American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Cheerleading At Its Worst
  • a bit revisionist of marine history
  • A thoroughgoing history of the Marines
  • The first modern battle history of the Marines in a generation and examines how they performed in key conflicts
  • Sixty years of Marine Corps History
American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq
James A. Warren
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

IraqIraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | United States | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0684872846

Product Description

From their heroic performance in the Pacific War, against Japanese troops on godforsaken islands, to their “tip-of-the-lance” leadership in key operations in the two Gulf Wars, the Marines have proven again and again that elite men with elite training are worth entire armies. James Warren’s battle-driven history shows how this elite culture has produced the best warriors in the country, through six decades, several open wars, and many smaller interventions.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Cheerleading At Its Worst.......2007-01-11

I found this book in my local library while searching for information on the activities of the modern United States Marine Corps. While it goes pretty far in meeting this interest, its got some really annoying baggage.

The basic premise of Mr. Warren's story seems to be the United States Marine Corps is the only organization capable of defending the interests of the nation. The other services are failed organizations lacking in the martial skill, charisma and intelligence to do much more than thwart Marines in their activities and to occasionally produce a leader who will praise their greatness. To apparently reinforce this, the author almost always uses lower case terminology when referring to members of the supposedly inferior branches. I really don't see the point of all this. The Marines have an illustrious history which does not need the belittling of other services to help it along.

If Mr. Warren could have proved his premise, I would not be so harsh. But the man just does not seem to have much of a clue when it comes to the background of the "lesser" services and their histories. This can best be seen in his take on activities in Somalia in the early 1990s. From the author's vantage, the Marines pretty much had Somalia stabilized when the Army took over and screwed up everything by not using Marine techniques. This is a massive oversimplification given that the Marine and Army missions in Somalia were so different comparisons just do not make sense. Perhaps if he delved into a little Army specific research he might have realized this. Sadly, it appears the author just relied on official Marine sources such as one would get from Public Affairs Officers. How does one otherwise explain the author's bizarre comment that Marines pioneered the use if helicopters in warfare (yeah, Marines were first to actually use them but most of the innovations came from the Army during the Vietnam War).

The only part I liked was Warren's recounting of recent Marine combat activities. While a bit dry at times, he does managage to pull together the big picture and a foxhole view pretty well. But even then, youve got to put up with lots of propaganda.

3 out of 5 stars a bit revisionist of marine history.......2006-06-25

begins with wwii works forward. has many of the standard historical errrors of the tet and misses most of the final victories in the late sixties.

4 out of 5 stars A thoroughgoing history of the Marines.......2006-04-08

If you're interested in the history of the Marines and how they have maintained their independence and their relevance, this is a great book for you. I enjoyed learning more about how the Marines train their recruits to instill Marine values. Some elements of the military think this sort of thing is outdated; this book makes a good case that it's not.

The book makes an interesting point that in some ways the Marines are diverging more today than they used to from the mainstream civilian American lifestyle. America today has fallen for the idea that happiness lies in buying more stuff. The Marines reject this in favor of loyalty, duty to country, hard work, etc. Materialism is not part of the ethics they teach. I had not thought of the Marines as a force for good in this area before. In a way it gives me hope. As an ecological economist I put a lot of effort into trying to get people to understand that the present American way of life centered around driving to the mall is not making us happier. That lifestyle has no future in any case; the passing of the oil peak and the end of the cheap oil era will see to that. It's great to know that there are some unexpected allies out there. For more on this, see "The Long Emergency" by Kunstler.

One thing the book left me wishing is that the Marines would play more of a role in asking questions about when, where, and why America should fight wars. The Marines have lost a great many good men fighting in utterly pointless wars like Vietnam. The war in Iraq, sadly, looks to be going down the same tragic pathway. Our nation simply cannot afford this sort of war. The Marines clearly love their country. Why aren't they doing more to see that America spends its money and men where they will do some good, instead of pouring them down rat holes?

5 out of 5 stars The first modern battle history of the Marines in a generation and examines how they performed in key conflicts.......2006-04-03

Students of World War II will want to read a different view in American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History From Iwo Jima To Iraq. It's the first modern battle history of the Marines in a generation and examines how they performed in key conflicts from World War II to modern times - and how they've changed. The evolution of their strategies and tactics have really undergone transformation over six decades, and American Spartans traces these changes using dozens of interviews, hundreds of print sources, and firsthand observation of modern Marine exercises.

4 out of 5 stars Sixty years of Marine Corps History.......2006-04-03

Americna Spartans relates sixty years of the 230 year history of the Marine Corps from Iwo Jima to Iraq. After reading the first seventy pages it seemed that the book was an antithesis to the creed of MTSgt Percy Webb, a pioneer public relations type from the early 1900s who said, "I had the utmost faith in the service I was writing about and so I did not need to "gild the lily. Warren was writing a masterful tale of "cheerleading". But from that point on it became increasingly evident that the author does not "gild the lily". American Spartans is not written in the gray areas of history. It is written in black and white, reciting the bad along with the good.
The Ribbon Creek Incident in 1956 is reported by telling what happened, how it happened and what resulted from its happening. The excesses in training experienced by recruits are also realted with no excuses offered. Casualities from friendly fire are included in the battle summaries. The dismal "State of the Corps" in the period of 1972-1975 is brutal, but accurate in stating that 50% of the recruits were non-highschool graduates, just under 50% of those who joined in this period "washed-out" prior to completing their first enlistment and 20% were mental group IVs (borderline intelligence). Keep in mind that this 20% was in part forced on the Corps by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's 100,000.
The Corps was in danger of losing it's reputation as an elite force. The sociological attitudes of the junior leaders within the Corps at that time contributed to this sad state of affairs. Warren also brings to the fore a number of SNAFUs, such as Mayaguez, of the Corps. This mess and others were generally brought about by combining the Marines with their sister services causing errors in coordination and control. Splitting of the air and ground elements of the Corps lead to many of these errors and unnecessaary casualities resulted.
The leadership of the Marines became cognizant of this state and brought the Corps back from the ashes of the Phoenix Bird to it's rightful position of being the nation's "force-in-readiness".
As the history proceeds from World War II to Korea, the author shows an increasing knowledge of what occurred between the lines. The early years are reported factually but without great depth. As the distance in years is shortened the author includes more and more insight for the reader. This insight adds excitement and thrist for more of what makes history live and breath. The in-depth detail of the post World War "China Marines" creates a beginning of the thrist for more in this history of the Marine Corps and it then continues to the last page.
James Warren shows that the Marine Corps is unique over it's sister services by instilling in its leaders a "can-do" attitude expressed by Elbert Hubbard in "A Letter to Garcia" written in 1899. The senior (at whatever level) issues the order to the junior but does not tell the junior how to compete the mission. The senior expects the junior to employ his own imagination and resources to accomplish the task. This attitude is paramount in the philosophy of the United States Marine Corps.
Warren uses 50-cent words from time to time which created a need for trips to the "Webster". The author may have used these words to keep the readers attention and to insure that alertness was maintained. Warren uses "won" in place of "awarded" in reference to Medals of Honor or Silver Stars which irratates many within the "Brotherhood".
American Spartans expresses a value stated in an axion of Col. John W. Thomason, Jr., "The profession of the military is a noble one and I chose to follow it".
The United States Marine Corps has had its ups and downs but will continue to live in concert with a quote of President Teddy Roosevelt's:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out where the strong stumbled, or how the doer could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is in the arena, his face marred by dust, sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and falls short again and again: there is no effort without error.
But he who tries, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause, at best knows the triumph of achievement, and at worst, fails while daring. His place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat". The book does "cheerlead" but it does not "gild-the-lily".
Semper Fighting; When the going gets tough, the Marines get the assignment.(American Spartans: The U.S. Marines, a Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq)(Book ... : An article from: The Weekly Standard
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Semper Fighting; When the going gets tough, the Marines get the assignment.(American Spartans: The U.S. Marines, a Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq)(Book ... : An article from: The Weekly Standard
    Theodore L. Gatchel
    Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Digital

    IraqIraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: B000FHYLOO
    Release Date: 2006-04-18

    Book Description

    This digital document is an article from The Weekly Standard, published by Thomson Gale on November 28, 2005. The length of the article is 1358 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

    Citation Details
    Title: Semper Fighting; When the going gets tough, the Marines get the assignment.(American Spartans: The U.S. Marines, a Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq)(Book review)
    Author: Theodore L. Gatchel
    Publication: The Weekly Standard (Magazine/Journal)
    Date: November 28, 2005
    Publisher: Thomson Gale
    Volume: 11 Issue: 11 Page: NA

    Article Type: Book review

    Distributed by Thomson Gale

    The Last Days of the Sioux Nation (The Lamar Series in Western History)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Wounded Knee in historical & military perspective
    The Last Days of the Sioux Nation (The Lamar Series in Western History)
    Robert M. Utley
    Manufacturer: Yale University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    5 out of 5 stars Wounded Knee in historical & military perspective.......2001-08-23

    ONE USUALLY SEARCHES IN VAIN FOR AN AN EVEN HANDED NON PARTISAN ACCOUNT OF THIS SAD EVENT. MR. UTLEY APPEARS TO DO JUST THIS IN HIS 1963 PRESENTATION WHICH IS EMPATHETIC YET FACT DRIVEN. HE PROVIDES DIRECT EVIDENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT BIG FOOT'S WARRIORS WERE WELL ARMED & DID INDEED COMMENCE FIRE ON FORSYTH'S 7TH CAVALRY AT POINT BLANK RANGE. MILITARY ARCHIVAL DATA PROVIDES LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THE WIDESPREAD MYTH THAT MOST MILITARY CASUALTIES WERE INFLICTED BY FRIENDLY FIRE. SIOUX COMBATANTS INFLICTED DEATH BY GUNFIRE ON 25 7TH CAVALRY TROOPERS. A FACT SELDOM REPORTED BY "MASSACRE" PROPONENTS WAS THAT SIOUX COMBATANTS WERE INTERSPERSED WITH NON COMBATANTS DURING THE MELEE. ONLY ONE OF FOUR AVAILABLE HOTCHKISS ARTILLERY PIECES WERE EMPLOYED TO CONTAIN THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING BATTLE. THE SIOUX DID IN FACT APPEAR TO BE "PLAYERS" IN THIS BATTLE.
    Last Days of Sioux Nation (Western Americana)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
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      Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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      ASIN: 0300010036
      The Last Days of the Sioux Nation: Second Edition
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        The Last Days of the Sioux Nation: Second Edition
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        Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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        Book Description

        This fascinating account tells what the Sioux were like when they first came to their reservation and how their reaction to the new system eventually led to the last confrontation between the Army and the Sioux at the Battle of Wounded Knee Creek. A classic work, it is now available with a new preface by the author that discusses his current thoughts about a tragic episode in American history that has raised much controversy through the years.

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        "History as lively and gripping as good fiction.”

        “One of the finest books on the Indian wars of the West.”--Montana

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        “A major job . . . magnificently researched.”--San Francisco Chronicle

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        The Last Days of the Sioux Nation
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Last Days of the Sioux Nation
          Robert M. Utley
          Manufacturer: Yale University Press
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Unknown Binding
          ASIN: B0000CLWY1
          The Last Days of the Sioux Nation
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The Last Days of the Sioux Nation
            Robert M. Utley
            Manufacturer: Yale Univ. Press
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000GVNFFK
            The Last Days of the Sioux Nation
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              The Last Days of the Sioux Nation
              Robert M. Utley
              Manufacturer: New Haven, CT, U.S.A.: Yale University Press, 1983
              ProductGroup: Book
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              ASIN: B000J0D5Y4
              The Last Days Of The Sioux Nation: Second Edition
              Average customer rating: Not rated
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                Robert M. Utley
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                Naturally Dangerous: Surprising Facts about Food, Health, and the Environment
                Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                • Thought-Provoking
                • Some interesting info, some not
                • Naturally Dangerous
                • A Movement Toward Health & Environmental Truth
                • Learn more about your environment, health, and nutrition.
                Naturally Dangerous: Surprising Facts about Food, Health, and the Environment
                James Paddock Collman
                Manufacturer: UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BOOKS
                ProductGroup: Book
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                Book Description

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                5 out of 5 stars Thought-Provoking.......2002-07-31

                As a former marketing assistant for a small publisher, this interesting work caught my attention. It is a highly informative reference, which addresses health and environmental issues that will be of interest to everyone. The information is indispensable to anyone concerned with their heath and provides details on prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal medicines, along with some possible dangers or side effects of popular herbs. Where misconceptions abound or confusion arises due to conflicting information in the popular press, this resource provides a logical viewpoint.

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                2 out of 5 stars Some interesting info, some not.......2002-03-08

                Well, he opens the section on Organic Foods with "Organic food, promoted by 'political correctness' and some scientific misunderstandings..." I guess my chance for an objective view on this subject just flew out the window.

                He then states that organic food is more likely to harbor bacteria (8 times, although we don't have any details where that number came from) and that there are no reports of deaths due to pesticide residues so that it is obviously better to eat non-organic. Hello? Why are people dropping like flies from cancer? Pesticide residues is certainly a great place to look for answers, but here its dispensed with in a couple of pages.

                Next he goes on about the dangers of contaminated alfalfa sprouts, which is peripheral to the whole arguement since they are not necessarily organic.

                And finally, we get to hear an explanation of how naturally occurring carcinogens are more dangerous than synthetic pesticides or herbicides.

                In another part of the book he states that factory raised chickens are far more likely to carry salmonella than free range. That seems like something of a contradiction to me.

                This fellow may be a chemist, but what we are hearing are opinions. You can believe his if you want, but I'm not convinced.

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                5 out of 5 stars Naturally Dangerous.......2002-01-14

                NATURALLY DANGEROUS

                "Nothing is completely safe or risk free", as we are constantly required to balance "one risk against another". So says Dr. James Collman of Stanford's Department of Chemistry in the preface of his recently published book, "Naturally Dangerous". Filled with interesting, scientific and historic anecdotes which will appeal to the curious reader, it's larger purpose is to explain in lay terms, the essence of the more important scientific controversies which have impacted public policy in recent decades. There is great risk in nature, but scientific understanding and the introduction of commercial applications of science have insulated us from many of these naturally occurring risks, allowing for a near doubling of life expectancy over the past century. But this desirable end has come at a cost. As Dr. Collman posits, "there is no free lunch". We constantly deal with tradeoffs between risk reduction and the creation of new risks, which our interventions spawn. It is only through meaningful understanding of the pertinent scientific concepts that we as a society can begin to make rational judgments. The problem is that we live in a sea of scientific illiteracy both on the part of the electorate as well as within our political leadership. Often trained in the law, many woefully lack necessary technical insight. Such a state paves the way for purposeful obfuscation of the scientific reality, creating an environment favorable for the promotion of public phobias for partisan political ends. By providing us with 224 pages of easy to read basic science, Dr. Collman does his part to push these debates in a logical direction.

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                5 out of 5 stars A Movement Toward Health & Environmental Truth.......2001-12-28

                The book, "Naturally Dangerous" is balanced, recognizes known facts and points out uncertainties in our knowledge when the facts are not known unequivocally. The simplified chemistry and physics of a wide range of human experience should be valuable to most readers. Unfortunately there are some on the "fringe" of health and environmental issues who adopt firm positions, are unwilling to accept evidence which doesn't support them, and may be vaguely critical of the book's content. This is called "politics", and it gets in the way of the orderly pursuit of truth. This book is a refreshing step in the direction of truth.

                5 out of 5 stars Learn more about your environment, health, and nutrition........2001-12-22

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                • The Water-cycle
                A Raindrop Hit My Nose (Our Amazing World Series)
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                Our Wet World: Aquatic Ecosystems
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                  101 Facts about Lakes (101 Facts About Our World)
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    101 Facts about Lakes (101 Facts About Our World)
                    Julia Barnes
                    Manufacturer: Gareth Stevens Publishing
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Library Binding

                    WaterWater | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: 083683707X
                    Mysteries in Our National Parks: Deadly Waters: A Mystery in Everglades National Park (Mysteries in Our National Park)
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Mysteries in Our National Parks: Deadly Waters: A Mystery in Everglades National Park (Mysteries in Our National Park)
                      Gloria Skurzynski , and Alane Ferguson
                      Manufacturer: National Geographic Children's Books
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

                      FictionFiction | Marine Life | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      Mysteries, Espionage, & DetectivesMysteries, Espionage, & Detectives | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      FictionFiction | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                      Similar Items:
                      1. Rage Of Fire (Mysteries in Our National Park) Rage Of Fire (Mysteries in Our National Park)
                      2. Running Scared (Mysteries in Our National Parks, Book 11) Running Scared (Mysteries in Our National Parks, Book 11)
                      3. The Hunted (Mysteries in Our National Park) The Hunted (Mysteries in Our National Park)
                      4. Escape From Fear (Mysteries in Our National Park) Escape From Fear (Mysteries in Our National Park)
                      5. Mysteries in Our National Parks: Valley of Death (Mysteries in Our National Park) Mysteries in Our National Parks: Valley of Death (Mysteries in Our National Park)

                      ASIN: 142630093X
                      Release Date: 2007-10-09

                      Book Description

                      The Landon family is Southbound—headed for Florida to investigate a mysterious illness plaguing endangered manatees in Everglades National Park. Jack, Ashley, and their friend Bridger soon find themselves in deadly waters with a seven-foot shark, an injured manatee—and a mystery to solve. Who was the stranger in the speedboat who snatched Jack's camera? And what does he have to do with the manatees? Join the heart-stopping chase through a maze of mangrove islands to find out!
                      A Boat in Our Baggage: Around the World With a Kayak
                      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                      • Have read a ton of travel adventure stories and this is among the finest
                      • Very weak, not the kayak adventure that the title suggests.
                      • What an adventure!
                      A Boat in Our Baggage: Around the World With a Kayak
                      Maria Coffey
                      Manufacturer: Mcgraw-Hill
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

                      GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                      WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                      TravelTravel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
                      BoatingBoating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
                      Sea KayakingSea Kayaking | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
                      Whitewater KayakingWhitewater Kayaking | Kayaking | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
                      Similar Items:
                      1. Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific

                      ASIN: 0070115478

                      Amazon.com

                      Maria Coffey and her husband Dag paddled their folding kayak around the Solomon Islands, along the Ganges, across Lake Malawi, down the Danube. Unlike many travelers, they talked to the natives of these places about politics, religion, and economics, with good-humored though often sobering results. Fresh, frank, and observant, this is a wonderful piece of travel writing.

                      Customer Reviews:

                      5 out of 5 stars Have read a ton of travel adventure stories and this is among the finest.......2007-01-28

                      A friend who has traveled widely as a nurse lent me her copy of this book, and after having read Bill Bryson's books, Getting Stoned with Savages by Troost, and tons of other travel books, I was feeling a little burnt on the topic and didn't really think that this humble-looking book would stand up next to the rest. Boy was I wrong.

                      From the first pages, the author and her partner Dag captured my interest with their humor and excitement about the journey, and as soon as they got started I was hooked. They went through Fiji and tried the famous Kava, they kayaked down the Ganges in India and on each stop startled and pleased the villagers and local holy men with their visit, and dodged hippos and militias on Lake Malawi.

                      On each stop they seemed to find people who were fascinated by westerners and wanted to show their hospitality with the local foods, sometimes tasty and sometimes disgusting (like the flycakes on Lake Malawi) or by showing them around. So not only did we get an idea of what it would be like to kayak in those areas, but also an idea of what the local people might be like and how they live.

                      The thing that I liked best was their keen eye for the small details which make up the differences in the world's many cultures and regions. Coffey was good at creating very clear descriptions in just a few lines, so the book is packed with interesting details and is hard to put down. I really felt like I was there.

                      This may be out of print, but it is well worth purchasing. This book is definitely among the stars in the travel literature genre, and I don't know why it didn't get more attention in the US when it was published in '95 - it certainly deserves it.

                      2 out of 5 stars Very weak, not the kayak adventure that the title suggests........2002-04-21

                      The title of this book would suggest that the reader is set to read about a kayaking adventure.

                      Indeed, I purchased this book to read about a kayaking adventure but unfortunately the actual kayaking is only mentioned a couple of times in the book but not in any detail.

                      The apparent subject matter of the text is the story of a couple of middle-class wannabe hippies, Maria Coffey and Dag Goering, travelling (or more truthfully, scrounging) around a few different parts of the world.

                      It is certainly not a self-sufficient adventure as the couple seem to spend almost every night either living aboard a luxury yacht, staying in accomodation provided by the locals and even staying in the lap of luxury with the Governor of Hong Kong.

                      The bulk of the book is taken up with the couples time in India but basically could be summerised into a brief paragraph reading, "we pulled into the village, we met the local Holy man, we smoked copious quantities of dope, the locals cooked us a meal and then we stayed in one of their houses" which is what is basically repeated over and over.

                      There is absolutley no sense of adventure anywhere in this book and unfortunately, Coffey's writing is extremely dull and tedious, not to mention very repetitive.

                      The only time that any human interest crops up is in the brief mention of the couples time in Ireland when they run across a few local "characters" but yet again they do not do any kayaking.

                      Mention must also be made of Coffey's boyfriend, Dag Goering, who is constantly credited with being a "photographer" but unfortunately the few low quality "snaps" that are featured in the book would certainly suggest otherwise.

                      If you are looking for a documented kayak adventure (or indeed any adventure) you should be looking elsewhere.

                      Give this one a miss!

                      5 out of 5 stars What an adventure!.......1997-11-21

                      I've never before read a 'travel' book and eventually picked this one up and couldn't put it down...even after I had finished reading it! Maria kept an honest and immaculate diary of their journey around the world in a collapsible, double kayak. Their courage is commendable as is their sense of adventure. Excellent recounting of a treasured journey.
                      Their Trotsky and Ours
                      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                      • Zero stars not available....
                      • A communist movement insider's perspective
                      • revolutionary fighters look to their roots
                      • Back to Lenin
                      • A guide to a revolutionary future
                      Their Trotsky and Ours
                      Jack Barnes
                      Manufacturer: Pathfinder
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

                      JapanJapan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
                      RussiaRussia | History | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
                      GeneralGeneral | Criticism & Theory | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                      Communism & SocialismCommunism & Socialism | Ideologies | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                      Political PartiesPolitical Parties | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                      ASIN: 0873489551

                      Book Description

                      "History has shown that small revolutionary organizations will face not only the stern test of wars and repression, but also potentially shattering opportunities that emerge unexpectedly when strikes and social struggles explode. As that happens, communist parties not only recruit. They also fuse with other workers organizations and grow into mass proletarian parties contesting to lead workers and farmers to power. This assumes that well beforehand their cadres have absorbed a world communist program and strategy, are proletarian in life and work, derive deep satisfaction from having fun doing politics, and have forged a leadership with an acute sense of what to do next. Their Trotsky and Ours is about building such a party."

                      Also available in: French

                      Customer Reviews:

                      1 out of 5 stars Zero stars not available...........2006-12-29

                      ... or that's what I would have given this warmed-over foolishness! Imagine reprinting an article every 20 years, and passing it off as a contribution to Marxist theory?! And for whoever stumbles upon these reviews, you should know that all those 5-star reviews are from members of the bizarre group led by Dr. Barnes.

                      5 out of 5 stars A communist movement insider's perspective.......2003-10-14

                      Knowledgeably written by Jack Barnes (National Secretary of the Socialist Workers Party since 1972), Their Trotsky And Ours is a manifesto about what it takes to bring workers, farmers, and ordinary citizens together for the implementation of political change. A communist movement insider's perspective on the lessons of the Russian Revolution, the challenges that face living revolutions today, the intricacies of Marxism and Bolshevism, and much more, Their Trotsky And Ours is a carefully written accounting of the groundwork needed for human cooperation to achieve grander mass ideals.

                      5 out of 5 stars revolutionary fighters look to their roots.......2002-10-27

                      In an age when revolutionaries come from different family trees, how do you look at the legendary Leon Trotsky, and his theory of "permanent revolution," that colonial countries can move directly from capitalist governments to workers governments? Jack Barnes, Socialist Workers Party national secretary, examines this issue in an article based on a 1982 speech.

                      5 out of 5 stars Back to Lenin.......2002-10-21

                      Their Trotsky And Our, by Jack Barnes, is a timely reprint twenty years after it was first published. Based on a talk before 1000 working class fighters from the United States and around the world, this talk was earth shattering for those who looked mainly to Leon Trotsky. It reclaimed the political perspective and the strategic centrality of the worker and farmer alliance in the fight to defeat capitalism. And it re-knit ties with Bolshevism and the Communist International in Lenin's time. This enhanced rapprochement with genuine communists of the day: the Cubans and other serious fighters world wide.

                      As James P. Cannon, a founder of the U.S Communist Party, a delegate to two congresses of the Communist International and later a founder and a central leader of the Socialist Workers Party and the Fourth International said : "It is not a new movement, a new doctrine, but the restoration, the revival of genuine Marxism as it was practiced in the Russian Revolution and in the early days of the Communist International." Thus "Their Trotsky and Ours" places Trotsky where he belongs in history as the twentieth century's greatest Marxist-Leninist, second only to Lenin.

                      5 out of 5 stars A guide to a revolutionary future.......2002-09-21

                      This document is a summation of the lessons of history of revolution. In its way it is in line with the Communist Manifesto, with the fundamental documents of the Comintern, knitting together the history of world revolution, and of its Marxist vanguard in particular. This is not just about Trotsky and his contributions, butabout how the Cuban communists fit into the continuation of Leninism, of what lessons we can learn from the crushed revolutions in Grenada and Nicaragua and the revolution led by Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso.There is so much, how Lenin's understanding of the importance of reaching out to farmers is true today, how new currents of workers searching for communist answers will keep emerging as they did in Cuba. This book rejects the sectarianism that characterizes many who call themselves Trotskyists for the genuine Leninism that Trotsky was recruited to and fought to continue. It tells how Trotsky learned Leninism, and how Trotskyists have learned like Trotsky did, not to be Trotskyists, but to be communists. For many, this pamphlet will take them back to the founding documents of the Communists International. For others this will take you to the continuing revolutionary politics of Fidel and the other Cuban communists. If you are serious about changing the world, you need to read this, study this, and follow the links this important book takes you to revolutionists throughout history and around the world. Rather than looking back at history, this book willtake you forward to see where new revolutionists, new currents of revolutionists, new revolutions will come in the future.
                      Water: A Resource Our World Depends on (Heinemann Infosearch, Managing Our Resources)
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Water: A Resource Our World Depends on (Heinemann Infosearch, Managing Our Resources)
                        Ian Graham
                        Manufacturer: Heinemann
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Paperback

                        NonfictionNonfiction | Environment & Ecology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        NonfictionNonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        WaterWater | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: 1403456283
                        101 Facts About Oceans (101 Facts About Our World)
                        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                        • Ocean Info for young readers
                        101 Facts About Oceans (101 Facts About Our World)
                        Julia Barnes
                        Manufacturer: Gareth Stevens Publishing
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Library Binding

                        WaterWater | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: 0836837096

                        Customer Reviews:

                        5 out of 5 stars Ocean Info for young readers.......2004-04-14

                        Starts out with a great map of the Oceans of the World that shows locations of gulfs, bays, seas, and trenches. Here is an example of an interesting fact presented. "Did you know that the water in the Persian Gulf could reach 97 degrees Fahrenheit?" There is a lot of information packed into this book's 32 colorful pages. Karen Woodworth-Roman, Children's Science Book Review
                        101 Facts About Rivers (101 Facts About Our World)
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          101 Facts About Rivers (101 Facts About Our World)
                          Julia Barnes
                          Manufacturer: Gareth Stevens Publishing
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Library Binding

                          WaterWater | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                          GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                          ASIN: 0836837118

                          Books:

                          1. Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War (Nation Divided: New Studies in Civil War History)
                          2. Arguing About War (Yale Nota Bene)
                          3. Atlas: The Ultimate Weapon by Those Who Built It (Apogee Books Space Series)
                          4. Attacks: ROMMEL
                          5. Aviation's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Winged Wonders, Lucky Landings, and Other Aerial Oddities (Most Wanted)
                          6. Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
                          7. Battleship Musashi: The Making and Sinking of the Worlds Biggest Battleship
                          8. Beyond Baghdad: Postmodern War and Peace
                          9. Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power
                          10. Carrying the Flag: The Story of Private Charles Whilden, the Confederacy's Most Unlikely Hero

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