Very often the American public has tended to view Lyndon Johnosn as the evil villian who escalated America's involvement in the warr in Vietnam. However, few people, including historians, know how the escalation came about. In this book Brian VanDeMark does not try to justify the decisions that were made between 1964 and 1968, but tries and explain how those decisions came about. VanDeMark also shows how Johnson slowly and reluctantly led the United States deeper into what has often been called the "quagmire" of Vietnam. VanDeMark balmes the American Policy maker's ignorance of the culture and politics of Southeast Asia for the slow deepening of the conflict. VanDeMark gives teh reader a very good view of how this happened by carrying the reader through almost every major decision made by the Johnson administration throughout this time period. Writen in a very readable style the near day-to-day account helps to emphasize the snowball effect of the events. The author uses a good range of source material for this book. THere is a strong reliance on government manuscripts and primary sources of the administration. He also includes oral histories and interviews. It is by using these sources and many quotations that VanDeMark is able to carry the reader through the day-to-day accounts of what happened. This book is very important for anyone interested in the VIetnam war or American foreign policy.

This is really a great book! It's informative, but the information is rendered in an unpretentious and accessible style. Regarding the Tasaday controversy, Hemley is fairminded and never preachy. I learned more about the complexities of interactions between the third world and the developed world, and between native peoples and non-native peoples, than anything else I've read.

This book is a must for anyone interested in the fate of native peoples and their habitats. It's also very informative about the cynicism of American network news.

A great book!

This is the most amazing painter of the ocean that I know. This book is absolutely the best! It contains around 150 color plates of Aivazovsky's paintings, and these reproductions could not have been better in quality. Breathtaking scenes of the ocean in all its different states--calm, cloudy, or raging and stormy, in the moonlight and in the sun, in the bay,harbor or in the open waters, scenes of shipwreck, sinking boats, of smugglers,ports and merchants. Absolutely amazing paintings!

Filled with poignant statements and detailed descriptions of day-to-day life, The Journey Of Navajo Oshley covers the life story of a respected Navajo man of the San Juan River Basin area in southeastern Utah from 1879 to 1988. The style is simple, immediate and vivid. Many details are carefully explained in footnotes, such as the significance of the Navajo's reaction to livestock reduction (p.131). Many black and white photographs help animate the autobiography. Navajo Oshley was a man well respected by both the dominant culture and his own. He was kind, gentle, hard-working, honest, and he always met his responsibilities. He deeply loved his family. He also was evidently blessed with a gift of a sense of humour. This is well described in the final chapters by McPherson on his "Later Life." When Navajo Oshley speaks in his own voice in the narrative, many emotional nuances must be inferred by the reader. It is said that though he never spoke English, he was a gifted comedic sign-language maker. The Journey Of Navajo Oshley is a rich contribution to the genre of Native American autobiography and history of human experiences in the southwestern United States area.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

Though some would say the material is dated, the historical material is certainly important, and this FSI course is the most thorough of its kind in the small world of Southeast Asian language studies. The patterns taught remain relevant and stand the test of time. The audio is clear, the pace quite rapid and at native speaker full conversational speed, and the reading material is excellently prepared. With a very short period of personal instruction on the phonology of the language, the student without the benefit of a full-time tutor can use the complete FSI Khmer course to develop working fluency in Khmer within six months.

Jane Drakard has most skillfully written one of the most valuable and scholarly books in the field of Sumartran history. A fascinating and highly original work which illuminates her subject matter in a way that is accessible and spellbinding to any reader. More please.

I wrote a review on this 2 months ago, but I hope this one go's in. I went there, saw it and done it. The book is very accurate and a great guide to the islands, I recommend it to all first time visitors- don't forget to visit the ragga club on the east side, the owner also has great living accomadations on the ocean for the tourist.

In May of 1883, in the narrow straights that separate the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia (then known as the Dutch East Indies), a volcano that the experts thought extinct suddenly came to life. On August 26 of that same year, Krakatoa, the small volcanic island, literally exploded, sending dust and debris into the upper atmosphere (and thus around the world), and causing tidal waves (tsunamis) that killed some 36,000 people! This book is the story of that dreadful eruption.

In this excellent book, author Don Nardo runs a narrative that allows the reader to watch the tragedy unfold, engulfing the lives of numerous eyewitnesses. Interspersed are sidebars that explain various historical and scientific subjects that are raised in the text. My eight-year-old son has an interest in disasters, and he really enjoyed this book. Not knowing anything about the subject, I read it too. As an adult, I found the book to be highly informative, and yet interesting to read. The author did an excellent job of telling a story of catastrophe, without becoming morbid. My son and I both enjoyed this book, and recommend it to you.

Bertil Lintner was the first westerner to visit Kachin state of Upper Burma since the early 1960s. He and his Shan wife and newborn child travelled all across the insurgent-held territories of Upper Burma in what was one of the great adventures of the 1980s. Linter provides tremendous political detail on the area he travelled through. A great book. Absolutely superb reading

I simply must be honest, and tell, I have not completely read "Landing Zones". But Iam currently very close friends with two men who were focused on in the book. William (Bill)Tant, and Donald Whitfield. That is why I have been searching for this book, as it is part of my x-mas present to each of them this year. Bill Tant, came home and worked the River Boats for years, you have to love bill, as he is smart, charming, egostitical, and will always supply you with laughter. Nam still remains with him though. Donald Whitfield, (Bro. Whit)wasn't as lucky as others, mentally anyway, he purchased some land in the country and surrounded it completely with 15 foot high bamboo. You have taken your life in your own hands, should you try and go in his camp, without his ok, or prior knowledge. He allows very few in, so I feel fortunate that he trust and accepts me. He is a smart wonderful, very handsome man, who never married and doesnt want to. But a better political DEBATOR has yet to be born. There is absolutley nothing that Bro. Whit cannot do, he's an ace mechanic, builder, draftsman, organizer, a true GET THE JOB DONE MAN. I personally have been searching for Landing Zones as part of a project I want to accomplish and give to both gentlemen this christmas (2000). Both are in good health and spirits and I thankyou for listening to me. Sincerely Robbie Blissett Gowin