I originally started this book for a book report in highschool, but I quickly found that it wasn't as dull as I thought it was going to be. This turned out to be my first lesson in, you can't always judge a book in the first 20 pages.

Altohugh the novel started out a bit slow, and occasionaly got lost in over whelming discription I found that I couldn't put it down. I wanted to see how Susan's adventures ended. I fell in love with her character as she was strong, and smart, and someone who never gave up without a fight. She follows her heart, and pursues the things that are important to her while she strives to do what she feels is right no matter what others might think or the danger that she might be in.

Susan Carlisle has lost both of her parents and is about to lose her home that is unless she comes up with enough money to pay off her father's debts! Susan schemes a cattle driver into coming and driving her sheep all the way out west to help payoff the money! You will like Susan because she is one spunky and determined girl! The adventures she goes though to get that money will make the book unable to be put down! As well as getting Clay Carmer a cattle drover to fall in love with her. Even though this book is told from two point's of view (Clay's and Susan's) this is probably a books girls would enjoy more than boys though it is easy for anyone to get hooked!

This was an excellent book and I recommend this book to anyone who wants a bit of spicy romance, and adventure. I loved Susan's cocky and witty personality. All the characters are extremely interesting and the humor is funny. You'd love Clay Carmer, the Texas cowboy and how he saves Susan from being raped. Please you HAVE to read this book!

While I finished this book (and enjoyed the last half) and learned a lot of about Africa and scientific research, the insensitivity of the author to her surroundings ruined the experience for me! How can Kistner rave continually about the wonderful social whirl of the diamond-owners and fail to even mention the plight of the workers in those diamond mines. Same for the "glamorous" safaris. Not to mention the life-threatening danger to her children! Here she is -- for more than a decade -- exposed to perhaps the greatest of social and political upheavals, and nary a word except to lament that this wonderful way of life was changing! Read this book if you're curious about Africa in the 60s and scientific expeditions to remote sites w/ a family. But don't expect more than a limited, narrow report -- written as if the author wore blinders.

ALZADA CARLISLE KISTNER...my hat is off to you! You lived a life I could never live and yet through your wonderful book I have experienced the adventure, high drama, stark terror and beauty of Africa.Thank you. You are an inspiration! Talk about a positive attitude! When the going gets tough for me I will think of you and your family. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book. Your humor and practicality made it a book I just couldn't put down.

I have always been greatly intriqued by Africa, this book made me love it even more, as it was one I picked out to give me wings to travel in my mind without having the means. Spectacular Book!

This book discusses, in a general way, Communism and its place in the 20th century. As such, it does a very good job, giving the reader an idea of who was who, the relevence of certain ideas, historical context, etc.
There were only two things that I felt took away from this book. One, the addition of a beginning chapter on pre-Revolutionary communes, mostly those of the United States. With the exception of the Paris Commune, these have no place in the rather narrow intellectual universe that marxists inhabit. The second thing that I felt kept this from being a truly great book (given its scope) was the fact that, unlike other "Idiot" books, this one did not have caricatures for the asides. I thought Marx, Lenin, and Stalin would have been great as cartoons explaining different aspects of communism.

I gave this book 5 stars because I knew very little about communism. This book helped to answer alotta questions. Was not the most detailed book on the subject matter but kept in line with good Idiots series books. If you want to get a better Idea of communism the author lists books in the index for further reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to learn more about communism and the cold war period of 1946-1989.

This is an excellent book, little-known, which should have a resurgence now that a nonfiction treatment of the same events, Heart of the Sea, is a bestseller. Told as a reminiscence from the point of view of Captain Pollard, The Jonah Man is primarily a character study, but doesn't lack for gripping action. The slightly distanced tone doesn't describe the horrors of months in an open boat graphically, but the mood comes across effectively nonetheless. After surviving shipwreck and near starvation, Pollard's real ordeal comes when he must face his fellow Nantucketers. Though I was a little confused as to the exact nature of the epiphany he experiences in the end, I found the book to be an interesting study of individualism, guilt and redemption. Here and there character dialogue and thoughts seemed a little too psychoanalytic to be period, but it was a minor flaw.

The Jonah Man is up there in my top 5 books read over the last decade. On the surface it's a great story line that keeps you turning the pages; but it also is a brilliant study on guilt and the toll guilt can take on a life. I highly recommend it!

A wonderful follow-up book to the highly acclaimed "Act One" by playwright Moss Hart (Carlisle's husband). A pretentious, over-bearing mother guides Kitty's career from childhood. Although Kitty herself claims that she was never very pretty, couldn't act very well and was at best, a mediocre singer, she still managed to have a movie career (not successful), several Broadway hits and finally a performance at the Metropolitan Opera. She became a staple of the Goodson-Todman game show, "To Tell the Truth" and these appearances are what she is best remembered for. Her marriage to Moss Hart allowed her access to some of the wittiest and cleverest writers, actors and performers of the day. The characters in the book are probably more interesting than Kitty herself, but her observations of them are charming and self-deprecating.

Before reading this book, I best knew Kitty Carlisle as the glamorous panelist on "To Tell the Truth" - but there's alot more to this lovely lady than guessing who the imposters are. Kitty did more in her first 15 years of life than most of us could do in 100 lifetimes! She is instantly loveable and speaks from the heart. While she's eager to talk about her successes, she's not afraid to share her most miserable failures with the reader - and she's had plenty of both. Her relationships, with her mother, her husband, Moss Hart and many of Hollywood and Broadway's biggest names are put on display for all to see. This book was by far, the biggest surprise autobiography I've ever read. It kept me turning pages from the first word. Highly recommended!

I want to like this little (thin) tome, but it's not much help for the rent-a-truck self-mover, the family planning to rent in a new town, or the family planning to keep (and rent out) their existing home. It's a by-the-numbers book: Selling Your Home, Buying a New One, Working With the Movers. In fact, this book could have been written by your average relocating consulting firm - groups that have a lot of advice unless for people such as the author, less so for those preferring to relocate frugally. The chapters on family adjustment are informative, but with few new tips for those who've already brushed up with the much advertised online sites for relocation.

Moving is a stressful life experience under any circumstances. Ellen Carlisle, with her delightfully easy to implement tips, has shared advice from her own life that will make the transition of moving not only easier but enjoyable for the whole family. Ellen's conversational style eases the reader through the phases of relocating--from the initial realization to the actual move and everything in between. There are even chapters to guide the caring parents as they help their teenagers and younger children through this exciting yet scary life change. Ellen deals with the necessities in a simple straightforward manner and tops everything off with encouragement that "Yes, you can do this and have fun too!" We were so impressed with Ellen's book that we ordered 200 to implement into our company relocation program. The feedback from our relocating employees has been very positive. They were thankful to have the book to guide them through the ins and outs of relocating. I would advise anyone making a move to read Smooth Moves.

Just got to read a copy of your new book "Smooth Moves." Well done. At one point we did 9 moves in 12 years. Your insight is square on the money.

David D. Carriker, Director of Development

This is a story about three friends aboard the Nautilus, a cantankerous submarine-like vessel that is commandeered by Captain Nemo, an elusive figure with a mind of steel and a impenetrable purpose in life. Captain Nemo has long ago turned his back on the world, building this vessel with the intent of making it his home, staffing it with the most loyal of crews, and arming it as though it were a fortress. And a fortress it is. Captain Nemo and his crew live beneath the sea in this fascinating underwater vehicle as solid as stone. They never touch land, and are prepared to spend the rest of their days living underwater. The world has learned of this vessel, but rumors of its nature abound. Most think it is a sea monster of sorts, and the great ship the Abraham Lincoln sets out on a voyage to find and destroy the Nautilus. On board are Professor Aronnax, underwater expert, his loyal subject Conseil, and a Canadian whale harpooner named Ned Land. These unfortunate characters are tossed into the sea while heavily engaged in a confrontation with the mighty Nautilus. Hours later, they are picked up by the Nautilus, having been clinging to it's topside for safety. They are held prisoner within, but never have prisoners of war had such luxury and freedom. What follows is Monsieur Aronnax' account of the adventures that abound as he travels around the world underwater, seeing sights never before seen, engaging in activities he once only dreamed of, and enjoying times never meant to be had by man. When his companion, Ned Land, becomes restless and wishes to escape the Nautilus, the story heats up. Throughout, Captain Nemo is a mystery you will wish revealed. The story has many dull parts too, and many unfamiliar words and expressions that may bore you. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating and marvelous classic - if you have not yet read this, you should.

This is Verne's classic novel about Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus. What really fascinated me when reading this story and other Verne novels was not only Verne's contributions to the science fiction genre, but his founding of a whole new genre, one that, as far as I know, he has never been given credit. I think Verne was the first to write the techno-novel, a work that is filled with technical details ala Tom Clancy. For this novel, Verne did considerable research to describe what was known as accurately as possible. Professor Arronax and his servant Conseil board a U. S. ship that is searching for a monster that has sunk a number of other ships. They discover that it isn't a monster at all but a submarine, captained by a mysterious man known only as Nemo (Verne will present readers with Nemo once again in "The Mysterious Island"). Arronax, Conseil, and an American harpooner named Ned Land travel with Nemo and see many wonderous things and have many adventures. Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" has gotten some very poor reviews over the decades since it first appeared in 1869. In many cases, it was because of the translation and not because of Verne. A number of the early translators inserted their own sections with their own ideas and opinions and deleted much of Verne's own words. So, readers should be aware of the translator. I read an excellent translation by Walter James Miller that was also annotated. Such an annotated volume can prove to be very helpful to teenagers getting acquainted with Nemo and his submarine.

This brilliantly crafted novel of epic proportions, tell of the adventures of Professor Pierre Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and Ned Land, a Canadian harpooner, as they are held captive aboard a submarine by a mysterious man who goes under the name Captain Nemo. Although they are in a sense prisoners, they are allowed to use all the facilities aboard the submarine. This submarine, powered by nuclear energy and christened the Nautilus, is one of Verne's many brilliant predictions of modern life made throughout many of his works. This like may others was correct. Through out the book, the reader gains a vast knowledge of marine life, and the lives of people in distant lands.

The book begins when Professor Pierre Aronnax, the narrator of the story, boards an American frigate commissioned to investigate a rash of attacks on international shipping by what is thought to be an amphibious monster. The supposed sea creature, which is actually the submarine Nautilus, sinks Aronnax's vessel and imprisons him along with his devoted servant Conseil and Ned Land, a temperamental harpooner. When they are returned to their senses, the find themselves inside a dark, gloomy, desolate, endless, predicament. They are locked in a cell. However they soon meet Captain Nemo who agrees to let them move about the ship freely on one condition. They must remain aboard the Nautilus. So begins a great adventure of a truly fantastic voyage from the pearl-laden waters of Ceylon to the icy dangers of the South Pole, as Captain Nemo, one of the greatest villains ever created, takes his revenge on all society.

The detail that Verne pours into this book is amazing. This is one of the few books that are capable of making the readers feel that they are actually there. His descriptions of how the Nautilus operates, how Nemo's crew harvests food and his account of hunting on Hawaii are excellent, and the plot never falters. The characters are wonderfully scripted; each one having their own unique personality, and they are weaved flawlessly into the awe filled spectacle.

This is the book that predicted that there would be submarines, and that submarines would eventually go to the South Pole. It predicted the development of the SCUBA suit; it even predicted nuclear powered ships. The technology used in this book makes it easy to understand even today. This book is widely recognized as a classic- in my view, correctly.

I know at the range we call our clays "birds" but I thought the title was a little misleading. The book is very helpful for range work and "taking more clays" but was disappointed when I found only a small section indicating that the technique would be helpful in the field. Upland bird hunting is considerably different than range shooting and those differences deserve much more attention than this book provides.

If your primary focus is sporting clays, this is a good read. From the start of "Taking More Birds...", the author states that the book is directed at the sporting clay enthusiast. I was a little vibed because I bought the book to improve my wingshooting. My decision to buy it was largely based on its title (last time I checked clay pigeons didn't have actual wings). There is a lot of good information and much of it does transfer to wingshooting. But if you are more interested in wingshooting, I would pick up the Brister book or the Orvis book (heck, even the author of "Taking More Birds..." refers to them - what does that tell you?). It's a good addition to a shooter's library, but definitely not the bible.

A simple, practical guide to the basics of Sporting Clay shooting. This book will assist everyone taking up the sport to improve their scores and techniques.

Brandy, Our Man in Acapulco; The Life and Times of Frank M. Brandstetter, is a fascinating account of the never-dull life of Brandy, a colorful WWII hero, intelligence officer, and hotelier. The co-authors, Professor Carlisle and Dr. Monetta, engage the reader with tales from the interesting life of a Hungarian immigrant who was at the center of some of the century's most memorable and important events. The authors recount Brandy's heroic escapades, from D-Day and helping to foil a massive breakout of German POW's from England during WWII, to ensuring the safety and rescue of hundreds of Americans from Cuba after Castro's rise to power. Following his retirement from active military duty and his "semi" retirement from intelligence work, Brandy went on to create and manage Las Brisas, the number one resort in the world during the 1970's. Many of his innovative management and motivational techniques are predecessors of current day employee motivation and hospitality management principles. The book's enticing Foreword is written by Astronaut Jim Lovell, of Apollo 13 fame. An excellent choice for history buffs and WWII enthusiasts, "Brandy" is quite a story and one that I highly recommend.

As a baby boomer, the only personal connection I had with WWII, was that my father worked as a chemist on the Manhattan Project in Washington State.

So when a friend sent me a copy of Brandy: Our Man in Acapulco: The Life and Times of Colonel Frank M. Brandstetter, I thought what does this book have to do with my life?

The answer is everything. The authors of this compelling historical memoir, Dominic Monetta and Rodney Carlisle, brought WWII and the Cold War to life for me.

Colonel Brandstetter's life reads like a Hollywood screenplay. this book has everything fiction has: espionage, movie stars, strong American values, heroic rescues and escapes. It is refreshing to know, in a world where sports figures are amongst the few heroes our young people admire, that there is a living war hero who saved hundreds and hundreds of lives as a human intelligence officer - a humble man with the courage and passion to make a difference.

I would urge teachers to request Brandy: Our Man in Acapulco as required reading in high schools around the country.

I had never thought about how difficult it is to define a person clearly. Most biographies seem to concentrate on a dominant theme in a person's life. The life of a statesman, businessman, or military leader each provide the reader with a focus, that is the kind of story they are about to hear. This book has a devil of a time with this man Brandy because he is so hard to define. Frank Brandstetter has been an American success story of the type romanticized more than a century ago-but he is very much a real person! The book could easily have focused on a single aspect of his life. His WWII, pursuits which in part helped define the modern role of airborne forces or the fact that he was perhaps the best hotelier in the world thirty years later-each story would have made a respectable biography. It must have been hard to define a man who excelled at so many things in a life of intertwining interests and pursuits. Several months ago I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Brandy. In the hours of talk we enjoyed I was struck by the fact that though he appreciated the full complexity of the world (and was very much up to date on current affairs),he was able to distill and express the simple principles at work. Whether in a scientist or statesman this elegance is the mark of genius. The energy and electricity that surrounds him is coupled with a kindness and generosity that is remarkable. In this day of systems and focus on the group, it is inspiring to see what an individual can accomplish. Brandy's story should be read by everyone, students and adults, to remind us that committment to principles, hard work, and never ending creative forces can make a difference in our lives and those of others.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Russian literary society. This book gives an interesting account of her life as an emigre of her life in France and US, and how her Russian heritage and literary upbringing affected her daily life.

This is a graceful little memoir rich in anecdote and detail of post-WWII Paris and New York. In it, the author chronicles her development as an intelligent and talented young woman during the 1950's, beginning in Paris, where her emigre Russian parents strove to carry on the Andreyev family traditions in art and literature. While studying to become a painter, she meets a handsome American student at the Sorbonne, marries, and moves to America. There she dives into the New York art scene, studying with Robert Motherwell and bcoming friends with those who became landmark figures in 20th century arts and letters. Her stoutness of character is indicated by the fact that she persisted in bringing to Motherwell's class the small still-life paintings whose techniques she was determined to master - having to display them among the enormous, flat abstractions with which her teacher and fellow students were enamored at the time. Rather than belabor his charming young student regarding her entire approach to art, Motherwell simply ignored her paintings.In later years, having become a respected writer on Russian affairs, she becomes a conduit and agent for Alexander Solzhenitsyn and other writers living under Soviet oppression.The author's knack for evoking the mood of her times as well as the sights, sounds, and smells of her surroundings, plus her lifelong dedication to the intellectual life and intellectual freedom make this a satisfying and inspiring read.