ONE THING IS FOR SURE.
DONT BUY IT IF UR LOOKING FOR DEFINITION LIKE FRANK ZANE HAS.I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED FROM BUYING THIS BOOK.
IF I WAS NOT A GUY WHO TRAINS FOR 2 & 1/2 YEARS SERIOUSLY IN GYMS I WOULD SAY THAT THIS BOOK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BODYBUILDING IN PRACTISE.I CANT FIND ANY HELP IN TRANSFORMING MY BODY AND REDUCE MY BODY FAT FROM ZANE 'S POEMS.
THAT 'S THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS BOOK AND I WANT TO HELP OTHER BUYERS NOT TO SPEND MONEY ON THIS BOOK.

A cross between William Faulkner and e.e. cummings, "Mind, Body and Spirit" is a disjointed, stream of conscious thought book. If you are a follower of professional body building, this is a must read because it shows what brand of insanity it takes to push a body to its limit and then to go beyond that. It is a truly personal, intimate look at the routine, the nutrition, the dreams, the mind, the spirit, - the soul of Frank Zane. There is little flow to the book because it is a patchwork of diaries. It becomes easier to follow, the further into the book one gets. It literally is a patchwork and it starts taking shape and showing what it is, a reflection of a life. There are a few things that need to be mentioned before recommending this book. It certainly helps to have a working knowledge of the vocabulary of body building, otherwise phrases like 'drop sets' and branch chain amino acids will make little sense. Also, there is a considerable amount of poetry in this book and one has to keep in mind that the author is a body builder and not a poet; some of it is pretty rough going. Even though it has diagrams and exercise routines, this isn't a workout book for a novice body builder. If you are seeking comprehensive instruction on body building nutrition a booked entitled "Sliced" (Jayde & Reynolds) is a good choice. If you are looking for an instructional body building book, with coherent explanations of technique then "Super Flex" (Everson) is not a bad choice. If you are looking for insight into the mind and life of a champion, then this is the book. Often when looking at a sculpted body builder the thought of, "that person is in a world all his/her own" comes to mind because of the amazing committment it takes to achieve such a body. Frank Zane allows you to be a voyeur and get a glimpse at this amazing world.

Okay, I admit it, since taking up meditation almost a decade ago I tend to view everything in Life through a Spiritual slant. And yet I am heavily into bodybuilding, as well. No, I am not some overbulked dude that goes into the gym just to impress everyone else, I go into the gym to transform...to transcend...not just my physical self, but my mental, emotional, and spiritual self, as well. This book is a book that I keep with my books on spirituality. It is a book I refer to often for exercise routines as well as for inspiration. It is a book that got me from looking at the gym as just a "sweat lodge" for the ego, to a "Temple of Transformation". Frank does a beautiful job of putting himself down on paper. His poetry is simple...sometimes laughable...sometimes deep...but it's his and that's what makes it great. He is willing to be who he is. Are you? Am I? Are we really willing to just stop going to the gym and using the barbells and dumbells and the cables like we are at war with them and instead use them as tools to enhance the quality of our life...not just physically but spiritually? As it says in the Bible, "Now is the accepted time..." Now is the time, my bodybuilding friends, to realize with real eyes that you are more than a body...you are also a soul. Buy this book. It's a beautiful find!

After reading all four books in The Once and Future King, I was eager to read The Book of Merlyn. But the book scarcely mentioned the characters found in TOFK; instead, White strays off on tangents and writes endlessly and blantantly his anti-war political views. The very last chapter--about 8 pages-- actually finishes the story by telling what becomes of Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the rest. I wonder if anyone calling this book "stunning" has actually read it. I read the whole book, but really only got something from the last chapter. It is well written, but has little to do with Arthurian Legend. Not "exciting conclusion" here, just passive political commentary.

The marvelous 5th book of T. H. White's incredible Arthurian saga. This one, in it's complete lack of swordplay and thrill, is set apart from the preceeding four.

Ok, the first four--definately the Story is the major priority. Focal characters: Arthur, then after "The Sword in the Stone" the focus shifts to Lancelot and the queen, and to a lesser extent the Orkneys, etc. In the final chapter the reader is brought back to Arthur, whose musings on the nature of Man and War also smears our noses in these two essential elements, whose dissection was an important objective in the story for White.

Yeah, yeah, anyone who's read the book knows that. But what about the "Book of Merlyn"?

Well, picture drawing aside the glitter and pizzaz of the storyline that has won over so many people to focus on that teaming world of philosophy and abstract thought that Merlin had shown Arthur as a young king. Take "The Sword in the Stone", a primarily whimsical book in which I believe White first lay the groundwork for the "Book of Merlyn", return an aged, experienced and almost broken Arthur to this sort of setting, and...tada! bring back Merlin and the animals(or rather bring Arthur back to them). There now follows that dissection of War and Man we were talking about.

Yup, the whole book is essentially White's essay on these two subjects, given in a long philisophical discussion between the animals, Merlin, and an older Arthur in the comfort of the Badger's underground burrow(Nimue's cave, ha ha!).

Now for those who are thinking ,"Ye gods, the horror!", I gotta admit, in part, you're right. If you're thinking of reading this as the conclusion to "The Once and Future King" in a steady, smooth stream, you're in for a bumpy ride. Think about it, the book was published posthumously--there are structural problems and stuff(why I rate it 8 and not higher), the most blatant of which is the episodes as the ant and the goose from "The Sword in the Stone" properly belonged here originally, so you bump over that.

Bump.

Next, like I said, Story has taken a decided back seat to Essay. That's a bump for those who loved "The Once and Future King" for the laughter and the tears, a...MAJOR...bump.

BUMP.

But for those who can accept Story's new position in the scheme of things, you'll really dig this. Because White returns to someone he has really neglected in favor of Lancelot and Jenny and all that other stuff--Arthur. Arthur's back and he's gonna get a little attention, undergo a little developement. This is a must for you people. There is also now this beautiful circle to White's saga. And, getting down to the dirt, you are gonna love that Essay I was talking about.

It...is...BRILLIANT. For those who like this sort of thing, you will LOVE it, and for those who don't like this kind of stuff normally, you'll LOVE it anyway because of the original way White did it.

People who dug the "Tao of Pooh", you will LOVE this.

Kids doing an assignment on the underlying symbolism and whatnot of the "Once and Future King", you will LOVE this--it'll be so much help, it's almost cheating.

And. Finally. T.H. White fans everywhere. Read "The Book of Merlyn". In the end, this is what he's all about.

The Book of Merlyn was an incredible book, once again proving the genius of T.H. White. This book is the only sensible conclusion to the Once and Future King and should have been included in the original printing. In The Book of Merlyn, we revisit King Arthur on the night before his final battle with his son, Mordred. Feeling dejected and alone, Arthur's mentor, the lovably eccentric and ingenious Merlyn, returns and whisks the king away to learn two final lessons from the animals he knew as a child. This book is not merely a childish fairytale, but rather an in-depth dissection of human nature in which the human condition is explored in depth and the ever-elusive meaning of life is hinted at. A book for the serious reader or any serious fan of Arthur and Merlyn, The Book of Merlyn is a masterpiece from the mind of one of the greatest writers of the past one hundred years.

I guess you could call Jake & Mimi an erotic thriller. The book is certainly erotic-- the sex scenes go on for pages and pages. As for the thriller part, that is not so successful. It is like dressing up a hooker in a business suit. There is insufficient psychological depth to adequately explain the motivations of the characters, which is not helped by the fact that the identity of the villain comes out of left field. The use of multiple narrators is sometimes confusing, and the author would have us believe that Jake can instantly make any woman fall for him and submit to his kinky games. The villain is seemingly omniscient and is able to move about undetected like the invisible man, making him look like he stepped out of a 1930s pulp story. The author also gets sloppy at times, having us believe, for instance, that prominent women can disappear without the media (or anyone, for that matter) taking much notice. The rating is somewhat of a compromise, as I would give it 5 stars for eroticism and 1 star for its thriller elements. Had I not known the publisher beforehand, I would have guessed it was Masquerade or Blue Moon or one of the half-dozen others that publish quality erotica.

This was a pretty good book, which could've been a great book if the characters had been fleshed out (no pun intended). Jake's a master of seduction, yet we're never told how or where he's been trained or what kind of training? Kama sutra or tantra - inquiring readers want to know.

Mimi's character was really underdeveloped. Considering what she's risking readers should know what motivates her. The author misses opportunities to draw us deeper into Mimi and Jake's minds. I wanted to feel the passion that rules Jake and the desire that has Mimi risking her fiancé. Mr. Baldwin gets high marks for all else, especially his handling of the scenes between Jake and the ladies. They were arousing without being explicit or uncomfortable (for me).

Unfortunately the ending just didn't hit my spot, it left me unsatisfied, unlike the women who'd been with Jake! More detail and development next time!

Jake is an effortless seducer. He can have any woman in less time than it takes another man to watch a movie. His conquests get more screaming orgasms out of him in an hour than they will with their husbands or lovers in a lifetime. Jake has torture down to a silken art form - his women don't just have sex with him, they totally submit...and love it.

Mimi works at the same financial firm Jake just got hired onto. She's less than a month from marrying the man she's gone steady with for six years. In a single moment, she's seen in Jake's eyes the power he has over women, and he's sensed her vulnerability - and need. Jake invites her to watch one or two of his overnight conquests, just so she knows what she's getting into. Mimi's weakening. Because she wants to. She can't believe how skilled Jake is. He's to die for.

Problem is, before it's all over, someone will.

This is a very clever, extremely well-written erotic thriller - with the emphasis on "erotic." It's been called a cross between 9-1/2 Weeks and Silence of the Lambs, though it's actually more reminiscent of David Lindsey's Mercy and some of Anne Rice's or Laurell K. Hamilton's works. The story is pretty straightforward, and Hitchcockian - very voyeuristic, and suspenseful. What elevates it - again, like Hitchcock - is the author's style, employing multiple first-person viewpoints to craftily play with the reader's perceptions.

The only real flaw with this book is that it takes a little too long to really get cooking - aside from the sex, that is. But that's a minor flaw, for the ultimate satisfaction.

Getting It Right
by William F. Buckley, Jr.
(Regnery, 302 pps.)

As a political activist whose views have been described as "extreme right-wing" (although I would argue that the Libertarian party annoys the Left and the Right more or less equally), I am naturally interested in how the American Right evolved, from the beginning of the Cold War to the present. It was for that reason--and not, Lord knows, because I expected any stylistic treat'that I looked forward to reading "Getting It Right." Unfortunately, as is usually the case with Mr. Buckley's historical fiction, the book would have been far more interesting'indeed potentially a classic'had the author presented it as non-fiction, either history or personal memoir. As fiction, this book is a bit of a snore.

Mr. Buckley just can't write fiction very well. I would guess that this is because he doesn't ask to be coached, and none of his circle dares coach him unbidden, and in any case his novels sell well enough regardless of their literary quality. His fans'of which I am one, when he sticks to journalism and criticism'live in hope where his fiction is concerned. However, I have finally given way to despair.

"Getting It Right" gives us a terrific subject: the story of how two very different "right-wing" movements'the anti-Communist John Birch Society and the "objectivist" cult of Ayn Rand'diverged and sometimes co-operated and between them pretty well destroyed the possibility of a libertarian revolution, leaving the United States to degenerate into the authoritarian collectivist society it has become.

The book is also blessed with a strong cast of historical characters: the imperious Miss Rand; the ever-more-paranoid Robert Welch (founder of the John Birch Society); Welch's ally, the bizarre Gen. Edwin Walker; the anti-Communist academic Revilo Oliver; self-help guru Nathaniel Branden; Sen. Barry Goldwater; cameo appearances by John and Robert Kennedy and Earl Warren.

Unfortunately, the subject matter and the historical characters'the most interesting components of the book'are treated with an almost insulting superficiality. The author spends far too much time on a fictional protagonist, Woodroe Raynor, whose background is so improbable as to make the reader roll his eyes almost immediately: a Mormon missionary, not yet 20 years old, he is miraculously caught up in the Hungarian revolt of 1956, an event that convinces him of the inherent evil of Communism. His romantic interest (if you can call it that) throughout the book is a Randian acolyte: Leonora Goldstein, the idealistic daughter of refugees from Hitler's depredations. The woodenness, the utter lack of emotion with which these two approach their relationship (which begins in the late 1950s and culminates in their engagement at the end of the book, in the mid-1960s) is quite illustrative of Mr. Buckley's chief flaw as a novelist: his apparent discomfort with anything to do with "feelings."

I sometimes criticize writers (women writers in particular) for being overly occupied with the illustration of emotion, but Mr. Buckley goes to the other extreme. He acknowledges that people feel this way or that way, and admits somewhat grudgingly that people have sexual intercourse, but he's most reluctant to go any farther than that. In his rather sketchy illustration of the relationship between Woodroe and Leonora, one sees little or no affection, and certainly no passion. They behave to each other more like an undemonstrative but secretly incestuous brother and sister than like a courting couple.

Even more egregious is Mr. Buckley's description (or nondescription) of the sexual liaisons between Miss Rand and her sometime heir apparent, Branden. Such an affair did, notoriously, take place, but it's difficult to form an original movie, in one's mind's eye, of what the postmenopausal and emphatically hideous Miss Rand must have looked like, with her clothes off, doing the nasty with a chap some 30 years her junior. A gruesomely detailed written description'and we all know how funny Mr. Buckley can be, when he wants to be'would not have gone unappreciated. An even greater challenge for the author, which Mr. Buckley likewise shirks, would have been to make the reader understand why a young man might want to swyve the aging diva of objectivism in the first place.

In describing the end of their affair, Mr. Buckley commits one of the most elementary errors of fiction-writing. Here is how he describes her reaction to Branden's decision to end their sexual relationship:

"Nathaniel had seen her cross before. He had seen her critical. But he had not seen her uncontrollably, titanically, murderously angry. It was like a great tidal wave smashing everything in its path, including skyscrapers, the white cliffs of Dover, and the Maginot Line. When finally he escaped upstairs to Barbara, they wept together. But before they had come near to exhausting their reserves of mutual consolation, the telephone rang, and lo! it was Ayn. She wanted to speak with Barbara.

"She did so at great length. Any told how she had misestimated Barbara's husband. She had thought him a true man, on the scale of the great men she had created in fiction. He was less than that. Far less. He was despicable."

Any graduate assistant English instructor at any college in the United States would have handed that passage back to Mr. Buckley with the sharp admonition, "Show me, don't tell me!" Unfortunately, just as no friend of Barbra Streisand or Tim Robbins or Ed Asner is going to tell them that their political views are wrongheaded, no friend of Mr. Buckley's is likely to presume to teach him how to write fiction. Thus his next novel, if there is a next, is certain to be yet another exercise in half-assedness.

--Joseph Dobrian

If you have George H. Nash's /The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945/ on your bookshelf and have thought its themes fertile for a novel of manners, William F. Buckley Jr.'s /Getting it Right/ is the book for you. It presumes substantial familiarity with the figures and institutions that shaped the modern right, so readers who have not followed conservatism's internecine philosophical struggles will find little in this book that anchors their interest. Those well-acquainted with the patriarchs of such fixtures as National Review and Young Americans for Freedom will appreciate /Getting it Right/ as an illuminating chronicle of an ideological revolution of which Buckley is one of the last surviving witnesses. The book is also a fitting companion to /The Redhunter/, Buckley's novelization of the rise and fall of Joe McCarthy, as both books contribute an important perspective to the emergence in the 1950s of an anti-Communist eddy that helped invigorate an ascending conservative movement.

During this era, Buckley, Russell Kirk, Whitaker Chambers, and others were defining, in the pages of National Review, the parameters of conservatism as we understand it today. In so doing, they strove to establish their breed of conservatism as the dominant ideology of anti-Communism, while such firebrands as Ayn Rand and the John Birch Society's Robert Welch adopted a fiercer, more confrontational demeanor. /Getting it Right/ is Buckley's account of how Rand and Welch estranged themselves from the emerging conservative silent majority. Buckley is fair to both and displays a keen understanding of how Rand and Welch each captivated their respective sects. Presently, Rand's legacy is more enduring and I expect that Buckley's portrayal of Rand as a shrew who may have "created an entire . . . philosophical system[] to deal with her own psychological problems" will earn this book hysterical reproachment from those who still adopt Rand's "Objectivism" and style themselves Randian heroes. But Buckley has in no sense whatsoever adopted the Aaron Sorkin model of political fiction wherein one makes ideological opponents look silly by putting words in their mouths that they would never speak. Buckley clearly acknowledges Rand's literary brilliance and her gift for rigorous analytical deduction. He uses her personal implosion as an object lesson in how the most studious fidelity to capitalism and freedom cannot yield genuine happiness without a corresponding commitment to the traditional social virtues.

But did this have to be a novel? Not until the final pages will readers develop much affection for the major fictional characters, each of whom serves as little more than a deus ex machina to hurry along the narrative. The author was a major participant in many of the events chronicled, and history would have been better served by a well-documented first-person account than by a half-fictionalization in which Buckley at times clumsily renders himself as a supporting character. The novel's copious citations to National Review editorials also harmonize rather poorly with its literary form. Yet the struggle for the soul of American conservatism does have the character of an epic. The drama reaches its crescendo at the 1964 Republican National Convention when a defiant Barry Goldwater declares, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. . . . Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." By itself, the sentiment was and is beautiful, but Buckley places it in context, and, as always, stands athwart history, yelling Stop.

"Getting It Right", could not have been entitled getting it correct. But unlike many of Mr. Buckley's books this work is not exclusively for people who come under the moniker of Conservative. This is not to say that Mr. Buckley has abandoned those philosophies he has held for his lifetime, rather with this work he brings together a variety of groups that have at one time or another have been placed firmly on the, "Right", and shows just how disparate a given category can be.

This is a novel but it is historical fiction predicated upon actual meetings that the author was a party to, gatherings he attended, articles that were written about him and his magazine The National Review, and a variety of other published material from a wide spectrum of thought. And this is a book that goes beyond politics to philosophy, religion, the relevance of altruism, and many other issues.

Labels are easy to place but they suffer from the same shortcomings and hopeless inadequacies that any generalizations immediately suffer from the moment they are invoked. Where would you place categories of thought, or defined groups like the following, Libertarian, Conservative, The John Birch Society, Young Americans for Freedom, or those who are labeled Objectivists?

All words credited to Robert Welch in the book are his; the same is the case with another prominent figure in the book Ayn Rand. These two founders, respectively, of the John Birch Society and the philosophy of Objectivism should provide enough material on their own to cause endless hours of debate about the book. Ayn Rand is the author of the widely read and very influential works including, "Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, and The Virtue of Selfishness", amongst others.

To keep this time period from 1958 to 1966 at a constant boil Mr. Buckley brings two young people together. And these are not just any two youthful idealists, one is part of Ayn Rand's group and the other is..........well, you can imagine.

The book takes the reader from a young Mormon Missionary being shot as the Soviet Military attempts to stop persons from fleeing Hungry, through the Eisenhower years, and on to Kennedy's abbreviated presidency and the turmoil that President Johnson faces and proceeds to compound exponentially. And of course for added spice, "Tricky Dick", makes cameo appearances whenever the warring parties of, "The Right", need an additional bit of behind the scenes mischief. There are many other complex people that play appear from Alan Greenspan to Whittaker Chambers, and they, like the major characters ensure there is an angle for anyone who picks up the book to either champion or condemn, or attack for the pure love of debate.

I am a great admirer of Mr. Buckley for his works of fiction and non-fiction. His last 2 books have been either clearly disappointing, or confusing. This is not the case with, "Getting It Right". This is a wonderful read from a great writer and mind, and a book that will appeal to a much wider readership than those that think if Mr. Buckley has written it, then it is only for subscribers to, "The National Review".

I bought this book because it was required (a textbook for a class I was taking). Because it was a college-level class, I was expecting a college-level textbook. That's not what it is at all. The book is filled with color illustrations that aren't even very helpful. I was hoping for more reading and explanation of terms. Illustrations are great if they are used right -- to compliment the text instead of replace it. I wouldn't recommend this book for someone who is serious about learning the ins and outs of networking.

I have read this book and recommended it to many people that are interested in an overview of networking. Reading some of the other reviews, I agree that this book is an effort to take something complex and make it understandable. This book accomplishes that and is not condescending about it. Other reviews that complain about missing a few details, well that is ok in an entry level book ( my first algebra book didn't cover any calculus). Buy this book to get started and when you decide to get more into networking, dive in deeper.

I have read 2 other beginner-networking books and the advantage this book has over others are its language-simplicity plain-English, and attractive colorful illustrations.

I really hooked-up with this book that I finished reading it cover to cover, 2 times, in 3 days.

Even so, this book provide only basic and rough idea. But is sufficient for anybody who just want to get to know what networking is all about.

I'm looking forward to the collections of Frank J Derfler, Jr's articles in PC Magazine. (Is it already available?)

I want thank the authors for this fun and helpful golf exercise book. Ive definitely noticed a difference in my game after using this program.

This book contains the essential elements of an easy-to-follow how-to book. The authors explain the why, what and how clearly; and the use of pictures is most helpful. The authors are highly credible (orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists). I am 50 years old and a 16 handicapper who plays three or four times a month. The last 3 or 4 years, I had been experiencing lower back pain while playing and I had lost some distance from my game (ie - drives were traveling 210-220 rather than 240-250). A physical therapist started me on this books regimine five months ago. So far, the results are improved flexibility, better strength, no more back pain and some improved distance in shot length. The daily routine takes 30 minutes or less. I will continue to follow its program and look forward to more improvement.

The authors of this book obviously did their home work on this easy to follow home exercise program, that is simple to do and has been effective for me and my students. I recommend this book to everyone I teach. Unfortunately the individual from Chicago is confused and must not be a golfer.

I am writng this review to persuade you to read the Play "The Diary Of Anne Frank." This book is very interesting. You also can learn a lot from this play.
To me I think I could have done everthing Anne did because I am a very confident person. The things Anne did weren't easy to do. So u have to read this book I guarantee you will learn something!!!

I'm trying to persuade you to read this book because it tells you how the Jewish people including Anne had to hide when the "Nazi's, and Hitler" were coming. Also I think you should read it because it has a lot of historical moments, like the Halocuast which means "burnt hole".

I could have done everything Anne did because she could argue but I do not like the way Anne argued with her mother. Anne had a thing that she always wanted and that was her diary when she got it she was happy. The only hard thing that Anne did that I could not do was adjust to having another family live in a little house.

Anyone who hates this play has no soul. Anne Frank's poignant - AND ABSOLUTELY TRUE - tale serves not only as a tragic tribute to the horrors of the holocaust, but also as a testament to the heroics of an ordinary heart in the midst of unfathomable injustice. Anne Frank's hope and bravery are beautifully memorialized in these pages; this is something everyone should read. Those who shirk from the play simply because they wish to shield their naive minds from such an unpleasant subject (and a decidedly unhappy ending) do themselves and the rest of humanity a great disservice, for if we do push this book to the back of our minds and our libraries, we lose its message, we lose whatever chance we may've had to reexamine our world through the eyes of Anne Frank and lighten the darkness of man's heart with her courage. To read this play is to become enlightened and to be inspired, and with all the animosity and intolerance in our world today, we could all use a little more of Anne's spirit of acceptance.

Could Stephen White have written any more twists into this book? Would it be possible for more characters to be in jeopardy? The book starts out with Emma, the daughter of an assassinated politician, and her quest for privacy. Did Lauren, in an attempt to defend Emma's privacy, shoot someone? Lauren is arrested for what may become capital murder, and the complications from her MS are quickly threatening her life. Alan must not only battle the system to get Lauren to the hospital, but also find a way to solve the crime and get her out of jail. Unfortunately, his own culpability prevents him from being completely honest with his police friend Sam, who might be able to help. This book is full of thrilling legal maneuvering, and White uses a type of flashback writing that really keeps your interest going and your brain working to sort out the events. This book is not as good as some of White's others, but it is definitely worth the read for White's avid fans.

I got a prerelease copy of this book, and read it in two nights. It was very suspenseful, and a very god read. After reading it, I went and found all of the other Stephen White books and read them. The only unfortunate thing is that he has only written five books. But, they are very good. They remind me of my favorite series, the Dismas Hardy books of John Lescroart. Very good, highly recommended

I have read all of Stephen White's books, and this is the best one yet. I could hardly believe it when I reached the end. I began reading the book and then "boom" it was over and I don't think I had taken a breath during the whole thing. The main characters were all familiar from his previous books, but this time they were like old friends and not just names on a page. The plot of the book, which involves high tech use of computer and the abuse heaped by the press on celebrities, is timely and intriguingly combined. Hats off to White and I hope that he hurries his next Allen Gregory book along.

A fan of Buckley's novels with Blackford Oakes as the CIA agent involved in international crises, I looked forward to this historical novel. I was sorely disappointed.

Buckley's main character is flat. The conflict he will face is apparent and obvious early. The "big twist" at the end was predictable and meager.

Worse, I was never sure if Buckley knew what he wanted to write. A novel about a participant in the trials? A novel with a philosophical debate? An expose on the legal tenets used in the Nuremburg trials? Unfortunately, all of these were touched upon in the book, but none satisfactorily probed or developed in depth. Instead, the book was scattered and disorganized with the reader left to want more in each area.

Overall a very disappointing book about a topic that has so much to offer.

William Buckley has a good story line -- a "behind the scenes" look at what was happening at Nuremberg. Indeed, there was plenty of politcal gamesmanship going on at that time. Buckley's book illustrates some of the "sensitivities" that had to be worked out among the allied powers so the Nuremberg Tribunnal could actually have happened. Had Buckley stayed along these story lines, he would have written a very powerful, thoughtful, and provactive account of one of the most famous trials in history. Unfortunately, he didin't.

One should always keep in mind that Nuremberg had a profound impact on the world. That being said, writing about such a serious -- and, emotional -- topic cannot be taken lightly. William Buckley appears to have done just that. For example, he confuses Hess with Hoess. Additionally, introducing a fictional character on the docket with the leaders of the Third Reich trivilizes the importance of this trial. Why "add" another defendent when you already have twenty others that have been indicted for crimes conducted during the war?

Buckley delivered dribble when he could have given the readers something powerful. For this reason, the book is a let down. I was expecting something a lot better.

Buckley does his usual nice job of putting everything together
and giving us a cast of characters that are lively and entertaining.
At first glance, this seems like it will be a mystery or novel
with the Nuremberg trials after WWII the backdrop. But the author gives us so much background for the war crimes trials,
and so much personal detail about some of the defendants and
their feelings, it developes into an overview of the war crimes
trials, with the story in the background.
But the author does such a nice job of mixing the real-life characters with those of the fictional story, it turns into a
very entertaining and engaging book. This would be a first-class place to start for anyone interesting in delving into what
happened at the end of WWII, and how the Four Powers turned to
this tribunal to handle significant questions about how to treat
surviving Nazi leaders.

Plus, of course, we can follow a nice story about a German-American family and how their young son, in the US Army, fits
into all the international politics of the time.

A very engrossing book and one most of us will find it difficult
to put down.

McLynn doesn't like Jung ideas. Not a problem, really, but then why write a book about him? So the book crawls slowly, unhappily amassing all negative gossip about Jung, leaving the reader ( as probably also it did to the writer), miserable, exhausted, untill, at last the book ends, and a sigh of relief is impossible to avoid. Was this really necessary? Was this a paid, imposed job? This is really a pathography, a subgenre of our sick postmodern times, and I hope that these kind of people never go so far as the write a new life of Christ.

So far, I find this book captivating like a traffic accident. Page 222 of 529, for example, consists, in it's entirety, of three paragraphs about Freud. And it's so chock-full of whiney, vague "interpretation," that McLynn has become in my mind the handlebar-moustache-twisting, bound-lady-on-the railroad villain of all biographies. What other reviews of this book have said comes to mind: McLynn's book is valuable precisely because it is OBVIOUSLY the most unfair and degrading description one could credibly sling together based on any interpretation of the facts (in fact, I would say, well beyond "credibly," except, naturally, I am not aquainted in a thoroughgoing way with every detail of Jungs's life... which it's worth noting, the author assumes I am. McLynn omits a vast array of details as if he were *deliberately* trying to make himself sound even more of the dire propogandist than he actually is.) One wonders if this book was written in an attempt to discredit the whole field of critical biography of Jung. That's my theory. Jung must be above reproach, if his foremost critics are the likes of McLynn.

Anybody interested in Jung should read this book, but read it with a grain of salt. The author is no great admirer of Jung; was this a result of learning so much about him while writing his biography? I do not know, but I am grateful to McLynn for writing a book that has taught me so much about a man who has taught me so much.

That said, let me state that this book can by no means substitute for reading Jung. The brilliance, fire, and life of his writing is almost entirely absent from this book: a great loss.

Also absent are photographs. I would like to see what Jung and Co. looked like at various stages.

So let's put out a new version with photos!