An excellent and detailed history of the Colts and their origins in the planned Continental League, the National League expansion of 1961-62, and their colorful early days until they became the Astros. Lots of great photos of players, now-defunct ballparks, and memorabilia, and the real inside story of the name changes from Colts to Colt .45s to Astros. A winner all around.

I stumbled on this book at a bookstore in upstate NY, a far cry from the Houston area. As a baseball fan, it caught my eye although I had very little knowledge of Houston's MLB origins. What sold me-- at least during that quick perusal in the bookstore -- was its treatment of how Houston and NY both came into the league at the same time. After reading it, though, I'm astounded at the history and story of baseball's first major-league team in the south. The no-hitters, the futility, the tear-jerker about Jim Umbricht .... this story reeks of everything that baseball is -- good things, such as colorful characters, true fans, baseball as a game first and business second, and tragedy as well -- the real "Love of the Game" story, not that Kevin Costner tripe. Whether you know anything about Houston, the Colt 45s, or Texas, do yourself a favor and read this book. Heck, it's a human story, not just a sports story. The younger fan may not "get it," but those of us who grew up with those hot summer nights listening to baseball on transistor radios -- no matter were you lived of what team you claimed -- will enjoy the trip back.

Texas coastal heat, tropical humidity and giant mosquitoes; those are my memories of Colt Stadium. But I also remember the excitement of going to a real major league game in Houston. This book brings back all those memories and tells things I never knew about the screwball cast of characters who made up the team and the giant personalities who labored to bring big league baseball to Houston. The Colt .45s included major talent such as Joe Morgan, Rusty Staub, Jim Wynn and Larry Dierker. But they also had "colorful" players such as Richard "Turk" Farrell. A must for any collector of Texana, baseball or Houston history.

John Biggers came to artistic maturity in an academic setting far from the art centers of New York. He was repulsed by the New York art scene that had so summarily dismissed black art when he had participated in a MOMA black student art exhibit. Perhaps his avoidance of the centers of art commerce were as responsible for the late acceptance of his genius as was the segregationist mindset in the United States during Biggers's early career. As well as producing important paintings, drawings, and sculpture, Biggers is one of this country's most important muralists, creating more than twenty major murals in fifty years. His life has been dramatic in both content and context. Wardlaw draws a clear portrait of African-American life in the black section of a sharply segregated Gastonia, North Carolina, where Biggers grew up in the 1930s, and the rich family and community life of rural black America of the time. The other essays, written by noted scholars, trace the history of Biggers's artistic career through a careful study and analysis of his body of work.

Original! Original! I read the hole book in one day and it never got boring once. This novel of ideas and emotions deeply touched me, and its in your face attitude about a minors strike in Arizona made it the most exciting book in the Homer library...If you read just one book this is it. Thank God for that "I can read" sereis with Mrs. Johannosson

A fiction set in Argentina,a nation caught in a web of terror and war with an aristocratic,wealthy family caught in the middle of a national conflict with brothers turning violently against each other and a breathtakingly beautiful and sensuous women whose love for one brother causes her to deceive and betray another. The book illustrates a privileged family unprotected from the turmoil of war and oppression of their country and divided by their conflicting passions and dangerous loyalties which locks them into a fatal and horrific fight against events and forces heating up beyond their power. This novel would make a strong theme for a movie!!Hotter than "Dallas"!!I think Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz would make excellent candidates for starring roles if the book would ever be put on film.

The story is set in the Appalacian backwoods.After,eleven years of an arranged loveless marriage to an aldulterous alcoholic and brutally insensitive man.Maggie has to choose between her affections and life threatening struggle with her husbands axe killing murderer.For three days she has gratefully connected her feelings to a man (Bastion) who has freed her horrific husband but proves to be even more severely abusive also by holding her hostage in her home.The killer demands that her children along with her to replace the family he lost because of her husband's affair with his wife.It's a compelling fiction action drama of a womens freedom and independence from the brutal men of her past.The author Robert Houston does an excellent job of illustrating this in his book.Also,the movie a"A Killing Affair"1986 starring Peter Weller and Kathy Baker was based on this novel!!

Thoroughly researched and documented, this book does an outstanding job of comparing previously written information (specifically Passmore manuscripts). The source notations are outstanding which makes it very easy to confirm information back to the original source. Wills, deeds, probate records and other sources are included completely. For anyone related to William Passmore, this book is a must. Although expensive, the volume of original source information well pays for itself. The years of research taken to compile this book is very evident.

This is not so much a novel as a script for the best action movie of the year! Mr. Houston, although obviously not a trained writer, has accomplished that rarest of feats, a memoir that captures the undivided attention of anyone who picks it up. The lack of formal writing experience is actually one of the most intriguing aspects of the book, which has multiple sub-plots simply due to the nature of a "stream-of-consciousness" work of this type. The military minutaie will fascinate any vet and contrasts so greatly with the innocence of his thoughts of first romance that the reader honestly feels he has stepped directly into the author's shoes, with all the hopes and fears of the situation he has found himself in as real to the reader as the printed word allows. I have passed my copy on to fellow vets, old hippies, soccer moms and my own adolescent children, all of which have reported being overwhelmed by the sense of "being there". Although a good editor could have polished a few rough spots in the narrative this once again is actually a reinforcement of the feeling of reality the book imparts. I fully recommend this book as a tour-de-force memoir and a must-have for any thorough collection of modern military history.

What a wonderfully articulated story this was. Gonzo meticulously paints the mental picture so we can all see the Vietnamese countryside w/high detail. You feel you're a part of the action & sharing in the camaraderie. Well done, McKilla Gorilla! I gotta try some of that armpit sauce!

Greetings. As the author of Anonymous: Honor Denied, I would like to take this time to thank you, the reader, first for taking the time to view my work. This work represents the deep, ingrained honor and respesct I have for all the military personel over the decades that have fought to keep our nation the best in the world. It is written from deep within me, and I hope that it shares what goes through an individual's mind while being thrust into any horrific event. Enjoy and thank you again. Sincerely, R. "Gonzo" Houston

Optimize Your Operations provides managers a road map to improvement. Many times you only receive theories and not real improvement road maps that allow you to make real improvements to your daily operations. By following the various improvement methodologies discussed in the book a line manager can make great strides in meeting customer expectations. Many managers loose site of the customer and Mr. Abbott gives many valuable pointers on how to meet and understand customer expectations. The "Walk About" gives managers a valuable tool to monitor their daily operation and a workable method for recognizing problems and provides methods for improving their processes.

The book was a nice break from the usual technical process improvement books.I particulary liked the real world application oriented style that focused on a few simple principles and the application to complex problems. Since applications to my area, rocket science, are usually outside the norm, really appreciated the presentation, the stories and examples that made it easy to adapt the principles to my particular cases. Recommend that any engineer read this book. PC

This is an intriguing book. Optimize Your Operation is no quick "once over" on operations. It begins with the basic principles needed to understand and improve processes. Abbott's approach to the principles is not ordinary and his explanation of the details is not ordinary. He certainly is moving us up a notch in the way we think about processes and the way we manage them. It is not the same old same old. Yet his language and illustrations are easy to follow. His thoughts take us from how we get ourselves into and out of "Quality Hells" all the way to how a better understanding of strategic and tactical decision-making will change our organizations. I think it is an important read for those who are faced with changing their operations to meet today's tough markets.

Although I have nothing but the utmost respect for these reknowned climbers and their worthy attempt to summit K2, I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as some of the other climbing epics out there today.

It is interesting to see the difference in climbing narratives written back in the 50's as compared to those written in the last thirty years or so. It seems like there was a different attitude toward climbing in the 50's and before, one that was more supportive of teamwork and cooperation, whereas many of today's narrations are more reflective of each person being responsible for taking care of him or herself only (such as the '96 Everest disaster). As in the case of Art Gilkey's emergency situation, the entire team without question (at least in this rendition of the story) made the effort to get him off of the mountain.

I was somewhat bored by this narrative though (except for storm and the famous Pete Schoening team-arrest) and it's one-dimensional portrayal of the team members. It made me wonder if Houston and Bates were telling it like it really was. They were always very complimentary toward everyone on the team. But in extreme, stressful conditions (both mentally and physically) like these, don't people sometimes become short-tempered, or even withdrawn? But perhaps the authors' objective was not to give insight into individual team members and how they interacted with one another, but rather to just tell of their adventure and how, through remarkable teamwork, they were able to survive K2 against the odds, and live to tell about it.

I also would have liked to see more detailed maps of their route throughout the book, so it would be easier to follow them on their ascent and descent.

I won't deny that this book deserves a place with the other classic mountaineering epics, due to the extraordinary events that this team lived through. However, I prefer narratives that really tell it like it is, "warts and all." I want to get a true sense of the struggles (to feel like I am really there in the bitter cold), and come to understand each person who makes up the entire team.

A 1953 climb still translates in 2002. This is a detailed account cowritten by two of the climbers and is very detailed including the long walk in. I was surprised how little mountain climbing had changed although it did appear distances traveled daily were less as they required 8 campsites to get to the peak. I find books on mountaineering expeditions very interesting although the climbs themselves contain long periods of boredom. This expedition is no different as a brutal storm stops the climbers just short of the summit. The book does a great job detailing how high altitude can effect a climber's body. One of the writers was a doctor.

Needless to say, the long, unforgiving storm takes it's toll on the men placing them in ultimate peril. Getting down from the high altitude, steep face carrying a wounded member led to the most incredible living disaster I have ever read. Well, living for most of the climbers

Read this book for adventure and historical climbing perspective.

At 28,250 feet, K-2 is the world's second highest mountain, 800 feet less than Everest. Mentally add 6,000 feet to K-2 for sheer meanness. Everest is considered a "snow" mountain; K-2 has everything. Snow, ice, rock, constant avalanches, loose shale and a generally evil disposition.

In 1953, an eight-man American team attempted to summit K-2. The book tells us of their meticulous preparations, financing and outfitting. I was struck by the fact the cost estimate for the entire 8-man expedition was $25,000. I recently read the cost for one ~person~ to join an Everest expedition is $80,000!

The two authors come across as fine, honorable, decent men. The entire team's bravery in adversity is inspiring. After a spell of fine weather during the first part of their ascent, all their luck went against them. One team member became seriously ill and a bitter storm locked them in their "camp" for seven days. The camp was a mere outcropping on a rocky ledge. The wind almost blew them off their fragile platform. They were determined to carry out their dangerously ill member. The task was almost impossible to contemplate, let alone carry out. They were not successful only because the storm was so unrelenting.

I will not spoil the book for you by describing their descent. The authors will astound you with their story. Highly recommended

The exercises in Mind Games are life changing. The only problem is that they require a group of individuals that is often difficult to acquire, and the role of 'guide' keeps one individual from participating and reaping the benefits of the games. If you have an appropriate context in which to play the games, (e.g. church group, yoga class, etc.) by all means do not pass up this oppurtunity to 'explore your inner space.'

When I first came across this book I was rather sceptical about hypnosis in specific and the psychadelic experience in general. If you can find a close friend or two (or up to five or six) to play these "games" all the way through you will find yourself in a much better place.

Not only are the games fun and educational, they help develop imagination, intuition, and other faculties you didnt know you had. (or I didnt know I had anyway) Personal development aside, the exersizes in this book make for a great way to relax and help reduce stress and fatigue. I enjoyed the book imensley and tip my hat to Masters and Houston for putting it together. Thanks.

this book forced me to use muscles i didn't even know i had. me and my friends shared experienes we'll hold on to for the rest of our lives. you should experience this book.