I've already written pretty extensively about how much I loved Band of Brothers so it will come as no surprise that I felt compelled to read this. BEHI've already written pretty extensively about how much I loved Band of Brothers so it will come as no surprise that I felt compelled to read this. BEHIND Band of Brothers?!? What was left out? What other stories are there to tell about this amazing saga? Not many, as it turns out. I wish this rating system had half starts because I want to rate this 3 and half to show my true opinion. It's only because I love Dick Winters as much as I do, and have come to be so fond of what everyone else has already said about him, that it gets that 4th star. Don't get me wrong- I do love Dick Winters. And if this book does nothing else, it solidifies that this man was exactly as steadfast and unwavering as everyone else has already said he was. He thinks the way Stephen Ambrose described him as thinking, he does what the series showed him doing. He was a teetotaler who attended church every single Sunday he was physically capable of getting there and who loved his friends with as much loyalty and devotion as he showed to his abstinence and religion. And it is nice to hear his point of view echoing those facts that were already observed by others. But it wasn't the book full of new stories from behind the scenes I was hoping for. Instead it gives a slightly different perspective on all the events that we already know rather than introducing anything new that we haven't yet heard. What I will say, however, is that for true fans of this storied company, it's a lovely add-on. To get to hear the man at the center of it all share his thoughts from in the thick of it was great. From the importance of shoe sizing and extra socks to the breakdown of a soldier's spirit which, apparently, takes place in 3 distinct phases that he himself went through. And it's nice to hear his opinion about the US military- he busts any myths anyone may have had that the successes the US enjoyed were anything more than a whole lot of luck. As he says before they set out, "in retrospect, the US Army was totally unprepared for the war in which it was about to embark." And I liked hearing him grumble just a little bit at some of the bigger names who took undue credit, the stupid decisions the US military made, and how incredibly inhumane he thought it was that his country decided to drop nuclear bombs on innocent civilians to win the war. And he seems honest- you never get the impression while reading that he is dramatizing anything. He speaks from his own point of view about what he saw and what he experienced and acknowledges again and again how lucky he and the other survivors are. Which isn't to say that he and many of the other people who ended up in positions of significant leadership weren't strategic- and he directly addresses those whom he realizes may be reading the book to find out what this incredible leader has to say about leadership several times- including a whole chapter at the end where he goes through his philosophy point by point. The thing that he said that I appreciated the most, however- was what he felt about everyone who sought him out to get advice on how to run their business: "Business hardly equates to war. Such comparisons demean the word." And while he relays the utter chaos that his unit was surrounded by at every point he does provide some background to the number of amazing connections that united all those fighting. Because he, like everyone else, never saw the full scale of what happened until way after the fact- he completed his mission, one mission at a time, and was rewarded for each victory with the next assignment. No one knew the impact that they had until years after the fact. That was probably my favorite part of the book, in fact- the number of letters he received, interviews he was asked to do, and people who sought him out to ask questions or offer gratitude is amazing. One story in particular really hit me-a man writing to him about a story his grandfather had shared with him: "my grandfather was on the beach getting his butt kicked. Your men were at the guns, kicking butt and saving his, along with hundreds more. Had you not succeeded, I might not be alive this day to tell you how deeply grateful I am that Easy Company accomplished its mission and saved the lives of a lot of men that day." There's also several examples of letters he received from others he never knew he had am impact on: a ten year old girl living in the country side of France who witnessed him and the rest of the airborne troop parachuting into their land and securing it against further attack who says point blank that he saved her life and is the reason she went on to have a family. The children of the soldiers he served with who tell him how much his men never stopped admiring him, even to the day they died. And one that was particularly poignant: an NYPD officer who survived 9/11 in part because he was inspired by his story. He said "By watching the series and reading the book about you and your men, it gave us all inspiration to carry out our duties no matter what the circumstances, and also for me personally, I realized that as in any situation, it could have been a lot worse." Damn. So while I think that this book is inaccurately titled, that's pretty much the worst thing I can say about it. It's a damn good read for anyone who fell in love with the story of Easy Company either from the series or the book (though true fans definitely need both!). So maybe it does deserve that 4th star after all....more
I'm no expert on legends. I've never read the famous Greek Epics, everything I know about Arthurian legends comes from silly movies, and I haven't stuI'm no expert on legends. I've never read the famous Greek Epics, everything I know about Arthurian legends comes from silly movies, and I haven't studied much of history outside of high school and college (though that's slowly changing). But if this isn't the best hero's tale of the 20th century then I don't know what is.
I came to this the wrong way- I saw the tv series first. I didn't have HBO at the time it originally aired so it wasn't until my boyfriend suggested we sit down and watch his dvds only a few years ago that I learned about this epic tale for the first time. Like most folks who have seen it, I loved it. I saw the words "Based on the New York Times Bestseller" and thought I'd like to read it some day. Fast forward to last year when I decided to sit down and watch the series again, wondering if it was as good as I remembered. It was better. So I finally bought myself the book as a Christmas present.
I know the words "based on a true story" are thrown around all the time, and usually meant in the loosest way possible. This is the opposite. I didn't realize while watching the series that the large majority of the story- not just the characters, settings, and events- came directly from the book. Actual word-for-word dialogue came straight from the book (which, in turn, came straight from the people who said them). Maps and pictures recreated with the actors came straight from the book. I suspect the series is as close to an exact representation of the source material as you can get. And it is therefore incredible.
The fact that it's true absolutely blows my mind. To have that many huge historic events tied to one troop seems statistically impossible. To have that much detail seems even more improbable. But I guess that's why it's such an amazing story. The guys who lived through it were able to tell the tale themselves because they were that good- they survived that much.
It was a lot of fun for me to read descriptions of events and remember what they looked like playing out on the screen. It was even more fun to read the dialogue and hearing the actors voices in my head. I wonder if folks who read the book first had even more fun seeing a favorite account brought to life with all the production power (and tons of money) HBO can muster. I certainly hope so.
I'm not a fan of propaganda and I feel like a lot of WWII stuff falls into that category- brave heroes fighting for their country with the backing of the greatest civilization in the world. That is NOT what WWII was. What it was was the deadliest conflict in military history that a ton of American soldiers were thrown into without really knowing why. And I think this account honors that. Included in the heroic acts are accounts of widespread looting, in-fighting, and contempt for command who seemed too disconnected from the realities of battle to understand what the next order would actually mean. Again, all true.
And while the men of Easy company are incredibly proud of their unit, none of them speak with pride about the deaths they were responsible for. If anything, they all carry the scars of having been thrown into a situation beyond their control where they were forced to do things they would never, ever do. I think it's telling that the large majority of the veterans from E company went on to become teachers, general contractors, carpenters, and farmers. After all that destruction they all spent the rest of their lives busy with the details of creation- because that was their true nature.
I could go on and on about this book and everything that I loved about it but for the sake of this review I will leave at this: this is an amazing book. I will read it again (and will definitely watch the series again, most likely many times). It's just that good....more
I did not enjoy this book, I'm still trying to figure out exactly why (and will update this once I have). But I felt like it had a lot of important thI did not enjoy this book, I'm still trying to figure out exactly why (and will update this once I have). But I felt like it had a lot of important things to say. And I feel like, for the right person, it might even be the perfect embodiment of their own voice, their own experience (save for the vampirism)....more
I can't help but wonder if I would have found every part of this book useful if I were in some form of business with deliverable goods. As is, lookingI can't help but wonder if I would have found every part of this book useful if I were in some form of business with deliverable goods. As is, looking solely from the humanistic view, only portions of it applied. That being said, the parts that were relevant were very relevant.
The basic premise is pretty straight forward: we function best when we're operating from the prefrontal cortex and therefor intense emotions (i.e. fear) get in the way of progress. So the questions becomes: how to keep your average employee in that non-emotional state? Here is where the book has the most relevant answers.
Culture. That's really what it comes down to. Creating a culture where individuals feel seen, valued, and appreciated. One where leadership takes full accountability for their mistakes, uses them as growth opportunities, and maintains transparency so others can learn from them. One were change and adaptation are valued and we constantly evaluate opportunities for these. One where every employee feels like a part of the team- or the tribe, as she calls it.
In my current position I found a lot of that instruction to be very worthwhile and have directly referred to lessons from this book in trying to cultivate my relationships with my supervisees. Trying to foster that feeling belonging and striving to see things from others' points of view. Figuring out what motivates others and trying to frame things in that light to spark an internal desire to change. While I have a hard time imagining myself mapping out everyone's metaprograms (a term she coined), I can directly utilize a lot of the general lessons in my interactions with those I oversee. And I think that she emphasizes the right things overall.
It wasn't until the latter chapters that I started to really lose interest, simply because those don't seem to apply to anyone other than a CEO or business head. Reading about inflection points and stuck spots and money metrics kind-of made my eyes glaze over- but I could imagine someone very high up in a company potentially finding that useful.
All in all I'd recommend it to anyone who oversees individual s at work as there's enough there about human psychology to make it very useful. ...more
**spoiler alert** This was a gift from one of my best friends. I have deeply loved every book he's ever gifted me, so I'm not remotely surprised that **spoiler alert** This was a gift from one of my best friends. I have deeply loved every book he's ever gifted me, so I'm not remotely surprised that this was as sweet, endearing, and adorable as it was. Anyone who's ever played D&D will instantly love the premise. Anyone who melts over found families will find themselves softening right from the get go. Anyone who loves a happy ending will be extremely, thoroughly thrilled. Anyone with a coffee addiction will deeply appreciate all the lovely, detailed descriptions of the aroma, the taste, the heaven that is coffee. In short, it's a great story.
So, let's start at the beginning. Ever wonder what happens at the end of the campaign? When the monster is slain and the treasure is split up amongst the party and the players go their separate ways? Do they just go onto another campaign? At some point it has to end, right? Don't fighters ever get to retire?
The very idea of settling down in a building with four walls where you're not sleeping in shifts is incredibly comforting. And you want to throw hot coffee and baked goods in on top that? Yes, please! From the very first chapter, we're all on board with Viv.
Then throw in the terse Cal, enigmatic Tandri, silent Thimble, shy Pendry, and ever-sweeping Laney and I'm head-over heels. Found families are by far my favorite theme in fiction, and this story has got a GREAT one. I came to love all of them by the end, and I love where they all end up.
Even the bad guy- the mysterious, frightening Madrigal, ends up being incredibly endearing by the end. This story arc was by far the most surprising and I loved it. I also deeply appreciated how, after the conflict ended and Viv got all self-destructive and tried to drive her family away she got her head out of her ass fast enough to avoid any real damage. That's a trope in stories I hate and I am so grateful this author didn't do that.
The final nail in the coffin of any chance of me disliking this book came in the very end when our bad guy is defeated not by our hero or any of the other characters we've come to love, but by a dire cat who is too busy being a cat to have even noticed the large dinner he gobbled up. It was an outcome I didn't see coming and it fit the rest of this sweet, gentle story to a tee.
I get bored with the narratives I've heard too many times. I find myself gravitating more and more towards different stories told in different ways. EI get bored with the narratives I've heard too many times. I find myself gravitating more and more towards different stories told in different ways. Especially stories I think I know- like the hero vanquishing the enemy. The blossoming love of individuals experiencing it for the first time. The construction of found family. The sense of belonging. Give me these stories in ways I've never heard before and I will be a fan forever.
Well, I've been a fan of John's since the beginning and seeing him hone his craft over the years has proven more and more rewarding. He has a voice unlike anyone else I've ever read. He sees humor in the darkest of topics, roots for villains when protagonists are boring, and turns so many tropes on their heads in the most heart-warming ways. Reading his stories is cathartic on a level I haven't encountered anywhere else.
And this story- this wonderful, funny, endearing, scary, disturbing, weird, and familiar story- is my absolute favorite. Like a lot of his stories it carries themes of belonging, radical acceptance, trauma turned to healing, found family, and love. And that's just in the relationships.
Add in a plot that turns the story of hero and villain on its head, gives comeuppance to those who deserve it, and rescues those who deserve to be embraced. Add in a setting that feels very at-home to anyone who's ever read a fantasy story, played a game of D&D, or explored the landscape of an online RPG. Add in language that is so funny and characteristic of this brilliant author. Bring all that together into one story and this is what you get. Talk about cathartic.
I lost count very early on of the number of lines of dialogue and descriptions that used language I adore. And though I don't yet have the printed copy (because it hasn't been released yet) I can promise you that as soon as I get it it will be filled with highlighted passages, like I do to all texts I love. John's view of things- all things- is so unique I can't compare it to anything or anyone else. And I love it so much I can't put it into words. He is just brilliant and I am so grateful that he's finally getting the arena to be heard by an audience he deserves.
Needless to say, I can't recommend this book highly enough. I anticipate that a flood of folks are going to find it speaking directly to them- especially individuals who identify as neurodivergent, disabled, trans, non-binary, queer, or just different. Those who are outside of the “norm”- whatever the hell that means. And lords knows these are the people who need to be directly spoken to with stories that fit them. I'm so grateful that voices like this get to finally be heard. Thank you John. I love you....more
I was assigned this book as part of a leadership training course I took at work and I understand why. While you don't have to be in a leadership positI was assigned this book as part of a leadership training course I took at work and I understand why. While you don't have to be in a leadership position to appreciate the stories and research contained within most of the anecdotes are about leaders who either avoided or encountered catastrophe due to their thinking. From the very first story of a smokejumper who was able to save his own life by- you guessed it- rethinking everything he'd ever learned about fire fighting to the woman who helped prevent more loss of life at NASA after yet another ship exploded killing all 7 astronauts onboard, this book is chock full of stories of individuals who learned vitally important skills by unlearning many of the things that formed their basic understanding of everything.
But let's talk about the reading itself. Adam Grant is very funny. And while this book is clearly extremely well-researched and cites hundreds of studies from psychology and other social sciences there is nothing remotely academic (read: dry) about it. He has a great way of offering his own experience as examples of either learning from unlearning or making serious mistakes because he failed to. And he relates them all with a tone I found very endearing. Not to mention that he is clearly a fan of most of the individuals he interviewed about their critical thinking and that increased my enthusiasm for their stories.
I found the information contained in this book fascinating and I imagine myself coming back to reference it many times in the future. From pointers on what to do and what not do in order to try to change someone's mind to the necessity of learning from process rather than outcome to how to avoid getting stranded on Mount Stupid. It's the kind of book I want to have on standby so I can quickly grab it to point to some important fact during everyday conversation. Especially since my job is literally trying to help people change the way they think.
All of us have habits, assumptions, and instincts that can trip us up if we're not aware of them leading our thinking. And having someone consistently pointing out the value of making mistakes or stumbling across some vitally important piece of information we don't know is extremely helpful. Because it's not about being a genius or amassing a huge memory full of data you can use to make well-informed decisions. It's about the ability to stay a perpetual student and keep learning across the lifespan. And while that's a mindset that can be particularly helpful for people in leadership positions it's a skill that, if universally developed, could change the world. And Adam Grant clearly believes that because this book is written with everyone in mind.
We live in a very sick world with some really big problems to solve. And we need people who are willing to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from those experiences in order to help us solve these issues. Which is why I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone who wants help with problem solving, shifting norms, changing minds, dismantling the status quo, and otherwise doing something different than what they normally do. I find myself feeling truly hopeful about a lot of things my cynical mind normally thinks of as impossible to change. And if that isn't something we all need right now I don't know what is....more
I love Christopher Moore, always have. And even when I don't necessarily enjoy the story I always love his writing, and this book is no exception. HisI love Christopher Moore, always have. And even when I don't necessarily enjoy the story I always love his writing, and this book is no exception. His trademark humor, endearing characters, and laugh out loud dialogue are all on full display in this book and I loved all of it.
The story, less so. I wasn't thrilled with the introduction of the two foot tall creatures in the last book and the fact that so much of this story focused on them left me longing for the time before they were introduced. I also thought, based on the cover, that much more of the story was going to focus on Sophie and I was disappointed that she got so little page time. And the whole story line with Mike and the ghosts on the bridge, while interesting, just wasn't my cup of tea.
On the whole I still love Christopher Moore and I enjoyed the experience of reading these enough that my overall takeaway is positive. But unlike other stories of his that I think about often I don't think these will leave a lasting impression....more
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