal with the "World Wide Web" you will love this even though there is not alot of mention of it, it still leaves you thinking.... I loved this book one of the best I have read in a long time! And just the perfect plot, story, and twists and turns, keeps you guessing! Keeps you wishing that Sue Cameron would write more books! She is one of the greatest writers! No Doubt to that! And I suggest reading "Honey Dust" by Sue Cameron it is a perfect book also!

This book was just awful I'm sorry to say. I was so disappointed!!! I should have bought a book by a writer that I know I can count on...Kim Corum does it best!

Gaby MacGregor is shocked and apalled, Jacques LeDan has plans to turn the town of Goldstrike into a theme park! Gaby first discovered Goldstrike years earlier when while driving through it got a flat. She not only got a new tire, but she found her home and now someone wants to turn it into a place with people dressed like leprechauns.

Jacques has grown bored with the candymaking business and is for the first time in awhile excited about something. Jacques is anxious to turn the little town of Goldstrike into something his grandfather would have been proud of. He is surprised when he sees so much opposition and that the ringleader of the opposition is sexy Gaby MacGregor.

Jacques and Gaby are on opposing sides of the theme park issue, but that doesn't stop them from feeling the enormous attraction that continues to draw them together. Will they find a compromise or are they destined for heartbreak?

I am so glad that MAD ABOUT THE MAN has been reprinted. It would have been a shame if I had never met Gaby, Jacques and I fell in love with the town of Goldstrike, California. Stella Cameron knows how to create a small town that will make you wish that you could live there.

I highly recommend MAD ABOUT THE MAN and know you will love it as much as I do.

this man is clearly insane. after three years of his teaching, he is obvoiusly obsessive and has a dirty mind

Storm Blind is undoubtedly an ambitious novel, tracking three generations of an English family through major events of the twentieth century. It is no ordinary family saga, and part of the success of the novel is its convincing portrayal of the characters dealing with situations ranging from war to difficult personal relationships. The story of the family is compelling, the charcters are engaging, and Sorel Cameron's energetic prose makes this an involving and absorbing read.

We were disappointed in the pictures because many of them are out of date. We travel to Lake Tahoe often, and know the area well. The 'current' picture of Stateline, for example, did not even have Harvey's casino on it. We recently purchased 'Above Chicago' and loved it. The old pictures were great, and the 'current' views of those old pictures were up to date. We expected the Above Tahoe to be similar. It wasn't.

Back Cover description: ALABAMA "I could teach you what a man likes and wants from his woman.--Britt Cameron. She had offered him shelter against the storm-filled night. Now Britt Cameron couldn't refuse pretty Anna Rose Palmer anything--not even her plea that he pose as her fiance. Seemed everyone thought Anna Rose an old maid, and she was hoping to stop all the talk. And the plan worked, until the night Britt showed this innocent beauty the power of passionate love. Now Anna Rose was not just a temporary bride; she was a woman ripe with his child. A child he swore would have his name. But would the sexy loner give Anna Rose his heart?

This is from the BABIES & BACHELORS USA series. I couldn't find the Desire logo anywhere. Interesting story, different in that none of these people seem to have money. They're all working people. He has just been acquitted from a murder charge and is looking for a place to heal. She is strong character who has come to grips with her life. Both find love, and the real murderer gets caught. Interesting story.

After researching traditional as well as nontraditional careers the author shares information from personal interviews of individuals presently practicing their choice occupations. This book expands the readers knowledge from a self committment of healthy living and eating to a job area in which you can share your enthusiasm and knowledge in meaningful life work.

Facilitation Made Easy is a good basic book for the beginning facilitator. It provides step by step instruction on how to set up your workshop. It provides a good overview of listening skills, conflict resolution, how to keep things moving along, managing time and many other useful skills. I used it as a guideline for my first Joint Application Development workshop and got very good reviews on the workshop. I recommend the book to anyone who is responsible for bringing a diverse group of people together for the purpose of getting something accomplished.

The author is extremely condescending and lacks any insight at all. He says he tells it like it is, but in reality, he tells it how it used to be. Don't waste your hard earned money on this book. You will be extremely disappointed.

This book has valuable information but there are better books to spend your time and money on. Paul Krieder's book "Interviewing Handbook for Military Leaders" is cheaper, less dated, and more enjoyable to read. Roger gets condescending; his tone and attitude are distracting. While he offers some great advice some of it is boarderline ridiculous (i.e. he advises against salting your food before tasting it at a dinner or lunch interview because the interviewer will think you make rash decisions -- in reality no one will notice or care). Don't waste your money.

Roger's book was my baseline and continued reference in my preparation for transition to the civilian sector. He does not mince words and tailors transition advise for those currently in the military planning to begin interviewing for civilian work in the corporate sector. His book offers readers a guide for honing their interviewing skills with a focus on the entire process of facing corporate recruiters. The book details the dynamics of an interview and points out that presenting and selling yourself with substance and confidence is much more important than the resume that got you the interview.