Book Description
Vengeance is a true story that reads like a novel. It is the account of five ordinary Israelis, selected to vanish into "the cold" of espionage secrecy -- their mission to hunt down and kill the PLO terrorists responsible for the massacre of eleven Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
This is the account of that secret mission, as related by the leader of the group -- the first Mossad agent to come out of "deep cover" and tell the story of a heroic endeavor that was shrouded in silence and speculation for years. He reveals the long and dangerous operation whose success was bought at a terrible cost to the idealistic volunteer agents themselves.
"Avner" was the leader of that team, handpicked by Golda Meir to avenge the monstrous crime of Munich. He and his young companions, cut off from any direct contact with Israel, set out systematically to find and kill the central figures of the PLO's Munich operation, tracking them down wherever they lived.
The mechanics, the horror, the day-by-day suspense of what they did surpass by far anything John le Carré or Robert Ludlum could imagine, as they themselves were tracked in turn (and some killed) by PLO assassins, changing identities constantly, moving from country to country, devoting their young lives to the brutal task of vengeance.
Vengeance is a profoundly human document, a real-life espionage classic that plunges the reader into the shadow world of terrorism and political murder. But it goes far beyond that, to explore firsthand the feelings of disgust and doubt that gradually came to torment each member of the Israeli team, and that in the end inexorably changed their view of the mission -- and themselves.
Vengeance opens a window onto a secret world, a book that at the same time inspires and horrifies. For its subject is an act of revenge that goes to the very heart of the ancient biblical questions of good and evil.
Customer Reviews:
An eye-opener on the nature of counter-terrorism.......2007-10-10
I read "Notes on a controversy" at the end of the book first, because this justification of the text by the author deals with the issue of veracity. The book has apparently been attacked on this score, and of course the very nature of the subject excludes the possibility of total and certain verification of all the facts, but the author makes a convincing case of the techniques he used in circumventing this problem and checking out his main source's story. That story itself is gripping, not only because it describes in thriller-like fashion the actions undertaken by an Israeli hit team against the masterminds behind the killings of Israel's Olympic team in 1972, but also because of what I would call, perhaps oddly, its humanity: the personal torment felt by the members of the hit team is faithfully portrayed, and is perhaps the most unforgettable part of the narrative. One closes the book with the uneasy feeling that there really is no way to avenge, let alone deter, the monstrous deeds perpetrated by terrorist scum. But I do not share a shred of the hit team's doubts that their actions were fully justified. This book is an eye-opener on the nature on terrorism, but also on the ruthlessness demanded of those who are called to combat it. The book leaves one with few illusions about "the secret world" either, which adds to its aura of truthfulness.
A Very Plausible Account of Events.......2007-08-20
Vengeance succeeds on many levels. It could easily stand as a classic tradecraft work about espionage operations or as a fictional spy thriller. It is action packed and a real page-turner. I was disappointed when it ended.
Terrorism succeeds, when it succeeds, by using violence to send a public message to one's opposition. It amounts to negotiation by murder and bomb blasts. The message being: "If we aren't safe, you aren't safe either." That was the message that the Black September organization sent to Israel with their 1972 Munich action, and it was the same message that the Israeli state sent back to Black September via Avner's hit team. Terrorism is warfare by symbolic violence, although it's more than symbolic if you're there when the bombs go off or the shooting starts.
As to whether all aspects of Vengeance are literally "true," I admit I have my doubts. But so what? It has verisimilitude where it counts and whether this or that specific detail is literally true or is a mishmash of several events or characters combined is largely irrelevant. The ongoing terror campaigns going on all over the world today show that the morally ambiguous world that Avner and his opposition existed in 1972 hasn't changed that much. And it probably never will.
Spies? Terrorists? Assassinations? The Middle East? A True Story? Yes!.......2007-06-18
The Jewish state of Israel has always had an aura of intrigue because of the reputation of the Mossad. This is a true story of a group of spies who were on a mission too difficult and high profile for the Mossad. This book is an excellent story in itself, but the fact that it is a true story makes it even more fascinating. Quite a bit of history on terrorism against Israel is given. Personally, I was ashamedly ignorant of the persecution that Israel suffered in the 60's and 70's through terrorism. This book brought to light the terror that was leveled against Israel. Jonas does an excellent job of writing, in a humble way that is uncharacteristic of many authors. The very nature of his writing lends credibility to his story. The afterward by the author is an exciting supplement to the book, giving the author's rebuttal to those who question the validity of the book. I loved the way the book unfolded, cold and slow in the beginning but slowly picking up speed and never slowing down until the last page. I look forward to seeing Stephen Spielberg's movie based on the book as Spielberg has shown in the past that he can successfully make good films that stay true to the books that they are based upon.
A reoccurring theme throughout the book is the morality behind terrorism and counter terrorism. At what point does the defender become the aggressor? America has faced this problem as well in the past few years trying to define the fine line between defense and cold-blooded war. Is counter terrorism justified? Was Israel's decision to assassinate top terrorist leaders warranted, or did these actions put the Israelis on ethical par with the murderous terrorists? The book clearly shows how the decisions of war are difficult, and there is often no straightforward moral line in such choices. There will always be dispute and debate between Moses' law of eye for an eye and Jesus' law of turning the other cheek. While both of these laws seem to be incompatible with each other, it will do humanity well to find how these two laws full of wisdom come together in some sort of compromise.
One of the best books I"ve ever read.......2007-05-21
I don't dole out 5 stars to books easily. But this one definitly earned it. If you've seen Munich, you know what the book is about, though the movie did deviate from the book in some ways, it was mostly the same.
It was a captivating book, and in the end, it trancended your typical "spy novel" thriller, in that it brought up deep questions regarding our notions of patriotism, militant service to country, and the way nations use their patriotic heros like disposable pawns.
bravo for a well written page turner - I loved reading this book........2007-05-02
This is the type of book that you will only put down if sleep is absolutely necessary, and you are able to "dine in moderation" knowing that tomorrow you will get to enjoy more satisfying reading. The reader feels as if he is in the mind of the protagonist, very rarely do I find this in an 'as told to' format. Next stop of course will be the movie rental. I found this in an airport bookstore and truth be told I wouldn't have minded if the plane was delayed for hours, but as a matter of fact the plane was on time, however, the book was finished before the return trip.
Average customer rating:
- An amazing story, not the best account
- It gives me hope
- In All My Life
- In All My Life
- You Could Die if You Knew!
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The White Rose: Munich, 1942-1943
Inge Scholl , and
Dorothee Soelle
Manufacturer: Wesleyan
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Binding: Paperback
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Sophie Scholl and the White Rose
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Sophie Scholl - The Final Days
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Hans and Sophie Scholl: German Resisters of the White Rose (Holocaust Biographies (Nonfiction))
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A Bag of Marbles
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The White Rose
ASIN: 0819560863 |
Book Description
The White Rose tells the story of Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl, who in 1942 led a small underground organization of German students and professors to oppose the atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazi Party. They named their group the White Rose, and they distributed leaflets denouncing the Nazi regime. Sophie, Hans, and a third student were caught and executed.
Written by Inge Scholl (Han's and Sophie's sister), The White Rose features letters, diary excerpts, photographs of Hans and Sophie, transcriptions of the leaflets, and accounts of the trial and execution. This is a gripping account of courage and morality.
CONTRIBUTORS: Dorthe Solle.
Customer Reviews:
An amazing story, not the best account.......2006-03-12
I bought this book wanting some background on the White Rose before going to see the German film on Sophie Scholl, and it was informative, if rather short - the actual story is less than 100 pages, as half the book represents documents. On the plus side, it is by the sister of Hans and Sophie Scholl, so though it isn't a great read, presumably it is an accurate account. However, I have since read some negative comments that the author used this book to place herself more centre stage, which put me off a bit as I like to think the books I read - at least those on historical events - are well-researched and unbiased.
For a more gripping account with a fast-paced narrative, I would recommend Dumbach and Newborn's Sophie Scholl and the White Rose, which I've just finished. It has some rave reviews, is a much more vivid account, and as well as all the photographs of the students also includes all the leaflets including the seventh, previously unpublished, leaflet of the White Rose group that was discovered in the Gestapo archives after the fall of the Berlin Wall. So if you want both a good read and some very interesting historical documents, this is by far the better book.
It gives me hope.......2004-08-05
For those unfamiliar with the story of The White Rose, it is a testament to the power and courage of those who are willing to stand up for freedom and independence in a world gone mad. Once again I find this book paticularly compelling today, for obvious reasons. The pamphlets the White Rose students distributed (that they subsequently paid the ultimate price for) are reprinted in their entirety in the book. They are well written, beautiful in spirit, and as compelling today as they were then.
The story is told with honor and reverence by the sister of Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl, siblings and two of the students in Germany who brainstormed the pamphlets and were executed swiftly and denounced publicly for their trouble. In spite of that, or because of it, their efforts caused a ripple of resistance in the German republic that caused its fair share of trouble for the Nazi regime.
Calling for a policy of passive resistance -- the ability for each one, individually, to sabotage any efforts of the fascist regime in power -- was a brilliant move on their part. No fundraising, no unending meetings, no need for mailing lists or computer databases. Sabotage rallies, sabotage in all areas of science and scolarship which further the continuation of the war, sabotage in all branches of the arts, and a refusal to give a penny to any government organized charity...such was the call of these noble individuals who had no great army, but who understood the power of the individual.
I only learned of the White Rose within the past couple of years myself. Everyone should learn and understand what they did and why. It gives me hope.
In All My Life.......2003-06-13
In all my life I don't think I have read a book about such courageous people as Hans and Sophie Scholl. They are involved in an anti-fascist resistance movement and know they can be killed at any hour of the day. They are in constant fear of the people around them, wondering if they are Nazi spies, and yet they keep going.
This inspiring book, so full of tears, fearfulness, joy, anxiety, and love should be read by every young person.
Janice Wipf
In All My Life.......2003-06-13
In all my life I don't think I have read a book about such courageous people as Hans and Sophie Scholl. They are involved in an anti-fascist resistance movement and know they can be killed at any hour of the day. They are in constant fear of the people around them, wondering if they are Nazi spies, and yet they keep going. This inspiring book, so full of tears, fearfulness, joy, anxiety, and love should be read by every young person. Janice Wipf, ninth grade.
You Could Die if You Knew!.......2003-05-28
Would you be willing to join a cause, knowing that you could be killed for even associating with members of that cause? Would you be ready to leave family and friends for something that is almost impossible to achieve? The young people of the White Rose movement did just that.
Sophie and Hans Scholl lived in Germany during the reign of the cruel dictator Adolph Hitler. They and several other young people and their teacher stood up to Hitler's brutal rulership and tried to bring about peace and justice in a country devoid of almost everything but propaganda, hate, and bloodshed.
Exactly what steps these young people took is not as important as the great Idea they stood for, the vision of peace, love, and justice. Writing such things as "Freedom"and "Down with Hitler" on walls and streets took courage that only the most devout and focused person could have. These people, who were killed for their beliefs, should have more than just a book about them with the name of their group, The White Rose. They should be known and honored world-wide for their nonviolent stand against the most wicked and horrible dictatorship in modern history!
Please get this great little book, read it, and pass it on!
Kenneth Zimmerman
Average customer rating:
- Mystery Fan
- Bernie Gunther at it again
- Bernie Gunther's my current favorite former SS officer.
- A very compelling read
- War or Peace, the Mystery Continues
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The One from the Other
Philip Kerr
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Berlin Noir (Crime, Penguin)
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Hitler's Peace
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The Hidden Assassins
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A German Requiem
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The Foreign Correspondent: A Novel
ASIN: 0399152997 |
Book Description
Germany, 1949: Amid the chaos of defeat, it's a place of dirty deals, rampant greed, fleeing Nazis, and all the intrigue and deceit readers have come to expect from this immensely talented thriller writer. In The One from the Other, Hitler's legacy lives on. For Bernie Gunther, Berlin has become too dangerous, and he now works as a private detective in Munich. Business is slow and his funds are dwindling when a woman hires him to investigate her husband's disappearance. No, she doesn't want him back-he's a war criminal. She merely wants confirmation that he is dead. It's a simple job, but in postwar Germany, nothing is simple-nothing is what it appears to be. Accepting the case,Bernie takes on far more than he'd bargained for, and before long, he is on the run, facing enemies from every side.
Customer Reviews:
Mystery Fan.......2007-10-02
The One from the Other
This is my first Bernie Gunther book, but it will not be my last. Kerr does a great job of creating a mood and building an interesting character. Bernie is humorous, brave, unlucky, smart, cocky, and vulnerable. The history of the pre and post WWII era seems authentic and well-researched. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. History and mystery make a great combination.
Bernie Gunther at it again.......2007-09-07
The fourth in the Bernie Gunther series of detective novels has him caught up in another Post World War II mystery this time involving the CIA, Jewish vigilantes and more nasty Nazis. I have read and reread the first three novels featuring Bernie Gunther as I have found them and the world he inhabits to be fascinating. The reader follow Bernie on his cases as Germany slides into Nazism, surrenders to its leadership, falls and slowly rises from the rubble to began the process of rebuilding physically and emotionally. All is backdrop to Bernie's sleuthing. Read them for the characters and the dramatic irony that readers of historical fiction find so delicious. I cannot wait to see what Bernie gets involved with next.
Bernie Gunther's my current favorite former SS officer........2007-07-10
Bernie Gunther is a smart cookie but not quite clever enough to avoid getting gulled by some Nazi medical "researchers" into impersonating one of them in their scheme to slip out of postwar Germany before the war-crimes court can slip a noose over their heads. Bernie is a durable guy with an appropriately wry comment for every occasion, even when he's about to be consigned to an icy grave by Israeli assassins. It's all pretty improbable but a lot of fun for those of us who like tough private eyes who have a way with the ladies and a wisecrack at the ready.
A very compelling read.......2007-07-02
I have been a recent reader of Mr. Kerr. I have read all of the trilogy and the recent Hitler's Peace. I am a fan, but one who sees Mr. Kerr's occassional short comings, and idiosyncracies. I thought this book was exceptional, and perhaps the best I have read. There are many good reviews here which capture my thoughts. Instead let me make 5 quick points:
1) Kerr is that magical writer who puts you in Munich in 1947. His attention to detail and detail of feeling is remarkable.
2) His stories are always set up well. His strongest point is his plot set ups, and characters.
3) To me, his challenge has always been his endings. In general there are several logic or other issues which occur in the end of his books. This book i felt was his best thought through until the end.
4) He is able to hold to complex themes without patronizing or lecturing the reader.
5) I enjoyed reading this book more than the others (which i liked)
War or Peace, the Mystery Continues.......2007-05-26
Sorry, Mr, Kerr, I missed reading Berlin Noir mysteries. I shall forthright give myself a few demerits and immediately order the book (s).
Impressive beginning, grabs one's attention and great for a mystery novel, connects up in the end in a very amusing manner, as if anything amusing can be attributed to the War. And this is where Mr. Kerr or his detective Bernard Gunther scores. He treats the entire momentous second world war in Germany from the perpective of one who lived through it and survived.
He's a detective. He knows all the secret police, SS and whoever else. He met Himmler. But again, all in its place.
The mystery is suitably devious and classical in nature. Yes, Mr. Chandler and Hammett, it is search for a person, one who died (?) in the war. Mr. Gunther works hard, gets beat up, and in a scene reminiscent of China Town, gets his finger amputated.
Don't close your eyes. A very important clue will appear.
The ending is stunning and one leaves the book with the satisfaction of time well spent.
But is Mr. Gunther a Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade?
He's less wisecracking, which is a relief (Parker's Spenser's prattle is dreadful to the ears) but he's smart, hardworking, and he has a family. That's a no-no for a tough guy but Mr. Gunther, surely in keeping future is mind, deals with it.
I have not, being both a writer and an avid mystery reader, found a more engaging, spontaneous and excellently penned book in a long, long time.
If There Wasn't Death
Book Description
Includes: Munich, Upper Bavaria (North, East, & South), Lower Bavaria, the Allgau, and Northern Swabia.
Customer Reviews:
The best guide for southern Germany.......2006-12-17
If you are planning a trip to southern Germany this book is a must. It covers Munich very well but the real impressive part is the Alps. No matter where you are going in the Alps this book will be helpful. The pictures are wonderful and it makes a great coffee table book when you get home. Highly recommend.
Excellent guide - ausgezeichnet!.......2005-07-06
I used this book as my guide travelling around Munich and I can strongly recommended it to others. The layout of the book is clear and logical which makes choosing destinations and getting there easy. The maps in the book are all in full colour, as always in this series, showing roads as well as public transport routes. Countless illustrations enrich the reading - each carefully drawn so as to say more than a thousand words found in other guides. The choice of restaurants, hotels etc were all great picks. I managed to find a couple of real gems of restaurants in the recommended list here. I can assure that speaking from personal experience: you can use this book with complete confidence!
If you are going to Munich or travelling around Bavaria then this is without doubt the finest guide that you will find. Have a great trip!
The best guide on Munich.......2004-03-01
If you're planning on spending just a few days in Munich, then this compact little guide will be indispensible in locating the famous beerhalls and tourist sights. The maps are more than adequate and the walking descriptions to each locale are precise and accurate. There is also corresponding material on how to use the U-Bahn in the city and which station to take for each particular site. There is a separate chapter on the beerhalls of the city with a brief ranking system for the nosiest places, the friendliest, the cheapest beer, etc.
If you're planning a lengthy sojourn in Munich or if you already know the city well, then this book would not be as helpful. It is basically intended for the casual tourist and the information on the intriguing environs of Munich, including Bogenhausen, Haidhausen and areas of Schwabing, is not detailed. Many of the best sites are neglected because most tourists don't want to bother or simply don't have the time to stick around. The chapters on Berchtesgaden and Garmisch are excellent, however. So this is a thrifty guide you can stick in your pocket and consult when you need to find a restaurant, beer haunt or hotel. In short, if you're a first timer to Munich, enjoy the greatest city in Europe and be sure to tuck away this guide.
As a resident..........2003-11-18
...I can affirm the genuine worth of this book. The maps are convenient, easy to use, and marvelously clear. Furthermore, the organization of the guide is wonderfully helpful in assisting the traveler (or resident, as the case may be) in finding cultural destinations, culinary spots, that may have otherwise been missed.
This guide is, like most all of the Dorling-Kindersley series, geared toward helping the traveler ascertain what things might be of particular sightworthiness. Unlike the Michelin guides, this isn't particularly into the business of rating destinations, and it certainly isn't going to provide the standard domestic AAA guide service of pointing the traveler toward "hot" restaurants. For a diverse, wonderfully cosmopolitan city, this guide provides a marvelous introduction, and though it neglects a few potential interests in outlying regions, does an admirable job of hitting all the highlights, and even including pictures of most.
The material was current as of late spring 2003.
Nice book but lacks a info for the young and hip traveler.......2003-06-12
Great book if you plan to visit Munich and visit every castle and cathedral in the city but where is the information on hip nightclubs, fab restaurants, the hotels to be seen in, etc? Again, it was a great history type book for me and it was VERY well made, slick covers, a few nice maps, great photos, but again, for the young hip traveler who wants info on nightlife, there wasn't any. Hotels and restaurants are merely listed in the back and rated by price, with no photos.
Customer Reviews:
I am a history buff and I also liked these books.......2006-07-27
These books are good, even if you are really interested in historical accuracy. The great thing about them is they can really inspire one to do their own research and learn themselves about what was going on during that time. The interactions between the characters and famous historical figures aren't factual, of course, but the major events are accurate. These books really inspired me to do my own research and to visit the cities that the characters inhabit. I really enjoyed reading them, so if you love history, don't let the fiction aspect scare you away, it often serves as a fun backdrop in which real learning can take place.
A MUST READ, MUST BUY!.......2003-05-26
I have only recently been introduced to Bodie Thoene, but I became an instant fan with Vienna Prelude. Some of the twists in the book had my mouth dropping open. In the world of espionage, you don't know who to trust and who not to--these books brought that alive. They are written about a time before even my parents were born, and it's mouth-droolingly interesting to see what could have happened in this totally foreign world. I've never read anything like these and am in the process of buying all of Thoene's books. I'm even buying for my mother and telling everyone else about them. OUTSTANDING READ!
Must Read.......2002-08-22
Vienna Prelude is the first book in an amazing series. The characters are intriguing and Thoene's ability to show the struggle of the Jewish resistance in pre-WWII Europe is incredible.
Am I the only one to criticize these books?.......2002-01-18
I'll say that the books are interesting. They definitely have that in their favor. However, I have just finished reading some of the other online reviews for the Zion Covenant Series, and it seems that everyone loved them instantly, without finding anything to criticize about them. Well, I'll give you a more critical opinion to help guide you in your book purchases:
If you DON'T care for books in which....
1. ...the characters are very stereotypical;
2. ...the authors take great liberties with the thoughts, words, and actions of actual historical figures and make them say and do things that you know they never did, or would have done;
3. ...the main characters are great pals with the actual historical figures, and are rich, are beautiful, are witty- in short, have absolutely everything they need to accomplish the story and aren't very believable;
4. ...the plot isn't believable;
Then, these books might not be just right for you.
Yes, the books are very interesting. The plots aren't very believable, but they are interesting. The history contained in them is written well, and the books are worth reading for that alone. Unfortunately, these books are more of the same historical fiction in which overall unbelievability prevails, and that spoiled the books for me. Now, if you are not picky about having great people in history meddled with (for example, at one point in the third book Winston Churchill gets involved in a plot to kidnap the heroine, because she would be so exceedingly valuable as a spy for the Allies), and you don't worry about the other points in my list either, then you probably will like the books. For reading for amusement, they are fine. But if you want really great historical fiction, I wouldn't suggest the Zion Covenant.
I love these books!.......2001-10-16
If you start reading this series, you will not be able to put the books down! Against the backdrop of pre-WWII Europe, the Thoenes create characters that are true to life, and that you can't help but root for -- or against. These books are incredibly well-researched and well written, and a great investment of your time and money. You won't be disappointed!
Book Description
Frommer's. The best trips start here.
Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.
* The inside scoop on the best beer halls, walking tours, mountain villages, and Bavarian alpine skiing and hiking trails.
* Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
* Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
* Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com
Download Description
You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go – they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!
Come along with Frommer's and discover one of Europe's most charming and scenic regions, from the towering peaks of the Alps to the beer gardens of Munich. Frommer's Munich and The Bavarian Alps offers up-to-date coverage of all the highlights – music festivals, skiing, hiking, cafes, castles, alpine villages, spas, and more. Inside you'll find candid, detailed reviews of the very best dining and accommodations; accurate color maps; and insider tips on shopping. We offer a wealth of sightseeing, sports, strolls, and special moments – from highlights for the first-time visitor to off-the-beaten-track discoveries that will impress even the most seasoned traveler.
Customer Reviews:
Had all the info. I needed.......2002-11-01
I usually travel with two or three travel books and at some point in my last trip to Munich I just threw away my other book. The Frommer's book had everything I needed in regards to seeing all the major attractions, and I ended up relying on it more than the other book I brought. I thought it was accurate and had great info. on restaurants and hotels.
Not as bad as the other dude says..........2001-12-27
As someone who visited Munich and who is soon to relocate and start working there...I had to set the record straight about this book. Contrary to the one other review, this is a good book. The thing I like in general about Frommer's is that they present you with an itinerary; if you need to hit the 'must see places' then this is your book. Sure the must see places are all overrun by tourists...but some of them as we all know are a must. For example...Hofbrauhaus is where every visitor wants to go...but truth is no native Munchener hangs out there...all tourists. But ya gotta do it.
When I went to Munich, I travelled with this book and Lonely Planet Munich...Lonely Planet doesn't provide you with a 'must see places' list, but it is more detailed. Together they complemented each other perfectly. I recommend spending the extra money for the second book; in contrast with the amount you are spending on everything else during your whole trip...it's well worth it.
As for the other reviewer's bad experience...Germany's service people(hotel staff, waiters etc) are typecast as being slow and having attitudes...waiters especially. And that info is actually in this book.
Hope this helps. Have fun in Munchen.
highly recommended hotel is a nightmare!.......2001-08-10
The book highly recommended the 'Splendid" hotel. IT was the worse hotel I have stayed in, even for Europe. I have spent 2 months in budget hotels in Italy, and this hotel was worse than all of them.
The windows overlook a tram, which sounds like an earthquake or a plane landing on the roof. No insulation, the windows must be a hundred years old. The bathroom fixtures were broken.
When I was checking out, their modem did not work. They held my credit cards hostage for 30 minutes while a taxi meter was running. The red headed women manager never apologized due to their incompetence. The stay at the hotel was terrible.
Book Description
Whether you're looking for the finest cuisine or the least expensive places to eat, the most luxurious hotels or the best deals on places to stay, Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides provide useful information by local experts to find the best of everything at each destination.
Customer Reviews:
Essential for a trip to Munich.......2006-12-17
If you are planning a short trip to Munich this is a must have book. It covers excellent restaurants and wonderful places to stop and shop. The essential sights are all listed by region and are explained in enough detail for one to decide if they want to visit. If you are going for a longer period of time I would recommend a bigger guide but I would still get this one to walk around with. If you are travling around the Bavarian alps region you will need another travel guide in addition to this one as it stays focused on Munich
Must have for your trip to Munich.......2006-09-04
Guten tag!
DK Publishing is the leader in "Top 10" travel guides and their Munich edition is no exception. Accurate and easy to read maps, detailed train/metro line guides, and top 10 lists for nearly everything the city has to offer. I especially enjoy reading their recommendations for how many hours to plan for a museum/point of interest visit. This came in especially handy when visiting the Deutsches Museum. I originally planned to spend three hours there and ended up dedicating nearly an entire day based on the guide. The day was enjoyable and I was able to browse through all the exhibits - which were amazing and I recommend this museum if you are visiting Munich!
The guide is also handy to have as you take guided tours through the city. We all can't remember the names of the sights and the hundreds of facts behind them, but you can refer back later in your hotel or on your trip home.
Don't miss the section in the back on commonly used words/phrases and their translations. This came in handy a few times!
Top 10: Munich - 5 Stars
Safe travels,
Matthew Sherman
Bring your glasses.......2006-07-27
The type in this guide is so small I'm shopping for reading glasses to bring with me on my trip! It seems to be laid out well but being so hard to read I don't know how much I'll really use it.
Book Description
Travelers can drink in all the atmosphere, history, and beer that Munich has to offer with this updated guide to the best watering holes in the beer-drinking capital of the world. More than 70 of Munich's best beer gardens, beer halls, pubs, and late-night hot spots are listed in detail. The colorful histories behind them are included, along with detailed maps and instructions on how to find each place. Information on Oktoberfest and other beer festivals make this guide as practical as it is entertaining. This revised edition pays for itself three times over with the enclosed beer coupons from some of Munich's most prized beer gardens. From Am Hopfengarten to Zur Schwaige, this guide's wisdom will make any trip to the Beer City a truly unforgettable travel experience.
Customer Reviews:
Munich Beer Drinkers.......2007-05-12
This book is suprisingly good and gives extended information about various interesting locales in Munich. The beer locales are a kick. One could spend the whole trip visiting these occasionally quite interesting and cozy dispensers of comustibles and brews.
Author is Also a Great Pitcher.......2007-02-06
I know Larry Hawthorne as a comptetitive ballplayer who hits a lot better than your average pitcher. Knowing him this way, and being a writer myself, I recommend his book because I know he is honest, a clean player, and would not steer you wrong. Not a good enough reason to buy the book?
I could say, as the old joke goes about politicians, that he has never done a mean, rotten thing that he hasn't been sorry for, but I haven't known Larry long enough to know if he has ever done a mean, rotten thing. I know he is generous with baseball tips and has the best cooler on the sidelines. If you met him on the street he would greet you with a smile. In fact, if I asked him, he would autograph your book for you. That's how nice a guy he is. What more do you want from a book about beer in Munich? Check the excerpt and other reviews and see for yourself. If he is reading this right now, he is slapping his head with his hand and saying, "The next time Steve comes up to bat I'm pitching him a slow fat one right across the plate so he can hit it out of the park for the first time in his life!" That's how nice a guy he is.
I met him in the high deserts of south california, out where Jesus lost his boots, where right field is littered with gopher holes, where the 'Swingin' Steves' try to give him fits by getting line drives, and I'm glad I got the chance to get to know him. He made my first year as a softball player a lot more enjoyable, which was real special to me because I hadn't played since high school and needed all the help I could get. If you are still reading this then you are a serious beer drinker and if you are planning on going anywhere near Munich you need Larry by your side. From the other reviews you can see he is a great guide and knows his stuff (and his hops, he's always talking about the hops) so I will tell you the one flaw I found in Larry. He swings at everything. But he has a respectable batting average so I'm not going to knock what works for him. I'm a little shorter than him so maybe that makes me want to wait for the best pitch because I dont have the strength he does to drive the ball into the gaps. Well, I was kidding about Larry giving me a big fat pitch for this rambling review, in fact he might just hunker down and feed me low inside pitches because he can and he wants his team to win as much as I do. Like I said, a great competitor and if I still drank beer (diabetes) and had an urge to visit my great-great-grandparents homeland (apparently one of us was a king in Denmark around 1000 ad) I would still buy the cheapest version of this book I could find (that's just me, I'm cheap) but I would read it cover to cover because I trust this guy to give me the real deal. Hoist one for Larry, beer and book fans, and just for your information I wrote this cold sober. Honest. Why would I lie? And if any reporters for the National Enquirer or da Globe, etc. want the real inside dope on Larry I would be willing to supply even more colorful anecdotes to prove it.
Great Buy!.......2007-01-22
This book more than pays for itself with the coupons for free beer in the back! Great book too. Has directions to a lot of amazing beirgartens!
This book helped me find beer!.......2006-11-10
I went to Munich for Oktoberfest this year -- got there on a Thursday night and left the following Wednesday. Monday was spent at Oktoberfest. That meant Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday we needed to find beer gardens! This book was the perfect guide -- you can find them by S or U-Bahn stop, even! The 2-for-one certificates were a special bonus. I logged all the beers I drank on the inside cover -- 35 beers in 5 days. Nine of those were the masse size. Burp. Highly recommended.
Best Tour Book.......2005-09-10
I have gone through 3 versions of this book, been to Munich 6 times, and I still find new and exciting things to do by reading it.
The BDG2M allows you to sample the best Munich has to offer, and to go to places that tourists and locals love. Reading the book gives you a good idea of the wonderful culture, that IS Bavaria. It's not all about drinking beer, but the unique sense of community, family, and history you will find.
The directions to the beer halls are great. They are simple, easy to follow, and close to infallible. Of course, when there is beer at the end of the road, you tend not to get lost. ;-)
I applaud Larry in his everlasting devotion to this subject. Every edition is fresh, and new adventures await every turn of the page.
Book Description
The first full account, based on access to key players who have never before spoken, of the Munich Massacre and the Israeli response–a lethal, top secret, thirty-year-long antiterrorism campaign to track down the killers.
1972. The Munich Olympics. Palestinian members of the Black September group murder eleven Israeli athletes. Nine hundred million people watch the crisis unfold on television, witnessing a tragedy that inaugurates the modern age of terror and remains a scar on the collective conscience of the world.
Back in Israel, Prime Minister Golda Meir vows to track down those responsible and, in Menachem Begin’s words, “run these criminals and murderers off the face of the earth.” A secret Mossad unit, code named Caesarea, is mobilized, a list of targets drawn up. Thus begins the Israeli response–a mission that unfolds not over months but over decades. The Mossad has never spoken about this operation. No one has known the real story. Until now.
Award-winning journalist Aaron Klein’s incisive and riveting account tells for the first time the full story of Munich and the Israeli counterterrorism operation it spawned. With unprecedented access to Mossad agents and an unparalleled knowledge of Israeli intelligence, Klein peels back the layers of myth and misinformation that have permeated previous books, films, and magazine articles about the “shadow war” against Black September and other terrorist groups.
Spycraft, secret diplomacy, and fierce detective work abound in a story with more drama than any fictional thriller. Burning questions are at last answered, including who was killed and who was not, how it was done, which targets were hit and which were missed. Truths are revealed: the degree to which the Mossad targeted nonaffiliated Black September terrorists for assassination, the length and full scope of the operation (far greater than previously suspected), retributive acts against Israel, and much more.
Finally, Klein shows that the Israeli response to Munich was not simply about revenge, as is popularly believed. By illuminating the tactical and strategic purposes of the Israeli operation, Striking Back allows us to draw profoundly relevant lessons from one of the most important counterterrorism campaigns in history.
Customer Reviews:
Balanced presentation of the issues.......2006-08-06
This was a very interesting book describing a very tumultous time in Israel's history. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to understand more about "Munich" and the history of Palestinian and/or Islamic terrorism
The author did a good job of pointing out the pros and cons of Israel's assassination policy, including the bungled job in Lillehammer, Norway that resulted in the death of an (apparently) innocent civilian. It's not a simple issue, by far. Overall, though, the work of the Mossad over time probably did reduce the incidents of terrorism, and I think a reasonable person would come to that conclusion by looking objectively at the evidence. Whether it justifies killing a target in another sovereign nation is another issue, though I lean slightly toward the positive.
A more scholarly study than Vengeance.......2006-04-01
This is the second book I bought for my son, and one for myself because my son said that MUNICH was 90% fiction.
VENGEANCE was the story of one Israeli spy team as told to the author by the leader of that one team. This book, STRIKING BACK is more scholarly, and discusses many teams, the theory behind the teams, the results of their wet work, and also tells us about Israeli policy as it changes through the years. Both books help us understand that the facts and stories as presented are 90% fact, and we can learn a gret deal about how Israel survives using an Old Testament technique ("An Eye for an Eye.". Israel's survival depends on how it responds to attacks and we have a clearer understanding of the reason for desperate measures. It's a good book, a more difficult read than VENGEANCE, but worth the effort.
Excellent.......2006-03-22
I purchased and read this book after having seen Steven Spielberg's movie "Munich" and I am glad I did it in that order. While reading the book I could picture many of the scenes from the movie which helped keep all the names and characters straight. A sad, enthralling story - I could not put it down.
Dry and Witless.......2006-03-22
Yes, I understand this is not a novel, but it is as dryly written as a computer manual. It's a shame because the story is compelling, true and quite dynamic.
This isn't "Munich".......2006-03-04
This excellent book is by an Israeli journalist who was able to get remarkable access to Mossad. One might think this would result in a one-sided presentation, but Klein has done an excellent job of being extremely objective and analyzing the twin motivations of revenge and deterrence that underlay the strike-back assassinations after Munich. The only point on which he isn't objective (and with good reason) is in his unreserved condemnation of the action, inaction, negligence, and callousness (not to mention stupidity) of the German officials during the 21 hours or so of the hostage crisis. The book is worth reading for his thorough account of that one day in September.
Klein's analysis of the Mossad reaction is unsparing, especially in the disaster and tragedy at Lilliehammer, when Mossad agents killed an innocent man whom they should have realized was not Ali Hassan Salameh ("The Red Prince"). Six Mossad operatives were actual imprisoned in Norway for this crime, and the fact that "Munich" never makes mention of this incident is sufficient refutation to those who ridiculously claim that Spielberg and Tony Kushner were insufficiently sympathetic to Israel. While he wrote the book in Hebrew, Klein makes it clear this is not an apologia for Mossad. He sternly questions the rightness of the process in which Palestinian terrorists were identified and "prosecuted" in "show trials" before Israeli Prime Ministers who issued death sentences. People identified as "architects" of Munich often had little if any direct connection to the tragedy. He also carefully analyses the deterrence claim. While Black September terror largely faded after the strike-back assassinations, this appears to have had much to do with the PLO's attempt for legitimacy (Arafat addressing the U.S. in 1974, etc.) and reluctance to incur the wrath of potentially friendly European governments by continuing to execute terror strikes in their countries. Klein also explodes the myth of Mossad invincibility, pointing out with great irony that two of the actual Munich terrorists are still alive, and neither of the actual planners of the mission (Abu Daoud and Abu Ehyad) died at Mossad's hands. Abu Daoud is, in fact, still alive, and Abu Ehyad was assassinated by an extremist Abu Nidal follower because Abu Ehyad had become "soft" on the destruction of Israel.
Don't confuse this book with the movie "Munich," however. "Munich" is based on a different book, George Jonas's "Vengeance," based on the recollections of a Mossad agent. There have been some criticisms and questions of "Avner"'s story in "Vengeance." Klein's account, however, shows that the initial 3 assassinations and the Spring of Youth assassinations in Beiruit were generally very accurately portrayed in "Munich." I see "Munich" as more of a philosophical question about the human cost of the eye-for-an-eye approach, and the ultimate futility of translating ideology into direct and violent action, especially when it means undertaking violent action that is dangerously similar to the type of action undertaken by your enemy. Klein's book is more of a thoughtful policy analysis of what Mossad did, and whether it was effective. While Klein claims that moral judgments are far beyond the scope of his book, they are an inevitable consequence of evaluating the remarkable research that he has compiled.
Book Description
Discover fantasy castles and be charmed by medieval towns, explore ancient forests and climb the soaring Bavarian Alps. Or sample the world's best beers on a hops trail from Bamberg to Munich. Uncover the heart of Germany with our definitive guide - detailed regional coverage for the perfect Bavarian getaway.
• BE INSPIRED - highlights of the region showcased in full color
• IMMERSE YOURSELF - engaging History and Culture chapters connect you with the real Bavaria
• HIT THE ROAD - follow the classic Romantic Road trail or get off track with inspirational itineraries and detours suggestions
• FIND YOUR WAY - full color fold-out map of the region and its roads plus detailed town plans make navigation easy
• CROSS THE BORDER and visit Salzburg - comprehensive coverage of this magnificent Austrian city, just a hop away by car or train
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet Munich and Bavaria.......2006-07-25
The book has all the updated information on Munich.
Helpful hints for first time travers.
Just O.K........2005-09-13
I really like the set up of Lonely Planets Best Of travel guides. Couldn't find one for this area so tried this book. All the info is in this guide, but is difficult and time consuming to find.
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