Pacific

What Bruning has done in "Jungle Ace" is remarkable: he manages figuratively to bring to full flesh-and-blood life a man who has been dead for nearly 60 years. When I finished reading this biography, I felt I knew and understood Gerry Johnson: felt the weight of the command burden he carried, the exhilaration of victory in combat, the self-doubt when losses occurred, the grinding boredom of life in the SWPA, and the never-ending homesickness. I also got a sense of what he would be like in different situations: as a friend, as a commander, as a classmate.

This is exceedingly hard to do, but Bruning has done it: he somehow got long-ago memories jumpstarted, got people talking. While I accept that some of the quoted conversations probably did not take place word for word as presented, I feel the approach helps the book make the man more real. Charles Martin, in his bio of Tom McGuire, did the same thing, and it worked for both authors.

Thanks, Mr. Bruning for bringing a too-little known hero to light. You can be sure that my children will read about Gerry Johnson. When will you write another aviation biography? How about Charles H. MacDonald of the 475th FG?

Just finished reading this book a few days ago, and I've got to say that it's one of the best WWII non-fiction books I've ever read. Not only is it easy to read and exciting, but Mr. Bruning skillfully covers some of the more technical aspects of Johnson's air combat battles.

Good for hard-core WWII air combat nuts (like me!) as well as the average reader. Anyone with any interest in combat aircraft, WWII, or great reading material in general will love this book!

-Scott Rudi

John's latest, "Jungle Ace," ranks without a doubt as one of the best biographies that I have ever read. John spent several years painstakingly researching for this book, and it shows in the incredible level of detail contained in these pages. Without boring us with this detail, the book highlights John's ability to tell a story with just the right word selection to paint a vivid, movie-like picture in the reader's mind. "Jungle Ace" follows the life of P-38 fighter ace Jerry Johnson from schoolboy to aviation candidate to grisly combat conditions, all in amazing clarity that will immerse you into the story, as if you were standing side by side with Johnson himself. As tense and taughtly written as a best-selling fiction novel, author Bruning has created a story that even non-aviation history buffs will enjoy thoroughly...

For those readers looking to see just how demanding, unforgiving and gruesome air combat in the steaming jungles of the South Pacific islands could be, this is the book for you. "Jungle Ace" is a rich, vivid and thoroughly honest chronicle of a young Oregon man who helped save the world. A rewarding read that goes beyond the military history genre.

After recently watching Mister Roberts again on DVD, I was watching the credits and decided to finally track down this book. It turns out it was just the screenplay (with a list of props and scene designs included to help stage the play). While I was at first surprised, I was not disappointed. This makes an excellent addition to my film library. A great screenplay of a great film. Got any fulminate of mercury?

One of the (If not the best war plays). Touching and humourous. Truly a maaaad play.

Mister Roberts had the right amount of amusement and sadness, which is the main reason I really liked it. At first I was not sure how I was going to enjoy it. The first chapter started out fairly slow, but this was just because it was an introduction of characters. The rest of the book was much clearer with this introduction. Throughout the entire novel there was a lot of humor. It was a fast read with all this comedy. I really admire Heggen's writing style because he incorporated wit with war. Heggen gave a more amusing account of the war than other factual book could have.

I thought I knew the Monterey region fairly well until I was given this book as a present! It is packed with great "bites" of information: natural history, human history, and how to get to all the beaches and parks. The writing is easy to understand, friendly in a way, and even fun. The maps are very helpful, and the book even has resource sections with phone numbers, website urls, and directions. AND, the photographs are stunning. A great gift for visitors, home libraries, or the glove compartment of your car.

I received this book as a gift and was immediately taken by the depth and breadth of this book. If you are traveling from Ano Nuevo to Monterey get this book! The author and photograper bring this spectacular shoreline alive with great descriptive copy and super photos(you've got to see page 136). Hidden beaches and other great spots that I would never have known existed. Great information about how to get there, what to do and how it got there. Get the family together, pack a lunch and bring this book. Guaranteed great day!

I have lived in Santa Cruz County for 15 years and thought I knew the Monterey Bay coastal zone very well--that is, until I read Jerry Emory's Monterey Bay Shoreline Guide. This Guide is the best--it covers both familiar territory and less well-known aspects of the Monterey Bay and its coastal towns. I've found myself consulting it whenever I make any kind of shoreline jaunt, from discovering where one can walk one's dog on a beach in Carmel to locating the best on-shore whalewatching sites. The photos are beautiful as well as informative. The organization of the book, which includes sidebar articles on specific topics, lends itself to easy access for both the casual and serious reader.

This book was very imformative and valuable on a recent road trip to the parks with my kids. I provided a consise resource of information and facts in an easily readable form. A valuable addition to your glove box at the start of your trip, or reading material on the flight to Jackson. Highly recommended.

There are many travel guides which will tell you where to eat, where to stay, and how much you can expect to spend. Some contain maps, important phone numbers, and local attractions. This book goes well beyond that. You will come away with a deep appreciation of the area and a better understanding of the wildlife. You will come to understand the differences between a black, brown, and grizzly bear and how to peacefully coexist with them in the park. You will learn how geysers work, what dangers exist, and how to help preserve the park for future generations.

I just returned from a visit to Yellowstone and found this book extremely helpful both in planning the trip and as a reference while there. I particularly liked the author's reviews of the accomodations within the park, which I found to be accurate, especially his reviews of the accomodations at the Old Faithful area, Canyon, and Lake Yellowstone.

The book contains excellent, accurate maps and the descriptions of touring the park contain lots of little-known sites that were worth seeing. Also, the book contains great information on hikes within the park.

I looked at several other guides to Yellowstone, this one by far outshines the other ones that I saw.

Enjoy your visit to this wonderful park!

Stunning photographs of America's number one wine region. Every page of this masterpiece is a feast for the eyes.

If you have no idea where the Napa Valley is, or that it is an exquisite little Eden, & if you like the wines that come to you from this delightful part of California, then A VIEW FROM ABOVE NAPA VALLEY will be a grand adventure.

Come fly with Charles Feil in his gyroplane, & see the mists over the patchworks of vineyards, the rows of vines as they undulate over rolling hillsides, the startling & poignant blends of water, trees, roads & fields; catch glimpses of the elegant architecture of the wineries, hot airballoons over sunset fogs.

Perhaps the most telling feature, as we glide above this inspiring landscape, is that all the things we human have made are foursquare & angled, whereas all the vines nurtured & groomed, are in flowing patterns following the contours of the earth.

There are so many photos that take my breath away & the fabric of corduroy often came to mind.

A great gift idea!

Not to brag, but I have personally seen California's famed Napa Valley, the foremost wine-growing region in America, from above - courtesy of a half-hour glider tour I took some years ago. Of course the sights I saw from that airborne vantage point have faded from memory, so I was pleased to receive this lovely book that provides much of the same experience to the general reader (without requiring you to strap into a fiberglass flying machine). A number of towns, well-known vineyards, and geographic features such as the Napa hills and Lake Berryessa are all seen here from the expert eagle's-eye view. This book is one in a series from veteran high-flying photographer Charles Feil; through his lens you can also look down on Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Key West. If you want to get the lay of the land before planning a trip to Napa, this volume provides a spectacular overview.

So much of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives and the Library of Congress. That is if the documents were declassified. This book is insightful.

So mucy of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives or the Library of Congress (if unclassified). Insightful!

I speak as one who has lived in the Northern Mariana Islands for more than thirty years, and who had a role in the events (I was one of those who were interviewed) and who knew and worked with many of the central figures involved in them. Willens and Siemer have written a thoroughly researched and historically accurate work, and one which I enjoyed reading immensely -- as will anyone interested in this corner of the Pacific.

I have been a history buff for many years, but this book on Wake Island has definitely given me some new insight. I thought the author did an outstanding job on presenting details, both new and old information, and sometimes a point of view from both sides. If I had a wish it would be that more data could have been available on the Japanesse point of view. For instance why did RADM Sakaibara execute the 98 civilians? Just revenge or were there other motives? Did Adm Kajioka loose face when he returned to port after his first defeat at Wake Island? If so how? But putting these thoughts aside, I believe it to be one of the best books that I have ever read about Wake Island and I recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading or researching WWII in the Pacific.

Pacific Alamo by John Wukovits rates in the Top Four books on the defence of Wake Island. I am the great-nephew of Retired Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Cunningham, then Island Commander, and have collected material and books for over 24 years on the heroic events at Wake Island.

Being a little biased, Wake Island Command, by Winfield Scott Cunningham, published by Little, Brown in 1961, is number 1 in my book. It was written with the assistence of Lydel Sims, but my uncle told me everything in the book was written by him and he took full responsibility for it's contents. He was always a gentleman and always gave high praise for the men (Marine, Army, Navy and civilians) that served under him during the defence of Wake.

Number 2: "A Seige of Wake Island: Facing Fearful Odds, by Gregory Urwin, University of Nebraska Press, 1997 is the next greatest book. His well researched account, using over 70 personal interviews (including an interview with Devereux and Admiral Cunningham), comes the closest in the depiction of the events at Wake Island. The author and I disagreed on only one piont (the trap of December 11th), but everything else is exactly described. He even was able to confirm that the Marine Corp' went out of it's way to 'Blacken' the reputation of Navy Commander Winfield Scott Cunningham to make the defense of Wake Island a strictly 'Marine Affair'.

Number 3: "A Magnificent Fight: The Battle for Wake Island" by Robert Cressman, Naval Institute Press, 1995 is 3rd on my Top Four list. His true to life depiction of the events at Wake Island gives you chills. The 'Devereax/Cunningham Controversy' is fully discused in the appendix and gives a fair and balanced view.

Number 4: "Pacific Alamo" by John Wukovits now rounds out the top 4. His vivid details and personnal interviews bring out the whole truth of the events at Wake Island. I agree with every word of the book (the trap on December 11th was given to Devereux and Cunningham equally) and even the repromand to both leaders for extending the dispute for so long.

These are my picks. I hope you enjoy.

P.S.: Another recent book, "Given Up for Dead" by Bill Sloan should be avoided at all costs. He gives a strictly biased 'opinion' using a 'ghost written' book as his number one source and a magazine article by Peter Andrews in a 1987 issue of American Heritage, which is full of inaccurate statements and used many slanderous, and false statements concerning Commander Cunningham's role during the defence.

This is the best WWII book I've read since Ghost Soldiers. The author bring to life an historical moment in World War II that could be lost as a footnote in history. The men mentioned in the book come to life, and one begins to indetifly with them, so that you want to turn to that last page and find out what became of these heroes after the war. Like Ghost Soldiers, once you pick it up you can't put it down.

The book has great general info. on the numerous trails in our nation's biggest state. The information on trails that I hiked in the Palmer and Seward areas were right on the money, and I hope to use the guide on future trips up north.

I spent 3 mos. in Alaska and I had this book as well as Jim DuFresne's Backpacking Alaska (Lonely Planet). I used this book more for short day hikes and overnight backpacking trips whereas DuFresne's has more multi-day backpacking trips. The one thing that I really loved about this book was the elevation diagrams, DuFresne's book had none. But again, I used this book to fill in my gaps of time for short day hikes out of many of Alaska's more accessible towns. Good book for the "Hiker". DuFresne's book is good for the "Backpacker".

Dean -- Love the book -- especially the pictures of Gavin and me -- but you know that. To anyone else who reads this: Dean knows whereof he speaks: He's a good hiker and builds a good, environmentally sensitive campfire. Hope you don't mind my using this avenue to try to get your e-mail address.

I like Walter Lord's writing--A Night to Remember and Day of Infamy. These were two great books about disasters. Unlike those books, this book is about the experience of the twenty coastwatchers in the Solomons campaign. It is well written but does not have the intensity of those other two books. The book is well written and tells about the alert activities of the coastwatchers, along with their guerrilla and rescue actitivities. The Allied victory at Guadalcanal had much to do with the coachwatchers.
This part of World War II might never have been written about were it not for the rescue of the future President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's part in the rescue shows his leadership abilities. It also dispels the notion of negligence on Kennedy's part in the destruction of the PT-109.

I am partial to this book becuase Walter Lord interviewed my Father during the writing of this book. My Father Benjamin F. Nash was the only full time American Coastwatcher during WWII and was with Reg Evans when they spotted the fire ball that turned out to be the wreck of PT 109 when the Jananese destroyer ran over it. I met Mr. Lord during the days he talked to my Father during the Summer of 1976. I think it was '76. I have read the book several times. It is a fascinating history filled with facts, so you have to take your time in reading it to get the full impact. My Father told me that the facts that he knew of where 100% accurate in the book. Great book.

Walter Lord's book, "Lonely Vigil: Coast Watchers of the Solomons," written in 1977, was written as a tribute to those brave Australians who stayed behind in the Solomon Islands to report on the activities of the Japanese at great personal risk to themselves. They helped the United States during the Battle of Guadalcanal. One of them even saved the life of JFK. During World War II, the Pacific was a Japanese lake. They controlled every country in Asia and Southeast Asia. The Coast Watchers were a vital link in Australia's defensive chain. They even aided VMF-214, the legendary Black Sheep Squadron, commanded by the late Major Gregory R. ("Pappy") Boyington. If it weren't for the Coast Watchers, then we probably would have lost World War II.

Totally agree about the locals comment. I just moved here from San Francisco and found great stuff in the book to make me feel like a native. Well-written, funny, entertaining, and a great resource for anyone visiting or living here!

My husband travels to Los Angeles often for business
so he knows a lot about the city but I went for the
first time on his last trip. Since he was going to be
in meetings a lot I was worried about being on my own
so I bought this LA for Dummies guide and I'm so glad
I did! It was fun to read and so informative - it
even showed my husband the "LA expert" a few tricks.
I totally recommend it!

We visited Los Angeles for the first time recently and were worried about what we had heard - that the city is a big sprawling mess, difficult to get around, etc. All of which is true, but this book made it less intimidating and actually a lot of fun. We took the author's advice to heart and wound up not feeling like dummies at all! This is a great book for the first time visitor.