Heavy

The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words could be applied here. Marcia Powers has the magical ability to create powerful images that guide us through some of mankind's most difficult issues - finding out who we are and where we "fit" in society. I heartily recommend this book to each and every one of my friends as the perfect gift to give to themselves. Each of us at some time in our life struggles with our "identity" and our real "self." This book is a marvelous way to work through those issues with the very real chance that "happiness and serenity" are awaiting you at the end of the book. How could you not invest in that kind of opportunity?

I read the entire book in one evening. It is very inspiring, exciting and entertaining. Marcia Powers really out did herself in writing this. WOW!

A picture tells a thousand words, if you have an appreciation for farming history, this book is for you. There is very little text, except a line to tell you what you are looking at and where in the country it was located. Most (90%) of the pictures are "in action" shots of plowing, cultivating, or harvesting. The pictures are large and clear, and capture a special moment in farming history in the US. Enjoy!

A picture is worth a thousand words, and the pictures in this book will speak volumes to you if you appreciate the history of farming in America. There is very little text, but the pictures will convey to you quite clearly the signifigance of the F Series tractor in the advancement of farming in the US during the early part of the century.

Words cannot do this book justice. This is one of the finest studies of military bureaucracies rejecting change and protecting the old order that has ever been written. Anyone who wants to know how big Rumsfeld's challenge is in trying to transform the Pentagon must read this book.

Johnson was a career soldier before going to RAND. He has a deep sense of how military cultures operate. His portrait of the cavalry wing rejecting modernity is humorous and tragic simultaneously. It is a case study in how large bureaucracies protect themselves and their caste system from being threatened by new developments.

Equally, if not more fascinating, is his conclusion that the Air Corps was equally one sided in favoring its theory of big bombers. While the cavalry drove out officers who believed the time of the horse was past, the Air Corps drove out officers who believed fighter planes were powerful opponents for bombers. In some ways the Air Corps self-blindness was as dangerous as the cavalry's total identification with an obsolete past. The refusal to recognize the vulnerability of the bomber meant that bomber crews in Europe would have the greatest risk of dying of any elements of the American military.

Johnson also reports on the tankers fixation with lighter, less powerful "fast tanks" rather than the heavier, more powerfully armed versions the Germans settled on. The American fixation was on a fast tank that could break through and run amok behind enemy lines but was incapable of standing up to German tanks in one on one fights. The result was a tank that led to many more American casualties than necessary. Interestingly, all post World War II American tank designs have been based on the German model of heavy armor and heavy guns.

This is a very thoughtful book filled with quotes from sincere, serious professional military men who were dead wrong but determined to protect their views and to use their position in the hierarchy to get the job done.

It is a sobering story for anyone who would modernize a large, complex military bureaucracy.

This absorbing history of the U.S. Army between the world wars and on into the Second World War illuminates not only the past but the present and future. As his title indicates, author David Johnson traces two main themes: the Army's responses to the challenges and opportunities presented by the airplane and tank. He shows that these responses, although very different, were both seriously inadequate in ways that proved very costly in the test of war -- and he shows why and how these inadequacies developed. Johnson, a former professional Army officer and National War College instructor, is not dedicated to any theoretical framework. He tells the story very clearly and directly, relying on deep research in primary sources, and draws his lessons from the events as they occurred. He understands the people and the institutions and organizations within which they acted, and he views them sympathetically but dispassionately and objectively.

The story Johnson tells is not one of inevitable historical forces but of human decisions. The decisions were made under the influence of institutions and events, but were not determined by them. They were not catastrophic, but they were well short of optimum. Many Americans died as a result of deficiencies that could well have been avoided.

Because it does not tie the story up in a neat theoretical package, Johnson's book offers no canned recipe for success in responding to present and future challenges and opportunities. Instead, it provides a rich source of inspiration and caution, and a stimulus to thought.

There are a few disappointments, although minor in comparison to the book's strengths: (1) I would have liked to have seen a deeper analysis of the part played by technological factors. While we are too often treated to on-dimensional purely technological approaches to such questions, I feel Johnson goes a bit too far in the other direction. (2) Johnson's citation system for sources, while adequate for a brief article, becomes frustratingly cumbersome at book length. It is too often a real struggle to unearth exactly what his source for a given point is.

Another book that can profitably be read as a complement to this one is William O. Odom's _After the Trenches: The Tranformation of U.S. Army Doctrine, 1918-1939_ (Texas A&M U. Press, 1999).

Will O'Neil

Keith Haddock has written a serious and lavishly illustrated introduction to the world of heavy equipment, a world not used to being treated in such an adult fashion.

Haddock traces the history and development of each type of machine listed in his book, along with their manufacturuers,and the history of each brand name in the field. Accompanying the text are a series of clear, relevant photographs that illustrate different brands and periods in the development of each machine. Whereas many books drop an adult approach for the "Oh Boy, What a Big Machine That Is!" view of things, Haddock sticks with his conviction that he is writing for an intelligent audience interested in the history and development of heavy earthmoving machines. It is an approach I greatly appreciate.

One qualm with this book and others like it: There is too much emphasis placed on the largest of the machines; probably in the belief that this is the only way to sell such an intelligent book. However, if this is the only approach, why are there no color photos? While I can appreciate the size of a Caterpillar Model 24H grader, let's face the fact that the graders we normally deal with, and the graders that helped build America's road system, are the Cat Models 10 and 12 grader. Also what about the automatic paving machine and ther roller. We never hear of their stories; yet without them, roads would be much the worse for wear.

But until such a book comes out, Haddock's tome is well worth the time and money and is guaranteed intelligent reading with much to offer in the way of learning.

This book teaches a lot of earthmoving machines, mainly the manufactories history, and you will see the most exotic kind of machines that ever worked. Although all its pictures are black and white, it worst. Buy it.

Metallica, in my mind is the best band to ever bless the world. That said, this is a great introduction to them. Of course, die hards like myself will not find anything new in the book.

I THINK IM THERE NUMBER ONE FAN BECUASE I BUY THOUSANDS OF METALLICA STUFF LIKE BOOKS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IVE EVER READ ABOUT THEM I MEAN I THOUGHT I NEW THEM PRETTY GOOD BEFORE I READ THIS BOOK BUT I WAS WAY WRONG THIS BOOK SHOWED ME SO MUCH MORE TO METALLICA THEN I REALLY KNEW SO IF THERES ANY OTHER BOOK YOU BUY I SUGGEST YOU PICK THIS ONE UP INSTEAD OF ANY OTHER BIOGRAPHY BOOKS,

i thought ''Appetite for Destruction : Bass Guitar'' was reallya great transcription for bass guitar of a great album. i has musicand tab for all the songs. my favorite song is "Sweet Child of Mine" the bass line is modereratly easy and fun to play. i gave it a 5 because it is well written and easy to figure out

The transcriptions are very detailed and accurate, all the way down to the half step neck bend at the end of "Welcome to the Jungle." Good stuff in you're into GNR.

You will never see a book like this again. Mark Hale has created the perfect manual to research metal history. This is the History of Metal, all meat no filler! This book also has some great promo photos of bands that a true fan of metal will enjoy

I first saw this book at my local library back in 1995. I had to have one for myself. This book lists hard rock/heavy metal bands from the 60's to about 1991. it cross-references bands and their members and give record label and catalog number information. This is a must for any metal head. Do not bother with Martin Popoff's Heavy Metal Guide, it's very biased. This book just lists the facts as Mark Hale researched them. i recently showed it to Jon Schaffer of iced Earth and James Rivera of Helstar and they were very impressed. It's well worth the price.

Heavy Air was a good read. Whisperin' Jack can get into a whole lot more trouble here in Baja, hope Bill Kirchhoff can spin another action yarn. Great location scenes especially La Fonda Cantina. We know that owner!

As an avid reader of action/adventure novels, I found a new hero in author Bill Kirchhoff's "Whisperin Jack Dalton". Helicopter pilot, writer and all 'round action figure. Staged in San Diego California and Baja California Mexico, Kirchhoff weaves a heart-pounding tale of murder, bad cops, sexy chicks; a new twist on home grown Russian mafiosos -- in and around the scenic beauty of the Baja riviera and the gritty and often goofy side of South San Deigo. Deliver me from New York and San Francisco courtrooms! Looking forward to the next adventure...and the movie starring Mel Gibson.

I bought this book for my boyfriend and I wound up reading it before I gave it to him. It was really interesting! I loved the pictures!

This is an excellent coffe table book for anyone who loves "big toys".

Absolutely one of the most incredible books of surreal art and scupture I've seen. The figures are big round bodies full of expression. Wonderful!

De Es is clearly one of today's best fine artists and is a fascinating thinker, as well. His surreal images become burned in one's mind