is the only way I can describe how I felt looking at the images in this beautiful book. God bless the men who made the ultimate sacrifice for others. This book is a breathtaking memoir on their heroism. Hopefully we will never forget

Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" was a tremendous inside look at a childhood filled with tragedy and its overcoming, in this book he chronicles the greatest single tragedy in the FDNY's history - 343 firemen killed in the line-of-duty during the attacks on New York's World Trade Centers.

The prose is poetic and the pictures are poignant. It is a well crafted tribute to all those who made sacrifices on that day and during the grim days directly after 9/11/01.

I've been a NYC firefighter for over sixteen years (I work in the South Bronx) and the Fire Department is indeed and hopefully always will be a BROTHERHOOD. Firemen routinely refer to each other as "Brothers," as in "brother firemen." If that offends some people that offense is misplaced. There are currently less than thirty active female firefighters in the 10,000 member FDNY. There were no women who responded to the World Trade Centers on the eleventh. That's why there were no female firefighters among the 343 killed...and thank God.

The Fire Service is not a job conducive to the vast majority of women. The job is not just filthy, brutal and dangerous, but given the wide gap in upper body strength between men and women, only a handful of women are up to the rigors of the job. Those women who do get into the FDNY must be prepared to join the "Brotherhood."

Still, the point is that the title here is entirely appropriate, especially in light of those who made the supreme sacrifice that day. This is an excellent book and one well worth reading, especially for those who didn't get a first-hand look at Ground Zero.

This book was an amazing coffee table book that for some reason I was drawn to. I meandered through bookstores looking for a book that would capture all the emotions I felt on Sept 11. In the end, I was always drawn back to this book but did not purchase it at first because I could not read through it without becoming overwhelmed with emotions. If a picture tells a thousand words then this book will leave you speechless.

I have purchased just three books on Sept 11, 2001 and this, by far is the most moving tribute to the brave men who gave their lives in the hopes of saving others. The names scrolled along the bottom of the pages create a constant reminder of the heros who stared death in the face and forged ahead. The pictures are tasteful and center on the brotherhood that was so mortally wounded on that fateful day, rather than on the actual photo's of the event. The only thing I would have liked to have seen was descriptions of where the pictured firehouses are located. All in all, one of the finest tributes to a so easily forgotten about (until you need them) group of people!

Ben has touched my soul with this book. In the chapter on "Reality Checks," he shared the story of my friend, Ed Sample. If you read nothing else, read this chapter. It will help you put things in perspective just as it helped me. Thanks, Ben, for a great book.

Jack Stone PWS Group Dallas, TX

I came across Ben Gill as a TEC speaker a number of years ago. He started speaking to TEC groups to share his experience as a founding owner of a Company: how he did it, lessons learned along the way, mistakes made, etc.

Gill is a compelling speaker with down-home charm coupled with pragmatic advice and practical insights. I don't even hold it against him that he is from Dallas. His Company, RSI, became one of the most successful and largest religious fund raising firms in the country. Gill, I believe, literally founded the fund raising industry.

The book is a compilation of anecdotal stories. Each chapter is a story, followed by his insights, followed by questions for the reader to consider. The book is engaging, funny, poignant, touching, gritty, visceral, and philosophical. While it is almost 300 pages, it is any easy read. I found once I started it, I could not put it down.

The Message

While the book offers no theoretical premise, each chapter builds on an experience to build a "plank" into Gill's platform of how to run and grow a successful Company. Each chapter "story" can be a "stand alone module." In fact, it struck me that you could read the book of 30+ chapters in random order, without missing any of the message.

The book is waiting for the business gurus to distill Gill's wisdom into a theoretical premise on the principles of building a great enterprise.

Many of the themes are common to what we have heard in our Group and from our speakers. A few of these include:

1.Absolute integrity of the leadership: sharing the good and the bad news, admitting your mistakes, walking your talk. 2.Attracting the best and the brightest: smart, highly motivated, decisive. Talent is the ultimate differentiation of company performance, in Gill's assessment. But, the best and brightest have to be able to work in a cooperative team environment. 3. The critical role that coaching and mentoring make early in the career of a person. 4.People who are very successful have a higher calling: it's more than about money, it's about making a difference. 5.If you are not a life long learner, then you are dead(and may not know it.)

All in all, this book is well worth reading. In order to get the most from it, it does require you to spend some time with his questions at the end of each chapter. Therefore, I recommend that you read it twice: once straight through as an easy read, and note the chapters of particular significance for yourself. Then, go back and re-read the short list of highest relevance chapters for yourself, working the questions posed at the end of each.

For me, personally, the most compelling chapter is Chapter 16, called "Having Enough." The question posed is "what do you stand for?"(what do you represent). I struggled with that question for a long time. About a decade I evolved to my answer: making a difference every day in people's lives. How? By teaching people to fish.

John Gallagher

Certified Management Counsultant Paoli, PA

I read the review written by the CEO who gave this book to his top clients. Then I ordered the book and understood why. Any business person will receive great "take home" value from Gill's book. I have ordered copies for my top clients (about 100) and asked that Gill personalize them. To my surprise he agreeded. Now I see why he was able to grow a great company and I look forward to putting his lessons in practice in my company as well. This one is so filled with great, yet simple to implement, business ideas that it is hard to believe. My word to Gill - write another one fast!

Not only does this book explain/show what you need to get started using that expensive router you just bought, they do so in a casual very readable style with good humor. Useful reccommendations on bits, their use and their care. Lots of plans like a good bit storage box, a great free-hand router table and useful jigs to handle many router problems. I even found directions on how to dado a 1/32" layer off a desktop - now try that with your table saw! These guys have lots of experience with routers and it shows in this thoughtful book. IMHO this is the best general router book of the several others I've read (Let's hear it for Good Local Library's and for volume purchasing) and is well worth the low price.

I'm a beginning woodworker, and this book was recommended to me. I bought it and don't regret it. It's easy to read and understand. Very helpful. If you're interested in the router, or need information about routers, bits, jigs, etc. this is your book. Buy it.

I bought this book when I was new to woodworking and read it cover to cover. Completed a couple projects inside and now keep it around for reference on jigs, manipulations etc. I think this is the best of the router books currently available. It has info on every relevant topic including how to use a router for different types of cuts, making jigs for specail applications, explanations of bits including history, detailed plans for tables, jigs, etc. The best part of this book is its organization. As explanations of a certain type of use are covered, side bars are used to explain important related information like how to prevent an undesired effect, a safety consideration or an explanation of bits used. I highly reccomend this book to beginners and experienced woodworkers alike.

Be prepared. This book will take your mind and body back to the war years. You will feel the suffering, not only of the Jews, but the Dutch people under German occupation.

It also serves as an independent witness to many of the events Anne described in her Diary. This was dramatized in a made for television movie about 10 years ago.

Miep and her husband Henk opened their home and hearts to Otto Frank for seven years after the war. They helped preserve his post-concentration camp sanity and gave him strength to live.

Had Miep read the Diary after Anne's capture, she states that she'd have had to burn it since it implicated people as hiders of Jews. Thankfully, Miep did not read it until years later. Even with Otto Frank's post-war encouragement, it was simply too painful for her to read. The miracle of the Diary's survival and gift to the world is due to Miep's remarkable courage and mysterious fate.

Everyone that has read the Diary of Anne Frank has a pretty good handle on what life was like hiding in 'het achterhuis', but this book describes those 2 years from a different angle; from that of a protector. This book takes you through the life of Miep Gies from her days in Austria, to when she gained her Dutch citizenship and when she, along with the other office staff, hid the 8 Jews in hiding. This book is a must for anyone that has ever read any of Anne Frank's works.

Miep Gies should be remembered as one of the greatest women of all time. Out of sheer love, love for people, she helped in hiding the Frank family along with a few others.

The book tells the entire story of Miep Gies, from her first employment by Anne's father until the final liberation of Holland. The story is told honestly and without a feeling of ego or of her deliberately sounding like the brave woman she was. And it's told in such a way, that you feel a kind of suspense as if you didn't know of the tragedy coming.

Miep is unrelenting in her portrayal of the grimness of life during the German occupation of Holland. It was worse of all for the Jewish people, but it was also hard on the Dutch people. Reading this is an education for those of us who have no idea of how it is to live in an occupied country.

However, you feel the hope in the ending. Also, one realizes how truly important a book that Anne Frank's diary was. This is a very moving and a most important book on its own.

I wonder if there are more books like the Green Mile by Stephen King. First book I have ever listened to that was written by him. I thought he wrote about strange events. I was spellbound. I was transported into the story and couldn't wait until the next tape. What a great writer. Any suggestions on which one I should read next?

I must say " the green mile " series was a nice change from Stephen Kings other books. It made me laugh and it made me cry, none of his other books have ever affected me like that!!! I'm really glad I bought the whole series at one time, if I would've bought them one at a time I would've been crazy by the time the last one got here!! I couldn't put them down, I read one after another!!!!My heart will always be with his HORROR stories though.....because I like the "things that go bump in the night". Thank you Stephen King for giving me a chance to see another side of your writing ability.I'll be waiting and looking forward to getting my next book in the mail.

In the Green Mile Serial Thriller I love how Stephen King takes so many little stories about love and friendships and adds a twist of evilness and darkness with in each of the characters. From how he builds up the plot not just for the main characters but for everyone of the characters in the novel from the talented Mr. Jingles to the most focused character John Coffey. King kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time while he was building up to the final part, is Coffey gonna live or die and I really loved that but didn't like the outcome. But because of the time period it was set in I can understand reasons for the ending King gave The Green Mile. The book was really great and to any Stephen King fan if I were you I would read it.

Amazon had this book delivered to me at 2 p.m. and, though I resented having to feed the dogs at 6 p.m., I am finished on the same day.

John Schaeffer tells his sublime transformation from boy to Marine sweetly, painfully, and hungrily. Read this then get thee to a Burger King. And a podiatrist. He brought me to tears and the refrigerator. Loved it.

I have a quarrel with Frank Schaeffer, John's great and passionate father.

Frank didn't write his part for us out here in Indiana where, except at the universities (we have them here, you know), we always did love our country.

Frank wrote his part as a plea to his fashionable brethren who think, as he puts it, the sanitation department is protecting them.

He seems to think that if he just explains it properly, explains from THEIR perspective (diversity, good taste, automobile choice) they surely must understand ...

I'm talking to you, Frank: They will not. I understand your passion, but I do not applaud your method. It doesn't matter how diverse or humble or even successful the military is, the swells aren't going to like it.

You are STILL making justifications at Waring soccer games because your son is a Marine.

You've learned nothing about Marine BEARING...Read this book. Great story about a father and son. And, of course, a Marine. OORah.

It was heartening to read of the slow but sure conversion of the father from the non-patriotic elitist northeasterner to the supportive America-loving patriot. He now seems to understand that freedom is not free; that it has to be paid for in each new generation by those young men and women who are willing to serve their country and stand between our enemies and us. His young son understood it pretty well as things developed, plus he quickly realized that he was going to get something invaluable out of his Marine service - his own self-worth and a lot of confidence.

I hope that these two authors follow up this book with a second one. I believe that the readers are going to want to see "how all of this turns out." A normal person who has the attitude of the son, John, is almost always successful. I want to be there when it happens.

The caterpillar to butterfly story of the development of young men who have joined the military is an old, old story. Certainly many books poke at this timeless theme, and Hollywood certainly isn't unfamiliar with the same theme. John Schaiffer and his father Frank do justice to this idea without becoming trite or syrupy.
The book examines what it mean to become a Marine. But it also directly and indirectly digs into the idea of commitment to a higher idea...in this case giving up oneself to become a member of an elite group of fighting men, and in the process getting back more than one gave up. It flip flops between John's narrative and his fathers observations. Interesting.
As a former Marine I found a connection with John. Having gone through bootcamp in June of 1967 in San Diego, the connection to this new generation of Marines is immediate and profound. This, as all former Marines know, isn't new. The membership in this club spans all generations. No generation gap here.

If you're a former Marine, you'll want to read the book for obvious reasons. If you're not, read it anyway. You'll gain some respect for the youth of today.

The Kindly Ones is the climax of the series. I'm not going to talk about that part of the story. It's too huge, too--agh! You'll have to find out for yourself. This, the climax, is, of course, the most important thing in the storyline, but if I try to put words on the feeling it gives me I will miserably fail. Instead, I'm going to talk about the little reasons besides that main reason which, for me, make The Kindly Ones the best.

1) The Corinthian is in it: my favorite Sandman character second only to Dream himself. I can't quite say why, but I just love this character. Since The Doll's House I've found him absolutely fascinating, a creation of genius. And when he came back in Brief Lives, I practically jumped for joy. Unfortunately, that was only about three pages plus one panel. But now he's back again, and--yes! --He's a major character! And he's way more interesting in The Kindly Ones than he was in The Doll's House--this is a new Corinthian. Yes!

2) Delirium is in it, my second favorite of the Endless. She always brightens up a story; luckily, she doesn't steal the attention from Dream in this storyline, as she did in Brief Lives (although that was the right thing for that story, and not a drawback). Here, she's searching for her doggie and following her fish.

3) Thessaly's back! Dream's mystery lover from Brief Lives, last seen in A Game of You. I adore this character. (I also like her name very much, as you can tell since I stole it for my handle.) I always found her one of the most intriguing characters in the series, and I still wish I knew more about her...This is one of the great things about Sandman. Everyone finds their own favorite things to hook onto, a favorite issue, favorite character, that might not mean much to someone else, but somehow is really fascinating to you. Some people love Death or Nuala or Hob Gadling or Mervyn; for me, it's The Corinthian and Thessaly, and I love Brief Lives 3 and 9, A Game of You part 3 and 5, Season of Mists Epilogue, and Ramadan, to name a few. (Not to mention all of The Kindly Ones.) And you, no doubt, have your own favorites, or will have, once you read the series. If you haven't, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

One other reason why The Kindly Ones is the greatest: Marc Hempel's art. Some people hate it. I love it. I love the way he's managed to capture the look and expression of all the old characters while doing it in such a different, simplified style. I'm really glad that this crucial volume of Sandman was illustrated by someone with such talent, such a particular mood to his work.

I really can't express what _The Kindly Ones_ is in this brief review; read Sandman for yourself and find out. (I can't stress this enough. Read Sandman. Now. If you want me to tell you again, e-mail me and I will rant on and on about it.) However, being the ninth of ten volumes, this is NOT the place to start--go to Preludes and Nocturnes (Book 1) or The Doll's House (2) for that.

This book tells the story of Dream's death. Dream fights his fate, but almost absent-mindedly. He seems resigned to watch that which he knows he could change. This is where his fatal flaw is revealed--his sense of responsibility. Had Desire had this happen to him/her, she would have done everything in her power to stop it. Yet Dream barely wants to, and in the end gives in to the Furies. This book is beautiful, and I have read it perhaps 5 times. Each time something new pops up, something unseen. It is subtle, and it shows the dire consequences of accepting one's fate without action. This is Gaiman at his personal best in the series.

This book is perhaps the most engrossing book I've ever read, with the possible exception of the Gaiman/McKean MASTERPIECE, Mr. Punch. This was the 2nd Sandman book I read, though I have since completed the series, and trust me, though it's amazing on its own, once you recognize the themes and motifs that have been continued throughout the series (The triple Goddess/Kindly Ones theme has been in every single Sandman collection; look it up if you don't believe me.) as well as the insights into the motivations of all the characters, this is nothing short of a masterpeice. I can't possibly say enough good things about this book, or the entire series. Added bonus: for the first time, the art is ALMOST equal to the story. Don't get me wrong, Jill Thomson, Shaun McManus, Mike Dirginberg, etc, did some great work, but up until now that kind of "comic book-y" style has dominated the series, whereas Mark Hempel's smooth lines and more abstract, angular style compliment Gaiman's writing much better, to my mind. Overall, this is, I'll say it again, an AMAZING book. Buy it. Please. For your own sake.

I read this book back in 1986 and I do agree that a reprint is needed. It allowed a more indepth look at the Dune universe of Frank Herbert. It would be a shame if this book was allowed to crumble to dust, when many fans would like to put it on their shelves. Startrek, Starwars and some other popular series have millions of copies of their own encyclopedias. It's time to bring back the one encyclopedia we want to see again.

I don't understand why this book hasn't seen a printing press in 16 yrs! This book elaborates on the entire Dune universe. All the planets, customs, people, etc.! While Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson say that this book isn't official Dune canon...who cares? It was written with the full knowledge and permission of Frank Herbert himself. And the first installment of the prequel by Messrs. Herbert and Anderson leave much to be desired (creatively, technically, and detail-wise). Any and every Dune fan needs this book. Berkeley/Penguin/Putnam/etc. can't you see the demand for this book. You are guaranteed a hit if you reprint this title.

I am a huge fan of the Dune series, including the new prequels, House Atreides and House Harkonnen. I have enjoyed "exploring" the Dune Encyclopedia that I have borrowed from my local library many times. I see that it is an extremely rare book, and now not in print. I am greatly tempted to steal the one remaining copy of the Dune Encyclopedia from my library only because I am afraid that someone else may steal it soon, and I will perhaps never be able to get my hands on it again.

How can we lobby together and demand a reprint for this title?

I have, for several years, been a member of various computer animation lists, and that's where I'm coming from with this review. This is the one book which has consistently come up on those lists when dealing with general issues (the Principles of Animation, etc), simply because it is the best. It is not the best tutorial book, since it is not written as a tutorial: it is a history of Disney. If you want a tutorial on computer animation, go elsewhere. But that will probably NOT be as much help to you as reading this book, because after reading this, you will be inspired. I think this is why people are so religeously fervent when speaking about it - not because they found it useful for the large number of techniques and tips which are slipped in throughout (though very many of them are out of date or not applicable in the computer animation world), but because the book inspires. I thought it was expensive, but after I bought it and read it the first time, I realised it was cheap at the price. It is gorgeously produced, and filled with colour pics and examples of what it talks about. Worth buying if you are into animation, or if you are interested in the history of Disney.

To all animators, if you are think of buying this book. Just buy it. It's excellent, Very! This is the only book you need for animation. Forget about getting other classical animation books. This book is sufficient for everything about animations. It's got the principles of classical animation and other perfectly details information about Walt Disney. Also, contains about over thousands of black and white illustrations. PERFECT BOOK!

Equivalent to a Holy relic, this masterpiece of a book has inspired me, not only to appreciate Disney's work, but also the animators and animation in general. If you are considering entering the animation field, in particular working for Disney, then by all means purchase this book and read it thouroughly. 2 of the Old Nine Men, Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, wrote this book sometime in the early eighties. I read this in the early nineties. I was such a good read it amazed. Not only what they were writing about, but how good the writing was. It was humerous, witty, profound and informative in such a way that is easy to retain the knowledge which I found immediately applicable. By far the one book that has stood the test of time beyond all of Disney's "The Art of (Insert Movie Here)" books. Thomas and Johnston give step by step process of how Disney complete a picture from the inception of the first idea to the finalized product on Sunset Boulevard at the El Capitan. I cannot comment on this book enough and cannot reccomend this book highly enough. Five stars is the max, but I can say, of all the books I have read, no other book has inspired me more in my readings, and no other book I treasure more than this one. I say, the earlier edition of this book may have better prints and color, but its not the pictures that matter completely (however nice they are), its what the animators pass on to another animator. Inspiration for motivation and creativity.

I'll start this review off by saying that I was a bit skeptical when I bought this recently. I was not a fan of Frank Miller's latest, The Dark Knight Strikes again. But I decided to give him another shot. After all, he was the one who redefined the Dark Knight for a decade when The Dark Knight Returns came out.
This book focuses more on Matt Murdock than Daredevil. It begins with Karen Page, who is Murdock's secretary and now a junkie, revealing Matt's secret life to Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime. Kingpin sets out to wreck Murdock's life. He destroys Murdock's apartment. He hires an assasin in a Daredevil costume to kill him. Then, he hires a deadly super soldier (like Captain America) to finish him off. There's also an amazing battle between Murdock (not in his Daredevil costume) fighting Kingpin, which I felt was the climax of the story.
This was my first Daredevil book and certainly won't be my last. Miller was able to craft a story that works on many levels, with fantastic characterization.
David Mazzuchelli's art is flawless, although I still believe he was at his best when he did Batman: Year One. The only problem with this book is that Christine Scheele and Richmond Lewis' colors are at times too vibrant for such a dark tale.
No, this book didn't blow away the comic book world like The Dark Knight Returns did, because Batman is so much more popular, but I feel that this is truely Frank Miller's best work.

Frank Miller's renowned storyline tells the tale of the destruction and rebirth of a super-hero. This is a story that has never really been seen before in comic books so Miller deserves kudos just for attempting it. The storyline is mired in realism with the protagonist facing all too human villains and all too human inner demons, which makes it far more satisyfing than the usual superhero vs. supervillain fare. Organized crime, drug addiction, rekindled love, and heavy religious imagery are all skillfully layered into this one of a kind comic book. Yes, Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" and "Batman: Year One" are superior but that may be because Batman has had a longer, richer legacy for Miller to draw from and play with than DD has had. Let's face it: Miller pretty much re-invented Daredevil, evolving the character from another Stan Lee wisecracker in a union suit, to a morally-conflicted, fully realized character who just happened to be a superhero. "Born Again" is a wonderful, adult interpretation of this rediscovered Marvel icon.

I initially became aware of the so-called "Man Without Fear" through several Ann Nocenti issues more than a decade ago. While I found her stories to be a bit out in left field (with DD LITERALLY going to hell!), they were often quite entertaining reads for the most part. They also drove me to seek out more issues, for I found the main character to be somewhat of a revelation (a blind attorney with superhumanly enhanced senses who also fights crime as a costumed vigilante???). My search eventually led me to the now classic Frank Miller-penned story in Born Again.

I'll say one thing for sure. Stan Lee may have been the one primarily responsible for introducing the Matt Murdock/Daredevil character to the Marvel universe, but I truly believe it was Frank Miller who ended up placing him within the proper context. While most superheroes are often busy duking it out with supervillains in otherworldly places and the like, Miller's all-too-human Daredevil was firmly rooted in the gritty, uncompromising setting of New York City's Hell's Kitchen (the lower east side of Manhattan in real life) and dealing with the worst kind of criminal scum imaginable on a frequent basis. I admit, Miller's initial take on DD was somewhat flawed with the Elektra-based stories in terms of execution despite being well-written in general. However, I believe he more than made up for it in what could possibly be THE greatest Daredevil story ever told and certainly one of the best in the entire comic book medium. It all starts out with Murdock's former girlfriend and co-worker Karen Page selling his secret identity for the mere sake of a drug fix, information which inevitably finds its way to the Kingpin of Crime himself, Wilson Fisk. What happens thereafter is nothing short of riveting, as one slowly begins to witness Murdock's world come crashing down in the Kingpin's attempt to make a painful example out of the only person who ever truly got under his skin, particularly as the infamous crimson-clad crimefighter.

I could say more about this highly acclaimed piece of comic book storytelling, but the other reviewers pretty much filled out the remaining details in one form or another. It's also good to see this character finally getting the recognition he so rightfully derserves in the quality stories currently being written of him by some of the best in the business in addition to the much anticipated film set to come out this year. Only pick up this TPB and you can see for yourself why I think Daredevil continues to remain one of Marvel's most notoriously unheralded cornerstones, despite being there from the very beginning alongside more established characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, Hulk, the Fantastic Four, etc.