Thurber got into trouble with his friend and co-New Yorker stalwart E.B. White for writing this portrait of their boss and benefactor. Between them the three wrote most of "The New Yorker" in its crucial first decades. These chapters, first written as a series of articles for "The Atlantic", are a model of the rich, primary source biography. Thurber pulls no punches. His Ross is not "a monument" as he puts it, but a man, worth looking at in all his strange glory. I would rate this book alongside Herndon's Life of Lincoln as one of the best accounts of a man by his contemporary, without the veneer of legend and without an undercurrent of envy. Thurber shared an office with Ross for who knows how many years, learned a lot about writing from him (some examples of his razor fine editing are here to learn from), and did a great deal of his best writing in the man's employ. One of Thurber's best books, and that makes it one of the best books there is. You could do worse than read this book before trying to write a life of anyone who's still living. You could do worse than reading this book before trying to write even one article about the life of somebody alive and real.

James Thurber was in his 60s when he wrote THE YEARS WITH ROSS. Harold Ross was the first editor of The New Yorker. He was a homely man, awkward in manner and speech. Ross couldn't write, but he was a fine editor. He lacked a good education and was sadly unaware of most social graces so he was often uncouth, but he created one of the USA's outstanding magazines. The New Yorker is a stalwart of literary sophistication.

Thurber's study is not only an intriguing look at a real character of an editor but the story of how a magnificent magazine grew under the guidance of one of the truly talented editors of all time.

This biography (which I am very pleased to see has become a classic!) is wonderful - a fine personal memoir of the New Yorker founder and editor, Harold Ross. It talks about his life at work and otherwise, from the point of view of one of the pillars of that magazine's early life, James Thurber. The writing is funny (of course), vivid and immediate. Together with Letters From the Editor and Genius in Disguise, it will bring you as close as it is possible to get to Ross, who was, in my humble opinion, one hell of a guy. A must-read for all editors, would-be or otherwise.

Taylor's updated version is an essential tool for anyone who is not familiar with s.e. arizona, and extremely helpful for those who are. It contains detailed descriptions of birding areas, maps, species to expect at different times of the year, and more. Rick takes you right to the hard-to-find Arizona specialties, as well as all the rest, and does it in an enjoyable manner. This book is fun to read even after leaving Arizona. You will not be disappointed with this one!

This is a great resource for planning and executing a birding expedition to southeast Arizona. Excellent maps, detailed species accounts, and helpful directions and resource listings. This book tells you what specialties to look for at specific locations and when they are most likely to be found there. A great guide for birding southeast Arizona, from roadside birding to backcountry hiking. I especially appreciate the tear out maps of trails and inside cover maps of locations and ecoregions.

In April, 1942, the U.S. Navy set out to strike back at the Japanese. The plan was to launch B-25 Mitchell bombers from the deck of an aircraft carrier, bomb Tokyo, then fly to safety in China. In this excellent book by Carroll Glines, the story of the famed Doolittle Raiders unfolds. President Roosevelt conceived the idea. American morale was very low after the Pearl Harbor attack, and the President felt that an attack on the Japanese homeland would do wonders for the American civilians as well as the armed forces. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle was selected to lead the mission. Famous for his air racing and numerous speed records, Doolittle assembled sixteen crews and began training in Florida. Finally, the planes were loaded aboard the U.S.S. Hornet and the task force set sail for Japan. The original plan was to approach to within about 350 miles of the Japanese coast before launching, but a Japanese sampan discovered the task force while they were still some distance from the take off point. I enjoyed the way that Mr. Glines told the individual story of each crew involved in the attack. This aspect of the book made it much more enjoyable to read. The dialogue is so vivid that one can imagine themself sitting in the cockpit. In the end, most of the planes successfully crash-landed in China, but eight men were taken prisoner by the Japanese. They suffered horribly at the hands of their captors. One man died in prison, three were executed by the Japanese, and four survived the war to return to the United States. Another book, entitled Four Came Home, also written by Mr. Glines, tells the story of the four survivors in much greater detail than this book. I would highly recommend both of these books as they both do an excellent job describing this first strike against the enemy.

This book, I believe, is a very good account of a relatively forgotten event during the Second World War in the Pacific theater. Sandwiched between two intensely covered events such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the American victory at Midway, the Doolittle raid often gets overlooked. The author did a good job to provide a detailed account of the events leading up to the raid as well as an excellent account of the experiences of each of the sixteen bomber crews as they made their raid over Japan. Other lesser-known areas concerning the raid were covered such as the voyage of the carrier task force and just how close they came to being attacked by Japanese aircraft and surface forces. Also the technical challenges that occurred to the aircraft were elaborated on as well as an account from the Japanese standpoint pertaining to their preparedness for such an air raid. To complete this telling of the Doolittle Raid the author explains the fate of the aircrews that either survived the raid to continue the fight or those that were captured by the Japanese. Finally the plight of the Chinese people as a result of their part of the raid was not forgotten or overlooked, as is often done by history. Overall, for a person generally interested in World War II history this book would rate a 4 out of 5. If you are particularly interested in the Pacific war against Japan this book is definitely a 5 of 5.

He was one of a kind.

He got in on the ground floor of aviation & rode the elevator all the way up.

He grew into a doctorate in aeronautics; he grew into military administration. He KEPT growing, for nine decades.

He had spunk, integrity, loyalty, vision. The only thing he ever lied about was his height.

Like Nestor, he wanted to share fame with his wife.

Diplomacy was not his strong point, because he was an individualist. His friends were individualists: Patton. His antogonists weren't: Eisenhower. His was a century of individualists. It was a different age, and he was right about it: He never COULD be so lucky again, not nowadays anyway.

[Paperback edition hard to read, as 8-point print disappears into binding; no offset. If you are over forty, read the hardback, if you can.]

Gen. Doolittle is an extrordinary man. This book is filled with several of his exploits from the early days of aviation to modern times. In it he recollects several amusing stories from his career as well as heart-warming stories from his family life. I strongly recommend this book to any aviation enthusiest.

Intelligent, courageous, and honest, Jimmy Doolittle is an excellent example of a true American hero. He proved his worth as a test pilot during the early years of aviation, as commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II, and as chairman of NACA, the predecessor of today's NASA. His view that dishonesty is a form of cowardice and his determination to serve his fellow human beings well into his old age is refreshing in an era of selfishness, half-truths, and outright deceit.

Doolittle's autobiography does a wonderful job of portraying his life. And what a life! If only one could achieve less than half of what Jimmy Doolittle had, he or she would already have a very full and worthwhile life. Let the reader be warned, however, the book is written as only a lifelong engineer could write it; succinct, precise, and relatively technical. Yet among the descriptions of aerodynamics experiments and strategic bombing raids over World War II Germany one also finds heartfelt accounts of his family life. Doolittle reveals that the one thing that has sustained him throughout is the support of his beloved wife, Josephine.

While I would primarily recommend the autobiography of Jimmy Doolittle to aviation and World War II history buffs, I would also recommend it to anyone interested in the life of a real hero of American history whose sacrifices will benefit mankind for years to come. Thanks to remarkable individuals such as Jimmy Doolittle, I'm proud to call myself an American.

I had the pleasant opportunity to meet with this fine author during his book signing. Several of my friends and family have passed a copy of "Remembering Father Flye" and they all read it cover to cover without putting it down. A unanimous response that it was a story worth telling.

Father James Harold Flye is best known as the mentor of Pulitzer Prizewinning author James Agee. William Hampton's new biography of the eccentric, independent, and unforgettable priest should give Father Flye his own--well-deserved--billing.

Father Flye, born in 1884, lived a a full century--more than twice as long as Agee--with uncommon relish. It's clear from the recollections that Hampton has gathered that Flye had a lasting effect on everyone who met him, from the mountain boys he taught to the New Yorker writers who visited him at his cluttered apartment in Greenwich Village.

And now, when our country is presented with unprecedented challenges, the story of Father Flye-who knew history, loved humanity, and endured with strength-is especially relevant.

Father Flye's story is not without heartbreak and loss. It's about life, after all. But a remarkable and exuberant life. The stories collected in this book are mostly transcribed radio interviews and letters. They focus on the particular, and that's what makes them so charming.

Father Flye was married at age 30 to Grace Houghton, a quirky portrait artist 10 years his senior. His first parish assignment was in Milledgeville, Georgia. After that small disaster, he took a temporary job at St. Andrew's School on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee. The school was founded by monks of the Order of the Holy Cross to teach local mountain boys who came from extremely primitive circumstances. Father Flye, a Yalie, and Grace, who had had a studio in Italy, stayed at St. Andrew's for 36 years.

The Flyes had no children, but the St. Andrew's students were their boys. Grace painted their portraits and sewed their clothing. Father Flye gave them elocution lessons. He taught them history. He punished them for trying to flush a frog down the toilet by making them stand outside and recite poetry. He gave them self-respect, respect for learning and life, and futures. "Piffle," they called him. His antics left them wide-eyed. His love filled their hearts. His poetry settled in their minds. He corresponded with them for decades after they left St. Andrew's.

Readers looking for intriguing history, biography or "something inspirational" will love Father Flye and his quirky wife, Grace. Grace was "no bigger than a bar of soap after a hard day's wash." A victim of Addison's disease, she became more reclusive with age. Father Flye was a vegetarian. Grace, anemic, ate a little meat. She saved tea bags to shred to make nests for the mice at her "Noah's Ark." She moved her broom to different locations on the porch as a signal to her neighbors that she was fine, still alive. She is listed by the Smithsonian as one of America's finest portraitists.

In a recent memoir published in American Places, historian Bertram Wyatt-Brown writes affectionately that the Flyes were unquestioned intellectuals. He describes them entering the chapel in their black robes, looking like nothing so much as "a pair of underfed crows."

The book is "Mr. Holland's Opus," "Music of the Heart," "Dead Poets' Society," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," the Mitford books, and a costume drama. Its two eccentric protagonists will warm the hearts of readers as the Flyes warmed the hearts of those they befriended, from Appalachia to Greenwich Village.

Mr. Hampton, a retired radio announcer, was one of the lost boys that Father Flye saved.

And through this book, Mr. Hampton has saved Father Flye for us.

I have just finished reading "Remembering Father Flye" and I wanted to acknowledge how deeply moved and impresed I am with Bill Hampton's extraordinary work of oral reminiscenes that are fused so well together in the telling of the journey of such a remarkable human being as Father Flye who was consumed by history in all its elements as well as the beauty of life itself.

Hampton has magnificently woven a rich mosaic diffused with both light and darkness of the life of a man whose pilgrimage as an educator of both young and old minds from, "the Mountain" of Sewanee to the streets of the City of New York, was always filled with enriching the lives of those he met on his way with great compassion and love.

In this expansive work of love, in which the meticulousness of historic detail is in itself a wealth of knowledge, Bill Hamptom has shared not only an unusual story but years of wisdom and grace that are not often found in an ordinary life.

This is an impressive cinematic experience which borders on pure ballet. What Evita achieved in some measure in its operatic effort (for all that it was worth)the movie Tango unleashes a continuous virtuosic display of stunning dance sequences which is not unlike that of classical ballet. To be sure, the visual (not special) effects assume precedence over any character development, although the main character's angst is to some degree fairly well defined. There is some philosophical adumbrations, some of which betray influences of Jorge Luis Borges; namely, the omnipresence of mirrors, which suggest the reality/illusion references; the encapsulated, closed environment of the mise-en-scene, the inveterate lonliness of the protagonist. Overall the film tends toward the abstract, not unlike a painting in perpetual motion.

This is an impressive cinematic experience which borders on pure ballet. What Evita achieved in some measure in its operatic effort (for all that it was worth)the movie Tango unleashes a continuous virtuosic display of stunning dance sequences which is not unlike that of classical ballet. To be sure, the visual (not special) effects assume precedence over any character development, although the main character's angst is to some degree fairly well defined. There is some philosophical adumbrations, some of which betray influences of Jorge Luis Borges; namely, the omnipresence of mirrors, which suggest the reality/illusion references; the encapsulated, closed environment of the mise-en-scene, the inveterate lonliness of the protagonist. Overall the film tends toward the abstract, not unlike a painting in perpetual motion.

This DVD could have been as good as they come: an intriguing film, mesmerizing dance sequences, great cinematography, and a soundtrack that makes the tango sound better than anything attempted before, if it weren't for one thing: the film is letterboxed at the wrong aspect ratio! So, fans, beware. This elaborate co-production utilizes some of the greatest talent from Argentina, Spain, Italy and the United States. Shot by Vittorio Storaro in Univision using Technovision cameras and lenses, "Tango" is supposed to be framed at 2:1, an aspect ratio that lies somewhere between the Academy Standard (1.85:1) and CinemaScope (2.35:1). But for the DVD someone approved a 1.75 transfer that hurts some of the exquisite compositions and the larger-than-life feeling the movie had in theaters. To confuse matters farther, the DVD jacket indicates the film is presented in the scope aspect ratio. Not!!! Aw, well, it's a very good movie nontheless.

Drawbacks: This book is very basic. I would have liked seeing it in smaller print, but that would have basically made the book a pamphlet. The type font was like the publisher was trying to make it as many pages as they could. I thought the concepts of referals was really great, but I think it is something that most people in business already (or should already) know.

Benefits: If you don't know much about referals - this is a great text to get you started. A quick read. I would recommend this book for a high school business class or college students. The methods are great, if everyone were so helpful in real life. Unfortunately, today, many people in business do not care about referals nor other people. I believe if you can get good people skills, no matter what your business, you will naturally succeed. From what I can tell, referals are part of the "older set" of business people. I think younger business people like myself need to know that this is still a wonderful method of operation. That is why I recommend it for students.

Referral of a Lifetime describes a very popular place entrepeneur/sales professionals end up in today's marketplace.

This book not only helped me identify my own strengths, it provided specific tools to use on a daily basis within my financial planning business. The approach is simple and effective and it has generated more referrals in recent months that I have enjoyed in 20 years of professional service.

I would strongly encourage any professional to not only read the book but also peruse Mastertrack.net and learn more about the "Keep in Touch" program that is designed to assist in building client relationship while generating additional business.

I was not prepared for how this little book would change the way I do business but most importantly the way I do life. Referral of a Lifetime identifies four basic types of people in the business world and what I found amazing is that you find these types in virtually every business or endeavor.

I read the book and instantly decided to try what the author recommended and that is "place the relationship first... ahead of whatever product or service you are charged with selling."
In order to really invest in these principles, I decided to employ his Keep IN Touch program to assist me in touching and retouching people who champion what I do in the world of television broadcasting.

After four months of following the advice in this book, two things have already happened: people I hadn't done a good job staying in touch with have emailed, called or written a note saying how terrific it was to hear from me again and second: they have begun recommending me to their associates because I made it clear that I will treat and value their friends and colleagues with the same degree of commitment that I do them.

What I have done through this book is... I have taken back the most valuable resource I ever had in network television, the people who believed in me and my talent.

I cannot recommend Referral of a Lifetime high enough. If it does for you what it has done for me, AND IT WILL... you will be a changed person. From a business and a personal standpoint it has changed and re-energized my life.