This book is worth every cent, an amazingly well written and concise history of the culture, from all angles. I can't recommend it highly enough.

For anyone interested in the artistic, philosophical and psychological impact of Viennese culture, this is a must. Freud, Wittgenstein, Schiele, etc. Prof. of History at U. Mass., Amherst, Johnston writes clearly and with enthusiasm. See also his illustrated _Vienna, Vienna_.

I have NEVER had a more useful text in my office!! Gives a clear approach to common and often complex problems faced in outpatient and inpatient medicine. Includes topics such as thyroid nodule, hyponatremia (and other electrolyte abnormalities), elevated transaminases, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, constipation, solitary pulmonary nodule, mediastinal adenopathy, and really anything else you can think of!! I have never not been able to find what I needed quickly and easily. A must have for an busy office when you need to know what to do without all the peripheral talk!! I wish they had continue this series in Peds and OB/Gyn (there are old ones in these fields)as they were just as valuable!! An investment you won't regret. Great for residents!!

Hammett based his private eye stories on his own adventures as a private eye and invented the American private eye stories. But his life changed when he met Hellmann and during the red scare he suffered for what he believed in. William F. Nolan examines his complex life and what made Hammett an excellent writer and a tragic figure.

Letters written to his friends on the inner journey. Fr. Johnston gives us several letters depicting his trips to Asia, Europe and America.

He sheds some light on his travels but most importantly gives us many lessons on Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and the importance of dialogue. Dialogue is the key for all nations to grow in love, peace and understanding. Dialogue among all people's, religious or non-religious.

"To be or not to be", that is the essence of Fr. Johnston's message. Mysticism is for everyone, all one has to do is let go and be in God's presence or another's presence and than we experience oneness.

Hempel was, as her recordings clearly show, one of the century's finest sopranos. It also turns out she was one of its finest autobiographers as well. The book was dictated and checked by the soprano before her death in 1955, shortly after which the German edition appeared and for which she wrote the prefact two days before her death. Remarkably, an English version was written prior to the German version but, for reasons known only to Hemple, was never published. Elizabeth Johnston, the diva's friend, deserves our thanks for her efforts on behalf of the English version.

What makes this book so refreshing, aside from the lack of a ghostwriter, is its highly readible style and worthwhile content. Those, like myself, who are tired of the vacuous, vapid "I sang here", "I sang there" litany will find Hempel a candid writer and one who can write modestly yet entertainingly of her long career that included singing with Caruso and under the baton of Toscanini. Had she not been a remarkable soprano, she would have been an equally fine writer.

The book is highly recommendable to vocal aficianados and anyone who cares to meet a fascinating, great lady.

This question, raised countless times by the main character Rodrigues, is just one of many theological issues that Endo explores in this highly emotional, extremely probing novel. The Christian period of Japan is regarded as a somewhat curious anomaly by the Japanese themselves, and is largely unknown in western circles. That Endo could weave so elegant a tale, using a foreign main character (there are few precedents in Japanese literature) and frequently changing narrative styles no less, is an accomplishment in itself.

"Silence" raises several theological points, but the two that stuck with me the most were the following: how can God remain silent despite the suffering of his people (a question no less relevant with the events going on in the world today), and secondly, is it possible that Christianity cannot "grow roots" in the "swamp" that is Japan. A Catholic himself, it is obvious that Endo has struggled over these questions himself, searching for answers. Is it possible to betray your faith but stay true to your God? Endo's frank look at questions like this is part of his universal success. It is amazing to consider that this book was a huge seller in Endo's native Japan, which itself is barely 1% Christian.

"Father, you were not defeated by me," Inoue says to Rodrigues. "You were defeated by this swamp of Japan." "No, no ... my struggle was with Christianity in my own heart" Rodrigues replies. Ultimately, Christian or non-Christian, no matter your age or nationality, faith comes down to these battles in the heart. Endo does a magnificent job depicting this, and Silence is an outstanding book because of it.

Endo's novel is a fascinating look at the Christian faith in the midst of brutal, cruel persecution. The novel is set in the 17th century. Two Portuguese Catholic priests journey into Japan with two goals in mind: To minister to the Japanese, and to find their former mentor, a priest named Ferreira, who may or may not have apostatized.

Silence is a well-balanced work. The story is deeply moving without becoming heavy-handed. The characters are very well thought out and developed. Endo uses a very interesting technique in this novel: The first several chapters are narrated by one of the priests. We see the events that develop through his eyes and how they affect him. About halfway through the book, the priest is no longer narrator, but perhaps we can see inside his soul better from another's vantage point. This is a book that I will think about for a long, long time.

Silence is one of the most moving, most gut-wrenching, and most true novels I have ever read. It explores the questions which all Christians and non-Christians have to ask themselves at some time in their life to find out where they are. It does so in a way that is remarkabley compelling.

Silence is the story of Father Rodrigues, a Portuguese priest who travels to Japan in the Sixteenth Century during their Christian persecution. Once there, he tries to carry out his mission but sinks in the "swamp of Japan." He faces unimaginable tortures and lives through the most profound anguish of humanity. All the while, he struggles with questions about God. Why is God silent amidst human suffering? He faces questions about what it means to truly be a Christian.

Silence is an unflinching book, taking on what is possibly the central dilemma of Christianity. I read this in a college class in which people took varied things away from the book. For myself, Silence was one of the most triumphant books of the Christian faith I have ever read. It marks a profound move from a Christian doctrine of doctrine towards a Christian doctrine of compassion. I don't believe that God is silent in this novel. This novel asks God some tough questions, and He quietly answers in a voice that moves mountains.

Smoke Gets a Letter from a cousin asking for help. Smoke nevers turns away people in need, and definetely not family. So Smoke packs up and heads for Montana. On the way he looks up some old tough mountain men friends. He knows the battle will be tough and he might even loose. But if he did how would we be able to read another book? Maybe he will win!!

In a review that I read on the book The last mountian man(where Smoke Jensen first comes into play) he is known as Kirby Jensen.
Not untill later on in the book is he referd to as "smoke".Also Preacher didnt take Smoke under his wing after Smokes father had been killed.Preacher had taken Smoke to teach him about being a mountianer and and teach him how to hunt and fight,basicaly train him in living in the mountians.Befor that winter Smokes' father was killed and Smoke spent the winter with Preacher praticing on pulling those 45's in a blur.Also it never mentioned that Smoke was a big man even when he was just a boy.
The only thing that the person got right on his review was start from the beginning and read all the books it will make everything come into play when you get to where you are going.

William W. Johnston writes the best, hardest to put down series I've ever read. His books are facinating. They talk about men that my dad talked about when he'd tell his growing up stories.He could have been an old mountain man. This particular book, JOURNEY OF A MOUNTAIN MAN was the first one of the series I read.It takes place in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Since I was born and raised in Montana and lived in all the rest of these states made the books even more readable.Then when I finished the book I went to the used bookstore I trade at and found many more of the series that had come before. I have not went wrong with any book Mr. Johnston has written. He has several series out such as THE BLOOD BOND SERIES, and THE EAGLES SERIES, and THE LAST GUNFIGHTER SERIES. They are all great reads. I just loved them all. They talk about the magnificent West and the totally magnificent men that populated it. The books display humor (in some),honor,courage, and chivilary. This is what being a man is all about as far as I'm concerned. My husband even read all the ones I found, too. He was a strictly a Louis LAMour reader. I was thrilled to have found something he could read and enjoy that was not a repeat. Myself included.

A boy, somewhere in Vermont, never thought he would be in the Civil War. Willie Johnston impulsively enrolls in the army. Although too young to be a soldier, he enlists as a drummer boy with little experience. Willie is not the only Johnston going to Virginia to fight. His father also went with him. Willie meets many friends and struggles along the way.
When Willie arrives in Virginia with his father, he learns, to his disappointment, that he and his father will be separated into two different Companies. To top it off, his new friend and cabin mate, Russ, dies in their first battle. But there are a few positive things that happen. He meets Julian, who works at a small hospital. He also befriends Jeb, a soldier from the south side, who trades products such as tobacco, blankets and other things needed from side to side.
Now all Willie has to do is overcome the many obstacles of war. I suggest this book to people who love the Civil War. G. Clifton tells a heroic story of a young boy.

6th grade student from OHES

Imagine yourself in evil war times. When you imagine, do you see warmen that have tents with security systems on them? Or do you see just tents with little feather cots . If you imagined the cots then your favorite book has to be Mr. Lincons Drummer.

In a time where you have no money, clothing, short on water and food, and ammunition. In a time where entertainment was music and serving your country. One boy's sprit stands in an army.

Willie Johnson is a ten year old boy with a problem. He decides that he wants to join Mr. Lincons army. His problem is that his mother dosent her son to be killed in action while banging a drum. So he goes to sign up with his mother and looks at the spots he could fill in. They needed a drummer boy.

The decision stumped him but he thought and hard. Surprising or not? Well he thought that his descendants would be happier because of that, he would bring out the patriotism of the soldiers. But he could get killed. That wouldn't let him stop trying...

On the battle he had palms of sweat, frustration, well he thought back. The rules of battle say you cannot kill the drummer, so he got his confidence back.

This wonderful book by G. Clifton Wisleris a moving book of the Civil War. What will happen? What do you think will happen? Don't ask me, READ!!
6th Grader from OHES

"A drum is the heartbeat of the army. It tells soldiers when to get up, When to eat, when to assemble, when to attack, when to retreat, And when to go to bed. Without a drum, the army falls apart." This quote is from G. Clifton Whistlers award winning book, Mr. Lincoln's Drummer. The book takes place during the Civil War.
Willie Johnston Lives in a small Vermont town with his mother, his father,and his two brothers. His father is a tailor, and they run a family business. Willie, his mom, and his older brother help.
One day, a strange colonel and his company walk into town. The colonel is trying to get people to sign up for the war. Every day he comes out, and every evening he leaves. One day the colonel comes into their shop and tells them that he needs them to make uniforms. They went to work on the uniforms right away.
After a fortnight, the colonel had gotten 11 people to sign up. Willie follows him back one day. They arrive in a campsite, about a mile out from town. Willie meets a drummer boy, and they become fast friends. The boy teaches him some of the drum beats. Willie starts to see some of his friends at the camp.
Willie is banging assembly one day, without thinking about what he is doing. The colonel hears, and Willie ends up banging a drum in the middle of the street to attract people. Every day more sign up.
Eventually Willie and his dad sign up, too. How do they do? Does he die? Does he live? What is his fate?

We all know the tragedy from World War II when Atomic bomb was exploded over Hirochima nd Nagasaki. It leaded to a indescribable loss. People loss their lives and suffer from many illness.
This is the very book that is written by the one who was really in the event.. Mr. Takashi Nagai is one of the doctors who try to save the survivors and cure the patiences. It is a very tough loss for all Japanease people. So this is a book that is so toughing and very insightful.
Why this book get only 3 stars !!!
My reason to rate this book only 3 because the writhing style. This book is too emotional. It is really too much. The fact of the event isn't combined with the feeling in a very proper ratios and it leads to be a too depressive book.
But rather than this, I still recommend this book to anyone. If U leave the too-emotional part out. U will get the very true story about a group of people who fight the unfightable, who try to do their best to help other injured. On top of that, this is the story that will remind us that "No Moer War" please.

a Japanese friend of mine was born in nagasaki and her birth was just after the war her mother has suffered alot from the after affects of this terrible tragidy of nuclear bombing and my friend gave me this story to read. I was moved to tearsseveral times from the accounts in the book.

The author's friends, colleagues and wife were killed instantly by the atomic bomb and he died of injuries after a few years leaving his children orphans. He was a Christian, a part of the Nagasaki Christian community which had experienced persecution from the time the Portuguese brought Christianity to the city. His view of God's provision as it relates to the horror of the bomb is very profound. I wish the book had provided supplementary information regarding the author's life and the Christian community in Nagasaki.