5 comments about Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War.

1. A superb book. I'd have given it four and a half stars if possible. It doesn't merit five stars because of some repetitive sections. Laugh out loud funny in parts, ponderous (in a good way), well-researched, and eye-opening. This was a really fun book to read.



2. 
   Well, ever since my seven year sojourn in Frederiksburg, Va., I've been trying to understand the jaundiced eye with which so many people in the south view that war, and the north. I guess the best thing that Horwitz gave us was Shelby Foote's explanation: the war was fought in their front yards. (except for Gettysburg...and here and there in Indiana and Ohio and D.C.) Also, I think they love the glorious romantic sense of loss of it all.
   I loved reading this book. Horwitz is a smart fun guy.



3. As will be the case with all my reviews, I'm going to record my reaction to the book, not summarize it. If you want to know what the book is all about, read a few of the longer reviews (which, at the time of this writing, numbered about 250.) Or better yet, buy it; it'll only cost you $10.17. Plus shipping, of course - and sales tax, if you live in Washington State.
   I approached this book with a full head of righteous indignation. I was ready to be pissed off. I expected a hatchet job. How could anything written about the South by a self-proclaimed liberal, ex-union organizer named Tony be anything other than another perfunctory slap - if maybe a comical slap - at all those redneck, racist , reactionary, drawling good ole boys down there at the bottom of the country - who, moreover, have the temerity to vote Republican? (Full disclosure: I am white, retired, live in Washington State, and voted for Reagan. Twice.) Boy was I wrong! (About the book - not about Reagan.) Maybe I'm too old or dumb to deal with subtle innuendo, but on a quick first reading this book was fun, informative in a non-threatening way - and fair. Sure, the author talked to some people I'm happy I've never met, but heck, there are plenty of those right here in the Pacific Northwest, and I run into them all the time. This book introduced me to some interesting, even fascinating, people - Rob Hodges (on the cover) was worth the price of admission all by himself. Some advice to the potential reader: if you're looking for sober, closely reasoned political or psychological enlightenment, buy some other book - this one, while serious in places, is mainly just good, honest fun. And some advice to the author: Tony - stay out of biker bars. We want you around to write more books.



4. In the beginning of his work, Tony lays down the question that the reader expects will guide the course of the book: why does the War remain so important and prominent in the consciousness of Americans, even, and especially, amongst persons who have no family connection? In consideration of the fact that the War primarily was fought south of the Mason-Dixon (Gettysburg and a few major exceptions aside), Tony plans an impressive survey of the Southern States. His journeys take him from North Carolina, which he amusingly relates as trapped between two prideful neighbors, to the Deep South states of Mississippi and Alabama, where Martin Luther King and the racial struggles are of recent memory. He does not visit all the Confederate states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and Texas are excluded) but he does manage forays into the border states of Kentucky and Maryland. A list of sites visited is impressive: Fort Sumter, Sharpsburg, Appomattox Court House, Chacellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Five Forks, Andersonville, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Shiloh, Manassas, the towns of the Shenadoah Valley. These are just a few that come to mind; there are many others.
   
   Tony's approach for each state is consistent. He first goes to those cities or battlefields that are of known historical importance. Once there, he seeks historical societies or persons to whom he is referred. Two societies that continually appear in the work are the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and their female counterpart, the United Daughters of the Confederacy. He conducts informal interviews, and uses the information provided as a spring for further unplanned encounters in the environs. Inter-weaved with his solo treks are Tony's adventures with Rob Hodge, a "hardcore" re-enactor who crusades for the complete realization of Civil War realism, and who deplores modern intrusions.
   
   I commend Tony Horwitz for attempting to dig beneath the surface, to make analogies and historical connections. He patiently listens to whom he calls neo-Confederates as they expatiate upon their views of the War, the meaning of flying the Confederate (Battle) Flag and how the official history of the war (written by the Northern invaders) distorts the truth behind the South's motives. He also shows that not all Southerners think alike on the War and on the flag issue. Some have little care for the heritage of the War, but have inherited and appropriated symbols of the Cause for their own cause: e.g. using the Confederate (Battle) Flag as a sign of rebellion against the status quo, or as a standard of white supremacy. Some Southerners go so far as to agree: The War is over. Let's get over it. The Southern blacks with whom Tony converses are preponderately opposed to the show of Confederate pride. Interestingly, at the end of the book, Tony relates of black schoolchildren who are just as cynical of Northern motives as they are those Southern. North or South, no difference, the leaders of both were white, i.e. racist against blacks. Even Abraham Lincoln does not escape criticism; the schoolchildren regard him as a "benevolent racist." (367)
   
   Where Tony excels in his reporting, witticisms and the lucid, engaging tone that prevails throughout the work, there are several areas that significantly detract from the quality of an otherwise excellent piece of non-fiction. As the title of my review suggests, Tony understands the War as seen through the prism of the Civil Rights Movement. The two chapters that conclude the work, "I Had a Dream" and "Strike the Tent," in their contents serve as the interpretive crux of all the preceding chapters. In early chapters, Tony is cautious with his personal views, but finally he cannot hold them in any longer and lets loose (paralleling his explosive argument with Rose Sanders, a school teacher). He begins with a manifesto that, while in childhood the Civil War fancied his mind, it was the occurrences of the 1960's, in particular the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles that accompanied them, which developed his "political consciousness" (370). This is fine, except he conflates the racial issues of the 1960's with the issues of the War in the 1860's. Subsequent to this loose conflation, all manner of wild reflections are drawn. Race, segregation and discrimination, huge factors from the racial wars of the 1960's until today, become key issues in the War Between the States. Overcoming these issues would mean a unified country, where people believe and live alike, regardless of class, race or any other distinguishing characteristic. Great idealism, but were the historical motives of the War really of that ideal or to the extent that Tony imposes on it? Because what Tony sees in the South does not fully live up to his own ideal, he concludes wholesale rejection, rather than critical acceptance of what is good and rejection of that which is bad, as the best course of action. He facilely equates the traditional Southern view of the War as "propaganda," and he entertains the notion that the South would be better if it forgot its [War] history, since its history intrinsically relates to the racial strife and inequality of the 20th century. (376) "You Wear Your X, I'll Wear Mine" (in reference to Malcolm X and the design of the Confederate Flag respectively) is Tony's oft-repeated phrase of disgust, which also functions as his experience of the South as an entity: each side, Southern White and Southern Black, having its own history, but each of whose history is fueled by racial prejudices. Both must go.
   
   In consequence on Tony's fixation on the issue of race, he cannot see the "States' Rights" argument as anything more than a concocted veneer to legitimatize darker motives: slavery and the assertion of racial superiority. Unfortunately, Tony does not even address the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which long before the Confederacy advocated states ' rights in the face of an oppressive federal government. Neither does he address the different views of the Founding Fathers regarding the union and whether it was an unbreakable union or one which the states made and from which they could secede under certain conditions.
   
   In the end, Tony Horwitz's presentation of the South is amusing, if wanting at times, especially in the evaluative concluding chapters. After writing so well and humorously on re-enacting, it is disheartening and a sneer, even when taken as jest, for him to conclude of re-enactment activities as "childish things." (388) He makes mention of the "Irreconcibles," a group of Confederates and their descendants that remains to this day in Brazil; but Tony laments he could not visit them. This is a true tragedy. Had Tony visited, he may have gained some illumination as to the Confederacy and the motives behind the Confederacy, and its self-professed advocates of today. The Civil Rights Movement did not impact Brazil as it did the U.S., and the perspectives there would provide a unique complement.



5. Anyone interested in the civil war and the south will truely love this book. It is a unique look at reinactors and to the details they achieve for the simple passion they had for the war and soldiers that fought in battle. The author is a great story teller with wit and heart.

5 comments about The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides).

1. This book was fantastic in guiding my planning. Very comprehensive and detailed; touring plans are great and they work. I tagged so many pages in my planning process...my husband laughed at how much time I was spending on this trip planning but midway through our first day at Disney, he couldn't thank me enough! Good insight on fear factor for young children, fast pass info accurate plus plenty of tips for things you wouldn't normally think of doing/having on hand for a 'regular' vacation. Highly recommended!



2. I've been a travel agent for 20+ years, and always send this book to my clients who are visiting Walt Disney World as a little gift to help them plan their trip. I must admit that it can be a bit "daunting" because it's a thick book, and there are really no pictures to speak of. . . but it's FILLED with GREAT information! All of my clients have just raved about the book. If I had any "complaint", it would be that it will sometimes give specific room numbers that are the best, so sometimes clients don't understand that the hotels do not actually assign your room number until you arrive at the hotel. Anything can be made as a "special request" before you arrive, but in reality, you'll receive whatever is available at the time you check-in. The earlier you check-in, the better your chances of getting the room you want, if it's available.
   
   Also, I used to work at Walt Disney World. . . and honestly. . .I like the fact that this is the "unofficial" guide, meaning that Disney has no control over it. I also really like the fact that there's information about other things to do in Orlando as well. It's a very good overall guide to the area.



3. This book is amazing. There are many Disney guides out there and this one has all the info from all the others combined. Yes, it is a huge book and it does not have pictures. There are other books for pictures. This book is jam packed with all the info necessary from the beginning stages of planning your trip to every aspect imaginable at Disney World.
   
   I used this book to plan a 10 day trip to Disney World staying at a Disney World resort. Their reviews of all the resorts, parks and restaurants are lengthy, informative and all right on. I was able to choose the restaurants I wanted to dine at by their indepth reviews and charts.
   
   For Disney I always use two books. This one is the basis for all my research in planning the trip plus the Passporter Guide which also has excellent reviews and info plus is also a book that becomes a souvenier of all the things from your trip. A great combo.
   
   Many praise the Birnbaum guide but for me that one is merely a large colorful brochure for Disney and does not provide helpful information. I can make my own colorful memories when in Disney.
   
   I highly recommend this book but be prepared for the size of it and also the huge amount of info. All your travel questions will be answered here and then Disney will be that much better.



4. Great at covering all of the details you need to know to plan your trip to Disney World. One of the best vacation guides I've ever read. Also great if you have kids since it covers each ride and gives rating based on scary factor, etc. so that if you have a 2 year old (like we did) you can get a sense of what may be too much for them or not.



5. This book has alot of content, but not the things that I needed. There are cartoons, and there are lots of personal annectodes submitted by readers. And it does not work well as a quick reference if you are trying to find the answers to some simple questions. You really have to want to read it to get anything out of it. At the last minute we were confused as to where our hotel shuttle would be leaving us, and how to proceed on our first morning, but the book was too big to stuff in our backpack on our way into the park. We ended up ripping apart the book to get the parts we thought we might use. Frankly I was much better versed, having read the Frommers guide which I had borrowed from the library earlier.
   
   I did get a little advice out of the "touring plans" in the back of the Unnofical Guide. It worked as a rough guideline for us, so that we knew which section of the Magic Kingdom to hit first in the morning. But we did not need the book to plan the whole day. We enjoyed doing things at our own pace and -- oh yeah -- we had a great vacation.

5 comments about In a Sunburned Country.

1. Bill Bryson's take on Australia is hilarious. I'm going there in a few weeks and can't wait to compare my experiences with him. This is a book that will have you chuckling, laughing out loud and then marveling at his insight and sense of humor. A must read for anyone interested in Australia and that part of the world.



2. I initially bought the CD version of Sunburned Country thinking it would keep me from driving off I-5 into a feedlot while traversing San Francisco to LA and back. As it turned out - Mr. Bryson's account is so much more than caffeine or background entertainment that I must revisit this book (without the roar of Big Rigs or BMW's) to experience the details, wonderful insight, amazing adventures and most of all - hilarious perspective that he brings to Australia. Hearing it read by the author adds the perfect pitch to this journey, which has made this "book" a treasure!!



3. Everything you never knew about Australia, presented in entertaining prose. I'm reading this book for the 2nd time and enjoying it quite as much as the first. My only complaint with this book is the map provided in the front - hand drawn and almost completely useless, it shows maybe half of the places mentioned in the book.



4. I read this book on the way to Sydney a couple of years ago at the beginning of a project assignment which called for me to spend about six weeks there. I enjoyed the author's writing style much more than a typical travel book. However, despite the light tone and the many humorous anecdotes, I found that Mr. Bryson really did effectively capture a "feel" for the culture. Time and again, as I interacted with the people while working with them, I was reminded of a passage in the book. I beleive that reading the book helped me relate to the people more easily. Highly recommended.



5. The book was sent promptly and was exactly as advertised.
   
   Great service!

5 comments about Rand McNally 2009 The Road Atlas Large Scale: United States (Rand Mcnally Large Scale Road Atlas USA).

1. A bit disappointed in this atlas as their choices of highway/road colors make it hard to discern all but the small state/county roads and bold interstates. Those in-between are all pink... some skinny lines, some a wee bit thicker. Greatly prefer the easier-on-the-eyes American Map series after using one of those in the past.
   Other than the ugliness of the maps, it's a very good reference but can't give it more than 3 stars due to the shortcomings.



2. My husband and I purchase the Rand-McNally road atlas every year. This one is special, is larger and has larger print on certain pages. The spiral binding is great; at last, one that lies flat



3. This book is ingenious. There are roads everywhere you look...in your state...in your city...even in your own neighborhood. Finally, someone has realized that it would be a brilliant idea to take all of those roads and put them in a book!! With this baby at your side, you can map out your destination and find the shortest way to where you want to go. Who needs the internet or GPS when you can go blind staring at the pages of this bad boy?
   
   In all seriousness...if you venture out of your city at all, it never hurts to have an atlas in your car. Especially if you're in a strange state or going on a long road trip. And this makes for an excellent guide to the USA, with large state maps and detailed maps for all the major cities, plus some inset maps for smaller cities.



4. I agree that the spiral binding makes the large atlas more convenient to handle, but a *glaring drawback* of having each page a separate leaf bound together by a large plastic coil is that all the maps are split down the middle by more than an inch. When you're following a big highway and you've reached the edge of the left-hand page, it's relatively easy to find it on the right-hand page after the jump (over the page margins and the space the coil takes up), but if you're looking at local and city streets, forget trying to match them up quickly and easily and in lots of cases, at all. Plus, a large majority of the detailed inset maps (which I've always found very useful) are placed right in the center of the binding, so they get cut in half too, rendering them less readable and less navigable. Seems like no one at Rand McNally has actually used this version of the atlas...or else they might have noticed how frustrating and confusing the current layout is in combination with the spiral binding.



5. This is a great help since we have started going on trips from January through May and like to go to different places on our way to and from Florida every winter and spring. The Atlas' don't seem to get updated very often and this one looks great! Besides the fact it's LARGE PRINT!! THANKS!!

5 comments about Oahu Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond (Oahu Revisited).

1. We purchased Hawaii Revealed last year & it went with us everywhere. When we were planning our next trip to Oahu, we ordered Oahu Revealed before we left so we could read up and decide what we wanted to do before we arrived. The information provided is accurate, and the opinions are right on.



2. I might look at other guidebooks as well, but if I were limited to just one, this would be it. It covers pretty much everything, covers things in detail, and gives honest opinion. If an attraction, restaurant, or hotel sucks, they tell you. The text, maps, and pictures nimbly steer you toward what's worthwhile and away from what's not. They can't cover everything on Oahu, but we'll definitely be carrying this book with us on our upcoming trip.



3. The honest opinions and insider information provided in this book are great, but there are two things that I found rather annoying. First, a lot of time is spent telling people turn-by-turn directions for getting to the various places on the island. It is painful to read all the right and left directions. It's like the way my grandmother used to give directions. Second, noticeably absent are addresses that could be entered into my GPS unit to get me to the destinations worry free. The author goes so far as to complain in the book about how difficult it is to navigate the island. It is even more difficult when there are 10 rights and lefts and no addresses. Good grief! Buy this book for the opinions, but get another guide to give you addresses you can use for your GPS units.



4. As with most resort destinations there's no shortage of written material to mull through when planning a vacation. I ordered this book based on the reviews on Amazon and once I received it I put all the other material in the recycling bin. It was simply the best! My only regret is that I didn't order two copies as we're a family of four and quite often we found ourselves arguing over whose turn it was next to look at the book. My teenaged children took a real interest in planning our day excursions using the recommendations in the book. We'll definitely purchase the books written about the other islands in anticipation of our next trip to Hawaii.



5. This is the second book I have by the author and like the first, I highly recommend it for travel to Oahu.
   
   Very good recommendations that I found accurate and was pleased to make my decision process based on his recommendations, though not with every one of them was perfect. But that is to be expected since alot of decisions are subjective.
   
   It is a good starting point and of course it is fun to go off book and ask around for opinions from people who live there for some other ideas.

5 comments about The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey.

1. I first bought this for my brother in law, and he couldn't stop raving about it. I had planned on buying myself a copy at some point anyway, but after hearing him talk about it, I decided to buy it a little sooner than planned. I wasn't sure what to expect from it, but it turned out to be a very good read. It's not written as an adventure novel - It's simply a play-by-play of what happened, and what some of the participants wrote about it. One could liken it to watching something on the History Channel - basically just giving the facts, but less dry than being told in a textbook. The passages of quoted letters, etc. work like the personal commentaries would - just giving a little extra insight to what the people were feeling. What I really liked about it though, was that it didn't focus solely on Roosevelt and his party - you also were given insight into the previously unknown inhabitants of the rainforest (both people and animals). The author also didn't try to paint the native people as "savages". While their violent acts were depicted, their reasons for such were explained. Their way of life, of "kill or be killed" was how they survived the violent unpredictable world around them. I think Millard did a wonderful job with this book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's even remotely interested in history.



2. I really looked forward to this book and will give it kudos for being nicely written. Quite frankly though I found the story lame. It follows the poor planning, bad decision making, and vast ego of Teddy Roosevelt. He picks the wrong people and endangers many others for an expedition that if anyone else were involved the book would be called Fools Rush In. Right from the start you know their doomed and sure enough its let the suffering begin. By the time the book was over I hoped never to hear another thing about good old Teddy and his over indulged family again. He stands despite attempts in the book to make him bigger than life an exploded ego driven by celebrity. If your a Teddy fan I'd pass on this book. If you like reading about people making really dumb decisions (ie picking a guy who failed at an artic expedition to plan you tropical one) and almost dying from them then this is the book for you.



3. If the events in this book weren't so well documented I would have accused the author of making them up to increase the drama. I haven't been so engaged in a story in a long time.
   
   An amazing story, extremely well excuted by the author.



4. Wonderful Read
   Candice Millard's book about Theodore Roosevelt's darkest journey, The River of Doubt, is absolutely superb. 5+ stars. Not only does Ms. Millard's work read like a suspense thriller, but it is very informative, highly educational and all true as well. The book is about Teddy Roosevelt's nearly disastrous exploration of the then unknown Amazon after his humiliating presidential defeat in 1912. During the difficult journey both TR and his son Kermit almost die while most in the expedition feared they ALL would. It is an amazing and educational book not only about TR the man, but also about the mysterious, dangerous, unknown Amazon of 1914. It is the best non-fiction book I've read in the last few years.
   Ms. Millard writes in a very engaging style. Very well documented, The River of Doubt presents this extreme exploration challenge of a then unknown Amazon tributary in such a way as to reel the reader into the heart of the adventure. You actually feel as if you are on the trek along with Teddy Roosevelt and the other explorers. Feeling their heartaches, emotional swings, fears, and physical victories and failures, you root for their success. As the expedition nears disaster and TR faces death, the expedition finally reaches the outside world and success.
   An amazing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I heartily recommend this superb book. It is one of the best biographical works I have read in several years.
   Enjoy.



5. This fascinating account of Theodore Roosevelt's disastrous trip on the River of Doubt is well-written and meticulously researched. It has many "micro histories" on the flora and fauna of Brazil (hint: don't read this outside around a lot of bugs) as well as the native peoples of the region. My only frustration had to do with all the diversions when, on a few occasions, I just wanted to find out what happened next. The epilogue tells the reader the sometimes tragic personal stories once the journey ended and was one of the portions of the book that I shall remember the most. I read this as a book club assignment and we had a lengthy and lively discussion on Roosevelt, his son, and the men who played such a critical part of their journey. If you like a lot of detail in harrowing stories of exploration and adventure, this would be a perfect choice.

5 comments about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values.

1. Reading it is like catching a bug between your teeth at 70 miles an hour. Surprise at first, then comprehension. A belated thanks to Mr. Pirsig for weaving philosophy, science, engineering, and fatherhood, into an insightful and compelling read.



2. I agree with many of the other one-star reviews, this is actually the worst book I have ever read, out of thousands read, in my entire life. The worst book designation goes to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because it is extremely, extremely, over-rated. I found it to be one of the most self-absorbed, self-pitying, whining complaints I had ever been exposed to - and I know about those, because I'm a former junior high school teacher.
   
   Not only did it not contain any philosophical insights whatsoever, the book is just plain boring and badly written. The only book I have ever thrown in the garbage can - it's just rubbish, and that's where it belongs. I'm sure the author is a fine human being. I just think he wrote a very, very, bad book. Please don't waste your time on this book.



3. Despite the high brow reviews by self proclaiming philosophers and intellectuals who think this is a book about philosophy, it is not. It is also not a "how to" manual on maintaining a motorcycles.
   This is a book about overcoming intellectualism and becoming whole. If you are contemplating reading this book please disregard the reviewers who flex their imaginary philosophical and intellectual muscle and just read it. Yes, there will be parts that seem to endlessly pursue some thought or idea but by the end of this book you will be very glad and satisfied you read it.
   ...of course if you have ever ridden a motorcycle, experienced the landscapes temperature changes, sounds and elements and/or struggled with and beat mental illness this book will take on a special dimension.



4. I re-read this book after about 15 years and enjoyed it just as much as the first time, but I got something different out of it this time too.
   
   This book has a great calming effect on me. It's so interesting on so many subjects, and so accesssible. This is such a relevent read.



5. This was a thought provocing and very enjoyable read. Although it isn't "action packed" or anything, that isn't the point. The author's naration tells the tale of his philosophical journey cross country with his son on his motorcyle. Not only was this book inspirational, but provides new insight in terms of how one sees the world around them. A must read!

5 comments about The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir.

1. It is a constant theme in Bill Bryson's books - he always points out what is (or in this case, was) good and enjoyable about his life's experiences. His exaggerations are done for comedic effect, but also to illustrate a point. I always leave the confines of his pages feeling like I have been transported to a different place or different time. Have we become so consumed with what we have, what we want, and how to get them that we have lost many of the enjoyments in life, or is it that being an adult just isn't as much fun as being a kid?
   
   I'll have Bill know that because of him I won't be doing my part to contribute to our consumer-driven economy. I'm putting off enlarging and vastly improving the size and quality of my TV. More money for books, I suppose...



2. My son has been raving about Bill Bryson's for some time now, but I was not sure that they would appeal to me. After hearing others rave about his memoir: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, I thought this might be a fun audio book. I am sorry I waited so long to try Bryson's work.
   
   This memoir was terrific. It leaves you with a feeling of appreciation for the simple things in life. Bill Bryson and I were born a year apart, and as baby boomers growing up in the 50's and 60's, I found this memoir to be a trip down memory lane. He talks about his mom's bad cooking, his strange relatives, going to the store for penny candy (candy cigarettes), playing outdoors until dark, first crushes, Saturday at the movies, loss of innocence etc. He could be describing a whole lot of baby boomers in this memoir. This book is hysterical, and there were many times I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. The audio version is highly recommended.



3. It's a historical text book wrapped in a delightful tale of a "regular" kid from the 1950s. And I will say, funny, funny, funny. I was reading it on an airplane and I was laughing out loud almost to the point of my embarrassment. Bryson is very sharp. He supplements his childhood anecdotes with (sometimes shocking) historical facts. He successfully juxtaposes the good and the bad. Every time I turned the page, I wished America could return to a "simpler" time and then I'd turn another page and count my blessings that we have moved on. It made me long for the smell of grammar school coat closets and thank goodness we weren't all blown to pieces with a nuclear holocaust.
   
   If you like TV, toys, kids, adults, baseball, movies, state fairs, underage drinking, family vacations, teenage pranks or anything relating to history at all, I would recommend this book as a must read.



4. 
   If you spent any time in the 50's this will be a laugh out loud perspective that will not disappoint. Bryson is smart, funny and just has a gift for narrative.
   The humor may be more appealing to males but I am not really sure.
   Enjoy this treat.



5. Bryson is well-known for his travelogues but here he takes us through his growing up years. All things mundane related to childhood turn interesting and are set aglow when touched by his genial wit. Bryson's companionable style is evident in this very entertaining memoir which is also a tribute to a much safer, much more innocent, and much more personable lifestyle of 1950s America. At times warm, at times wise, at times nostalgic, and always funny, this is a heart-warming chronicle of childhood by a gifted humourist which brings back cherished memories of our own.

5 comments about Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Hawaii the Big Island Revealed).

1. First rate guide to the Big Island. I bought their Kauai book years ago when I visited, and this one is just as good. You truly feel like your getting insider tips, and not just a project for a travel writer on assignment. Don't hesitate on this one.



2. Whatever you need to know about the Big Island, it's in this book. Excellent info, updated and concise, in a very readable form.



3. I found this book to give good recommendations for places to see on the island. Some were not as spectacular as described. Also it would have been helpful to have better overview maps. Those are obtainable for free in other publications such as rental car guides. Places to eat were good recommendations.



4. This revised edition is very comprehensive, written with a sense of humor and candor. Looking forward to visiting the island with book in hand to "test out" the recommendations.



5. I compared it with three other guidebooks, and this one is hands down by far the best. I also like his sense of humor, and his ability to give us foreigners a realistic taste of the local culture. It is down to earth, not superficial, and it must have been a lot of work to write this guide! The first thing I did when I arrived in Oahu for the second segment of my trip was to go to the bookstore at the airport and buy his book for Oahu.

5 comments about We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam.

1. Hal Moore sums up his interesting life in this short book. It's only partially tied to the 1965 battle in the Ia Drang Valley. Still, he describes moving events in 1993 when he, Joe Galloway, a few veterans and a couple of former North Vietmanese officers meet to reflect, re-live and celebrate sacrifice on both sides. They even hold hands and pray.
   
   The book is more about the important events in Moore's life: how he got to West Point,side-trip to Dien Bien Phu, assignments to Korea, leadership lessons and views on warfare.
   
   One of the problems I had reading the preface is I couldn't figure out who wrote it. I also question why the authors characterize the war as good nationalists driving out the bad foreign invader,namely the United States. Moore seems to say in the end, the good guys won: "...they (the North Vietnamese) were fighting so hard because, like America's own revolutionaries, they had a burning desire to drive foreigners out of their native land...and now that the guns had fallen silent and peace had return to their land they proved to be proud fathers, good husbands, loyal citizens, and, yes, good friends."
   
   My impression was and is the North Vietnamese were fighting to unify the country under an NVA banner. The real losers were not the Americans but the South Vietnamese. After the NVA victory an estimated 100,000 South Vietnamese were executed, others died in reducation camps and at sea. Despite what Moore/Galloway write, I don't think there's any moral equivalency between us and the North Vietnamese on one side, the South Vietnamese on the other.



2. I think the title We Are Soldiers Still is most fitting. It is pretty commonly felt by most vets that the experiences of youth while in uniform never really leave us. The old saying "once a Marine" is true for most folks who have served in the military. "Once a sailor", "once a soldier", etc. That Harold Moore, Lt. Gen (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway, a former correspondent chose to write We Are Soldiers Still in the way they did is a tribute to their honesty and integrity that many authors today could learn from.
   
   We Are Soldiers Still is not really about war. Instead it is about old warriors, both American and Vietnamese, finding it within them to put out old fires and bury old hatreds and travel to the site of one of the most intense battles of the entire Vietnam War; a crucible where brave boys on both sides gave all.
   
   In November of 1965 the 1st Battalion of the 7th U. S. Cavalry, about 450 troopers landed in a small clearing in the central highlands near the Cambodian border. In the area were three regiments of the PAVN (Peoples Army of Vietnam); 66th, 32nd, and 33rd. What ensued was a battle to the death that tested the metal of young boys in both armies. In the end the American were the victors. Victory is always a relative thing, however. 305 casualties for the Americans and an estimated 3000 to 5000 for the PAVN.
   
   The battle for the Ia Drang valley was the first head on engagement with regular army troops on both sides. The participants were highly trained and highly motivated. This battle was one of the few times that the North Vietnam Army stood toe to toe with the Americans and slugged it out. No hit and run tactics here. The results were expensive.
   
   Harold Moore, Joe Galloway along with Sgt. Major Plumley, Bruce Crandall, Lt. Gen. Nguyen Hu An and Chu Huy Man, and others make the trip to Landing Zone X-Ray. Old enemies become new friends and the killing ground simply didn't look the same.
   
   For those interested in the war in Vietnam We Are Soldiers Still is moving and insightful and is a must read. As others will point out the world in 2008 is a far different place than it was in 1965 and countries that once fought each other are now trading partners. It is fitting that men who once tried to kill each other should become friends. That's really a strong part of We Are Soldiers Still.
   
   I highly recommend.
   
   Semper Fi



3. I was a member of the original cast of their first book. Today we are met in Franklin, Tennessee, to remember the 17th November of '65, the happy few who made it out of Albany, the second part of the Ia Drang Valley battle that Randall Wallace would not film about. I'm sure that this book will be as good as the one I had the great honor though maybe not the pleasure of participating in its making. I only heard that it was finally out in print today and as many of those of us who are here gathered rushed to acquire an early copy. When I have read it, I shall send a sequel review and though I'll have to wait til my return home to peruse it, I highly recommend it, cite unseen.



4. On November 13th 1965 in the Ia Drang Valley an American battalion of only 450 men engaged three regiments of North Vietnamese soldiers in the first major battle between American and Vietnamese forces. The Americans were outnumbered by TWELVE-TO-ONE! "Over the next four days and nights 234 American soldiers perished in desperate hand-to-hand combat along with THOUSANDS of attacking North Vietnamese troops." This battle was "the bloodiest of the entire Viet Nam War." The co-author's Lieutenant General (Ret) Moore who was a Lieutenant Colonel at the time and Joseph Galloway a reporter at the time (and by force of necessity and courage, became a soldier during that battle) were also the author's of the now infamous book "We Were Soldiers Once... and Young", which was also made into a big name Hollywood movie. The basis of this follow up book... was to have some of the remaining survivor's from the American side... not only go back to the actual physical battlefield where the ghosts and souls of their fallen comrades remain... but to meet face to face their counterparts from the North Vietnamese Army.
   
   Completing this story to the satisfaction of the author's, entailed multiple trips back to Vietnam, and the overcoming of multiple hurdles made of red tape. There were many gut-wrenching situations that included tears and overcoming deeply engrained biases, that festered for four decades. It is amazing the mutual respect that was shown between the two countries commanders... and the eventual friendship... between two men... whose only goal in 1965 was to kill each other... and kill everybody associated with them. There were many lessons learned... that were learned too late to save thousands of lives. As a Vietnam era veteran myself... what was rewarding for me... as well... I believe... as for the loved ones of all the departed... was the utmost respect each commander had, not only for the bravery and courage of their own troops... but that each held the same opinion of the opposing soldiers. Both men stated in their own words, that after post battle intel was discussed... both commanders collaborated, that so many of the dead from both sides... were literally intertwined... so fierce was the "HAND-TO-HAND-COMBAT".
   
   There are very detailed and interesting historical discussions regarding the Battle of Dien Bien Phu where the French were defeated by the Vietnamese in 1954. Vietnamese Senior General Giap said: "that he simply didn't understand why the Americans had not carefully studied the French war in Vietnam and the Battle Of Dien Bien Phu, particularly since, by the end, the United States was financing more than 70 per cent of the cost of the French military actions and providing much of the equipment and ammunition in that war. He told us if we Americans had studied what happened to the French surely we would never have come halfway around the world to take their place in Vietnam and pursue a long bloody war that ended just as badly for us as it had for the French."
   
   On November 8, 2003 at one of the annual Ia Drang reunions in Washington, D.C. one of the survivor's Jack Smith gave a speech:
   
   "AT ONE POINT IN THE AWFUL AFTERNOON AT ALBANY AS MY BATTALION WAS BEING CUT TO PIECES, A SMALL GROUP OF ENEMY CAME UPON ME AND THINKING I HAD BEEN KILLED (I WAS COVERED IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BLOOD), PROCEEDED TO USE ME AS A SANDBAG FOR THEIR MACHINE GUN, I PRETENDED TO BE DEAD. I REMEMBER THAT THE GUNNER HAD BONY KNEES THAT PRESSED AGAINST MY SIDE. HE DIDN'T DISCOVER THAT I WAS ALIVE BECAUSE HE WAS TREMBLING MORE THAN I WAS. HE WAS, LIKE ME, JUST A TEENAGER.
   
   THE GUNNER BEGAN FIRING INTO THE REMNANTS OF MY COMPANY. MY BUDDIES BEGAN FIRING BACK WITH RIFLE GRENADES-M79'S TO THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ABOUT THEM. I REMEMBER THINKING: OH MY G-D, IF I STAND UP THE NORTH VIETNAMESE WILL KILL ME, AND IF I STAY LYING DOWN MY BUDDIES WILL GET ME. BEFORE I WENT COMPLETELY MAD, A VOLLEY OF GRENADES EXPLODED ON TOP OF ME, KILLING THE ENEMY BOY AND INJURING ME. IT WENT ON LIKE THIS ALL DAY AND MUCH OF THE NIGHT. I WAS WOUNDED TWICE AND THOUGHT MYSELF DEAD. MY COMPANY SUFFERED NINETY-THREE PERCENT CASUALTIES... NINETY-THREE PERCENT!"
   
   To undertake this trip... to not only go back to the battlefield your friends were killed on... as you killed the enemy... to keep from being killed yourself... but to meet and befriend that same enemy... I can tell you from first-hand experience... that takes a unique-different individual... and not everyone on this earth who's been through war... could come to grips with that. I know I still have too much inside of me... in hidden... and un-hidden chambers... of my very soul... to want to take such a journey. G-d bless America... and an extra blessing deservedly goes to all of us who have served.



5. This is a great read for every age. Young and old need to better understand the Vietnam War.
   
   I served in NAM as an infantry platoon leader with the First Infantry Division in 1969-1970. The book brought back many memories.
   
   Of particular interest was the last chapter on War. the authors make it clear that the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq by "W" is not on their list of acolades for the President. Who would better understand this than a Vietnam Veteran.
   
   Read this book and share it with your children and grandchildren.
   
   Author of Mr. NewHeart (New Heart): Heart Attack to Transplant and Beyond
   
   Preview my next book "The Face of War" when you Google "David Hollar's Storefront." It is my memoir of my year in Vietnam and how I came to be a wager of peace