Jane's Fighting Ships 2006-2007 (Jane's Fighting Ships)

Customer Reviews:

rudy against the empire.......2007-09-30

i know myself that i'm almost finished w/ the novel but haven't read it through... but it's very good, i can't wait what will happen to ferus olin and see ben kenobi along w/ him. i love the front and back cover of the book
over in Coruscant. I will hoping to read all through 10 novels of TLOTJ series.

hey jude great job!.......2007-08-14

i disagree with that other reviewer who said timothy zahn is the best with jude watson.i hate the timothy zahn books.and that was when us star wars fans were starving for something new to read about star wars and heir to the empire came out,i bought it like many others wanting something new to read.and i was greatly dissapointed and his 2nd and 3rd book of that trilogy didnt get any better so i stopped buying his books.i guess i been spoiled by the star wars books i read growing up by writers like the great brian daley may he rest in peace,and the great alan dean foster.and i have been dissapointed by most of the new books and the different new authors to star wars books that have come out.finally a writer that is worthy of star wars has come along.a great writer and im happy that jude gets to write more books for star wars.i also enjoyed jude's first book star wars journal princess leia's diary of episode 4.captive to evil.

Five Stars.......2007-08-07

Ferus is still working as a double agent struggling the thin line of going along with Palpatine to keep from being killed and trying to he's position to help out his resistance friends. This becomes very difficult in this book when the Empire wants Ferus to return to his homeplanet as a poster boy for former resistance leader turned Empire. The Empire taking control of the factories which looks as if their helping the planet by providing jobs. This naturally will make it appear to the resistance that Ferus is completely with the Empire. Naturally the Empire's plans are not that nice with Vader on his tail Ferus finds it even more difficult to contact his friends to convince them their still on his side and attempting to undo the Empire's plan without Vader or the Empire finding out. The way this turns out was surprises as was then when Palpatine has yet another offer for Ferus. With Palpatine...its so hard to say no.

Cliff Hangers as usual, mild spoilers possible.......2007-06-14

One always questions the validity and entertainment value in a spin-off of a spin-off series, but The Last of the Jedi is shaping up to be exciting. Ferus Olin's in full blown double agent mode and that's got him and his friends worried. Friendship and loyalty are certainly tested when it comes down to the question of "who do you serve?" or "How much hurt can one inflict while doing something necessary?"

Jude Watson's got a nice narrative style and a good sense for where to stick in humor. I can't wait until the next one comes out. (Yes, I'm an adult; yes, I know this is a kid's book; yes, this book is totally worth the $6.00)

Best of the best!!.......2007-04-03

I've been a reader from day one and by far this is the most intense part of the series. I loved that there was a list of characters. I almost forgot some of the ones from the beginning and it was good to get familiar with them again. As I was reading, I felt the momentum of the story pick up towards the middle and then it just sky rocketed!! So much so, I left imprints of my fingers on the front and back cover! I don't want to give any of the storyline away but, I'll just say that I had to read some parts over again because of their emotional intensity and depth (I know, I know....I take these stories too seriously) It's such a great story. You'll definitely love it.

Without saying too much here's a little outline....

Ferus is still with the Empire working as a double agent. He gets sent on a mission back to his homeworld of Bellassa to "help" settle any resistance from the people. He is seen by his people as a traitor but his closest friends of course know the truth. Vader keeps Ferus out of "the know" and it's hard for him to find out the real reasons for the Empire's stay on his home planet. As soon as Ferus gets close to the truth, Vader tears into his soul with hatred from the dark side. In the end, Ferus's will to go on is waning and he finds an offer from Emperor Palpatine extremely appealing.

Ok, now go and buy the book! :)

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Biographies | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production-- Toyota's Secret Weapon in the Global Car Wars That Is Now Revolutionizing World Industry

Average customer rating:

Over rated.

The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production-- Toyota's Secret Weapon in the Global Car Wars That Is Now Revolutionizing World Industry
James P. Womack , Daniel T. Jones , and Daniel Roos
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | International | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Industry | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Foreign | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743299795

Book Description

When The Machine That Changed the World was first published in 1990, Toyota was half the size of General Motors. Today Toyota is passing GM as the world's largest auto maker and is the most consistently successful global enterprise of the past fifty years. This management classic was the first book to reveal Toyota's lean production system that is the basis for its enduring success.

Now reissued with a new Foreword and Afterword, Machine contrasts two fundamentally different business systems -- lean versus mass, two very different ways of thinking about how humans work together to create value. Based on the largest and most thorough study ever undertaken of any industry -- MIT's five-year, fourteen-country International Motor Vehicle Program -- this book describes the entire managerial system of lean production.

Nearly twenty years ago, Womack, Jones, and Roos provided a comprehensive description of the entire lean system. They exhaustively documented its advantages over the mass production model pioneered by General Motors and predicted that lean production would eventually triumph. Indeed, they argued that it would triumph not just in manufacturing but in every value-creating activity from health care to retail to distribution.

Today The Machine That Changed the World provides enduring and essential guidance to managers and leaders in every industry seeking to transform traditional enterprises into exemplars of lean success.

Customer Reviews:

Over rated........2007-07-09

The Machine That Changed the World and the subsequent articles that Mr. Womack has written for the Wall Street Journal almost make him look like a shill for Toyota. This book either omits or minimizes the importance of developments that lead Toyota to the Toyota Production System. I expected a more independent and intellectually honest viewpoint because Mr. Womack passes himself off as a top academic.

Catapult: A History (Weapons in History)

Average customer rating:

Only 1/2 the story
Insightful but frustrating study
A Detailed Study of the Ancient Catapult

Catapult: A History (Weapons in History)
Tracey Rihll
Manufacturer: Westholme Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 159416035X

Book Description

"Man's valor is no more."—King Arkhidamas of Sparta, upon first seeing a bolt shot from a catapult

The most recognized military device of ancient times and the source of continued fascination and popular appeal, the catapult represented a major shift in the conduct of warfare. The catapult which literally means a device to "hurl [an object] across" was originally a sort of crossbow invented at the beginning of the fourth century B.C. in Syrakuse. Bows soon grew to the length of a modern bus, and in due course a completely new and better power source was invented. Instead of compound bows made of stretched sinew and compressed horn, the energy used to launch an object was stored in twisted ropes made of animal sinews: the torsion catapult had arrived. The torsion catapult quickly became the chief weapon of ancient arsenals and gave armies for the first time a weapon that could strike enemies at a distance with devastating effect, including shooting to and from ships, battering fortifications, and sending projectiles over walls. Catapults of all sizes became part of the regular equipment of the Roman army, and were used for centuries across the length and breadth of the empire to seize territory, and to defend it. In The Catapult: A History, an authority on this device, historian Tracey Rihll, uses ancient literary sources and the latest archaeological findings to tell the story of this first machine of war. Dispelling any notion that the catapult was precision engineered in the modern sense, the author explains how a robust formulaic design allowed a variety of machines and missiles to be used for particular battlefield conditions or military tasks. Also included are details of the author's intriguing discovery that there were little personal catapults that were used like rifles. Although the catapult was displaced by the introduction of gunpowder and cannon, this device marks the beginning of mechanized warfare, the hallmark of modern fighting. Complete with line drawings and photographs, The Catapult is a major contribution to the history of technology and conflict.

Customer Reviews:

Only 1/2 the story.......2007-05-04

Tracey Rihll does a good job on on explaining and describing the history of catapults based on the Greco-Roman tradition but utterly fails to take into account the catapult development technologies from other cultures and as such, tells only half the story on catapults.

Insightful but frustrating study.......2007-03-14

There hasn't been a serious academic study of ancient catapult technology since E. W. Marsden's "Greek and Roman Artillery" back in 1969. This book reviews the surprisingly large amount of new textural and archaeological data and challenges many of Marsden's interpretations. The strong evidence for 1-man catapults (possibly fired from the shoulder or chest) was particularly interesting and ought to inspire some reenactors to build a few.

I can only give this book 4 stars because of two major defects that proper editing should have caught:

A) Rihll assumes that the reader already knows a lot about ancient catapults. Key ideas appear without adequate explanation. In fact I would suggest that you read Marsden's two slim volumes before starting this book.

B) Whenever she discusses physics, ballistics, or aerodynamics the result is sheer nonsense. How can someone set out to study the most complicated of all "lost technologies" without learning basic Newtonian mechanics???

A Detailed Study of the Ancient Catapult.......2007-02-27

Tracey Rihll's "The Catapult" is athorough examination of the catapult during Classical, Hellenic, and Roman eras, from its invention in about 399 BCE, not only in its incarnations as large siege engines, but also as field artillery and as a personal weapon (akin to the later Medieval crossbow) and covering both tension (bow) and torsion type catapults, firing both sharp-pointed projectiles (darts, bolts, arrows, spears) and rounded objects (often lead weights and stones). Rihll's approach is often technical, but the author takes care to also describe the use of catapults in numerous sieges and battles. The existence of small "shoulder weapon" catapults may come as a surprise to many, but Rihll provides a wealth of persuasive evidence regarding their use.

Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank

Average customer rating:

Best book on Sherman Tanks !
Best Sherman Book - But Don't Pay More than $130
The Sherman Tank Bible.
The standard reference on the M4 Sherman medium tank

Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank
R.P. Hunnicutt
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0891410805
Release Date: 1976-06-01

Book Description

R.P. Hunnicutt sets the standard against which all other military equipment books are measured. Hunnicutt defines definitive. 1,368 b/w photos, 12 color plates.

Customer Reviews:

Best book on Sherman Tanks !.......2007-02-27

. 2006 hard bound in dust jacket, , r/p of the 1994 edition, . in a slip case, , 8 3/4 x 11 1/4 , glossy paper , 576 pp , 1368 illus & drgs. , 12 color plates, appendices , index.

.....This exclusive high-quality print run is limited to only 1,000 copies in a collector's slip case. Finally back in print, R.P. Hunnicutt's "bible" on the M4 Sherman Tank begins with the pre-war evolution of the U.S. medium tank resulting in the introduction of the M3 and its Canadian counterpart the "RAM." The confusion after Pearl Harbor and the pressure for ever increasing production provide the background for the appearance of the Sherman in Part II. The war situation in early 1942 required large numbers of tanks to equip both the U.S. armored units in training and the Allied Armies already fighting around the world. This resulted in the major models of the Sherman with designations ranging from M4 to M4A6.

Part II ends with the Sherman committed to action first at El Alamein and then in theaters of operation around the world. Battle experience soon indicated the need for further improvements. Part III details the development projects necessary to effect these changes and their incorporation into the production program. The important British modifications including the installation of the 17 pounder high velocity gun are also included. The ready availability of the Sherman chassis made it the ideal candidate to carry various self-propelled artillery weapons and antitank guns. These vehicles as well as other specialized armor are discussed in part IV.

..After WWII, the Sherman continued to serve not only the U.S. Army, but was used to rearm many friendly nations whose armed forces were destroyed during the war. With the outbreak of fighting in Korea, the Sherman again went into action as is covered in Part V. Part VI is composed of reference material presented in data sheets covering the major production models of the M3 and M4 series.

Best Sherman Book - But Don't Pay More than $130.......2006-10-31

This book is the Sherman Bible, but you should not spend more than $130 for this title. This book is in the process of being republished by RZM and it will have a list price of $130(US).

The Sherman Tank Bible........2003-07-24

The Sherman tank is without question, the most famous armored fighting vehicle in the history of modern warfare. The book "Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank", by R.P Hunnicutt, is an masterful reference text second to none. Although, this book is long out of print, it is without question the bible, to sherman tank historians. No book ever published on this tank can match the endless array of photo's and text detailing every variation of this tank. You get to see the tank from it's early design as a platform to the M3 Grant/Lee during the early stages of WW-2. The Sherman was used for every job imaginable. Soldiers would adapt their tank as needed for whatever condition awaited them. You see Sherman tanks, used as mine sweepers, marine assault float tanks, flame throwers, bulldozers, open turreted M10 tank destroyers, a british heavy hitting firefly variation, just to name a few. The tank had unmatched longevity, serving in the Korean conflict and in the Israeli army as late as the early 1970's. If you are a military historian or a student of armored warfare, I cannot recommend a better book that chronicles an American tank in such A to Z detail. The Sherman tank was not the most feared tank in the theater of WW-2 operations, but it's overwhelming production numbers and mechanical reliability and adaptability, surely helped the allies win the war.

The standard reference on the M4 Sherman medium tank.......1998-04-24

Even though this work dates back to 1978, it can still be regarded as the ultimate book on the M4 Sherman. It describes the pre-war development of the American medium tanks, then covers the development and production of the M3 Lee/Grant including all marks and variants. The M4 development and production is covered in detail with all marks and variants, upgrades and modifications. British service and modification are also covered. Postwar employment and conversions are included, even though Israeli and other post war conversions are not covered in detail.
There are extremely detailed specifications of the M3 and M4, all marks and many of the variants like the M7 and M10. You will also find the specs on most weapons employed on the M3, M4 and variants.

If you are interrested in the technical development and production of the M3 and M4 tanks, this book is a must. Well written with 100s of b/w illustrations it is, despite the price, great value.

Average customer rating:

Really informative

More an article than a manual

Practical- informative

Great Resource

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills
Mark Spicer
Manufacturer: Zenith Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books
General | Conventional | Weapons & Warfare | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Military and Police Sniper: Advanced Precision Shooting for Combat and Law Enforcement

Ultimate Sniper 2006 : An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers (Ultimate Sniper, 2006 New and Updated!)

Dead On: The Long-Range Marksman's Guide to Extreme Accuracy

Stalkers and Shooters: A History of Snipers

Sniper: Master of Terrain, Technology, And Timing, He Is A Hunter Of Human Prey And The Military's Most Feared Fighter.

ASIN: 0760326746

Book Description

This heavily illustrated manual provides a timely, in-depth review of the art of sniping in war and anti-terrorist environments. Drawing on a vast, firsthand knowledge of sniper skills, former British Army sniper and sniper instructor Mark Spicer describes the role of the sniper in peace and in war, in reconnaissance and counter-surveillance, in cities, in vehicles, at night and by day. He presents crucial information about training and equipment, judgment and positioningdetails of great relevance to professional marksmen, both military and law enforcement. This comprehensive manual will also be of interest to hunters, weapons enthusiasts, competition shooters, and paint-ball participants.

Customer Reviews:

Really informative.......2007-10-06

I thought this book was very informative and covered alot of material that I was completely unaware of. I would definately recommend this item to anyone wanting to become a marksman.

More an article than a manual.......2007-06-25

I was recommended this book, but was somewhat deceived. Fortunately, for the right reasons. This book is far from a manual, which is a good thing. It avoids the "bad" guys actually learning anything about the art. Despite that, it's a great article on what it takes to be good at this skill. It's also quite up to date compared to most literature on this subject.

Practical- informative .......2007-01-19

I have read many books on the subject, but this one addresses all necessary and practical aspects of the subject and unlike most other books doesn't waste much time givin details about the history of snipping.
A must read for all practical snipping related information, doesn't cover much on supression of sound etc.

Great Resource.......2007-01-13

Was recommended to me by a friend. Great current info on modern sniping as well as time tested knowledge. A must for any opperator, sniper or scout.
Great Read!

Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills.......2007-01-12

The book is very informative in the art and profesion of the military and law enforcement snipers!

Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II

Average customer rating:

Operational Analysis of Tigers.
sledgehammers: strengths & flaws of tiger battalions
Fasinating reading
Steve thinks that ...
As advertised

Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II
Christopher W. Wilbeck
Manufacturer: The Aberjona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0971765022

Book Description

The Tiger and King Tiger tanks gained legendary status during World War II. Numerous tank commanders attained phenomenal tallies of kills and accomplished extraordinary feats during combat in these tanks, building the legend to near mythic proportions after the war.

During WWII, the Germans created eleven Army and three Waffen-SS heavy tank battalions. These heavy tank battalions were employed in nearly every part of Europe against almost every enemy of Germany. As vast in breadth and scope as the employment of Tiger battalions themselves, Sledgehammers provides historical examples and analysis of heavy tank battalions' actions in North Africa, Normandy, Italy, the Ardennes Offensive, and numerous battles on the Eastern Front including Operation ZITADELLE/the Battle of Kursk, Operation BAGRATION, the battle of the Cherkassy Pocket, late war attacks to relieve Budapest, and many other more minor engagements.

Although a great deal has already been published about Tiger tanks' technical details and some of the units which used them, until now, very little has been written concerning the organization and tactical employment of these tanks throughout the German armed forces and across the theaters in which they were employed. Sledgehammers provides an in-depth look at heavy tank battalions' organizations and tactics, including the tactical doctrine by which these elite units were supposed to fight and how they were actually employed on the battlefield by their commanders and crews.

Even given the Tiger's reputation, many readers will be amazed by the fearsome casualties inflicted by the crews of many of these behemoth armored vehicles. It is safe to say that no other armored vehicle of the war wreaked as much havoc among enemy formations as Tigers. Many will, however, also find it equally stunning to learn of the Tigers' many technical and tactical vulnerabilities. Through the systematic use of extremely detailed primary source and other impeccably reliable research, Sledgehammers demolishes several major myths about Tigers in World War II.

Meticulously researched and written with the perspective and respect for Tigers' crews that only a professional tanker can bring to the subject, Sledgehammers synthesizes information to provide new and definitive insights into the strengths and flaws of World War II's most feared and legendary tanks.

Prologue by famed Tiger ace Otto Carius. Epilogue by Tiger killers Viktor Iskrov and Ray Holt.

35 original maps. 42 photos.

Customer Reviews:

Operational Analysis of Tigers........2007-01-09

This book features operational analysis of Tiger battalions. I was surprised to find concise maps of each operation in this book. While I am still reading it, I felt a brief positive review was in order.

sledgehammers: strengths & flaws of tiger battalions.......2006-08-03

great book, this is second one i got. first one i lost after barely reading it. love it. good stories about how individual units lived & fought

Fasinating reading.......2006-07-22

This book is a study of the German Tiger tanks. The writer starts with a brief summary of the early history of the tigers. Then goes on and discusses many battles that had the tigers. He then presents his conclusions that they were are great tank but the Germans never developed a proper military doctrinal guidance that could have used them. As such they were used mainly as tank killers. In this I think he makes a strong case.

However I am not sure that he has proven his case that the tigers were that much better tank killers compared to other German tanks. For example, I have read of some Panthers devastating Allied tanks too in figures equal to what he quotes of Tigers. Overall in both fronts for different reasons the Germans tanks tended to do better.

In the west the Allied tanks were deficient compared to German tanks in armour, mobility and armament. This can be seen as in August in Normandy the Germans had about 1,400 various tanks while the Allies had about 6,000. The Allies losses in tanks were about 3:1. Then put in all the allied air and artillery and you get a feel of the problem.

The Russian figures are disputed with wide range but its clear that overall the Germans lost far fewer tanks then the Russians. The Russian loss ratio is probably higher then the West.

Its an interesting question considering the high cost of the Tiger weapon system. Which the writer does discuss.

Overall the tiger, I wish had more description. The battles are well discussed. The maps are extremely good. I hope that other historians that use this book copy him in producing such maps. The book is certainly worth reading if you are interested in this subject.

Steve thinks that ..........2006-03-06

Very careful in the historical documentation. Very sharp in the critical assesment of the tactical doctrine underlying the battlefield deployement of the Tigers.

As advertised.......2006-01-12

This book is exactly what the title says it is. Very concise. Doesn't get bogged down in minutia. After reading it, I was amazed at just what was accomplished with these tanks. From other sources, I knew that Tigers and Tiger II's had maintenance problems. In no way did I realize just how extensive these problems were until reading this. Start the day with 45 operational tanks. Drive them 10 miles down a road, and have 6 tanks able to fight. But then attain a 10+ plus kill ration.

The author presents all this information very objectively, which is something I also appreciate.

Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor

Average customer rating:

Great coffee table book
Great reference
This book is VERY well illustrated
super
Great reference book

Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0756622107

Book Description

For 4,000 years weapons, and the warriors who used them, have acted as the cutting edge of history, using ax, spear, bow, sword, gun, and cannon to determine the rise of kingdoms and the fall of empires. From the stone axes of the earliest warfare to the heavy artillery of today's modern armies, this awe-inspiring book portrays for the first time the entire spectrum of weaponry. A spectacular, unprecedented visual reference to the design, function and history of arms and armor from around the world. Combines specially commissioned photography and sophisticated design with authoritative text and exhaustive coverage. Beautifully photographed and richly detailed catalogues display - often at actual size - all the major types of weapon, from spears to machine-guns. Profiles the warriors who have deployed the weapons to devastating effect, from the Roman legionary to the US Navy Seal. Includes features that showcase individual weapons in stunning detail.

Customer Reviews:

Great coffee table book.......2007-08-09

I bought this book as a birthday gift for my dad (A big weapons fan) He loved it. Great pictures and easy read with a lot of information. It's a big book, a really nice coffee table book.

Great reference.......2007-03-26

I bought this book as a source book for my D&D games, not only did it meet that goal to perfection but it was actually very interesting and a pleasure to read.

The pictures are great and really give you an idea of size and weight. And speaking of weight, most weapons have weights listed.

Great book, highly recommended!

This book is VERY well illustrated.......2007-03-16

I read this book at my public library, and now every time I go there, I just HAVE to read it. It tells the history of weapons like no other book before. The pictures are detailed and the descriptions are very informative yet easy for the smallest child to read. This is NOT one of those books that bores you out after a while. I even stick to the Handgun section, and I read it every time I see it. I'll bet there is no guide to weapons better than this book. Don't just consider it. Make it necessary for long trips.

super .......2007-03-09

I first got this book from the libray and liked it so much that I deceided to try and find it on amazon and guess what they had it so I ordered 3 for myself and my sons thanks

Great reference book.......2007-02-13

The pictures in the book really help illustrate the info. There is no way this book can be all-inclusive, but it does give a great overview of weapons throughout history.

Stalin and the Bomb: The Soviet Union and Atomic Energy, 1939-1956

Average customer rating:

An island of intellectual autonomy in a totalitarian state
An Excellent Overview of the Entire Period
Plenty of characters, with just a few plots.
Intriguing Analysis of a Hidden Episode

Stalin and the Bomb: The Soviet Union and Atomic Energy, 1939-1956
David Holloway
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Russia | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0300066643

Book Description

A distinguished authority tells the spellbinding story of the people and politics behind the development of the Soviet atom bomb. Based on interviews with participants and research in newly opened archives, the book reveals how the American atomic monopoly affected Stalin`s foreign policy, the role of espionage in the evolution of the Soviet bomb, and the relationship between Soviet nuclear scientists and the country`s political leaders.

Customer Reviews:

An island of intellectual autonomy in a totalitarian state.......2004-09-09

D. Holloway tells us outstandingly and very detailed the gripping story of the development of nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union. He shows us that the SU success was the result of the effort of Russian scientists with I.V. Kurchatov in a crucial role, although some data were obtained via spying (Klaus Fuchs).
The nuclear weapons building combined the best (scientists, engineers) and the worst of the SU, with prisoners working in appalling conditions (no protection) and real nuclear exercises with soldiers as guinea pigs.

D. Holloway analyzes also pregnantly the hostile ideological environment for scientists. The regime's fundamental logic remained political. The politicians had the right to define what was science and pseudoscience. In the name of dialectical materialism whole scientific disciplines (e.g. genetics) were destroyed (the Lyssenko case).
Physics also came under attack. Beria asked Kurchatov if it was true that quantum mechanics and relativity theory were idealist, antimaterialist. Kurchatov replied that if relativity theory and qm were rejected, the bomb would be rejected too. Stalin's ultimate answer was:' Leave them in peace, we can shoot them later!' (p. 204)
This 'pseudoscientific' debate was held within a bureaucratic framework. Scientists were well paid and the party bureaucrats and ideologues were jealous and wanted to take their place, even if they were incompetent. Beria left physics unhampered because he needed the bomb. In that sense, physics remained a small element of civil society in a totalitarian state. But if the scientists had failed, they would certainly have received a neckshot.

The impact of nuclear weapons on international political relations is also outstandingly explained.
After WW II the Soviet leaders assumed rightly that the US was seeking world dominance and that the SU was the main impediment. The scientific planners in the US discussed seriously a preemptive (!) strike against the US.
Stalin was not impressed by the US nuclear power. He continued tot think that conventional weapons and troops had still the upper hand. As an example, he took the risk of the Berlin crisis in 1948. But he grasped that the SU also needed the bomb.
The physicists knew that an international balance of power was needed. They understood the effects of a nuclear war and explained to the politicians that the survival of the human race was at stake.
After Stalin, Khrushev renounced Lenin's thesis that war was inevitable between capitalist states. As the nuclear stockpile grew, he admitted that a peaceful coexistence of capitalism and socialism was preferable.

D. Holloway wrote a magisterial analysis of an essential part of mankind's history. A fascinating read.

An Excellent Overview of the Entire Period.......2004-02-28

Stalin and the Bomb is an excellent overview not only of the Soviet atomic project but of the entire Stalin period. Holloway discusses some of the disastorous policies Stalin pursued in the scientific arena (for example, when it came to biology) and shows how Stalin was able to control his ideological impulses when it came to a project that would net him real power.

Stalin and the Bomb is extremely readable and provides some nice detail on Kurchatov, the father of the Soviet A-bomb. A little more on Sakharov and the H-bomb project would have been nice, but was not central to the thrust of the book. Significantly, this book delves into significant technical detail about the research and construction of nuclear weapons, but the author does a superb job of making the science accessable to people without PhDs in physics.

Plenty of characters, with just a few plots........2002-03-18

I was most interested in who had the first hydrogen bomb (the first real plan, the ideal materials, a way to make it, and a test device) and I didn't mind reading about "some radioactive indicator which is formed with the participation of fast deuterons" (p. 304) to find out. Sorting out the physics, which can be revealed to those who care to know, with a comparison of alternate paths to the same result, reveals something far more substantial than the usual plot, based on the politics of world domination, the main concern of Stalin and the author of this book. Stalin gets some sympathy for facing a stark post-war reality, based on his comparison of what World War II did to Russia and Germany, compared to the damage which the few atomic bombs which existed in his lifetime could produce, and it might be said that he acted accordingly in attempting to maintain countervailing threats whenever he was pressured. Any notion of absolute justice, or even feasible military advantage, seems to be as elusive for the superpowers (and one still exists today) as for the petty despots and warlords that often become characters in this book about how such weapons came to be. I didn't mind the revelations about certain events: a war in Korea at a critical point in this book even makes the question of when Mao ordered the Chinese divisions into Korea an interesting question to be considered. In most of these books, I like the events which influenced Sakharov most, the best. The description of the shock wave from the November 1955 test on pages 316-7 includes, "All of this triggers an irrational yet very strong emotional impact."

Intriguing Analysis of a Hidden Episode.......2000-06-03

David Holloway, a professor at Stanford, has published an intriguing history of Soviet nuclear weapons development in _Stalin_and_the_Bomb_. This volume interweaves two main themes--the technical difficulties in designing and fabricating nuclear weapons, and the political motivations commanding these efforts along with their strategic implications.

Many of the major participants are familiar to readers of Soviet history, such as Stalin, Beria, Molotov and Khrushchev. However, the important actors in this drama were the technical experts who created these engines of destruction on behalf of their masters. Many prominent scientists labored to provide the theoretical and experimental support demanded by Stalin for rapid industrialization, laying the groundwork for the tremendous infrastructure needed to duplicate the achievements of the Manhattan Project years later. Research in radioactivity eventually led to the first spontaneous fission experiment in 1940, but this did not attract attention in the West, where restrictions began for publication on nuclear physics.

Work on fission continued during the war, but the lack of uranium prevented much advancement. Holloway, in examining the directives during this period, found priorities unchanged following the Potsdam meeting, in contrast to the subsequent demand for uranium production after Hiroshima. He attributes Stalin's casual reaction to Truman's mention of a new weapon to skepticism regarding its importance. But the bomb as a colossal reality, not merely as an intelligence phantom, presented Stalin with a new strategic contention. His response was to show resolve in the face of anticipated intimidation coupled with orders to develop this technology independently. However, he only recognized the bomb as an instrument of Anglo-American policy, and refused to consider it militarily decisive in any potential conflict. When challenging US policy over Berlin, for example, Stalin carefully applied pressure while keeping his options open and took care not to escalate tensions beyond retraction.

The achievement of creating an atomic bomb, given the devastating post-war depravation of the Soviet Union can be credited primarily to Igor Kurchatov, the scientific director of the nuclear project from 1942 until his death in 1960. Kurchatov was a well respected figure in Soviet physics, but he also provided a methodical and systematic orchestration to a project with many difficult sundry en-gineering obstacles to overcome, not to mention the menacing oversight by Beria, head of the NKVD. Although awarded privileged status in the post-war Soviet Union, the scientists recognized their position as predicated on successful completion of this task.

The primary obstacle remained the inadequate supply of uranium metal until 1948 when the first production reactor was built. Uranium isotope separation and plutonium precipitation were tackled with indus-trial vigor. The gaseous diffusion facility, modeled on the Oak Ridge plant involved particular engineering difficulties to be solved before uranium enrichment could proceed. Yulii Khariton, director of the secret nu-clear research laboratory Arzamas-16, led the study on the physics of detonation. Implosion was needed to compress the plutonium a few microseconds in order to start the chain reaction. Their first atom bomb was exploded August 1949 at Semipalatinsk with a yield of 20 kilotons of TNT. Thus the Soviet Union joined the nuclear club.

While espionage yielded useful information at the West's expense, Holloway argues that Klaus Fuchs saved the Soviets only about a year or two by giving dimensions of the plutonium implosion design. He compares the first Soviet atom bomb explosion in 1949 with the first British demonstration in 1952 despite much closer collaboration with the Americans than anything obtained clandestinely by their Soviet counterparts. Holloway also contends that the contribution by captured Germans was comparatively minor and sped the project by only a few weeks or months--principally in the area of processing uranium.

While the bomb was being developed, Stalin initiated orders on delivery systems--bombers by Vladimir Myasishchev and rockets by Sergei Korolev. In Stalin's view, another war was inevitable within two decades, and the atomic bomb would serve as merely another policy instrument. After he died in March 1953, his successors embarked on a less confrontational rapproachement with the West.

After the Soviets demonstrated their ability to create weapons based on nuclear fission, Truman decided to pursue the hydrogen bomb, because there was no indication that Stalin would reciprocate a policy of restraint. After some false starts, a method to use X-ray compression from fission to implode the thermonuclear charge was discovered, enabling a yield limited only by the quantity of nuclear fuel. The Mike test in November 1952 verified this concept with an ungainly 60-ton refrigerated assembly. Meanwhile, the Russians embarked on fusion independently. A young physicist, Andrei Sakarov began work in 1948 and joined the Arzamas-16 facility, developing the "Layer Cake" which resembled the boosted fission weapon, before advancing on the two-stage Super. The first thermonuclear bomb was exploded in August 1953, and apparently alarmed Kurchatov, being 20 times more power-ful than the first Soviet fission bomb four years earlier. In November 1955, the first two-stage thermonuclear bomb with a yield of 1.6 megatons was exploded.

The first Soviet fusion explosion produced a profound change in the attitudes of politburo members about the same time that Americans realized that this new weapon represented a far more potent destructive force than the fission variety. In the aftermath of this revelation, a more conciliatory "peaceful coexistence" doctrine began to develop. Khrushchev's increased dialog with western leaders also facilitated long dormant communication between Soviet physicists and their colleagues beyond the Iron Curtain. Kurchatov's visit in 1956 was well received at Harwell, the British power station. From this small privileged enclave, a civilizing influence was nurtured within a totalitarian society. Eventually, Sakarov went beyond the usual misgivings of Soviet society to become a dissident and human rights advocate.

_Stalin_ concludes that the arms race between the two blocks was contingent solely on Stalin's intentions. Holloway believes that in the post-war years the bomb probably restrained the use of force but also made Stalin less cooperative to avoid seeming weak.

The book is not without flaws--some identifications to the KGB presumably belong to NKVD, the American arsenal in June 1946 lists a grossly exces-sive nine atom bombs taken from the _Bulletin of_Atomic_Scientists_ compared to _The Winning_Weapon_ by Gregg Herken which identified a single partially disassembled weapon in the inventory in January 1947, and an annoying transliteration of two Cyrillic characters as "ia" and "iu" instead of "ya" and "yu" as more conventionally employed. Otherwise, _Stalin_ is a tremendous addition to our knowledge of Russian capabilities in physics instigated by a repressive regime at the dawn of the nuclear age.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books