On-the-tape

Fleming adds the detail and the smashing debonaire of oo7 together and comes up with the incredible novel: On Her Majestey's Secret Service. The high adventure, the beautiful Bond girls, and James Bond's "save the day" attitude make On Her Majestey's Secret Service a must read! I've written several books myself but none compare to this. I stayed up late until one in the morning reading the wonderful descriptions of the exploits of Bond, James Bond. It, along with Casino Royale, The man with the Golden Gun, Goldfinger, and You Only live Twice, are ranked high on my favorite novels list and should be yours. The head of SPECTRE and his Number Two man torment the spy but as always, Bond defeats the evil plans of Ernst Stravo Blofeld but for him to only fight another day!This book is so good it should come with popcorn!

I've read every Ian Fleming James Bond novel, and I must say, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is an undisputed #1. This is James Bond at his finest. He is at his most resourceful and clever, not relying at all on gadgets. It is a more serious book as well, with the best ending of them all. I would highly reccommend reading many of the other novels first, because before you can really appreciate James Bond doing what he does in this book (I'm not going to say what it is), you should understand his past experiences. It is the most personal and thrilling of all the novels, and it is a very close match to the movie. In conclusion, people may say that "From Russia With Love" is the best, but trust me, nothing can compare to this book.

In Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, James Bond is chasing Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the villain from Thunderball. Bond has to do a bit of role-playing in this classic Bond thriller, and he plays the part of a professional from the College of Arms (an organization dealing with genealogies and family trees) with panache. The novel begins with a terrific display of suspense, as Bond is in eminent danger. This feeling also lasts through most of the novel.

This novel is set mostly in the Swiss Alps at a sort of combination ski facility/ scientific lab. Bond is posing as a man from the College of Arms because Blofeld has expressed interest in his heritage. The novel continues as Bond attempts to find out all that he can about Blofeld's strange facility on this Alp.

The first part of the book was not quite as exciting as I had been expecting, but it provided enough humor for me to be satisfied until it got to the more action-filled sections. However, this book provided more than humor and action. The plot was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The skiing scenes were especially suspense-filled and exciting, Bond's romantic interests complemented the plot, and the characters were full and vibrant.

I decided to read a Bond novel after having watched several of the movies (you know how they all come on tv at once,) and I am glad I did. This novel was surprisingly good even though my expectations were high. This book is better than the movies because instead of mere sound-byte-intensive humor, it provides a real humor that I found to be much more affable than the movies. Also, Bond is portrayed somewhat differently than in the movies. I found that the action scenes were just as vivid as they are in the movies, something that is not often successfully managed by authors. I believe that any Bond fan should read the books, not just watch the movies. Trust me, they are at least equally enjoyable.

I think that this book is at least comparable to today's suspense novels, and my only complaint is that I was not around in the 60's to read it when it was a new and, I suspect, rather progressive novel.

When Leo Buscaglia died, the heading on his obituary in the newspaper read " Hug doctor dies". Leo would have had a good laugh on that one. Leo could sure make you laugh. I loved listening to him on PBS and have read most of his books. I remember on one show he was sharing how when he published his book "Love", he check out the published books and there was not one book called "Love". He was so amazed that he made this his life's work, to love and be loved. All teachers should be given his book "Living, Loving & Learning". It would put everything in the right perspective. You can't teach students without first giving them respect. To get respect you have to give respect. Thank you Leo Buscaglia for making this world a better place.

Leo Buscaglia, who I must say I have adored for over a decade now is an instrument in leading those of us here on earth into a world of hope and love. I must say that I have been using his resources as a therapist, for myself and my clients, and prefer to have audios, if possible; I love hearing his voice.

At any rate, this book is an eye opener for those of us who have gotten lost in life and need to slow down to smell the roses and enjoy the life we have, while we have it. Dr. Buscaglia delivers a down to earth, nearly physically touchable experience of how it feels to truly live your life loving and learning. Moreover, he defines what a lover and student of life will experience if they make that transition.

I would urge anyone who is either at the end of their rope and needing a knot to put in their rope, in order to hold on, to buy this book. If possible, get the audio and experience his exhuberant spirit.

Dr. Buscaglia still lives on today to me, and like he stated several times over, that when he dies he does not want people to cry, he wants them to celebrate. What better way to celebrate than to continue to pass his message on to others.

I've worked with geriatric patients and found my women's group to love his PBS videos, which if I could find and buy, would do so in a New York minute. And most importantly, I try to use his philosophy when I find it needed, in my own life, passing it on to my children, family, and friends.

Robin

Very meaningfull, this book is like a thesaurus that you must have in your mind and home library. Whenever you have a doubt or unclarity just open it and fill in. Moreover most of Leo Buscaglia's books are at the same level.

By far the most realistic of the Bond books. Fleming's description of the MGB (later KGB) headquarters in Moscow's Dzherzinsky Square, where the plot to lure British agent James Bond to his death is first revealed, is reputedly based on information to which he was privy in his capacity as a WWII officer in British Naval Intelligence -- likewise the recruitment and training of the psychopathic killer Red Grant, one of the most formidable of Bond's enemies (and the only one in the films who looked for a while about to kill Bond for sure! 007 meets his match in Grant!) This is the book behind what in my opinion is the best of the Bond movies, steeped in the atmosphere of the Cold War into which the Bond series was born. 007 travels to Istanbul in pursuit of the bait, a Lektor decoder which can read top secret Soviet military and intelligence signal traffic. Another form of bait is the beautiful Tatiana Romanova, an MGB cipher clerk allegedly in love with Bond, willing to defect with the Lektor if only 007 will come and fetch her. (Fleming takes yet another jab at the Reds by choosing this name for Bond's love interest -- Romanov was the family name of the last Czar of old imperial Russia, the family doomed to extinction by the Russian revolution.) Kerim Bey adds a bit of panache, mischief and mystery as "Our man in Istanbul," Head of Station T (for Turkey). A truly great and suspenseful plot!

Fleming seemed to have used his first four novels (Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, and Diamonds are Forever) to warm us up to the Bond character and used the same plot style for the first four novels. In From Russia, With Love, Fleming takes Bond and his writing style to a higher, more intellectual level. Fleming is masterful in setting the scenes without being too boring. Bond doesn't appear until the second part of the book (Part II-The Plan) and you hardly even notice. Another interesting note is that of the James Bond movies, From Russia, With Love the movie follows the novel pretty well, even in lesser scenes such as the gypsy fight. This, perhaps, is due to the fact that Fleming was alive only for the filming and release of Dr. No and From Russia, With Love. This book is clearly Fleming at the top of his game and an outstanding entry to the series.

Considered by many to the be the best James Bond 007 book of all time, From Russia With Love delivers the perfect formula for a James Bond novel. Originally, Ian Fleming's tales of 007 were not going so good, so he intended with this book to kill off James Bond once and for all. The end of this novel is quite a surprise to a first time reader.

The book begins by telling of the commanding rule of SMERSH. The leader of this organization is General Grubozaboyschikov. Also working is Colonel Rosa Klebb and director of planning Kronsteen, who treats real people as if they were chess pieces. The muscle of the group is a homicidal madman, who follows orders, and is in practically perfect physical shape, Donovan "Red" Grant. These evil minds have planned the perfect way to destroy the life and reputation of James Bond. Their plan is to lure 007 with the beatiful Tatiana Romanova and a Spektor cipher decoding machine as bait. Then Grant will meet up with them eventually and kill them both. However, SMERSH will take it a step further to lie to the public that Bond and Tatiana were in an affair, and that Bond commits suicide. It's a perfect plan.
Bond indeed does travel to Istanbul, believing that this girl wants to defect, and will give him the Spektor machine only if he personally helps her. 007 meets Darko Kerim, and a wonderful gypsy fight adds to the fun of the story. Bond and Tatiana travel on a train back to Europe, where he meets Red Grant and is told of the plan to kill him. An extremely bvrutal gun and fist fight breakes out between the men with 007 shooting Grant. 007 goes to Paris with Tatiana to catch Rosa Klebb in a meeting. However, Klebb releases a poison knife from her shoe and kicks 007 in the leg, before being taken away by the police. The story ends with 007 lying on the floor of the hotel room...

Perhaps the finest story of Ian Fleming, filled with the excitement and adventure to give this book it's reputation as on of the best 007 novels ever!

You don't have to be a basketball fan or embrace Pat Summitt's aggressive personal coaching style to benefit from this thought provoking book. If you've been put off by Pat's "mean" image in the past (as I had been), check out this book and get to know her better. She shares her successes and failures with refreshing honesty and delightful, often humorous anecdotes. She's the first one to admit that her in-your-face style isn't for everyone, but her genuine love of her student athletes is reflected here. Read about Pat's philosophy of winning with an open mind, and you will find yourself equipped with some practical wisdom on how to rise to the challenges of life.

Having long been a fan of Pat Summitt & the Tennessee Lady Vols, I finally got around to reading this book and I must say it was a real eye-opener. You've seen pictures of Pat on tv & in the newspapers, usually in some player's face during a crucial moment of a game & you might think, "this woman is really tough on her players." Well, guess what? She IS tough, and many of the players that she's been toughest on went on to be championship players in the WNBA after getting their degrees at the University Of Tennessee. Other than building championship teams, Pat's main goal is seeing that her players get their education & graduate. Everyone on the team must sit in the 1st 3 rows in their classes and pay attention. After reading this book, I came away with the realization that she really does care about these young women and always made it a point to assure them of this. At times when she knew she'd really have to lean on a player, Pat would contact their parents to give them a heads up so that there would be no misunderstanding. Pat Summitt grew up tough but fair, not afraid of hard work and expecting alot from others. Her Definite Dozen System is easy to apply in any job, in all walks of life. You just have to be determined to overcome adversity and to face every challenge that comes your way. Highly recommended reading for everyone, not just fans of women's basketball.

Of course, I could not just read one of Pat Summitt's books, I had to read all three. Pat has a plain, matter-of-fact and in-your-face style that is refreshing. If you can not find the mountain of success to climb, Pat will bring the mountain to you. She forces you to look at her definite dozen and find the areas where you know you could most likely improve. And without fail, she will lay down the gauntlet challenging you. She makes you believe that success is within everyone's reach, if you would just work at it. I have made some adjustments myself, since I have started a part-time home based business. I have read a number of books on success. "Reach for the Summit" is by far the clearest, simplest and most inspiring that I have read. GREAT WORK PAT!

Harold Coyles first book based on events from the book "The Third World War" By Sir John Hacket. This book does not deal with the politics of the war, it is just the combat thrill ride that you are looking for in a book of this type.

Looking back now, some of the technical ifo may be a bit dated, but it does not take away from the book in any way.

It is a nonstop combat action thriller, that is easily read, and not too technical for the novice, but still interesting for the more advanced reader.

After reading this book, I bought the rest of Harold Coyles' books at a yard sale just based on the quality of this one book.

They just don't write then like this any more.

There are a number of reviews here that mention the lack of 'the big picture' and 'political depth'. True. That depth was offered up in 'Third World War : August 1985' by Sir John Hackett, a senior NATO general. Hackett's tale, written in 1977, was at the other extreme; too dry and impersonal. This is the book 'A reader from Alexandria, VA' refered to when he said the missile strikes were straight out of another WWIII novel. Coyle used Hackett's WWIII as the framework upon which to hang the story of a small combat unit, fleshing out the General's big picture with a view from gunsights. Read both books for the total story and a more complete understanding of Cold War military thinking.

Reading this book in the 21st century, this story is definitely dated. The major combatants are no longer diametrically opposed, and the concept for the novel is not as plausible as it was at the time it was written. That is the critical part, however, I really enjoyed the book. I still have my copy of Red Storm Rising and this one has earned a place on my bookshelf beside it.

Coyle does an excellent job. The story provides a minimal intro to the conflict and a minor side show with the evacuation of the servicemen's families, but the meat of the story is the telling of the combat actions. I haven't been in an M-1, so I have to assume that the details are accurate enough. However, I have driven, fired and TC'ed an M-60 during training at Knox, so I can say that the author has given a pretty good feel for the armored attitude and experience. Coyle tells the story from the perspective of company commander and based upon my own limited experiences has much of the details, as far as the operational and planning side, of command correct as well.

Given all of the above, my biggest complaint about the book was that I wanted the story to last longer; I was enjoying it too much to want it to end.
P-)

I cannot help but get the impression that many readers (and perhaps booksellers) regard Homer Hickam's three Coalwood memoirs as techno-rocket volumes suitable only for space-obsessed men and boys. This is simply not the case. Hickam is a storyteller above all else, and with his multiple subplots, intricate story lines, subtle nuances, smooth transitions, and family conflicts that crescendo to emotional realizations and understandings on the part of an intriguing cast of characters, he shows his marvelous expertise as a stylist. The rocket building in "Rocket Boys" (also published as "October Sky," the title of the movie based on the book) was simply the "hook" that he used to capture readers' attention. The real story of not only this memoir but also "The Coalwood Way" and his final volume in the Coalwood trilogy, "Sky of Stone," revolves around the people of his small hometown and how they never failed to come together to help one another and triumph over ever-present hardships. His books are a testimony to the human spirit, proving--as William Faulkner said in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech--that men and women "will not merely endure; [they] will prevail." And Hickam himself is prevailing too, producing in "Sky of Stone" his best Coalwood work yet. I think it is unfortunate his books are either placed in the American history section of bookstores (a subject that many people--remembering the textbooks of their youth-- believe to be dry-as-dust and slow moving) or with autobiography/memoirs (volumes that too often are regarded as egotistical paeans to one's accomplishments). Homer Hickam's Coalwood books should almost be shelved with novels, if only so that browsing readers will find these candid and introspective stories that are written by an author who knows how to transform personal truths into universal themes.

And that's it, plain and true. Homer Hickam writes wonderfully rich books filled with prose worthy of Harper Lee or Mark Twain. He's the new Mark Twain in my opinion. They'll be studying him the college a hundred years from now. I'm just glad we have him with us in these days. Sky of Stone kept me awake until I finished it. I love his characters. I love especially his honorable and amazing father. You can tell Mr. Hickam still loves him so much. And Johnny Basso, Jake Mosby, Rita Walicki... these are characters that people will talk about for a very long time. Proud to know you, Homer, if only through your books.

just think how many more wonderful literary masterpieces we would have today if he'd focused on writing instead!

I picked this book up at the library after I happened upon some good reviews here. I must say, I am very much impressed with Homer Hickam. The writing is fluid and very well developed. The story is wholesome and reminiscent of simpler times, and the plot is superb.

I am definitely going to be reading more of Mr. Hickam's works, which, if you notice, all receive 4-5 stars here. America, I think the writing of Homer Hickam will continue to do us proud!

Hearing a call is a very difficult discernment process. Sometimes the call is clear, but the path is not. Sometimes the path is clear, but the desire is not. Gregg Levoy has done an exceptional job at being an in-print spiritual director for those seeking an entrance into the process of finding a true calling and a more authentic life.

What is right for me? and Where am I willing to be led? are the two essential questions -- Discernment requires that we ask these two questions continually and devotedly.

As Levoy says, 'people won't pursue their callings until the fear of doing so is finally exceeded by the pain of not doing so.' I have found this to be very true. It took a very long time to discern my call to the priesthood, and yet more time to decide that it is something I must do at all costs (and the costs have been heavy). Yet, I cannot imagine myself doing anything differently and being in any way fulfilled.

'The truest calls seem not only to keep coming back but also to make their way to us through many channels.'

Levoy integrates so much material here, from spiritual masters and the scriptural traditions of many religious faiths to modern psychology and artistic/cultural experts.

Perhaps the greatest chapter for me was that on 'Finding Clarity', in which Levoy says that 'there is such a thing as thinking too much about a calling.' As Emerson said, sometimes it is best to let the bird sing without trying to decipher the song. 'A calling is ultimately mysterious, and the process of discernment is always a bit of a guessing game.'

Levoy's guidance, in cooperation with others in my community, helped me to see a change of mindset, a change of events, a change of personalities were all converging to tell me something that I had closed my mind to, or, more accurately, had closed my heart to. So, I began to pray, even if only subconsciously, and the path began to materialise before my eyes.

'When I pray, coincidences start to happen. When I don't pray, they don't happen.' - William Temple

It also taught me that I couldn't wait for 'someday' -- how we spend our days is how we spend our lives, according to the apt observation of Annie Dillard.

And finally, it made me face what it was to keep saying no. There is a cost, and eventually God will get you anyway -- Jonah (remember Jonah and the great fish?) said no, but eventually had follow his call anyway. I learned that one source of my fear: 'One of the frightening prospects of saying yes to a calling is that you may find out who really supports you and who doesn't.'

Figuring out how to bring my call into being was the final task, and Levoy provided wisdom here as well. 'You cannot cross a chasm in two small jumps', he quoted Lloyd-George as saying; I was forced to create a response to my call, one that did not exist before.

Thus, not too long after discovering this book, I became Father Kurt, and I owe much to this book for that. But please, don't assume that it will tempt or trap you into a ministerial role--it is an excellent guide for discernment, and discernment is one of the most personal tasks for any human being. Prepare to be enlightened.

Gregg Levoy's book literally fell into my hands at my public library. Since then I have purchased it as my own. It is a deeply spiritual and invigorating piece of work which has made me become more aware of the messages around me.. A powerful related experience is when I happened to be talking to an acquaintence who was expressing her frustration with her life in general. I said I was reading a book that might help her. She said she had begun reading a book, too. She had been to a large book store in a metro area and turned to come face-to-face with a book. When I asked her the name of it, I gasped when she said, "Callings." Read this book and open your ears, mind, and soul.

Callings is an excellent book. I have been personally challenged to search deeper, listen for the small inner voice, and scope out my callings. The authors writing style was simply poetic. I could envision every detail in every example he told. I have been recommending this book to everyone weather they know that they are searching or not.

I am an emotional blackmailer, I just had no idea until I read this book. It was suggested to me by my soon to be ex- husband who couldn't take it anymore. I thought I was being strong and standing my ground and this book helped me to see that I was emotionally bullying other people. I beleived I was always right and no human being can be. It also helped me to see that it doesn't matter if you are wrong or right, making another person feel as if they must agree with you or they are "bad" is not OK. I was using the behaviors descibed in the book to protect myself from being hurt and have hurt sooooo many others in the process. If you're a person who always feels like a victim or have no idea why so many people don't like you when you think you're such a wonderful person READ IT!!!

This book does a very clear job of defining emotional blackmail so you can begin to easily spot emotional blackmailers in your life. It then concludes with telling you specifically how to deal with emotional blackmail, that is, how to keep your energy, resources, and sometimes your very soul, from being stolen by them.

Something that was particularly important for me personally in the book was the part at the end where she talks about not emotionally blackmailing *yourself*! What an insight! I realized that even when rigid, controlling people are not around to inspire guilt, fear and shame in me to get me to do things that are hurtful to me for their selfish benefit, I have a "voice" in my head that does the job for them, telling me that whatever I do that doesn't fit the world view of past and present blackmailers is "wrong," "selfish," or even "evil." So I beat myself up on behalf of my blackmailers even when they are not around to do it.

I also was impressed by the insight that not only does it "take two to tango," that no one can blackmail me if I don't let them, but that it is also possible for me to actually "train" people to blackmail me. This is particularly, true, I think, for those of us raised in rigid, controlling homes with emotionally blackmailing parents. Thereafter, we are, so to speak, fertile ground for any future emotional blackmailers.

I had rather been realizing these sorts of things the past few years now that I'm in my 40s (the middle years when we suddenly reevaluate our whole life), and gradually eliminating emotional blackmailers from my life, without exactly using that term. (The term I used was ridding myself of people whose presence felt like "being nibbled to death by ducks.") This book has validated my innate human "right" to not be eaten alive by the selfish demands of others.

Kudos to Ms. Forward!

To be honest I'm only halfway through this book, but that's enough to know that it was certainly money well spent. I believe this book really could change your life. My suspicions were correct; I was being emotionally abused almost every day by my ex partner. The author offers some amazing insight that makes perfect sense. It identifies the 'four faces of emotional blackmail', which you will recognise instantly. I truly believe this is required reading for everyone, because we are all potential victims, if we aren't already.

Wonderfully down-to-earth, well researched; can't recommend it enough.

I have read this book at least 10 times, and every single time, I have enjoyed it immensely. If you like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine books with serious action, thought-provoking concepts and ideas, and a LOT of good detail, characterization, and emotion, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU! GET IT!

this book was great. when quark activates a cardassian device, he and odo are trapped in a bubble. 4 days later they find themselves on a deep space nine with all the inhabitants dead. the mystery on what happened and the other characters battle to the death in this book is exceptional. i have read a lot of star trek books in my life and this has to be rated number 1.

"Fallen Heroes" is quite often praised as the best "pre relaunch" Star Trek Deep Space Nine novel, and it quite well deserves that reputation. This particular novel even rated a video game being designed and named after it.

As with the departure from the norm that Star Trek Deep Space Nine is, so is this novel that is so much more different than any other novel written in any of the series. In one of the darkest and bloodiest "hours" of Star Trek, the author explores the idea of almost every main character in the series, being brutally murdered and how heroically they "met their maker," yet the author, Dafydd ab Hugh, deftly handles closing up this novel in which there is no change whatsoever to the series.

"Fallen Heroes" is author Dafydd ab Hugh's first Star Trek novel and I found his writing style to be quite fluidic and the pacing of the novel to be non stop, which in the light of other Star Trek novels, is a great skill to possess. The cover art for this novel is standard fare for the time and doesn't lend much to the story.

The premise:

Set sometime early during the second season of the series, "Fallen Heroes" tells the tale of alien warriors coming to the station and demanding the return of an imprisoned comrade, someone of which nobody on the station knows anything about. Being set so early in the series, prior to the fourth season in which Deep Space Nine's defense were seriously "beefed" up, the aliens easily invade the station and Commander Sisko and crew have a losing battle to fight. Meanwhile, an odd device from the Gamma Quadrant has shifted Odo and Quark to three days in the future on the station. They arrive there and nobody is left alive, leaving them the task of finding a way back to the time they left and saving the station.

What follows from there, as stated above, is one of the most intriguing and fast paced early Star Trek Deep Space Nine novels set prior to the relaunch series. I highly recommend this novel to any and all fans of the series as you will most certainly not be disappointed! {ssintrepid}

When Fast Company Magazine reviewed this book and called it the new In Search Of Excellence I bought it immediately and I agree with their review. Jennings has taken eight of the most productive companies in the world - newly discovered companies that haven't been written about to death - and shares their operating secrets. For me the three most important lessons were: the role of systems in every aspect of every business, the negative role that lay-offs play in businesses trying to be more productive and the way that productive businesses use 'drivers' to manage their businesses not financial statements. The examples he uses are compelling and the book is a page-turner. His stories about Ryanair, World Savings and IKEA are priceless. I'd recommend this book to anyone who owns a business, manages a business or aspires to own or manage. It's a must read. Jennings just keeps churning out one hit after another.

My preconception about this book was that it would be the usual stuff of cutbacks and running lean operations. I found to my delight a very entertaining, quite well written account of a number of real world success stories, companies that far exceed their respective industries' performance standards by staying focused on what is really important. The example companies apply the most striking logic and simplicity in the tests and standards they apply to themselves and their businesses. And as for cutbacks, the book makes clear that cutbacks are just not part and parcel of companies that have shown over time they know what they are doing and where they are going. These top performers ask what resources they need and then execute flawlessly in ways, as recounted by Jason Jennings, that increase your awareness as to what is truly important in business today. Read for yourself and draw your own conclusions, but I can assure you it will make you think about what passes for conventional business wisdom. Thumbs up from this reviewer.

This book is an excellent example of the types of practices and procedures almost any company can follow to be successful both financially and ethically.
Jennings cites numerous companies who have carved out success while still remaining true to their customers, their employees and their values.
Not surprisingly, few of these companies are ones that so called pundits regularly review.
As the other reviews have noted, these companies are very successful financially, but they get there by asking the really pertinent business questions, and not by hiding behind an air of executive invulnerability. The leaders are real leaders, more focused on growing the company, serving customers, and doing right by employees.
What vividly differentiates these companies from the "name brands," is that in the "name" companies, executives are more concerned with their own compensation, preserving their own existence, and with profits at all costs, than long term success.
The questions you should ask yourself after reading this book are, "Where have all the leaders gone?" and "Why don't all companies follow many of Jennings' researched best practices?
After that, I would run, not walk, to one of these companies and see if you can start at the bottom and learn what it's like to work in a real company.