Cargo

Then this book is for you. Actually, a friend of mine wrote it and I had no interest in the subject until he did. But once I started reading and looking at the photos I found it pretty interesting, especially the explanation of how container ships came about and revolutionized word trade. I learned some things I never knew and before I realized it, I was finished. It's a good, quick read that is more interesting than I ever expected.

Uno de los aspectos más interesantes de esta historia es que sabe mantener el suspense. No le encuentro fallos,he leido el libro como actividad escolar, tengo doce años.

There's plenty of action in this book when Frank and Joe check out a mysterious freighter.

Frank and Joe investigate a mysterious freighter. This is just your average Hardy Boys book. Plenty of action.

I was looking for a perfect book for information regarding containerization and I found this book which turned to quite useful.

The word "idiosyncratic" was invented for books like this one. It is supposed to be about a particular cargo cult or new religion of the southwest Pacific, one of many that sprang up in response to the painful contact with Europeans from mid-19th century on. Let me say right off, if you are a student or teacher of anthropology and you need a serious book for your term paper or for preparing a class, you would be far better off looking at Peter Lawrence's "Road Belong Cargo", Peter Worsley's "The Trumpet Shall Sound" or Burridge's "Mambu". There might be some newer works to choose as well. The reason for doing so is that you will get a better grasp of the historical and cultural roots of cargo movements and the political tremors they caused for various administrations. The authors link these movements to larger tendencies in human history in a clearer way.

Edward Rice has a readable, but sometimes very annoying style. I instinctively dislike books in which the author tosses off terms like "frogs", "Frenchies", "Russkies", "krauts", "Japs", "sambo", "Kanaka", and "various types of Chows" !! And that might not be the complete list. OK, he has an ironic tone throughout, he professes sympathy with colonized peoples, and he describes his own book as a polemic, but I don't care, it smacks of those insensitive people who say "Some of my best friends are Jewish." and then tell a rotten joke about money-grubbing Jews. The author states that his work is neither anthropological or sociological, trying to distance himself from "the dreaded academic", but he has to turn to them willy-nilly, because he's discussing the same things and he hasn't got the background to stand on his own. We get a potted history of white contacts in the Western Pacific, of colonial rule and its missionary corollary, (with excerpts from missionary memoirs) and a short picture of life in the New Hebrides in the early 1970s (the place became independent Vanuatu in 1980).

However, don't dismiss JOHN FRUM HE COME totally. What I liked about this book is that the author kept an open mind towards the cargo religion. He did not ridicule it or search for inconsistencies or blow it off as 'meaningless'. He genuinely tried to show the Cargo religion of Tanna island from the believers' point of view, even if that might not be possible for a foreigner. He understood that all religions begin as mixtures of ideas from different times and places and that to an outsider, they may seem incongruous. New religions in the process of forming are still religions for all of that, to be taken seriously. Rice saw the myth and poetry, acknowledged the deeply-felt belief, and understood the soil of despair and oppression from which the John Frum religion arose. Through this effort, he certainly raised himself in my eyes (for whatever that's worth). You might try reading the last 13 pages first; you will better swallow the sometimes-puerile style of the rest of the book.

I'm not quite sure why the book costs so much. It may be because it's so old. The information is pretty good. They describe just about every Liberty ever built. There are stats, dates, times, places and everything. Some operational history as well. I would have been happier with a hardcover and more photos. Better photos would help one understand the complex changes made to some ships of the class. The book does not include current status on the 2 preserved ships-Brown and O'Brien since it was written while they were still non operational.

Liberty ships, seen by many as the backbone of American sealift in World War Two, actually got their start before the U.S. entered the war. And not long after we became a combattant, we realized the need for a ship that could carry more cargo, and do it faster, than the Liberties. Hence the Victory ships, a class that ultimately included tankers, troopships, and other auxlilary types, as well as basic cargo ships. This book is a catalog of the Victory ships, and also of purpose-built tankers, and their role in the war.

When I say this book is a "catalog," that pretty much sums it up. Much of the text consists of lists of individual ships of the various classes, divided up by where they were built, and including launch date, the name or names they sailed under, their post-war disposition, and ultimate (as of 1974, anyway) fate.

You won't find here any of the stories of heroism at sea, battles against fierce odds, clashes with the elements in the storm-tossed seas, or any of those other fixtures of war-at-sea literature. Although the descriptions of individual ships sometimes include interesting details (like the brief recounting of the MUHLENBERG VICTORY's stint as a livestock carrier, with cows berthed in "first class" accomodations, or the explosion of the tanker SALEM MARITIME in Louisiana in 1956), there's little mention of the ships' wartime service, either generally or specifically. There are, however, many details of design, construction, engines, modifications, and other technical specifications.

A number of the Victory ships are described as being mothballed as part of the US Navy's reserve fleet. Of course, thirty years later, I'd be surprised to learn if there are still any Victories so disposed. Though there might not be much call for updating this particular volume, that is one area in which it is particularly out of date. But for an overview history of some important classes of ships, and basic details about each of the members of those classes, this book might be a useful thing for interested researchers to have around.

Running Away to Sea attempts to take the reader on an around the world journey. While I'm sure Douglas Fetherling made the actual trip, he left the reader at home.

Mr. Fetherling has done his research on all the places he visits. He knows, and relates, the history and recent political climates of the countries, islands, and areas he passes through on his round the world trip. He spends comparitively little time describing his trip and the people he meets aboard and ashore. When I picked up this book I expected some real escapism. To have my imagination transported to the far away places that I daydream about. Sub-titled, Around the World on a Tramp Steamer, I was ready to relax while I leaned on the starboard rail and watched the world go by. I was ready for adventure and unforgettable characters. Unfortunately I got a history and current events lesson. This is, of course a well written book by a seasoned author. It just wasn't what I expected.

I picked this up because it had a great premise. The book, however, did not live up its title or subject. There was quote after descriptive qoute from other authors about the far away places that Mr. Fetherling touched and some of the historical references were inciteful, but there just wasn't much meat concerning what the author saw and felt during HIS journey. He shyed away from the other passangers and it doesn't seem that he was friendly with the crew. His acount makes it seem like he took up space and made use of the oxygen around him for four months. His trip and the divorce that it probably contributed to was a bit on the depressing side. This is not why I read travel/adventure literature.

I found Running Away to Sea somewhat patronizing toward the reader, but still readable. Fetherling obviously looks at the world through glasses that are skewed to the political left. I'll wager Gore Vidal is one of his favorite authors. I envision Fetherling as a type of mildly depressed, chic-left, middle-aged, pseudo-intellectual ex-hippie who, if the truth were known, must grudgingly concede that the continuing demise of Communism has left us all far better off. His not so subtle put downs of every nationality except his own (Canadian) are particularly irritating. Being a good liberal, he is quick to advertise his holier-than-thou disdain for racism, but I find his arrogant and condescending attitude towards the French, British, and (especially) Americans to be a mild form of prejudice in itself. Too much of the book involves development of historical background for the ports his ship visits - a fact compounded by irritating editorializing from his socialist perspective. Still, the book flows well, and the reader anxiously anticipates each new chapter. I would buy Running Away to Sea again.

Okay, here's the deal. I'm looking for a great way to study for the bar. A thirty or sixty day cruise sounded like a great option. I wouldn't buy it again though.

Although this is a fairly entertaining read, It's a bit pricey - it's privately published so you're probably not going to find it at your local bookstore. I was disappointed by its size, scope, and overall treatment of the subject.

Best bet: if you happen to see this book at a garage sale - pick it up. Don't pay full price - you'll be disappointed.

This is not a reference book - it is more a description of the authors'travels. The book was obviously written by people with a lot of time on their hands. You'll find a lot of detail about changing money and visiting markets in foreign countries, for example. Still, if you have never travelled by cargo ship before, the book contains a lot of useful information, particularly about accommodation and the lifestyle on board.

This is a comprehensive history of the USAAF's first dedicated tactical airlift squadrons in WWII, which later evolved and served in Korea and beyond. It describes the training, deployment, and operations of the Combat Cargo Wings in the Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters. Lots of black and white photos. If you or someone you know participated in these operations, or if you are interested in the history of military airlift, this book may appeal to you. However, I would not call it a must-read for the average aviation history buff.