One of the most impactive, touching, and revealing books I've read on the Middle East and the birth of Israel. If you have any affinity for those timeOne of the most impactive, touching, and revealing books I've read on the Middle East and the birth of Israel. If you have any affinity for those times, by all means read this book. Friedman chronicles the lives of four Palestinian Jews who were recruited into the fledgling Jewish intelligence service near the beginning of the War for Independence in 1948, and served until 1950. The were members of the Arab Section, the "ones who become like Arabs". They left Palestine in 1948 to glean intelligence in Lebanon and returned to a nation they never knew in 1950. In many ways they were left behind and helped to create a nation that would not recognize their contributions. This is at turns a beautiful, grim, and violent book. I cannot recommend it too highly....more
This is the first book I bought on the legions of Rome. It's heavy; the type size is ideal for my old eyes; the writing is eminently readable; the illThis is the first book I bought on the legions of Rome. It's heavy; the type size is ideal for my old eyes; the writing is eminently readable; the illustrations are useful and sometimes both beautiful and enlightening.
I did not find it too very helpful, though. It deals rather well with what Roman soldiers in legions did, but it deals rather poorly with what the legions were, where they came from. It looks like Stephen Dando Collins recorded his research on note cards (not uncommon), but when it came time to write, he hurried his organization of the cards and failed to integrate them as well as he should have.
It's not a bad read. It just could have been so much better. I found The Complete Roman Legions, from Thames & Hudson, more along the lines of what I was looking for. Put the two books together and you've got just about the perfect amount of material for the Roman legions....more
What a great history book! Goodheart had access to tons of primary source material and he tells the story of 1861 from beginning to end and from oceanWhat a great history book! Goodheart had access to tons of primary source material and he tells the story of 1861 from beginning to end and from ocean to ocean. Big folk, little folk, all get their share in the (dare I use the word?) tapestry Goodheart weaves. A great, easy-to-read history of the beginning stages of the American Civil War....more
I have been a fan of Robert Rogers and his Rangers ever since my folks took me on vacation to Forts William Henry and Ticonderoga in about 1956. I've I have been a fan of Robert Rogers and his Rangers ever since my folks took me on vacation to Forts William Henry and Ticonderoga in about 1956. I've read his journals, his Ranging Rules, Kenneth Roberts' Northwest Passage. I even have a reproduction Ranger's rifle. So when I learned in 2011 that a biographical history about him had been written in 2009, I bought it and began to read. I finally finished it thirteen years later!
War on the Run is a fascinating, deeply detailed history. I recommend it highly....more
We have a duty to protest against out government and their laws when we judge them to be wrong. Thoreau taught me that. In this slim book. You should We have a duty to protest against out government and their laws when we judge them to be wrong. Thoreau taught me that. In this slim book. You should read it....more
Casson's landmark work on ships and seamanship in the ancient world propelled me toward my Master's Thesis. I have no idea what sparks my interest in Casson's landmark work on ships and seamanship in the ancient world propelled me toward my Master's Thesis. I have no idea what sparks my interest in navies and the sea, other than a father who hated his navy service and a father-in-law who wishes daily that he were back at sea, but Casson struck the nail in the casket! This book is literate and thorough, well-written by a real scholar. It tracks the development of seamanship from earliest Egypt and Mesopotamia to the end of the Roman era....more
I am not the bear with the biggest brain and, having worked with Latin for fifty years, I have puzzled over Latin word order, which makes Yoda-speak aI am not the bear with the biggest brain and, having worked with Latin for fifty years, I have puzzled over Latin word order, which makes Yoda-speak a walk in the park. Latin's word order goes way beyond "the verb goes last." This book promises to unlock the mysteries for me.
Well, partly unlocked. I think the authors have gone a bit too deeply and created some categories that didn't need to be created. This is not a work for the student of Latin, rather for the teacher of Latin. I'm glad I persevered; I learned a lot and had a few questions answered....more
All good things must come to an end and I have decided that I will not upgrade beyond Painter X. So, this book is my reference work for using that appAll good things must come to an end and I have decided that I will not upgrade beyond Painter X. So, this book is my reference work for using that application. The text is thorough in its approach to solving Painter X problems and using the application to its maximum....more
Evolution and development of the brain. Our brain is a Rube Goldberg device. Not cut from a whole cloth, but consisting of a series of additions to a Evolution and development of the brain. Our brain is a Rube Goldberg device. Not cut from a whole cloth, but consisting of a series of additions to a fairly primitive base, our brain functions incredibly well, in the main, and yet, because of its, well, klugy, organization, it can yield some "half full/half empty" results, depending on the circumstances.
A bit turgid at times, this is a remarkable work that made me aware of an aspect of anthropology that I had never even considered before....more
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