1990

For any gay man who participated in gay/queer communities in the late 1980's, reading "Koolaids" will be like experiencing a long, accurate and precise memory of those furious and painful times (details of life during the epidemic are interspersed with vignettes about war-era Beirut. Trust me - it works.)
"Koolaids" is not just a good book. It is angry (Remember when people were angry? Ah, what a lark!), funny, queer and smart. It is original. Many previous AIDS memoirs/fictions have been precious accounts of loss, sweaters and Paris. Really. If you pick up the three most famous gay male memoirs about AIDS, you will read as much about France and good cheese and fine wine as you will about loss and disease. These books say more about the authors' sartorial and gastronomic preferences than about the epidemic or the times. "Koolaids", on the other hand, reminds us of the uses of anger and grief, and of what the virus did to individuals, communities and a nation. By returning the reader to a wholly different era, "Koolaids" makes history.

I don't know what else to say about this book except... it's simply brilliant! I haven't read anything so brilliant in ages! It's probably even the most brilliant thing I've ever read! (And I've been reading Kundera and Marquez and Nietzsche and Proust and Sarte lately..). The wit, the dark humor, the absurdity, the directness, the daring... It's just.. breathtaking! If you relate in any way, or are merely interested in any of the issues raised in this book; or even if you don't relate--if you're simply human and you're conscious of and cherish what that means, don't hesitate for a second! JUST GET IT NOW!... It's amazing!!!

This book is brilliant, able to be humorous and entertaining even as it takes you into some of the darkest moments of our time. The juxtaposition of the AIDS crisis in America and the War in Lebanon is an effective choice, it creates a new perspective to two very emotionally difficult and recent parts of our history that we are still collectively coming to terms with. as a gay lebanese-american i found the voices of Alameddine's characters to be particularly haunting. Mr. Alameddine is an exciting and daring writer and I anxiously anticipate his new works while re-reading his currently published books.

In a world where good role models are few and far between, Robin Higgins sets an extraordinary example. Because of her dual roles as wife and fellow Marine, Robin Higgins' story provides a unique insight into the psyche of both a desperate hostage family and a soldier trained to save one of her own. I was constantly amazed at the delicate mental and emotional balancing act she successfully kept up for the entire time her husband was held captive.

Robin's powerful and insightful recounting of her husband's story is extremely timely, as Col. Rich Higgins' fate in Lebanon holds lessons for the peacekeepers now in Iraq. Like the U.N. weapons inspection team in Iraq today, Rich's team sought to enforce peace in a land where war is a way of life. And like lead inspector and fellow Marine, Scott Ritter, who was recently accused by Iraq of spying, Rich was distrusted because he was an effective leader.

It was an honor and a pleasure to serve as editor of this book.

This very powerful book is a tribute to the memory of Rich Higgins. I was one of the "bubba group" identified in the book and was proud to be so. During the time Rich was held hostage, I wore many hats -- as a spokeswoman for the Rich's family, as a fellow military officer and as Robin's friend. I came to know him through the eyes of his fellow Marines as well as the eyes of the author.

Rich Higgins was a man of courage and honor. He led by example and his troops learned by his example what a genuine warrior is. They loved him. And they still grieve his loss.

The tragedy of the book is that it had to be written at all. Robin's account of the support from many at the highest levels of government is heartwarming. Her criticism of bureaucrats who repeatedly turned their backs on efforts to bring Rich home alive is true, well deserved and chills the soul.

The book is also a love story. Robin loved Rich more than life itself and never wavered in her fight to bring him home. Rich and Robin were fellow Marines, friends and mates. The words included in the book that she wrote to Rich in her journal reach deep inside the soul of one who feared the worst for her husband, yet still dared to hope he was alive.

When Rich's remains were finally dumped on a lonely street in Beirut, she sent a fax to me where I was stationed in Korea, saying only "I can only see one set of footprints in the sand now." That's when I knew Robin's hope had died.

I know Rich is proud of her...for she sought the truth about what happened to him. And she continued the fight to bring him home to the country he for which he lived and died.

"Patriot Dreams" is the most gripping true story I have ever read, and I am a voracious reader. From the opening page, you will vicariously enter the inner world of Robin Higgins, and experience the tragic death of a true American hero.

Rich Higgins was a Marine lieutenant-colonel who saw himself as a peacekeeper and a protector of the nation he loved. His duties in Lebanon required him to be unarmed, and he accepted those conditions as part of the job.

Unfortunately, the Hezbollah did not respect his show of good faith. What happened to Rich and his ever-faithful wife, Robin, will give you the deepest understanding of the contemporary Middle East and the ineffectiveness of our government in protecting its citizens in that area.

"Patriot Dreams" is written with an understated passion that sweeps the reader along; I was unable to put the book down until I finished the last word.

Robin Higgins is an extraordinarly powerful writer. Her work combines the best features of a novel with a strong dose of reality therapy. You will be both wiser and better informed as a result of this read.

The author was a student at North Shore High School when I taught there, and I can, without qualification, vouch for her good character and loyalty. When she introduced me to her husband, Rich Higgins in 1982, he was a major, and she was a captain. You would, as I did, recognize that he was a product of the best of our culture--strong but humane, highly intelligent without conceit, loyal without fanaticism.

Rich Higgins will be mourned, but he must never be forgotten.

I am lebanese and I lived in Lebanon during the 15 years of
war . I read the book and I think it contains an accurate
account of the main events in the war ,and a good description
of the people involved in the conflict (militias, foreign armies,
etc ) But I find Fisk is too harsh when he suggests that
all lebanese statesmen or politicians were feudal warlords,
or as he says , "mafiosi." Some were , and some others were
lawyers , bankers ,etc. It is true ,however , that most of these
became at some point allies of a warlord ,or were forced
to flee the country. Nevertheless, I think a reader would get a more
balanced view of Lebanon , if he reads *in addition* to this
book , Kamal Salibi's "A house of many mansions" or "crossroads
to civil war" . Salibi is infinitely more sympathetic than
Fisk to the idea of the creation of the Lebanese state, and I
think it is necessary to read both books to have a balanced view.

The author provides a first hand account on the civil war that ravaged Lebanon for more than 15 years. Having been a journalist for the British Times and now the Independent in London, he lived and reported from the part of the country that suffered most, West Beirut. Robert Fisk provides detailed analysis of the war, the politics, and describes the gruesome attacks and massacres on civilians by the Israelis and their allies. He witnesses the kidnapping of his fellow journalists and narrowly escapes it himself. He discusses both the Syrian and Israeli invasions of Lebanon. The author maintains, as humanly possible, objectivism as he reports on this war with no winners. Excellent reading. Cynical writing. Good history book for non-lebanese and for those with little knowledge on the war.

Robert Fisk's "Pity The Nation" is the most comprehensive, unbiased book ever written about the Lebanon's tragic civil war. Whereas most authors about this subject have written these books relying on newpaper clippings and rumours, and based on a very biased perspective, Fisk gets down and dirty from the beginning to the end. He has spent almost the entire period from 1975 until the war's conclusion in Lebanon, traveling from Beirut to Sidon to the Bekaa valley to the ignored villages of the south which were under occupation to Damascus, living out the war with the various militia's and the civilians, who took the brunt of the fighting. His detailed description of the rise and quick fall of the Phalangists and their leader, Bashir Gamayel America's ignorance towards what would bring peace to Lebanon, the links between the Shias' inspirational resurrection and Khomenei's revolution, Israel's bruatality, Syria's involvment and the misery of the Palestinian refugees is unparalleled in its depth and coverage. Fisk, through facing the realities of the situation, has a real understanding of the situation. The way he goes about describing the dire situation of the Lebanese and the Palestinians as well as the uncertainties he and his collegues feel about their safety in Lebanon, and the eventual kidnapping of Terry Anderson, makes this book read somewhat like a novel. Even if you know nothing about the Middle East, pick up this book.

Dr. Ken Kamler is a veteran of several Everest expeditions. His book, Doctor on Everest, chronicles his foray into climbing, leading to the highest mountain on Earth and culminating in his participation in the famous 1996 rescue. Kamler allows us to see his adventures through his eyes, sharing events and inner thoughts that we normally hide behind our persona. We learn enough of his life outside climbing to identify with Kamler, and that makes his fears and emotions loom large in his writing.

Wrapped in a demanding profession, he sees some of his boyhood aspirations slipping away. Kamler finds an unexpected lull in his life. Seizing the chance, he enrolls in a rock climbing course, and enters the world of climbers. Moving to mountaineering, he rearranges professional requirements to slip away to South America. On his return, rather than the disdain he thinks he'll find for his shirking his profession, he sees that others give him wistful respect; their own lives a tangle of obligations that seem to keep them pinned to the lowlands, away from the peaks of their own dreams.

He finds mountaineering a social crossroads, where climbers from disparate backgrounds meet and share intense experiences. Eventually he's invited to go to Everest. While a good climber, he knows that his experience is below that of most expedition members. But he benefits from a sort of "affirmative action program for doctors." He shares with us not only his experiences, but also his inner self. Will he be able to meet medical challenges at altitudes where the body degenerates and all medical supplies came in by yak? And will he be able to climb well enough not to let down his comrades.

Even before he takes us to base camp he entertains with the exotic. In Katmandu a dog seizes a piece of meat. A customer grabs it and finally wins a tug-of-war. She then returns the meat to the bucket and buys the contents, going home to cook dinner. At his hotel, truck diesel exhaust penetrating the window's gaps serves as Kamler's alarm clock. He tries to escape the fumes in the bathroom, where he finds his roommate doing sit-ups. He is immediately struck by two discordant thoughts. The first is that doing sit-ups just before trekking to base camp isn't likely to help fitness. Equally strongly, he has to stifle the fear "I should be doing sit-ups too!"

Base camp is a collection of modern fabrics, alloys, and communications gear. But it is also an ironic blend of yak dung, juniper smoke from the altar, and prayer flags. The Sherpa's cultural attitudes are an interesting counterpoint to the immigrant climber's. On a later trip, longing for word from home before starting to climb, Kamler's group tells a Sherpa that they will give him a prized pair of sunglasses if he gets to the post office and back in three days - a significant challenge. He returns in time. When asked for the mail, he says the post office was closed and he couldn't wait or he'd be late. He couldn't understand why the Americans were disappointed; he did as asked. They gave him the glasses.

He sets up the highest medical practice in the world. As the climb gets closer, complaints loom larger from his patients. He treats not only the body, but also salves the apprehensions of his patients. The Sherpas present differently. One casually came by asking for help with back pain. "How long?" "Six years." Treating six years of chronic back pain on the Khumbu Glacier is a bit much, but sending him away sends the wrong message. Kamler starts a complete physical exam, stopping only when he thinks enough time has passed. Nodding sagely, he dispenses an anti-inflammatory. Heck, it might even help. A day later Kamler learns that "Dr. Sab" has cured the back pain.

Kamler records several trips to Everest. As a physician, he always sees firsthand the frailty of the human body when nature's immutable forces, so savage here, catch men unaware or weakened. High altitude problems force Kamler to send climbers lower, away from their goal. And massive trauma is often the result of errors or of twists of fate. As chance would have it, in 1996 Kamler's group is a day behind several parties who are caught by a severe storm while descending late from the summit. These events have been well recorded by John Krakauer, Anatoli Boukreev, and David Breashears. Fate has placed Kamler at camp III, the highest physician in the world at that moment. He treats Beck Weathers and Makalu Gao. Their survival was a combination of incredible luck, or amazing fate, or perhaps karma, the skills of the mountaineers, the highest helicopter rescue in the world, and Kamler and a second climbing physician.

Why face these challenges? Kamler offers "Danger in the mountains is a reason not to climb, but it's also a reason to climb. It's not thrill seeking. Accepting risk means you gain immediate direct control of your life. It forces open your senses and puts your mind into sharp focus. You become a keen observer of nature's grand design and quiet nuances." The grinding drone of daily existence in western society comes from the amorphous challenges that overwhelm us. "Stress comes from expending one's strength in poorly defined problems and over which you have limited control. ... Meeting tough challenges that are sharply in focus is energizing."

Kamler has never made it to the summit of Everest. Weather has kept him off it, directly and indirectly. More importantly, he measured himself both as a climber and a person, and proven he was more than up to his challenges. Once a climber was descending with pulmonary edema, dropping to a lower elevation in hopes of reversing the fluid build up in his lungs so as not to drown thousands of feet above sea level. He saw another climber coming up to meet him. "Please God, let that be Ken." It was.

I am not a mountain climber, but after hearing a review of this book on NPR I felt it was a book I wanted to read. I found this well written non-fiction book read like a novel, and was a real page turner. Written from the perspective of a medical doctor as well as a climber, Kamler discusses high altitude medicine as well as climbing. This is an intimate account of a variety of attempts by Kamler to climb Mt. Everest, as well as the medical treatments that he administered as the team doctor. This book also deals with the tragedy of the 1996 disaster in which he was valuable in helping some of the survivors. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in mountain climbing or medcine.

Despite of the misleading title, I found this book to be quite engrossing and I read it compulsively from cover to cover in a single sitting. The book is different from other climbing books because it deals with medical part of the climb which is not often about making it to the summit but in saving lives. Dr. Kamler writes extremely well and this will be one book that you will read to finish. Like one reviewer before me stated, I was bit disappointed when the book ended.

The misleading title refered to the fact that I thought the book was more or less about that 1996 Everest climbing season that took so many lives. That section only took up a small portion of the book. Much of the book involves his other expeditions up to Everest. While not boring reading material, like most I probably expected more on that 1996 climbing season.

The cover of this book is not the most inviting, but please don't let that fool you. Lyrics, 1962-1985 by Bob Dylan is a must-have for anyone in love with this man's work. When I bought my first copy of this book, I was far from being a Dylan fan. I simply wanted it for the poetry. While I didn't much care for his music, I always enjoyed Dylan's prose. This was quite a few years ago, and since, I have come to appreciate his music as much as his words. This has to be the most comprehensive book consisting of the art of Bob Dylan. It includes not only almost every published lyric from his vast repertoire, but many of his drawings, which, until the original publication of this book, probably never saw a proper forum for display to the public. Craig Grossman, Minneapolis, Minnesota

I remember getting a copy of this book back when it was first released in the 1980s. I had always been a Dylan fan and this book was a treasure trove. My delight at looking up Dylan lyrics at will was extraordinary. I look up a song like Its All Over Now Baby Blue or Idiot Wind or Masters of War and revel in the glory. Mr Zimmerman wrote some of the best poetry of the 20th century. This book is a gorgeous collection. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I open it up and start picking titles at random. These lyrics have already begun to stand the test of time. Dylan remains relevant at a time when most of his peers are either dead or lounge acts living off past success. The big complaint I have is that they never updated it. There is another 15 years of Dylan to add in. Hopefully someone is working on that. But for now I pull it out and open it up. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll. Amazing! Close it and reopen: Sweetheart Like You. Amazing breadth and Depth. My words can not possibly do it justice.

This book is a must for anyone who loves Bob Dylans lyrics. If a course were taught on Bob, this would be the textbook, and any fans will gets endless hours of enjoyment out of it.

A truly moving personal account about the War in Afghanistan by Vladimir Tamarov, born in 1965 in Leningrad, who served twenty months in that conflict. The many faces of evil in war, the coming of age from boy to man, the senseless killing of human beings, are topics that powerfully emerge from Tamarov's "diary of war". The book contains truly interesting photographs which tell a tale of haunted faces, fear, beautiful landscapes, the quiet moments of relaxation before doom and mayhem, camaraderie, that visually transport you to that nonsensical conflict.
The pictures captions come from the author's war diary. They reach, at times, powerful lyrical levels when dwelling about the central issues of the "personal experience of participation" in war. But at the end, the revelations about the stupidly conceived privileges of the brass, the manipulation of the gun ho adrenaline of the young soldiers, the doubts about the sense and rightness of the fight , the telling dreams about the horror of the annihilation of the innocents, all fade away.
Only the ultimate reflection of the fighting soldier, in all the wars that have been fought, remains, with detailed form. You are there only to survive and protect the guy next to you in the foxhole, the only one who really cares about you when the bullets are flying around. The most difficult and daunting times in the life of a young man, who has fought as a soldier and survived to tell the tale, are here, poignantly, but at the same time with sad detachment, recalled in a manner that will make you think profoundly about the banality of war. Kudos to the author for this inspired personal diary, about his experience in Afghanistan. A review by your friend Luciano Lupini.

It is intellectually refreshing to read accounts of war by an author who actually
knows what he's talking about. In "Afghanistan: A Russian Soldier's Story," the
author is Vladislav Tamarov, who, at the age of 19, was sent as a young recruit of
the Russian army to fight in Afghanistan. This book is a reflection and a
commentary on that war, a war which not only changed him but had definite
political effects on his entire nation.
But this book is not meant to be viewed as a scholarly tome on the philosophy of
wars; instead, it is one young man's personal treatise on "what it was like" to be
mounting a military mission on foreign soil, a mission that, for his nation, turned
out to be quite a failure. What the ingredients were of that failure are still being
debated internationally, but the personal musings on this young man are far from
clinical in its citings. Tamarov transcends the clinical and presents a startling and
poignant perspective on the entire project. It's almost as if Audie Murphy had
written (and photographed) his own days in World War II, it is that gripping.
"Afghanistan: A Russian Soldier's Story" personalizes these young soldiers (often
illustrated by the author's own photography). It is, as Faulkner would say, "full of
sound and fury." Alas, it signifies something, however, to extend the Faulknerian
metaphor, and that something is a combination of pathos, incredulity, shock,
amazement--the whole gamut of startling and revealing emotions. Tamarov's story
reveals the fears, the lack of comprehension of such a mission, the relationships among his fellow soldiers, the consternation he
feels toward the whole picture of this Soviet move into Afghanistan. As a young
soldier, Tamarov was not privy to the higher political, social, economic, and
religious aspects of his country's undertaking, of course, as few citizens really are.
However, Tamarov was astute enough to keep a private diary and to have a camera

at the ready and when the time came, his views on the whole affair have been
revealed. He, of course, is not alone in these feelings, and his book seems to speak
for Everyman. War is not good, it's not kind, and its aftermath is oftentimes
beyond redemption. But "That is war," he writes. "We didn't invent it but having
been in a war we understand the meaning of the word." And amongst the pages of
this compelling read, Tamarov presents a definition that is at once disturbing and
yet so to the point. War is hell and he shows us circles that even Dante didn't
consider!
"Afghanistan: A Russian Soldier's Story" is a must read for hawks and doves
alike. And while no new theories are advanced (and the author doesn't pretend to
offer any), this depiction of one of civilization's evils is worth the read. One book
and one reader can't stop war, but in his own way, Tamarov has taken his own
"small step for mankind." And it's a start.

Here is a riveting memoir by Vladislav Tamarov. In 1984 men were drafted into the Soviet Army at the age of eighteen. There was no choice. Unless you were in college or disabled, you served. Many men broke their legs to avoid serving. Others, the more wealthy, bribed their way out. Vlad was in college two years when the law changed and he was off to boot camp. Training the men needed, they never received. Training the men did NOT need, they got. (For example, lots of time was spent learning to parachute, even though it was a well known fact that no one used parachutes in Afghanistan.)

Vlad was born January 12, 1965. His "Date of Military Service Application" was April 26, 1984. This memoir really began when an officer walked up to Vlad at a distribution center and asked, "Do you want to serve in the commandos, the Blue Berets?" Vlad kept a tiny calendar where he crossed off his six hundred and twenty-one days, one-at-a-time. Vlad kept detailed records of each mission he participated in. He had his own little code, shown in this memoir. Two hundred and seventeen of those days were spent on combat missions. In addition to Vlad's coded diary, he secretly took many photographs. This book has dozens of the pictures littered throughout, and makes a powerful impact on those who read it.

***** Vlad, a minesweeper, portrays the horrors of war in vivid details. The reader can almost hear the explosions nearby and smell the fear of being shot at. Once you have read THIS book, you will never forget it! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

I think this book is a must-have for anybody who pokes around the inside of their Jetta (or Golf or GTI). Not only does it contain the standard tear-down diagrams, but outlines tests on the car's systems and has charts for diagnosing trouble. (What's that noise?) It's all written in very plain English and is almost always very detailed (although its does have a few lapses). It saved me a pile of money I would have otherwise given to my dealer.

What to say. This is an excellent title to have if you have a VW. I have a '89 Golf 1.6 GTD (2 doors) and lýke any owner of a car wanted to get the best out of my car after servicing but never pleased. So I took the servicing in my hands through this well written and illustrative book. Deeply recommend this book to vw owners.

I own a 1990 German built Jetta and have tried the Haynes manual for '75 through '92 models with little help. The Haynes is based on a complete teardown and rebuild of an older, gasoline vehicle. It doesn't discuss Diesel or Turbo Diesel, and it omits features found in later models, such as cruise control, and does not provide and explanation of determining what model you have. This book, published by Bentley Publishers, is more extensive and has far better illustrations and wire diagrams. My advice: if you want to save money fixing your VW yourself, skip the Haynes manuals and get this book.

I have six years experience in the U.S. Army, in light infantry, special forces and as a linguist (translating Haitian Creole, amongst other languages). I have worked with and flown in most of the helicopters mentioned in Falcon Brigade. Col. (ret) Casper did an excellent job discussing attack helicopter fire support to MOUT and staff operations for a joint/multinational task force. I especially liked his discussion of using hand-drawn sketches of the cityscape for controlling close air support and the use of snipers in helicopters for counter battery fire against mortars and his account of flag- and cabinet-level politics.

However, although quite a bit could have changed between 1992, when the events in Falcon Brigade occurred, and 1995, when I joined, it seemed obvious that Col. Casper was "not read in" (one of Col. Casper's favorite turns of phrase in this book) to special operations: his familiarity extended only as far as necessary for him to provide helicopter support. For example, his few references to SOF in Haiti usually evolve around his use of his helicopters for their re-supply. The further you get from the helicopter, the more sketchy his knowledge becomes: on pg 35 he claims soldiers are "attached" to the rope when fast roping. As someone who has fast roped, I can tell you that there was nothing attaching me to the rope except my steely grip. (although fast roping is done from a helicopter, these were SOAR helicopters and not under Col. Casper's control)

I enjoyed Col. Casper's discussion of clan geopolitics in Somalia. On the U.S. side, he does show insight (but does not elaborate) into U.S. foreign policy as far as it relates to the role of the U.S. military at the flag officer and cabinet level. The description of garrison life was also interesting. It seemed that Col. Casper had a few axes to grind with some of the generals who (mis)managed the campaign in Somalia. Unlike SOF and ground combat, Col. Casper seemed well acquainted with problems at the flag level. I just wish that he hadn't pulled his punches the way I have a feeling that he did.

I was put off, though, by Col. Casper's annoying use of the word 'crony.' According to Col. Casper, the "Crony" clan must be the largest and most prestigious clan in Somalia: every important Somali in the book is surrounded by Cronies. Why is it that Americans have assistants, aides, XO's, etc., but Somalis only have cronies? And, why is it wrong for Somalis to get through battle chewing khat, but not wrong for Rangers to get through battle chewing Skoal? Why the double standard?

Unfortunately, Col. Casper's description of Haiti and the Haitian people was rather ignorant. The Crony clan seems to be equally widespread and well placed in Haiti: every Haitian leader has the perequisite entourage of cronies. I'd really like to get 'read in' to this Crony clan! Then, on pg 201 he claims Port-au-Prince is a city of 1 million, but on pg 208 the population suddenly grows to 2 million. Either Port-au-Prince experienced some pretty intense activity nine months previously, or there is a mistake here.

His description of Voodoo on page 209 shows the typical American condescension for this religion. Why is Catholicism capitalized but "voodoo" is in lower case? Why is Catholicism acknowledged as a religion but Voodoo is just "magic"? Why do Catholics pray and Voodoo adherents 'cast spells'? Contrary to his claim that Voodoo lacks theology or clergy, Voodoo has a very well developed pantheon (the Loas) and clergy (the Hougans). Then, on page 221, Col. Casper claims that clairin, an alcoholic beverage, is the national drink and the 'sole pleasure' of the Haitian peasant's life. This is a rather skewed and unwarranted representation of the Haitian peasant. Why the double standard? I believe American per capita consumption of beer is far greated that Haitian per capita consumption of clairin, but I would certainly object to America being characterized as a nation of beer-swillers. If we are to believe Col. Casper, then it may have been a hiccup in the clairin supply that led to the sudden increase in population noted above.

On a more serious note, I believe that, regardless of military might, any U.S. peace keeping operation is doomed to failure unless Americans acquire a knowledge of the local people beyond the bare minimum necessary for combat operations. If we knew the people better we probably wouldn't have to fight them. As Col. Casper noted, U.A.E. had good rapport with locals and were able to accomplish the same tasks that severely tasked American military ability peacefully. Col. Casper's stereotypes of Somalis and Haitians as of khat-chewing, clairin-drinking, spell-casting, cronies will not help to establish that rapport.

Seeing as this book is entitled 'Falcon Brigade: Combat and Command in Somalia and Haiti,' I expected a balanced account of the U.S. involvement in Haiti (and Somalia) tempered by Col. Casper's personal experiences. Unfortunately, the account was largely about helicopters and I didn't find a lot of detail on Somalia or Haiti beyond what was visible from the door of Col. Casper's hooch or through NVGs from Col. Casper's cockpit at night. If you can't get enough 'Black Hawk Down' and are already 'read in' to the special forces portion, this may be the book for you. Stylistically, this is an enjoyable page turner with little complexity to slow you down. However, if you want true grit on the situation in Haiti or Somalia, this book may be somewhat of a pricey disappointment.

When we were at Ft Ord with the 7th Infantry Division and
D Company, 7th Combat Aviation Battalion, from 1981 through 1984.

Colonel Casper was a consumate leader in all regards, and if I had a chance to serve with him again, I would not hesitate one moment.

This is an outstanding book to have in one's library if you have an interest on American military involvements. COL Casper book is well written and you get to see the picture of what happened not only from a soldiers perspective but from a BRIGADE COMMANDERS view. A must for any soldier or military historian.

The book is huge and heavy. Every single page has at least several great color photographs and it is a big book. You will love to read about ILM's ventures into the digital realm. It is very technology orientated, but not too much and does talk about the film making process and ILM in general. This is well worth looking at especially for fans of ILM or those who want to see what goes on behind the scenes or for those looking for a career in this direction. This is a good place for inspiration.

Although it does not cover the more recent movies you will still get the picture here. It starts by talking about go-motion and then moves onto the first ever digital sequence and how much people slaved over it before going into detail with the evolution of that process and of the special edition of Star Wars and Speilberg's "J. Park".

The book looks fantastic. Keep it for your grandkids. I am sure they will love you for it. This is the kind of book that you will turn to time and time again just to see "how they did that".

For 25 years Industrial Light and Magic has woven magic into countless films, either subtle images through 'invisible' effects such as matte paintings or through eye-popping visuals that stand out vividly against the film backdrop. ILM has made it's mark on history, for not only have they been and still are the premiere effects house in Hollywood, they have innovated and invented more technology than any other studio, additionally they have won awards for the processing and compositing technology they have created. ILM had to be the best at special effects, because their flagship title - STAR WARS - demanded the best, because that's what Lucas wanted.

'Into the Digital Realm' isn't so much an abandonment of ILM of the traditional methods of special effects, rather a point of departure for the new technology and all of things that led up to it. Indeed, ILM's work on 'The Hunt For Red October' submarine work involved flying the submerged vessels from wires in a smoky room - effects do not get any more traditional than that. Released in 96, the book doesn't mention that Phantom Menace or even that the film is in production. It does have some revised images from the Star Wars special edition. As with the previous tome, this one is packed with hundreds of color photos, plus the same beautiful gate fold images.

If the center piece for the previous book was Star Wars, Digital Realms' focus is obviously Jurassic Park, because it was the first film to use CG on so large a scale, even more than Terminator 2, which ILM also did. Jurassic Park was also the test bed and showcase piece that convinced Lucas that computers had finally matured enough to bring what he had in mind to the screen for the new Star Wars films. More is the pity, because I came to loathe most of the aliens in the Phantom Menace. Digital Realm clearly explains in easy to understand terms how effects - both new and old - are accomplished, be it something as simple as making it appear as if buildings are actually much taller than they or having a velociraptor walk _behind_ a plant situated in the foreground. I have both of these wonderful books, and I strongly recommend them to anyone who is curious about ILM's history and the process of how effects are made.

An extraordinary book about an extraordinary company. You will know all you want to know about special effects wizardry. The book is well published, even watching its pictures is joyful.

...more from the Satvic period when he looked so gorgeous (esp. Oregon). Otherwise, I'm still enjoying this volume. To think I actually hesitated to buy it because I already have a few bios of him: but to have it all, God forbid, linearly drawn is such a treat. Then you can read it like a novel. Such as character he was! This is a labour of love (and hopefully some profit) by the editors/compilers, his people. And kudos to St. Martin's Press these days (they are the same ones who published The God That Failed, hahaha!) I love Osho, love to look at his face and form...and I'm convinced after 13 years, I always will. Perhaps He *is* happy with this book. I personally saw to it that the local Barnes and Noble in Bethesda, Md. ordered and displayed some copies. Anyone care to do the same? Love, Sw. Prem Kaviraj

Although this is not an autobiography in true sense (Osho never wrote his autobiography). This book is a collection from several of his talks that fit like an autobiography. If one is a critic of his views, then he will find a lot of stuff that can be criticised. On the other hand if one is a believer, he/she will get ample dose of Osho's wonderful message.
I finished the book in about 6 hours. Once I started reading, I just could not stop myself. I highly recommend this book for all readers. When reading anything by Osho one has to be prepared to face the truth. Osho has a "in your face" approach to everything, and that's what makes him great.

I just knew he had some crazy meditation techniques was a bit of a rogue, had 93 rolls royces, accepted sex and i had a few friends who recommended him. Wow, blown away, this is one of the most beautiful books i've ever read! Osho's integrity shines through and yes he is a dangerous man because he's not concerned about beliefs but the truth. And he challenges you deeply, i was a buddhist monk for 3 years and he takes traditions apart 'Buddha wasn't a buddhist' what a one liner. Many buddhist books seem to take a mathematical approach to enlightenment, Osho is a poet. I just cried reading this book, with laughter and joy and hope, i even found myself clapping and shouting 'Yes yes yes!' Sheer delight. I'm hooked.
love and peace